How have I never reviewed China Garden? I've been so many times throughout the years, it's honestly one of the only solid dim sum places in Irvine that still have the rolling carts! Those definitely add to the experience, but I find that lines are pretty long in peak hours, so I did takeout recently. We came pretty late around 2:30 PM so we weren't sure if they were still serving dim sum, but thankfully they still had everything we wanted to order! Everything is good here, but my go-tos are the sticky rice and ham sui gok. You can get anything you want from a dim sum experience here! read more

China Garden - ham sui gok, sticky rice, siu mai, bbq pork rice roll - Dim Sum Near Me - Irvine, California

Mother's day 2026. This place was packed. We arrived at 12:04 pm. Asked for a ticket and was told the wait could be between 30-50 minutes. That is reasonable just by looking at all the people who are waiting outside when we arrived. Number 85 was called, we are 12 for the next batch, they do skip some numbers to accommodate the smaller group and within reason-they have smaller tables for two. It was not as chaotic as it looks even though the restaurant is packed. All the dim sum carts are rolling and they are selling it fast. We made our move and successfully got what we wanted. A nice lady waiter helped us grab 2 more containers of meat baos (siopao) for our to go. We had our fill and really happy that we made it on time for all the yummy stuffs they offer. We went home happy and satisfied. Still working on our to go today. read more

10/10 everything here was delicious. i came here with my family to celebrate chinese new year and valentine's day. it was my second time coming here and both times have been good. it's very authentic cantonese food and my chinese parents approve. everyone remember this is a very authentic chinese resturant hence, the service is not going to be the best. that's typical chinese fashion. that just means the food is going to be bomb! read more

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Awesome dinner banquet dinner. High quality, casual atmosphere, and decent service. Go for the food. Parking a bit tight in this popular shopping center. Good stuff! read more

China Garden - Dim Sum Near Me - Irvine, California

I got there as soon as they opened and they already had a steady stream of people waiting. There's decent parking when you get there early when they open but if you go in the afternoon, good luck. The restaurant is definitely outdated but I don't think they care. I didn't have high expectations for this place but I was happily surprised. Everything we ordered slapped and I was super happy. We ordered the shu mai, shrimp har gow, Chinese broccoli, turnip cakes, and ha cheong fun. Turnip cakes are my favorite, it's a thing I have to order anytime I go to eat dimsum. I wish it was warm and cooked like other places but even with it being room temperature, it tasted pretty good. I liked seeing the carts go around the room and since my friend speaks Mandarin, it was easy to get our food. We didn't order much this time around due to time constraints but next time... we'll definitely order more. read more

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China Garden made my Irvine dim sum dreams come true. It is surprisingly hard to find an authentic dimsum experience these days. You know, with actual carts rolling through a chaotic dining room with towers of fresh dishes. This isn't Chinatown cheap, but for Irvine, it's a reasonable deal. And they offer the best assortment of traditional dim sum dishes in the area. From shumai and shrimp dumplings to radish cake, rice rolls, and, yes, chicken feet, China Garden has the classics and more. Each of the dishes were well seasoned, fresh, and super satisfying. Plus they have legit hot mustard... not every place does! The egg tarts and pineapple bun were also flaky, creamy, and not too sweet. As you might expect, the dining room is lively and you never know what type of cart will be coming your way. Each server tried to work with our requests, and the manager made sure to get us a special request quickly when we couldn't find it in any carts. Dim sum is such a unique food "itch" to scratch, and China Garden really hits that spot. I also love that the 10:30am opening time also makes for a more relaxed, leisurely morning. My friends and I will definitely be back! read more

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Been here a few times over the past years and what I've come to find out is this place is either a hit or miss, but when it's good it's pretty good. For example, last time we came during lunch and it was a miss. The dishes had fillers such as onions and a lack of meat. Although this time when we visited it was an amazing experience. The food was flavorful and you could taste the wok flavor. The dry chow fun, chicken kung pow, and pea shoots were stand out dishes. The only dish I would not recommend is the peaking duck which was overcooked and dry. read more

