Little Sister - Irvine

Name: Little Sister - Irvine
Address: 896 Spectrum Center Dr, Irvine, CA, United States, 92618-4959
Telephone: (949) 800-8798
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.4

4.4

996 Reviews

$30 and under

Vietnamese

Top Tags:

East-Meets-West dishes that inspire and evoke a feeling of being welcomed into Chef Vuong's home. Little Sister's menu showcases Chef Tin's take on one of the more interesting and rich collisions of food and culture that was borne out of the European colonization of Southeast Asia.

Dishes blend and balance the spices and flavors of Southeast Asia with French techniques and Dutch and British colonial influences. The menu is continually and progressively evolving, reflecting inspiration and the seasons. Chef Tin curates the restaurant's wine and beverage program with a focus on intriguing labels, both domestically and from around the world.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 26, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 33 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, Contemporary French
Hours of operation
Lunch Daily 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 3:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(949) 800-8798
Website
http://www.dinelittlesister.com/irvine-info
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
896 Spectrum Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618-4959
Neighborhood
Irvine
Parking details
Street Parking

What 996 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.1Service
4.4Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

South Orange County
Innovative

996 Reviews

n
nanners
Los Angeles
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a wonderful experience. Our server was excellent and the food was delicious!
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MO
MelissaO
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always great service and good food, busy means they are doing something right keep it up
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
4 reviews
vip
4.0
4 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall4food5service3ambience5
Delicious food, we had the crispy prawn starter with spring rolls. fried chicken entree and the pecan tart to finish. They were out of a few things including black coffee! Which was surprising!
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d
dl286
Los Angeles
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food5service5ambience3
We were seated outside but heaters were on so not too bad. Food -excellent! Service -very good.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded 4 days ago
Hello dl286, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the excellent food at Little Sister and that the service was very good. Your positive feedback means the world to us and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Food was excellent Music piped outside was loud and made it difficult to have conversations but when I asked if they could turn it down they were happy to do so.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded 4 days ago
Hello Anonymous, Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you had a good time at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum and that your food was excellent. We appreciate your feedback about the loud music and we’re happy it all worked out in the end. Our team strives to provide an authentic and enjoyable dining experience and we’re glad we exceeded your expectations. Once again, thank you for your review and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall2food3service3ambience4
So disappointed overall. Service was definitely weird to start, but our first dish was tasty and came to us relatively quick, second dish also tasty and followed shortly thereafter. Then. Nothing. No server presence, no food for 20 minutes. Our server comes over asking if we are waiting on anything then disappears. Another 15 minutes go by. Server passes by our table and says it’s going to be awhile. WHAT. We asked for the check and left still hungry.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall2food3service2ambience2
Just not satisfied the the flappetozer came at the end of our meal. It wasn’t too busy, just seems to have a disconnect with the chefs and timely order of food.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded 4 days ago
Hello Anonymous, Thank you for your feedback. We hate to hear that your visit to our restaurant left you feeling disappointed. Our goal is to always provide a great experience for our guests, and it sounds like we fell short on this occasion. We apologize for the wait you experienced as that is not indicative of the service we strive to provide our guests. Please know that we take your feedback seriously and will use it to serve our guests better. We appreciate you and hope you will consider giving us another chance in the future. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
13 reviews
vip
2.0
13 reviews
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall2food1service4ambience3
Not sure if chef changed but I dined here when they first opened and I can tell you that food is materially different, at least it was when I visited. Shakey, Shakey beef was under seasoned (something was missing) and black rice (used to be our favorite dish) was dry and desperately needed sauce. Never used to be like that. Quality has dropped which explains the dip in customers.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded 4 days ago
Hello Anonymous, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are truly sorry to hear that the quality of the food did not meet your expectations during your visit. We take great pride in delivering fresh and high-quality dishes to our guests, and it's disheartening to know that the shaky shaky beef was under seasoned and that the black rice was dry. We sincerely apologize for this inconsistency. Your comments are essential to us, and we’ll use them constructively to address any issues with our food preparation. Thank you again for you feedback. We genuinely value your input and hope you will consider giving us another chance in the future. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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MN
MichelleN
Orange County
28 reviews
3.0
28 reviews
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall3food2service3ambience3
I was hoping to see a more elevated menu with more French and western fusions as described in the restaurant's profile, similar to AnQi and Crustaceans. I didn't quite see as much creativity here, and unfortunately, the restaurant did not quite meet my expectations. Maybe in the future, I might see more innovation.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded 4 days ago
