It's certainly strange that there are very few High-Quality, Authentic Chinese Restaurants in Orange County, considering the large Asian population and popularity of Chinese Food. So it was to my surprise when I tried Phoenix on Culver Drive in Irvine, that the food turned out to be VERY Authentic, and Extremely Delectable!\r
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This is pure Cantonese Cuisine, through and through, and they execute it solidly, with some great dishes to satisfy your cravings down in the OC. Recommended dishes include the Spicy Salt Squid (""Jiao Yen Hsien Yoh""), which is perfectly flash-fried and blends well with the Garlic and Spices. Phoenix makes their famous ""Phoenix Chicken"" dish (""Dohng Jiang Jee"") which special-marinated Chicken, in a very distinct, tasty blend of herbs and sauces; and their Crispy Chicken is fantastic as well!\r
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For the Lighter Side, they have a fantastic Rock Cod & Jade Tofu dish (Steamed), which is delectable and very light and airy. If you want pure Vegetables, they have a great traditional dish, ask for the ""Kohng Ching Tsai"" w/ Garlic, and they'll hook you up. Fantastic and simple.\r
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Phoenix may not be as good as the top restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley, but for Orange County, this is as good as it gets. Highly recommended.\r
Pros: Best Cantonese Authentic Cuisine in OC, Great Prices
Cons: Can get crowded at times
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