Leaving this review after an almost bad experience to help the restaurant or anyone else that may…read morehave eaten here today. 5 stars for fixing the problem immediately for us. We've been here several times before and what keeps us coming back is the quality of the food. Today, they had a new chef cook our food and it was terrible. Green beans were extremely sour (way way too much vinegar). Mapo Tofu had a ton of oil but not enough sauce, so it was just flavorless except the oil. The fried pork chop was over fried where some pieces you can't even bite through. The rice had too much water in it and was mushy. I rarely return food but this time it was so bad we had to let them know. We returned all of our dishes back to them. They let us know there was a new chef today, and they would remake all the dishes for us with the original chef. The replacement dishes were just as good as all our previous visits and it was excellent again! So thanks to the staff for fixing the problem. I'm not sure if they are training a new chef to take over, or as a backup, but they need to be careful as serving bad quality food like that would drive most people to never come back. We knew the food was good from prior experience, so we knew we could ask why the food quality changed. For first time customers, or those that may have ordered to go - if you had bad food today, it may have been a fluke due to the new chef. Service however was a amazing as usual. For all our visits including today, the staff has been kind and always looking for ways to help out and make sure we were having a good experience. So besides the food being good, I would say excellent service is also huge plus here. Don't be fooled with the automated ordering and robot delivering the food into thinking there is no service. The people behind the counter are awesome! Hope management takes care of this new chef issue quickly since their food quality is the main reason people come here. There was a night and day difference between the original food we got today, and the replacement!

We have eaten at EverSpring many times ever since they opened and my family loved it because it…read moretasted like authentic cantonese dishes. It had been a couple of months since we were last there and my parents and my daughter had been asking to go back and were really looking forward to eating there. However, we were so disappointed when we went back 2 weeks ago! The menu changed a bit, which was fine, and all our usual dishes were still there. We did notice that the cooks have changed and the original Cantonese chef was not there. I think the kitchen staff really changed how the flavors of the dishes for the worst. My 7yo daughter used to love their shrimp fried rice, but as soon as the fried rice came out, the first thing she said was "how come it looks so different from before." Not only did it look different, it was BURNT. It was like they fried the rice in a burnt wok so every grain of rice was coated in tiny black burnt bits. It was essentially inedible. They also just topped the rice with some tastless blanched shrimp instead of actually stir frying the shrimp into the rice. The green onion pancake used to be flakey with layers and expectedly oily for this dish, but the pancake we got this time was essentially a tasteless tortilla. It literally looked and tasted like a tortilla. No layers, flakes or oil at all and was the worst green onion pancake I've ever had anywhere. The fish with black bean sauce was acceptable, but it was definitely not the same. It tasted more like American Chinese flavors instead of the previous authentic Cantonese flavors. The only dish that I thought was still good was the stir fried eggplants, although my parents said it also tasted more Americanized. We are so sad that the food here has changed so much and it was one of the rare places my Cantonese dad actually said tasted authentically Cantonese in the area. The restaurant was full during our latest vist but we did notice that 90% of the diners and people ordering take-out were non-Asians. When we came previously, there was a good mix of Asian and non-Asian diners, so it seems like the clientele have shifted, which might explain the flavor changes or vice versa. The staff is still very nice and friendly, but it seems like the robot server has been laid off. I don't think we will be coming back again unfortunately as the food is no longer what we loved before. However, they seemed to still be doing well so others must still like it.

Kuan Zhai Alley is a really solid addition to the local Sichuan scene, I was super excited when…read morethey opened a few months ago. Tucked into the Los Olivos Marketplace, the inside is super modern and clean, making it a comfortable, nice spot to sit down. It's also super convenient that you can just order via the QR code right from your phone or wave down a waiter if you prefer. The food hits all the classic Sichuan cravings and comes out quick. The Laziji (Spicy Fried Chicken) is piled high with dried chilies and has that perfect, addictive crispy crunch. Another massive standout is the Stir-Fried Cilantro Beef--the meat is incredibly tender and tossed with a ton of fresh cilantro and green peppers for a great, fresh kick. If you want a dry pot, the Dry Pot Chicken Wings are awesome. The wings are perfectly seasoned and come tossed with lotus root and crinkle-cut potatoes that soak up all the savory, numbing spices. It's a little pricier than your average strip-mall spot, but the ingredient quality, bold flavors, and clean environment completely justify it. Definitely a go-to when you want authentic Sichuan food in a nicer setting.

I really like this place and had been wanting to try forever. I saw mixed reviews so I wasn't sure…read morehow it would be. But I'm glad I came. Since it's small, it clearly gets busy at times. The ambiance is nice. Whole fish: 9/10. Really good and full of flavor. I liked that this had a lot of stuff in addition to the fish! Chicken with peppers: 9/10. Also good. Loved the flavor, the spice, and the crispness String beans: 8/10. Good but nothing particularly standout. Better than other restaurants, though Pumpkin cake: 9/10. I didn't know what to expect but I really liked it! It's soft, moist, and flavorful Lots of parking since it's a plaza with other food places. Great restaurants in the area. I would come back

NORTHERN CAFE @ UNIVERSITY CENTER…read more The food was so yummy and it was so convenient to get, love that there was plenty of spots to sit too! The food came out in about 5 minutes and everything was pretty good. Overall 5/5 would get again

Went here for lunch, and it could get packed during lunch time but the service is fast. We ordered…read moreDandan Noodles, egg plant with garlic sauce, yangzhou fried rice, sweet and sour ribs and pork and shrimp dumplings. Dandan noodles is okay, nothing special. Egg plant with garlic sauce is too greasy probably because of they fry the eggplants first. Yangzhou fried rice is okay, lots of shrimp. Sweet and sour ribs is too sweet for me and too saucy that it feels overwhelming already and lastly the pork and shrimp dumplings is just okay, you need to put their dumpling sauce to make it taste better. They do have outdoor seating and we have our dog with us and the tables are clean despite being in a busy street. Overall, the food is just okay, service is fast and place is clean.

