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Seafood Paradise
The Top List of Best Chinese Restaurants - Orange County, CA
by Judy Asman
Fortune cookies, Jasmine tea, chopsticks and Buddha statues—all of which accessorize the palatable nirvana that is Chinese cuisine. With more and more Asian fusion restaurants cropping up, it’s good to know there are still a few eateries that solely focus on China’s cooking styles: Mandarin, Szechuan and Hunan. Enjoy.
SEAFOOD PARADISE
8602 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683
(714) 893-6066
Hours: (Mon, Wed, Thur) 10 am–9:30 pm; (Tue) 10 am-3 pm, 4:30 pm-9:30 pm; (Fri) 10 am-10 pm; (Sat) 9:30 am-10 pm; (Sun) 9:30 am–9:30 pm
While a significant portion of Westminster, Calif. is known as “Little Saigon,” restaurants like Seafood Paradise graciously take us to other regions of Asia. This is good news for those seeking authentic Chinese food. As its name implies, the menu at Seafood Paradise is rife with seafood-packed Chinese eccentricities such as braised shark fin’s soup ($13), flavored jellyfish ($8.50), and fresh squid with Chinese broccoli ($10.50). But if you’re more interested in dishes most popular on American soil, you can always order the lemon chicken, beef with broccoli or Kung Pao shrimp ($7.50-$10.50). Still, the real blessing of this restaurant can be summed (no pun intended) up in two words: dim sum. At Seafood Paradise, dim sum, known for being the Chinese teatime lunch or brunch cuisine, is served traditional style (from 10 am to 3 pm daily) with servers arriving to your table with ready-to-serve portions and ample selections from which you can choose. All items—from their steamed dumplings to pork filled buns—are hearty and filling, making it easy for you to order a few dishes at a minimal price (about $16 for two people). The dining room is spacious and festive. A massive lobster tank toward the kitchen makes it possible for you to purchase your own clawed shellfish to take home for the cookin’.
Estimated cost per person: $12 - $40
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open
YANG MING GARDEN
1866 North Tustin Ave., Orange, CA 92865
(714) 998-9500
Hours: (Mon–Sat) 11:30 am-2:30 pm; (Sun–Thur) 4:30 pm–9:30 pm; (Fri-Sat) 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
Don’t drive too quickly past 1866 North Tustin Avenue or you’ll miss Yang Ming. Set inconspicuously inside a small strip mall, this restaurant has an understated exterior that hides an elegant and romantic dining spot decorated in burgundy hues, floral patterns and ample vases of bamboo. Just when you thought chicken was the most boring meat on the planet, there’s Yang Ming—standing the test of time in serving scrumptious dishes like gun powder chicken, stir fried in spicy scallion and garlic sauce, chicken and fresh mango, and Szechuan sesame chicken ($9.95). The restaurant, which serves authentic Szechuan, Hunan and Mandarin cuisine, roasts duck throughout the week so it’s ready to order when you visit. The eatery serves Peking duck Western style, with more meat than fat rolled in a pancake and flavored with scallions and plum sauce. The combination of flavors is choice. For kicks, you can order a cocktail from the restaurant’s full bar and, if you’re a sports fanatic, there’s also large-screen TV. This spot has impeccable service where everyone is part of the Yang Ming family.
Estimated cost per person: $12 - $20
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Day-Varies by year, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Varies by year, New Year’s Eve-Open
WING’S
18553 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(714) 777-2453
Hours: (Tue-Thurs) 11:30 am–9:30 pm; (Fri) 11:30 am–10 pm; (Sat) 12 pm–10 pm; (Sun) 12 pm–9 pm
Inside Wing’s, you can enjoy a hybrid experience that’s down-home feel with the grandeur of an imperial palace. The décor, which boasts vibrant colors of red and gold, and pillared booths providing spaciousness and privacy, make it all the more fun for large groups and families. Speaking of families, Wing’s offers combination dinners to satisfy tummies of all ages. If your clan is one with a penchant for shrimp, you can order the Golden Buddha ($8.95 per person) and feast on fried shrimp, egg foo young, fried rice, sweet and sour shrimp and shrimp chow mein. The Gourmet Mandarin ($14.55 per person) will load you up with barbecue ribs, egg rolls, beef soo chow, paper wrapped chicken, lobster kow, Kung Pao chicken and a couple of more appetizers and entrées. If you order each combination for four or more people, you get an additional dish. The menu is pretty extensive and offers everything from carnivore favorites such as pepper steak ($8.75) and ginger beef ($9.55) to vegetarian pleasures such as tofu with vegetables and vegetable low mein ($7.55). If you work in the area, stop in for lunch and get star treatment with a “VIP lunch.” This includes a select entrée, soup, egg roll and rice ($5.55-$6.55). For dessert, order the lichee nuts—cool, refreshing and traditional delicacies at $3.25 for 10.
