Jason provided a really cool experience with amazing food! He is a very talented chef! It was cool to get a big group together for this unique dining experience. Food was Michelin star quality! read more

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Awesome experience! Jason is great at what he does. Chill dude, amazing chef. You can taste the freshness and quality in the dishes. I love his twists and takes on food. He adds his delicate touches to a standard item we're used to eating, and brings it to a new level. He has quite the creative mind. Nice ambiance, clean spot, seats ten max. Tho we're his last party as he's moving to LA and OC area--TBD--and no longer from his home. Thanks for the amazing Michelin experience. Everything tasted bomb. Good luck with the next steps, Jason. We're sure you'll make it big. Keep doing what you're doing. You could use some more Vietnamese and Khmer food inspirations. Much love, LBC CREW read more

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pretty good！Unforgettable experience! I love the flower best! Service is also great! read more

LionHeartOC - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Irvine, California

If you're thinking about making the reservation, JUST DO IT! This place is such a hidden gem and it's perfect for treating yourself to good food. It's a very unique experience being able to dine in a chef's kitchen and watch all the action. Each dish is so creative and beautifully crafted. If you like asian flavors, I'd highly recommend. Since the chef and cooking and serving all by himself, don't expect the service to be above and beyond because he's already running around all night as is. The food does make up for it though! read more

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Recommend: such a cool underground fine dining experience! So glad we found Chef Jason. He's based in Irvine - Jason Paul Reynolds he doesn't have a typical culinary background. He graduated from UC Irvine in 2004 with a degree in economics, was in real estate industry, and then to working at different stages at Michelin-level restaurants across the US. He is doing this pop up michelin restaurant out of his house - it was amazing! The dining experience is 2 hours: $85 dollars a person, which is well priced. Although, it is byob. There are a total of 10 courses including two dessert courses. It is in his house: he opens up the island of his kitchen for us to sit at and eat out of! I will say, the dishes were very unique and each one of them had such beautiful plating! He also had most of the food premade, so he was quick to put each entree and presentation together. Before each course, he would explain what the dish was, how to eat it and we would enjoy! My favorite plates: the scallop (melted in your mouth), squash blossom, yellowtail with blossoms, and the tempura fried smelt. read more

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I've been meaning to review this. It was a while back and just forgot to do so. This was a great experience with great food ,and great company. I enjoy being able to bring my own wine and now that I have a little more idea of the type of menu it is, I may end up switching the selection I bring. It's very much a Japanese influenced menu, but not entirely Japanese. A great balance of flavors, truly gifted chef, without the traditional chef background. It will inspire you to delve deeper in the kitchen yourself as a result. read more

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An easy 5 for this fantastic pop-up experience. My hubby surprised me with a night out on a Saturday with the Lion Heart's supper club. We arrived at Chef Jason's residence in Irvine for our pre-paid ticket for dinner, and we were truly in for a treat. Chef Jason was non-pretentious and combined asian flavors with classic dishes masterfully and we tasted the passion that came through in each dish. He's had previous training at Michelin star restaurants and it showed through his dishes. I will say that it took me a few dishes to get comfortable and acquainted with Chef Jason's style, but 3 dishes really hit home for me once the flow of the dinner started rolling. Foremost, I'd like to mention that Chef Jason recommended that we bring sake (vs. red wine for instance) because this really complimented the asian notes of the dishes that he served. The sake paired wonderfully with each dish so we appreciated his recommendation. The top 3 dishes had to be: the filo pastry with seawood moss, the mantou bun with sesame condensed milk, and the A5 okinawa wagyu with fermented cabbage. These dishes truly stole the show as they highlighted the essence of Asian cuisine, all in flavorful bites. Some of these dishes brought a sense of nostalgia and familiarity -- something I truly appreciated when it comes to fine dining. Not to mention, Chef Jason's exclusive supper club arrangement allowed for an intimate and close knit dining experience that left us with a memory that we'll never forget. We are rooting for him to acquire that Michelin Star status one day because he no doubt has the potential and drive to do so. Whether you book through Tock or through word of mouth, you will not be disappointed with Lion Heart by Chef Jason Reynolds. Don't sleep on this one because you'll be in for a treat! Side notes: there were 6 of us guests (with a max of 8 per night) and we were seated 6 ft apart. You can also BYOB as he does not serve alcohol with the meal. Be sure to follow the directions he gives you to find parking / his place. read more

