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    Collage Culinary Experience

    4.8 (196 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Collage Culinary Experience Photos

    COLLAGE CULINARY EXPERIENCE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Mailey K.

    The pho was delicious--rich, flavorful broth, tender meat, and generous portions. Really comforting and authentic taste! Service mindset could improve.

    Honestly way better than expected for a mall location. We came to the South Coast Plaza location expecting "solid food court pho" and ended up genuinely impressed. The broth was rich, clean, and deeply beefy without feeling heavy or overly salty. Meat portions were generous, noodles had great texture, and everything tasted fresh. The egg rolls were a hit with the kids, service moved fast, and it was surprisingly easy for a family lunch in the middle of shopping chaos. Is it the absolute best pho in Little Saigon? Maybe not -- but for convenience, quality, and consistency, this really delivered. If you're at South Coast Plaza and debating random mall food vs PhoHolic, this is the move.

    Chris A.

    A Must-Visit for Pho Lovers! I recently visited Phoholic at the Costa Mesa mall area, and it completely exceeded my expectations. If you're looking for authentic, high-quality Vietnamese comfort food in a modern, vibrant setting, this is the spot. Why I Loved It: The Broth: The soul of any pho is the broth, and Phoholic nails it. It's clear, fragrant, and incredibly deep in flavor without being overly greasy. You can tell they take their time simmering it. Fresh Ingredients: The beef was tender and high-quality, and the herbs (basil, sprouts, lime) were crisp and fresh. The Vibe: Located within the culinary experience area, the atmosphere is energetic and cool--perfect for a quick lunch or a casual dinner with friends. Service: Even when they're busy (which is often!), the staff is efficient, friendly, and gets the food out surprisingly fast.

    Shrimp broth noodles
    Auck H.

    I ate at Le shrimp Ramen restaurant. Intense flavors. You can definitely taste and smell the essence of shrimp guts. Servers were friendly and attentive. Ended my meal with taro mochi milk tea. Clean environment. Lighting was not overly bright. Went here on Easter Sunday. Many people around, however there was still enough space to move around because of the floor design. Overall a positive experience

    Le Shrimp Ramen
    Gio T.

    Love coming to Collage at South Coast after work on Friday! So many affordable and delicious options. There's something here for everyone. My favorite spots are Paradise Dynasty and Le Shrimp Ramen, but I've had the boba from the tea house and it was really good as well! Love this take on a mall food court!

    Scott L.

    A visit to the Collage Culinary Experience/Food Court is a must for all foodies! It is conveniently located in South Coast Plaza by Bloomingdales on the first and second floor entrance. They'll have everything from Le Shrimp Noodles, Paradise Dynasty dumplings, Bruxie waffles, Cha Redefine tea/boba, and of course Pho Holic. So many of these shops are family friendly and can accommodate large groups. It's a casual spot for weekly nights or weekends. *tip, Many of these restaurants offer happy hour or weekday deals. Employees are kind even when it gets so crowded at times. I do wish they would host more events or celebrations around here.

    Phoholic
    Armita Y.

    My go to places here are the k soul and pho holoic. It is always very clean here and I love the way they remodeled everything. The food taste amazing no matter which place do you pick and the overhead lighting is so nice and warm tone.

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    5 months ago

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    Chantel C.

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    3 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

    I ordered the Sri Lanka Ceylon Cha Latte. Tea flavor is quite potent! Very refreshing.

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    5 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Delicious food choices. Good vibes. Lots of tables at seating area. We'll come back again.

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    4 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Pholic is always good. Super cool set up just like Japan ichiran. I got the number 11 and it never misses

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    Chantel C.

    Hi, Andy. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review!

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    3 months ago

    My kids love it .always. every time I come to south coast plaza I have to visit here and get some delicious donuts

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    1 month ago

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    4 months ago

    Very good food and people. I always come here for take out. 10/10 recommend to come. Best in OC

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    6 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    4 months ago

    So many fun spots to eat at and the ambiance is top tier!! Could use a bathroom on top floor but other than that super fun spot for variety!

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    Chantel C.

    Hi, Joni. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review!

