It’s a strange combination: a cross between Chuck E. Cheese and a trendy cafe in Seoul, but it works — for kids and adults alike. Audrey contributor Kristen Chang checks out the Little Prince Cafe in Buena Park, Calif., and enjoys seeing the world through the eyes of a child … a trendy, spa-going child.
About a month ago, my mom handed me a Little Prince flier she picked up at the Korean spa she frequents. We both agreed that it looked absolutely adorable, so we recruited my young cousins to be our excuse to check it out.
True to expectations, the interior design of Little Prince is amazing. It combines the playfulness of a kids restaurant with the clean modern feel you might expect in a trendy cafe. The careful attention to detail is quite obvious. The entrance houses shoe cubbies for all customers and opens into the main dining area. In the center of the dining area is a decorative tree surrounded by a myriad of toys. The adjacent play area has three sections: a kids library, a playset reminiscent of a McDonald’s Playplace, and a dress up corner with gowns, tiaras, heels, even tuxedos for the boys. There is also a party room behind the main dining area.
The food runs a bit on the pricey side, but it also serves as the admission ticket for adults. The menu selection ranges from American to Italian to Korean. The portions are large and the presentation is excellent. Most importantly, it tastes good! The fondue is absolutely delectable — it was the only period of time all three kids were silent (stuffing their faces!). The wait staff are thorough and attentive.
The best part about Little Prince is that you can go there to take a break from your little prince or princess. It’s a small enough venue that it’s easy to keep track of little ones (there are video monitors covering all sections of the play area), and Little Prince employs people to monitor and play with the kids. On a deadline at work? Want to catch up with friends? Little Prince offers enough peace and quiet to get something done or take a mental break, all without feeling irresponsible to the little ones. Because, trust me, they are having a ball.
My 8-year-old cousin and I did a thorough “fun test” of all the goodies at Little Prince. We discovered quirky, unique entertainment with the potential to satisfy kids for hours. Little Prince charges admission for kids 3-10, which is their target age group, but I would actually cap the age at 7 or 8. My 10-year-old cousin would rather slice fruit on my iPhone than play with the “girly” toys. (Kids these days!) Jillian had lots of fun exploring the entire area, but I noticed she was still a bit big for the equipment. For example, she had to bend her knees on the zipline because she was too tall, and none of the dress up clothes would even come close to fitting her. She actually had the most fun posing for an impromptu photo shoot with all the cool props and toys and rolling around in the ball pit.
Overall, it’s a fun, safe place for kids to play and parents to take a break (if they so desire). We visited Little Prince on a Thursday afternoon, so it was fairly empty — I’m not sure how busy it can get on weekends. It’s distinctly Korean, as evidenced by the books in the library and the menu selection, but the environment is welcoming to kids of all nationalities. I’m not Korean, but I found myself wishing Little Prince existed when I was little. So if you’re looking to spoil a kid (or be relieved of one) for a couple of hours, drop by!
5300 Beach Blvd, Ste 110
Buena Park, CA 90621
(714) 690-1432
www.littleprinceusa.com
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