Still my favorite pan fried buns. We love it so much that tonight after we finished dinner elsewhere, we brought our friend who's never had it just to try an order of the original pan fried buns. She agreed with our assessment of how yummy it is. We also tried their house made Thai tea which is pretty good and not too sweet. The restaurant was clean and the service is super friendly. I love watching the chefs freshly making the buns. They are running a promotional game right now but how it works is a secret until you pay. Good luck! read more

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came to little pan with my friends for their famous pan-fried bun !!! they are getting fancier now with mini bun cup with coke and weekday special!! WOW!! Ok, started off with dumplings. And love to watch them making it fresh too! Shanghai pan fried bun! Just so stuffed and juicy inside! Then chinese beef rolls crispy and crunchy with quality meat inside Can't wait to come back and try their weekday special IG: socalhkfoodies read more

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i got the assorted pack of 6 which i liked because you can try different flavors. the buns themselves were soft and looked really good, but honestly the filling wasn't as juicy as i expected. it was a bit on the drier side, so it didn't hit the way i wanted it to. overall still decent, just wish there was more filling and moisture inside. i'd come back to try other items, but this one was just okay for me. read more

Little Pan - assorted pan fried pork buns - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

I didn't know what to expect from a place called Little Pan until my friends told me it's really good 生煎包、eg Shanghainese style pan fried potstickers/buns. So my friends took me to try even though we just ate dinner in the same plaza! The original house special buns with pork were juicy and hot, better to eat 'em there right when they're hot and add vinegar before indulging. The place is small but it is modern and clean. It's under the same ownership as 949 Grill lounge two doors down. Sherry was super friendly and helpful, and we can't wait to go back! Thank you! read more

Little Pan - House special buns w pork 生煎包 - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

This was my first time trying this restaurant after seeing a lot of videos on social media and I was not disappointed! The buns were perfectly tasty and the bottom was super crispy and tasted like fried mantou. I also tried the beef dumplings, which was a nice twist since I don't usually see a lot of places use beef in their fillings as they usually use pork or chicken. Definitely worth stopping by! read more

Little Pan - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Amazing! Today was my first visit, the food was for take out and was prepared in a very beautiful and thoughtful way. That was just the start of an amazing experience at Little Pan. The prices are affordable and the food is absolutely delicious! We tried several items and all were so yummy, we will be back. Stop in you will be sure to enjoy this little gem! read more

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Hands down one of my favorite places to get dumplings. Came here a while back with my best friend and we tried a few things. I recently came back for my favorite though: the cup of mini pan fried angus beef buns with a jasmine soy milk and it was as delicious as I remembered, definitely a favorite of mine. I recommend getting them with a soy milk of choice (preferably the jasmine) to soften the spice and add a little creamy, light sweetness to mix. We also tried the rainbow dumplings which were also very good. Certain colors were our favorites but we can't recall which was which. Either way, they are worth a try! The pan fried pork buns and xiao long bao were also delicious and highly recommend. I'm always looking for a place with great dumplings/ soup dumplings and this is absolutely one I always recommend and pick up if I'm in the neighborhood. There are also a bunch of cute places in this center I wouldn't mind trying either. If you have time, sit inside and enjoy the quaint and adorable ambiance. The young lady who helped me was so sweet and helpful. I'll definitely be back to pick up my faves and come with friends! read more

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I was craving juicy dumplings, so my boyfriend and I visited Little Pan. It's a small restaurant but it has tables and booths for large or small parties. The service was also great and attentive. The mini pan fried dumplings in chili sauce were delicious-- Definitely my favorite dish. However, the Lunar New Year buns... those were SPICY. If you can handle the heat, then these are the buns for you. Unfortunately for me, my tongue was on fire. I really liked some spicy buns from a different restaurant so I thought that I'd love these ones too. I should've stuck with the original. read more

Little Pan - Mini Pan-Fried Bun In Chili Sauce - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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If you're around the area - this spot is a must try! The buns are crispy at the bottom, yet soft all around. We came around a weekday lunch time and it was quite busy. They were quite understaffed, but everyone was so sweet and helping one another. It was great to see. We tried their variety of buns and I loved the curry one! My friend really enjoyed the shrimp and chives. Of course we had to try the cucumbers which were refreshing and flavorful. I need to come back and try the rest of the menu. Overall, 4.5 stars! read more

