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    Chai Lan

    3.7 (456 reviews)
    ModerateChinese, Korean
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Chai Lan Photos

    Business Info

    CHAI LAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Chai Lan

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    Reviews With Photos

    Seafood soup
    Yurie H.

    Not sure why the reviews are bad but service is fast and food is tasty! My fiance and I came here for dinner around 6 Pm on a Sunday. It got very crowded past 6:30 Pm so recommend coming on the earlier side on weekends. Their menu is Chinese Korean fusion. I got the seafood soup with noodles and my fiance got the mapo fried rice. We also got a soju. Food came within 10 min. Seafood soup-light and flavorful, lots of seafood large portion for me! Mapo fried rice-spicy and hearty, fried rice isn't too greasy. Wish they had more banchan since it was only radish and kimchi. Overall solid would come back here to try other dishes

    Jagruti L.

    Wow! Korean-Chinese fusion! They are popular for serving noddle with black bean sauce. I was in OC/Irvine area visiting and came by for an early dinner. I ordered seafood fried rice with beef. It was served with egg drop soup. Delicious and flavorful. The portion was huge and shareable. The service was great. Ambiance is nice.

    black bean noodle
    Brandon T.

    A pleasant time it was being introduced to a near and dear restaurant of my sweetie. She raves about this joint quite often and we celebrated her achievement of a milestone in life woo!! At first, we unfortunately did not enjoy our initial time here as the service seemed to be very understaffed causing the initial greet to take about 10 minutes. we didn't get a menu or water during that time, which is a long time when you're hungry! The waitress served us very nicely though when she got around! so no hard feelings. However, the food definitely saved the day and made up for the little lag in the beginning. the black bean noodle is a the billboard dish here, i haven't found anywhere that offered something this yummy! 2 dishes (black bean noodle and sweet and sour pork) came out to $45 including tip! not too shabby of a joint! If service amped up and maybe having more side dishes would make this a 5 star cuisine no doubt!

    Spicy Seafood Jjampong
    Brandon C.

    We went in on a Wednesday night around 8pm and there was no line. The waitress was super kind and friendly and sat us down and was able to get us water and side dishes right away. We were waiting on another friend to arrive, but they still sat us and patiently waited for our friend to arrive after telling them there was one more person. They took our order promptly and got our food out asap. The inside was also super clean. The side dishes are just okay. I've definitely had better radish kimchi. It had great crunch and crisp bite to it, but the flavor wasn't too strong. The yellow daikon on the other hand was very yummy with a nice sweet flavor and crunch. The jajangmyeon was good, but not my favorite. 6.8/10. It was too sweet and there were so many onions and not enough meat. I feel like if there was more noodles, it could have balanced out some of the super strong and sweet flavors, but they do have an option to order more noodles for a little bit extra money. Other than that, it was very tasty. The noodle texture was perfect. Not too hard, not too chewy, and a nice bouncy texture. The sauce clinged onto the noodles perfectly and that was the star of the dish. The spicy seafood jjampong was my favorite of the two dishes. The broth was rich and full of flavor without being too heavy. I love spicy food and this hit the spot. Often I am afraid that these types of soups are way too fishy, but I didn't get that from this bowl. The flavor was great and they use the same noodles as the jajangmyeon so they were great as well. Just a warning, with all soup noodles, the longer you let the noodles sit in the bowl without eating, the more soup they soak up and the texture gets softer. We got the large size for both dishes and let me say that the portion size is HUGE. Between me and my 3 other friends, we couldn't come very close to finishing everything. It was just so much food. I ended up getting a Togo box and brought a bunch of leftovers home. Overall solid place. I might come back in the future if I am craving this type of food.

    Sweet and lightly spicy fried shrimp
    Emily W.

    Glad to have good a really good Korean-Chinese restaurant that serves jajangmyun and jjampong nearby! I wasn't expecting much to be honest but it really hit the spot. Service was prompt. The place is nice and clean. Food is delicious and portions are great. The sweet and spicy fried shrimp was so addicting. The jjamppong had a clean taste to it. It didn't feel overly salty or oily which I appreciated. I really want to try their mapo tofu next time!

    Lana K.

    Great place when craving jia jiang bap! They offer the staple Korean/Chinese cuisine. Clean establishment with good food and service.

    Jangpong rice
    Michelle C.

