Nova was a pleasant surprise as we had no dinner plans made for our Disneyland vacation…read more Even before checking into our hotel (the Hyatt Regency conveniently located next to Nova), we saw the huge sign on the side of the building advertising their happy hour. We decided to give it a try on our first night. Everything from the staff friendliness to the ambiance to the taste of the food was exceptional! The specialty drinks were delicious, and the happy hour prices were more than reasonable. Everything was so good that we went back for a second happy hour in a row. The second visit was just as enjoyable, so much that we decided to visit on Sunday to check out their all you can eat brunch. The selections were amazing with a few exceptions. Some standouts were the ube pancakes, matcha French toast, Toro tartare toast, and garlic scallop fried rice. Some items on the menu left more to the imagination such as the spicy tuna crispy rice, which had no distinct flavor, and the fried oysters. Outside of those selections, the brunch options were amazing and worth the cost. Shout out to Ryan and Koda for the hospitality, and the bartenders that served us during happy hour. I would absolutely recommend this place for anyone visiting Orange County!

Mary was the absolute best server, so kind, and so attentive. I like to ask my servers for…read morerecommendations and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal! She helped make this a wonderful experience. The decor is also so sexy this place is a great place for a date with your man or your girlfriends. The food was so delicious too. I highly recommend this place for dates or friend dates.

So I had banh duc which is like a Vietnamese bolognese with rice flour pudding. Utterly insane. A…read moremust try. So savory and delicious. Then I had their take on a Mexican seafood cocktail (I hate the original). Amazing. Culinary engineering at its finest. They do some magic to make a clear sauce that has a hint of acid, tomato and horseradish. Octopus. Thinly sliced shrimp. Nate the chef is a master. Top 5 in Oc. The food is basically comfort food married with brilliant technique and execution. A must visit !!!!!

This restaurant has a five-star kitchen and a one-star front door…read more The food is phenomenal. The atmosphere is fun, energetic, and exactly what you hope for. Then you meet the hostess. She manages to make you feel like you're inconveniencing her simply by showing up. No warmth. No hospitality. No customer service. Just an attitude that suggests she's personally deciding who is worthy of eating there. Here's the reality: being condescending isn't the same thing as being exclusive. Great restaurants make people feel excited to be there. She makes people wonder why they bothered. It's amazing how one person can overshadow an otherwise outstanding experience. Management should know that the first impression they're giving guests is the weakest part of an otherwise excellent restaurant.

As always, my daughter is great at finding hidden dining gems around SoCal. Tonight, she brought us…read moreto Ini Ristorante, and I'm so glad she did. We started with the Beef Carpaccio with Arugula Salad and the Truffle Cheese Bread, both of which were excellent appetizers and set the tone for a wonderful meal. For our entrées, we ordered the Seafood Mafaldine, Branzino Piccata, and Braised Short Rib. The standout for me was the Braised Short Rib--tender, slow-cooked to perfection, and paired with creamy garlic mashed potatoes that had the perfect texture. The Seafood Mafaldine was equally impressive, with a rich, flavorful sauce that was simply heavenly. The combination of Italian and Japanese influences created a unique and comforting dining experience. Great food, wonderful company, and an enjoyable atmosphere made for an awesome night out. If you're looking for Italian-Japanese fusion comfort food, Ini Ristorante is definitely worth a visit. We'll absolutely be back for more.

The interior is definitely a 5/5. So beautiful and well-lit with a very classy atmosphere. Service…read moreis quick and the waiters are funny. The food was solid, but only for the dishes below. Best dishes: - Funghi pizza - Miso carbonara - Umeboshi salad - Garlic cheese bread So-so: - Crab roe spaghetti - Squid ink uni - Margherita pizza

When you first walk in, you're greeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The service was…read moreincredibly fast and efficient, and our food came out surprisingly quickly! We ordered the lomo saltado shaken fries and the calamari. The lomo saltado was definitely the highlight! the meat was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The fries had the perfect texture: crispy on the outside and not soggy at all. The sauce tied everything together perfectly, with a great balance of savory and sweet flavors without being overpowering. The calamari was also well-executed. It was crispy, tender, and didn't have any fishy taste, which I really appreciated. Another plus is that the portions here are huge, making it great for sharing with family and friends. There's plenty of seating, and the lively atmosphere makes this a perfect spot for a casual meal, family gathering, or a night out with friends. I would definitely come back to try more of their menu!

I had a wonderful experience at Sona Fusion Kitchen! One of the highlights of the meal was the…read moreMushroom Filet Mignon Stir Fry. The filet mignon was incredibly tender and cooked perfectly, while the mushrooms added a rich, savory flavor that complemented the dish beautifully. Every bite was flavorful, well-seasoned, and satisfying. The ambiance was just as impressive as the food. The restaurant has a modern yet cozy atmosphere, making it a great spot for anything from a casual dinner to a special night out. The space felt inviting, clean, and thoughtfully designed, creating a relaxing dining experience from start to finish. What truly stood out was the exceptional service. The staff were attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. They made us feel valued as guests, checked in regularly without being intrusive, and ensured everything was perfect throughout our visit. Between the delicious food, beautiful ambiance, and outstanding hospitality, Sona Fusion Kitchen exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend trying the Mushroom Filet Mignon Stir Fry, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

Excellent food and great service!…read more Everything was delicious. We had the beef wrap roll which were in generous size and proportion. Beef was tender. The xialongbao was excellent a and generous in proportion. Although i did not have it, My family enjoyed the cold noodles with chili oil. The chili oil complemented the al dente noodles perfectly. I enjoyed the golden beef prime noodle soup. The Beef was tender, soup was light and had the right amount of seasoning and spicynness. I wasn't impressed with the scalion pancake--it felt a little dry, a bit bland and very thin compared to those found in other restaurants. However the crispy chicken was excellent and a go-to for kids. The kid loved the drinks here such as the strawberry yakuit and the strawberry matcha iced drink. The restaurant seems always busy. The service was attentive but expect longer wait times and response when it is busy. Restaurant was clean and decorative. We absolutely recommend this place.