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I ordered the 6 pc beef pancake, and they were absolutely delicious. The ingredients are few including braised beef, cilantro, and their house sauce. It was a good mixture of something heavy and savory and something light and refreshing. When my family and I had first entered, we were told to sit down and scan the QR code to order but all of our phones had issues ordering so we had to go up and order instead. I wish someone had been more attentive with refilling our water or giving us a new pitcher since the first and only pitcher they provided was only good enough for our party of 3. Other than that, the environment is great and clean. read more

Little Pan - Beef pancake - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Delicious! I have tried the one near USC as well but in my opinion this one is the best spot due to being able to get parking at the right time and dining inside is more spacious. The service is top tier and it is the perfect place for family to gather and enjoy a filling meal. Highly recommend! read more

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Came to Little Pan to get the pan fried pork buns. For $11.99, you get six buns. They were decent. The dough is on the thinner side and the buns aren't too greasy. My favorite item turned out to the pickled cabbage - I'm not a huge kimchi fan but loved this dish. The sweet and sour cucumbers were decent, not too spicy. The hot and sour soup was more peppery and not sour. The restaurant was empty when we first got there but filled up as prime lunchtime hit. If you're getting food to go, you can order online or on the tablet in front. read more

Little Pan - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Little Pan is a casual dine-in restaurant specializes in pan fried buns. Owner Vicky Liu first moved to the United States in high school and graduated from UC Irvine with a business economics degree. She started by running a food-delivery company and eventually got into pan fried buns after receiving positive feedback from her customers. Currently this is the flagship location with another location near USC. [Parking]: Easy and free plaza parking, but the lot was surprisingly packed and I took the last available spot at 7:15 PM on Saturday. [Ordering]: Customers can pick any available tables and scan the QR code to place an order. They do have laminated menus upon requests. [Menu]: For Shanghai Pan Fried Buns, they offer three main flavors - House Special Pork, Curry Pork, and Shrimp/Pork & Chive. Don't know which one to get? Customers can order assorted (2 buns for each flavor mentioned) for $13.99. They also offer special flavors like Mapo Tofu and 24k Gold Black Truffle. Other top Yelp highlighted items include Beef Roll (Beef Pancake as listed in the menu) and Dan Dan Noodles. *** Wonton Soup with Dried Small Shrimps ($12.99): This soup really hit the spot with savory broth and solid wonton. It had tiny shrimps which enhanced the umami flavor, but those shrimps did make the soup a tad salty toward the very end. Assorted Pan-Fried Pork Bun (6 Counts $13.99): The three flavors are House Special Pork, Curry Pork, and Shrimp/Pork & Chive. These buns were piping hot so make sure to (1) poke a hole first and (2) pour soup to the spoon to drink it. Crispy bottom with solid fillings. Dan Dan Noodle (fresh noodle, stir-fried pork, bok choy, five-spice sauce, and peanuts - $13.99): The noodle had right amount of spicy level and peanut sauce was not overly salty. *** A solid 4.5-star on food. A good spot for a casual lunch or dinner for local residents, who's craving for relatively decent Chinese food, but I personally wouldn't drive out of the way just for their pan fried buns. read more

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We saw this place on tiktok and were super interested. The restaurant itself is nice and clean and does the typical online order you'd see at other modern Chinese restaurants. The staff brought out our food quickly while also periodically clearing our table. We ordered the house special pork buns as well as the curry buns and were delightfully surprised by the flavorful soup inside. The rich broth complimented the buns well as it kept the buns from being too bland. The meat inside was solid, but not the best we've ever had. The house buns were pan fried well and had a crispy bottom, but the curry ones were a bit chewier. The mini pan fried buns were a little disappointing as the sauce was bland and so were the dumplings. The texture of the dumpling was alright as the crispiness helped keep it a little interesting. The dan dan noodles were severely lacking in flavor as it just tasted like peanuts. After adding a decent amount of vinegar and chili sauce, the flavors mixed well together. Overall we would come back again, but only for the house special pan fried buns. read more