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This is for the Chicago pop up. First off the space is awesome. We sat at a large island right in the kitchen and you get to interact with Chef Jason Reynolds. He explains each dish and how he came to make it. We had a 10 course menu Which actually was 11 he explained it varies a little each time depending on ingredients available and small tweaks he can make. And it is very reasonable pricing. The flavors and quality of each fish can easily be compared to to Michelin Star restaurants. I won't walk through each dish as it is more fun to experience them. But we honestly struggled to figure out which we liked best. A smoked grape started which was such an interesting dish with an explosion of flavor. We loved the emoji pre dessert. The raviolo was perfectly cooked with a fantastic burnt balsamic sauce. The ricotta over his take on curry was great with amazing flavor. Every dish was well seasoned and brought an interesting and very enjoy palate of flavor along with great combinations of texture. We will absolutely come back. And highly recommend this to anyone who wants a Michelin Star tasting menu without the cost. He wants to open a restaurant. Hopefully he can. read more

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Excellent food. Worthy experience! Been here one time already, and want to come back. I had a recent schedule misunderstanding and Jason was very understanding in settling things professionally. I appreciate his candor! Outstanding service read more

An amazing alternative fine dining experience at chef Jason's awesome home. Each dish had depth and was artistic. The plating and presentation were beautiful. read more

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One of the best hidden treasures that I can't wait to eat and or come back to over and over again. Chef Jason is so incredibly talented. I loved his game on different Asian style flavors and dishes but executed in his own innovative and creative way using special ingredients and or textures. This chef serving food in an omakase style is seriously Michelin worthy!! Can't wait to come back. read more

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This was an incredible experience. My close friends, husband and I truly enjoyed all the various courses. Orange County needs a bit of variety that isn't just a Steakhouse. Chef Jason was very accommodating and knowledgeable about his craft. read more

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This was awesome and what an unique experience! My husband and I loved every course chef jason made! Highly recommend! read more

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Totally out of my expectations, with $125 per person, totally worth it! A great pop-up restaurant! The quality and creation are wonderful! Although the cake is a little bit ... that day, all the other dishes were great! Chef used Miyazaki dry aged beef, high quality uni, lobster and even served Chinese fried mantou! He really has a passion for cooking! Meanwhile, dining at home is more relaxing. This is totally worth a Try! read more

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Amazing dinner, we were truly fascinated with how Chef Jason and his beautiful girlfriend put together this culinary extravaganza! Bravo!! Aside from the pure pleasure of watching them assemble 9 gorgeous course with such a precision... Silvervare, china, and wine glasses selected with such a care and elegance. About the food - I have one thing to say if was better then our July visit to Alinea. Every course from textures to flavors - presented a perfection! We will return for the new menu, and support this passionate chef in his future endeavors! read more

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Very interesting experience, I didn't really know what to expect when my girlfriend told me to show up at a townhouse in Irvine. The kitchen/counter area was very nice and the food was very well presented. I would have liked a bit more veg, but thought everything was tasty. One huge bonus is that it's also byob. Definitely a great option for something a bit more intimate. read more

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My husband and I really enjoyed this unique experience of having a professional, 8 course meal in the intimate and comfortable setting of Jason and Nina's home. We are fellow GPN neighbors and learned about Jason's pop-up restaurant through our neighborhood's online forum. We showed up not doing what dishes he was going to serve. Throughout the meal, we were not only pleasantly surprised by the quality and presentation of the courses, but also inspired by Jason's enthusiasm for food and how he and Nina worked as a team. What really stood out in this experience is how much you get to converse with your fellow diners. When you go to a restaurant it's virtually guaranteed you will have minimal to zero interaction with other diners. In this setting, we got to meet another couple and really engaged in some interesting conversations with people we would otherwise never know. As someone who can be a total introvert, it was a good experience to have and I would encourage anyone who is hesitating because of the more intimate aspect to just try it anyway. For all intents and purposes, Chef Jason is self-taught, and because of that I find his dishes to be incredibly impressive. Jason and Nina are very hospitable, and there was absolutely zero pressure or manipulation at the end of the night in terms of paying for the meal according to what you feel it's worth. The entire experience was more enjoyable than some other prix fixe experiences we had in the past with more well-known restaurants. He also asks for feedback and it is a pleasure to support someone who is clearly in pursuit of a cherished passion. We look forward to seeing how his cooking transforms over time and will be supporting him whenever he opens his B&M restaurant! read more

Lion Heart OC is a fun Internet experience. Food is internationally sourced and presented in a fun and eclectic way. Highly recommend! read more

