Insider Pages Reviews for Kang's Yujean Gourmet Chinese

4 Stars: I'm a fan of Yujean Kang's!! (by Letty G.)

Letty G. — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:12:00 GMT

Very flavourful food. The dishes are different from traditional chinese. They're quite original. I bring my clients here for lunch often. Fans of authentic chinese cuisine may not go for Kang's -- its more of a California Chinese fusion. This food is less greasy and the ingredients much FRESHER than you would find in your typical Chinese restaurant. My favorite dish is Spicy Eggplant with garlic. Warning: parking can be difficult-- try the valet parking.

3 Stars: Ok Midscale Chinese Restaurant (by Andrew S.)

Andrew S. — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:22:00 GMT

Yujean Kangs Gourmet Chinese Cuisine is a perfectly good place to have a business lunch or a decent chinese meal. It's Cantonese-ish so you're not going to get anything to exotic. The dishes to order are the "ants on a tree" noodles and the crispy beef. The place is a bit pricey but not out of control. For food quality I think you can do a lot better over in Monterey Park but you can also do a lot worse.

4 Stars: Finally, good Chinese food in Old Town (by John F.)

John F. — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 15:18:00 GMT

If you're in the Old Town area nd you want Chinese food, do yourself a favor and go here. The food is light years ahead of Fortune's 'sorry ass excuse for food' across the street. The dishes are about $8-10 each for lunch, but it's worth it. The portions are bigger than expected and the quality is high. I tried five different dishes and each was top notch.

The service was a little slow once the place got busy but overall I was really impressed.

PROS: The food, obviously.
CONS: The service could use some work.

5 Stars: Fantastic Gourmet Chinese Food (by Bill G.)

Bill G. — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 19:50:00 GMT

I really think this is by far the best Chinese food around. They have very original dishes, made with great ingredients in a very nice atmosphere. It's right in Old Town, but just a block or two away from the center, so you might miss it, but it's worth the extra steps to get there. The service is decent, not astounding, the but the super tasty food more than makes up for that. The crispy beef is fantastic, the chicken lettuce cups are amazing, but everything is just plain great.

3 Stars: Don't believe the hype... (by Gavin W.)

Gavin W. — Thu, 12 May 2005 14:32:00 GMT

...and you may like what they have to offer here. First off, when you walk in, it feels awkward. There's a table in front of you plopped right in the middle of the restaurant that supposedly serves as the greeting table. Of course, there's no one standing behind it to greet you cause there's some kind of big dresser about a foot behind it, which causes the customers coming in to be hidden from the servers. As a result, we stood there for a couple of minutes unnoticed. Anyways, the food was ok-- I ordered the crispy beef dish which according to the reviews is supposed to be good, but "crispy" and "beef" shouldn't go together-- the beef strips are too thin, so the "crispy" takes over and it becomes a dish of fried strips that have a faint taste of beef. Service was a bit slow, as well.

3 Stars: Gourmet = Lame (by Gus H.)

Gus H. — Thu, 12 May 2005 14:26:00 GMT

After reading all the positive reviews on the site about this place I was expecting to have a good meal here but that was not the case. First off, this place tries too hard to be minimal and classy with their decor but just misses all-together. When you walk in, the reception area is awkward and you are left standing there without knowing where to go . Their service also took along time and although the food was pretty good, it's still doesn't deserve all the hype that other reviewers are giving it. It is moderate cuisine at it's best.

3 Stars: Maybe I'm too picky (by mormon h.)

mormon h. — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 22:30:00 GMT

I have had over a thousand experiences in Chinese restaurants and in turn this has made me very critical about the food and the service I recieve. The people here are very nice and courteous, I really liked them. I like to stop in now and then simply because they are so nice. However, in my opinion the menu is not as extensive as I would like and I have had much better quality of Chinese food. I have tried about half of the menu and think the same thing everytime I receive my order. The prices for the food are pretty reasonable, and I do love getting fortune cookies before I leave.

5 Stars: (by Varoujan G.)

Varoujan G. — Sun, 31 Oct 2004 20:57:00 GMT

Many people are more familiar with gourmet Chinese cuisine through the larger P.F. Chang's chain, but Yujean Kang's is much better. The quality of the food is amazing and the variety is wonderful. They have many dishes that you will never have heard of in a Chinese restaurant, but don't be afraid of ordering the unknown, I have yet to order anything that I didn't like. Great ambience too!

5 Stars: (by Alexandra Z.)

Alexandra Z. — Wed, 20 Oct 2004 14:12:00 GMT

One of my favorite restaurants. Main reason for going - Crispy Beef. Nowhere else have a ever had such a great dish. They have other food - cold noodles with prawns, spicy dumplings, mushu pork - you can't go wrong with any dish. Call for reservations - they fill up quick.

5 Stars: (by Teresa P.)

Teresa P. — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:13:00 GMT

All the dishes are of exceptional quality consistently. Staff are wonderfully non-obtrusive and yet attentive. A fabulous place for a casual or business lunch or dinner. I highly recommend the pork dishes in particular.

5 Stars: (by Vanessa C.)

Vanessa C. — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 11:20:00 GMT

Great Chineese food in a nice atmosphere. Make sure you make reservations for dinner. It is always full.

5 Stars: (by Cristin D.)

Cristin D. — Wed, 04 Aug 2004 20:54:00 GMT

Fantastic chinese food, great crispy chicken. Attentive service.

4 Stars: Yujean Kang's (by Jeffrey B.)

Jeffrey B. — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 16:18:00 GMT

Authentic, excellent, affordable. "Crispy Beef" is a favorite of most who dine here. Wait staff/service is fantastic. Restaurant is very clean, and you'll fit in well if you wear slacks and a tie.

This is not your average Chinese restaurant. It's far better.

5 Stars: (by Dave H.)

Dave H. — Thu, 15 Jul 2004 11:56:00 GMT

Excellent Chinese food. Not your standard Chinese menu items either. The crispy beef is their most popular dish. I'm vegetarian and I think the "braised bean curd with mixed vegetables" (i.e. tofu) is really good too.

5 Stars: Classy (by Matt S.)

Matt S. — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 18:14:00 GMT

It's California-ized high Chinese with a touch of French. Nearly all dishes are very tasty, and terrible for you. There's a classy interior, and an attentive and sophisticated wait staff. And, to top it all off, lunch prices are reasonable.

PROS: Good food, ambience, and service.
CONS: There aren't more places like this.

5 Stars: One of the best in Pasadena (by M A.)

M A. — Thu, 18 Mar 2004 01:56:00 GMT

Nice Chinese-French fusion cuisine. Honestly I didn't see the French influence until I ordered dessert. Very formal inside and romantic at night. Wait staff will place your napkin in your lap. The eggplant is to die for, but be careful - it is hot!

Fairly informal and reasonable prices for lunch, more formal and expensive for dinner - reservations required.

Once I was eating dinner here and I saw David Robinson and Tim Duncan walk in. The restaurant is a few blocks from where I work, so I always forget it is really a world-class place.

PROS: Tasty, classy, one of the best in Pasadena
CONS: Can get pricey for dinner

4 Stars: (by Charlie M.)

Charlie M. — Thu, 26 Feb 2004 16:10:00 GMT

My favorite restaruant. Very warm owners. Reasonable. Very r