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Excellent service and great quality selection of the best Dim Sum dishes by push cart just like in Hong Kong. We really enjoyed our Sunday brunch here today and a local customer favorite as it does get quite busy here. Lots of free parking in this plaza. Come and enjoy with your beautiful family for Spring Break weekend. Living the American dream here in Beautiful Irvine. read more

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Nice little Chinese restaurant, I went for their dim sum, it was good maybe slightly better that what I can get in Westminster but it's not enough for me to drive to Irvine for. They did have some sort of Almond Mike with some kind of pastry on top that's not on the menu that looked interesting. read more

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HIGHLY recommend for the best dim sum in the area. We always come here for lunch for dim sum that comes out of the metal carts. Pretty loud and busy on the weekends but the service is super attentive and the food is fantastic. Our favorites are: - pork shu mai - chicken feet - tripe - shrimp dumplings - shrimp wrapped in rice paper noodle - sticky rice Been coming here for years and will continue for many more! read more

China Garden - pork shu mai, chicken feet, tripe, shrimp dumpling - Dim Sum Near Me - Irvine, California

Save your time and money and go somewhere else. We were seated in a back room with only a few tables, and from the moment we sat down, we were basically ignored. The dim sum carts passed by repeatedly, stopping at every single table except ours. It felt intentional, and at one point, I even stopped an attendant to ask for items we wanted, and she looked directly at me, said "no," and continued on to the next table. This didn't just happen once, it happened multiple times. It was incredibly rude and honestly shocking. To make things worse, we were never given a menu. We asked for water multiple times and didn't get it. We ended up having to go to the front desk to ask for it, something as basic as water. Completely unacceptable. Also, if you don't tip enough, they will follow you and stop you at the door. The entire experience felt uncomfortable and dismissive. We were treated like we didn't matter. Hands down the worst service we've ever experienced. read more

Delicious food, warm and fresh. Servers came fast, a little impatient however. Lively place for a sit-down meal with authenticity.

The dim sum here is yummy. I've come pretty often. I like that on the weekdays you can always get a table, but on the weekends, boy is there a wait (and parking is tough). The har gow, veggies, chicken feet, shrimp / chive dumplings, etc. all the classic dim sum dishes are good here. It's in Irvine so expect Irvine prices. Still, the quality is good. Family friendly. read more

Just came here to pick up a to go order for our party. We ordered most of our food somewhere else. So I only picked up 3 orders of one dish. The fish with black bean sauce. When you call to order it only takes about 15 minutes for the order to be ready. When you come pick up, you pay at the cashier. It was fairly quick. However, be warned that the plaza gets busy and it is hard to find parking during peak hours. The restaurant was buzzing when I picked up at lunch time. The guests love the fish with black bean sauce and was one of the food that got wiped up at the start. Will surely be ordering here again. May even try to to eat here too! read more

Solid 3.5 star establishment. Came here for dimsum today and it's pretty straightforward. We pretty much knew what we wanted to eat today so ordering was easy. Whenever the dimsum cart was approaching us, we flagged it and ordered. The restaurant was packed when we got there, around 11:10am. Be sure to have all your party present before being seated. We had to wait about 10 minutes cause one of our friends was late. The dimsum variety was amazing-- from fried to steamed, they pretty much had everything we wanted. What we ordered today: Glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaves Football shaped savory balls 咸水角 Tofu skin rolls Black beans Pork ribs Fried ghost/ghost's tongue rice roll Chunky shumai Sesame balls Missing (must order next time): Phoenix claw Salted egg lava buns Beef tripe Beef balls with orange peel Tofu pudding with ginger syrup Mango pudding Fried taro bird nest Turnip/radish cake Shrimp balls with sugar cane Can't wait to go back soon! read more

