Food such as this brings thousands to the Anaheim Packing District each evening and weekend. Photos from the Anaheim Packing District Facebook.
The Anaheim Packing District has become an iconic dining and entertainment destination in Downtown Anaheim. Only five miles from CSUF campus, it’s a great place to head for an evening of fun.
Years ago, when Orange County was a major agricultural region, the Anaheim Packing House was a Sunkist citrus processing facility. In 2014, it reopened as a destination food hall market, in the style common in Europe, South America and Asia. Today, it is the anchor of a revitalized downtown that offers residents and visitors entertainment, dining and recreation.
Here are 10 things not to miss when you visit the packing district.
- Eat at Ecco Pizzeria
Neapolitan pizza is served fresh with imported ingredients from Italy at this pizzeria. Baked at 800°F for two minutes – a rare cooking skill – the pizzas are ready to eat in short order. Love their pizza? Check out their other locations in Irvine and Costa Mesa.
- Eat at The Chippy
Enjoy tasty fish and chips, salads and sandwiches here. If you are ever in South Coast Metro, check out their other location in Irvine.
- Get Refreshed at the Pop Bar
Get a gelato, strawberry or yogurt iced pop on a stick with the topping of your choice at this ice cream bar concept. It is a great relief on a hot day.
Build your delicious frozen confection at the Anaheim Packing District’s Pop Bar. Image from the Anaheim Packing District Instagram.
- Get a Taste of Japan at Orange Tei
Sushi and ramen await the visitor at Orange Tei on the upper floor of the Packing House. The delicious smell of freshly-cooked ramen fills the air.
- Enjoy Live Music
Every weekend, live music at the Mezzanine Stage is all the more reason to visit. Musical artists of every stripe perform here – and they appreciate your tips.
- Check Out Packing House History
A display on the upper level near the east entrance showcases the process citrus and other foods take from grower to the dinner table. A plaque at the entrance on Anaheim Blvd. notes the district’s status as part of the National Register of Historic Places.
The interior of the Anaheim Packing District is an experience for the senses. Image from the Anaheim Packing District Instagram.
- Play Ping-Pong
Between the Packing House and the Packard Building is Farmer’s Park. It is a great place to relax in the shade or try your hand at the outdoor ping-pong table.
- Enjoy a Burger at the Packard Building
Built in 1925, the Packard Building spent years as a car showroom. Now it houses Umami Burger and Anaheim Brewery. The interior is true to its heritage with repurposed license plates.
- Ride Polly the Trolley
Running noon to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, the trolley takes the pain out of parking by shuttling visitors to and from the parking structures on Center Street Promenade. It’s free and runs every 15 minutes.
Riding the free trolley may make you feel like you’re in San Francisco or San Diego, but the summer heat and humidity will remind you that you are in inland Orange County. Photo by Daniel Coats.
- Check Out the Neighborhood
Downtown Anaheim offers a farmer’s market on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., has a public ice skating facility that also doubles as the training center for the Anaheim Ducks, and hosts various traveling art and cultural exhibits at the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center (open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Plus, there are many shops and restaurants, all within a very walkable few city blocks.
The Packing House opens daily at 9 a.m. for breakfast. Individual restaurant hours vary, though bars remain open until midnight. There is free admission.
How to Get There
The easiest route to take from campus is to head west on Chapman Ave., toward Downtown Fullerton, and then take a left (south) on Harbor Blvd. Take a left (east) on Santa Ana Street and you will be at the district.
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