Different menu from other locations. More skewer Chinese style bbq. Delicious!…read more Easy parking. Good service.

Came here today, but it was just average. Nothing special to rave about…read more That's it.

What a pleasant surprise! We found this little Xi'an restaurant while shopping and ended up having…read moreone of the most satisfying meals we've had in a while. The lamb skewers were juicy and perfectly seasoned with cumin, and the grilled beef tendon skewers had an amazing crispy, chewy texture. The soup dumplings were full of flavorful broth, and the braised beef knife-cut noodles were chewy with large, tender chunks of beef. We also tried the beef paomo for the first time--it was warm, comforting, and packed with rich flavor. The portions were generous, the prices were very reasonable, and after chatting with the staff we learned the owner is from Xi'an, which explains how authentic everything tasted. If you're craving Northwestern Chinese food in Irvine, this spot is definitely worth checking out!

The restaurant is located near Dairy Queen and Sephora over by Tustin Marketplace area. There is a…read morelot of parking available, thank goodness. The inside is clean, to the left is where the seats are located and the right is where the kiosks are. You can order the food on a kiosk and sometimes they have deals for a second dish for 50% off. The prices were a little bit more expensive than I would have preferred but they do give generous servings. We ordered stir fried string beans, orange chicken, crispy beef, and salt and pepper fish filet. My least favorite was the crispy beef, mostly because it didn't even taste like I was eating much. I probably should have gotten a different beef dish, otherwise everything else was pretty good. They have a robot delivering food to the tables. They do have someone at the front desk area if you have any questions or need hot water for teas.

Came by for lunch on the weekend and the place was packed! We managed to grab a seat but I can see…read morethis filling up or getting to a wait if it was any busier. They have a very Szechuan focused menu with most of the classics. Interior is lively and the space is on the smaller side. Service was prompt and all our food came quickly. The twice cooked pork was a little salty but came with generous ratio of pork to veggies. The hot and sour soup was piping and well flavored. Everything was spicy but not unbearable, and their food was all generously portioned.

The short female server was extremely rude and had a very unpleasant attitude. We noticed that she…read moregave a larger table to customers she seemed familiar with, while assigning us a much smaller table even though we had the same number of people. What made it even more frustrating was that the restaurant was practically empty at the time, so there was clearly no issue with the restaurant being too busy or running out of available tables. The way we were treated felt unfair and very disrespectful. If you're willing to spend money just to be judged and treated differently based on who you are, this is definitely the place for you. Highly recommended!!!! To clarify the situation: When we entered the restaurant, it was clearly not a busy hour. There were plenty of empty tables available. If your policy is that certain four-person tables are reserved exclusively for customers who make reservations in advance, then that policy should be clearly stated to customers rather than being applied selectively. When we arrived, there was a customer dining alone who was seated at a table for three. Later, another customer who appeared to be familiar with the short female server also came in alone and was given a larger three-person table. So just to clarify: were all of these tables reserved in advance as well? Or does the "reservation" rule only apply when it comes to certain customers? No one wants to sit at a tiny table in the middle of the aisle when there isn't even enough space to comfortably fit four dishes. We are not complaining simply because we were given a smaller table. The issue is the obvious inconsistency in how the seating was handled. If there is a legitimate seating policy, it should be applied consistently to everyone--not selectively depending on who the customer is.

We have been to Northern Cafe many times over the years, although we hadn't visited for a while…read morerecently. It is conveniently located near UCI, making it a popular spot for students. The ordering process is simple. Just find an empty table and sit down, browse the menu, and when you're ready, walk up to the front counter to place your order and pay. After that, the staff will bring the food to your table. If you need extra plates, water, or other basic items, it's mostly self-service. Just grab what you need yourself. The setup is straightforward and efficient, which is probably one reason so many students like coming here. It's a great place for a quick meal with friends or family near the UCI area.

Lots of parking available at UTC area, especially since it's located on the backside over by…read moreIn-N-Out. The restaurant is pretty big and clean. There are a couple of areas where you can get free water in cups. They often have daily specials if you're interested, especially the cold foods. Service was friendly and efficient. We ordered our food at the counter and the food came out relatively fast. We ate so many good foods: XLB, eggplant with garlic, mapo tofu, and zha jiang noodles. I don't know which one was my favorite because they were all very good and the portions were AMAAAZING. We had so much food leftover to eat the next day for me and my friend.

Really enjoyed my oil biang biang noodles here. The hand pulled noodles were saucy and savory and…read morevinegary - it definitely hit the spot. Pro tip: Don't wear white like me because I walked away with 1000 stains / oil splashes on my top and jacket. For only $13.99, the noodles here are a great deal. I can finish a whole bowl on my own. The order doesn't come with much meat or vegetables but they're vegetarian friendly. Ordering was very easy with the QR code. Service is fast and friendly. There's one gender neutral restroom.

Great food and prompt service. I got the spicy one and it was okay spicy, but won't shock you with…read morespicyness. My sister can't handle any spicy and she ordered no spicy and it was perfect. No hidden spices that sometimes happen. Maha was like a really good ramen. Highly recommended!

Great service and delicious food!!! Everything is great at this place. The Ambience is amazingread more

LA's only crispy pork burger; 肉夹馍 ​ actually lives up to the claim. Pulled up after picking up…read morestuff nearby, was starving, so I grabbed one to go. First bite and I literally stopped talking. Bread has that loud crisp on the outside, but inside it's soft and warm, kind of melts into the pork. The pork itself is super flavorful, a little juicy, not greasy at all, just that comforting, savory hit that makes you want another immediately. Tiny catering-style spot, but they're on it - quick, organized, and the guy helping me was super patient explaining options. Not a hangout spot, more like: roll up, grab your crispy pork burger, walk out happy.

