THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Yujean Kang's

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Yujean Kang's Restaurant Review:

Asian food has evolved a long way since the days of the neighborhood Chinese joint. Yujean Kang's is an example of the latest wave of Asian restaurants: It serves tasty, healthy and eclectic fare in a chic, contemporary setting. The menu, which originally offered only upscale noodle bar selections, now includes a variety of hot and cold entrées as well as sushi and sashimi. Kang's cuisine is bold and fiery---easily as interesting on the palate as it is on the plate. The signature prawns with glazed walnuts are superb: plump, meaty prawns complemented by tender spears of baby asparagus and addictively crunchy candied walnuts. Crispy beef is another house specialty well worth sampling, even if you're not normally a red meat eater. The beef is almost chewy; the accompanying baby bok choy leaves burst crisply against your teeth. Thinly sliced green onions cling to each morsel, adding a subtle zip of flavor. This is a spicy dish, but the spice creeps up so gradually that it's barely noticeable. That is not the case with sautéed seafood in lettuce cups, however. This is a variation on the popular minced chicken lettuce cup, and it's so spicy it will make your eyes water. Yujean Kang's wine list surpasses that of just about any other Asian bistro on the scene. The chef-owner hand-selects each varietal specifically, finding them in every corner of the world. If you didn't think wine could go with Asian cuisine, think again. At this restaurant, it's the only logical choice. Please note that, in keeping with South Coast Plaza hours, Yujean Kang's closes at 6:30 on Sundays---so if you want dinner, plan on an early evening.