It’s summertime in Orange County! The sun is shining. The kids are out of school. And you’re looking for new places to eat!
Inspired by the restaurants participating in Culinary Adventures: Where Kids Eat Free, we asked a few local kids to share their favorite places to feast. From the rich, savory katsu broth at Le Shrimp Noodle Bar at Irvine Spectrum Center to the golden, fluffy hotcakes at I Heart Pancakes at Campus Plaza, discovery is on the menu this summer here on The Irvine Ranch.
I HEART PANCAKES
WHAT TO ORDER: Happy Face Pancakes with chocolate chips, whipped cream, and Maraschino cherries. The cheesecake pancakes are a shareable family favorite.
THE VIBE: Retro ’50s diner with playful decor. Find a life-size stack of pancakes and a giant coffee cup for photo ops!
“The reason why I like these pancakes is we used to make pancakes a lot. Like every single day in the morning. Then we would make waffles. I had different flavors like strawberry, ube, and I forgot the last one…pandan!
These pancakes have a face and chocolate chips. I like really crispy bacon. The chewy kind gets stuck in your teeth. This bacon is good because it’s very crunchy.” – Audrey, 1st Grade
LE SHRIMP NOODLE BAR
WHAT TO ORDER: Big Prawn Noodle served in wok-hei-style, Japanese-inspired broth with Ebiko prawn paste. Or, try the Crispy Chicken Cutlet Rice served with clear chicken soup.
THE VIBE: Elevated Singaporean food hawker with modern wooden decor and azure ocean murals.
“I just love the flavors. There’s a hint of spice, it’s salty and then there’s a burst of shrimp flavor. I like how the food is so beautifully presented. I came here on my birthday because I like seafood and so does my friend. And I really enjoy the fried chicken. It has a really nice crunch and it’s not soggy. It tastes really good.” –– Bradley, 7th Grade
Discover Even More Flavor with Culinary Adventures
Ready to map out your family’s next flavorful summer outing? Discover all 50+ participating neighborhood eateries (including Le Shrimp Noodle Bar and I Heart Pancakes featured in this article), access kids eat free offers, and plan your must try list all at KidsEatFreeOC.com.
Running through August 27, 2026, this seasonal program makes it seamless to share an evening out and explore new local flavors together.