Always lovely and very hospitable to my family! Great food and service. Easy to accommodate large…read moregroups too.

Traditional yet upscale Chinese restaurant, focused on the roasted duck, their signature dish. This…read moreplace easily accommodates large groups for semi-formal settings. I particularly enjoyed their fish, which was fried and prepared in a way that I've never had before. Portions are very large to accommodate large groups. The whole duck easily serves six people. Service is impeccable, and they switch to clean plates halfway through the meal.

One of the best values around for authentic Taiwanese food! The prices feel very SGV and yet this…read moreis in a prime OC location. I went to the A&J in SGV over a decade ago and was thrilled there is one in Irvine. They have the usual Taiwanese staples like nu rou mian (beef noodle soup), beef roll, and green onion pancake but they're done exceptionally well and have abundant portions. Bonus for me is they have a very cheap zhua bing, which I don't usually see on menus. The Beijing style meat pie / hand pie was absolute fire and should be enjoyed immediately upon serving when it's still burning hot. It's sold by the each so you'll have to buy multiple if you're dining with people since I'll can't split one with all the e juicy broth inside. They have other basic items like Chinese zhajiangmein (perfect for kiddos) and lots of other noodle dishes. Avoid the potstickers -- something was really off with the flavor th3 day I went and I usually don't turn away fried dumplings. Plenty of parking!

Here is what I ordered and how I score the dish with my comments. Sorry I didn't take pictures…read more Each dish has a number. I am not Chinese so take that into consideration. 122 beef soup clear broth - This was a 5/5 - so good we got one too go. The price is good but it is a small portion with just a little meat. It's the broth that tastes so good. 111 noodles with ground pork, sprouts and cucumber 5/5 - I really liked this dish. It's like a Chinese chili on wide noodles. Addictive. Good value too. 139 beef wrap - 3/5 - This is the chinese pancake surrounding overcooked beef that you can get anywhere. Thankfully they didn't use too much cilantro like other places. It was dry. I would not order it again. Needs a sauce too. The vinegar from the table wasn't helping. 137 1000layer pancake - 3/5 This was made fresh and it's puffy! ---probably exactly what it's supposed to be. It, too, needs a special sauce. There just is no flavor by itself. Plus, I only counted 900 layers. Just kidding. I would skip next time. The service here is great. Food comes out fast.

Overall (5/5) Really good spot for xiao long bao. Everything…read morewas tasty, the line moved quickly, and the whole place felt casual and clean. First Impressions (5/5) Casual spot that is not super fancy or overly crowded feeling. We were 9th in line and got a table within about 10 to 15 minutes, so they move pretty quickly. What We Got (5/5) * Regular xiao long bao: Really good and flavorful. * Crab xiao long bao: Strong crab flavor and falls apart in your mouth. * Spicy xiao long bao: Good flavor but not very spicy. * Mapo tofu: Not much meat, but the mala flavor is really good, with a nice salty and spicy balance. Came with a good amount of rice. Taste and Quality (5/5) Everything was very tasty. The crab xiao long bao was probably the standout, with a strong crab flavor and soft texture. Service (5/5) Very nice and speedy. The line moved quickly and we were seated pretty fast. Space and Atmosphere (5/5) Very casual with a clean feel and casual music. Good for a quick meal with friends. Was It Worth It (5/5) Definitely worth it. Good food, decent portions, and the quick service makes it an easy choice. Final Thoughts Great spot if you want xiao long bao without waiting forever. I would definitely come back.

Lovely Taiwanese casual spot with incredible prices!! My mom and I stopped by here for lunch and it…read moredid not disappoint. The wait can get a little long but the outdoor waiting area is in shade and there are a couple of benches. We shared the cucumber salad, chili sauce wontons, Seven Grams XLB, and a scallion pancake all for $33. Insanely cheap, tasty too. The scallion pancake was a little thinner than I'd like, not a ton of scallion flavor. But we especially liked the XLB - juicy and full of meat! The cucumber salad was light and refreshing and the chili sauce wontons were tender and tangy. Great lunch spot - would love to try something from the drink menu the next time I'm back! :)

I'm Chinese, but had never had Yunnan food before, so thought of giving it a try…read more I walked in and was immediately sat. It's a QR scan to see the menu and place your order through your phone. The food came out so quick. Less than 2 minutes and everything was in front of me and tasted fresh. The service is extremely fast. I got the classic Roodle and as soon as I put all the ingredients into the broth, they swung by and collected empty dishes immediately. The portion was large and ingredients fresh. I enjoyed the variety and the amount of rice noodle. The broth was salty and refreshing. They have some side sauces to adjust the flavor, but I found myself not needing it. The dish reminded me of a form of hot pot but a soup version. Loved it! I highly recommend and will be returning!

I decided to give this place a try because I heard their noodles were very authentic, and as…read moresomeone who loves noodles, I was excited to try it. I ordered their most popular dish, the A1 set, but honestly, it didn't really live up to the hype for me. The broth tasted pretty underseasoned overall. From what I understood, you're supposed to mix all the toppings into the soup with the noodles, but even after doing that, I still felt like the flavor was lacking. Yes, they provide seasoning on the side, but personally, I wish the broth already had enough flavor on its own without needing to adjust it myself. Would I come back? Probably not. Nothing really stood out to me enough to return, and it felt more like a one-time experience. Overall, everything was just okay.