April 4, 2026 | Long Beach | After friends and I saw a movie nearby, we walked right over to…read moreTantalum for an appetizer! What a beautiful surprise, as we stepped inside of this gorgeous restaurant! The entrance and winding path easily had me at hello! Miso Greens Salad | I'm a salad girl and this is definitely a memorable bite! Between the juicy slices of mango, crispy wontons strips, red pepper, tangy miso dressing and more... I was craving each bite one after the other with the quickness! Haha! Every single bite and I'm not kidding, was absolutely delicious, bursting with flavor, & mouth watering! I would 100% get the salad again and highly recommend it! Decor | Beautiful! What a stunning restaurant! I found myself looking around constantly!The lighting, presence of Buddhas sprinkled throughout, cozy seating with colorful pillows, wood interior, the colorful lighting... and don't even get me started on the gorgeous waterfront views! Tantalum easily transports your senses to Indonesia via food and atmosphere! I'm all for it and loved every moment of it! Customer Service | Irma was incredibly friendly and helpful with the menu! Thanks again for helping me decide between the heirloom tomato salad and the miso green salad; tried something new! Overall | Yes, please! If a single salad was so memorable, I can only imagine a full meal! I'm looking forward to exploring more of the menu on my next visit! Let's go!

As a long time patron, I had to give them another chance after the bloodbath of mothers day…read more It was a Monday, so probably not a fair comparison, but service was excellent and so was most of the food. We overtipped, to probably compensate for our last visit. However, the new kitchen manager has clearly changed the calamari (10/10 before, 3/10 now, to the point I felt embarrassed that I'd waxed poetic about it to my out of town guests, who didn't have more than a few pieces, and the ones I ate were just to kind of toe a line), and this is pedantic, but sesame buns for the sliders was a weird choice. So they're no longer on my shitlist, but I do think I'm going to need to try different go-tos. I'm almost scared to try the tuna tartare (my other go to) after the change in the calamari and sliders. I really so desperately urge management to bring back the former chef, because the current one really seems to expending the least effort possible. And for the record, there was a "specials" slip left on our table, with one of the items noted as "sold out." On a Monday, by 5p. Something is going wrong here. I'm going to try yet again, but the changes that have thus far been made absolutely suck. Ambiance still a 10/10.

The food was fresh and the customer service was 10/10. Favorite Nguyen's Kitchen Location…read more Business was also extremely clean.

A combo wombo over here... it's a 2 in 1 establishment. Açaí bowls to the right and Nguyen's…read morekitchen to the left. Pick your choice! I ordered their bulgogi bowl although I should've ordered their bánh mì.... I'll be back. Bulgogi bowl was a healthy portion sized bowl. I added the sauces it came with and mixed it all around. It was pretty good, not anything that really made me "omg this is so good" but it was good. Bulgogi portion was skimpy for sure. You'll see in the photo it was more cucumber, pickled radish? And a huge bed of rice. I felt like 50% of the bowl was rice. I ended up leaving a lot of rice. I ordered their Vietnamese coffee which took a while to come out. I'm unsure what the employees were up to but it took a whiiiiiiiile for my coffee. I received my bowl first so I was like hm that's different usually it's the other way around. Beats me, but it's yuuuuummy! Keep u energized x100 hrs frrrrr super good and strong. Don't drink it at 11pm like I did. This is def a "late night hangout spot/munchies" because it gets loud at midnight and so with the people. Ironically I came to study with a friend but that kinda flew out the window due to the noise level in there. There's a single use restroom. Some seating inside and outside. There's outlets inside which is convenient for charging. Parking is within the plaza.

At GURamen, this spot is a modern take on ramen that leans more creative and customizable than…read moretraditional. The vibe is clean, trendy, and a bit upscale compared to your typical ramen shop, but still casual enough for a quick meal. The highlight here is definitely the build-your-own ramen concept. You get to choose your broth, noodle type, spice level, and toppings, which makes it easy to dial in exactly what you're craving. The broths are rich and flavorful--especially the tonkotsu-style base, which is creamy without feeling too heavy or greasy. The noodles have a nice chew, and they don't get soggy quickly, which is a big plus if you're someone who takes your time with your bowl. Chashu is tender and well-seasoned, and the soft-boiled egg is consistently done right with that jammy center. What stands out most is the consistency + customization combo. It's not trying to be the most traditional ramen in OC, but it's very dependable and lets you build something that fits your taste every time. The spicy options also actually bring heat, not just flavor. Service is quick and efficient, and the place is usually busy but turns tables fast. Overall, Guramen is a strong go-to in Irvine if you want ramen that's customizable, flavorful, and reliable--more modern ramen bar than old-school ramen shop, but it does that style well.