Estimated cost per person: $12 - $25
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open
WAN FU
30642 Santa Margarita Parkway, #E105, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(949) 589-8028
Hours: (Mon-Sun) 11 am-10 pm
Somehow “ethnic” and “Rancho Santa Margarita” don’t seem to belong in the same sentence. But Wan Fu nails it when it comes to providing sophisticated and family-friendly Chinese dining in an otherwise boring suburban neighborhood. At the entrance, you’ll be greeted by a stylish Koi pond, with black leather seating, mahogany tables, a bamboo-laced wall and a crystal wall fountain serving as your dining backdrop. Wan Fu has a pretty good selection of reasonably priced favorites but the standout feature on the menu is the “Health-Conscious” section, offering dishes that are steamed without starch, sugar (not salt) and oil. Calorie counters can leave guilt-free after feasting on the chicken salad ($5.50), the dieters’ vegetable or chicken delight ($8.50) or the dieter’s fish or shrimp delight ($10.50).
Estimated cost per person: $12 - $20
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open
LING AND LOUIE’S
85 Fortune Drive, Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 585-0022
Hours: (Sun-Thurs) 11 am-10 pm; (Fri-Sat) 11 am-11 pm
Ling and Louie’s proudly brands itself as “an East meets West love story told in food.” That would make sense since the owners are Ling, a Chinese woman and talented cook, and Louie, a restaurateur from the West. Together, the two have created a fashionable eatery that enhances the desperate trendiness of the Irvine Spectrum. Safe for those who are most concerned about their fake tans, body parts and personalities, this dining spot fuses California culinary artiness and plating styles with Asian recipes. Ling and Louie’s is not pure Chinese—offering Thai dishes like pad Thai and chicken satay and Japanese inspired appetizers such as seared ahi and edamame—but the narrow-minded of OC eaters can get their all around Asian kicks here without looking at a dish and saying, “Ew!” If you’re looking for something Chinese, check out the Dan Dan noodles—Shanghai noodles with minced chicken breast, scallions, carrots, cucumbers and bean sprouts in a brown sauce. Vegetarians can enjoy the firecracker tofu ($11.99), heartily flavored by a piquant chili sauce.
Estimated cost per person: $15 - $35
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open
CHINA PALACE
13444 Newport Avenue, Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 544-7167
Hours: (Sun-Thur) 11:30 am-2:30 pm, 4:30pm-9:30 pm; (Fri) 11:30 am-2:30 pm; (Fri-Sat) 4:30 pm-10 pm
This little restaurant in Tustin scored big time as far as space. As you enter through the large and heavy red double doors of China Palace, you’ll more than likely find yourself looking up to observe its high ceilings. The host will receive you in a roomy golden foyer after which he or she will seat you in one of its intimate dining areas. China Palace offers reasonably priced and flavorful authentic Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine. In addition to excellent service and ample privacy, you can enjoy lobster tail prepared a number of ways—sautéed or with black bean sauce, hot garlic sauce or others-for about $20. While you can order the half crispy duck ($10.50) at the time you arrive, China Palace only accepts advance orders for the Peking duck ($28.50). If you wish to partake in a serving of good ole’ chop suey, you can enjoy one of several versions for less than $8.
Estimated cost per person: $12 - $30
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open
FIVE FEET RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE
328 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 497-4955
Hours: (Sun-Thurs) 5 pm-10 pm; (Fri-Sat) 5 pm-11pm
With Laguna Beach widely known for artistic camaraderie and a contemporary spin on life’s daily norms, it’s no wonder Five Feet Restaurant and Lounge welcomes its visitors with progressive-deco surroundings shaped by industrial lighting and ceiling décor, oil paintings by local artists, sleek stone tables and vases of exotic flowers. The food blends the authenticity of Chinese and French cuisines, so the restaurant’s vibe brings together Parisian bistro chic with the dignity of Eastern tradition. Master chef Michael Kang is responsible for this unique approach to dining. Having been born in Taiwan, raised in Corona del Mar, and bearing several years of architecture studies under his belt, Kang was also schooled at the University of Restaurants. Around that time, he realized the possibilities of merging architecture with gastronomy to produce a captivating and unconventional eatery. While sometimes accused for employing snooty service workers and presenting loads of pretentiousness, this restaurant unarguably makes for an interesting experience. The menu is prix fix, not to mention pricey. Among the darlings of entrées are the catfish with duo sauces and Cantonese duck. The menu changes daily but, depending on when you go, there’s something comforting in knowing you can end a Chinese-inspired fare with crème brulee.