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Pork fried bun is my fav 5/5 Shrimp and chive isn't bad Mapo tofu is nice if you're looking for a veggie option pork dumpling 2/5 was not good. The bottom was fried and soggy, inside filling wasn't flavorful. Chow mein $17 5/5 Is fabulous. Lots of shrimp, incredibly flavorful noodles with a slight chew. I would be happy with the veggie variety! My first time ordering chow mein not at a takeout spot, and it was amazing. Will be seeking chow mein at other spots when I go out now lol read more

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Super fun that the buns are pan fried. Cucumbers were good. The corn cheese pan was mostly just cheese in there. Vegetarian spring rolls were not vegetarian as they seem to have meat and when I checked with the cashier, they confirmed with person in the back that there was no meat in there...‍ read more

Little Pan - Apparently this is shiitake vegetarian spring roll but it tasted like meat - confirmed by other meat eaters... - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

First impression is that the place is a great spot for family and students alike. The food really packs a punch. It can get busy with people visiting form airport and family coming here. The staff really are dedicate to getting your food asap. They have a wide selections of pan fried buns filled with different type of meats, flavors and veggies. You can get from shrimp and pork to curry flavor buns that are pan fried to crispy perfection. The juices inside these buns are just insanely delicious. They have a sauce bar for customers to build their own dipping sauce. What we ordered: house special pork, shrimp and lean pork and curry buns. We also ordered mini pan fried buns that come in a bowl that snaps onto your soda cup. This makes it convenient for anyone to carry it while eating and sipping on your favorite soda. They also have a variety of other dishes and noodles to choose from. Pro-tip: don't sleep on their pancakes and peanut noodles. These are arguably the best I've had. The parking can be difficult. The place is bright and chill. read more

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Food is good. Service is what you can expect from young people. Order take out to avoid wait. Gets busy during lunch

Been wanting to come here to actually eat but kinda blew up in social media so I haven't had a chance to eat here. So time I've gone here it's been so busy that I leave lolz Will say this is only based in the online order as I just wanted a little appetizer! It said it was due at 11:07 and it took a little bit longer but wasn't a biggie! The inside has lots of seating and seemed very clean!! So that's is nice. I ate it outside since it was kinda cold inside for my taste lolz. I got a cup of mini angus beef pan-fried bun in chili sauce. I will say I give it a 8/10. Maybe I thought the chili sauce would be more spicy and would have a bit more flavor! I will say this is just based in this item itself and will make another trip to eat more food!!! read more

Little Pan - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Pretty solid shen jian bao. It's also pretty reasonably priced, especially when everything is so expensive nowadays.

Wooow. So. good. I've already been back twice in the same week lol. Only complaint is that the beef roll is lacking in flavor and texture a bit. Very mushy and dry. Needs more cucumber + cilantro or some sauce. But 8/10 I will absolutely be back! The curry buns are fantastic read more

Little Pan - Beef roll Shrimp chow mein Mini angus beef buns - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

My wife and I saw this place the last time we were in Santa Ana but ended up eating somewhere else, so when we returned a few weeks back we decided to come and check this place out for lunch. This cool little restaurant looks nice and sat us right away when we arrived. The menu has a bunch of different noodle and bun options as well as a super large catering menu if that's something you are looking for. For my first time I kept it simple by ordering a personal favourite food of mine, an order of the Dan Dan Noodles as well as an order of the House Special Pan-Fried Pork Buns since those seem to be what they are known for. The food came out pretty quickly and man oh man, it all really hit the spot. The Dan Dan Noodles tasted really good, though it was hard to be an adult and wait for them to cool down instead of burning my mouth like the dumb little idiot I am. The Pan-Fried Pork Buns were super good as well, though a tad overshadowed by my love for the noodle dish. They were crispy on the outside and the meat on the inside had very solid flavour as well. Overall, Little Pan was a great lunch spot and definitely gets a thumbs up from me. I really enjoyed my food, the staff was great, and the restaurant itself was nice as well. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good lunch spot in Santa Ana. read more

Little Pan - Dan Dan Noodles. - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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My first time back in a few years and Little pan still hits! We got the combo with 4 pan fried buns + sweet and sour cucumber ($12.99) which is a good deal, as compared to ordering them individually. I loved the cucumbers and appreciate the decent portion size. Tasty meal, and the perfect amount for me and my husband. read more

