This restaurant is simple and clean. The servers were nice and friendly. Most importantly the food was just average. The jampong was below average. The jajangmyeon was not bad. The kimchee was terrible. The portions were on the smaller side. Can't really recommend this place.
Jaewook B.
리뷰가 좋아서 갔지만 the taste was below average. I personally would not come back when I crave Chinese food. Service is good.
Ji T.
This restaurant is my go to in the area whenever I crave chinese korean food such as tangsuyuk and/or jajangmyeon. The food here is delicious and oily so you know its legit. Also, their sweet and sour shrimp is actually decent too and i order it sometimes when i'm in the mood.
Jim S.
I dont really ever leave reviews for restaurant but seems so unfair that people give bad reviews without thinking of consequences. I guess that is how it works after covid, people feel entitled everywhere. All reviews are subjective and because someone doesn't like the food, that doesn't mean you wont. I'm a restauranteur so I know how difficult making consistent food is. With that said, this restaurant has solid Korean Chinese food if you know what to order. Not all restaurants make 100% most delicious food. Some are awesome, some not. My family dines here at least twice/three times a month including takeout. There is a reason why I come here all the time. I recommend the black bean noodles (I ask for the onion and black bean sauce free side dish and add some of the the sauce into the noodle dish to make it more umami flavor), garlic fried chicken or shrimp (this dish is the best I have ever had at any korean chinese restaurant), the beef with scallion/onions. The seafood fried rice is under seasoned so ask for some salt and use it. It taste much better. Its better than being overly salted. You can always add but you cant take out. I don't prefer their mapo tofu or any fried pork stuff but again taste is all subjective. BTW, forgot the fried pork mandoo. Best! and home made. Other restaurants sell frozen junk, but not here. You really have to appreciate when food is made fresh and not frozen. I sincerely hope that people read this review and think before leaving an unfair review just because you didn't like it.
Jeannie Y.
This bustling Korean-style Chinese restaurant, nestled in Irvine right next to the renowned H Mart, which is often considered one of the best in the area, is filled with patrons. Despite its smaller size compared to the sprawling Chinese eateries, it gives off the impression of a lively crowd, with many eagerly awaiting their turn outside. The dishes delight with their freshness and flavor, yet the extra offerings like noodles fail to stand out. Despite the bustling atmosphere, the service remains impressively swift.
Mir L.
As a full korean woman married to a full Chinese man-- Sorry, the food is not good here. I don't know if we went on a bad day or if they hired a new cook but the food was not good. Waste of money. We ordered: Jajangmyun - it was just ok, 7/10 Fried rice - 1/10 (sorry but how do you mess up fried rice? There was NO flavor, no salt no soy sauce. It literally was a plate of fresh moist rice mixed with seafood/veggies). Fried pork mandoo - 6/10 pork was slightly pink on the inside but whatever.
David C.
3.5 stars is the 5 stars of Chinese restaurants. So you know Chai Lan is delicious. Something about the people who Yelp are too pretentious to appreciate the true deliciousness of Chinese food. If you see a 5 star Chinese restaurant that's a red flag. They would probably have $30 dishes and do Chinese food tapas style and have good service. If a Chinese waiter is polite to you then is it even a Chinese restaurant? But actually this place is pretty clean. I do wish it was organized better where you would feel more separated from the people you're sitting next to because it's kind of just jammed together in this tiny little square. Dividers would help, but that might cause them to lose out on some seating. Idk it's just a bit awkward being right next to everyone. Also there was this screaming toddler there and it just silenced the whole restaurant because it was like an echo chamber or just a really loud baby. So maybe a sound system or some background music would help. Food though. So bomb. We had to get jajangmyun (black bean noodles), yusanseul (seafood vegetables), garlic fried chicken and pan fried dumplings. Wow everything was so good. I could do without the seafood vegetables because you know I'm a dude. But the wife and baby liked it so it's all good. Everything was so good and wow I want to eat this place again!
Jennifer Lee
I was craving some black bean noodles and decided to try this place out. Probably the best black bean noodles I've had in Irvine and it's so close to my apartment so double win! I ordered to go, service was super fast and friendly. I literally ordered, got my food and was out of there in less than 10 minutes. Loved the texture of the noodles and the black bean sauce was the right thickness and very tasty. Can't wait to try the rest of their menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Bean Noodles
David A.
This place was terrible food tasted like a coal it was burnt to a crisp. The cooks need to prepare better.
최동호_Bryan
This is Chai Lan, a Korean-Chinese restaurant in Irvine, California.I think this is my first time encountering a real Korean-Chinese restaurant in the United States.The menu is also Korean.As always with Korean food sold in the US, the portion size is huge. The regular size seems to be twice as large as the Korean one.In Korea, gopbaegi is a service concept and usually costs 1,000 won, but here the difference is $8. And the prices of Jjajangmyeon and Jjambbong are much more expensive than in Korea. Dishes such as Palbochae and sweet and sour pork are actually better value for money than Korean ones. (It is good to consider the exchange rate)The taste is a bit lacking compared to Korea, but I think it's still worth a visit if you're craving Jajangmyeon in the US.Shandong-style udon is slightly not recommended~
Food is great. Sweet and sour pork is really great! Fried rice is also good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Zo Anna
The food and atmosphere are always similar, but the older female waiter is quite rude. He uses a mixture of sharp and informal language.. Why do you work in a service job? It's a waste of money to give tips.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Silvia Chang
A restaurant with delicious
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: 삼선 자장면
Steve Kim
I'm A 53 year old Korean. Moved to So. California in 1972. Benn here since.I TELL YOU... FANTASTIC:TASTEPRICESERVICETOTAL AMBIENCEGonna head back tonight..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jay C.
