Westminster, CA, is rich in cultural and political history. As the home of Little Saigon, the city has the largest population of Vietnamese people outside of Vietnam, many of which immigrated in the 1980s. It’s also the site of the famous Mendez v. Westminster Supreme Court case, which paved the way for Brown v. Board of Education, leading to the end of school segregation in the US.
Considering moving in and starting your own history? Here’s everything you need to know about Westminster, CA.
Weather
Dining
Shopping
Outdoor Recreation
Local Attractions
What’s in the Area?
Education
Jobs
Cost of Living
Culture
Transportation
Commute
Weather
Westminster, CA enjoys pleasant weather year round. Spring is warm and sunny with most of the rainfall of winter left behind. Summers are warm, with an average of four days per year reaching into the 90s, but the average temperature remaining in the 80s. Falls and winters are mild, staying mostly in the 50s and 60s, with a few days each year dropping below freezing.
Westminster’s location – just miles inland from the Pacific Ocean –keeps its temperature fluctuations mild and creates banks of fog that tend to burn off by mid morning.
For the latest weather, here’s the 10-day forecast for Westminster, CA.
Dining
Westminster has tons of great restaurants to choose from. Whatever food you’re craving, you’ll find it here. All of the usual chains and fast food joints can be found in Westminster, but there are also tons of great restaurants that are unique to the city. Here are some of the great, unique restaurants that can be found only in Westminster, CA!
Lazy Dog Bar and Restaurant – This restaurant sells sandwiches, burgers, and all the usual diner fare, but it also sells something special. The Lazy Dog Bar and Restaurants makes homemade TV dinners that are pre-made and cooked when you’re ready to eat. They feature classic TV dinner options such as mashed potatoes, turkey, and even pineapple upside down cake. Order online or dine-in to try these inventive TV dinners!
Shinobu Japanese BBQ – This highly rated local Japanese BBQ restaurant offers several options to suit any diner, from the ravenously hungry to the slightly peckish. There are several all you can eat (AYCE) options for those who want to pick and choose. For those who want a fixed quantity, Shinobu Japanese BBQ also has regular menu items such as breaded shrimp and pork buns.
Ham n’ Scram – This soup and sandwich restaurant sells very specific offerings: delicious breakfast wraps and tasty soups and sandwiches. There’s the classic breakfast burrito, breakfast bowls, and even english muffin sandwiches. Their soups range from classics like chicken noodle all the way to spicy chili. Stop by if you’re in the area.
Pho 101 – Delicious rice noodles swimming in a rich broth – what’s not to love? Pho is a beloved dish in Westminster, thanks to the Vietnamese immigrants who settled in the area decades ago. But not all pho restaurants are as good as Pho 101. This restaurant is one of the highest rated in the area and many diners comment that it’s the best they’ve ever had. That’s saying something in a town that has as many pho places as there are McDonald’s restaurants.
Seafood Cove – This Chinese restaurant serves seafood-centric dishes, including their famous house special lobster, plucked fresh from their saltwater tank. In addition to their wide variety of seafood dishes. Seafood cove also serves daily dim sum from 8:30am to 3pm. Their dizzying array of menu items make it hard to choose just one dish. So Don’t! Order a few dishes and share with friends.
Dino’s Italian Restaurant – This restaurant is known for its quality and affordability. It offers a large selection of Italian dishes—from pasta to pizza and everything in between—for an affordable price. Stop by and take advantage of their lunch specials or have them cater your special event!
Shopping
There are dozens of shopping malls, strip malls and shopping centers all over Westminster, CA. You’ll find what you’re looking for without much trouble, thanks to all the options available in this city. Here are some of the best places to shop in Westminster, California.
Westminster Mall – Target, Macy’s, Pink, Lenscrafters, and more all call this location home.
Westminster Center – You can find a grocery store, movie theater, restaurants, and more at this location.
The Asian Garden Mall – As the largest majority Vietnamese-owned mall in operation in America, it is home to dozens of shops, restaurants, and wholesale stores.
Pavilions Place – Restaurants, department stores, and others in this clean, inviting shopping mall.
Outdoor Recreation
As part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, there are many more city and indoor attractions than there are opportunities for outdoor recreation in Westminster, CA. However, there are several great local parks and other opportunities to get outside and enjoy yourself. Here are a few of the local gems.
Hoover Golf Center – Spend a fun afternoon at this driving range. Buckets of balls are affordable, and the staff is pleasant.
Sigler Park – This spacious local park has a large splash pad for children to play on, several playground areas, and covered pavilions for get-togethers and BBQs.
Bowling Green Park – The park features a playground area for children as well as walking, jogging, and bicycling paths.
Local Attractions
Donut Life Museum – This interactive pop-up experience celebrates the humble donut in all its glory and deliciousness. Take mouthwatering photos and enjoy time with family and friends. This unique place won’t last long!
