Hidden Gems in Your Local Community :: Irvine

 

One of the features I love about the area we live in is the diverse restaurants that are at every corner.  From Thai or Korean food to Indian food, there is a huge selection of dishes available to try out and when I find a gem of a place I love to tell you all about it!  I have to say my new favorite places to visit are two family-owned restaurants. From the baked fresh breads and pastries at Ye Wool Bakery to the delicious fish noodle stew and chicken wings at Chun Ha Jjambbong / Two Ddak Two Dkak, these two business owners strive to provide only the best and freshest ingredients to their customers.  You can’t compare the attention to detail and care these small business owners provide in the food they offer.

 

Chun Ha Jjambbong / Two Ddak Two Ddak

I had a chance to speak with Cathy Lee of Chun Ha Jjambbong / Two Ddak Two Ddak about what inspired her to start a Korean restaurant.  Cathy’s parents owned a famous noodle shop in South Korea and she grew up helping out in their restaurant. She has been in the United States for over 30 years and last year she decided to open up her own restaurant much to the surprise of her family as none of her siblings went into the restaurant industry.  She says she loves serving her customers healthy and tasty food and it makes her really happy when they tell her they enjoyed the dishes she serves.

 

The chicken is ordered fresh daily and she uses a special (and secret) recipe.  If my daughter is any testament – she can’t get enough of the soy garlic chicken wings.

Yummy, some of the best chicken wings I have ever had. Sweet and spicy and I am so upset with myself that I didn’t get the bigger order. Lesson learned. Next time go big!

~ John T., Yelp Review

 

Do you remember hearing about Korean chicken wings during the Winter Olympics? And how the Olympic athletes couldn’t get enough of them?  Well, you don’t need to fly to Korea to try the best chicken wings ever!  Truly, you can taste the care that Cathy takes to offer the best dishes around.

 

 

And be sure to try the Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup!  It is so large you can definitely split it with the family or a friend. The prices are really competitive especially with the amount of food she offers.  If you are short on time and need a good take-out place stop by The Zion Market off of University in Irvine and her place is just inside the door. Enjoy!

 

Ye Wool Bakery

I had a chance to speak to Mike Lee of Ye Wool Bakery who says he married into the business.  His wife’s family has owned the Ye Wool Bakery for 20 years now with several locations.  He said one of the key differences between their bakery and others in the area is that they make everything from scratch on a daily basis.

Many of the bakeries in town get their pastries shipped in frozen and thaw them overnight.  I think that is the difference and you can definitely taste the freshness in Ye Wool Bakery pastries and cakes.

 

The Mammoth bread at Ye Wool has an additional layer of red bean, a layer of green bean and walnuts in the middle between the whipped cream. The texture of the bread is pillowy soft and moist, the red bean, green bean, and whipped cream melts harmoniously in the mouth as you eat the bread. The crushed walnuts and crumbles on the outer top layer adds a nice touch to the overall package. A slice of this Mammoth bread goes great in the morning with a cup of black coffee.

~ Tony S, Yelp Review

 

The bakers come in around 4:30 am to knead the dough and prepare the bread and pastries for the day.  They offer wedding and birthday cakes and are able to cater business and school events. Whatever is left over for the day is not put out the next day but donated to local churches.

 

 

We enjoyed one of their cakes in celebration of our new home and I have to say it was amazing!  One of the things I like about Asian bakeries is that the cakes and pastries aren’t too sweet.  It has just the right amount of sweetness so you aren’t only tasting sugar.

 

 

He showed me some pictures of the wedding cakes they offer and they are quite spectacular.  If you have a wedding coming up or an event that needs a birthday cake be sure to stop by The Zion Market and try out some treats or bread from Ye Wool Bakery.

Ye Wool Bakery

• 5331 University Dr,
• Irvine, CA 92612
• Phone: (949) 653-0604

 

Chun Ha Jjambbong / Two Ddak Two Ddak

• 5331 University Dr
  Irvine, CA 92612
• Phone number (949) 266-1791

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