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Came for weekend dim sum and was happy to see plenty of carts circulating right away. We waited about 30 minutes to be seated, and they required the full party to be present before seating us. As soon as we sat down, carts started rolling by, and it was a bit of a frenzy while we quickly decided what to order. Service was excellent, as servers were attentive, frequently refilling our tea and checking in. The dim sum was decent. Our favorites were the shrimp har gow, shu mai, and tofu skin-these came out hot and fresh. However, the pork intestine dim sum was lukewarm, which was disappointing. The egg tarts were decent but not memorable, and the BBQ pork bun was just okay. Most of the baked and fried items weren't warm, likely from circling the restaurant for too long. The biggest letdown was the beef rice noodle roll--the meatball inside tasted watery and lacked flavor. Despite a few misses, the lively atmosphere and solid service made the experience enjoyable. I'd return, but next time I'll be more selective and only go for the piping hot items. We only ordered dim sum, which came out to about $30 per person. Parking was hectic, so plan extra time for that. read more

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Food: 3/5 Food was mediocre, some dishes lacking in flavor and texture. Certain stir fry dishes do not have a ton of meat, mostly vegetable in the stir fry as filler. We ordered the peking duck and the skin was greasy and not that crunchy, kind of fell flat. Waiter recommended it as a "special" but found out it only saved $3. Service: 3/5 Waiter was not really helpful with recommendations. We asked for steamed fish and he kept pushing for the grouper fish that is $45/lb when we told him we wanted rockfish or tilapia or something between price range of $20/30 he kept recommending other fish with higher price point. Ambiance: 3/5 Typical Chinese style restaurant. Round tables and chairs around. We wanted a bigger table, but we're told no since we only had a party of 6, but restaurant was pretty empty. read more

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We've enjoyed meals here since we moved to the OC in the 1990's, so this review is way overdue! My parents owned a Chinese food-to-go place in the San Fernando Valey for 40+ years, and this was my late Mom's favorite Chinese restaurant in Orange County. I asked my family to throw my 60th birthday party here, and Robert, the manager, worked with me to fine tune the banquet menu to incorporate my favorite dishes. The peach-shaped bao (to represent long life) was a nice touch, since I don't care for the long life noodles. Upon arrival, the waiter asks which hot tea we want, and brings it with the chili oil to the table. Ice water and hot mustard are available on request. Hubby likes the House special lobster. I like the Kung pao 3 flavors and the 1/2 Peking duck when it's on special. We both like the Lettuce cups with minced squab or other protein. When we come for dim sum, the cart ladies are the BEST! Ding is in charge of the baked/fried dim sum cart. She has been here the longest, and she always has a smile for her customers. Today, all 3 ladies gave us extraordinary service. When the 1st lady didn't have the no mai gai in her cart, she made sure her coworker brought us a plate. When the 2nd lady ran out of the cheung fun with pork, she brought us a plate as soon as she restocked her cart. Located in a busy shopping center, parking can be a challenge, and this place is super busy on the weekends. Even today (Monday), there were few open tables when we arrived. It was remodeled several years ago, and the TVs have been replaced with artwork. Good food and great service! read more

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If I could give this place a 3.5, I would, but if I had to pick between a 3 or 4, I'd go with a 3. Ever since Sam Woo closed down out of nowhere, I've been on the hunt for a new Cantonese spot. I've tried a bunch, and honestly, this place is probably the closest thing I've found to Sam Woo in the Irvine area. The inside is surprisingly clean for this type of restaurant, and I liked that they had tablecloths over the tables--it gave it a more put-together feel. The service was really nice too, which made the whole experience better. For food, we got white rice (standard, came out to about $2.25 per person for three of us), Mongolian beef, rock cod with ginger and scallion, green beans, and the pei-pang tofu. I thought the Mongolian beef was a solid portion, especially for a $22 entrée. The beef was tender, and I liked the amount of onion--it gave the dish a good flavor. But this was the first time I've had Mongolian beef with bamboo shoots, and I don't think it worked. The bamboo overpowered everything, especially since the sauce was already on the lighter side. In some bites, that light bamboo flavor was all I could taste. The rock cod with ginger and scallion brought back some childhood memories--it's always been a favorite dish of mine. They made it really well. The ginger and scallion helped get rid of any fishy taste, and the fish was nicely cooked. My only complaint is I wish there was more of it for the price. But I'd definitely get it again. The green beans were great. They weren't overcooked, which is a huge plus for me, and they still had a nice crunch. Bigger than the usual ones too, which I liked. Now the tofu dish... total miss. I got tricked by the pictures and thought it would be tofu skin stuffed with tofu and some kind of filling. But what we actually got was sweet sticky rice with bits of Chinese sausage and some tiny tofu bits, all fried together. Honestly, I couldn't even taste the tofu. It reminded me of those sweet rice Chinese breakfasts, just in a different format. Not bad if that's what you're expecting, but definitely not what I wanted when I ordered something from the tofu section. Wouldn't get it again. Overall, I'd give this place another shot. I feel like spots like this take a few visits to figure out what they're really good at. One thing I did notice is the seasoning is pretty light across the board. I found myself adding soy sauce to almost everything just so it'd pair better with the rice. But that's a personal preference--I know some people prefer lighter flavors. read more