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    5 months ago

    Food is good. Service is quick. We like this place a lot. I will come back next time.

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    Chantel C.

    Hi, Angela. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review!

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    1 month ago

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    2 months ago

    Best vibe!!! Many options to choose. We came here for food and boba right after. Phoholic is also a good option!

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    5 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Great food! Chicken and waffle perfect amount of sweet and spicy! Amazing chocolate milkshake!

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    Chantel C.

    Hi, Stacy. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review!

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    6 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Love the Pho! The flat noodles were 10 out of 10! We were seated super quickly and the service was great!

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    7 months ago

    Great! Always smells so good in here :) food is great and ambiance is fun. Love coming here.

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    2 years ago

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    7 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Great variety of food and a very fun vibe. My favorite is going to phoholic and then getting a churro at churriño after.

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    6 months ago

    Always excellent for that shopping treat! All the restaurants are amazing. Love it here

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    6 months ago

    Fun lots of different things to eat and drink. A great option at the mall. Needs more seating but otherwise good

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    2 months ago

    Food is amazing the service is great and my food comes out on time. The vibes here are great to eat alone or with family.

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    5 months ago

    10/10 they have a great variety of selections. Always something different to try out.

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    7 months ago

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    Page 2 of 5

    Collage Culinary Experience Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Collage Culinary Experience

    Is there wifi available?

    Yes

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    There are a lot of stairs. Not sure if they have an elevator but everything is pretty narrow

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    Review Highlights - Collage Culinary Experience

    I recently visited Phoholic at the Costa Mesa mall area, and it completely exceeded my expectations.

    Mentioned in 21 reviews

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    Whealthy - SEAFOOD PASTA

    Whealthy

    4.5(263 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    I have had this place on my radar for a while and finally made it over there today, I should not…read morehave waited so long. LOL Lots of parking in a massive lot, lots of dessert and coffee options to follow up a great meal. Like a "Chipotle" style of Asian fusion and they have something really good going on. The have individual spinning wok style cookers that they do each bowl in. You start with the carbs, various noodles and other base options. Rice options not visible but available in white and brown. Turn the corner and the veggie and fruit selection is pretty big. Dial it all in and they add two meat choices. Add a topping and tell them HEAVY GARLIC!! Pay the bill, sit down and in just a few minutes your self designed master piece is at the table. You can go easy (lazy) too and pick from pre designed line ups that all look amazing. I got two pork options and my wife got shrimp. We both got a lot of meat, my wife said a few times "he gave a lot of shrimp". This spot is not super close to home for me but I have a feeling we will be making this trip often. This spot is uniquely different in a time I really needed to find that "uniquely different" Looking forward to trying lot of the menu option. Go check them out.

    + Yummy, healthy food. Wide selection of options, especially the vegetables…read more + Self-serve bar to grab your favorite mix and qty of ingredients (veggies, carbs). . A regular bowl comes with 2 choices of protein. + Polite, helpful staff. + Efficient service. + Ample parking. + Plenty of indoor & outdoor seating.

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    Six Alley Xi’an Biang Biang Noodle - Ranked #36 -- Among Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in Orange County 2025

    Six Alley Xi’an Biang Biang Noodle

    4.5(568 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Happy hour specials

    Service was good. Food was great. Definitely would come back here…read more The beef rib was tender and flavorful. I appreciated how they cut off the bone for us into smaller pieces. Side of beef soup was flavorful and light. Celery and tofu skin salad was a little spicy, but still really refreshing. Marinated beef tripe was flavorful, tender, wild spicy. Pricing is good. Don't really recommend this place for a very large groups, but if you do plan on going with a lot of guests, I would advise to go off hours or potentially wait; it's not the largest.

