The Tastiest Chinese in Santa Ana

300 Bowl Coffee Shop

★★★★☆ 4.4 (206) • $$

"Their Chinese food is the best I've ever had anywhere in America!!! Hands down!! I'm talking, from California to Maine. The best ever!!!"

Yoo's Place

★★★★☆ 4.3 (372) • $$

"We recently tried Yoo's Place, and I have to say, it was an excellent experience! It's a relatively new restaurant, but it's very clean, and the staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming. We usually frequent BCD Tofu House, but we decided to give this place a shot, and we're so glad we did!We ordered tofu soup, cold noodles, and the tteokbokki with ramen, and everything was absolutely fantastic. The portions were huge, and the tofu soup was incredibly fresh and flavorful. The broth was rich, complex, and tasted homemade. It even came out boiling hot, which I love for soups--it made the experience so much better.The cold noodles were also delicious, with fresh veggies that were perfect on a warm winter day in Southern California. The tteokbokki with ramen was another highlight. The portion was massive, easily enough for four people! My sister and I shared it, and we were both impressed by the generous serving and flavor.One nice touch is the free bone broth on the side. It's perfect if you're feeling under the weather or just prefer something warm to drink instead of cold water. You can have as much as you'd like, which is such a thoughtful addition. The sides were also fantastic--the kimchi was fresh, and they even had sides I'd never tried before.Overall, I highly recommend Yoo's Place. The portions are generous, the food is delicious and fresh, and the prices are very reasonable. I'll definitely be coming back!"

Diho Siam

★★★★☆ 3.7 (435) • $$

"Ty Yelp community for steering us in the right direction! We drove in from Vegas and skipping lunch we were ready to grub! This place is in a shopping center right across from our hotel. The plaza is loaded with restaurants. We did not regret our choice. We were warmly greeted and sat quickly. We ordered the Chicken Pad Thai, crispy egg rolls, Beef salad and Mixed Veggie with Shrimp. Told you we were hungry What did we like ....EVERYTHING! I ate the salad by myself. The meat was pretty lean and well cooked. Salad was very fresh and lightly dressed. The veggies in my stir fry with shrimp were cooked to perfection and they even removed the shrimp tails for you. Not drowning in sauce which I appreciate a lot. My husband polished off the Pad Thai which I didn't try. But he thoroughly enjoyed it. I had a bite of one of the egg rolls and was also fresh and flavorful. Not overly greasy. We were so pleased with all of our selections. Service was great, restaurant was very clean. We were the only ones dining in and our server was cleaning non stop when she wasn't waiting on us. This place does a ton of takeout orders, even though we were the only ones in the restaurant people were coming and going the entire time picking up food.When we are in town, we will definitely hit this place up again !"

Noodology

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"Food is good and the service is fast. Especially like the pig ears in chili oil. Would recommend"

No1 Chinese Food

★★★★☆ 3.8 (140) • $

"When you have a craving for Chinese food better than Panda and are looking for big portions this is the spot to go. They absolutely fill your plate and the food is decent quality for what you pay. Do be cautious to watch the pricing, most visits are fine but I have had the cashier try and overcharge me"

Lucky Fortune Cookery

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (403) • $$

"This just became my favorite at California Adventure. I ordered the birria ramen, it was very good. It was just a bit too salty for me, however the soup flavor was very good. I never ever thought I would have a boba drink inside the park, I ordered the three milk ube tea with boba and yes it was good. The boba was very soft and chewy, it's the way I liked it. All seating was outdoors, it is the common area for the eatery at San Fransokyo. As usual, the workers at the counter delivered great Disney customer service."

Min's Dumpling

★★★★☆ 4.4 (34) • $$

"This is a new spot in San Clemente and it is delicious! The soup dumplings and orange chicken are fabulous. We also tried the spicy dumplings and chicken fried rice! Yes we were hungry. They also offer white peach sparkling peach drive that is so refreshing. Also I was just told during their opening they give 20% off. I didn't know my husband paid. Anyway this is our 3rd time here!"

