Nep Cafe never disappoints. Every time I visit, I'm reminded why it's one of my favorite spots. We were greeted warmly and our party of eight was accommodated quickly. The restaurant is always clean, the staff is friendly, and the service is consistently fast. We ordered a variety of dishes, but the standout for me was The Dao. It's an absolute must-order if you're visiting for the first time. One thing I did notice was when I went to wash my hands, I saw a server enter the restroom while still wearing their apron. As someone who has worked as a server, that stood out to me because I was always taught to remove my apron before entering a restroom. It's a small detail, but I think it helps maintain a professional and sanitary image, especially when handling food. Aside from that observation, the food and overall experience were excellent. Nep Cafe continues to be one of my favorite restaurants, and I'll definitely keep coming back. Five stars! read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Establishment is busy, clean and spacious. Staff was professional and courteous. Nep is consistent and continues to deliver! We ordered: 1. Seafood ceviche: fresh, fragrant 2. Squid and mango salad: 3. Chicken wings: crispy, delicious 4. Crab toast: crispy, rich 5. Filet mignon Banh Mi Chao: beefy and rich 6. Curry crab omelet: mild heat, rich crab 7. Seafood Tom Kha pasta: aromatic, fresh 8. Coconut matcha: excellent Everything was fresh and excellent, all great choices. TLDR: Excellent service, excellent food, excellent establishment, great value. Would recommend! read more

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The egg coffee was pretty good. Probably the best part. The shrimp ceviche was actually good though. Perfect balance of savory, sour and tad sweet. The beef banh mi is very fatty, definitely good for the younger kids. A little too fatty for older people though. read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Banh Mi Chao - Beef Belly - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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I've been to NEP before, but that was years ago at the FV location. Their newer-ish location at Irvine is definitely more spacious. Food and drink-wise, everything was great! My girlies and I ordered: -Seafood Tom Kha Pasta -Crab Toast -Dry Bun Bo Hue noodles -Mango Sticky Rice (was complimentary and on the house because the restaurant took a bit long with our drink orders) Pretty sure we all died and went to heaven briefly as soon as we got everything delivered to the table. Service-wise, I do appreciate the active accountability and communication from this establishment. Because the drinks took some time to arrive, the manager came to our table himself to explain and acknowledge that the delay shouldn't have happened to begin with (this is when he mentioned we'd get a mango sticky rice on the house). Was honestly unexpected because 1. We didn't even flag a server down for that issue yet and 2. Some managers refuse to even come out to talk to their clientele lol! Especially during times where communication is needed. Overall, my girlies and I enjoyed our experience at the Irvine NEP and we will be coming back. Thank you so much for taking care of us. :-) read more

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I'm an advocate of kei concepts but I realize that their menu differs only slightly across the different chains, so it's not a place you should regularly frequent! I tend to save them for special occasions or when family & friends are visiting. My go-to dishes are their banh mi chao, garlic noodles, & lemongrass tofu. We tried a few new items so here are my honest thoughts: - Spicy wontons - insanely spicy!! even with a high spice tolerance, my parents thought it was too much, prefer DTF's version - Shrimp fried rice - so much rice, not enough shrimp. you can tell they use the big shrimp & cut it into smaller pcs... - Lemongrass tofu - love but needs veggies or lettuce on the side! also would be less heavy with regular white rice instead of sticky rice Although Nep Cafe will always be a fave, there are still some things they could improve! read more

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Ordered the Seafood Tom Kha Pasta to-go around dinner time on a Saturday and got the dish in about 15-20 minutes. The restaurant was busy and large. It was nice seeing a diverse group of people coming in. The restaurant feels casual, but has nice decor and the energy is lively. The hostess I spoke to and ordered with was very sweet. Took the pasta home and it was delicious! Definitely recommend and would come back for it. Note: the Irvine DOES NOT have the crab toast on the menu (currently), which I wish it did because I would like to try it. read more