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I usually come here for dim sum just because it's close by, convenient, and not because it's the best dim sum in town. To be fair, there really aren't any really good dim sum restaurants in Irvine, or Orange County for that matter, but I do like dim sum and CG is one of the only traditional style dim sum restaurants in the county, and they know it. This, in my honest opinion, and is why there is no real incentive for them to serve the best quality dim sum in town. Unless you're going for one of the hot steaming cart pushed dim sum items, or non dim sum food items off the menu, everything else comes out cold or luke warm at best.... it's as though they prepared the items well in advance... like the chive dumplings, egg tarts, pan fried turnip cakes, sesame balls, etc., and they'd been left sitting around for hours before being brought out. They may taste ok, but eating cold or luke warm dim sum that's meant to be hot and fresh, it's just so disappointing..... especially now that their prices have increased so much. For the price we now pay for a dim sum lunch for 2, you'd expect way better quality, hot and fresh dim sum.... not this. And to add to the price, you can expect to pay $5 per person for a pot of hot tea.... absolutely ridiculous. Incidentally, for my wife and I, we ended up with a check for $79 (before tip) for just dim sum alone... no fried noodles or vegetables like we usually do. Anyway, like I previously mentioned, they're pretty much the only traditional dim sum restaurant in town, so you either take it or leave it, or drive to LA County where they actually have excellent dim sum places.... service quality is a whole different matter and pretty much typical of any Chinese restaurant. Service has really gone downhill too as it takes forever to flag someone down to bring us some water, side sauces, etc. And when you finally get someone's attention, don't expect a friendly or helpful response. From the looks of it, when comparing to the time I used to come here pre pandemic, it sure looks like there's a shortage of staff. Sad. read more

Had dim sum with my girlfriend's meetup group at China garden. Traditional cart service, lots of variety and all of the standard options are available. My girlfriend ordered water for the table, I addition to the traditional tea. Servers are circulating with various dim sum offerings for the diners. Take what you like and decline the rest. They were very busy, long line before they opened, even on a rainy morning. People were waiting for the restaurant to open its' doors. Once we were seated we were offered water. Prices were reasonable, for lots of options and multiple courses our group of 9 came to $275 including tip. Several people brought home to go boxes because we didn't finish all the food. Honestly my girlfriend is usually fairly critical of Chinese restaurants but everyone, including her thought the food was great. At least one member hadn't ever tried dim sum before but was a convert by the end of the meal. We'll be back. read more

hit and mess with this dim sum place. We stop by because it was also on the way to Encinitas area and we are craving dimsum. There a lot of dim sum places in Irvine and most of them are already familiar with so it's time to try something new . I usually go to Seafood, seafood palace or something like that. Can't lie, but their congee is awesome. Too bad they are missing wonton skin. Their baikut and shiumai are pretty good too. I understand that dim sum places charge for Tea fee but their tea fee is pretty high . The stuff is pretty quick with our orders, but they didn't ask me what kind of tea I want. They just put the teapot on my table. It's pretty crowded when we arrive. We had to wait for like couple minutes, but they moved pretty fast. . There's not a lot of space for the dim sum carts. read more

