This is a hidden gem in Lake Forest where you can get the best braised beef noodle soup and the beef pancake that was the best I've ever had! I love the clean taste where the food wasn't too oily and greasy. The cucumber salad was super crunchy and perfectly seasoned and the walnut shrimp was delicious! Overall the food is authentic and the ambience is very welcoming. Perfect for takeout and catering too! Prices are very affordable and there's plenty of parking. It's a must visit! read more

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Quick and easy spot for lunch or dinner. They have classics like beef noodle soup (meat was so tender and juicy, broth wasn't overly oily) and cucumber salad (simple and refreshing) but they also have honey walnut shrimp, orange chicken, and rice dishes if you're craving more western style. The portions are big so great for sharing!! The beef roll here is unique they use the wrap vs the thicker pastry dough so it's lighter but still flavorful. Parking is easy in a big lot, plenty of seating, check it out! Staff is nice and friendly. read more

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I was hunting for a late dinner after an evening flight and stumbled on this spot, which was an easy walk from my hotel. The service was super fast, and I was greeted right away. I ordered the braised beef noodle soup and the house special dumplings. The beef noodle soup was delivered exactly what you'd expect: hot soup, chewy noodles, tender chunks of beef, and a nice, spicy kick. The dumplings came out on the lukewarm-to-cold side, and the sauce felt like it was trying to do a baseline audition for every flavor profile at once. Between the sweet, sour, spicy, peanuts, and green onions, it was just a little too chaotic for me. Overall, it's a solid, reliable option if you're in the area and need a quick bite. read more

Kirin Noodle House - Braised beef noodle soup - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Kirin Noodle House If you need a pick-me-up comfort meal, you need to visit Kirin Noodle House for a hot bowl of beef noodle soup or some classic steamed rice with tomato and eggs! Even though this place is known for their noodles and rice plates, this place has a variety of authentic specialty Chinese dishes. I also loved the ambiance of the restaurant and the service was friendly and wonderful. Here is everything we tried: * Braised Beef Brisket Noodle Soup: The ultimate soul-warmer. The brisket was incredibly tender, and the broth had that deep, rich flavor you crave on a rainy day. * Sichuan Dandan Noodle: If you like a little kick, these are a must. Perfectly nutty and spicy with that signature Sichuan peppercorn tingle. * Stir Fried Tomatoes and Eggs: A total childhood classic. It's simple, sweet, and savory--honestly the best thing to pour over a bowl of steamed rice. * Pork and Cabbage Pot Stickers: Crispy on the bottom and juicy on the inside. You can tell these aren't your average freezer dumplings. * Shredded Pork with Green Pepper: A great savory balance to the meal with the perfect "wok hei" (breath of the wok) char. Whether you're in Lake Forest for a quick lunch or a full family feast, this spot hits the mark every time. read more

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Finding a solid $40 dinner for two around Irvine feels almost impossible these days, but Kirin Noodle House was such a good option since the Big portions, reasonable prices. It's a spot with Sichuan dishes and northern-style noodles, and they're open until 11:30PM, which is great for late-night cravings. We shared the chicken wonton soup, spicy & sour noodles with pork, and Chinese meat pie and it taste good. read more

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Service is friendly! Chinese food is yum. We got the orange chicken, shrimp noodle, wonton in chicken soup, and cucumber. Good portion. Environment is clean. read more

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I had a wonderful dining experience at Kirin Noodle House. The environment is clean and welcoming, and the service is top-notch--staff are incredibly friendly. The ingredients are incredibly fresh, and the portions are very generous. I highly recommend their Braised Beef Brisket Noodles; read more

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Ordered 3 dishes for to go. I walked in to place my order so I had to wait for a while. Good servie, it was really hot day and the guy gave me a cup of ice water. I could hear them speaking Chinese in the kitchen so I knew this place was gnna be good. My parents enjoyed it very much and we finished all three dishes in like 10minutes. No time to take pictures. FYI portion was not that big compared to other Chinese places. Overall it's a decent place if you are craving legit Chinese food. read more