Hello MichelleN, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re sorry to hear that our food didn’t quite meet your expectations. Thank you for sharing your feedback as it helps us understand areas where we can improve. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future and provide you with an experience that exceeds your expectations in terms of flavor and satisfaction. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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HH
HillaryH
San Diego
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 13, 2023
overall3food2service3ambience3
Prefer other LS locations (DTLA, South Bay) to this one. The food was cold, bland and a little too saucy. Same dishes (like Shaky Shaky Beef) seem better executed at other LS restaurants.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded 6 days ago
Hello HillaryH, We’re sorry to hear about your disappointing experience at our restaurant. We apologize that the food was cold, bland and a little too saucy. That is not the standard of quality we strive for, and we understand your frustration. We take your comments seriously and will investigate this matter further to ensure that similar situations are avoided in the future. Thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention. We genuinely apologize for the overall dissatisfaction you experienced and we appreciate your feedback. We hope you will consider giving us another chance for an improved dining experience. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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C
Coach
Orange County
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 10, 2023
overall2food3service1ambience3
Used to be a great restaurant. Today, the food portion is significantly smaller. Priced has risen by a lot. Service was unfriendly and cold.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 14, 2023
Hello Coach, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Little Sister. We take our guest feedback very seriously and your review has been shared with the team. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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L
Lizf
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The best Vietnamese food around! Beautifully presented!!
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 14, 2023
Hello Lizf, Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that our Vietnamese cuisine is the best food around and beautifully presented. We appreciate your kind words, and we hope to see you again soon. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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o
oftspee
Los Angeles
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on September 7, 2023
overall2food3service2ambience4
Super slow service....food portions were plentiful, yet busy with many unexpected textures....The ambiance and decor are very nice, but without adequate service and speed, the rest doesn't matter. Who wants to wait 45 minutes to eat ?
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 8, 2023
Hello oftspee, We apologize for the slow service you experienced during your visit. We strive to provide prompt and efficient service, and we regret that we fell short on this occasion. We understand how frustrating it can be to wait for an extended period of time to eat. We appreciate your feedback, as it helps us identify areas for improvement. We hope you will consider giving us another chance to show you what we can do. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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p
piston
Orange County
46 reviews
vip
3.0
46 reviews
Dined on September 3, 2023
overall3food4service2ambience4
Shame on management here. Food is very good, service is ok. Only 1 bartender for entire restaurant and many tables complained as the food comes out quick and drinks come late. The criminal part is they hide a credit card fee. They do not tell you nor disclose it. VERY deceptive and another way to screw the consumer.
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AD
AprilD
Orange County
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on September 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service was great! Our waiter was Eric and friendly and helpful with recommendations. Food was fantastic!! We garlic noodles, crispy chicken chicken and the pork skewers...wished I had ordered it just for myself. It was incredibly flavorful and complex dish. I loved the ambiance. Not too noisy, beautifully decorated. Definitely would be coming back.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 8, 2023
Hello AprilD, Thank you for your fantastic review! We are thrilled to hear that you had an enjoyable dining experience at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum. We are pleased that the food was fantastic, including the garlic noodles, crispy chicken, and pork skewers. We are happy to know that you wish you had ordered the incredibly flavorful pork skewers just for yourself. It’s a true testament to how much you enjoyed them. We love hearing that Eric was friendly and helpful with recommendations and that you appreciated the ambiance. We thank you for your recommendation and we look forward to serving you again soon! Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 30, 2023
overall2food2service1ambience2
This place used to be better especially w the premium $$$$price. Having a family birthday event and no celebration / cake offered and must ask for candle w a $15 small dessert (0 special treatment& acknowledgment) Won’t come back
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s
saettare
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love this place for all the fresh flavors! Taste across the board. Joy and happiness
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 4, 2023
Hello saettare, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear you experience joy and happiness and that you enjoy all the fresh flavors when you dine at Little Sister. It's always a pleasure to serve you, and we will continue to strive to provide you with wonderful experiences in the future. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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T
Tsap
Dallas
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on August 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food as always. Such a unique menu. The 3% credit card fee is pointless though when prices for each dish are already so high. Makes it seem like management is petty and believes consumers don’t know they are already making a ton off their margins.