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I haven't been to Nep in years and the last time I went was the FV location but this was our first time at the Irvine one! I can't review the tom Ka pasta because my father in law had that one for lunch but the other 3 dishes were pretty decent. Banh mi chao= 2/5 I have had this in the past and it's been great the FV location previously. It fell very short on today's visit. Our meat had no char it almost felt boiled lol. The tomatoes were also just thrown in the pan and it was not charred at all as well. Pate was SOOOO little as well. Honestly, the pan didn't really even come sizzling hot which was a disappointment for $22 5-spice chicken and rice= 4/5 chicken was juicy, flavorful, crispy! Loved the sticky rice that was given as well. Not a big fan of their dipping sauce though Squid and mango salad= 4/5 this was super super tasty but our sesame rice cracker was a bit stale. Wish it was slightly crispier. The sauce was great but I feel like there was too much herb to mango ratio in the salad. Needs to be better balance Overall, probably wouldn't come back to eat the food but would take someone here for socializing/drinks! Service was good and ambiance is nice for a younger crowd. read more

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The food was great, it was fulfilling and flavorful. There were a variety of dishes to choose from! The service was great, friendly , easy and fast! The staff constantly checked on us if we're doing okay. I must say the ambiance of this place was amazing , it's clean , simple and spacious! It's great for friends and families gatherings! read more

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I've been to Nep several times before, and I just came back a day or two ago with my family. The service is always good. Their coffee drinks were still delicious and on-point. My go-to is the Egg Coffee, but I wanted to try something different and got the Tiramisu Coffee. Whenever I come here, I know the drinks are going to be good. My kids loved their garlic butter noodles, French fries, and chicken wings. My husband and I didn't want an entree this time around, so we ordered a bunch of appetizers and shared them together: Seafood Ceviche, Spicy Wontons, Crab Toast and Chicken Wings. Sadly, the crab toast was just okay. I remember it having more crab, so maybe they modified the recipe? Everything else was satisfying. read more

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I'd consider this an upscale Vietnamese restaurant. This is the perfect place to have brunch with friends and catch up. They have great drinks; both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. I ate the 5 spice roasted chicken and I'd say the tenderness of the meat definitely stood out. Our server was super friendly as well, and she did a great job checking in on us. read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Great first time experience! Was told about this place before, so I was glad when friends suggested meeting here. Very spacious and open, staff here were friendly and helpful. They also seemed really organized, even clearing the table efficiently & professionally! Very tasty dishes - everything had a rich flavor with each bite, without overpowering your taste buds. You could taste the various ingredients distinctly too, which made me feel like everything was very fresh. Unique brunch menu, I didn't expect the creativity in each dish we ordered! I loved the curry crab omelet, lots of flavor, and the seafood ceviche, very refreshing with a light coconut lime dressing. Will definitely be back again when I'm in the Irvine area...looking forward to trying out more items! Another plus for me was how careful they were about not cross-contaminating foods, as I have food allergies. Thanks for that! :) read more

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Seated after a 5 min wait for lunch on the weekend! Great service and a bright sunny ambiance. For food, everything was good and well presented but a little pricey for what it was. - Crab toast: very mild and creamy flavor, loved the toasted sourdough. - Xoi man: highly recommended by our server. Sticky rice with assorted toppings, lots of Chinese flavors on this. - Seafood tom kha pasta: my personal favorite out of everything we ordered. Strong flavors and interesting take with the pasta noodles. I've heard great things about the disassembled banh mi, will have to try that next time. read more

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We booked on open table for brunch and were sat down immediately. The server was very nice and attentive to detail when explaining the menu. Marble coffee is really sweet so I would ask for a sugar adjustment! read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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This review is for NEP Cafe's happy hour. From Monday through Friday, 2 PM to 5 PM, you can experience some of their popular appetizers at a discounted price. I'm not sure if it's the regular size or if it's smaller, but it is a decent amount for each dish. The offerings from the happy hour menu is limited with just a few items. We ordered the spicy wontons with the sauce on the side, chicken wings, shrimp and garlic noodles. The wings were full of flavor and oh so delicious! The shrimp and garlic noodles were cooked to perfection and packed with so much flavor. Shrimps were succulent and noodles were bouncy and chewy. So helpful that there's complimentary mouthwash in the bathroom. Since we felt like having some vegetables, we also ordered the broccolini and the cabbage shrimp salad from the regular lunch menu. My favorite entree during this outing was the shredded cabbage shrimp salad. It was a good amount which filled us up. It's so light and refreshing and we didn't feel guilty eating it. If you like salad, don't sleep on this dish! Our server was friendly but she wasn't as attentive so we had to ask for help from other servers passing by. We arrived near the end of the happy hour, but came just in time to put in one round of drinks, which was lychee martini cocktail and wine. Most of the tables in the bar area were full, but plenty of spaces available at the bar. Will return for another round with some other friends in the future! read more

