By Emily Chan & Pham Tran
Need a fun drink or snack for your next study session? Good news! ViLand Coffee and Desserts just opened at 9600 Bolsa Avenue, Westminster!
Open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., ViLand has a wide variety of matches, lattes, coffees, teas and blended drinks to choose from. You can also pick up a croissant, sandwich, or dessert if your stomach starts to grumble!
Architecture
Being at a cafe suddenly gives off home-sweet-home feelings. The ambience is very inviting with warm lighting, lots of windows, and comfortable seating. Though the cafe is on the smaller side, there are plenty of places to sit and chat. Furthermore, there is bar-like seating along the right window with a bountiful number of charging ports built into the table for your studying needs.
The inside has many wooden elements and plants (although fake) that give a natural touch and contrast to how modern the rest of the cafe is.
Honey Chrysanthemum Tea | $6.00
This tea will definitely be on my go-to summer drinks list! Just like herbs cure sickness, this drink cures my soul for the day. From the look to the taste, its bright yellow sunset color is so comforting that I just want to close my eyes and be in that calming state.
Viland puts so many details into this drink. From the basil seeds and slice of lime, to the drink itself, everything is so refreshing that it could destroy any heat waves during the summertime. The variety of ingredients gives my health a second chance to renew after staying up all night studying. Lastly, the light caffeine level with the not-too-sweet taste makes the drink a solid option for customers of all ages!
Rating: 8.5/10
Young Coconut Avocado | $6.00
This light green drink is delightfully smooth and refreshing! At first, I was a bit skeptical just because the last avocado drink I had simply wasn’t for me, but the avocado in this blended drink gives it a surprisingly fresh and creamy texture.
I’m not the biggest fan of coconut drinks, but this drink is one of the most coconut-centric drinks possible. There are little coconut bits throughout the drink that completely overshadow the taste of the avocado, yet I’m not mad about it. The flavor has grown on me, and I’d definitely get this drink again, especially during the hotter months.
Rating: 8/10
Ube Matcha | $7.00
I love ube, I love matcha, but this drink simply fell short. To start, the matcha’s color wasn’t the vibrant green I typically gravitate towards, and the ube at the bottom turned the drink a slight brown following mixing.
Both the matcha and ube flavors aren’t very strong, and you end up with just a sweet drink. If you’re planning to take a few sips and leave it in your fridge to save for later, do note that it will cause the matcha powder to separate from the milk, so make sure you give it a good mix.
Personally, I wouldn’t get this drink again as someone who prefers a strong matcha.
Rating: 7.5/10
Strawberry Matcha Latte | $7.00
Strawberry matcha latte at every cage is always a “wow” to me, but unfortunately, this is the first time that it’s not. I thought I was drinking strawberry milk from the grocery store and forgot that it was a matcha drink.
The strawberry chunks on the bottom are swimming in a big pool of milk, and the matcha layer on top seems to just be a spectator. Another point to note is that the cafe has no boba straws, so I had to kiss the straw every time to get the strawberry chunks up into my mouth.
Rating: 6/10
Beignets | $0.75/each
If you’re a fan of both airy glazed donuts and Princess Tiana from Disney, then this is the perfect breakfast item for you! These golden fried beignets with powdered sugar on top add a solid touch to my morning. Unlike donuts, they are not too sweet, but rather chewy and quite delightful.
Taking a bite of this in the morning makes you want to step into the Disney world and be the Tiana to your Prince Naveen.
Rating: 9/10
Customer Service
With the long line of customers in front of the door all day long, ViLand staff are never discouraged. Not only do they make sure to serve you fast, but they also serve you well. Customers never have to complain about them taking too long, as drinks seem to be coming out of the barista counter nonstop.
Every customer always leaves the cafe with a smile on their face, maybe it’s from both the drinks and the friendly service here.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, ViLand is the place where you can both catch up with some friends or get focused and study for finals. The homely vibes that you get from the cafe make you feel like you can finally take a deep breath after a long day of work.
However, if you are someone who prioritizes the excellent taste of drinks rather than space, I wouldn’t set my expectations too high and get all disappointed after the visit!