Food - think of this as Din Tai, well you know. But on a better value and still tastes authentic!…read more Love their dumpling, onion pancake, fried rice. Flavors are good and competitive. Service is good but could be better at times. Overall, not bad and can definitely fill and fill your cravings for dumplings and such.

I've always wanted to properly dive into the world of Pho? Well, after an amazing hike in Irvine…read morethe other day, I was absolutely famished and decided it was the perfect time to make that happen. I spent a little while scrolling through options, and boy, am I thrilled I landed on this particular spot! Seriously, it was such a great decision. From the moment I stepped inside, the whole atmosphere was just fantastic - really warm, inviting, and had a super cool vibe. And the food? Oh my goodness, the pho itself was utterly incredible! The broth was incredibly rich and flavorful, and all the fresh ingredients just hit every single spot. It wasn't just good; it was truly the best pho I've ever tasted, by far! The staff, especially the person who served me, was so genuinely friendly and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. I even had a bit of a comical struggle trying to master the chopsticks (still a work in progress, haha!), but honestly, it just added to the fun. I'm already daydreaming about my next visit - I absolutely can't wait to go back!

I've enjoyed the food here on previous visits, which is why this experience surprised me a bit…read more This time, I ordered the ribeye pho and my friend ordered the meatball pho. Both bowls seemed noticeably saltier than what I remembered. In fact, we both found ourselves constantly reaching for water throughout the meal. The ingredients were still good quality, and I generally like what Sup Noodle Bar does with its food, so I'm not sure if this was just an off day or if the recipe has changed. The broth still had depth and richness, but the saltiness overshadowed some of the other flavors. Because I've had better experiences here before, I am still giving it 4 stars and would likely return. I'm hoping this visit was simply an exception rather than the new normal.

Food: We came here for afternoon tea, each ordering the tea set, and overall the food really stood…read moreout. The finger foods was Asian‑inspired, with flavors like black sesame, curry, and other creative twists that made each bite feel unique. Every piece was thoughtfully made, rich, and decadent without feeling repetitive, and the presentation was beautiful across the board. It definitely felt like a more elevated, modern take on afternoon tea. The tea itself, however, fell a bit short for me. I ordered a non‑caffeinated chrysanthemum tea, which unfortunately didn't have much depth or flavor. My friend's Darjeeling was better, but still not as rich or complex as I've had elsewhere. Given how strong the Asian inspiration is in the food, it would've been nice to see more thoughtful decaf tea options in that same direction, like decaf sencha, barley tea, or kuromamecha, to better match the concept. Price: The afternoon tea service is prix fixe at around $45 per person, which includes a curated set of savory bites, desserts, and a pot of tea. For the quality and creativity of the food, the price feels pretty reasonable compared to other OC tea services, though the tea itself didn't quite meet the same level as the food. Ambiance: The space is bright, warm, and inviting, with a nice amount of natural sunlight coming in that makes it feel cozy rather than stuffy. There are subtle Asian design elements woven into the décor, giving it a modern, slightly upscale feel without being overly formal. It's a great spot to catch up with friends and linger over tea. Service: Service was good, friendly, welcoming, and attentive without being overbearing. Even during a busy service, staff remained kind and approachable, which added to the overall relaxed vibe. Parking: Parking can take a bit of effort. Since it's located on a busy street in Orange, you may need to circle around the roundabout or park a little farther away and walk over. Not impossible, but definitely something to plan for, especially on weekends.

I was super excited to try this spot, but it was a bit underwhelming. Service was a bit slow and…read morethe food was okay. Nothing super memorable. Server was very nice though. I would recommend for them to upgrade and get new menus as the ones I got were all stained and in bad condition. Small details like this is important and easy to fix. Total was about $112 for 2.

I'm already a fan of INI, RōL, NEP, and VOX - so I was really excited to try KIN for the first…read moretime! I had the following: -Beef Belly Udon: 4.8/5 - generous serving & absolutely satisfying, broth was well balanced, udon was delightfully springy! Salmon Crudo(truffle): 4.5/5 one of the better Crudos in the area Yuzu Fizz: 5/5 bright and refreshing! Another great meal by KEI Concepts! Looking forward to my next visit!

I come here often for the late night happy hour since it makes their main ramen bowls are pretty…read moreaffordable. I usually get the tom Yum Ramen, in the flavor is actually very unique. I haven't tried a broth like this anywhere else in OC. The only other place I've had a similar Broth was actually in Japan. Ramen bowls also have unlimited noodle refills. Service is usually pretty good and can be pretty accommodating for larger groups. Ambience is very modern and clean inside with a pretty large dining room room. Ample parking in the plaza is available.