    The sauce & Noodle were the star of the show at Six Alley Biang Biang Noodle…read more I took the time to visit this cute establishment on Wednesday. It's tucked away in a small plaza next to Starbucks a liquor store and a few other food spots. I arrived a little after 2pm and there were quite a few people in there. Still spacious for a party of 1 even though it was busy. What immediately stood out to me is that every noodle is hand pulled fresh after you place your order. No two noodles are exactly alike, and honestly, you can taste the care and freshness in every bite. I ordered the Mahi Beef Noodles, the Dry Mixed Dumplings, and the cucumber salad. Let me just say... every single dish had me saying, "Okay THIS is my favorite," and then the next dish would come along and change my mind again. The cucumber salad was refreshing and the crunchy cucumbers were covered in like a garlic sauce bath. Be careful because this is the kind of sauce that could stain your clothes. Lol I also ordered The Ma hu Beef Noodles and The Dry Mixed Dumplings. The Ma Hu beef noodles were delicious! The noodles were soft, tender, and the beef was incredibly tender as well. The Dry Mixed Dumplings were equally delicious. They come dry with the dipping sauce on the side, which I personally preferred because you can dip each dumpling exactly how you like. The pork and cabbage filling was flavorful and juicy too. I have to say, my favorite part of each dish was honestly the balance of flavor. The traditional spices and sauces were layered perfectly without being overly salty or overpowering. I chose the mild spice level, and it had just the right amount of heat while still allowing the flavors of the dish to shine. The sauce truly brought everything together. There's something special about how they've mastered simplicity here, the ingredients are not overly complicated, yet the sauces and seasonings create so much depth and flavor without overwhelming the dish. Everything feels intentional and balanced. I couldn't even finish all of my food because the portions were generous, so I happily took the rest to go. The staff was incredibly kind and even packed me extra sauce to take home, which honestly made my day because the sauce is THAT good. The restaurant itself is smaller, but don't let that stop you from going. The flavor completely makes up for the size of the space. The establishment was clean, service was fast, and even with a slight language barrier, I still felt welcomed and treated kindly. One thing I really appreciated was how attentive the staff was. The moment tables opened up, they were immediately cleaned and prepared for the next guests. The staff stayed on top of everything without missing a beat. Authentic, flavorful, fresh, and absolutely worth visiting.

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    Six Alley Xi’an Biang Biang Noodle - Ranked #36 -- Among Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in Orange County 2025

    Ranked #36 -- Among Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in Orange County 2025

    Six Alley Xi’an Biang Biang Noodle - N3. Mahu Beef Noodle

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    INI Ristorante - Crab Roe Spaghetti. Part of our new Summer Menu.

    INI Ristorante

    4.5(3.9k reviews)
    4.7 mi

    Derick T was our server and he went above and beyond to take care of our large party (14+). He and…read morethe rest of the team continuously checked in on us and even took the time to split our check per person. That is something that we truly appreciate as I know it is not easy to do.

    Ini does fusion food right, and I feel very proud to say that this place is one of my all-time…read morefavorite restaurants in SoCal. I have come to Ini a couple of times whenever I stop by the Orange County area, and my graduation dinner was no exception. What makes them so unique is their perfect balance between Asian flavors and Italian classics. Everything I have tasted here has been delicious and has exceeded my expectations. Something I appreciate, besides the aesthetic interior, is their unique selection of dishes ranging from innovative pizzas, creamy and original pastas, and bright, flavorful appetizers. Here are a couple of items that I want to shout out: First, the truffle honey bread. I really appreciated the crispiness of the cheese on top and the bounciness of the fluffy bread paired with the sweetness of the honey. It creates a very balanced bite that keeps you wanting more. The raw salmon appetizer was a huge hit with our table. The citrus paired very well with the salmon itself, and even though this is a common appetizer at many fusion restaurants, they really do it right. The beef carpaccio was a great fusion dish and a wonderful nod to the Asian flavors that inspired them. This is a dish I have ordered multiple times, and it always hits the spot. Out of all the pizzas, I enjoyed the mala lamb the most. It actually was not too spicy, with a nice peppery flavor. Sometimes lamb can be a bit overpowering; however, when topped with the mala honey, everything balanced out perfectly. I also want to note that I have never seen this flavor combination anywhere else, and I think it is definitely something you need to try if you are here. The short rib gnocchi was another favorite of mine. The gnocchi was fluffy and cloud-like and paired really well with the umami-rich, savory flavor of the short rib. The meat itself was very tender and pulled apart easily, making every bite delicious. There are other dishes I could mention, but I do want to shout out the scallop risotto. This one definitely surprised me, as I am not usually a big risotto eater. I appreciated the creaminess of the rice mixed with the scallop, and even though it was a cream-based dish, it did not feel heavy at all. The service was very friendly, and everything came out in a timely manner, which I especially appreciated considering we had a big group. Overall, I will always try to find a reason to come back here, as this place really does take the cake for me when it comes to Kei concept restaurants.