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Delicious fusion food and fair portion sizes! The pasta wasn't bad, but I think their Ini location does them better. Overall very appropriate for brunch/lunch. We left feeling full. Drinks are all a treat as well, as they tend on the sweeter side and can be a bit pricey for what they are. There is also a limited Happy Hour menu. Staff was kind and checked in on us frequently. Casual modern interior with some outdoor patio seating as well. Good for small and large groups alike. Plenty of parking out front. read more

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Update just to say that the food and service is still top tier delicious! The only con is the menu has shrunk significantly so some of our past favorite brunch options are no longer available. read more

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Went here on a business lunch so luckily was able to try many of the dishes served during their brunch hours. - seafood ceviche - Vietnamese shrimp salad - squid and mango salad - crab toast - crispy calamari - chicken wings - banh mi chao with beef belly and fillet mignon - seafood tom kha pasta - garlic noodles - xoi man - beef tongue fried rice - calamansi white peach drink - mango sticky rice matcha Very busy even during a weekday lunch. Luckily, our server was very attentive and we received everything very quickly. Modern interior with an elevated feeling but it does get quite loud especially with the walls kinda echoing everyone's voices. All of the dishes were very delicious. If I were to recommend my top options I would say the fillet mignon banh mi chao, chicken wings, Vietnamese shrimp salad, and xoi man were my favorites. The drinks were also all very yummy. Would highly recommend! read more

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Mother's Day landed us at Nep Cafe. Even though the place was buzzing, a table opened up right around 1:00 p.m. like it had been waiting just for us. We settled into the lively chaos...espresso machines hissing, gorgeous plates flying past, everyone around us looking happy. The kids demolished the Garlic Noodles (always a safe bet right?), while my hubby happily worked through the Xôi Mặn with sticky rice, with the Chinese sausage, quail egg, and all the savory goodness packed into one bowl. Then my Beef Belly Rice Bowl arrived and I actually forgot there were three other people sitting at the table. The lemongrass beef belly was smoky and tender, the fried egg melted into the rice, and the nuoc chấm tied everything together with that perfect sweet-salty-tangy magic. Then came dessert...and this is where things got dangerous. The Mango Sticky Rice with pandan sticky rice and salted black sesame was PHENOMENAL. Creamy, fragrant, tropical--like a vacation wrapped in coconut sauce. But then the Sweet Custard Sticky Rice showed up with even more pandan coconut sauce and completely stole the spotlight. I looked at Jordan after the first bite with the kind of expression that says, "We're canceling our afternoon plans because I need a moment." My only complaint? My stomach surrendered long before my curiosity did. There were at least five more dishes I wanted to order, which means one thing: we'll just have to come back!!! read more

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10/10 customer service! We came here to celebrate my friend's birthday and loved how attentive they were with the birthday card and dessert at the end! Food-wise, I absolutely loved their tom kha pasta and highly recommend trying this dish! The garlic noodles were just standard garlic noodles so no notes there. I wanted to try their mango sticky rice matcha which was a lot prettier than it tasted and the ube coffee was alright but definitely a nice strong Vietnamese brew! read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Unbelievably good ! Great/kind service too. They were helpful on helping me decide what food and drinks to order. Everything came out so yummy read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

I came here with my family on a Saturday, and the wait wasn't too long, which was a pleasant surprise. The first thing you'll notice when you walk in is the atmosphere it's very spacious with plenty of seating, making it feel comfortable even when it's busy. The service was fast and efficient, and our food arrived in a timely manner. I would say the food quality here is excellent, which is one of the reasons I keep coming back. My go-to order at Nep Cafe is always the bò né. It's consistently delicious every time I visit, and that's something I really appreciate. Overall, this is a great spot for a casual meal with family or friends, and I'll definitely be back again! read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Pork belly rice was a good portion that includes, an egg, crispy shallots, pickled veggies, etc. I expected it to be cubes but it was belly slices. The coconut ube coffee was strong and thick, with more of a bitter taste. I didn't taste the coconut but it was still pretty good! read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Pork Beef Belly Rice Bowl , Coconut Ube Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Came back for brunch and the food was delicious. Our server was great but there was an instance of another server serving the hot plate directly over the head of my toddler. Slightly concerning since kids are rather unpredictable but luckily nothing happened. Was seated underneath the skylight right next to the kitchen, they provided a coloring booklet and crayons for my kid. Something to keep him busy. Would definitely recommend for brunch/lunch. read more

