the duck tasted really good with the sides and wrap. probably the best duck place i have tried!

Growing up eating in SF Chinatown and having some of the best Peking duck in both San Francisco and New York, we came in with high expectations -- and Meizhou Dongpo absolutely delivered. The Peking duck was exceptional: crispy skin, juicy meat, and incredibly fresh wraps and condiments. Easily one of the best we've had in Southern California and noticeably better than many surrounding Irvine spots. The Sichuan dumplings were also amazing with a flavorful spicy sauce, the sweet and sour fish was perfectly cooked and balanced, and even the sticky rice dessert stood out. The decor and atmosphere were also beautifully done -- a great spot for either a themed dining experience or just a nice dinner out. The colors, design, and overall ambiance felt very intentional and well thought out. Service was smooth and welcoming throughout. We unfortunately didn't catch our original server's name, but Tate closed us out and was extremely friendly and personable. In such a competitive Irvine food scene, this place genuinely stands out. Definitely worth coming back for. read more

What's a staycation without checking out some new and memorable eats? I've been wanting to try Peking duck for quite some time, and this was actually my first experience with it. After doing some research, I was led here -- and the reviews definitely steered me in the right direction. The meal was delicious. From the crispy yet succulent duck to the perfectly prepared eggplant and comforting soup, every dish felt thoughtfully made with care and pride. Their menu is extensive, featuring a wide variety of Sichuan and Northern Chinese specialties, so there's plenty to explore beyond the signature dishes. The interior design and overall ambiance added to the experience and made you feel transported to China. Service was attentive throughout the meal, and parking was plentiful, which is always a plus in Irvine. My one piece of constructive feedback is that the menu does feel a bit overpriced. Still, the quality, atmosphere, and overall experience made it a worthwhile visit. read more

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Food was decent, but not great. The ambience was nice, and the service was okay, but not worth a mandatory 20% tip. As non-Chinese guests, we felt the waitress was pushing high-end items, including a $500 package meal for six people. We ended up ordering beef, fried rice, fish, and shrimp. The bill came out to over $600. The biggest issue was the fish. It was listed as seasonal, and we were charged $163 for it. Since it was Mother's Day, I did not want to make a scene. Chinese food for over $600, plus an automatic $120 tip, felt excessive. Be careful. read more

Nice atmosphere, yet food is a bit underwhelming. Visited with my cousins for lunch earlier this month when I was in Southern California. For 3 people, we chose the $105 lunch special which included their Meizhou roast duck, steamed garlic shrimp with vermicelli noodles and cordyceps, and wok fried green beans. Also added an additional dish, their beef filet with black pepper ($30) as well. Technique and wok hei is there, yet flavor and seasoning was lacking for my taste and what I'd expect for this type of regional/specialty cuisine. Can be a bit pricey for what you get food-wise. But I did enjoy and appreciate the inside decor and theme of a Chinese library/calligraphy study room. Located in a 99 Ranch grocery shopping plaza with plenty of parking. read more

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Honestly hands down best service we've ever had! Shout out to Tayt!!! Waiters are super attentive and gave us the best recommendations. We ordered stir fry noodles, garlic stir fry a choy, half duck combo, xiao long bao, serrano pepper beef, duck soup, oxtail soup, and chicken potstickers! Everything was a solid 8-10 out of 10. I'll definitely be back with other friends and family! Interior is beautiful as well! read more

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Had a great time here for Mother's Day! Staff were really friendly and attentive despite it being packed! Tried the duck for the first time and was blown away by how savory it was. The rest of our food came out quick and the quality still held up since the last time we came here read more

Excellent duck roasted & perfectly cooked with great tasty sauce. Love the stir fried vegetables. Service was very friendly and good. Busy even after hours as expected. read more

Meizhou Dongpo - String beans - Szechuan Near Me - Irvine, California

Service: one of the waiter gentlemen was rude and did not seem to want to be around any customer. He would ask you a question and looked around and listened with head turned away. There are two ways to order roasted duck, by itself $99.99 or combo with soup and bones $109.99. On Mother's Day, they took away the combo, so that they could sell you the soup for $7.99 and bones for $8.99. All they said was "we don't have combo today" lol Duck was good. But everything else was mediocre. I guess nothing too wrong but my expectation of service/presentation of dishes is too high? Or should I expect Meizhou Dongpo to be some fast food take out place? read more

