Spotlight: Anaheim

The revitalisation of Downtown Anaheim is astounding. Walkable, livable, sociable areas have sprouted around the town in recent years, making the city a worthy magnet for both locals and visitors. 

One of the hottest new additions is the Anaheim Packing District, with revitalised buildings and inviting parkland. Right at the heart of it is the restored Anaheim Packing House, a former Sunkist citrus-packing facility built in 1919. Abandoned for decades, the building has been reborn as a multi-storey food hall, with entertainment spaces for live music and events. Inside, two dozen food stalls and eateries—many focusing on hyper-local ingredients—tempt you to stop, taste and enjoy. Stop by Lemon Drop for a pressed juice or lemonade and then plan your dining strategy. Maybe you’re in the mood for soul food at Georgia’s, ramen noodles at Orange Tei or the street foods of India at Adya, one of The OC’s top new eateries. Or just forget dinner and go straight for dessert at Hans’ Homemade Ice Cream. Finish the night with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in a restored 1920s' rail freight wagon—yes, inside the Packing House—at The BXCR (also known as the Underground Wine Society).

Next door is the Packard Building, built in 1925 as a showroom for luxury cars. Today, it houses foodie-favourite Umami Burger (make sure you spot the licence-plate chandelier) and Anaheim Brewery, the re-imagining of a brewery that closed down during Prohibition (don’t miss the bar salvaged from an old saloon nearby). 

The Packing District complex goes beyond building makeovers with Farmers Park, an inviting two-acre space with room to wander and relax. Take an outdoor yoga class, play table tennis, watch a film on an outdoor screen, or, on Sundays, visit the local growers at the Farmers Park Market—don’t miss Orange Clementine Bakery’s citrus-infused cake.

Backed by beer enthusiast Mayor Tom Tait, Anaheim’s craft beer industry is booming, with at least a dozen craft breweries soon to be pouring within the city. 'In Southern California, when you think about craft beer and all that goes along with that scene, you’re going to think about Anaheim,' says the mayor. 'Anaheim’s German heritage means that we’ve actually been brewing beer here since the city was founded.'

Joining the likes of classic Backstreet Brewery (opened 1998), resurrected Anaheim Brewery (closed 1920; opened 2010), flavourful Noble Ale Works (2012), and experimental Bottle Logic Brewing (2013) will be two more great places to sample delicious craft beers. Hoparazzi Brewing Co. will have a tasting room with an open airy feel, and Legends Craft Brewery will be opening the first tasting room for its award-winning beers. Check websites for each location to find out about special tastings, classes and other events throughout the year.

Another fun way to sample Anaheim's craft beer scene: join a guided tour to get the big picture of craft brewing in Anaheim and beyond. At Orange County Craft Brew Tours board a limo-style bus to visit three breweries, with plenty of samples and extra goodies included. (Souvenir bottle opener anyone?) In September, the annual OC Brew Haha festival showcases nearly 100 craft beers, plus others from around the world. Prost!

When it comes to professional sports, Orange County delivers. Baseball, ice hockey and now American football fans cheer for their teams throughout the year, and their home stadiums and arenas score points with their special features and offerings. 

In the summer, the MLB Los Angeles Angels play at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, the team’s home field since 1965. Nachos, hot dogs and other baseball-game food options abound, but who can pass up on Angel’s Wings (juicy grilled chicken wings), outside Section 207? Don't miss California-centric 'A' Wine Cellar wine bar in Section 111 either. Buy a bottle and have it transferred into an unbreakable carafe--with plastic glasses--so you can enjoy it at the game. To enjoy the local atmosphere, hang around by the Trout Farm (Section 101), the designated cheering section for star centre fielder Mike Trout.

With major stars like Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, the NHL Anaheim Ducks give their fans plenty of reasons to keep their eyes glued to the home ice at the Honda Center. But just to keep things fresh, in 2013 the team added a giant high-definition scoreboard and brought in award-winning food vendors including Pick Up Stix (its Asian-inspired menu includes General's Orange Chicken and decadent cream-cheese wontons). Up on the club level you’ll find the Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Club, where you can watch the game from the bar. You can also hang out at the open-air Shock Top Terrace, which serves craft beers as well as wine. Standing ‘O’ Restaurant has a 250-seat dining room where fans can eat gourmet chicken wings—among other selections—and sip on craft beers before, during or after the game. When the season ends, the Honda Center transforms into a thrilling entertainment venue featuring top acts such as the Foo Fighters and more family-friendly events including Disney on Ice.   