Foods are great, staff are always friendly. Best Korean Chinese fusion restaurant in the county!
This restaurant is simple and clean. The servers were nice and friendly. Most importantly the food was just average. The jampong was below average. The jajangmyeon was not bad. The kimchee was terrible. The portions were on the smaller side. Can't really recommend this place.
리뷰가 좋아서 갔지만 the taste was below average. I personally would not come back when I crave Chinese food. Service is good.
This restaurant is my go to in the area whenever I crave chinese korean food such as tangsuyuk and/or jajangmyeon. The food here is delicious and oily so you know its legit. Also, their sweet and sour shrimp is actually decent too and i order it sometimes when i'm in the mood.
I dont really ever leave reviews for restaurant but seems so unfair that people give bad reviews without thinking of consequences. I guess that is how it works after covid, people feel entitled everywhere. All reviews are subjective and because someone doesn't like the food, that doesn't mean you wont. I'm a restauranteur so I know how difficult making consistent food is. With that said, this restaurant has solid Korean Chinese food if you know what to order. Not all restaurants make 100% most delicious food. Some are awesome, some not. My family dines here at least twice/three times a month including takeout. There is a reason why I come here all the time. I recommend the black bean noodles (I ask for the onion and black bean sauce free side dish and add some of the the sauce into the noodle dish to make it more umami flavor), garlic fried chicken or shrimp (this dish is the best I have ever had at any korean chinese restaurant), the beef with scallion/onions. The seafood fried rice is under seasoned so ask for some salt and use it. It taste much better. Its better than being overly salted. You can always add but you cant take out. I don't prefer their mapo tofu or any fried pork stuff but again taste is all subjective. BTW, forgot the fried pork mandoo. Best! and home made. Other restaurants sell frozen junk, but not here. You really have to appreciate when food is made fresh and not frozen. I sincerely hope that people read this review and think before leaving an unfair review just because you didn't like it.
This bustling Korean-style Chinese restaurant, nestled in Irvine right next to the renowned H Mart, which is often considered one of the best in the area, is filled with patrons. Despite its smaller size compared to the sprawling Chinese eateries, it gives off the impression of a lively crowd, with many eagerly awaiting their turn outside. The dishes delight with their freshness and flavor, yet the extra offerings like noodles fail to stand out. Despite the bustling atmosphere, the service remains impressively swift.
As a full korean woman married to a full Chinese man-- Sorry, the food is not good here. I don't know if we went on a bad day or if they hired a new cook but the food was not good. Waste of money. We ordered: Jajangmyun - it was just ok, 7/10 Fried rice - 1/10 (sorry but how do you mess up fried rice? There was NO flavor, no salt no soy sauce. It literally was a plate of fresh moist rice mixed with seafood/veggies). Fried pork mandoo - 6/10 pork was slightly pink on the inside but whatever.
3.5 stars is the 5 stars of Chinese restaurants. So you know Chai Lan is delicious. Something about the people who Yelp are too pretentious to appreciate the true deliciousness of Chinese food. If you see a 5 star Chinese restaurant that's a red flag. They would probably have $30 dishes and do Chinese food tapas style and have good service. If a Chinese waiter is polite to you then is it even a Chinese restaurant? But actually this place is pretty clean. I do wish it was organized better where you would feel more separated from the people you're sitting next to because it's kind of just jammed together in this tiny little square. Dividers would help, but that might cause them to lose out on some seating. Idk it's just a bit awkward being right next to everyone. Also there was this screaming toddler there and it just silenced the whole restaurant because it was like an echo chamber or just a really loud baby. So maybe a sound system or some background music would help. Food though. So bomb. We had to get jajangmyun (black bean noodles), yusanseul (seafood vegetables), garlic fried chicken and pan fried dumplings. Wow everything was so good. I could do without the seafood vegetables because you know I'm a dude. But the wife and baby liked it so it's all good. Everything was so good and wow I want to eat this place again!
I was craving some black bean noodles and decided to try this place out. Probably the best black bean noodles I've had in Irvine and it's so close to my apartment so double win! I ordered to go, service was super fast and friendly. I literally ordered, got my food and was out of there in less than 10 minutes. Loved the texture of the noodles and the black bean sauce was the right thickness and very tasty. Can't wait to try the rest of their menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Bean Noodles
This place was terrible food tasted like a coal it was burnt to a crisp. The cooks need to prepare better.
This is Chai Lan, a Korean-Chinese restaurant in Irvine, California.I think this is my first time encountering a real Korean-Chinese restaurant in the United States.The menu is also Korean.As always with Korean food sold in the US, the portion size is huge. The regular size seems to be twice as large as the Korean one.In Korea, gopbaegi is a service concept and usually costs 1,000 won, but here the difference is $8. And the prices of Jjajangmyeon and Jjambbong are much more expensive than in Korea. Dishes such as Palbochae and sweet and sour pork are actually better value for money than Korean ones. (It is good to consider the exchange rate)The taste is a bit lacking compared to Korea, but I think it's still worth a visit if you're craving Jajangmyeon in the US.Shandong-style udon is slightly not recommended~
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Food is great. Sweet and sour pork is really great! Fried rice is also good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
The food and atmosphere are always similar, but the older female waiter is quite rude. He uses a mixture of sharp and informal language.. Why do you work in a service job? It's a waste of money to give tips.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
A restaurant with delicious
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: 삼선 자장면
I'm A 53 year old Korean. Moved to So. California in 1972. Benn here since.I TELL YOU... FANTASTIC:TASTEPRICESERVICETOTAL AMBIENCEGonna head back tonight..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Foods are great, staff are always friendly. Best Korean Chinese fusion restaurant in the county!