Star Leaf – Tea & Asian Kitchen — Restaurant in Orange

Afternoon tea but with a Chinese twist.

Parking: This spot is located in the Orange Circle, so finding a parking spot is difficult, even on the weekdays. You can either get lucky with free street parking, parking lots, or parking structure.

Ambiance/Environment: I really love the interior design. Some reviews said they have a small space, but I think it's pretty spacious with a decent amount of indoor seating. No outdoor seating. There's tea samples right when you enter. They have two entrances, one in the back and front. The tea samples are in the front. We visited on a Thursday morning. It wasn't too busy, but more groups came in closer to brunch time.

Service: There were only two workers. Our server was Yubee (not sure how to spell it lol). He was nice and efficient. We were greeted and seated right when we entered. He checked on us a couple times and refilled our teas.

Teas & menu items: It's a set food menu with savory and sweet items. They offer 10 different teas that you can try prior to making a decision. It's one tea pot person. I got the Passionfruit Jasmine tea, and my cousin got the Earl Grey Créme. I love Jasmine tea. The passionfruit Jasmine tea was definitely fruity and floral. Yubee told us they usually steep the teas for about 5 min, so it’s not too bitter. I also asked for a cup of half & half to make it a bit creamier. The earl grey creme had a slight sweet taste with a hint of citrus. All the sweets satisfied my sweet tooth! My favorite was the Black Sesame Hazelnut Choux! The savories were decent. I do agree the Cucumber Sandwich and Egg Salad Sando can use some seasoning or spice. I really enjoyed everything else.

Pricing: It’s $45 per person. The ambiance is peaceful. The presentation is on point. The teas were enjoyable. The sweets were delicious, and the savories can be improved. I’d say it’s a unique experience and fun...

After seeing a post about this place on instagram, it was on my list of places I wanted to visit one day and finally got a chance. You have to make a reservation for tea service which is only available on Thursday-Sunday between 10am-4pm and there’s a $25 cancellation fee per person which was extremely stressful. I made a morning reservation and after having extreme difficulty finding parking, we finally arrived to a completely empty restaurant. You are first recommended to taste test all the tea selections available at the entrance, then you can each select one tea of your choice. Then your food arrives soon after. There’s 9 items person, and it’s $45 per person with personal tea pot and food. The tea and food tasted great but I thought it was worth about $29.99 honestly. After finishing, over 1 hour later, the place was still shockingly empty. I can’t imagine how they can stay in business. Something I really didn’t like was the restroom. Considering tea service is mostly attended by women, I didn’t like that they chose the male restroom with a urinal for guests and the women one was for “employees only”. No woman wants to use a restroom with a urinal. Hope they can change that. I think if they want a successful business, they need to reconsider the price, have more menu options, and I also suggest a small bakery area for take out options to generate...

Nestled in the heart of Orange County, T Modern Chinese isn’t just another trendy spot—it’s a quiet masterclass in elevated Chinese cooking. From the first bite to the final course, everything here feels intentional and refined.

Let’s talk highlights: The black truffle scallion pancake? A total showstopper. Thin, crisp layers with an elegant punch of truffle that lingers just enough to make you reach for another slice. The Wagyu potstickers are rich, perfectly seared, and filled with a silky beef mixture that melts on your tongue. Then there’s the barbecue spareribs—sweet, smoky, and so tender they practically collapse under your fork.

Even the broccoli beef—usually the most forgettable dish on any menu—was elevated here. Tender slices of beef and perfectly cooked broccoli tossed in a sauce that actually complements instead of overwhelms.

Dessert didn’t miss either. Balanced, thoughtful, and far from an afterthought—whether it was creamy, crispy, or citrusy, each dish wrapped up the meal on a high note.

And a special shoutout to Michael, our server, who was sharp, gracious, and genuinely dialed in. His level of care added a personal touch that you just don’t come across often.

T Modern isn’t just good—it’s memorable. One of those places that quietly raises the bar without ever...