Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    China Garden

    3.1 (1.1k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    China Garden Photos

    Business Info

    CHINA GARDEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - China Garden

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Siew mai
    George H.

    One of my Favourite dim sum restaurants. Love the fried Yao Teoh & shrimp noodles. Excellent and very friendly service. Busy ambiance even at 2pm

    Michelle C.

    There's a good assortment of food that is well priced! Service is speedy and kind. I've heard it can get really busy over the weekend, and for my first time visiting I can see why! As soon as I entered the restaurant, it was bustling with life in a very beautiful way. I'm glad I got to catch up with a friend here for lunch on a weekday (that's how you avoid the line). It's been here for a while - I've been told by a friend. And, I hope it stays for many years. God bless you all.

    the spread
    Rosie H.

    I got there as soon as they opened and they already had a steady stream of people waiting. There's decent parking when you get there early when they open but if you go in the afternoon, good luck. The restaurant is definitely outdated but I don't think they care. I didn't have high expectations for this place but I was happily surprised. Everything we ordered slapped and I was super happy. We ordered the shu mai, shrimp har gow, Chinese broccoli, turnip cakes, and ha cheong fun. Turnip cakes are my favorite, it's a thing I have to order anytime I go to eat dimsum. I wish it was warm and cooked like other places but even with it being room temperature, it tasted pretty good. I liked seeing the carts go around the room and since my friend speaks Mandarin, it was easy to get our food. We didn't order much this time around due to time constraints but next time... we'll definitely order more.

    Linda T.

    If you want to avoid long wait times, eating around 2pm is great on a weekend. We got in right away and I love how we have food on the table instantly. They're very fast to remove empty plates from the table. This helps make space for more food! The staff are all super nice and really attentive.

    Tofu
    Katrina C.

    Fast and efficient service! The food tastes very authentic, especially if you're looking for classic Cantonese dishes. They also run a lot of great promotions, we came for their $12/lb lobster deal and it was such a good value. The portions are huge and perfect for sharing, while still being super affordable for the quality and amount of food you get.

    Sign inside
    Yoshi B.

    China Garden made my Irvine dim sum dreams come true. It is surprisingly hard to find an authentic dimsum experience these days. You know, with actual carts rolling through a chaotic dining room with towers of fresh dishes. This isn't Chinatown cheap, but for Irvine, it's a reasonable deal. And they offer the best assortment of traditional dim sum dishes in the area. From shumai and shrimp dumplings to radish cake, rice rolls, and, yes, chicken feet, China Garden has the classics and more. Each of the dishes were well seasoned, fresh, and super satisfying. Plus they have legit hot mustard... not every place does! The egg tarts and pineapple bun were also flaky, creamy, and not too sweet. As you might expect, the dining room is lively and you never know what type of cart will be coming your way. Each server tried to work with our requests, and the manager made sure to get us a special request quickly when we couldn't find it in any carts. Dim sum is such a unique food "itch" to scratch, and China Garden really hits that spot. I also love that the 10:30am opening time also makes for a more relaxed, leisurely morning. My friends and I will definitely be back!

    Megan D.

    10/10 everything here was delicious. i came here with my family to celebrate chinese new year and valentine's day. it was my second time coming here and both times have been good. it's very authentic cantonese food and my chinese parents approve. everyone remember this is a very authentic chinese resturant hence, the service is not going to be the best. that's typical chinese fashion. that just means the food is going to be bomb!

    Egg and shrimp
    Chris W.

    Been here a few times over the past years and what I've come to find out is this place is either a hit or miss, but when it's good it's pretty good. For example, last time we came during lunch and it was a miss. The dishes had fillers such as onions and a lack of meat. Although this time when we visited it was an amazing experience. The food was flavorful and you could taste the wok flavor. The dry chow fun, chicken kung pow, and pea shoots were stand out dishes. The only dish I would not recommend is the peaking duck which was overcooked and dry.

    Drew L.

    Awesome dinner banquet dinner. High quality, casual atmosphere, and decent service. Go for the food. Parking a bit tight in this popular shopping center. Good stuff!

    Tintin B.

    Excellent service and great quality selection of the best Dim Sum dishes by push cart just like in Hong Kong. We really enjoyed our Sunday brunch here today and a local customer favorite as it does get quite busy here. Lots of free parking in this plaza. Come and enjoy with your beautiful family for Spring Break weekend. Living the American dream here in Beautiful Irvine.

    Peter T.

