
Delicious Food Corner
A small LA-based chain brought Hong Kong recipes to Irvine's Northpark neighborhood
There aren’t a ton of sit-down restaurants in Irvine offering Hong Kong-style dishes, after Sam Woo’s closure dealt multiple blows to fans of dim sum, BBQ, and higher-end Chinese cuisine. To offset that loss, Los Angeles-based chain Delicious Food Corner made its way to Orange County – at a plaza in Irvine’s Northwood neighborhood – so people in Tustin and Lake Forest could easily try their takes on Hong Kong classics.
The initial menu included stir-fried vegetarian dishes such as sliced lotus root with fungus and vegetables; BBQ and roasted meats like Peking/Beijing duck, honey pork, and soy chicken; noodle dishes including seafood chow mein; meat dishes including French-style (black pepper) filet mignon cubes, and mostly fried appetizers such as fried chicken and squid with spicy salt. Everything we sampled was fine, rather than remarkable, with more than a fair bit of oil and not any huge standout on flavor. The service, however, was attentive and nice.
DFC’s fancy but uncomfortable seating – borrowed from previous tenant Beijing Restaurant – hinted at the generally above-par pricing, where appetizers range from $13 to $19 and soups start at $18. These prices wouldn’t have been objectionable if the food was a major step up in quality from previously available takeout places, but it’s closer to par, with too few different options. We didn’t revisit following the soft opening, when the menu offered only half the selection found at the small chain’s other locations. Reports online suggested that the quantity of choices increased afterwards, though the quality apparently stayed the same.
In fall 2024, the Delicious Food Corner chain broke up, and the Irvine location rebranded as Tasty Spot Cafe.
Stats
Price: $$-$$$
Service: Table
Open Since: 2008 (LA), 2022 (OC)
Closed: 2024
Addresses
13110 Yale Ave.
Irvine, CA 92620
Instagram: @deliciousfoodcornerus