Though it was originally settled by Bavarian vintners in the 1850s, Anaheim (combining the word 'Ana', for the Santa Ana River, with 'heim', the German word for home), now has a global community of cultures in and around its city borders. With restaurants serving national favourites, unusual treasures in shops and fascinating cultural sites, this community offers an easy way to explore a world of cultures in a relatively small area. In these two ethnic enclaves, take time to taste, tour, listen and explore.

LITTLE ARABIA

In the 1980s, a growing number of people from Middle Eastern and North African countries settled in sunny Anaheim. Today they own shops and restaurants, many clustered in West Anaheim. This is the place to go for the enticing cuisines of Lebanon, Morocco and Saudi Arabia—as well as Armenia—often at very affordable prices. Here are some places to enjoy them:

Altayebat Market. Like a souk (Arab marketplace) transplanted to the middle of Anaheim, this shop is a sensory whirlwind of ethnic spices and Middle Eastern foods, as well as American groceries and produce. 1217 S. Brookhurst St, Anaheim

Olive Tree Restaurant. This is the place for succulent lamb, with preparations including a stellar mansaf—the meat is dressed in a special yogurt sauce and served with saffron-coloured rice. Cosy and friendly, with Arabic featured on the menus and walls, this appealing find is a worthy dinner destination. 512 S. Brookhurst St, Anaheim

Sahara Falafel. You will not leave here hungry. Overloaded plates at this family-run restaurant showcase Middle Eastern standards, including crispy falafel balls, hummus and greens dressed with sesame-flavoured sauce. Vegetarians will find plenty of options here, such as baba ghanouj and tabbouleh. More of a carnivore? Order an overstuffed combo shawarma (sliced beef and chicken, sesame and garlic sauce, tomatoes and pickles, all wrapped in a pitta). 590 S. Brookhurst St, Anaheim

Zait & Zataar. The dishes at this petite Lebanese eatery stand up to the restaurant’s tagline: 'Fresh, healthy, and delicious'. To sample zataar, a traditional blend of herbs that’s a staple in Lebanese cooking, try the zaatar and cheese pie. Portions here are generous, so nab a table outside and share your way through the menu. 510 N. Brookhurst St, Suite 106, Anaheim

Zankou Chicken. Let the queue outside the door be your guide. Locals flock to this unassuming café, giving a big thumbs-up to the chicken and beef shawarma plates—juicy grilled meat wrapped in a warm pitta and topped with tomatoes, pickled turnips and home-made tahini. 2424 W. Ball Rd, Anaheim

LITTLE SAIGON

Visiting this area is like taking a trip to Asia without the jet lag. Over 3,500 bustling Vietnamese-owned businesses and restaurants are packed into this district, which is home to almost 40,000 Vietnamese Americans. Little Saigon covers roughly three square miles, mostly in the city of Westminster, but also spills over into Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Fountain Valley. Here are a few worthwhile stops:

Asian Garden Mall. If you have time for only one stop, consider this first. It has everything from bakeries to food vendors to jewellery shops (mainly on the second floor), and plenty of knick-knack stalls. Treat the children to freshly squeezed sugar-cane juice at Suite 303--let them watch as the stalk is pulverised into frothy pale-green juice, with a tangy kumquat blended in for extra flavour. 9200 Bolsa Ave, Westminster 

Chua Hue Quang. Visitors are welcome to step inside this ornate Buddhist temple topped by a curving crimson roof. Inside, it’s just as eye-catching--a riot of colour and decorations, including a giant white statue of Buddha seated on a lotus blossom. 4918 Westminster Ave, Santa Ana

Lily’s Bakery. At this charming low-key cafe, families and singles alike sit comfortably on a tree-shaded patio around little bistro-style tables, nibbling at pastries, talking and reading. The croissants are properly flaky, and the coffee—the supercharged café sua dá (French roast with sweetened condensed milk)—will rocket-fuel your day. 10161 Bolsa Ave, Westminster

Quán Hy. Inside this elegant restaurant, it’s all bamboo, smooth and stylish surfaces, and soft shadows, a refined setting in which to sample sophisticated Vietnamese food. The focus is on central Vietnamese cuisine (from the Hue area), particularly noodles and rice dishes, and the menu is in English and Vietnamese. 9727 Bolsa Ave, Westminster

Vua Kho Bo. Got a sweet tooth, or know someone who does? Find your happy place at this incredible shop, with countless types of sweets—chewy ginger and fragrant pandan treats, crunchy sesame mini-bars and other exotic delights in the bins occupying about a third of the store. There’s a serious jerky section too. 9717 Bolsa Ave, Westminster