Northern Cafe now offers skewers during dinner. We arrived around 7pm and it's packed!…read moreRestaurant is known for their carb dishes like xiao long bao, dumplings soup noodles, fried rice and Chinese pancakes. Cold dishes are only $14.99 for combination of 3. Portions are huge! No wonder everyday is getting them. Spicy cold chicken uses dark meat and is tender and flavorful. We came here to try their skewers: Lamb is the best! Also got chicken cartilage, scallops, Cali flowers, corns and fish tofu Beijing style pancakes has beef filling inside the crispy skin Pork ribs with string beans in hotpot is highly recommended They hire a lot of staff! Service is great!

Came here really hungry! It was wonderful and filling with…read morearomatic plates after plate! Xiao Long Bao - juicy pork with pop of soup 4 stars skin is a bit thick But dumpling is still tasty! Shanghai Rice Cake with Chicken 4 stars Beef Roll 4 1/2 stars Spicy Chicken Won Ton 4 stars Service 4 stars

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 has changed my perspective on Sichuan food. As someone who was never big on the…read morecuisine, this restaurant exceeded my expectations. Everything we ordered was delicious, but there are some dishes that really stood out to me. The sliced fatty beef in pickled soup was full of flavor and had the perfect amount of sourness. The tofu with salted egg yolk was crispy on the outside and super soft in the inside, which I really enjoyed. I loved the crispy shrimp with lemon sauce. The batter was perfect and this honestly beats the typical honey walnut shrimp you get elsewhere. At the end, we had the glutinous rice cake with brown sugar. If you like mochi-style desserts, this will be your new favorite sweet treat. In addition, the service was great and the food came out fast. I'll definitely be coming back to try more dishes!

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

It is really hard to find good Chinese food, in my opinion. This place is consistently amazing…read more Its SO good. Very fresh, and quick service. You order at the counter and they bring your food to your table. The cucumber salad is THE BEST I have ever had and the garlic sticks with you the rest of the day and I am so here for it. They have good eggrolls too! Parking can be challenging as its in a huge shopping center with a ton of places and near a University but its so worth it. They fill up quickly as soon as they open.

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.

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.

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.

Highly recommend Food here is hot and good , the server was really nice too ! Would come here…read moreagain !

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!

It pains me to write this, but after being a loyal customer for nearly 15 years, I think our time…read morewith A&J has come to an end. This has long been our go-to for Taiwanese comfort food, and while the flavors weren't always 100% authentic, they hit the spot. However, our recent visits have been disappointing. The restaurant has become incredibly "penny-pinching" with their service. I was recently told there would be a $1 charge just for a sprinkle of scallions and another $1 for a small side of clear broth for my dry noodles--requests that were never an issue before. Furthermore, when we ordered extra noodles for my son's beef noodle soup, the original portion seemed intentionally smaller, defeating the purpose of paying for the add-on. Between the degraded service and the "nickel-and-diming" atmosphere, it is no longer worth the 30-minute drive. The vibe has changed, and the pleasure of dining here is gone.

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.

I've wanted to try this place for a long time and it comes highly recommended by friends and…read morefamily. I've tried coming here for early dinner but the line is also very long. Instead, we came when it just opened and over Memorial weekend, expecting most people to be out of town. They accept waitlist via Yelp. Even though there was a wait, at least it wasn't very long. We ordered beef wrap, scallion, xiao long bao, and golden prime beef noodle soup. The beef noodle soup definitely has a kick to it. It was a little too spicy for my daughter so she ate mostly the other three items. Their xiao long bao was very comparable to Din Tai Fung. Everything was very good. Normally, my daughter and I prefer the beef wrap with no cucumber, but we didn't even mind it at all as it gives a nice crunch and not too overpowering. We will definitely come back and try more items.

Met with friends from all over So Cal for an event down South. After the event our friend found a…read morenoodle house in Santa Ana, odd find location but lets go ... Massive parking lot so that was easy, one friend went ahead and let them know we had 10 incoming. They made room and we sat immediately. One of the spots that you scan a menu at the table and you review, order and pay all in the app. I was really not familiar with the line up and went with the "House Special Beef Pot Roodle" (Roodles are their rice noodles). It was a weekend only item and I tried that. The noodles came separate from the soup. Over all it was very tasty. The meat was a bit fatty and the soup had tendons too. I took that part home and my wife loved it. I tend to avoid the fatty meat and tendons are not good to me. 10 of us so some of the appetizers got passed around. The smashed cucumbers are excellent, and my buddy also got some friend potatoes of sorts, reminded me of a fat French fry. Because my buddy and I sat at the same table we scanned the same menu, he ordered a bunch of stuff and also House Special Beef Pot Roodle. That confused the kitchen and they asked me if I meant to order 2, I said no and didn't realize I cancelled my buddy's order. Part of the confusion of a large party and many scanned menu orders. My buddy was struggling to order and our initial waiter seemed to not understand my friend and that took a little bit to work out, young lady came from the back and was able to quickly resolve some of the confusion and get questions answered as needed. In the end he had lot of food to explore. One thing that caught my eye was several couples there and sharing a large soup item served with a tray of various food items for the soup. Kind of a date night visual and something that looked very interesting. Several couples around us had that same dish and its got me more curious. Might have to come back with my wife and try this one.

I decided to give this place a try because I heard their noodles were very authentic, and as…read moresomeone who loves noodles, I was excited to try it. I ordered their most popular dish, the A1 set, but honestly, it didn't really live up to the hype for me. The broth tasted pretty underseasoned overall. From what I understood, you're supposed to mix all the toppings into the soup with the noodles, but even after doing that, I still felt like the flavor was lacking. Yes, they provide seasoning on the side, but personally, I wish the broth already had enough flavor on its own without needing to adjust it myself. Would I come back? Probably not. Nothing really stood out to me enough to return, and it felt more like a one-time experience. Overall, everything was just okay.