Leaf N Cream

Tustin’s Leaf N Cream is one of Orange County’s most interesting cafes. For more than a decade, it has occupied the same spot at a plaza best known for Vietnamese sandwich shop THH, and also rode the waves at The District at Tustin Legacy‘s Union Market food hall until its decline, continuing to serve drinks as other businesses peeled off one by one. Today, the business operates jointly as Leaf N Cream and the area’s first store-in-store location of Chinese mega-chain Cotti Coffee – the latter’s evolving story is linked there and worth reading – but more importantly, it continues to make really good drinks and acai bowls.

Most of Leaf N Cream’s $6-7 specialty drinks have individual names hinting at their atypically good looks: The Mermaid, for instance, layers butterfly pea tea, strawberry, and lychee jelly, while Mr. Mango is a mango slush mixed with cheese foam. Vietnamese coffees, matcha teas, and cloud cream toppings are among the latest draws. You can also build your own drink for $5.50, adding up to 11 a la carte toppings such as boba for 75 cents to $1 each.

Though some of the drinks don’t quite live up to their menu photos – a “Blue Latte” ($6.50 to $7.25) colored with spirulina extract didn’t look anywhere near as blue or as beautifully, unevenly creamy as officially depicted – the flavors are always great thanks to strong, properly balanced ingredients. In 2026, the menu added more options at the same time as Leaf N Cream expanded its hours; it’s now open at 9am daily for both its own offerings and Cotti’s drinks.