Courtyard with shared outdoor seating offers a relaxed dining space. Menu focuses on healthy options with standout items like BBQ chicken salad and chicken wild rice soup. Lunch hours bring a busy atmosphere with ample seating inside and out.
Chicken wild rice soup stands out as a favorite, known for being delicious and consistently ordered. Other soups also come highly rated and pair well with fresh salads.
Busy during lunch, the spot offers good value meals with friendly service even in a rush.
"I get the chicken wild rice soup every time; it's beyond great."
"Vinny remembered my order from the day before; it made my experience special."
Good to know
Croutons offers a variety of healthy options on the menu.
Expect busy lunch hours, so plan accordingly.
The restaurant features shared outdoor seating for guests.
Hot pot restaurant offers spacious, clean design with personalized sauce stations and interactive dining including a dancing noodle show. Atmosphere feels warm and inviting, suitable for families with children who receive toys and special meals. Amenities like hair ties and complimentary snacks add unique touches to the experience.
Soup bases come flavorful and customizable, with the mushroom soup standing out as a favorite. The Tomato Soup Base offers a rich, savory taste that works well for sipping or dipping.
Lunch offers an all-you-can-eat deal for $19.99 with unlimited servings. Orders come through an iPad and include soup, meat, a large vegetable platter, and access to a big sauce station with snacks.
"The soup here is so attentive, they even refill it for you."
"The lunch combo is a great deal with a vegetable platter and meat."
Good to know
Reservations are required before visiting, especially during peak hours.
The weekday happy hour offers a $2 shabu beef deal.
Happy hours are available Monday through Thursday before 5 pm.
Narrow space with tight seating and hard surfaces creates a loud, fast-paced atmosphere. Mostly younger crowd fills the small room, making it unsuitable for quiet or intimate dining. Unique decor includes minimalist design with wood accents and a vertical garden.
Soup stands out with a very good soy sauce base and a pork belly noodle soup that many find delicious. Every spoonful is packed with flavor and not too salty, enhanced by a black garlic oil sauce.
Seating happens quickly before and after the lunch rush, with only a short wait during peak times. The spot offers a filling lunch that works well for quick meals or late lunches.
"I found the ramen soup to be consistently delicious."
"This Lunch Spot's ramen broth is flavorful and delicious."
Good to know
Reservations are required to avoid long wait times.
Parking can be difficult during peak hours; consider arriving early.
A 16% service charge is automatically added to all bills.
Spacious Chinese restaurant with clean, modern decor and an open kitchen showcasing hand-pulled noodles. Bright and inviting atmosphere pairs with thoughtful amenities like iPad ordering and noodle-cutting scissors. Music adds to a casual, welcoming vibe suitable for relaxed meals.
Soup options include a hot and sour soup that is less salty and similar to Din Tai Fung's version. The beef noodle soup is hearty and mild, while the shredded pork noodle soup offers another tasty choice with handmade noodles.
Lunch offers a $21 special with two cold appetizers and soup. The menu features Chinese noodles that attract regulars.
"This lunch spot's hand-pulled noodles have amazing flavor and texture."
"The beef noodle soup has a rich, savory broth."
Good to know
The lunch special is $21 and includes two cold appetizers and soup.
Cross-contamination risks exist for those with egg allergies.
Parking can be difficult in the area.
Food hall setting offers shared seating with a modern, casual vibe and lively atmosphere. The spot features high-quality fried chicken and unique dishes like soup dumplings and lamb soup. It attracts diners looking for flavorful comfort food in a relaxed environment.
Lamb soup offers a rich, comforting flavor that is savory and slightly oily but balanced with rice. Soup dumplings feature thin skins bursting with broth, staying juicy even after 30 minutes to go.
Late lunches have no wait and plenty of seating. The spot draws many first-time lunch customers in a lively area and serves notable lunch dishes.
"The lamb soup is savory, tender, and full of rich flavor."
"The crispy chicken sandwich at this Lunch Spot is juicy and flavorful."
Good to know
Free 90-minute parking is available near the food hall.
Expect a wait time of about 24 minutes during peak hours.
Prices for meals range from $8 to $9 for generous portions.
Korean restaurant offers huge portions and authentic flavors with a rotating banchan selection that ranges from average to excellent. The space feels clean and open, attracting crowds during lunch and dinner hours. Prices remain affordable, providing great value compared to similar places.
Beef bone soup offers a mildness with a tender beef flavor that stands out without heavy MSG. Spicy Beef Soup comes in a hefty portion enough for two people.
Lunch hours get busy, often requiring a wait. Meals come with three types of kimchi served at the table.
"I really enjoyed the Spicy Beef Soup; it was a hefty portion."