Meizhou Dongpo - Onion Mongolian Beef 葱爆牛肉 VERY GREASY By the end of dinner the bottom of plate is filled with half inch of oil. - Szechuan Near Me - Irvine, California

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What a great place! The inside is super cute and the booths are nice. They have a divider for privacy. The chopsticks holder is so cute! It's a little panda! lol The Peking duck is so yummy! We got a whole duck and you can also ask to take the rest of the duck home that they don't cut up! It's delicious. And they bring it out to you with a candle under the duck so it stays warm! The wood ear mushroom dish was so so so good!!! Yum! ‍ And the waiters were super nice! Great place overall! read more

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Very tasty food, our waitress Lily provides excellent service, definitely the best Chinese food in town

Their duck pancakes was the star of the show! So tender, juicy, and flavorful! Some of their other dishes I felt like nothing else really stood out to me. But would definitely come back for the duck. I would recommend letting the duck heat up on the plate before eating! The service was just ok to me and the cleanliness was a bit poor (dirty floors and chairs). read more

Highly recommend Food here is hot and good , the server was really nice too ! Would come here again !

Came here expecting a high-end Chinese dining experience based on the pricing -- and it definitely charges like one. Overall, the meal was okay, but a bit hit or miss. A lot of the dishes tasted like they relied pretty heavily on MSG to boost flavor. Everything was bold, but also on the saltier, heavier side, which made it hard to enjoy too many dishes at once. They're known for their Peking duck, but at around $100 for a whole duck, it feels pretty steep. It's good, but not mind-blowing enough to justify the price for me. We tried a few other dishes too. The green beans were stir-fried very dark and somehow still tough. The pork belly with bamboo was way too salty. The noodles were actually tasty with a nice texture -- but again, very salty. The restaurant seems to lean into spicy dishes, which helps mask some of that heavy seasoning. Service was fine, nothing bad -- but for a place that presents itself as upscale, I expected more frequent plate changes and table attention. Dessert was fried mochi. It was good and satisfying, just nothing particularly special. Overall, if you enjoy strong, salty, punchy flavors, you might like this place more than we did. For the price point, I was hoping for a little more balance and refinement. read more

Yummy duck!!! Beautifully decorated besides the chairs benches being scratched up. I came on saturday during peak lunch and it wasnt busy. We were seated right away and food came out fairly quick. They actually forgot to give us the duck soup we ordered and charged us for it but we were able to get that removed. Definately recomend the peking duck because they give some juicy slices. I also got the spicy fish dish but there wasnt many fish chunks in the dish as I expected. read more

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I chose this restaurant for my proposal dinner thinking it was the same quality upscale restaurant like the one in Arcadia that shut down. Boy was I wrong, mid is a good word for this restaurant now. Food was very average and portions were tiny. First time having to order a second round of dishes and veggies. Food taste was decent but I could get that at any Chinese restaurant in the SGV. Did not have that upscale feel and was slightly embarrassed by this fact. I wouldn't eat here if you're celebrating something big and important. read more

This is one of the nicer Chinese restaurants in Irvine. It's part of a chain from China, with a menu that looks like a photo book. Known for Peking Duck, fried whole fish and tofu soup. It's always better to go with a group so you can order more dishes to try. The appetizers are usually good too - standouts including avocado, cucumber and bang bang chicken. read more

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5 stars before I even ate the duck. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, letting us know that the duck would take 25 mins so that we could order it right away. Everything was great! The a choy was fresh and full of garlicky goodness. Dan dan noodles had a good spice. And the star of the show was the duck - crispy skin with tender meat. Wish it would've come with baos instead of pancakes but other than that, a great meal. Came on a Friday evening, without a wait, as there's is quite a bit of seating. Ambiance is on the fancier side, great for a family gathering. read more

Meizhou Dongpo - Marinated Crispy Duck 1/2 - Szechuan Near Me - Irvine, California