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Chef Jason and his girlfriend Nina hosted quite an unique and amazing dinner for us last night. Each meal is intimate, with a max of 6 guests. All 8 courses are prepped fresh, before your eyes and vividly explained as they come out. Jason has poured his heart and soul into his culinary work and perfected each dish that we tried. It was the perfect balance of vegetables, seafood, meat and sweets. Mostly asian inspired, I can't think of one dish I didn't enjoy. Each dish was prepped to best outline the flavors- but I won't spill too much, in fear of ruining the surprises! This concept of counter eating is a great way to bring the community together and and make an experience out of your meal. There's a growing waitlist, so I highly recommend making your reservation through the website now! read more

This place is severely underpriced. Go before the owner/chef realizes this! The only disappointing feelings I had is it all left me wanting more. I am not a fish eater, but it was my husbands birthday and the menu looked right up his alley, but every single bite I had was incredible. Obviously the non fish items were my favorite - like the foie gras, the miyazaki wagyu tenderloin, and the butternut squash icecream! And I want to go again and will be taking other family members in the future. read more

Shit man i seriously thinkin he making friends posting good stuff for him. U stupid or crazy thinking it 5 star man. I giving 2star because of wine but actually i bringing wine so really this place minus -4 stars. Food looking cool like james bond but really tasting dirty like communists. I payin $150 why he no smile at me. I thinking somebody bully him online and he no happy anymore... read more

We had an amazing dinner at Lion Heart. Can't recommend it enough. I'm vegetarian, and the chef was accommodating and the food was delicious. Fav courses--turnip on turnip on turnip, Dan Dan noodles, warm bread bun, and all of the desserts. My husband is not vegetarian and he raved about the beef and the salmon roll (not to mention the delicious desserts again). The chef is opening a restaurant in LA soon, and we will absolutely be making reservations. read more

Incredible dining experience. Food was of the highest quality and impeccable. This is an unbelievable gem in Irvine and deserving of a Michelin star or even multiple stars. Jason is an extremely gracious host and a truly phenomenal chef. read more

Dinner last night was amazing! It was such a fun and unique experience to eat dinner at this pop up. The space was absolutely gorgeous and Jason and Nina were very welcoming and fun to talk to you. (Extremely cute bulldog named pancakes also available for petting if requested. Lol!) Jason served us about 7 to 8 courses. I was too excited by how pretty the dishes were to keep count of how many dishes there were! I love that he tries to keep the service intimate with only a few other people at the dinner table, for him to interact with us and explain each dish and its inspiration. Each course is prepared in front of you, using fresh ingredients that Jason handpicks the day of at a local farmers market. You can tell he puts a lot of thought into his dishes, tweaking them until they are perfect. His style is very eclectic, using his world travels to make his dishes very unique. You'll get dishes ranging from sweet to savory, with clean flavors all around. I personally did not know the menu when I sat down for dinner, making the experience more fun! I don't want to spoil it for you, so you can have the same experience. It was amazing! Tips: -Be prepared for an awesome time with Jason and Nina. -Try not to spoil your dinner by taking a look at the amazing photos that I couldn't resist to take at dinner last night. -Make sure to come hungry because we were all staff at the end of the night. -And hey, everybody loves a place that is BYOB! Thank you Jason and Nina! I will refer friends and family for sure! #teampancakes read more

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It is such a neat experience seeing how everything is delicately made and served. The chef patiently explains what we are having. Except for the steak, nothing is in my regular food menu at home or any restaurant. Very unique menu and experience, worth trying at least once. read more

Seriously could not pick a favorite course. It was hit after hit. Perfectly balanced flavors and portions. Chef Jason is a true talent. Just waiting till his Fall menu to come out. Definitely will come here again! Don't forget to ask Chef Jason to release Pancakes after he meal. You won't regret it! read more

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Incredible culinary experience hosted in the residence of a talented chef. Extremely well priced for the whole package.

