So many good Chinese places in Irvine and new ones popping up all the time. My current favorite are:
Delicious Food Corner - really good Hong Kong food that’s not dim sum.
Noodle St - good place for knife cut (shave) noodles (Fullerton location has a bigger menu, Irvine is like the express)
He’s Noodle Zone - really good spicy noodles
Qin West - spicy Liang Pi noodles