Chai Lan — Restaurant in Irvine

I'll be the first to tell you I have really high expectations for every new thing that dares open its doors to the public here in Irvine.

I was excited for this place because it has an inviting interior for hanging out, grabbing some Korean beers, and chomping on some yummy spicy food.

We ordered three things for takeout to test the waters here: Seafood fried rice in special sauce. They really needs to spell out what seafood is contained in this dish. There's like 8 things in here, three of which are new textural nightmares my mouth never needed to experience. There's one thing in here I cannot even offer up a guess about what animal it might be. Also the rice isn't fried. It's possible it has been lightly sauteed as there's a hint of a buttery taste, but if that's the case just don't even do it because the difference between this and normal rice is undetectable.

Fried chicken in spicy sauce. This was pretty okay and had a good flavor. I think the price is a little unreasonable and would much rather make the extra drive to Chan Chan down Culver for better taste/value. Spicy level was not asked for nor was it that spicy (would describe as mild).

Pan fried dumplings. These have a good appearance and I was expecting deliciousness, but taste like store bought pork & chive dumplings. Would have benefited from some dipping sauce that was not supplied. Also weighing in at over $1 per dumpling these are not a good value at all.

Overall this place was a letdown. If you're craving Korean I'd personally head elsewhere or hope that all I experienced was the growing pains of their first two weeks.

But by all means,...

Our church family visited yesterday and had a pleasant time with a tasty Koreanized Chinese food. Since this opened recently, there had been some issues with service and food from other yelpers. But I guess that's a typical side effect right after Grand Opening. Here are my thoughtful reviews based on dinner yesterday.

Pros Reasonable price with right portion

They use the real soup base, made by the real chicken bone broth. (Most of the Chinese restaurants use the canned chicken soup base)

The flavor of the food is more natural and less sharp.

You don't feel any thirsty, sweating or nausea from their food.

Open Kitchen (You can even watch how the chefs are cooking)

Eco-friendly (E.g. They are using the recycled fiber/plastic chairs)

Using paper based to-go box like Wholefoods (I'm not big fan of styrofoam containers)

Ample parking space (This is the least crowded Irvine Company mall. So easy to find a parking space)

Cons Busy Busy Busy during peak times (Avoid 12-1pm & 6-7pm. Try to be there earlier or later)

Hard to call a waitress from patio area (It's better to have a service calling system for patio, not...

Chai Lan has firmly secured its place as one of my all-time favorite restaurants. Its convenient hours of operation, from 11 am to 9:30 pm, make it accessible for a wide range of dining occasions. During my recent visit, the food was nothing short of exceptional. The Black Bean Sauce Noodle was a delightful blend of flavors, the Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup packed a spicy punch, and the Stir Fry Flank Steak with Onions was an absolute star. The accompanying buns with savory brown sauce added a perfect finishing touch to the meal.

What's particularly impressive about Chai Lan is its popularity, which is evident as the restaurant remains bustling well into the night. Its warm and welcoming ambiance, coupled with a diverse menu, makes it an ideal choice for families and friends alike. Whether it's a casual lunch or a family dinner, Chai Lan caters to a variety of dining needs. It's not surprising that this restaurant has swiftly become a personal favorite, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of a memorable dining experience. Be sure to book a table in advance, as Chai Lan's popularity is well-deserved and reservations are highly...