Little Pan - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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I've been to Little Pan a few times and each visit is better than the previous one. Their food is delicious, the dinning room is bright and inviting. I always visit at off times because the parking lot is small and shared between a few different restaurants so at peak meal times parking can be challenging. read more

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I've only done take out twice now, but each time, my food has been AMAZING. The order has been correct and well packaged. The interaction with the staff, though brief, is nice and helpful. The space looks clean and like a nice place to sit and eat at. I've tried the stir-fried French beans, braised pork noodle soup, fried rice, sweet and sour pork, shrimp chow mein, Pan-fried pork bun, and wonton soup. Again, this was split between two orders, two separate time. Also for a group of three. We had plenty of leftovers, even after having decent portions of the food. Each item was fantastic. My favorites have been the stir-fried French beans and the sweet and sour pork. The pan-fried pork bun was great too. Again, it's all amazing. I wish I took photos, but I was busy enjoying the food. I highly recommend this restaurant. I can't wait to try more of the menu!! read more

Little Pan - 09.10.25 - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Easy parking + simple interior + QR self-order. The menu is surprisingly huge even though this restaurant advertises themselves mainly selling buns. We got the 2pc house special pan fried pork bun ($4.99) and the kung pao chicken bento box ($17). The pan fried buns are as good as you think they are -- 10/10. Very crispy texture on the outside with soup and pork on the inside. The kung pao chicken was very reminiscent of my childhood. Lives up to its hype. read more

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I have been here since they first opened but this place always makes fresh pan fried buns and it's always steaming once it gets to us. The pork is so juicy and the bun itself is hot and crispy. Would come back for the shrimp and leek. read more

Little Pan - house special pan fried bun - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Watched a video of someone enjoying the pan fried buns and knew I had to stop by. It's a quick 10min drive from the airport so it was my first stop. House Special Pork Buns - traveled well. Nice and crisp on the bottom, juicy and flavorful inside. Definitely a must try! Shrimp Chow Mein - lots of flavor with the right amount of veggies and shrimp. Wished it was chicken but they only offer beef and shrimp. Parking lot is small but there was lots of open spots on a Tuesday evening. read more

Little Pan - Shrimp chow mein - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Been here before and tried the baos which were good. This time only got the chocolate ones to go. The "smiley faces" are hysterically placed. They But they do take 15 minutes which isn't stated on the menu (but the worker gave us a warning). The chocolate baos were pretty dang yummy. Super sweet but yummy read more

Little Pan - Chocolate buns - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Tried the famous mini-pan-fried bun it's so spicy and delicious! The staff were friendly and the food tastes so fresh...it's not too crowded and the environment was great! read more

Little Pan - Mini pan-fried buns, love the sauce! With a passion fruit drink. - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Sheng jian bao dumplings are fine but they would be much better if there were soup inside as they are traditionally sold as having. Beef roll was very dry. Lamb soup was good though very sour but it's labeled as having sour cabbage so truth in advertising I guess. Eight treasure dessert tasted like it came out of a can. Place is super duper noisy and chaotic. Fast casual order at counter/food brought to your table seems to be the worst of both worlds and left many customers seemingly confused. I remember when this place was a few doors down and way less corporate looking. This newer location has more items on the menu at least. read more

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We came for the first time after seeing a social media deal offering $10 off for new customers. I had passed by this spot many times, and had been wanting to try them. All of the dumplings, and buns are all pan fried, not steamed, and it's all very good, including the egg fried rice. It was a very busy Friday night, and the girls who took the orders and seated guests were also bussing all the tables. They definitely all deserve a nice tip. read more

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The pork pan-fried buns had a lot of filling but were salty and could have been crispier. The chocolate buns were the best. The beef pancake was decent, and the shredded bean curd with carrot salad was a small portion that tasted overly soaked in ginger. read more

Little Pan - House Special Pan-Fried Pork Bun, Beef Pancake, Shredded Bean Curd With Carrot Salad, Chocolate Fried Buns - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