The food has always been great here! We've been coming here since before Covid!!…read moreThe ramen and fried rice are our staples!!! Nathan gives the best service here!!!

Nomads is, and always will be, our go-to spot when we're craving Chinese food! From the moment you…read morewalk in, you're greeted by some of the friendliest staff around. They always remember us and even know our usual order, which makes every visit feel a little more personal. The food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and served surprisingly fast. We have yet to have a disappointing meal here. Our family favorites are the beef and broccoli, handmade chow mein, and orange chicken, each one packed with flavor and cooked perfectly every time. The portions are generous and ideal for family-style dining, with plenty to share and usually enough left over for lunch the next day. Great food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere keep us coming back again and again. Highly recommend!

My family went here on a Saturday night around 6 as a party of 5. We were immediately seated but by…read morethe end of our time there, the inside of the restaurant was pretty much full (they have a fair amount of outdoor seating too). Food came out in a good time, especially considering there was a large party having a birthday party at the same time. We ordered a number of entrees and 2 appetizers. Everything was pretty good with my standouts being the hand-pulled noodles and the tofu & shiitake mushroom entree. You could tell the hand-pulled noodles were fresh and made by hand. The sauce on it was good but too salty. The tofu & shiitake dish was served in a savory and tasty home/brown sauce. The scallion pancake was good as well, just much thinner than other scallion pancakes. The Chinese broccoli was good, but I thought it was more bitter than usual Chinese broccoli dishes. The fried rice was okay.

Midnight Oil is easily one of the coolest spots in Long Beach right now. I love that you get three…read moreentirely different vibes and spaces all inside one building. ​ ​Great service, amazing music, and killer food. You can spend your whole night here and never get bored. It's literally a bar crawl under one roof!

My friend Conrad and I came here on a night where we needed good vibes and good bites to make our…read moretime together worthwhile. Meaning, we were spending time together and just moving through the interaction, like clothes in a spin cycle. But going here made our time together mean something more because we had arrived at a space that elevated our mood and spirits. So we were now feeling the suds and splashes of the movement not just in the monotony of the spin. As we entered, I felt like the place was a Chinese Market but indoors. I have never bene to China (I have yet to die so maybe one day my feet will have the chance to step the Great Wall) but I feel like their street vendors would have stands like the seating motif within the main room of this joint. The place was not packed but there was no space within the wooden booths for Conrad and I. I asked for options, and they showed me two different rooms. The first room was the Hao Pen You room which was heavilty yet beautifully decorated with varying red lanterns in the ceiling. Additionally, there was a paper dragon hanging in the ceiling, swimming in the air amidst the lanterns. The host ushered me in, and milaseconds after I felt a quick sense of awe. Not like the one I felt one I saw the Sisteen Chappel, but one that compelled me to snap quick photos of the aerial view. The host understood. She stopped her explanation to give me the space to feel my wow that was delivered in a red envelope. I eventually decided to sit in this room, so there is more detail that I can deliver, but before I do, I did request to see the other room of the house. So we crossed the room with the wooden booths and stepped into an immersive Tiki Bar that gave shipwreck vibes. Like the survivors of shipwreck took what they could from the boat's carcass, and made a great bar in the beach that glowed with the light of jellyfish and had seaweed on the ceiling as decoration that was not stale like mistletoe on a doorway. When Conrad and I sat in the Hao Pen You room, we learned that it was a quasi speak easy. According to history, in the 1800's it was common for Chinese immigrants to visit gambling and opium dens behind laundry rooms to find a space that they could call their own and escape discrimination. I am sure that dens of the past did not have the blazing style of the room I was sitting in, but I did appreciate learning about the history that inspired the room. Only because the pain of the past was reshaped to honor a culture in theatrical and edgy red. Plus, as one of my pictures show, the dragon's face and laser lit eyes, made it seem like a real creature born to this earth, not one simply reserved for myth and Game of Throne episodes. I appreciated the immersive trip to Chinese's lore and history. The reason why I did not give this place 5 stars, was the food. The food in general was (maybe tragically) basic. Conrad did not confirm this fact until we were outside the restaurant. I asked him why did he not share his feelings with our server when she asked? He explained why would he, she did not cook the food, and she could not do anything? And I am from the camp, where honesty matters but I guess it might only matter to me? He might be right what does honest feedback do for a server? Conrad might have been practicing "restaurant politeness" like keep the situation civil because if one becomes a demanding patron or eater then one breaks the social contract and becomes rude. Specifically, Conrad and I had the Vegan Dumplings, the pork buns, and rice wrapped in leaves. And even though we had different bites, and each one had their own flavor profile at the end I can only describe each bite as basic. That is my opinion, and I stand by it, as I should, as every one should. Perhaps this restaurant owns this identity. This might be a place that offers theatrical atmosphere, great drinks, vibes that make a Tuesday special, but their food might be the area that remains standard, and in the final score card the servers of the joint might be ok with that.