Kirin Noodle House - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Hubby and I have lunched here a couple of times. I like to get the server's recommendation when I'm undecided. She suggested the Braised Beef Brisket Noodle Soup over the Braised Beef Noodle Soup. It was good with lots of big chunks of meat. She approved of the Pork and Cabbage Potstickers which came 10 to an order. We enjoyed Hubby's Dan Dan Noodles. The next time, we shared Beef Chow Fun, House Special Dumplings, and Dan Dan Noodles again. I was happy that the dumplings were not too spicy. The Beef Chow Fun was not "dry style", but still tasty. Clean, spare decor, pleasant staff, and enough parking in the shopping center. read more

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Sharing one of my favorite solo dining spots around Irvine haha. Whenever I'm nearby running errands and it's just one or two people, I almost always come here. Haven't been in a while, so I took a few photos to document it! Their beef noodle soup is seriously so good. The beef has that tendon-y texture and is cooked really well. It doesn't fall apart into mush, still has a nice chew to it, which makes it super satisfying to eat. Compared to Din Tai Fung, which I also go to when craving beef noodles, their beef pieces are big but can get a bit dry toward the end. This one stays tender and flavorful the whole time. We also ordered the boiled fish. They use black fish, and the texture of the slices was actually pretty nice. The spice level wasn't too intense, more fragrant and mildly spicy rather than overwhelming, so it's easy to enjoy. The dumplings were a pleasant surprise. They're made fresh daily, so the wrappers are nicely chewy and the filling is super juicy. There's even soup inside when you bite into them. I feel like dumplings and beef noodles are going to be my regular orders here from now on. Oh and the owner is from Nanjing, same province as me haha, so there's a bit of hometown feeling. Their chicken soup wontons are also really comforting. They were so considerate, kept asking if I could handle the spice and said they could make it less spicy if needed. But honestly, after living in LA for a while, my spice tolerance is pretty maxed out now. Besides being a great spot for a quick work meal, they also have a lot of stir-fry options. I included the menu as well. Overall, the value around Irvine is really solid, and they've got plenty of good reviews too. Definitely a spot with a good reputation. I'd say this is my favorite place around Irvine for chunky beef noodle soup. read more

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Food was good, however, I feel that I've been to a restaurant with similar food that tasted better in Irvine. You can order with the QR code at your table or with the staff. It's a mostly clean and good looking restaurant, but it's crowded in areas with their storage. For example, the corridor walking to the restroom was cluttered. There are 2 full restrooms with doors - one for men and one for women. Before I (a woman) went in, a man came out of the restroom. Not sure if it's a regular occurrence and he works there, or an emergency, or what... good thing it's a full room with a door so I don't think any harm was done. read more

Kirin Noodle House - Menu February 2026 - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I really wanted to like this place.. but unfortunately me and my friend got food poisoning from here. We ordered 2 scallion pancakes, egg rolls, sesame balls, and the house special dumplings. The food tasted old and made my stomach super upset. Will not be eating here again. read more

This was open relatively late so decided to come try it out. Ordered beef and celery dumplings (12 pieces) as well as pork xiao long bao (8). Both were juicy but wasn't able to distinguish them as the filling tasted similar for both. Service was quick as it was just one other group besides me. There is also a kiosk if you prefer to order and pay right away. I would have done that but one of the staff members showed me to a table to order. Ambiance was casual and calm as they played lullaby music and Chinese ballad / drama type of music. It did take some time to get the check as it was just one person taking orders, serving, and taking payments. I think I'll try their other items next time. It's a good option for a semi late dinner if you're craving Asian cuisine ! read more

Kirin Noodle House - Pork xiao long bao - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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留不住的是歲月，等不起的是時間，在有限的生命裡，活出自己的價值，綻放屬於自己的光彩，這樣才對得起這一生，不枉來人間一趟～ 來Lake forest， 又發現一家好吃的中國餐廳， 第一個要推薦的是他們的肉餅， 香氣十足， 做的紮實又非常好吃， 再來他家的牛肉麵， 朋友居然整碗吃光光， 一滴沒留， 他說 是他喜歡的味道，再來生煎包，一樣有水準， 還有湯汁在裡頭，也非常好吃，他們家也有炒菜， 我看左右兩旁桌上的份量挺大的，在吃飯的時後也有很多人點外賣，大廚鍋子沒停下來過，看來他們已經有很多主顧了， 如果只有自己一個人，也適合在這吃飯或打包回去， 小姐態度很好， 餐廳看起來也乾淨， Lake forest 好吃的餐廳真不少呢！ read more

