Happy Tuesday, North OC Digest!
It’s finally Christmas!
Well… in 2 more days…
But that’s not stopping me!!!
Between the lights going up, the colder nights rolling in, and comfort-food season officially kicking off, it really feels like the holidays are here. And honestly, this time of year has made running this newsletter even more fun.
We’ve had so many new people join the North OC Digest lately, and I just want to say thank you. Seeing this community grow has made putting these editions together something I genuinely look forward to every week.
If you’ve been enjoying this newsletter, I have one small ask:
Invite a friend to join you.
The more people we have, the better spots, events, and hidden gems I can surface for all of us.
👉 Invite 2 friends, and you’ll get 15 minutes of fame — a shoutout in the next newsletter. No pressure, just a fun way to say thanks for helping this thing grow.
Alright, let’s get into it.
Now, in today’s edition:
Unassuming location. Very assuming food.
A North OC staple that you have to get familiar with
15+ events for you to enjoy this week (special Christmas lights section 👀)!
— Mark Yi
Restaurant of the Week: Jin Cook
Unassuming location. Very assuming food.
Jin Cook is tucked away in a super quiet, residential part of Buena Park. The kind of spot you’d never stumble into unless you were looking for it. No flashy signage, no hype-y strip mall energy. And then you sit down… and the food comes out swinging.
This is one of those places where the neighborhood it’s in totally undersells how good the food actually is. Everything that hits the table feels intentional, hearty, and comforting in that “someone knows what they’re doing back there” way.
Here’s what people keep coming back for:
Hearty Korean comfort food that feels homemade but dialed in
Rich, bubbling stews like kimchi jjigae and sundubu that hit especially hard on these colder days coming up
Savory BBQ dishes and rice bowls that are simple, filling, and full of flavor
Generous portions that make you question why more people don’t talk about this place
Awesome staff of korean aunties who are super nice and attentive!
📍 6808 Beach Blvd, Ste 112, Buena Park, CA 90621
🕓 Sun-Wed: 11:30AM – 9:30PM
🕓 Thurs: 11:30AM – 11:00PM
🕓 Fri-Sat: 11:30AM – 12:00AM
PS: As a korean, I approve of this message
Click Here: To view the full menu and plan your visit!
Cafe of the Week: Stereoscope Coffee Company
A North OC staple that you have to get familiar with
If you’ve lived in North OC for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard of Stereoscope. And if you’re new to the area… welcome, this is one of the go-to spots you need to know. Stereoscope isn’t just popular… it’s foundational. This is the cafe everyone points to when someone asks, “Where’s the good coffee around here?”
And honestly? If you weren’t a coffee person before, this place will probably make you one.
Here’s what people keep coming back for:
Insanely high-quality drinks (North OC secret: All the new cafes around North OC have used Stereo’s beans at one point cus they’re that good)
Buy a bag of beans, get a free coffee drink (yes, really). Same goes for matcha — grab a tin and you get a free matcha drink
Seasonal, artisanal soft-serve ice cream that’s on another level
A menu that rewards curiosity, whether you’re ordering espresso, pour-over, or matcha
📍 4542 Beach Blvd Buena Park, CA 90621
🕓 Daily: 7:00AM – 9:00PM
PS: There are a few locations, (this one in Buena Park and) one in Irvine — tucked away in an office building, but the space and vibe are immaculate if you’re willing to make the drive
Click Here: To view the full menu and plan your visit!
Exciting Events:
Music 🎵
Jim Brickman: The Gift of Christmas | 8PM, December 26 (Tickets)
Location: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
Description: Celebrate the season with Jim Brickman’s signature piano holiday concert full of warmth and festive spirit.
A Magical Cirque Christmas | 8PM, December 27 (Tickets)
Location: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
Description: A high-energy holiday show blending cirque performance, acrobatics, music, and Christmas storytelling — fun for all ages.
Community Fun🎆
Winter Fest OC | Ongoing through Jan 4 (Tickets)
Location: 88 Fair Dr. Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Description: SoCal’s biggest winter festival transforms the fairgrounds into a holiday wonderland — think ice skating, snow tubing, lights, carnival rides, holiday market booths, food & drink, and family entertainment.
Thinky Drinky Trivia Night | 7PM, December 23 (Free)
Location: Rodeo 39 Public Market, Stanton
Description: Team up for trivia night with drinks and prizes in a lively market atmosphere.
The Orange Home Grown Farmers & Artisans Market | 9AM-1PM, December 27 (Free)
Location: 303 West Palm Avenue, Orange, CA 92866
Description: The Certified Orange Home Grown Farmers and Artisans Market sources farmers from the Southern California region who hold a California Certified Producers Certificate (CPC), keeping produce local and fresh.
Buena Park Farmers Market | 9AM-2PM, December 27 (Free)
Location: 8000-8092 La Palma Ave, Buena Park, CA
Description: This busy farmers market runs year-round every Saturday from 9am to 2pm. They offer everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to flowers and leather goods.
Special Events🥂
Knott’s Merry Farm | All Day, December 22–28 (Tickets)
Location: Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park
Description: A full holiday takeover of the park with snow-covered streets, Christmas shows, festive treats, and classic seasonal charm.
Sorry for so few events this week… it is Christmas after all.
To make it up to you, here are the best places to go see Christmas lights this week!
Christmas Lights 🎄
Fullerton Light Show — classic neighborhood synchronized light show you can drive/walk through. (Link)
Fullerton “Sparkle Balls” (Yale Ave) — hundreds of glittering lights in one residential block (Link)
Naples Island Christmas Lights (Long Beach) — iconic canal neighborhood lighting & decorations. (Link)
Lost of smaller ones in Long Beach — the most instagrammable holiday spots in Long Beach (Link)
Brea Christmas Light Neighborhood — another great festive neighborhood drive-by on Yelp (Link)
East Lake Village Christmas Lights (Yorba Linda) — a festive neighborhood display that’s popular with local families for strolling or driving through holiday lights around the lake (Link)
Yorba Linda’s Annual Holiday Decorating Winners — view this interactive of the best houses doing holiday lights in Yorba Linda! (Link)
More general ones in Yorba Linda — holiday lights map from the city of Yorba Linda! (Link)
Anaheim Historic Colony Christmas Light Show — a classic Anaheim holiday light show with creative, detailed lighting — fun if you want a spot beyond typical neighborhood displays (Link)
Anaheim Hills Neighborhood Light Streets — explore Nohl Ranch Rd, Equestrian Dr & Symphony St — not one central event, but well-lit zones locals love
Kooiman Family Christmas Light Show — A cozy family-run display with decorations and holiday lighting (individual street/home display at 515 Cedar Ave, 5:30-10:PM Sun-Thurs, 5:30-11PM Fri-Sat) (Link)
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