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Cousins night out! I love almost everything Kei Concept touches. We've heard the hype about their brunch, but we wanted to try their dinner experience. Parking: Free parking lot. They're located in a high foot traffic plaza. Parking will be difficult to find. Ambiance/Environment: We visited on a Saturday evening around 19:30, and it was extremely busy. Luckily we were seated within 15 min. I love the vibes here. It's a bit loud, but you can still have a conversation. They have a large indoor area and a nice bar. Everything is kept clean. Service: Thank you Mia for taking care of us! She's very attentive, and throughput was surprisingly quick & efficient despite how busy it was. She also checked on us multiple times and refilled our waters. Food & drinks: We absolutely enjoyed everything! Safe to say the hype is real. 1) Curry Crab Omelette - This is my favorite dish. This was presented on a small skillet with rice in a separate bowl. The omelette was drenched in curry. The curry was seasoned well, semi thick consistency, with a hint of spice. 2) Vietnamese Shaken Beef (one w/ garlic noodles & one w/ rice) - I personally prefer the shaken beef at Vox. For whatever reason, the beef seemed to be overcooked bc it was very chewy. The vegetables tasted as expected, and the red rice was really delicious. The garlic noodles were good. 3) Lemongrass Tofu - The tofu was cooked well and seasoned deliciously. 4) 5-Spice Roasted Chicken - Exactly what the description says. The roasted chicken was huge. We weren't sure exactly what it was seasoned with, but we all devoured it. Yum! 5) Lychee Milk Punch - It's not dinner without alcohol. I thought it was pretty strong with the rum & whiskey. It's more on the sweeter end from the lychee & pineapple. The foam wasn't too thick, and it paired well with the drink. Pricing: These are elevated prices. We'll definitely be back for dinner, and we can't wait to try their brunch. Highly recommend joining the Kei Rewards! read more

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One of my faves in Irvine! The service is exceptional, vibes check always passes, and the food and drinks are amazing. There are interesting coffee options, cocktails, and even great mocktails! I've tried: - avocado coffee - 10/10 - calamansi white peach soda - 12/10 - crab toast - 20/10 must try! - chicken wings - 15/10! - they're crispy, juicy and have the most perfect balance of spicy, salty, and sweet - garlic noodles - great with salmon or shrimp! this recipe seems to have changed from a while back, but still delicious! - lemongrass tofu - tried this once and can't order anything else now ... so good! tip: when it's busy, you can sit at the bar - full menu is available there! You truly can't go wrong here. read more

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I've been to Nep Cafe a few times whenever I'm in Orange County, and it's always one of my go-to spots. The food is always good, but this time my sister and I stopped by just for some matcha drinks and dessert. We ordered the Coconut Matcha and the new Mango Sticky Rice Matcha, and both were so good. The Mango Sticky Rice Matcha was especially unique and definitely worth trying if you're a matcha fan. For dessert, we got the bread pudding and honestly, it was the star of the visit. I loved the crunchy bits mixed in with the soft bread pudding. The sweet and salty flavors were perfectly balanced, making it dangerously addictive. We couldn't stop eating it. We didn't have a reservation, so we sat at the bar and got lucky finding seats. If you're planning to come, definitely make a reservation ahead of time because there's usually a pretty long wait. The service was great as always. Even when they're busy, the food and drinks come out pretty quickly. I also love the atmosphere here. The space is huge, the vibe is fun and trendy, and it's just a great spot to hang out with friends or family. Can't wait to come back and try more of their drinks and desserts. read more

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after all these years i still love this place! it's my must go to whenever im in Irvine! i tried the garlic noodle recently as well as the beef carpaccio and squid and mango salad. beef carpaccio was to die for and def gonna order this every time now!!!! read more