This is one of the closest Sheng Jian Baos (pan fried pork buns) you can get in SoCal! Little Pan does their pan fried buns the best which each of their buns hqs a very crispy, golden brown bottom and a soft and fluffy top. Inside is filled with juicy, flavorful pork filling or filling of your choice. Think of this as a crispy, pan fried bottom soup dumpling but better! I got their: Assorted Pan Fried Buns: Which comes with 6 pieces and has 2 pork buns, 2 curry pork buns, and 2 shrimp and leek buns. The bottoms of the pan fried buns were super crispy while the outer layer of the buns was soft and fluffy. Inside of the filling was bursting with juicy, savory soup that spills out if you're not too careful slurping it up strategically. My favorites in rank order has to be the pork, curry, and then the shrimp and leek. It comes with vinegar which you can eat with that helps cut the fattiness of the pan fried dumpling and complements the flavors of the bun. The price for $13.99 for 6 huge buns was worth it! I was full after 3. Definitely a great appetizer or meal in itself! read more

Little Pan - Assorted Pan Fried Buns (comes with 2 curry, 2 shrimp and leek, and 2 pork buns) - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Such an odd location but their buns and soup are delicious and perfect for the current cold and wet weather. The buns come out fast and hot and the soup is one of my favorites. read more

Little Pan - Sauerkraut and Mutton Soup with vermicelli noodles special, includes two special pork pan fried buns - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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I love Little Pan for their pan fried buns! Their original is unbeatable and some of the best in the area. The pan fried buns are juicy and piping hot. The bun texture is amazing. I enjoy watching the older lady and man making the dumplings together through the window. They're so fun! read more

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Service and food was just okay. The chicken katsu was a bit bland but loved their kimchi and cucumbers. We got the assorted fried dumplings which we expected to be 6 separate flavors but it was 3 flavors: curry, shrimp/leek, and plain. They were all pretty one note. Our favorite was the curry as it was the most flavorful/unique. Their jasmine soy tea was a 2/5. It was extremely watered down, no creaminess or milkiness, and there's a bunch of flowers/petals floating on top of the drink that you constantly have to spit out. I don't understand why they added that considering it's not even for decorative purposes since it's in a paper cup with a black lid so you can't even see the drink. Kinda just tasted like watered down jasmine tea. The durian dessert also 2/5, not enough filling and the pastry exterior is too thick. Not sure we'd return. read more

Cute little place with some tables for dine in, and a window to watch them make the dumplings. You self sit and order on an app, they also have a tablet to order to go, or you order with the cashier. At checkout you pay at the cashier to close your tab. Food came out fast and fresh. Placed orders for cucumbers, chicken katsu, pork curry buns(meant to order house but ordered wrong), scallion pancake, mini pork in chili sauce, Dan Dan noodles, xiao long bao and chocolate dumplings. Cucumbers were so good and flavorful. We ordered a second order to take home. Chicken katsu was good and super crispy The curry buns were so good, even though it was a disorder by my mistake of not paying attention. Scallion pancakes were also great. Mini dumplings were also very good especially adding the vinegar with it. Dan Dan noodles taste like the noodles were made fresh. Nice chewy noodles in a smooth sauce. Xiao long bao was great and lots of broth inside. Chocolate dumplings were good They fill it half way with chocolate chips Overall if this was closer to us, we'd definitely come back. read more

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Was here one when they just opened and only sell buns only. Now they have plenty of dishes to choose from. We dine-in so you scan and order at the table and once the foods are done, they will bring it out. It was easy, fast and convenient. Staff are friendly & nice when interacted asking for stuffs or paying the bill. They do have inside and outside seating and the place is neat and clean. Prices wise, not bad and the portion is big too. Taste wise, overall good, just good. I would say that don't expect too much or else I would suggest to go else where for better quality but for the pricing and portion, it a nice package overall. read more

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I love Little Pan!!! If you do not like the wait at ding tai fung, prefer a airy and spacious place for Chinese food with delicious dumplings, still keeping family vibe, Little Pan has all of that. The colorful dumplings were so fun to eat, wonton soup also has seaweed in there so it was refreshing to eat. Beef pancake: mhmm, very interesting and fulfilling taste. Im not a fan of fried pancake but this was good. The dough are thin for each dumpling , making you wanting to eat more. Would love to come back here again. read more

Little Pan - Chinese Near Me - Santa Ana, California