I came here around the end of the day absolutely STARVING. We got seated quickly and everything was…read morehandled promptly. The restaurant itself is a bit on the small side so you'll be close to your neighbors not that it was an issue personally. My buddy and I ordered our items and shared with each other for a good full experience. We got the three-in-one noodles medium heat and the Ma Hu Beef noodles with mild heat alongside the cucumbers with medium heat as an appetizer. Cucumbers were very fresh! However, they really were just cucumbers with a little heat on them so they weren't anything too special. Once the main entrees came in, I couldn't stop myself from digging in! I forgot to take a picture until after some damage was done to our meals. Three-in-one was so flavorful and sweet with the noodles becoming incredibly soft after having mixed it all together. The star of the show for me though was the Ma Hu Beef noodles. The beef was remarkably tender and delicious and the noodles had a firmer texture that complimented with the flavors. Oddly enough, the mild heat on the Ma Hu Beef was spicier than the medium heat three-in-one! If you find yourself in the mood for Biangbiang noodles, this is definitely the spot to go to. On a side unrelated note about the parking which did not influence my review; the parking here is rough. It's consistently packed so watch out for that. There is a structure across the street that allows parking for the food court. I parked in the structure but I had a bad experience because since it's also parking for the residents above, the gate was closed on us after 8pm. I had to wait for a vehicle to come out and open the gate for not only just me but for multiple other people that had also parked in the structure!Just something to keep in mind. Hopefully that doesn't continue being an issue for future guests.

Food tastes good. Service perfect! Ambiance good. Comfortable at all! Lucy's service is very good…read more Definitely will come back soon!

Stopped by here to grab a quick dinner and it did not disappoint! The lamb rougamo aka hamburger is…read morewhat caught my initial attention, but everything else was tasty as well. They also have the option for beef and pork if lamb is not your thing. Also tried their wonton soup, which was actually really savory while comforting, as well as their cold and spicy plate of beef and tripe and decided to give their eggplant, potato, and some peppers a try and even the table next to us was curious about the dish bc it looked and tasted so good. Service was very attentive too, making sure everything tasted delicious. Overall, a casual and small group-oriented restaurant that warrants a solid try.

Simple restaurant serving reasonably priced, casual Chinese food. My son and I were on our own for…read moredinner and decided to try something new. This spot was on the way to football practice, so we popped in. Staffing was minimal -- just two servers running the whole place -- and ordering is done through a QR code, which seems to be the norm these days. The ambiance is basic: plain tables and chairs, minimal décor, nothing fancy. We ordered the fried chicken cutlet w/ rice, the crispy rougamo, and the garlic string beans. Everything was solid, but the crispy rougamo was the standout. Flaky pastry packed with strips of peppery steak -- simple but really satisfying.

Growing up eating in SF Chinatown and having some of the best Peking duck in both San Francisco and…read moreNew York, we came in with high expectations -- and Meizhou Dongpo absolutely delivered. The Peking duck was exceptional: crispy skin, juicy meat, and incredibly fresh wraps and condiments. Easily one of the best we've had in Southern California and noticeably better than many surrounding Irvine spots. The Sichuan dumplings were also amazing with a flavorful spicy sauce, the sweet and sour fish was perfectly cooked and balanced, and even the sticky rice dessert stood out. The decor and atmosphere were also beautifully done -- a great spot for either a themed dining experience or just a nice dinner out. The colors, design, and overall ambiance felt very intentional and well thought out. Service was smooth and welcoming throughout. We unfortunately didn't catch our original server's name, but Tate closed us out and was extremely friendly and personable. In such a competitive Irvine food scene, this place genuinely stands out. Definitely worth coming back for.

Yummy food. They had such good service. The restaurant was so nice and will come back soon. Water…read morerefills were so quick, waiters were super attentive 10/10.

A&J is an Irvine institution!! Can't even remember how much times I've visited in the last ten…read moreyears because it's probably my favorite Taiwanese spot in the area. It's about time I reviewed them! My number one dish goes to the minced pork rice- it's a pretty simple dish, but it's sooo good here for some reason. I've ordered this dish at other Taiwanese restaurants and nothing compares to the one at A&J- the pork is always SO flavorful, never dry and enough to coat all the rice, the egg is perfection, and all the little garnishes compliment the dish so well. It's also just as amazing takeout which I always appreciate. Other go-tos are the spicy beef noodle soup- the beef in it is always so tender and I love getting the thick noodle option because of the rough texture it adds. Beef roll and pan fried dumplings are always a good option for sharing. Have tried a lot of things on their menu and nothing so far has disappointed!

Went to A&J with a few friends on a Friday night. There was about a 15-minute wait. We checked in,…read moretold them our party size, received a numbered ticket, and were seated shortly after. We ordered a variety of dishes to share, including the beef noodle soup, minced pork over rice, spicy wontons, fried pork chop, and scallion pancake. At first, the portions looked smaller than we expected, but the prices were reasonable and the food ended up being more filling than it appeared. We actually thought we'd need to order several more dishes for our group of four, but by the end of the meal we were completely satisfied. My favorite was definitely the spicy wontons. The wontons themselves were great, but the sauce was flavorful, slightly spicy, and addictive!

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.