Why settle for just one cuisine when you could combine two or even three of your favorite foods into one incredible bite? Whether you’re an adventurous foodie or tired of hangry group chat negotiations, fusion food is here to save the day— and your friendships. Inside Fullerton visited five different restaurants that creatively create food that is the best of both worlds.
Omeli Kitchen, 2466 E Chapman Ave, Fullerton
Looking for the perfect restaurant for late-night fusion eats? Try out Omeli Kitchen, a Vietnamese Peruvian eatery located eight minutes from Fullerton College. Their extensive menu includes traditional Vietnamese dishes like Phở, Bun Thit Nuong, and spring rolls as well as Peruvian dishes like Loma Saltado and Shrimp Saltado, and they even offer crab curry that blends Thai and Vietnamese flavors. There’s something for everyone at Omeli Kitchen.
Bee Nguyễn, a nursing student at Fullerton College who has been a server at Omeli Kitchen since they opened in 2023, says her peers always come in after late nights studying at the library, as the restaurant is open until 1 a.m. Their most popular dishes include their ribeye phở, shaken beef, a classic Vietnamese dish featuring stir-fried marinated beef cubes and the Loma Saltado, a traditional Peruvian dish that replaces the usual strips of sirloin with their shaken beef paired with crispy crinkle-cut fries, red onions, tomatoes and the house-made Peruvian Ají Verde sauce, the Loma Saltado is popular for a reason.
Desi Halal Pizza, 2720 Nutwood Ave D., Fullerton
If you ever find yourself craving the warm, comforting flavors of your favorite Indian spot, but also a hot, cheesy slice of pizza, look no further than Desi Halal Pizza, located only seven minutes away from Fullerton College.
Serving creative Indian Pizza combinations like their butter chicken pizza, Tandoori Chicken Pizza that features a spicy curry sauce topped with a three-cheese blend, red onions, tomatoes, green peppers, green chilies, Tandoori chicken, and cilantro. and classic New York style slices, manager Ozzie Arzaba says their fusion pizzas represent the best of both worlds. Arzaba, who started making pizzas when the location was still Brooklynz Pizza, says old customers still come back to get their usual New York style slice and try out the Desi ones. “They’re curious, they buy it, they try it, and they come back,” he says.
For those who enjoy wings with their pizza, try out their tandoori wings that are seasoned with classic Indian spices, served with grilled red onions, bell peppers, and fresh cilantro. Arzaba says, “We make the chicken here. We marinate the chicken here. We don’t buy it.”
Chicana Vegana, 113 E Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton
When dinner ideas are scarce, you can never go wrong with staples like burgers or tacos. However, for people living a vegan lifestyle, eating out could mean compromising flavor, risking potential allergens, and questionable “vegetarian” options.
Jasmine Hernandez, a proud Chicana born and raised in Fullerton, says that after switching to a plant-based diet in 2017, she noticed a lack of vegan options in the area. The eatery began as a food truck in 2017 and now has a permanent location in downtown Fullerton. Chicana Vegana quickly became many people’s go-to spot for American staples like burgers and melts, as well as classic Mexican dishes like tacos, sopes, and burritos—all 100% vegan.
Even if you’re not vegan, Chicana Vegana’s soy-based proteins and Impossible patties taste and feel just like the real thing. Customer favorites include their Cali-Bae Rito, a burrito that substitutes rice for french fries, loaded nachos, asada tacos and their wide array of burgers. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try their take on the Korean marinated beef dish bulgogi in their Mexgogi taco.Whether your New Year’s resolution is to go vegan or you’re just craving quality classics, check out Chicana Vegana, located just two minutes from Fullerton College’s campus.
Les Amis, 2466 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton
Located only three minutes from Fullerton College and nestled between downtown Fullerton’s escape rooms and salons, is the 4,000-square-foot Lebanese fusion restaurant and lounge, Les Amis. Jinan Montecristo, founder and owner of the eatery, says her upbringing in Thailand, Singapore and Abu Dhabi led her to open Les Amis in 2010, a restaurant with an extensive menu that includestraditional Lebanese dishes she grew up with as well as flavors that celebrate her husband Juan Carlos’s Mexican heritage. Think of colorful fattoush, a traditional Lebanese salad, to falafel taquitos, tacos arabes and shawarma baked potatoes. “Latin cuisine and Middle Eastern cuisine are not very different, as far as spices are concerned, and their methods of preparation are very similar” she says.
Les Amis also serves pita wraps, shish kabobs and platters where you can try a bit of everything—perfect for each person in the friend group.
Taken from the Winter 2025 print issue of Inside Fullerton. Read it here.