949 Grill and Pot Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (155)

"If you are craving for Chinese food and skewers, this is definitely your place! Follow me. Highlights of the menu:Skewers:1. Beef tongue2. Mushroom 3. Chicken gizzard 4. Chicken cartilage 5. Chicken heart Dishes:6. Abalone 7. Frog leg - with garlic, ginger 8. Fried rice"

The Wok Experience

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (165) • $

"My boyfriend took me to his childhood Chinese spot and I loved it! The orange chicken and beef with broccoli were SO GOOD! Chow mein and fried rice were delicious. It's a really cute place and a bunch of tables. Service was quick and staff were friendly. This place also accepts credit cards and was extremely affordable. Definitely one of my new Chinese spots!"

Genghis Khan Mongolian BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.9 (410) • $$

"Yes, it is a hole in the wall. Yes, the decor is pretty simple. Yes, the menu is a piece of laminated paper. Yes, you will have an amazing experience with the nicest staff in Southern California. You will only need to go once, to feel like family and then you will keep going back and you will tell your friends and family, and they will become part of the family there."

Peking Gourmet

★★★★☆ 4 (849) • $$

"I loved everything I order, the walnut shrimp were so big and juicy, Crispy and fresh! The black bean noodle are delicious, I recommend adding more onions for the flavor, the orange chicken, upgrade from Panda Express for sure! Haha, my friend have been eating here for like the past 20 years, so that's says something!The selection, the portion, the taste, the service, what more can you ask for? We drop our Togo plastic bag on the floor and the waiter immediately picked up and gave us a new one, awww"

Ma's House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (426) • $$

"The service could have been better. The waiter didn't really check in on us and didn't appear to be too friendly. Aside from that, the food was good! The portion sizes are huge! Two people can share a plate! We ordered the beef with green onions and chicken fried rice."

DongBoSung

★★☆☆☆ 2.4 (16) • $

"Beer and soju weren't options given to us. Children loved the spicy chicken wings. I liked the beef dish I didn't catch the name of. I recommend the sizzling soup but not the cold roast beef plate. I went here for a first birthday party. It didn't look dirty inside. My friends loved the shrimp and twisted steamed buns. My table asked for rice but never received any. No one greeted us to be seated. The chopped kimchi was great. The restaurant wasn't smelly. They didn't refill our teapot or water pitcher. We started off with two kinds of mustardy jellyfish dishes. Wish there was banchan and barley tea."

Paik’s Noodle

★★★★☆ 3.6 (77)

"Paik's Noodle, owned by Chef Jong Won Paik (one of the judges from Culinary Class Wars), provides korean-chinese comfort food in the H-Mart located in North Irvine. And does it deliver!!Paik's is known for its Jajangmyeon (fermented black bean noodle stir-fry) and Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup). Their noodles in all of their dishes are perfectly chewy, and satisfying for hearty noodle lovers. If you're new to these dishes, the noodles are like a mix between an udon and ramen noodle, typically using thick, wheat flour.The Jajangmyeon hits that spot when you want a comforting meal with an umami punch. This dish has a perfect balance of sweet and savory (more on the savory side), with flavors oozing from caramelized onions, the salty, smoky, and decadent fermented black bean, and a generous portion of elongated ground pork adding a nice meaty touch. For meat lovers, you can order this with extra meat, and for vegetarians, they offer the dish without meat at all. They even have a seafood version of this dish!The Jjampong uses the same noodles, swimming in a spicy broth infused with seafood umami. With muscles and chunks of tender squid and the occasional baby shrimp, the soup is so rich in flavor and satisfying. While there are other strong dishes here, the noodles are the star. And each dish is accompanied by Korean pickled radishes to provide fresh, crisp respite between indulgent bites.Sitting within the food court, there is no traditional service, but the staff are friendly and very quick - even during peak hours. It's easy enough to find seating, but during busy times, it's best to secure seating earlier if you can unless you plan to take the food to go.If you're looking for comforting, filling, and delightful noodles to switch up your Asian noodle-ventures between ramens, phos, pad thai, and more, you should explore the menu at Paik's. You might just find yourself hooked by the flavors - after all, that's Chef Paik's most important criteria when judging good food."

