A&J Restaurant
About
A&J Restaurant is listed on FindALoco in Irvine, CA with address, phone, website, and map location. Common services and related keywords include Taiwanese Restaurant.
If you’re looking for a reliable Taiwanese restaurant in Irvine, CA, A&J Restaurant is one of the local names that comes up again and again for comforting, familiar Taiwanese flavors. Located at 14805 Jeffrey Rd in Irvine, this long-running spot has built a strong reputation among Orange County diners who want food that feels closer to what they would expect from an everyday Taiwanese eatery rather than a trendy fusion concept. With a 4.4 rating across more than 1,100 reviews, A&J Restaurant is clearly a place many guests return to when they want something satisfying, casual, and rooted in tradition.
What stands out most is the menu’s range of classic dishes that regulars mention with real specificity. The beef tendon is often described as a standout and even a destination-worthy order for some diners. Other dishes that get repeated praise include the pork chop with vegetable rice, cold noodles with ham, beef wrap, and thousand layer pancake. Guests also call out appetizers like bean curd with celery and seaweed, while items such as green onion pancake, pan-fried dumplings, fried chicken on rice, and beef roll help round out the experience. The overall impression is of a menu with enough variety for groups to share, while still offering a few signature plates that keep people coming back.
The atmosphere at A&J Restaurant in Irvine is best understood as straightforward, busy, and focused on the food. Reviews suggest quick service and attentive basics, such as staff making sure water is refilled, which matters when the dining room is active. This is the kind of place that works well for a casual lunch, a no-fuss dinner, or meeting family and friends over familiar Taiwanese comfort food. It’s especially appealing for diners in Orange County who want authentic Taiwanese food without having to leave the area.
As with many well-known local restaurants, experiences can vary depending on what you order, and some reviews note that not every dish lands the same way. Still, the consistent theme is that A&J Restaurant remains one of the more established choices for Taiwanese cuisine in Irvine. For newcomers, it makes sense to start with the dishes customers praise most often, especially the beef tendon, pork chop with vegetable rice, cold noodles, and pancakes.
For FindALoco users searching for a trusted Taiwanese restaurant in Irvine, California, A&J Restaurant offers a recognizable local option with a loyal following and a menu centered on classic flavors. Whether you’re craving a comforting rice plate, shareable appetizers, or the specific dishes that longtime customers talk about most, this Irvine spot is a practical place to explore Taiwanese food in a casual neighborhood setting.
Ratings & Reviews
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Sign in to reviewThe beef tendon is by far the standout dish. We fly 2 hours down to socal just for it. However I decided to try the pork hock and it's literally boiled in water with no seasoning. The other dishes aren't anything special that you can't get in the area. Otherwise it's above average Taiwanese food for average price.
One of the few spots in OC where you can find authentic Taiwanese food. The pork chop and vegetable rice is a true stand out dish. The green onion pancake and pan fried dumplings are decent but you can probably find better in Rowland or SGV. Service is quick and they always made sure we had water. Parking in this plaza is always terrible but that's expected in Irvine.
I was surprised to see this restaurant has so many glowing reviews and a high overall rating, as it didn’t live up to the hype for us—twice. We first tried it back in 2021 and left unimpressed, but after hearing so much praise from others, we decided to give it another chance today. Unfortunately, the experience was very similar. The food is solidly mediocre and lacks any standout flavors or quality. The beef noodle soup and wonton soup were the biggest disappointments—they tasted quite bland, with little depth in the broth and nothing particularly memorable about the ingredients or seasoning. The other dishes we ordered felt equally ordinary, nothing that would make me recommend it over countless other similar spots. Service was fine, but the food just doesn’t justify the popularity or the prices. We won’t be returning.
If you want authentic Taiwanese food in Socal, this is the spot. I have been dining here for over a decade now and they deliver every time! Their cold noodles with ham, beef wrap, thousand layer pancake are a must but I also love their appetizers, such as the bean curd with celery, and seaweed and bean sprouts. The environment is mid and the service is often unfriendly but the food seriously makes up for any faults. So delicious and flavorful, and most importantly, approved by my Taiwanese mother!
The overall experience was a good one. Parking is always tight in that parking lot. The fried chicken on rice was primarily dark meat. It was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The beef roll was interesting, a bit salty but good. You need the order price guide to mirror up with menu to see what each item costs. A unique way to fluctuate the prices.