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L
Lien
Orange County
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Waiter told us that the chef recommends 4 dishes for 2 people. Was too much food, but it was all good!
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 4, 2023
Hello Lien, Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the food at LSXO. The portion sizes are indeed generous and we’re sorry to hear that you ordered too much food, although we are glad you liked all the dishes you tried. Thank you for choosing us, and we can't wait to welcome you back for another delicious dining experience. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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LT
LoveforTerraLagunaBeach
Orange County
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on August 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Highly recommend. Just had a successful lunch meeting here with strategic business partners. Service was excellent, food delicious and convenient location. One of my lunch guests hadn't tried Vietnamese food before and fell in love with Little Sister! Menu offers many delectable options. I look forward to coming back!
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 4, 2023
Hello BigLikesforLittleSister, Thank you so much for leaving us an amazing review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the service, delicious food, and convenient location. We understand the importance of a comfortable and conducive environment for business meetings, and we’re pleased to hear that our accommodations met your needs. Thank you for your recommendation and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and vibe! Love the rice wraps and the sea bass was great!
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on August 25, 2023
Hello Anonymous, Thank you for your positive feedback! We’re thrilled that enjoyed the great food and vibe at our restaurant. We’re glad that you loved the rice wraps and the sea bass. We strive to provide tasty and high-quality dishes, and we’re delighted that you enjoyed them. We look forward to serving you again soon. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
1 review
vip
1.0
1 review
Dined on August 23, 2023
overall1food3service3ambience3
The foods were served backward appetizers came last 🥹 and with a bug on the plate
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ST
STREETSMARTSMOM
New York Area
70 reviews
vip
5.0
70 reviews
Dined on August 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Staff was excellent and helpful but not intrusive. Good was fun and flavorful and served beautifully.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 4, 2023
Hello STREETSMARTSMOM, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience at Little Sister. We take pride in serving flavorful and high-quality food, and we’re glad that they met your expectations. We’re glad to know that our staff was excellent and helpful without being intrusive. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back soon! Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food & service. Very nice servers. Good ambiance
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 4, 2023
Hello Anonymous, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the great food, service, and ambiance we have to offer. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back soon! Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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RN
RobbieN
San Francisco
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Don’t like that they add 3% charge to bill for credit cards
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on August 14, 2023
overall2food2service5ambience5
Service and ambience are amazing, but the food doesn’t live up to its price tag. Shaky shaky beef is not tender and a bit too salty. Short rib with bone marrow taste fine but there’s barely any bone marrow in the bone.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on August 25, 2023
Hello Anonymous, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We apologize that the shaky shaky beef was too salty and overcooked and that there was barely any marrow in the bone. We are disappointed we didn’t live up to your expectations. Once again, we apologize for the inconvenience you experienced, and we will continue to strive for excellence in our food. We hope you'll consider giving us a second chance. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
All the dishes were delicious. Lots of flavor. The rice cubes, shaky shaky beef and papaya salad were my favorite!
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 4, 2023
Hello Anonymous, Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our delicious food, and that the rice cubes, shaky shaky beef, and papaya salad were your favorites. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back soon! Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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TT
TaniT
Los Angeles
5 reviews
vip
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 11, 2023
overall2food4service1ambience2
Two people presented themselves to serve us at different times which was confusing. Food came out very slowly. Table next to us who was seated after us was served their food before us. Our dishes came out one at a time. After the second course, a third person came up and asked what we ordered. He said our waitress ordered it wrong for us. We had finished each dish completely and long before the next one came out. When the fourth/final dish came out, it was the wrong dish. So, we had to wait even longer for that last one. We had to ask for refills on drinks twice. So disappointed in the service and lack of attention we received. This was a birthday dinner, so it was embarrassing. Also, nothing was offered to celebrate the birthday. Sad.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on August 25, 2023
Hello Tani, We apologize for the inconvenience you experienced with the inattentive service. This is not the kind of service we aim to provide, and we will be addressing these issues with our staff to ensure that our guests feel heard and cared for. We value your patronage and hope that you will give us another chance in the future to provide you with a better dining experience. Thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
1 person found this helpful
C
Cameron
Orange County
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on August 7, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience4
