Chef Chuan — Restaurant in Irvine

We entered and looked around but this server is really funny, maybe the owner, didn't acknowledge us so we found our own table and just sat down. Btw, we were the ONLY customer there. This server dude noticed us but still nothing so my lady gets up to interact with the guy in Chinese and he hands her menus for her to take back to our table. I thought that was odd, especially the way he spoke to her.

Anyways I let that slide, so we've decided to order a few dishes BUT the server doesn't come to us, my lady had to get up and go to the counter to order the food in his native tongue, plus water. I was like wth is that about to her, and we both agreed that the service wasn't good. We decided not to give a good tip.

Note to the chef: We ate our lamb, fish, and a side of fried rice which was spicy and good except the fish was a bit on the salty side. We enjoyed it otherwise. Btw, we didn't that water until we asked for it a second time.

Towards the end of our meal the server clown lights up a cigarette and SMOKES in the restaurant behind the counter but WTH! Anyways to top it off my lady had to go back to the counter to ask for togo boxes and the guy didn't want to lol, luckily someone from the back was outside insisting Mr Clown server to give it up.

We left a small tip of pity with mixed feelings because the rest of the staff seem to get it, maybe, but Mr Funny man needs a new job.

I really hate to write this review but fire this guy before he burns down...

Highs: Staff was friendly. Ordered online and system said item would be ready at 11:45 to 12:00pm. Came in at noon and order still wasn’t ready for another 10 min. Not a huge deal.

Had ordered the Beef Noodle Dish with fried egg which ended up being essentially a broth based ramen esque in nature. If included sliced beef, leek, scallions and cilantro. This honestly surprised me a bit as I thought it was supposed to be more of a noodle dish. At 17 dollars for the order I figured I’d try and eat it.

Flavor - broth was ok I guess, sliced beef was tender and flavorful suppose but very limited in quantity. Rather large Bits of fat/cartilage as well. Mixed all together it completely lacked any flavor as the noodles had zero taste. It honestly tasted as though it was just hot non-descript “food”. I Tried adding some hot sauce but it didn’t really help.

Ultimately I just gave up and couldn’t bring myself to finish it or even get a 1/4 way through it. I had seen good reviews and experiences and every time I go to the subway next door there is a lot of activity at this place so I figured I’d give it a shot. My experience however was not favorable.

I also heard the kitchen staff sneezing VERY loudly in the back repeatedly on my way out (I suffer from Allergies so I understand), but it definitely is making me a bit hesitant...

If you're a fan of Sichuan cuisine, then you simply must try out the restaurant that I recently visited. The flavors were so authentic and the dishes were simply delicious. I highly recommend it!

Firstly, the cumin lamb was an absolute standout. The spices were perfectly balanced and the meat was cooked to perfection. It had just the right amount of heat, and the cumin added an extra depth of flavor that was truly unique.

Next up, the pickled peppers beef was another hit. The beef was tender and succulent, and the pickled peppers gave it a tangy and slightly sour taste that worked really well with the beef.

Finally, the dry fried intestines were also very good. They had a crispy exterior and a relatively soft, flavorful interior. They were seasoned perfectly and had just the right amount of spice. It's definitely not a dish for everyone, but if you're a fan of offal and want to try something new, then it is...