A new all-you-can-eat restaurant has opened in Tustin replacing Cafe China, which was also a buffet. Tang’s Asian Buffet offers sushi and Chinese hot dishes such as sweet and sour chicken. Prices range from $9.99 for a weekday lunch to $14.99 for a weekend all-day dinner. 17631 17th St, Tustin, CA 92780
A new Vietnamese restaurant called Beyond the Baguette has opened in Santa Ana. The menu features bowls of pho and banh mi sandwiches. 3751 S Harbor Blvd, Ste C, Santa Ana, CA 92704
Kashiwa Ramen is a new ramen purveyor is Costa Mesa. It specializes in tori paitan, a white and creamy broth akin to tonkotsu but is chicken rather than pork-based. 1420 Baker St, C, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Sushi District in Costa Mesa is a new sushi joint that sells California rolls and other sushi dishes but also bulgogi and a spicy seafood udon. 488 E 17th St, B105, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
A new taqueria called Tacovation is serving beer and tacos has opened in Orange. Fish, chicken and shredded tri tip tacos are offered as well as no-carb tortillas. 1948 N Tustin St, Orange, CA 92865
Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.