Man the dumplings with mustard greens are insane…read more Also had pork jowl with peppers and black beans. Terrific. Easily my fave OC Chinese.

Even though there's absolutely no shortage of trendy and popular eateries in Irvine (and OC…read moreat-large), there was something about Tai Chi Cuisine that just called out to us. In part because it reminded me of so many of the eateries I come across in in the Bay Area, but also because we love places like this. Of course, it didn't hurt that the photos of their Braised Pork Rice Bowl looked so good on Yelp! Inside, the restaurant doesn't look all that special, but I love how relatively new and clean everything felt. What's more, even though we saw a steady stream of folks walk in ahead of us both times we came here, we've never had to wait for a table, as they have a good amount of seating to offer. As for the menu, it's on the simple side, but there's a good mix of dishes and options to choose from - breakfast options, buns, dumplings/wonton, appetizers, soups, noodle soups, dry noodle dishes, rice bowls, cold dishes, stir-fried dishes, and a bunch of Sichuan-Hunan specialties. They also might have a hot pot offering as well, but we didn't see it/try it since we were here for a late breakfast. -- SOY TOFU PUDDING This looked terrific when it came out, but it tasted more solid than spectacular. Although the portion size was great and the tofu part was good, I wish there was more meat in this and it had a stronger savory element. -- CHINESE CURELLER/DONUT To be honest, this looked almost artificial when it first came out, but it was actually great. The donut was a nice, golden brown, the dough wasn't dense, and the texture was great - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Plus, it wasn't the least bit oily! -- CHINESE SAVORY CREPE Pretty solid overall. Although a few of the slices of beef were a touch dry, they tasted great and were complemented well by the eggs, hoisin sauce, and the seasoning on it. Plus, the crepe had a nice texture to it - crisp with a slight chew. -- FRIED PORK BUN Ehh...these were fine, I guess. Sadly, the bottoms looked more burnt than browned and the buns themselves felt a little bready. Still, I liked how soft they were and the filling had a nice bit of porkiness. -- WONTONS IN CHICKEN SOUP While it may not be an exciting dish, this was actually my favorite thing here. There was a generous amount of wontons, which were juicy and had a lot of shrimp in it, and the soup was so warm and comforting. -- PORK & SHRIMP DUMPLINGS Pretty standard, but not necessarily in a bad way - it tasted the way it should. Every dumpling was plump and I liked that the skins weren't very thick. As for the filling, it could've been juicier, but it was largely fine otherwise. -- BRAISED PORK RICE BOWL Just like most of the dishes we've tried, this wasn't bad, but it amaze like we hoped it would. At a glance, this looked great and came with a lot of braised pork. That being said, most of the chunks were super fatty and I wish there had been more of the sauce. Based purely on the food, Tai Chi Cuisine is decent enough of a spot, but it's hard to look past the service issues we've had. The first time we stopped in, the servers were efficient, but we have had to ask multiple times for things that don't always get delivered. For example, during our most recent visit, they never gave us the white pepper we asked for nor the Stir Fried String Beans we had ordered. Thankfully, we didn't have any problems getting the latter taken off our bill, but it was ironic that the one who did it for us at the register was also the one who told us twice that she would come back with our dish. All in all, I can certainly see why folks might like some of the dishes we had, but I can't say that anything that we tried really set itself apart from what you can find elsewhere. As such, THREE AND A HALF STARS for the food feels about right, but easily rounded down for the service.

6 month update !! What a fantastic journey of physical and…read moremental enlightenment !! Thank you Master Kim. I was skeptical at first, but you have proven to me the benefits of Tai Chi in just six months. Balance, Strength, Focus, Mental Clarity and Energy!! AMAZING !!

From my first contact with Master Kim, I received positive and courteous service. Master Kim was…read moreinformative and incredibly gifted at explaining the process of brain and body connection. By the end of the session, we were in a different place from when we arrived. Very inspiring!! Thank you Master Kim!

Great teachers. Very patient and kind. Spend the proper amount of attention to everyone in the…read moreclass.

So far so good, learning YMAA Qigong and Tai Chi meditation and martial skills. Looking like I…read morewill get what I put into it. Have met great people on this path and great leadership at the helm.

Patient, competent instructors lead the classes, introducing and then refining techniques and…read moremovements as needed. The teaching starts at the group level with individual instruction provided to beginning students. Tai Chi is a great way for "mature" individuals to maintain physical health!

The instructors for taichi are extremely patient as they teach us the practice of taichi. I like…read morethat it helps my memory as we learn the different forms.

Received a gift certificate for massage as a Christmas present. I have to admit, as a man, I was…read morereluctant at first to receive a massage from a man. Grateful I gave him a chance. Hands down best massage I've ever had. Made me feel very comfortable, physically aches and pains are gone, chill vibe, had some great sayings but didn't talk too much! Seemed like a genuinely nice guy, very passionate about his art! Easy to book online and reasonably priced. I will definitely be back. To any men hesitating using a male massage therapist, I say give it a shot at least once

Wonderful massage from Adil! Magic hands and spirit soul . Know him for more than a tree years…read more. always recommended to my friends

After bringing my son here for a few years, I have enrolled my daughter and have loved her growth…read morein her confidence since. I love her confidence when she's talking to older kids and knows to speak up for herself. This is the place for you to bring your little girls. There is a good mix of boys and girls in their classes and there are female instructors as well in particular Instructor Mia who is phenomenal. Reasonably priced and the progression of color belts through frequent tests keep the kids engaged. I believe there is a free 7 day trial so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

We have been going to Dynamic Martial Arts for a couple of years and seeing our son's growth has…read morebeen amazing to see, mentally and physically. The instructors are supportive in their student's development and pushes them to be better. The end result? Gained confidence that they will carry on outside the class and in life. Highly recommend to give this place a try!

I cannot say enough great things about Tustin Shaolin! I feel incredibly grateful to have found…read morethis place while searching for somewhere to learn Tai Chi. From day one, I was welcomed into a warm, supportive community that truly cares about its students. Since starting Tai Chi here, I've noticed a real improvement in my breathing (I have asthma) and my body feels stronger, more balanced, and more at ease overall. The benefits have been both physical and calming, and I look forward to class every week. Doug, the owner, is absolutely amazing. His passion for Tai Chi and Shaolin arts is obvious, and he genuinely cares about every person in the class. He takes the time to give thoughtful corrections, explains movements clearly, and always offers alternatives if you have any physical limitations. His depth of knowledge and care really set this place apart. When I first became interested in Tai Chi, I tried checked out tik tok or YouTube videos but it was all over the place so I began my search for an in person place (in December) it's not February and taking an in-person class is a completely different experience. The personalized guidance, hands-on corrections, and insight you receive here are things you simply cannot get from a video. It has made all the difference in my progress and confidence. I'm so excited to continue my Tai Chi journey here. I highly, highly recommend Tustin Shaolin to anyone looking for Tai Chi! The Shaolin classes also look incredible! I may have to try those someday too!

I just started a 2-week trial of Tai Chi, and after only one hour of practice, I can already feel a…read moredifference in both my mind and body. I've been meditating for about 5 years, and beyond sitting meditation, I was looking for a practice that could support and deepen it. Tai Chi turned out to be exactly that. What I've experienced so far: * Reduced stress and anxiety * Greater focus and a sense of calm * It truly feels like meditation in motion I'll most likely be signing up for their monthly membership after my trial ends. Highly recommend for anyone looking to bring more balance to both mind and body