Delicious food, unusual flavor combinations and wonderfully new takes on dishes like spring rolls and dumplings.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 4, 2023
Hello Cameron, Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our take on traditional Vietnamese foods, including the spring rolls and dumplings. We take pride in crafting dishes that leave a lasting impression and it’s great to know that our unusual flavor combinations have made an impact on you. We appreciate your kind words, and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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BS
BrianS
Las Vegas
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on August 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was excellent and very flavorful. We had the crispy prawns for a starter which was amazing. Followed by the salmon which needed a bit more flavor and the beef short rib which was very tender and really very good.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 4, 2023
Hello Brian, Thank you for your fantastic review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our take on traditional Vietnamese foods, including the crispy prawns, salmon and beef short rib and found them to be very flavorful. We take pride in crafting dishes that leave a lasting impression and it’s great to know that they have made an impact on you. We appreciate your kind words, and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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s
steveb
Orange County
7 reviews
3.0
7 reviews
Dined on August 5, 2023
overall3food4service4ambience3
I was satisfied with the food. However, we were seated right between 2 dirty tables. Neither table was cleaned for nearly 25 minutes after we were seated. It was very gross having to see all the dirty dishes while we were eating our appetizers. I don't know why the tables went uncleaned for so long. Also, the music was extremely loud and very innappropriate. Gangster rap with offensive lyrics. I understand is was 430pm on a Saturday, but absolutely NO reason to hear cursing and other foul language during dinner. The service was good as was the food.
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on August 25, 2023
Hello Steve, Thank you for taking the time to give us some feedback. We are dismayed to hear that some of the aspects of your visit fell below your expectation. We take our guest feedback very seriously and your review has been shared with the team. We value your patronage and hope that you will give us another chance in the future to provide you with a better dining experience. Thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
1 person found this helpful
MN
MitraN
Los Angeles
5 reviews
vip
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 3, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience4
Loveeeeeee their salads as always super yummy & fresh
Little Sister - IrvineResponded on September 4, 2023
Hello MitraN, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed our yummy and fresh salads. We look forward to serving your again soon for another enjoyable dining experience. Sincerely, The Team at Little Sister Irvine Spectrum
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 1, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
They were out of popular dishes so early. Our reservations were at 6pm. This was disappointing. The black rice and seafood lacked flavor. Beef dish was delicious. Papaya salad with also delicious. Bread and butter comes with pate so don’t order the pate dish. If you order more butter it’s an additional fee.
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G
Glass
Orange County
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on July 31, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience4
The ambiance, service and food was wonderful. I would suggest playing better music that appeals to all genres.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 30, 2023
overall3food2service5ambience4
Food is much better at other little sister restaurant. I didn’t feel the food was fresh. Beef rough & not the best shell fish in black rice. quality was not what I expected.
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G
Gaetano
Orange County
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on July 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The dumplings were delicious. Service was excellent. Wine was good. Price was higher than we like but …..
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PR
PattiR
Orange County
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 30, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
$3.90 “service charge” was added to the bill for using a credit card!! That’s just wrong!
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K
Katie
Orange County
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on July 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a beautiful round table outside on the front patio which was ideal for our party of 6. The food and drinks were all delicious! Thank you little Sister!
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CM
CampariMan
Chicago
4 reviews
vip
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 29, 2023
overall4food3service3ambience4
Food was good service just OK this time. Restaurant needs to improve on providing outstanding service to loyal guests.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on July 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Really enjoyed the food, very flavorful and tasty. It was nice sitting outside in the patio … the trees hep with privacy and reduced traffic noise.
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FAQs

Little Sister - Irvine is rated 4.4 stars by 996 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 26, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 33 times today

896 Spectrum Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618-4959

Additional information

Neighborhood
Irvine
Hours of operation
Lunch Daily 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 3:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, Contemporary French
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street Parking

Website
http://www.dinelittlesister.com/irvine-info
Phone number
(949) 800-8798

Little Sister - Irvine

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

What 996 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

How is Little Sister - Irvine restaurant rated?

Is Little Sister - Irvine currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information