MIAN

★★★★☆ 4.2 (670) • $$

"Had been wanting to check out Mian for awhile and finally had the opportunity to pay SCP and Mian a visit. Waited about 5 mins in the queue right outside the restaurant on a Sunday afternoon around 2pm.The atmosphere is open and airy and a solid pick for small or larger groups.QR code on the table, scan in, and order via their easy to use platform. We ordered the spicy beef noodle soup, chili oil wontons, and beef roll pancake; opted for medium Sichuan spice for all the dishes which seemed to suit us well. All the items came out within 10ish mins and everything was really good. My overall ranking: 1) chili oil wontons 2) beef roll pancake 3) spicy beef noodle soup - but honestly, everything was flavorful and delicious. We asked for some chili oil on the side to dip the beef roll pancake. The pricing is decent as well, especially considering this is a poppin' spot in SCP. I'd be back to try different items."

Lucky Chinese Food

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (57) • $

"Good food, nice people , I personally recommend the chow mein , orange chicken , wontons. My dad really enjoyed his plate of broccoli beef and KP chicken. Big portions for the price!!!"

Chuan By Yangs

★★★★☆ 4.2 (14)

"Braised chicken is as great as usual but new additions to their menu (i.e., crispy tofu, meat skewers, fried rice) are really delicious as well. Remodeling and adding more options wqs a good move. Give this place a try."

Egg Roll King

★★★★★ 4.5 (883) • $$

"I had an excellent dinner here with immediate family members. Vegetable Egg Rolls were moist inside and very good. A Small Hot & Sour Soup was excellent, with the caps of Button Mushroom bobbing on top, tofu, egg, and broth that had the perfect blend of sweet and sour notes. Fried Pork Dumplings were small but nicely constructed and very good in taste dipped in Plum Sauce, Sweet & Sour Sauce, and Hot Chili Oil.While others at my table split a Large Won Ton Soup and enjoyed extensive Mu Chu Chicken Wraps and House Special Chicken with Broccoli, Diane addressed her well-constructed and sweet Honey Walnut Shrimp, and I concentrated my attention on Shrimp in Lobster Sauce and Kung Pao Three Flavors (Beef, Chicken and Shrimp). Everything was tasty and washed down with Hot Tea. We had a veritable Chinese feast.Service was attentive and responsive, and our reserved table for six in front of the aquarium was quite comfortable. This was probably our best experience here!"

Min Chef

★★★★☆ 4.3 (186) • $$

"The food tasted authentic Northern Chinese and came out fast. We went in as soon as they opened and the restaurant was fully seated within 30 minutes. Recommend going early to avoid crowds. The service was typically what you would find at Chinese restaurants."

Nice To Meet You Skewer Hot Pot

★★★★☆ 4.3 (471) • $$$

"Craving Authentic Sichuan Skewers & Hot Pot in the U.S.? If you're looking for authentic Sichuan-style skewers and hot pot, "That Year Met Skewers" in Irvine is an absolute must-visit hidden gem! They offer a self-serve skewer & hot pot experience with fresh ingredients and rich, flavorful broth--a true paradise for spice lovers! Dining Experience Spacious and bright environment with attentive service (they refill your broth anytime!). Self-serve style--grab as many skewers as you want, eat at your own pace, and fully satisfy your hot pot cravings! Why You MUST Try This Place? All-you-can-eat skewers & hot pot--endless combinations, endless satisfaction! Authentic Sichuan broth & fresh ingredients--real Chengdu flavors! Great value for money--perfect for group dining!If you love Sichuan-style skewers and hot pot, this spot is a must-try![ Learn from Chengdu Locals: The "Proper" Way to Eat! ] Grab a LOT of skewers at once--yes, really A LOT! (See Image 10)1 Put all your skewers into the pot at once.2 Cover them with an upside-down cup.3 Wait for everything to cook together--then enjoy the perfect bite! Tip: Go for the spicy broth! If you can handle mild spice, it's absolutely delicious!"

KPB Asian Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"Food is good and packaged well. The prices have gone up a lot since the last time I've been here and they charge extra if you get anything subbed for the white rice. There is the "individual" price and the "family style" price which is about $5 more, depending on what the item is. Online Ordering system makes it somewhat easy."