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The Irvine location is much larger than the original Fountain Valley location. The brunch menus are the same, I've never tried their dinner menu as the FV location turned into Gem Dining at the time. I always bring friends from out of town to dine here because the restaurant is beautiful and to try Vietnamese breakfast. Their egg Vietnamese coffees are very popular! Reservations are definitely recommended if you have a large party or if you're planning to eat during prime brunch hours on the weekend. The dao - 10/5, I love the truffle oil, potato purée, and poached egg combo. Very elite appetizer here! Banh Mi Chao - 5/5, A staple Vietnamese breakfast, I always add on the Laughing Cow cheese. Beef belly and Filet Mignon are both good protein choices. This can easily be shared with 2 as the portion is large. read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

first, i want to say that i really wanted to like nep. everything about it feels so upscale, from the restaurant itself to the layout, the servers, the food presentation, and the menu options. it's clear that a lot of consideration goes into the overall experience. unfortunately, i think i just came to realize that vietnamese food might not be for me. it's located in heritage plaza, and there's plenty of parking even on a busy weekend. the servers were very kind and seated my friend and me almost immediately. it can get a bit loud inside with how busy it is, so you may have to speak up during conversation. presentation-wise, everything we ordered looked absolutely beautiful. from the coffee and matcha to the appetizers and entrees, it all came out looking incredibly appetizing. i ordered the seafood pasta along with the spicy shrimp wontons, while my friend got the garlic noodles. while everything looked great, i found the flavors to be a bit too heavy on herbs for my personal taste. there was a noticeable amount of cilantro, green onion, and chives across the dishes that weren't clearly specified on the menu, which made it a little harder for me to fully enjoy the meal. i did enjoy the creme brulee coffee, but the vietnamese milk coffee is definitely strong, so just something to keep in mind. i also really appreciated how kind and accommodating the staff was in being mindful of my pescatarian dietary restriction. overall, i can see why this place is so highly rated. the ambiance, service, and presentation were all great. my rating mainly comes down to personal preference, as the flavor profiles just didn't fully land for me. if you enjoy vietnamese flavors and herbs, this is probably a spot you'll really love, but for me, it wasn't quite the right fit. read more

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Love this restaurant!! We were in a hurry, but the food came out fast and was still delicious. We ordered the steak frites and wagyu fried rice and both were tasty. The restaurant was little loud, but besides that, this is a great Vietnamese restaurant!! read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Wagyu fried rice - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Since I came here the last time with my father, the place has gotten really good at making things better! I think it's because they provide excellent ingredients and large amounts of mixed fresh meat and vegetables. I was blown away by the deep series of savory flavors filled ingredients after ingredients starting with shredded beef belly meat with cold Bón Bò Sao and amazing Broken Rice Bowl with five separate complimentary vegetables and meats with separate sweet and sour Saigon sauce make it nearly perfect. The best part was their desert. The frozen yogurt Parfait with passion fruit orange with feuilletine mochi with condensed milk was by far my favorite. read more

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NEP cafe is amazing! I had the tiramisu coffee and Xoi Chien and both were delicious. The Xoi Chien stole the show with these delicious crispy, sticky rice cubes unlike anything Ive ever had and I thoroughly enjoyed. Love this place read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Banh Mi Chao - Beef Belly - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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I came back and visited NEP cafe hoping for a better experience and it was much better. I came here when they just opened a few years ago and from then to now the service was way better and so are the dishes. I got their crab toast which seemed simple but the flavors do go well together. Their glazed chicken wings were good but I felt it was too much coated in fish sauce. Overpowered the taste of chicken. Their Banh Mi Chao pork belly contained some pate and the flavors were interesting. I'd say this place is still very Vietnamese cushioned in style. Indoor ambiance was very modern and sleek. The bar area was nice. read more

Went to NEP Cafe to celebrate Mother's Day. I made dinner reservations and expected business to be slow, but the restaurant was packed! We ordered a couple of fried rice dishes and the tom kha seafood pasta. I LOVE the green aji sauce that comes with the fried rice. The pasta was another winner. Service was very attentive and friendly. It's a little noisy inside, so if you want somewhere quiet, this is not the place. Plenty of parking in the lot. I do wish their website was better as they do not post a brunch /lunch menu and a dinner menu separately. If you click on "menu," it takes you to the Toast online ordering, which will reflect whatever menu is currently available - so if it's before 5pm, you'll see the lunch menu, instead of the dinner menu. If you love Kei Concept restaurants like Vox Kitchen, you'll love NEP Cafe! read more