Museum of the Republic of Vietnam – The first and only museum in the world dedicated to the history of the Republic of Vietnam and its military. It’s goal is to educate future generations and preserve the unique history of Vietnam. All visitors are welcome.
Skyzone – Wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, ziplines, obstacles courses, and more await visitors at Skyzone! Kids and adults will love flying high and defying gravity at this trampoline park! You can even reserve the facility for birthday parties and other group events. Buy your tickets now!
Westminster Memorial Park – This beautiful local park is home to more trees, flowers, and plants than any other park in the area. This 150-acre park is meticulously cared for and contains a stream, waterfall, pond, and sanctuary. The chapel on the grounds is a popular location for community events and has become an Orange County landmark.
Escape VR – You’ve heard of escape rooms, but what about virtual reality escape rooms? EscapeVR provides immersive escape room experiences all in virtual reality. Transform into goblins and escape the clutches of the goblin king or work your way through a series of tests and experiments with a partner to prove your worth. Try this unique twist on an escape room at Escape VR in Westminster, CA!
What’s in the area?
Westminster is just southeast of Los Angeles, making trips to the city simple. In fact, most of the dining, shopping, and entertainment of the Los Angeles metropolitan area can be accessed by residents of Westminster without much trouble. There can be traffic, of course, but Westminster, CA is centrally located and not far from some of the most famous locations in the area!
Huntington Beach is also just a short drive away from Westminster. Beach days are popular with Westminster residents, and surfing and swimming are popular activities. Though a bit farther away, Long Beach and Newport Beach are also relatively close.
Westminster is just south of Disneyland, making a trip to the magic kingdom very doable. If you’re looking to get away from the crowds and the cities, the Santa Ana Mountains are just to the east. Visitors will find spectacular views and waterfalls if they’re willing to hike a few miles.
Schools
Good news for those with kids: Westminster, CA has an above-average public school district. It has 9,036 students in grades K-8 with an average student-teacher ratio of 24:1. It’s also in the top 20 percent of California school districts for most diversity. Individual schools west of the 405 tend to rank a bit higher than those east of the 405, but all Westminster schools are rated as above average.
Though not home to a university itself, several of the surrounding cities, such as Irvine and Long Beach, do have universities, making higher education a possibility for those living in Westminster, CA. University of California in Irvine and California State University, Long Beach are both highly rated institutions.
For those looking for two-year programs, Westminster, CA does have community college options. Coastline College is one such school.
Jobs
School districts and hospitals are the largest employers in Westminster, CA, proper, but plenty of large employers can be found in the surrounding areas. In general, jobs are plentiful in Westminster, CA, especially in the service and retail industries.
Many residents work at Disneyland just north in Anaheim, CA, or commute closer to Los Angeles for work.
Looking for a job? Here are the latest listings for jobs in Westminster, CA.
Cost of Living
The largest barrier to living in California is the cost of housing. Westminster, CA, is no exception. The average cost of a home in Westminster is around $667,000, which is nearly three times the national average. This makes apartments an attractive option. At The Edward Apartments in Westminster, CA, we offer luxury living at competitive prices.
Despite the cost of homes, there are some costs that are below the national average. Both utility costs and healthcare costs are below the national average. The cost of groceries, food, and other household goods also tend to be affordable.
Here’s more about the cost of living in Westminster, CA.
Culture
Westminster is very culturally diverse and home to thriving businesses and performing arts centers. There are Asian shops, malls, and restaurants that give the city a unique flavor.
One of the biggest cultural influences on the city is the large number of refugees that came from Vietnam around the 1980s. Driving through the city, you’ll notice dual American/Vietnamese flags waving from the streetlights along the streets and the dual-language signage on restaurants and other local businesses. After all, the population is nearly 40 percent Vietnamese!
Transportation
Westminster has a robust local transportation system that connects it with the rest of the LA metropolitan area. In addition to local bus routes that are available throughout the city, there are multiple rush-hour bus lines that have stops every 15 minutes or sooner during peak times of the week.
On the western edge of the city is the Goldenwest Transportation Center, which serves as a hub for traveling to different areas in the region. Westminster is served by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).
Check these local maps before planning your trip.
Commute
Westminster is centrally located and makes commuting easy. Here are the commuting times to some popular southern California locations.
Just minutes to the 405
14 minutes to the 5
17 minutes to the beach
21 minutes to Huntington Beach
22 minutes to Disneyland
22 minutes to John Wayne Airport
35 minutes to LAX
41 minutes to downtown LA
Now that you know more about Westminster, CA, stop by The Edward Apartments or call us at (714) 640-6479 to schedule a tour today. We work hard to make sure each of our residents has a great place to live! Live happy at The Edward Apartments in Westminster, CA!
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