Orange Blossom Chinese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (136) • $$

"My new go-to Chinese spot! Delicious food, great pricing, and attentive service. This location definitely has "small family owned" business vibes. I came in with a group for lunch, and to my surprise there was only one other group Dining. The lunch special is a great value and includes an entree (many options to choose from), soup, rice, wonton, and egg roll. The entrees I tried were: Mongolian beef, chicken chow mein, and honey walnut shrimp (which I ordered off of the dinner menu). Everything was delicious and had great portion size. It's hard to choose a favorite because everything was well flavored.(5/5) Mongolian beef was tender and flavorful. (5/5) walnut honey shrimp and perfect crisp and crunchiness, and great flavor that was slightly tangy. (5/5) chicken chow mein had a little thicker noodles, but was delicious. Definitely on the saltier side, but to be expected in this dish.(5/5) chicken fried rice was not the best I've had, but was a solid and tasty dish. Large portion size.There was one woman working, but she was friendly and attentive. Plenty of parking at lunch with no wait. You can pickup or dine in, white table cloth restaurant l, but not too fancy."

949 Grill Lounge

★★★★★ 4.6 (16)

"WOW! Hands down the best Chinese restaurant in the area. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Would even rate it 15 out of 10.I've ordered the Beef & Pork Belly Skewers, Egg Fried Rice, Pork Short Rib Noodle Soup, and Small Glutinous Rice Balls from here and EVERY single dish here far exceeded every expectation I've had. I've been struggling to find good authentic Chinese food in the area that meet my standards, but this restaurant completely hit the nail on the head. Everything tastes exactly like all the amazing Chinese dishes I had growing up and reminds me so much of home! Not to mention the portion sizes and prices are very good.My heart and stomach are always full after eating from here. Will be supporting this restaurant over and over again!"

M JOY

★★★★★ 4.9 (111)

"Lamb lovers, M Joy is your temple. The lamb double rib plate at first glance may seem simple, but my god what a fantastic ode to lamb. Served on a fluffy bed of carrot studded rice, the ribs are absolutely divine. I honestly can not recall every tasting lamb this tender. It practically melts in your mouth. The plate is accompanied by a clear lamb broth, pickles, pickled carrots, pickled onions, and chili sauce. The restaurant while small, is very clean. The service is friendly and welcoming. The ambiance is quite relaxing. I didn't even notice the pleasant jazz playing at a low volume until I had finished my meal. If you enjoy lamb, make it a point to try M Joy."

China Town Express

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (52) • $

"Lots of negative reviews here from people who don't seem to understand what this place is. It's a cheap Chinese food place next to a Goodwill and what appears to be a partially burnt down building. It's the Chinese food equivalent of Alberto's. The service does not come with a smile. The food is pretty good, but then again, Chinese fast food is always good. Most importantly, the portions are huge and the price is right. Sometimes you are just in the mood for it.Come here if you feel like Panda Express but want to spend a dollar or two less per plate and not wait in a huge line.For what it is, 5 stars."

China West Express

★★★★☆ 3.5 (620) • $$

"My family and I were craving some Chinese fast food after a long day of travel. I didn't feel like cooking that evening, so we decided to place an order at this restaurant for pick up. I had placed the order about one hour before arrival, and informed the restaurant when we would be arriving to pick up our food. When we arrived, the food was not ready (which was a bit maddening).I understand that sometimes restaurants are understaffed, but they had plenty of time to get everything prepared before the promised pick up time. & if you were wondering, The food was NOT worth the wait. it was overcooked, burnt to a crisp, and completely inedible. I would not feed this food to my dog. Anyhow, Almost everything we ordered had to be thrown in the rubbish bin. The sight of the food completely disgusted me.I will not be ordering from this establishment again. Panda express would be a better option to satisfy Chinese fast food cravings. At least I know I'd be paying for edible food instead of wasting a bunch of time and money on food that would end up in the garbage."

Northern Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (426) • $$

"I had lunch here with my daughter and friend. We ordered the following to share:Beef noodle soupDan Dan noodlesBeef roll Juicy pork dumpling Pork potstickers Steamed red bean paste buns Overall, we enjoyed the food here. The Dan Dan noodles were a bit too salty, but everything else was great. Our favorite were the steamed red bean paste buns. I could've eaten a basket full of those and be really happy! The restaurant is pretty casual, you order at the counter and food is delivered to the table. There is a water station with cups that is self serve. The food was tasty, reasonably priced, prepared quickly, and the portions were large."