    Nice little Chinese restaurant, I went for their dim sum, it was good maybe slightly better that what I can get in Westminster but it's not enough for me to drive to Irvine for. They did have some sort of Almond Mike with some kind of pastry on top that's not on the menu that looked interesting.

    pork shu mai, chicken feet, tripe, shrimp dumpling
    Chloe L.

    HIGHLY recommend for the best dim sum in the area. We always come here for lunch for dim sum that comes out of the metal carts. Pretty loud and busy on the weekends but the service is super attentive and the food is fantastic. Our favorites are: - pork shu mai - chicken feet - tripe - shrimp dumplings - shrimp wrapped in rice paper noodle - sticky rice Been coming here for years and will continue for many more!

    Katherine S.

    Solid 3.5 star establishment. Came here for dimsum today and it's pretty straightforward. We pretty much knew what we wanted to eat today so ordering was easy. Whenever the dimsum cart was approaching us, we flagged it and ordered. The restaurant was packed when we got there, around 11:10am. Be sure to have all your party present before being seated. We had to wait about 10 minutes cause one of our friends was late. The dimsum variety was amazing-- from fried to steamed, they pretty much had everything we wanted. What we ordered today: Glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaves Football shaped savory balls 咸水角 Tofu skin rolls Black beans Pork ribs Fried ghost/ghost's tongue rice roll Chunky shumai Sesame balls Missing (must order next time): Phoenix claw Salted egg lava buns Beef tripe Beef balls with orange peel Tofu pudding with ginger syrup Mango pudding Fried taro bird nest Turnip/radish cake Shrimp balls with sugar cane Can't wait to go back soon!

    See all

    Photo of Annie W.
    1257
    315
    3224

    9 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C. M.
    0
    44
    11

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Qty was good but some of the food has lost quality . Example fried rice was horrible

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy L.
    65
    25
    5

    5 years ago

    Place was unkept. Bathrooms were dirty and it looks pretty bad. Service wasn't the best.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of L S.
    1
    84
    98

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of PT H.
    7
    340
    317

    4 years ago

    Great food. Kind of pricey! Service so-so, the place is very busy and will only sit you when all your parties arrived, which is great.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dennis S.
    86
    13
    41

    4 years ago

    Horrible service. The server passing out the ticket is rude. Use to come here often. Will Never come back again.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ann O.
    0
    33
    0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of W C.
    5
    181
    37

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ha T.
    389
    85
    424

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of AJ M.
    66
    50
    30

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    The food is authentic & good. The garlic Choy Bok vegetables are delicious & Shanghai style steamed dumplings

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeff L.
    14
    22
    4

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Iven P.
    3
    100
    15

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Allen S.
    69
    35
    24

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Food is below average but it's the only dim sum pin the area. No competition.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Warren Y.
    69
    33
    14

    4 years ago

    Our go to dim sum place in Irvine. The food is legit very authentic Cantonese dim sum and the chicken feet a bomb.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bo T.
    26
    84
    4

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Patryk S.
    27
    106
    199

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Dumplings were at the right temperature and the room was quiet to my liking and made me feel comfortable.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Suzi S.
    220
    108
    23

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jay S.
    946
    25
    46

    11 years ago

    Helpful 25
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Worst service I've ever experienced! Very rude server, and it takes forever to order a food from their carts

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anita L.
    1555
    4283
    4276

    14 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    Page 10 of 28

    China Garden Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - China Garden

    Dimsum carts available for lunch everyday? Or just the weekends?

    Everyday

    Is the dim sum via push carts served all day long? Specifically, I am thinking about going for dinner on Sunday around 5pm.

    Dim sum is available for lunch

    What time is dim sum served here? When do they have the carts?

    What are the prices for dimsum like pork siomai, hakaw, sticky rice, pork buns and shrimp flat noodles?

    $4-5

    What's dimsum serving time?

    Usual time, open until 230-3pm. Get there early if you'd Ike the full the selection, items sell out daily. This is pretty much the rule for most places that offer dim sum.

    Does anyone know if it really opens at 1030am as it says here in Yelp? Last time we went a few months ago in November 2021 and it didn't open until 1130 I think

    I ordered over the phone just a couple of months ago and they were open at 1030.

    Is China garden open during the pandemic for takeout?

    I went to restaurant on May 18, 2020 to order some take out dim sum. Restaurant was dark and vacant. Sign on door says closed infinitely due to Covid19.

    Do they serve dim sum during the weekday or just on the weekends?