I do not often review something that's not a speakeasy or a tiki bar... but in this case, I am going to set a new president and submit a glowing review for this fun and unique pop-up endeavor. Jason and his charming GF were able to accommodate myself and 7 other guests on a last-minute family reunion during the holidays. Lion heart was an adventuresome alternative to stodgy old blue hair steak houses and traditional restaurants. Even though I am a vegetarian, Jason was able to provide an inventive vegetarian friendly menu that completely delighted me. If you're looking for something different for dining with a large group, I heartily recommend Lion heart! read more

Incredible meal! Nothing in oc compares to this experience. Definitely on a different level and more of what you would experience in a Michelin star restaurant in la. Unique and creative. A bit strange at first being in someone else's house but within minutes that feeling is gone when eating the best food in oc. read more

This place is AMAZING！Chef Jason is absolute a genius and its a fantastic experience to watch him prepare the food and pull it together in such a perfect way. This is a ten course journey and every single dish we had was delicious，well balanced，and presented fabulously. Chef Jason also use the best material to prepare the meal， uni ，wagyu beef，razor clam，you name it all. The vibe is also good，its like dining with a group of friends in chef's kitchen，and everything just seems so easy and beyond perfect. read more

LionHeartOC - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - Irvine, California

GREAT experience!! Had so much fun and the food was an amazing and unique! The chef changes the menu but is currently an 8 course menu and he made dishes that were phenomenal! Please do yourself a favor and go support him in his path to pen his own restaurant and give his 8 course menu a try!! You will not be disappointed! read more

This review is for the Chicago pop up. I was surprised no one else has reviewed it for Chicago. I never do reviews but this was a great experience. Chef Jason has been doing this pop up in OC California and is planning on opening up a restaurant in Chicago in the near future. Really fun tasting menu with Asian influences throughout all the dishes. Great deal on tock and BYOB! Best dish of the night was Pesto Raviolo al Uovo(egg yolk inside) w/ black vinegar and brown butter crumbs. This is usually such a rich dish and the vinegar balanced everything out. Some other great dishes Fried pheasant bread with black sesame condensed milk. Fried Cauliflower with Homemade Ssamjang(korean pepper paste)- this is the best ssamjang I've ever had. It wasn't spicy and he's making it completely homemade with making his own Doenjang etc.... This in itself shows the passion he has for his cooking. You could just buy the individual ingredients for Ssamjang from a Korean Grocery store and most people wouldn't know the difference. Steak w/ Corn Puree and Ssamjang- His take on Korean BBQ. Again the Ssamjang was awesome and great balance of flavors with the sweetness of the corn puree. Confit Leek w/ Chili Oil- This was a lot of peoples favorite dish. Enoki Toffee- This was a pre dessert course. Since Enoki is so neutral it was almost like Toffee Pasta. Sounds weird but it was good. This might not be on the menu next time because Chef Jason is constantly tweaking the menu. Salmon Skin Handroll- Like an inside out salmon skin roll. read more

This was a really fun experience! It was just me and my 5 girlfriends with Chef Jason and his girlfriend, Nina. Each dish was very unique, and you can tell Jason put his heart and soul into each and every one of them. Currently, Jason is in the works of owning his own restaurant, so right now, we have the privilege to be his guinea pigs for his tasting menu in his own kitchen. It felt extremely home-y, yet at the same time the dishes gave that sophisticated and lux vibe. Almost every dish was something I've never tasted before, and that was exciting! He hand picks each ingredient, uses cool techniques, and always improving his dishes. I looked at past photos, and I recognized that I had a version of one of the dishes, but I can definitely tell that it was better and enhanced. Before Jason starts his own restaurant, I would definitely recommend to take advantage of this experience before it is too late! read more

Had a fantastic dinner and truly enjoyed the experience. The many techniques Chef Jason uses as he prepares and plates each dish is fun to watch and the food was amazingly delicious! read more

Didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food, ambience and overall presentation. Definitely an experience to try, especially here in the Irvine area. Eagerly waiting for a permanent location we can go to anytime. read more

Highly recommended! We had a fantastic eight-course meal that surprised us with every dish. Each plate was imaginative and provided unexpected flavors and textures that complemented each other so well and were incredibly delicious. Chef Jason and Nina were extremely hospitable and provided a welcoming and engaging environment. It was one of those meals that you wanted to tell all of your friends about! read more

Gosh, I can't even articulate into words just how fabulous it was in every way. 1) The food was absolutely delicious - the beauty of which is not even captured completely in the attached picture, 2) The ambience and setting - comfortable, inviting, beautiful and very conducive to fully experience not only the up close and personal food prep and artwork happening, but to share it all with the other guests at the table. 3) Jason and Nina are so personable and sweet and you can't help but love them, which is icing on the cake of their pure brilliance in the kitchen and as chef and hostess. Did I say the food was out of this world delicious - prepared to perfection and pleasing to all the senses? And beyond a 9 course gourmet meal that I don't know many restaurants in the OC that can compare. They knocked it out of the park and you would be blessed to be able to attend their pop up restaurant, any place, any time!!! Thank you so much again, Chef Jason read more