China Garden - Dim Sum Near Me - Irvine, California

This place has been serving dimsum for years and honestly sometimes it hits the spot, granted the selection isn't that grand and it's true the don't serve the exotic truffle sauce etc. but seriously if you are craving the typical har gow, Shu Mai, steamed pork dumplings, cheung fun with shrimp, spare ribs and chicken feet - this place has it. Plus who doesn't love the old school way of having the carts wheeled around and getting to chose your items! Service was fun, always a line, take a number and wait to be called! Will definitely be going back to fix my dimsum cravings. read more

Still holds up after all these years! Favorites are the soy chicken and char siu pork, and the corn soup is perfection, but also enjoyed the fried string beans and sizzling plate. Haven't been here in awhile and need to add it back into my routine. Friendly, attentive service and mostly empty on weeknights with easier parking than for dim sum. read more

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Decent food. We enjoyed the Shrimp in French style. Did not make it for dim sum. Heads up: Their tip calculation is incorrect. It based on total with tax. Ambiance: Looks like they haven't updated anything since they originally opened. Worth a try. Don't expect service. read more

We've lived in Irvine for almost 4 years now. We have been driving to like Westminster area whenever we wanted dimsum! We also saw a line at China Garden and we wondered. We went once for dinner and take out. Then one day we were looking up dimsum and China Garden popped up. I looked at the pictures and they had the carts and the whole deal. They open a little later than most dimsum spots so we were able to go right before opening and yes that's what the line we always saw was for. People were lining up before it open and waiting throughout the day. We got seated immediately and there were different carts to choose from! We really enjoyed the food! My boyfriend especially love the congee and tripe dish! Now for the past year this has been our go to spot for dimsum when we are too lazy to drive out of Irvine! It hits the spot. read more

China Garden - Dim Sum Near Me - Irvine, California

There's something special about walking into China Garden. This place has been around for decades, and it still holds on to the charm of a traditional dim sum restaurant. In an era where so many spots have switched over to menus and order sheets, China Garden still brings out the rolling carts and steaming baskets stacked high. It's an experience that feels nostalgic and comforting all at once. The food is everything you'd want from dim sum. It's fresh and flavorful. The portions are generous, and the prices are hard to beat. From classics like shu mai and har gow to BBQ pork buns and chicken feet, everything tastes just as it should. The quality and consistency really shine, which is why we always come back. Pro tip: get there early. We usually arrive right when the doors open to skip the long lunch lines, and it makes the whole experience even smoother. The staff is attentive and quick, making sure your teapot is full and your table never feels overlooked. What I love most about China Garden is how it's more than just a meal, it's a gathering place. The lively atmosphere, the clinking of teacups, and the buzz of conversation make it the perfect spot to meet up with family or friends, especially in a big group. read more

China Garden - Dim Sum Near Me - Irvine, California

Pretty decent spot for cart dim sum in OC! We tried their shumai, rice rolls, pineapple buns, sticky rice, and more. Prices were fair, food was good and ambiance reminded me of Hong Kong. Some of my friends also ordered takeout towards the end and they brought out steaming fresh dim sum for their order. This spot is super busy from the minute they open on the weekends! There was already a line before opening. read more

We came as a party of three for dim sum and really enjoyed our meal overall. The pork dumplings were the highlight for me -- flavorful and perfectly cooked. The shrimp dumplings were my wife's favorite, though I personally prefer a chewier dumpling skin; theirs was a bit too soft for my taste. The beef fried with rice noodles (which we ordered to go) was a hit with our son -- he loved it. The beef tripe had a good, crisp texture and was nicely prepared. The chicken feet were wonderful -- tender and flavorful. The steamed ribs were pretty good as well, though I'd prefer them a bit softer for easier bites. The Chinese broccoli (芥蘭) was fresh and cooked just right, and the chive dumplings (韭菜餃) were okay but could use a crisper skin. Service was fast and efficient, and dishes came out hot and fresh. Overall, a very satisfying dim sum experience -- we'll be back to try more dishes next time. read more