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    INI Ristorante - Pork Tomahawk (dinner only). Part of our new Summer Menu.

    Pork Tomahawk (dinner only). Part of our new Summer Menu.

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    Nep Cafe - Crispy Pork Belly Wraps

    Nep Cafe

    4.5(4.8k reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    Nep has a special place in my heart, blending modernized brunch dishes with Vietnamese classics. It…read morereminds me of myself in a way! I feel like I have raved to multiple friends about Nep and how unique and delicious it is. Nep is located across from Mile Square Regional Park and has ample parking. Every time I have been there, it has always been busy, even with its generous indoor and outdoor seating. I also appreciate how on top of it the servers always are and how they make sure you are well taken care of. Nep is known for their Banh Mi Chao, which is kind of like Bo Ne but with an "everything but the kitchen sink" vibe. I definitely recommend first-time visitors try this dish since it is really what makes them stand out. The tenderness of the beef mixes so well with the sauce, tomatoes, and pâté, while the banh mi acts as the perfect dipping vessel that ties everything together. Besides the Banh Mi Chao, there are so many other dishes that are equally mouthwatering, such as their Crab Toast (with a generous amount of crab and a creamy mouthfeel) and their new steamed egg dish with pork floss (a salty flavor balanced with custardy egg). In my opinion, no matter what dish you decide to get, you can guarantee it will be well-seasoned. Really excited to continue being a repeat customer and trying everything under their roof.

    The waiter Jason contacted me re their Irvine location which I gave 3 stars. Then he proceeded to…read moremessage me until I told him to see my latest review. I would not trust this waiter, Jason whom may retaliate to others. I wouldn't trust giving my credit card information to him either. Plus I messaged the restaurant. I haven't received a response yet. That tells you in terms of their business etiquette.

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    Sonder - CHICKEN OYSTERS: Buttermilk brined thighs, tare sauce | $8ea

    Sonder

    4.3(180 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    This was my first visit to sonder and they made a great first impression! Since it was my friends…read morebirthday, they brought over birthday shots for both of them. Afterwards, the owner stopped by to say hi and since it was our first visit, he gave us shots for the whole table. Very kind of him. Food was great - we ordered a couple of things to share including the 6100 blue corn sourdough, chicken oysters, pork belly, spring onion pancake, and pork, please and prawn fried rice. My personal favorite was the fried rice, but everything else was tasty too! We also got dessert which was the pandan butterscotch pudding - yummy! Service was wonderful. They were attentive and kind and quick. They brought out some birthday ice cream for the two birthday girls in the party. Ambiance was great. It could be intimate and romantic for couples but also great for celebrations or large groups. I enjoyed sonder very much and will definitely visit again particularly due to their excellent service!