Over rated for their food and service. Peking duck was okay, side dish green onion and cucumber were dry like they were left out for a long time and had already lost its flavors. All the dishes came out within 5 minuets after ordering including some stir-fry dishes - which was a bit odd. Service was not good. We felt we were being told what to order even though we knew what we wanted including a couple of market price items. Servers had no basic manners - one server shoved a dish into my hands because the table was full; the other server shoved the credit card machine in front of my face without any acknowledgment... needless to say, there's better place to get Peking duck in Irvine area. read more

I feel the taste of their dishes has declined over the years. Tends to be saltier and unstable. Service and ambiance are as amazing as usual. Wonder if they changed the chef..... read more

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Everything tasted great and was well prepared, from the savory dishes to the dessert. From the roast duck and diced beef filet to the fresh pea sprouts and Dan Dan noodles. The coconut almond mochi looked simple but had a surprisingly amazing texture, sweet, chewy, and slightly crunchy all at the same time, making it very nice. read more

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We've been searching for authentic Chinese cuisine in Irvine, and this place truly exceeded expectations. The food is consistently outstanding, the service is attentive, and the atmosphere is lively and welcoming. And the duck? Absolutely incredible honestly, I recommend the Duck. read more

The place was packed on New Year night. We had a reservation for six and was seated right away. The open kitchen displayed with the culinary staff sliding the roast duck, their best selling menu item, was impressive. Simple but elegant interior design, the dinning room looks brighter with the waitstaff uniform. It's a no kidding Szechuan cuisine. But I was a little surprised by the services. The courses were brought by which were cooked first, without the typical sequences. We got our Mongolian Beef, steaming hot, without steamed rice, which we realized we had to order (who would eat Mongolian Beef as an appetizer without rice, anyway). Then our Shrimp Fried Rice came in about 3 minutes. Then the first plate of Roast Duck, which was delicious with minced onion, cucumber and hoisin sauce, came on a ceramic warmer with a table candle and wonton skin like crepes vice typical buns. Then while eating, our stunning looking Deep fried Whole Fish in Sweet n Sour Sauce showed up before the rest of the Duck, on a second set, plus the Stirfried Stringbeans in Garlic. The food was superb. I initially removed one star, then put it back. It was the New Year busy night. What a great establishment for Irvine! read more

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I always recommend Meizhou Dongpo when family / friends ask for a Chinese restaurant in Irvine. If you're lookimg for a nice place to eat with friends, or somewhere to bring your family or in-laws, think Meizhou Dongpo! The dishes are more spicy so if you're not that good with spice, be aware of that. Portion size is very generous and worth the price tag!! The mapo tofu is the best in Irvine in my opinion (and I've tried a lot of mapo tofu in a lot of Chinese restaurants here). The serrano pepper beef is also delicious, with a numbing spicy taste. Fried chicken includes fried potato, so good!! They even have the special pork belly that comes in its own bowl with rice. When I'm eating with a bigger group, I'll get the roasted duck too. The wrap for the duck is a perfect consistency and texture (not dry or chewy). Quick and good service, delicious food that's always consistent, and pleasant interior. Lots of parking in this plaza too. read more

Duck was quite overpriced. Taste was not bad but the slices were so thin to eat. Other food seemed ok.

We came here for a private party of 3 tables on a Friday evening, and the service + food was amazing! We chose the pre set menus and everyone enjoyed all of the dishes. The space is beautiful and parking was easy. read more

My wife and I tried the Mapo Tofu and Peking Duck(half) at this restaurant. We loved both dishes. They were incredibly delicious. The duck was crispy on the outside, but tender inside. Amazing! The service was excellent too. Our waitress, Mrs. Huang, was very attentive; she kept our table clean and was always ready to help whenever we needed anything. read more

Meizhou Dongpo - Meizhou Roast Duck Combo (half) 东坡烤鸭套餐 （半只） - Szechuan Near Me - Irvine, California

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This place is amazing!!! Food is so awesome and the service is unbelievable!! Seriously the only place that has good service these days. The duck is so awesome and tasty. The full duck combo is so amazing. 10/10. If you're thinking of going, you simply must go! read more