    We went on a Friday around 1 pm. They were still pushing carts around with dim sum.

    How late does this place serve dim sum till? Only morning till what time? Do they serve dim sum all day?

    I believe they serve dim sum until 2pm! :) Always go before 2 though because they do run out of certain dishes near the end period.

    View All 11 Questions

    You might also consider

    Capital Seafood Restaurant

    Capital Seafood Restaurant

    3.1
    (1.9k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    This place was AMAZING!!! My friend and I happened to go at the tail end of dim sum/ lunch hour, so…read morewe didn't have many dim sum options to choose from. However, the staff was kind enough to still offer what they could. We also got the dry beef chow fun, honey walnut shrimp, and beef and mushrooms. And let me say that I've been missing comfort Chinese food, and this place over achieved. The staff were very kind and helpful and the place was very clean. This is definitely must try and tops any other Chinese restaurants I've been to in Irvine!

    Capital Seafood Restaurant *August 1st, 2026…read more*6pm- Saturday *3 Stars Environment: *Inside Irvine Spectrum Center *Large Parking Lot Available *Accommodating Service *Not the Most Organized *Takes Phone Reservations Food/Drinks: *Honey Walnut Shrimp *Chicken Lo Mein *Dry Beef Chow Fun *Garlic Salt Pork Chop *Peaking Duck (Whole) *Chinese Broccoli With Oyster Sauce *House Special String Bean *Baby Bok Choy with Assorted Mushrooms *Capital Fielt Mignon Cubs *Braised Beef Stew Clay Pot *Yang Chow Fried Rice *Juice Pork Dumplings Came here to celebrate a family member's birthday with a large group. I was surprised by how empty the restaurant was when we arrived, especially since I remember this being one of the hardest places to get a reservation a few years ago. When we were first seated, our table felt a little cramped for the size of our party. We asked if we could move, and the staff was very accommodating and allowed us to select a more comfortable table on the other side of the restaurant. It's been a few years since my last visit, and my family usually comes here for weekend dim sum rather than dinner. From what I remember, the portions seemed a little smaller this time around, but the overall quality of the food wasn't bad. A few dishes were slightly saltier than I prefer, but the Peking duck and Braised Beef Stew Clay Pot were easily the highlights of the meal. Both were incredibly flavorful, and the meat was fall-apart tender. The service, however, felt a bit disorganized throughout the evening. There were several occasions where we had to flag someone down for extra napkins, utensils, and additional tableware. Not anything major, but it did take away from the overall dining experience. On the plus side, the prices were very reasonable considering how many people we were feeding. Overall, it's still a solid option if you're craving Chinese food, especially for larger groups.

    Photos
    Inside (10/27/24)
    Inside (10/27/24)
    Wor Wonton Soup
    Wor Wonton Soup
    Pork Shiu Mai

    See all

    Pork Shiu Mai
    JA Jiaozi

    JA Jiaozi

    4.2
    (1.5k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Apparently the manager here has been developing the drink menu personally and LET ME TELL YOU--- on…read morethis hot day, these drinks HIT so well Chris the manager and Tristan the server did so well in checking on us. We were so famished so we asked to order right away... it came so fast! and the pork MELTED in my mouth. the noodles were perfect in their chewy but not too soft texture. the rice didn't stick and was clean and hot. the ambiance--- this window into their dumplings was so cool. The booths were comfy-- just amazing experience overall.