    Friends and I got to celebrate and spend time with a dearly beloved little sister. There is typically a written waitlist to put your name on. We waited for about 10 minutes to get seated. Many Asians gather about here! The service is speedy and diligent. For a group of three adults and a high school mentee we got three individual dishes and one main to share 1) tangsuyuk - the sauce had a good amount of vegetables and the meat was a good portion that filled our stomachs!! 2) jjang pong and rice - I love the variety of seafood included in here and the vegetables as well 3) jjang pong and noodles 4) jja jjang myeon (black noodles) The spiciness of the jjang pong wakes up the taste buds in a good way! We all ate quite happily. I wish service wasn't too hasty however. For the remaining food, we got to take to-go. I love the side dishes offered - spicy radishes 깍두기 and pickled yellow radishes (takuan) 단무지. It pairs nicely with the dishes we got. The ambiance reminds me of a fast food restaurant to some extent. The place is great to grab a hearty Chinese-Korean fusion food. God bless you all.

    Jjajangmyeon, Sweet and Sour Pork, Jjamppong
    Michelle T.

    Stopped by for dinner on a whim, can't believe this place is by the Hmart that I go to all this time! Parking is no big deal as it's in a plaza shared with a supermarket and several other businesses. The shop is decently-sized and does not feel cramped. Service was decent and quick. Got their Jjajangmyeon, Jjamppong, and Sweet and Sour Pork. We got some radish kimchi and pickled daikon for our food too. The radish kimchi was more on the sour side and was so addicting to eat as a palate cleanser. - Jjajangmyeon: Their black bean noodles is a solid option. It's pretty basic and not oily at all. Bouncy noodles, generous sauce, and good portion. With the side dishes and the Sweet and Sour Pork, it's just a great combo! - Jjamppong: Spicy broth, bouncy noodles, and hefty amount of seafood! I enjoyed their noodles and broth but unfortunately found the seafood a little fishy. They are pretty generous with the seafood, but it's average tasting for me. I can skip this dish as part of the order next time I come here. - Sweet and Sour Pork: This was so good! Very crispy and light, and the pork does not have a porky smell or taste. Paired with the sweet and sour sauce (that automatically comes on the side), so yummy! Their sweet and sour sauce was nicely seasoned and a nice compliment to a crisp piece of pork! This was my favorite of the three dishes! Overall, this is a great spot to satisfy your craving for jjajangmyeon and sweet and sour pork! Despite the average star rating, this is a solid spot to stop by for a great filling meal!

    Peter P.

    Wait staff were very friendly. Overall the food was delicious. The jjajangmyun was on point and the garlic chicken. Kkangpunggi was really good. Not many places offer this type of garlic chicken in irvine. The only thumbs down would be the jjanpong. It had all the good stuff in it. But the soup was a little too watery and bland imo.

    Diet coke with big mug
    Sam C.

    This used to be our favorite place for jjambong until the Hmart opened next door, but it's still the best kang-pong-seh-oo -- fried shrimp with hot pepper sauce. The shrimp is fried just right and it's still crispy even with the hot sauce. (At some places the shrimp batter gets soggy.) The jjambong is still good and it comes with half a crab -- which most places don't have. It doesn't have as much vegetable topping as the place in Hmart, but still good I also like some of the other dishes like yoo-san-sul-bap. It has a mild but still rich flavor and served with sides of egg drop soup as well as some sauce from jjajangmeon if you want to mix it in with the rice I also took a picture of the mug with ice that they gave me for my diet coke. A lot of Asian places don't have big cups of ice, so this was welcome. We always get great service. The staff is very friendly and very fast.

    menu
    Yuko Y.

    Chai Lan in Irvine is such a great find! I ordered the black bean sauce noodle with pork, and it was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The servers were very nice and friendly, and the whole place felt clean and cozy -- a really comfortable spot to enjoy a meal. Free parking is a big plus! Highly recommended if you're looking for tasty food, great service, and convenience.

    Juhee K.

    We had some colleagues visiting from Korea for work, and they had tried this place last week and wanted to come back for the third time since then, so it must be pretty good. If you're craving Korean-Chinese food like jjajangmyun or jjamppong, this place hits the mark. Today, I tried something new--mapo tofu with fried rice--and while it was a bit bland and not overly greasy, that's exactly what I wanted from the tofu dish. There were a lot of older Korean patrons, which always signals a traditional spot. Everything we've tried so far has been great, and I know I'll be back the next time I'm craving jjajangmyun or jjamppong!

    Jjamppong
    Lisa s.

    We came here with two friends because we were craving Korean-style Chinese food. We ordered the spicy jjamppong (extra large), samseon jjajangmyeon, and sweet and sour pork. The noodles were chewy and overall delicious. The jjamppong had just the right level of spiciness and a generous portion, perfect for sharing. If you like it spicier, there's chili powder on the side so you can adjust the heat to your liking. The sweet and sour pork was great because the sauce was served separately, so it stayed nice and crispy. I really liked that -- some places pour the sauce on top, but here you can enjoy the crunch. Lastly, the service was amazing! The server was very kind, explained everything clearly, and stayed attentive from start to finish. I highly recommend this place!