Meizhou Dongpo - Szechuan Near Me - Irvine, California

Been to Meizhou a couple times and the food & service is consistently decent. It's not the best but for what it's worth given location, service and their menu, I recommend to check it out. It's good to go for group dinners as the dishes are more family style for sharing. read more

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This is a nice more upscale/elevated (but not too fancy) Chinese restaurant that serves as a great place for large group celebrations! We came here for a wedding rehearsal dinner with a party of approximately 35 people. There were private rooms available but they allowed us to sit in the main dining room at adjacent tables which was more affordable than booking a private room. The parking is easy since it's located by a big lot. The food itself was not the best Chinese food but got the job done! Our favorite was the orange chicken, it was very crispy on the outside with a nice citrus flavor. We also ordered the Mongolian beef and Peking duck, which came out in very thin/small pieces. The mapo tofu had a very mild kick to it. Overall great ambiance and food was good! read more

Meizhou Dongpo - Szechuan Near Me - Irvine, California

The braised pork was so good and tender and the stir fried strings beans were incredible, oh my goodness. They were so juicy and crunchy on the outside and just the right amount of spicy. And the duck, I don't even know what to say. So incredibly delicious. The skin was flavorful and wasn't too crispy where it's difficult to eat. It was cooked to perfection. I can't wait to come back again!! Shout out to Tayt for the amazing recs and for being an amazing server and host!! read more

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Stopped by on a Wednesday night and was pleasantly surprised to get a table right away -- no wait at all! The service was fantastic -- friendly, fast, and attentive without being overbearing. We ordered the Peking duck, and it was absolutely incredible -- crispy skin, tender meat, and full of flavor. The sides that came with it were just as delicious and the portions were huge, perfect for sharing or taking a little home for later. Everything came out hot and fresh, and the whole dining experience was smooth from start to finish. Definitely one of the best meals I've had in a while. I'll definitely be coming back soon! read more

Meizhou Dongpo - Szechuan Near Me - Irvine, California

My cousin introduced me to this place in Arcadia. I was thrilled they open a location in Irvine. I have been here a few times, it is definitely one of the most upscale Chinese restaurants around. It is beautifully decorated, clean, and bright. The food comes shocking fast. We barely got our water and the appetizer was already on the table. The waiter was polite but with military efficiency. Appetizers, the cold cucumber was garlicky, sweet, sour, hit all the right notes. The husband and wife slices was embedded in a spicy, tingly, delicious oil it was outstanding. The main course, my wife's go to was the hot pepper chicken, breaded chicken with fried potato, covered by a mountain of dried pepper and sesame seeds, the sweet variation was a nice touch. I got the braided beef, tender slices of beef on a bed of vegetables, with a pile of garlic. Both main dish came in an obscenely massive serving platter, see photo. And finally the classic string beans is a can't miss. We agreed every dish was a hit. We took 80% of food to go, because the portion was so generous. Such an incredible meal! read more

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The food here was very tasty and had some very authentic flavors. First off we had the Dan Dan noodles and the classic pork. Both very tasty but the pork seemed a little pricy for the amount of pork there was in each dish. Next we branched out and tried the Serrano Pepper Beef, Wow was that an interesting new flavor for us! I wasn't aware of the intense numbing sensation that would be coming my way, but the flavor was super good and we really enjoyed trying it. We ended with the half duck, which was pretty good but seemed to be lacking in the flavor Im typing looking for in Peking duck. The ambiance of this restaurant was amazing. Very family friendly with giant round tables with spinning lazy Susan's for large families to share. Our servers were extremely friendly and attentive. Loved the decor, very beautiful. All in all we really enjoyed the food and it was a great end to our day! read more

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All was nice, food was good and service was fast. The price was less than din tai fung read more