Yang Ming Garden

★★★★☆ 4.2 (336) • $$

"Delicious Chinese food. We went here once during 2020 and ordered take out. It was great and decided we wanted to try it again for once they reopened. Don't know why we didn't try it sooner. We went with a group of friends and they accommodated us without a reservation. But next time I would recommend one if you have a party of 6 or more. The dining area is pretty small. Service was fantastic, very attentive and friendly.We shared main dishes and everything was fresh and delicious. We ordered a lot but I tried orange chicken, cashew chicken, chow fun beef. The orange chicken was good, but not the flavor I'm used to, so I probably wouldn't order it again myself. My favorite was the chow fun beef. The beef was very tender and the noodles were delicious. Even talking about it I'd love to have some right now. This will now become one of our regular places to eat. Friday nights can get busy so I'd recommend showing up before 6 to get a seat."

Rising Sun

★★★★☆ 3.8 (211) • $

"We tried Rising Sun because they accept the Lake Forest gift card and I think we've found our new Chinese food place!The service is incredible. They are so nice, helpful, and quick.The food was DELICIOUS! And had good portion sizes for the price. We got the pineapple chicken fried rice and LOVED it. We also enjoyed the orange chicken and bbq pork. Highly recommend each of these dishes! We picked out some soft drinks from the cooler and they had a surprisingly big selection. The store was clean. There was plenty of seating inside and outside. Also it was easy to find parking."

Phat Ky Mi Gia Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (248) • $

"Amazing food and atmosphere plus service! Highly recommend all their dishes. We got the pork and shrimp wonton noodles and they even gave us free noodles and soup for the kids!"

Pakwo’s Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (38)

"When I was back home visiting, my parents took us here and it is amazing Cantonese food!!! So authentic and delicious!!!It gets pretty busy so would recommend a reservation on weekend evenings if possible especially if you have a bigger group.The scallops are a MUST!!!! They're so fresh and the vermicelli is so flavorful.The frog pot was also delicious - the sauce has a little bit of a kick. I forgot to take a picture of the tofu pot but that was so good with rice as well.The chicken was really flavorful and a great tip from the owner: save the bones and cook some congee with it!Amazing restaurant!!"

Golden Dragon

★★★★☆ 3.6 (638) • $$

"If your sick of panda express and want authentic Chinese food from a family owned restaurant, here you go. Ive been going to this place for years and every time it's the food highlight of my day. The hour and sour soup is what I usually get, it's think and savory filled to the brim with top tiergredients. The wonton soup is also amazing, the flavors are rich and the wontons are cooked to perfection.The orange peel chicken is usually a table order, a must have.I used to not be a fan of crab rangoons, but this has converted me. The filling is creamy without an cream cheese flavor, the skin is crispy and golden brown.All of their food is served to the table piping hot, this restaurant is cozy and warm. Please pay a visit to the Golden Dragon in Costa Mesa."

Mr Z Noodle House

★★★★☆ 3.9 (567) • $$

"Mr. Z Noodle House relatively new and took over another Chinese. The new owner gave the restaurant a fresh makeover, featuring new paint, furniture, and a new tablet, creating a clean and bright atmosphere. It's very inviting.Unfortunately and understandable, the business is still getting their footings. The problem with only one waitress/hostess and one cook cause the food to come out extra slow and that's with 4 tables occupied. I can imagine how much longer for food to be served if it's a full house.From a food perspective, we ordered a variety of dishes and all were "meh". 1- The green onion pancakes : Too thin and oily. (3/5)2- Mapo Tofu : Oddly was cooked with the Five-spice powder so weird. (4/5)3 - Bak Choy: Standard and simple dish (4/5)4 - Pork Belly: Too dried and doesn't look appealing. (3/5)"

Midodo Fry Chicken & Sichuan Hot Pot

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (4)

"I got the spicy chicken burger, and it's very juicy. not really spicy but it's delicious. the chef/owner super friendly but I believe it's best to communicate in Mandarin as it's easier for him, or you could order on food app like Fantuan as well. it's not a sit in restaurant unfortunately, but definitely appreciated the owners hard work."

Ho-Toy's Chinese Food

★★★★☆ 3.7 (369) • $

"Portions are HUUUUUUGGGGGEEEEE. If you're hungry, this is the spot. This is run by a friendly old couple. Good grub that's cheap. Yes, it's not DTF. But instead of going to chains like Panda, where who knows what's in the food, go with authentic and small business."