3CAT Handcrafted Beverage

As huge fans of restaurant and cafe openings, it’s highly unusual for us to visit a new place even once without sampling some of the menu – possibly returning for a second round – so when we say that we stopped by the first OC location of 3CAT Handcrafted Beverage multiple times without ordering anything, that might tell you something. Originating in LA County, 3CAT opened at The District at Tustin Legacy in 2024, replacing a Boba Square shop that closed in 2023, yet our group of three struggled to find three drinks we wanted to order there, and always decided to go elsewhere. (This was despite the location’s pleasant light wood decor, 15-20-person seating, and shelving decorated with cute cat-themed books and figurines.)

In 2026 – soon after a second OC location opened in Westminster – we finally committed to just trying something at 3CAT, and went through the oversized tablet screened menu with fresh eyes. Much of the menu consists of dairy drinks with milk from Straus Family Creamery, a challenge for our lactose intolerant family member, who found only a couple of non-dairy options: Lime Explosion with either green or black tea ($6.50), or Super Orange ($6.50). Other drinks, including smoothies ($7.30 to $8.50), milk & teas ($6), mousse & teas ($6 to $7), seasonals ($8 to $9) and signatures ($7.30 to $7.50), are essentially all dairy-based, some with the opportunity to sub oat milk in for the Straus cream. Savory ingredients such as rice, barley, avocado, and water chestnuts are prominent on the menu; fruits including mango, grape, and watermelon are sometimes solo and sometimes paired with traditional Chinese teas including osmanthus, jasmine, dragon well green tea, and black tea; several matcha drinks are also available.