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    What the e. Found hair in my soup and i look over into the kitchen and no one in the kitchen is wearing a hair net. Disgusting

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    Chai Lan Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Chai Lan

    Is Chai Lan still open?

    Yes BUT their hours is random. Handful of times, they didnt pick up the phone when I tried to place an order around 8:40 PM… Read more

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    First time at Yoo's Place and I felt like I stumbled upon a hidden gem. There are so many items on…read morethe menu here, but I was really wanting naengmyun after a beach day. The restaurant wasn't that busy when I went. Super clean, the server was so sweet, and the food came out so fast. The banchan was on the sweeter side. I really enjoyed their kimchi and bean sprouts. My naengmyun came out shortly after the banchan, and I was so surprised by how big the portion was! It had a good amount of meat and cucumber too. It was so much that I was able to take home half. I look forward to coming back and trying more dishes out!

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    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine - Yuk gae jang with ramyun

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    Tang 190 - DOG-FRIENDLY!

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    I came in solo on a Tuesday afternoon and was seated right away…read more I was served my banchan, and love how my server continuously checked in on me to see if I needed more (he came around with a cart to do refills - genius!) I ordered the galbi tang and steamed dumplings, and my meal was delicious. The beef ribs were very tender, and they did not skimp out on the meat portions which can sometimes be an issue at other restaurants. I usually order a side of extra glass noodles, but I'm glad I didn't here because the noodle portion was also generous. The dumplings were juicy, and the dipping sauce complimented them perfectly. My favorite galbi tang spots are in Buena Park, but Tang 190 will definitely scratch the itch when I can't wait since I'm local to Irvine.

    This is one of my favorite local Korean spots that I always make a point to hit up. Today I went…read morewith the back rib soup, and it was sizzling hot, with tender beef that practically fell off the bones. I really enjoyed the glass noodles in the soup, and all of the banchan dishes that came out were fresh, flavorful, and a great complement to the meal. The staff were friendly, and we got seated right away, which made for a smooth experience. The ambiance has a contemporary feel, making it a comfortable spot for both casual meals and a slightly elevated dining vibe.

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    Seoul Haus

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    My friend and I were craving homey Korean food and this place definitely hit the spot! Located in…read moreIrvine, Seoul Haus definitely provided that home cooked feeling. First, parking wasn't bad. The shopping center isn't that big but it's not a busy center so I don't think it'll ever be an issue. The restaurant itself was clean and simple. Very mom and pop vibe. They have a good amount of seating. Restroom was very clean. Service was good, I had no issues. Please be patient with the staff as English is not some of their dominant languages. Staff was trying their best to help everyone. They were constantly checking in on us, refilling our Banchan, I thought they did great. Food was yummy and portions were huge! My friend and I shared the crispy garlic tofu. That was fresh and hot and not greasy! I enjoyed it! She had the Garlic Seolleongtang and she loved it. You saw the chunks of garlic, they were generous on the meat and the bowl was huge. I had beef spicy tofu soup and that was delicious and so filling. They were extremely generous on the tofu and I felt like I definitely got my protein intake in. The spice was just right, it looks so red but it wasn't that bad! I would definitely come back. It's a mom and pop shop I would support. I think it's underlooked and needs appreciation. My husband is from Irvine so we'll definitely be back next time we're in town visiting family.

    This was my first time here and it was not bad. They just opened so we got seated right away and…read moreserved side dishes and barley tea. The menu can be a little confusing but you get the gist of it. I tried the ox bone soup which comes with rice and some glass noodles. At $23.99, the price point was steep for the portion. I've gotten this for cheaper elsewhere for a similar taste.

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    Yigah Restaurant - 20. 철판 낙지덮밥 / Cheolpan Nahkji Dupb'ap

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    On a cold and rainy evening, my buddy and I headed here to eat. We were destined for another…read moreDiamond Jamboree popular restaurant, but as it was a late Saturday night, everything was packed. We ended up at Yigah, and I was so glad we did. I saw they had Galbitang...and was excited to try their version of it. But my buddy was sold on Yukkaejang... Being a fan myself..mostly because I have never found my favorite one, I agreed. We also wanted to order mandoo and bibimbap as a control. The waitress comes over and we order those three items. She tells us that we shouldn't order the bibimbap, we should order the hot stone version. I love Korean restaurants....it's way more important to order what the employee thinks is best....yes let's do it! Our food comes out and everything is delicious! The Yukkaejang is very good....but also very spicy. Definitely at the top of my threshold for spice...but I am wimpy. The stone pot bibimbap was interesting and yummy. It had a miso flavor to it...very good! The hilarious part was the mandoo seemed so bland after eating the other two dishes....just due to the intensity of flavor! The banchan was good as well. I was using the wonbok kim chee to cool down my mouth from the Yukkaejang...that's how spicy it was...lol I know we will be back...definitely for the Galbitang!

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