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I think the noodle is so good. The soup is very tasty; they add a little bit of vinegar inside. If you order the mildest spicy level, you're good to go. It's very authentic in a provincial dishes. The lady offers very considerate service and always serves with a smile. I like the environment because they don't play loud music; it's a good place to chill inside. The only problem is that when they open the door, the wind is too strong and you feel a little bit colder. read more

We randomly went into this place and I can't believe how incredible it was wonderful service. The food was fantastic. I feel like it's a little hidden. I would've never randomly seen this place or at least noticed it but believe me this is a place that you'll wanna try. read more

Kirin Noodle House - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This was some of the best Dan Dan noodles I have had in a while! They were super quick and accommodating. It was a nice clean restaurant even though it was pretty empty because we were there late at night. read more

So there is more than one Kirin Noodle House. I was told to go to the other one to find out my friends went to this one and I should come here. Nothing to do with the restaurant. Just make sure you go to the right one. The address is confusing as Google Maps says this is in Irvine while Yelp has it as Lake Forest. The place was okay. We had a big group and they were able to accommodate us in this small place. The staff is a little challenged in taking orders. They have a kiosk for to-go orders I think but seem you can still order dine-in food on it too. It was confusing as they have the kiosk, walk-up order counter, and table service but slow at all of them. We had the beef noodle soup, the Sichuan boiled fish, fried rice, beef chow fun, string beans, pig ear, and the xiao long baos. Everything was good, but not unforgettable. Not stood out. It wasn't bad. It wasn't amazing. So, right in the middle okay. read more

For the location to have this type of food it isn't bad at all. Plenty of parking and service was friendly and quick. Good selections to choose from. The wontons and braised pork belly were not bad at all, good chunks of meat and tasted really good. The beef roll I would have liked more meat wrapped inside. read more

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We stopped by at around 8:30 PM looking for a late dinner on the way home. We were a little disappointed because the food looked really good online. All the other food we got was dry and not flavorful. The beef rolls were basically wrapped in a tortilla with dry beef and limited veggies. The pork spare ribs bowl and entree were both dry and lacked taste. Also the bowl said there were 2 halved eggs, but it came with just one which was a little sad. The best thing we tried was the shrimp dumpling, because it wasn't dry. On a positive note, the staff and the service were nice. Also, there was plenty of seating and the interiors were really nice! Overall, for the price point, I don't think the food matched due to the lack of flavor. read more

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We tried a variety of dishes, the noodle soup broth was a little disappointing and lacked flavor, but the meat portions were generous. I also wished the pan fire pork baos were more crispy on the bottom, and I was also expecting more soup to be inside. The highlight of the meal was the spicy tofu with beef belly, the portions were huge and the flavor of the soup was even better than the other noodle soups we tried. If I were to go back, I would definitely order from the entree menu instead of the noodles, rice, or dumplings menu. Our waiter was attentive and constantly refilled our water, and the spot was filled with modern decor and lighting. read more

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Wow! I walked in last night and was excited to try this spot since it got 4 stars.... My first time at a noodle 'joint' and all. Uh... who is reviewing this place? The guy, presumably owner or manager, was rude, unhelpful and bothered by my questions. I'm sorry that my questions are bothersome. Are you busy with all of the other guests? Oh that's right there were NO other customers in the restaurant at a peak serving hour. This should have been my first sign. read more

Came here when the restaurant just opened. Ordered and they still needed to prep, so it took them additional time for the food to come out. Their XLB all stuck together so when you grab them, they automatically rip and all the soup oozes out. Their wonton in chili sauce is something you could definitely skip. It was flavorless even while being drenched in the sauce. The best thing I ate was probably the steamed pork and cabbage dumplings. The skin was nice and chewy and filling was flavorful as well. read more

