A crêpe can be unforgettable, one of those dishes with the Proustian power to conjure fond memories
of your first bite. In Orange County, where you can find them with unique twists, they’re less a symbol of French tradition than a reflection of our multicultural character.
Feed your sweet tooth at Crêpe Coop. The hip creperie opened in Anaheim Packing House before spinning off a second location in Tustin’s Union Market. Choose your fruit fillings, gelato flavors, and sauces, and pick from an assortment of toppings and add-ins. Then watch as the crepe is cooked, stuffed, and finally folded into a heaving, beautiful cone. Pre-designed options include the excellent ape crepe: sliced banana, speculoos spread, peanut brittle, vanilla gelato, and a dollop of whipped cream.
Crepes Maison is doing for crepes what Bruxie did for waffles: turning the staple into a vessel for all manner of unconventional fillings. The restaurant’s signature crepe is shawarma, shaved off of a spit and packed into a crepe with onion, bell pepper, tomato, tahini, and garlic sauce. There’s also a hamburger crepe, a cheese steak crepe, and a pizza crepe in which a cheesy slice is inverted into a kind of chewy, toasty wrap. Sweet variations include one stuffed with molten peanut butter and others doused with citrus-scented liqueurs.
For a truly French experience, head to Bistro Papillote, one of O.C.’s best approximations of a Parisian neighborhood haunt. There are enough finely browned crepes at this OC Mix spot to keep you happy, from breakfast (egg, ham, and Mornay sauce) to lunch (vegetable ratatouille, arugula, and torn basil) to dessert.
THIRSTY? Quell the sugar rush with Crêpe Coop’s bee tea: jasmine tea, chrysanthemum tea, and a dash of light amber honey. It’s floral and fragrant enough to cut through the decadence. For a few cents more, add chia seeds or cubes of aloe.
Crêpe Coop
440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714-215-4966
2493 Park Ave., Tustin, 714-259-1136
crepecoop.com
Crepes Maison
9952 Valley View St., Cypress,
714-236-5866
mycrepesmaison.com
Bistro Papillote
3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa
714‑697‑1707
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