quaconcepts

QUA Brings Contemporary Chinese Cuisine to Fountain Valley

November 23, 2025

Kei Concepts has opened its newest concept, QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine, in Fountain Valley. This distinctive restaurant stands apart in the Kei Concepts family. Chef and founder Viet Nguyen created QUA as a tribute to family, memory and the flavors that shaped his life.

“For years, I created what people asked for,” says Nguyen. “This time, I’m sharing something from my own life. These are the dishes I grew up eating — meals shared with family, neighbors, and friends. The flavors that shaped me.”

QUA honors Nguyen’s grandmother, Vũ Thị Lan, who raised ten children on her own after fleeing Northern Vietnam. Her simple, nourishing meals are the inspiration behind the restaurant’s warm approach to dining. Her values of resilience, care, and togetherness guide everything QUA serves.

The menu draws from Chợ Lớn, Saigon’s historic Chinatown, blending Chinese cuisine with Vietnamese influence. Dishes are served banquet style to encourage conversation and sharing. The menu has two parts: Vietnamese Chinese staples such as roast meats, oyster pancakes, hủ tiếu noodles, and Hainanese chicken rice, along with a rotating selection called Grandma Vũ’s Menu that highlights dishes she once cooked for her family.

An inventive cocktail program and seasonal pantry items, including mooncakes, Tết sticky rice cakes, saté paste, kaya jam, and dessert kits, complement the menu and story.

With 9,000 square feet, 15 foot ceilings, and seating for nearly 190 guests, QUA is designed for lively gatherings. A 32 seat bar forms the energy of the room with private dining spaces and a patio surrounding it. Award winning HBA led the interior design with botanical textures, jewel tones, and Nguyen’s family photographs that celebrate everyday life and heritage.

In Vietnamese, QUA means “to overcome,” a reflection of resilience and cultural identity.

“This isn’t about business strategy,” Nguyen says. “It’s a love letter to my parents — and to anyone who knows what home tastes like.”

Kei Concepts, the Orange County group behind SÚP Noodle Bar, VOX Kitchen, NEP Cafe, and more, continues to push pan Asian dining forward while building community and supporting local innovation.

Wednesday through Sunday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday: Closed

16121 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley. (657) 300-8391

winter2025555

Winter Fest OC Returns November 28 With Expanded Experiences

November 23, 2025

Winter Fest OC, Southern California’s largest winter festival, returns to the OC Fair and Event Center on November 28 with expanded attractions, immersive experiences, and flexible ticketing options. Guests can experience the magic of the holiday season with dazzling lights, fresh snow, thrilling attractions, live entertainment, and festive activities for families, couples, and holiday lovers of all ages. 

Winter Attractions

Experience the thrills of winter with ice skating under the stars, tubing down the 150-foot Snowflake Summit ice slide, and playing in fresh snow with the expanded Snow Play zone. Snow Play now features more snow, more slides, and more interactive fun for all ages, including a new falling snow area.

Spectacular Live Entertainment

At the center of Winter Fest OC is the 40-foot-tall Holiday Tree and the Holiday House, where guests can enjoy a nightly tree lighting celebration with lights and music. New for 2025 are themed entertainment zones featuring live music, character meet-and-greets, and surprise performances throughout the season. Additional live entertainment includes strolling performers, carolers, and stage shows to celebrate the holiday season.

Festive Photo Opportunities & Santa Visits

Winter Fest OC offers countless opportunities for festive photos with a variety of dazzling light installations and immersive holiday displays. Guests can also visit with Santa through December 24.

Flexible Ticket Options for Every Guest

Snow Pass: Ideal for one-day visitors looking to enjoy the best of winter fun. Includes access to all general attractions like the Snow Play with a snow pit, slide and snow carousel, 150-foot long 9 lane Snowflake Summit Ice Tubing slide, nightly tree lighting ceremony, dazzling light installations, nightly entertainment with character interactions, live bands, visits with Santa through December 24, and more. 

Snow Pass-Flex: Buy ahead and plan later. Snow Pass-Flex tickets include all Snow Pass attractions with the flexibility to attend any open date of your choice.

Snow Pass Family 4-Pack: Bundle and save with this special package designed for families or groups with four Snow Passes at a discounted rate.

Season Snow Pass: Make every day a snow day! This ticket grants unlimited entry for all 28 days of the festival run — perfect for locals and holiday enthusiasts.

NEW for 2025: Platinum Pass – The Ultimate Winter Fest OC Experience

Platinum Pass: Introducing the all-new Platinum Pass, your all-access key to the full magic of Winter Fest OC! This top-tier ticket includes every attraction, including unlimited ice skating on Southern California’s largest outdoor rink, unlimited carnival rides, bounce pass, Snowflake Summit fast pass, and one round of Polar Putt-Putt mini golf. Quantities are limited and early purchase is strongly recommended.

Platinum Pass-Flex: Buy ahead and plan later. Includes all Platinum Pass attractions with the flexibility to attend any open date of your choice.

Upgrade Your Snow Pass with Magical Add-on Experiences

Make unforgettable holiday memories at Winter Fest OC with a variety of Snow Pass add-on experiences available at checkout:

Ice Skating: Lace up for more fun by adding a 45-minute session of ice skating under the stars on Southern California’s largest outdoor ice rink to any admission ticket, perfect for creating unforgettable memories on the ice!

Bounce Pass: Add even more excitement with unlimited access to the kids’ inflatable zone! Children ages 3 to 12 can enjoy bouncing, climbing, obstacle courses, and sliding into nonstop fun and laughter.

Polar Putt-Putt: Enjoy a frosty twist on a classic favorite with the newly designed nine-hole Polar Putt Putt mini golf adventure! This ticket add-on includes one round per person—perfect for testing your aim, conquering tricky obstacles, and competing for that hole-in-one victory. 

Snowflake Upgrade: Upgrade your Snowflake Summit tubing experience with express access to the Ice Tube Slide! Breeze past the line, use the dedicated entrance and lanes, and get more runs in during your visit.

Fireside Igloos: Bring your friends and family for a night to remember at the Fireside Igloos. Enjoy plush seating for up to 10 people, a private fire pit, a private bar, a special menu with craft cocktails and roasting s’mores, plus a breathtaking view of the nightly holiday celebration.

Visit WinterFestOC.com for more information

muscosoweta

Musco Center Welcomes Soweto Gospel Choir: Peace

November 23, 2025

Musco Center for the Arts presents Soweto Gospel Choir: PEACE on Tuesday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m.

The multi-GRAMMY and Emmy Award winning Soweto Gospel Choir returns to North America with a joyful program of South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals and familiar classics. The internationally acclaimed choir is known for uplifting audiences with earthy rhythms, rich harmonies and an infectious spirit. 

The concert, titled “Peace,” will also feature spirited music from Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Leonard Cohen and others. A perfect performance for the entire family.

Tickets start at $38. For tickets and more information, visit muscocenter.org.

 415 North Glassell St., Orange, CA 92866 | 714.997.6812

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Greer's OC
Blogger | Journalist

Since 1993, Greer has been writing about fashion, dining and trends in Orange County, as a popular columnist for the Los Angeles Time Community Newspapers (Daily Pilot, Coastline Pilot and HB Independent) and now as founder of Greer’s OC.

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