Kirin Noodle House - Pork And Cabbage Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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First time trying this place. The food wasn't too bad, but I felt like the dumplings needed more flavor. The chow fun was good and orange chicken was also not bad. The soup dumplings did stick together so the soup all oozed out. read more

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The beef noodle soup here is absolutely delicious. We've been coming here for years now and are always blown away by how authentic their dishes are there's not a lot of good Chinese restaurants in South County so when I tell you that this place is good it's coming from somebody who has high expectations. The service is always on par. Everyone is super friendly and the ambience is great. They have community tables as well for big party sizes but the seating is super casual and often times it's easy to find table. Their baos are very good too there's so many different options and every menu item is delicious. 10/10 would recommend. read more

OMG! I love how late this place is open. Great beef noodle soup, I came with a large party of seven, and I think 4/7 of us got all of the variations of the beef noodle soup. The brisket, the rice noodle, classic and one with a high spice level. All variations good. We ordered chow fun, wonton soup, and the braised pork with tofu. All delicious. Service was a little slow, for us being the only people in the restaurant but helpful. They have a QR code to order from the table which is helpful. The restaurant is pretty big, and bright. It was perfect for our group! read more

Kirin Noodle House is definitely one of the standout noodle spots in Lake Forest. I believe they took over the space from Beijing Noodle House, and I truly appreciate the updated modern interior--it's hands down the brightest and most inviting spot in the area. The fresh and contemporary design really makes the place shine on its own. I ordered the Braised Beef Noodle Soup, and I was impressed with the generous portion of beef, especially for the price. The noodles had a good texture, and the broth featured unique ingredients that added an interesting depth of flavor. I'm so glad to have Kirin Noodle House in Lake Forest, and I'll definitely continue to support them. Thank you for bringing such a welcoming and delicious spot to the community! read more

Kirin Noodle House - Braised Beef Noodle Soup - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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There's also a Kirin in Irvine but the Lake Forest location is a lot bigger and the service is definitely a lot better! We got our usual which is the rice noodle beef soup, house special dumplings, shrimp fried rice, and XLB. The only thing is the food lacked a lot of flavor and salt. But that is easily fixed with the seasoning they have on the side. Overall it is a quick and cheaper version to din tai! read more

Kirin Noodle House - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

The service was immaculate and the server was so nice. She was very attentive, filling our water and table sauces a couple times. The restaurant was cute and clean. My husband even said the bathrooms were nice. He also really liked that they had forks on the table, along with the chopsticks, so he didn't have to ask for them. The speed of the kitchen was great. Giving 4 stars bc the food was just okay. For us, the house special dumplings were a standout! But other than those, it's your classic, tried, and true Chinese restaurant. read more

Kirin Noodle House - Fried noodles with chicken (just have to ask for it) Orange Chicken Egg rolls - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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As most restaurants in Irvine were closed by 10:30-11pm, my friend and I discovered Kirin. As we arrived, only one table of diners were left eating, and we figured they were closing sooner than we thought. After self-ordering at the kiosk, we received our food shortly and then a worker came up to inform us they actually closed at 11:20pm, not 11:45pm. We did have to shove the food down, but I was pleasantly surprised with how tasty everything was. The noodles in my Pork Sparerib Noodle were soft and chewy, and I can tell they were made fresh. I enjoyed how easily the pork on the sprerib fell off the bone. The toppings of peas and Bok choy were added some nice greens to the bowl and was good with the broth. The soup wasn't too salty either, and I added their chili oil and some soy sauce for more flavor. My friend liked his Dan Dan Noodles, however, his sauce was more of a soupy appearance instead of a Dan Dan Sauce. We both enjoyed our meals here and were satisfied quickly! read more

Kirin Noodle House - Pork Sparerib Noodle - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I ordered the beef noodle soup and it was spectacular, the noodles are freshly made and the broth was an explosion of flavors. I also ordered the pork and cabbage dumplings, and they were phenomenal. Move over Din Tai Fung! I was impressed with the variety of the menu, this place is dangerous and you may end up over ordering food lol. The service was friendly and attentive. I will be coming back for sure! read more