This felt like a true Sichuan Experience, the intense numbing flavors were a total trip to my family and I. We love trying new flavors. To start out the Dan Dan noodles are tasty, just not my favorite I've had when compared to places like SF. The Serrano Pepper Beef was for sure unlike anything I have ever had, and I'm not sure my tongue will ever feel the same... I totally enjoyed this, as did my wife. My kids scarfed it down, but while calling it "pretty weird." The classic pork was good, but at $10 for a single 2" piece, that price was a bit much. The last thing we had was the half duck which was in fact good, but this is probably my least favorite Peking style duck I've had anywhere. The Peking I like to get pretty often where I live is half the price of this, and the taste has much more depth. Overall still a good experience and I'm glad we went out and tried it while in the area! read more

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Excellent duck w/ pancake. The restaurant is big and freaky decor (Chinese upscale elegant style). Plenty of parking but can be crowded, especially on the weekend. Fantastic service from the server, details and attentive. The foods are very tasty and fresh. The duck sliced right in front of you and well plated. Great dinner overall. read more

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I would eat here everyday if I could. The authentic food, loud ambiance, and fast service made me feel like I'm transported to one of those fancy restaurants in China. We came here with the duck and dongpo pork, and also ordered the spicy wontons, eggplants, and Dan Dan noodles. All of them lived up to my expectations. The dongpo pork is served in small servings (per person) of 4 pieces. I suggest getting 1 for 2 people to share to leave room for other dishes. It's extremely flavorful and tender. The duck is roasted perfectly. Super crispy and retained its moisture. The noodles and wontons are flavorful as well. The eggplants are a little greasy but nonetheless delicious. We had 3 people and devoured all the food instantly read more

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My buddies and I were craving some Peking duck, and this restaurant did not disappoint. Just a heads-up: make sure to place your duck order as early as possible since it takes some time to prepare, but it's worth the wait. They also serve the duck with the thin pancakes instead of buns. We also tried the jellyfish appetizer, stir-fried vegetables, fried rice, and the bang bang chicken, all of which were delicious. The sauce for the bang bang chicken was especially good with rice; rich, flavorful, and super satisfying. Try to make a reservation if you can, the place was pretty packed and busy when we went. The restaurant was decorated pretty nicely too, it's a more of a fancy Chinese restaurant. read more

Meizhou Dongpo - Szechuan Near Me - Irvine, California

Last weekend, I went to Meizhou Dongpo Irvine with my family, and overall the experience was pretty good. It's one of the few places in Southern California where you can get reasonably authentic Sichuan cuisine and roast duck. The restaurant is located next to Diamond Jamboree, with fairly convenient parking. The space is large, elegantly decorated, and brightly lit--kind of like a high-end Sichuan restaurant in China. The staff are professional and speak both Mandarin and English well. We ordered three main dishes: roast duck, pine nut mandarin fish, and spicy chicken (lazi ji). The roast duck was the highlight of the meal. The chef carved it tableside, and the process was neat and professional. The skin was crispy, the meat tender, and wrapping it in pancakes with sweet bean sauce, scallions, and cucumber was just perfect. The duck was flavorful but not greasy, with a good fat-to-meat ratio. Overall, it was comparable to what you'd find in Beijing and definitely one of the better roast ducks you can get in the U.S. The pine nut mandarin fish looked great and had a crisp exterior, but it fell a bit short compared to versions in China. The sauce was slightly sweet, the fish not as tender, and the flavor a bit muted. If you haven't tried it in China, it might still taste good, but it's not particularly impressive. The spicy chicken (lazi ji) was a pleasant surprise. The chicken pieces were crispy outside, juicy inside, with a moderate level of spiciness. The aroma of Sichuan peppercorns was strong but not overwhelming, and it was very appetizing. It was actually the fastest dish to disappear from the table. We also ordered cold appetizers--wood ear mushrooms and cucumber slices--which were refreshing. Service was good, with the staff attentive about refilling tea and clearing plates. The price is on the higher side, around $60-$70 per person, but considering the environment, service, and the quality of the roast duck, it's worth it. Overall, although the menu and flavors are slightly "dated" or not very innovative compared to China, Meizhou Dongpo Irvine still ranks among the better Chinese restaurants in Irvine. The roast duck is a must-order, the spicy chicken is a pleasant surprise, and the pine nut mandarin fish is just okay. The environment is comfortable, and the service is professional--suitable for family dinners or hosting guests. read more

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