Me and my crew just got done with a long day but we still needed dinner. They were pretty tired so…read moreI decided I'd just get some Thai/Chinese take out and bring it back to the hotel. We have full kitchens in all the rooms where we're staying along with plates and all the set ups. The rooms even have dishwashers! So, I found this S T Noodle Bar near by and decided to give it a try. I kinda know what there guys like to eat, so I just ordered a bunch of food. The only request from anybody was for Pad Thai, the most common dish at all Thai restaurants. I GPS my way over and order the food. I was Khao Soy on the menu and I don't see that at too many Thai places that I've been to, so I got an order of that with chicken. Of course, an order of Pad Thai, 2 orders since I have 5 hungry people to feed. Also, I ordered the Thai coconut soup, I think it's called Tom Kha with chicken. One more noodles dish was the Drunken Noodles, it's kinda like Chinese Chow Fun, but has a more spicy flavor and basil in it. The food was all pack and bagged for me to take back to the hotel. We used my room since I have a bigger room. We had plates and set ups for all five of us and we re-plated the food on the serving plates that came with the room. All the food was really tasty and everybody was happy not to have to leave the hotel. I heard compliments on the Pad Thai and the Coconut soup. It was a good idea just to do take out and eat at the hotel here.

Checked out S T Noodle Bar today and had a good experience!…read more We were eating with an infant so high chair friendly was a must. We were greeted and helped right away and got a place in the restaurant that fit us well. We ordered the veggie spring roll, tofu soup, beef pad thai and tom yum. The veggie spring roll tasted fresh and the sauce added a nice layer of flavor. Off the bat, the portion sizes for the tom yum and pad thai were VERY generous (from my experiences with Thai restaurants). The pad thai stood out and was absolutely delicious! The service did great with helping us out and attending to our requests. The ambiance was relaxed, and where we sat in the back was cool because there was upbeat music playing loud enough to muffle the surrounding sounds but still soft enough to have conversation at our table without needing to raise our voice. Overall, I'm glad I gave S T Noodle Bar a try! I'd recommend it!

Always have passed this resturaunt, loved my time here, while dining a young gentleman named joshy…read morehelped me out by clearing my dishes off my table, most koreon bbq places let them accumulate but joshy made sure to help me out, appreciate you! until the next time will def come back and that young man needs a raise!

We had my daughters graduation dinner here last night with a party of 10 all from out of town…read more Service and food was fantastic! Thank you Sura and our waiters!

Came here after seeing an Instagram reel about it!…read more Came around 12pm on Friday and was easily able to get a seat for 2 people with no wait. We ordered the thai papaya salad, khao soi with beef, thai ice tea, and pork belly with khao soi curry. The food came out extremely fast! The papaya salad was nice and tangy, it came with two pieces of shrimp, definitely could've come with more but it was delicious overall, 7/10. The khao soi was delicious as well, but there was a very small amount of meat for the price and the taste didn't blow me away, 6/10. The pork belly was juicy and crispy! They gave a lot of pork and rice, I think it was worth the price of $25.95, 8/10. The thai ice tea was solid as well. Overall, this place is a bit pricey, we paid $91 for 2 people after tax and tip, but the portion sizes were good, we could barely finish everything. There is minimal parking on the street right outside of the restaurant, but there are side streets to park on.

Came here on a random weekday and it was still so crowded with a 40-50 minutes wait. No reservation…read moreor Yelp wait list available so it's first come first serve. Anyways, we ordered roti with curry sauce, crab curry, and Khao Soi noodle soup with curry sauce and chicken. The roti with curry sauce was good, irresistible, and flavorful, however, I wish the roti was a bit more fluffy and airy. As for the crab curry, I actually thought this was okay in my opinion. It had enough flavors, however, I don't think the sauce was my cup of tea as it was starting to feel a bit overwhelming with the coconut. Lastly, for the Khao Soi noodle soup, I actually thought it was good but definitely not the best dish I've eaten. It's on the lighter side without skipping much of the flavors. Overall, I thought this place was delicious, however, it can be a bit overwhelming with the flavors. The service was okay. The staff were super busy, so it was a bit difficult getting their attention. Street parking in the neighborhood.