It's hard giving 3 stars because out of 5 it seems so low BUT I just felt the food was pretty average. It wasn't bad, it wasn't great, I'd say it was pretty good. We got the cucumber salad, green beans, pork & chive dumplings, and the pork potstickers. The potstickers didn't have that good crunch on the bottom like you'd expect. And usually places put the crunchy side face up so that it maintains the cronch. The pork & chive dumplings were okay - it wasn't suuuper flavorful and they came out sort of warm but not super hot even though they just made it. The green beans were the star! They had a toooon of garlic which I loved. The cucumber salad was cold, crunchy & refreshing to balance all the hot items. read more

Kirin Noodle House - Green Beans - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Kirin Noodle House took over the space that used to be the Beijing Noodle House about 3 months ago. It has more selections and customers responded favorably. It was a full house by the time we finished our lunch. We ordered more items than we should because I wanted to try a few things on their menu. The hot and sour soup is for two, but I consumed more than my fair share. The chives pancakes was smaller than I hoped for but they are tasty. The braised beef noodle soup is decent too. Service is just fair. That's what happens when there is only one server trying to take care of all the tables. I hope they hire more servers soon. read more

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Great Noodle spot for winter and summer. offers exceptional service from friendly and efficient staff who ensure customers feel valued. The beef noodles are highly recommended, featuring a rich, flavorful broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and tender beef. read more

Delicious food, the lady took my order right away. The place is clean and nice. Great spot for lunch and dinner. It's a chill environment. Ordered the braised beef doodle. So good read more

Kirin Noodle House - I ate most of it before taking the pic 1.Braised Beef Brisket Noodle Soup - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

There are plenty of parking spaces. They have plenty of seating available inside. You scan the QR code on the table and order via mobile. I ordered the Braised Pork in Brown Sauce Rice Bowl and it was really good! The braised pork was soft and flavorful. It came with 2 broccoli pieces, but they were tough to eat and had no taste. All the flavors came from the braised pork. Recommendation(s): - Braised Pork in Brown Rice Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - 2 restrooms - Plenty of parking spaces - Basically in Lake Forest area read more

Kirin Noodle House - Braised Pork in Brown Sauce Rice Bowl - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Food was good! Service was kind and friendly! Def need to make sure the individual xlb not touch each other...many of them broke when picked up which was unfortunate for us. Overall, very tasty and well seasoned. Not too oily....the spelling and menu needs some attention. read more

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Bf and I decided to stop by since we were both in a noodle mood and it definitely did not disappoint! Parking was plentiful and there wasn't a wait when we arrived at 6PM. They were quick to seat us. Everything on the menu looked so yummy! House Special Dumplings: I love dumplings and when I see red over it, I know it's able to hit real good and this dish definitely hit the spot. The wrapping around the dumpling was not too thin or thick and the stuffing was crazy good. I loved that they give like 12 pieces because it was so enjoyable to have in between bites of my noodle dish! The sauce wasn't super spicy and had a nice soy sauce blend in it. Braised Beef Noodle soup: very beefy haha but I liked it! I also enjoyed the texture of the noodle as it was very chewy. The beef was really tender and the soup was flavorful. It came out really hot and stayed a good temperature for the duration of the meal! Pork Spare rib with Noodle soup: my bf got this and enjoyed it as well. He also enjoyed the noodle texture and his spare ribs were also tender! The meat came right off the bone. They checked in on us pretty frequently and were friendly overall :) we would definitely come back as this is best braised beef noodle soup we've had so far! read more

Kirin Noodle House - 21.House Special Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I'm so happy a legit authentic Chinese restaurant opened up in south oc. We really love the Xiao long bao, it's very juicy and big size. If you like spicy I recommend the spicy cold chicken dish. All the food here is good and the restaurant is clean and bright with attentive staff. read more

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I like this place! I like the mapo tofu, my comfort food. scallion pancakes aren't as fluffy/flakey as Taiwan street pancakes but I still liked them, I liked the crunchy outside and soft inside but they are on the denser side. Braised beef and braised spareribs seemed like the same dish different meat (same veggies and sauce?) valid. Some of the beef did have some chewy tendonlike pieces. Portion sizes are very good! Which is sooo nice Would come again to get more mapo tofu and try other dishes! read more

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