Vasilki Cafe Bakery

Those looking for American, Italian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, or Asian meals have plenty of choices in Orange County, but other European cuisines are far less broadly represented: Authentic German, Spanish, French, and Swiss options generally can each be counted on one hand. In July 2026, Vasilki Cafe Bakery opened directly next to local Danish/German restaurant Copenhagen Corner in a Laguna Niguel plaza, becoming an OC unicorn by specializing in items from Eastern Europe – specifically the Russia-adjacent nations of Belarus and Ukraine – as well as offering fairly standard coffees, teas, and cocoa.

Seating 20 or so people across a small but nice two-room space, Vasilki decorates its dining room’s walls with painted namesake vasilki blue wildflowers and a collection of objects evoking farms and fields. On our August 2026 visit, there were no menus save a list of coffees on the wall behind the front counter, though a bakery display case was accompanied by some scattered pastry names and prices. First-time visitors mightn’t realize that this is more than just a coffee shop; the lone (friendly) person at the front counter simply alternated between making drinks and handing off already made bakery items from the display case.

But there’s more going on here if you know where to look. First, a double-door standing fridge turns out to be loaded with cans and bottles from Eastern Europe, including Belarusian and Ukrainian Kvass fermented rye bread beverages, probiotic drinks, mineral waters, and sodas. Additionally, Vasilki’s website has a menu with more food choices ranging from savory crepes and khachapuri cheese boats to potato or cottage cheese pancakes, plus borscht, salads, and soups, all priced from $14 to $17. Some but not all of Vasilki’s bakery, pastry, and dessert items are on display at the counter; we didn’t spot cinnamon rolls ($5.30), red velvet cakes ($7.60), or chocolate dream trifles ($14), but did see a bunch of Belarusian items, so went with what we knew was ready to go.