Alright. If you've been reading this blog since its inception last September, then you know that I've been keeping an eye on what's been going on at Diamond Jamboree in Irvine.
And if you remember my very first post here, which was also about Diamond Jamboree, you should also should recall that of all the eating places at this new Asian themed center, Capital Seafood was the one that I've been looking forward to the most.
Their branch in Garden Grove started me off about a decade ago. Then they opened in Rowland Heights — an even better restaurant with cooks that know their way around a hot wok. The food is fresh, vibrant, and most importantly, consistent.
The Rowland Heights branch has always attracted a crowd. And not just Chinese diners, but Filipinos, Indonesians, Mexicans, Vietnamese, etc. They come in droves for the lunch specials, where each dish is discounted, hovering somewhere between $5-$10, which includes hot-n-sour soup, rice, and a Vietnamese che dessert.
Now, it's finally open at the Diamond Jamboree in Irvine.
I went in today and it's gorgeous. The decor is unlike any of the other Capitals I know, even the one in Vegas. Ironically, this Irvine branch looks like it was inspired by Versace and The Wynn. Glossy, glassy, and classy.
Though I haven't had the food, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The others in the chain seem to be able to keep up the quality, so I'm sure this one will be the same; but there is still the off chance that they can screw it all up. Plus, they do dim sum, which the others don't do. Like I said: Fingers crossed.
For you readers who will most likely be able to get to try it before I do, I picked up a menu, which I scanned and provide here.
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.