    My daughter recommended this restaurant for a pre-Mother's Day dinner because she had been here for…read moredrinks at the bar when they first opened and really liked the ambiance. We came with reservations on Saturday night before Mother's Day. The first thing I thought when I walked in was that there was a live band playing with bad speakers because the music was so loud. But when I saw there was no band, I thought maybe their speakers were broken because the music had that scratchiness to it. Then I realized it was a DJ spinning vinyls with foreign music from the 1950's with that scratchy vintage sound on full blast (think shrill trumpets and shrill voices.) Now don't get me wrong, the music was wonderful and very unique ( again, a lot of foreign songs) with a few I even knew...my husband and I loved most of the songs that were played. HOWEVER not when it's so loud that we can't even hear our own thoughts! I felt annoyed within the first 5 minutes of being seated when my family and I had to keep repeating ourselves, and my husband even went to check the rest of the place to see if it was any quieter anywhere else, but it was blaring music everywhere. I ended up ordering for my whole table of 8 people because we couldn't even hear each other over the music to make suggestions on what to order. My adult kids (all in their 20's) kept apologizing for recommending this place for my mother's day dinner. But oh my, the food was delicious---practically everything I ordered was amazing! OMG the hangar steak skewers, pork belly skewers, iberico pork secreto steak, little gem salad, and their bread with goatmilk -butter were my faves! We also had the short ribs and the pork fried rice with prawns but they were mid...nothing to write home about. This would've been a great place to come have a drink at the bar for happy hour or even late at night on a weekend since they open until 1am on thursday, friday, saturday... but don't come for dinner unless you bring earplugs and learn sign language or know how to read lips because there will be no conversations over dinner unless it's just to the person sitting next to you. Even so, I noticed the young couple next to us looking very annoyed-- they got up and left after quickly finishing up their one cocktail while the speakers blared out an instrumental piece of a girl moaning the whole time until she climaxed. Heck---I'll have whatever SHE'S having lol So plz keep the music down several notches until after 10pm, and let the rest of us enjoy our dinner so that we can sing praises on how delicious everything was. Until you do, I think I'll cross this place off my list for now and revisit again sometime in the FAR future.

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    Sonder - Sophisticated bar and classy chandeliers

    Sophisticated bar and classy chandeliers

    Sonder - Hanger steak

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    AnQi Bistro

    AnQi Bistro

    3.7(2.6k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$
    Family-owned & operated
    Minority-owned & operated

    I came to this amazing restaurant for my birthday back in October and was blown away…read more Our server was great The food was great (get the table side tomahawk, it was amazing. They cook it right there and then put it on a sizzling salt block on your table to finish cooking) And you can't beat the location So, when my south coast plaza advisor sent me an invite to a Gucci event held at this amazing restaurant, I just had to go. The ambiance is top notch, 5 stars just for the atmosphere alone Extremely clean Amazing bar and drinks Great staff Now, to their private room where this was hosted. Gucci, was so kind to give us all gift bags But the real spoiling came from AnQi bistro! Every station we went to, had a different food and drink pairing At the first station they had Truffle sashimi with caviar Paired with their tumeric drink Next up Lavender mojito Paired with lobster and shrimp dumplings Next was Grilled octopus and papaya salad Paired with a drink called -spring breeze Last up Chive and leek dumplings Paired with lychee cloud to drink (This was actually the only thing I could have because I don't eat seafood. And it was a 10 out of 10) Everyone was raving about the food and how beautiful the interior is. I really can't stress how nice of a place it is. It has a very laid back, upscale and trendy vibe This is one of my favorite places to eat at south coast plaza, hands down. And it's conveniently located inside Bloomingdales. It doesn't get better than that

    Let me start with what this place absolutely nails: the ambiance. Walking in felt like stumbling…read moreinto an enchanted forest at midnight, think fairy tale vibes, moody lighting, and decor so gorgeous I actually stopped mid-step to take it all in. Truly, whoever designed this space deserves their own Michelin star. Now... the food. The shrimp dumplings were fine. The shrimp were a respectable size, no complaints there, but "fine" and "memorable" are very different zip codes, and these stayed firmly in the former. The garlic noodles arrived looking a little lonely (small portion) with noodles that were slightly past their ideal moment of glory, accompanied by 4 whole shrimp. For $55. I'll let that marinate. The filet mignon dumpling was probably the highlight of the food lineup, genuinely decent, though it leaned a touch salty, like the seasoning had big ambitions. Still totally edible, just not the refined experience the price tag implies. On the bright side, the service was solid and shoutout to my server who steered me toward a pear martini that was, honestly, a little gem of a drink. They clearly know their cocktails. Bottom line: come for the atmosphere, stay for a cocktail, and maybe grab dinner somewhere else after. It's a gorgeous spot for pre-drinks and photos, just don't arrive hungry with high culinary expectations. Your wallet will thank you.

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    AnQi Bistro
    AnQi Bistro
    AnQi Bistro

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    Collage Culinary Experience - asianfusion - Updated June 2026

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