    What attracted me to JA Jiaozi was the colorful dumplings I saw on their Yelp reviews. I made…read morereservations on Yelp. Super easy and convenient. That had my name already on their waitlist kiosk when I walked in. Salvador was our server and he was simply amazing! Very professional and courteous. We decided on a pot of chrysanthemum tea while we browsed their menu with beautiful pictures that helped me easily locate the Steamed Jiaozi Combo and identified the stuffing for each color. The interior is very nice. I also like the place settings with a nice sized bowl for sauces. I also enjoyed watching them make the dumplings. There were 4 people: one to portion the dough, one to roll out the dough into perfect circles, one to fill and make the dumplings, and one to steam the dumplings. Quite an operation! We decided to order: * Steamed Jiaozi Combo - 2 orders because there were 4 of us and we wanted to try all the dumplings but also share. The white dumpling was shrimp and scallop. Since I'm allergic to shellfish, I skipped that one. Salvador made note of my allergy and to be sure to point out any dishes that might have shellfish. (What a guy!) This is a good way to try most of their dumplings. I didn't really have a favorite. They were all good. I do like their sauce choices on the table so you can mix your own in your saucer and personalize your spice level. * Brussels Sprouts w/ Seasoned Dressing - This was so good!! The sprouts were cooked perfectly and the dressing was nothing I've had before. So flavorful and well-balanced. * Chicken Chow Mein - looks simple but it was so delicious! * Plums Braised Pork Belly - tender and flavorful. This was probably my favorite dish from everything we ordered. * Stir-Fried Green Beans w/ XO Sauce - the beans were crisp and the sauce was perfect. We ordered 3 desserts because we couldn't decide: * Black Sesame Steamed Jiaozi - yummy black sesame flavor. I've never had it in a dumpling. * Fried Rice Cakes - Ooey, gooey and heaven for your tastebuds especially if you love condensed milk. * Italian Ice Cream with Kumquat Sauce - Ohemgeee!!! Can we talk about that kumquat sauce? That was the perfect flavor to complement the ice cream. As I write this review, I realize that there were so many dishes I wish I tried. I need to come back!!

    Photos
    Pan-Fried Jiao Zi
    Pan-Fried Jiao Zi
    Xiao Long Bao
    Xiao Long Bao
    Shrimp Jiaozi

    See all

    Shrimp Jiaozi
    Noodle Nest

    Noodle Nest

    4.1
    (446 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    This is probably the most underrated spot inside Diamond Jamboree. The menu is beautifully diverse,…read moreshowcasing Chinese comfort food and hand-pulled noodles at their finest, with something for everyone. Everything I've tried here has been delicious. The flavors are robust, well-balanced, and consistently satisfying. It's tucked around the corner between some of the more heavily trafficked spots, but in my humble opinion, this place is the real star of Diamond Jamboree. Can't recommend it enough.

    Came here on a Saturday evening for dinner with a friend. Be warned that there's no parking!!! Not…read morein the main lot nor a single spot open in the parking structure - then I had to 3 point turn at a dead-end and no spots coming down either. I got extremely lucky with a spot right in front - with a car leaving just as I was getting extremely frustrated with constantly driving around and no open spots. Great location & great plaza though with so many options and so much going on here - that's why it's so crowded! Ambiance - interior is beautiful and vibes are nice. Most restaurants had a long wait - but this one, we could get seated at an actual booth immediately. Service was good, very friendly and attentive. My friend and I ordered Beef Skewers, Chicken Skewers, & Mapo Tofu & Ground Pork with Rice, Orange Chicken, & Black gold molten custard buns. Food was great - good value for good portion sizes. But orange chicken was a little too sweet. Would definitely recommend and would likely come back!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Beef Roll.
    Beef Roll.
    E6. Dry Fried Cauliflower

    See all

    E6. Dry Fried Cauliflower
    A & J Restaurant

    A & J Restaurant

    4.1
    (2.8k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    I've found my go-to spot for spicy wonton at A & J Restaurant on Jamboree. What I love about theirs…read moreis how clean and vinegary the sauce is, without any peanut butter flavor. I don't mind the peanut sauce version at other places, but I definitely prefer this vinegary approach. It lets the wonton itself shine through without being overwhelmed by heavy sauce. Quick service, convenient location, and consistently good execution. Highly recommend if you're in the area craving quality wonton. It was a takeout for me but the restaurant looks spacious. I wouldn't mind sitting down for a nice meal next time

    Solid Taiwanese spot! We came around noon on a Saturday and were seated promptly. They were…read morebustling with people constantly coming in but there's a good amount of tables. Service was friendly and food came out quick. -Pan fried pork dumplings (4/5): came with 8 big pieces, juicy and good amount of filling, could be crispier -Soup dumplings XLB (4/5): filled with thick and juicy meat, good amount of broth -Spicy wontons (3.5/5): flavorful but pretty small, mostly wrapper and not filling, not too spicy -Beef noodle soup (clear broth) (3/5): large portion and came with lots of noodles and beef, broth was clear and light but needed more flavor, noodles were nicely chewy

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    #151 sliced pork ears w/hot and spicy seasoning, #154 vegetarian delight (gluten puffs, bean curd, and mushrooms)
    #151 sliced pork ears w/hot and spicy seasoning, #154 vegetarian delight (gluten puffs, bean curd, and mushrooms)
    Chinese Style Fried Chicken on Rice

    See all

    Chinese Style Fried Chicken on Rice

    China Garden - dimsum - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...