Chewie & Mellow Desserts

Located in the Trade Marketplace – a plaza that’s also home to the Trade Food Hall, HiroNori Craft Ramen, and Ootoro Sushi – Chewie & Mellow Desserts opened in 2024 as an Irvine alternative to the Roasting Water chain, similarly combining a tiny trendy toy shop with a small cafe that serves Hong Kong- and Taiwanese-style desserts and drinks. Figurines and plushies are displayed on two walls, and sold in randomized “blind boxes” at prices ranging from $12 to $21. Although the concept is fine and may appeal to those who care more about cuteness or toys than food or drink quality, one visit was more than enough for us.

Half of Chewie & Mellow’s menu focuses on drinks, which are divided into four categories: “real fruit,” “creamy,” “mochi,” and “sweet tofu.” We started with a Dark Cherry Slush ($6.78) from the fruit category, hoping for anything to stand out, but it was thoroughly bland and not worth ordering again: largely watery, with little ice, moderate rather than strong fruit flavor, and a handful of filmy jellies at the bottom. Next up was an Icy Chocolate Mochi ($6.78), which was basically a chocolate milk with tiny mochi bits at the bottom – nothing fantastic, but not bad. If not for the textures of the jelly and mochi pieces, neither of these drinks would have qualified as slightly good or interesting in any way.