Ren Asian Bistro (Irvine, Orchard Hills)

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I had the Orange Peel chicken tonight...7.5/8...good and enjoyed that it was white meat chicken.  I'll have to try the Mongolian beef and the Sweet & Sour chicken next.
 
Was here for lunch yesterday.  Ordered the Beef Lo Mein, Basil Fish, Orange Peel Chicken and Thai Chicken Curry...

Beef Lo Mein - Salty.. the Mein was nice and chewy and the beef was cooked perfectly.
Basil Fish -  Nicely cooked, fish was flakey and melted in your mouth (I know Qwerty, that's what she said)... Will definite order this again.
Orange Peel Chicken - Yummy! Like what everyone said, they used white meat and it was super delicious with white or brown rice.  Had leftovers and ate it straight from the fridge cold and it tasted even better  ;D
Thai Chicken Curry - Watered down and tasteless.  The chicken was good but the potatoes and carrots were undercooked.

Out of 10 I would rate it 6.5... Probably won't come back... Wasn't really worth the $40..
 
Spoke with the chef/owner, looks like business is picking up, but he's having a hard time finding the right employee to man the front.  I do see him rotate thru quite a bit of temporary help.  Hard to find someone that knows chinese food (even the westernized chinese food they serve).  He said all the good workers flock to Jeffrey/Walnut.  Anyone know someone who's looking for work in a chinese joint, send them to Ren.  They need to play this song in the restaurant, made me want chinese food tonight. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWLhrHVySgA
 
I was bummed that when I brought in the coupon for 20% off + free drink, they would only give me a fountain drink.  I told them I would pay the extra / difference to upgrade to milk tea with boba but she said "ohhhh I dont think so ha ha".  Next time I'm talking to the owner :)
 
Been there a couple times now. The food is good and not too salty or oily. I could see some people thinking some of the dishes are bland but I like it. The chef has come out and recommended some combinations that have been pretty good. They also have a couple items like ma po tofu that I don't think is on the menu.

Some favorites so far:
Basil leek chicken
Shrimp with crystal white sauce
Honey walnut shrimp
Spicy wontons
Kung Pao fish
 
Like someone said, the salt and pepper chicken wings are pretty decent, lots of flavor.  Goes great with beer.  I think La Sirena next door has Ballast Points Sculpin IPA on tap.
 


Chinese menu at Ren:

Hot Garlic Chicken Dry Noodles                                    Szechuan Tofu

Spicy Beef dry noodles                                                  Another tofu dish(?)

Stir Fried rice cake                                                        Black Pepper chicken (?)

Beef Chow Fun                                                              Black Bean fish filet

Stir Fried string beans                                                  Basil Fish filet(?)

Hot Garlic eggplant                                                        Ginger Scallion fish filet

Sesame Oil Black mushroom                                          Scrambled egg shrimp dish(?)

Vinegar(?) veggie stir fry?                                              Shrimp in lobster sauce

Sesame Beef(?) dish                                                      Fire explosion beef :)



Correct me if I'm wrong, my traditional is a little rusty.
 
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Basil fish filet, stil not as good as the original but at least no f'ing water chestnuts!

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Fried chicken wings, these are good!

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Crystal shrimp, overcooked but had a roasty fire flavor, nice

DF479F7C-1FE7-4857-99FC-C431E19CA838_zpsx6ymjxze.jpg

Some article from an old (discontinued?) Chinese paper

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Why do all Asian restaurants has at least one piece of IKEA furniture?

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Better menu

So the boycotts over!  We were forced to get takeout from here due to a series of unfortunate events.  It was pretty busy for a Sunday night and there was even an older Asian couple eating there!  I believe the chef has changed for the better, the previous dumb and dumber is hopefully back at pick up stix.  The surprise of the night:  chicken wings.  It tasted like five spice chicken lightly fried to perfection with the finely chopped onions/garlic/pepper explosive trio.  It reminded of a chicken wing dish I use to have at a West LA Cantonese restaurant.  Food that triggers good memories is an A+ in my book.  Glad to get this place back on our rotation, can't wait to retry the menu again!
 
WTTCMN said:
Whoa. I ate there last night too. Could I have been in the same room as ps9?!?! 
Click to expand...
Did you see someone doing Street Fighter poses? Looking at his phone for 5/1 ARM rate updates? Complaining while waiting for takeout because the place he wanted to go didn't have any room for him?
 
irvinehomeowner said:
WTTCMN said:
Whoa. I ate there last night too. Could I have been in the same room as ps9?!?! 
Click to expand...
Did you see someone doing Street Fighter poses? Looking at his phone for 5/1 ARM rate updates? Complaining while waiting for takeout because the place he wanted to go didn't have any room for him?
Click to expand...

Stuck in the car with the sleeping kid after our tour of Irvine for a place to eat, Mrs. ps9 went in for the take out. 

How's the popcorn chicken?  As good as class 302?  Your kid eats scallions?  Mine would make me pick out the "greenies" from the pancake. 

Enjoying my leftover chicken wings for breakfast!  Spicy!
 
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