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Took my chinese born dad here and he thought this place was not bad and pretty similar to what we have back in 626. I always see people here for the dim sum but I came for dinner and got half duck, snow peas ofc, and the pan friend noodle thingie. Honestly pretty good and I think I would come again and maybe get the duck for home! Service is typical Chinese restaurant quality. I do feel like the inside looks a little outdated but food is good. read more

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I always passed by here and see a long line when I go to a and j. Decided to try it and it for lunch dimsum. As a baseline, I moved from LA and my go to was lunasia. Everything here was very salty. My wife's shumai had a hair in it. Overall not the best tasting food or experience. Wouldnt come back. read more

Waited a while about 45 minutes outside before we were called to our table. It is very busy and tight inside with old school push cart for Dim Sum. Prices are on the higher end and the food wasn't the best and neither was the services plenty of parking though. read more

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Parking is busy, very fast pace restaurant with long lines to be seated. Luckily, my family and I did not wait too long about 20 minutes for a party of 5 for Saturday lunch time. They give you a number, and once they call it on the speaker twice they move onto the next one, so do not go too far otherwise you will lose your spot. Dim sum carts were constantly going around the tables, prices for seafood were reasonable. Flavor was not overly salty at all, like most dim sum places. A spot if you want something quick. read more

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This place can get pretty busy. Recommend getting there right at opening on the weekend if you dont want to wait for awhile. Its your typical dimsum and im not usually picky about it but my super Asian parents seem to really like it so that tells you a lot about the place already. Place was clean. It's essentially one giant room with round tables scattered everywhere. Food was delicious and not too expensive if you order from the carts that come by every so often. No designated wait staff, just flag down whoever is closest. This is a staple dimsum place i frequent pretty often whenever my parents are in town. read more

This is my favorite restaurant foremost is the Dimsum, I use to go downtown Los Angeles for Dimsum, the defunct Sam woo is another one Jian Nan, was my nightmare it's like the Dead Sea salt kidney assault, sorry but true. I rate China Garden 5 star. read more

Quick service, reasonably priced and delicious food. This is one of the few places in Irvine that serve dim sum on carts. The staff speaks Mandarin, Canto, and English. read more

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A mixed experience due to several factors. Chinese restaurants always have a reputation for having underwhelmingly bad service but good food and it's certainly stands true to this place. Went here for Chinese New Year dinner celebrations, Apparently dimsum are not served during dinner so a little disappointed. The non Chinese servers are nice, but the Chinese ones have attitude. The food is average Chinese dining. The taste factor from all the dishes honey walnut shrimp, sweet and sour fish and all have usual taste factor which is neither disappointing but also not impressive. If you know what I mean. Overall, this place is known to have good dimsum... so I might try this out again for lunch but otherwise, I prolly go here for take out and not dine in dinners. read more

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It was delicious! But not stand in line for over 30 minutes delicious. I honestly just don't see what the hype is about here. It seemed pretty on par to Capital Seafood to me or maybe one little step above. Also, I don't know if the custard buns are supposed to be liquid but when I bit into one it was just hot liquid pouring out. Everything else was good though! It can just be hard as a non-Chinese speaker to order and such. Definitely come here if you want to get yelled at on a Saturday morning by the ladies with the push carts haha. read more

China Garden - Dim Sum Near Me - Irvine, California

Excellent beef stir fry dish with onions etc. love the Heineken beer, very chilled. Fish stir fry dish is very fresh and tasty read more

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This is one those old reliable places. Been going there for years. The food is varied and very tasty, cooked in the old school family style. My particular favorites are the chow mein, Chinese broccoli, Mabo dofu (without that metallic sauce that other places now use), beef (Mongolian?), spinach with white garlic sauce, etc. It's noisy and you're not going there for the ambiance but this place never disappoints where it counts: The Food. read more