Tigawok Mini Bowls - Irvine — Restaurant in Irvine

Friends told me about this place was having a soft opening this week. We came on Friday morning right at opening to beat the rush. To our surprise, there was a line already before they opened! We had the opportunity to meet two of the owners who were kind enough to explain how the concept works and the ordering process. Let's just say we ended up over ordering for 4 people! Yes, we are the type that likes to try a little bit of everything and shared the plates.

Concept:

It's like a fresh version of Panda Express. Each item is cooked in big batches ready for quick service. You go down the line and select each item one by one. They are served in individual portions as opposed to Panda's plated items. To our surprise, the portions are pretty good size and found it to be great value for the price point. It's good for 2-4 people to order multiple dishes for sharing but for an individual, I'd recommend 2 entrees + 1 rice or stir fry noodle. We really like the fact there are a lot more variety of items to choose from and are catered to more authentic Chinese palates.

Service:

Since it was the 5th day of their soft opening, they are still working on fine tuning their work flow. It could have been much quicker if they had maybe 3 people sectioned off down the line as you progress along to expedite the speed. I'm sure they will be adding more staff to expedite the process. Staff were very friendly and helpful, especially the owner who does your check out.

Food:

Like I said we definitely over ordered. We got the following items:

Zesty shredded chicken - it's almost like Hainan chicken in texture but with zesty flavor already built in. Definitely don't need any dipping sauce for it. Pepper kurobuta pork - flavor was on point and had just the right amount of pepper flavor without being overly spicy. Wagyu mapo tofu - tofu was on the firmer side which I personally prefer soft tofu for my mapo tofu. Sauce was slightly bland so it can definitely be kicked up a bit to pair better with rice. Sweet tomato & scrambled eggs - sauce was too sweet for my personal liking. Owner did say that they are working on sauce to make it less sweet. Kung pao chicken - classic dish and the flavor was on point. The chicken pieces were plump and tender, much better quality than Panda. Hunan spicy beef - perhaps my favorite dish out of the bunch. It had just the right amount of that mala spice without being overpowering. Hand-torn cabbage - cooked with just the right amount of crisp without being overly soggy. Garlic eggs plant & green beans - a bit light on flavor but the ingredients were very fresh and I like how the eggplant held its texture without being too mushy. Tiga cola chicken - it's like kung pao chicken but without all the extras. The sauce reminds me of a lighter version of Panda's teriyaki sauce mixed in. Potato shreds with bean sprouts - tasted just like my mom's home cooking. The potato slices still had a crunch to it where other places tend to be very limp and soggy. Dry-pot Brussels sprouts - while likely the least "Chinese" dish we tried, it was surprisingly good. Chow mein - it had a great texture without being overly oily. White rice - I typically judge quality of a "Chinese" restaurant on the quality of rice they serve and this was exceptional! They use good quality jasmine rice and it wasn't soggy.

Overall I can see this would be an up and coming concept that can rival Panda Express for those wanting more authentic Chinese flavors and options. It's great for families to do take out and for college students that can stretch out their meals.

Big bonus: their serving boxes and lids are super high quality and reusable! I can see a lot of people keeping these to use for packing leftovers at home or use for on the go meal prep! Save them and help the environment!

Look forward to trying the other dishes like their pork buns, soup dumplings...

The food is cooked by robots --but honestly, the flavors are just as good as a human chef's (some are even better!).

Prices are amazing, ranging from only $1.99-$6.99, which makes it easy to try a variety of dishes. We ordered several and shared: Garlic eggplant & green beans (so flavorful, with a perfect mix of crunch and tenderness) Tiga wagyu beef curry (rich and comforting) Dry-pot Brussels sprouts (perfectly spiced with a little kick) Pepper kurobuta pork (little spicy and savory) Orange peel chicken (not overly sweet like Panda Express--balanced and delicious)

For my base, I had the chow mein, and I actually like it more than Panda Express--the noodles weren't greasy and came with lots of fresh, crunchy veggies. My parents couldn't stop raving about the soup dumplings (xiao long bao). We also loved the unique, well-designed food containers, and the oolong tea was the perfect pairing.

Overall, Tigawok is a gem--delicious, affordable, and such a cool concept. Definitely worth...

Tigawok just opened in Irvine and my family and I had the chance to check it out during their soft opening. Wow, what a cool experience! The food is really tasty, flavorful, and surprisingly affordable as not much is affordable these days. What makes it extra unique is that the dishes are actually cooked by AI robotic woks 🤖, so everything comes out good. It’s so crazy to think about it.

We tried a variety of mini bowls, which are perfect for my family with kids. We can order a little of every dishes and they come with lid that you can just cap it and bring home the leftovers.

The staff is still getting into the flow since they just opened, but everyone was friendly and eager to help. Try get there early to avoid the long lines.

If you’re in Irvine, definitely give Tigawok a try! It’s right next to Omomo, Trader Joe’s on Culver & Walnut. Excited to go back and try...