Estimated cost per person: $60 - $75 (for all courses and wine pairing)
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Day-Closed, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Mother’s Day-Open; Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open
MAY GARDEN
1400 South Bristol St., Costa Mesa, CA 92707
(714) 751-9229
Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11 am – 9:30 pm; (Sat-Sun) 4 pm-9:30 pm
As soon as you walk into May Garden, you’ll get a strong sense that it’s a great place for celebrations. For starters, don’t be surprised if at least two tables are celebrating someone’s birthday, for which the staff members graciously and enthusiastically offer their singing talents. And the Lazy Susans on the large tables add to the festive flair. This eatery serves authentic Chinese dishes with a capital “A.” While their shrimp and lobster sauce ($12.50) lacks the rich and salty essence associated with this dish, the Kung Pao three kinds ($14.50) with beef, chicken and shrimp is absolute perfection. If you’re looking for an advanced traditional seafood dish, ask to see it’s secret menu. It’s written entirely in one of the Chinese languages, so if you’re monolingual, you’ll need to ask your server to translate for you. Fish lovers, now hear this: on this hidden menu, May Garden offers a five flavors whole deep fried fish that’s spicy and meaty ($21.95). The restaurant is large with a bar in the center and several dining rooms.
Estimated cost per person: $15 - $35
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open
WONG’S
10642 Westminster Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92843
(714) 537-4920
Hours: (Mon, Wed-Sun) 11:30 am-10 pm
Can you say “old school?” Established in 1952, Wong’s takes the Chinese food lover back to the diner days of yesteryear. The façade is not much to look at, and, at first glance, you might even ask yourself whether the place is still open. Inside, brown leather booths and simple flooring creates the illusion you’ve either stepped back into the 1950s or you’re standing in a blue-collar break room. But you know everything’s going to be okay when the oversized fish in the two large and very clean aquariums swim to the glass to greet you. It is this retro look and feel that elicits adoration from Wong-faithful. Not to mention, it shamelessly uses MSG in its dishes unless you request otherwise. The almond duck, which you can order with brown gravy or sweet and sour sauce ($7.95), is a classic favorite. As are the ham yu—steamed ground pork topped with Chinese salt and fish ($5.45)—and Hong Kong style beef ($8.75). Most of the dishes, sans a few shrimp entrées, are under $10. Location and many years of being in the biz make Wong’s a beloved joint among locals and working class heroes.
Estimated cost per person: $10 - $20
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open
CHU’S WOK INN
13053 Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92868
(714) 750-3511
Hours: (Sun-Thurs) 11:30 am – 9:30 pm; (Fri-Sat) 11:30 am-10 pm
Located just a block away from the Crystal Cathedral, Chu’s Wok Inn offers spaciousness and sophistication all the while staying focused on serving zesty traditional dishes. Yet another great spot for intimacy and romance, Chu’s has small room with a full bar, two dining areas and one banquet room. The service is far above average. The seating and décor, chic. The restaurant as a whole, immaculate. It is in this environment you can enjoy Chu’s sizzling scallops with beef ($14.95), crispy confetti prawns ($13.95) or the Maine lobster at market price. For a light lunch or appetizer, you can relish the flavor of the hot wok wings ($6.95), which are actually not as spicy as the name implies. The desserts are as attractive as they are inspired. The watermelon pie ($4.50) is raspberry, lemon and lime sherbert on a dark cookie crust and chocolate chips. Each element of this treat forms a part of the watermelon, so it arrives at your table looking just like a slice of this heavenly juicy fruit.
Estimated cost per person: $12 - $25
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open after 4 pm, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open, New Year’s Eve-Open
Estimated cost per person for dinner is based upon one entrée, one appetizer if it’s an a la carte menu, one beverage, tax and 20 percent gratuity.
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