"The spicy braised beef ribs at this Lunch Spot are tender and packed with bold flavors."
Good to know
Expect large portion sizes; one dish can easily serve two people.
The price of $22.99 for the Donkatsu offers great value for the amount of food.
Parking can be difficult on weekends, so arrive early.
Casual Korean restaurant with a homey atmosphere and bright fluorescent lighting. Offers unlimited side dishes and complimentary bone broth served in stainless steel tumblers. Busy during lunchtime, it attracts those seeking authentic Korean flavors in a simple, comfortable setting.
Authentic Korean soups and stews feature homemade-style tofu soup with an option to add pork belly. Portions balance well with price, and a complimentary daily broth arrives in an insulated bottle.
Lunch draws a steady crowd with dishes like Sundubu, Galbi, and Dolsot Bibimbap. Arriving just after lunch hours helps avoid waiting since the spot stays busy.
"The savory, comforting broth is perfect to start the meal."
"This Lunch Spot's Korean stews and bibimbap are authentic and delicious."
Good to know
Yoo's place is very busy during lunchtime, expect longer wait times.
The menu at Yoo's place is extensive, featuring many popular Korean dishes.
Expect to pay a bit more, as some find the food expensive for the portions.
Small, clean Korean restaurant with a classic vibe and modern interior. Atmosphere stays quiet and cozy with K-pop music playing softly. Seating is tight but the space feels inviting for casual meals.
Fish cake soup offers a comforting taste but stays on the thin side since no burners are provided to keep it hot. The tteokbokki sauce resembles regular soup tteokbokki without extra thickness.
Clean, modern atmosphere suits casual lunch well. Lunch menu offers quick, cheap, tasty options like the 11.59 ramen kimbap lunch special.
"This Lunch Spot has quick, cheap, and tasty food."
Good to know
They don't take cash; only card payments are accepted.
Parking can be tricky, but there is ample space on weekends.
It operates like a fast-food place; order and pay upfront.
Open kitchen and cafeteria-style setting create a casual dining experience with freshly made noodles visible to diners. Atmosphere stays lively and welcoming, with a self-serve tempura bar adding interactive appeal. Quick service and consistent quality make it suitable for family meals and casual visits.
Hot soup has a pleasant aroma and good flavor. Some dishes come without soup, which can feel odd. Beef soup tastes watery and curry soup looks like gelatin and lacks curry flavor.
Fast service makes it a solid choice for a workday lunch. Visiting between 2 and 4 pm helps avoid the lunch rush and find seating easily. Regular portions usually satisfy lunch appetites.
"This Lunch Spot's curry with cheese katsu was fun and tasty."
"Lance replaced my soup with a different one at no extra charge."
Good to know
Expect a 25-minute wait for takeout orders during peak hours.
Parking is usually available behind the bank next to 7-Leaves.
A 15% discount is available for UCI students with valid ID.
Small noodle shop with authentic Chinese flavors and affordable prices offers both indoor and outdoor seating in a simple setting. Atmosphere ranges from calm and relaxed when not crowded to cluttered and unwelcoming at busy times. Known for traditional northern Chinese dishes and careful to-go packaging that keeps noodles fresh.
Noodle soups here offer authentic flavors with a perfect balance, especially the Guilin soup and beef noodle soup. Options include hearty bowls like Liuzhou Noodle Soup and spicy varieties, all served with generous portions.
Lunch hours get very busy with a long wait, sometimes pushing quick meals to takeout. They offer lunch specials and serve food that ranges from okay to good.
"I loved their Guilin soup; it had a perfect balance of flavors."
"This Lunch Spot has great hand-cut noodles."
Good to know
For to-go orders, they separate the noodle and broth so the noodle doesn’t get soggy.
Parking is very limited with a 30-minute time limit.
There was a free parking structure nearby.
Robot servers deliver meats with a playful touch, adding fun technology to a modern, clean dining space. Each diner has an individual induction cooker, creating a calm, authentic Japanese atmosphere. The open kitchen and upscale decor enhance the experience, making it suitable for casual meals and quiet conversations.
Broth options include spicy tonkotsu, miso, and seafood-based tomyum. The buffet offers many additions for the soup and a small selection of hot foods.
Lunch offers a weekday special price around $25 to $26, including Fridays. Food comes fresh with good quality at a reasonable price for about thirty dollars per person.
"This lunch spot's all-you-can-eat hot pot has amazing meat selections."
"I loved the spicy tonkotsu soup base."
Good to know
The all-you-can-eat lunch special is $25 on weekdays, including Fridays.
Dinner prices are $33.99 on weekends for all-you-can-eat.
Parking is available in an underground structure, but can be hard to find after 6pm.