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Absolutely the best modern Vietnamese restaurant. My husband and I make it a point to come here every time we visit family, and we're so happy there's now a closer location. The new Irvine spot is spacious, modern, and beautifully designed, with plenty of seating and a bar area for self-seating. We ended up coming twice during one weekend, once for brunch and once for dinner. They offer separate brunch, happy hour, and dinner menus. For brunch, I ordered the filet mignon bánh mì chảo, and my husband had the chicken congee. For dinner, we shared the beef carpaccio and ceviche. I ordered the shaken beef, and my husband chose the five-spice chicken. Everything was absolutely delicious. They also have a rewards program where you can earn discounts on future visits, which is a great bonus. read more

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I've been here a couple different times and the food is always amazing! We typically just get the garlic noodles, chicken wings, and calamari but I recently came with a larger party so we got the pork tomahawk that was amazing. The highlight of the night was definitely the pork and I love their matcha latte. The servers are also super friendly and pretty fast. They also have outdoor seating that I believe is dog-friendly. Overall a great spot to check out for brunch or dinner! read more

Came for brunch and had the crab toast, bun bo hue dry noodles, banh mi chao and tom kha pasta. I LOVE tom kha, so this pasta was right up my alley, but all the food is solid. No complaints here. Definitely recommend the coconut matcha as well, so refreshing! Service was exceptional. Shoutout to our server, Paul who was amazing and so attentive!! He made sure we had everything we needed. A++ for service. Will definitely be returning read more

I went here recently for my friend's bday dinner on a Saturday w/ 8 people total. It's next to a huge parking lot so parking is easy to find. We had a reservation & waited 10-12 min. to be seated after checking in. Once we sat down, we were greeted & handed menus but then got ignored for 20 min. until a guy server came to our table but he only attended to the couple in the corner of our big table which rest of us girls assumed he'd take all of our orders going around the table but nope.. after the couple ordered & received their drinks which was another 15-20 min. so almost an hour w/o water. I raised my hand looking around to see our server w/ another server standing chatting like they're on break until one of the guys from our table called the server over finally! As a former server, I always give grace but it wasn't super busy. All of our food took around 25-35 min. to come out which wasn't bad. I got garlic shrimp noodles & parts of all my shrimps were burnt so only half my shrimps were edible but garlic noodles were delicious. We were able to cut our cake here no charge & pay separately on their portable tab thing the server told us to make it easier to split. Our table wasn't checked on during dinner until I flagged a server to get water refill when we were almost done w/ our food & bday girl asked to bring her cake out. Overall, food was pretty decent not amazing. This location was unprofessional & needs to work on their customer service. The other location's service is way better! read more

NEP Cafe Irvine, CA 4/19/26 Irvine after Tax Day feels like summer has quietly filed for incorporation. Culver Drive is all manicured hedge-jungle, sandstone barriers, curated palms, and the faint aura of wealth trying not to sweat. Everything in this part of Orange County looks half remembered, half franchised, half copied from the plaza next door. Yes, that is three halves. That is what Irvine does to the brain. My niece, a woman of exacting princess standards, was too high-maintenance to physically attend yet somehow still phoned in a request for the strawberry matcha yogurt drink. That alone told me this place has pull. A restaurant does not inspire absentee longing unless it has some hold over the local imagination, or at least over elegantly hydrated Gen Z royalty. The surrounding plaza is a whole anthropological exhibit: ramen, wings, noodles, Super Mex, Wendy's, Daiso, Wells Fargo, parking lot purgatory, and clusters of Sunday food pilgrims pretending their group hang is a summit of emotional importance. Jacaranda petals droop softly over the asphalt like nature trying to add lyricism to retail exhaustion. And there sits NEP. NEP has that dim, sexy, modern look that immediately makes you suspicious. Either the food is excellent or the lighting designer deserves criminal levels of praise. It feels like the kind of place where young urban professionals gather to flirt, network, and accidentally fall in love over small plates and good bone structure. Gorgeous bar. Expensive-looking interior. A room calibrated for pheromones, soft vanity, and excellent phone cameras. We waited about 24 minutes outside in the smug parking lot, which only deepened the mystery: what exactly does NEP stand for? Not Eating Pork? Never Ever Pho? North Eastern Pakistan? Apparently it may be a play on nếp, as in sticky rice, which is a much more graceful answer than anything my baby carafe of junmai was producing. Inside: loud, lively, but not unbearable. Friendly staff. Personable service. The menu is basically point-and-shoot, which I respect. No need to read it like an 18th-century Russian novel. We ordered beef carpaccio, fried calamari, house junmai cold sake, shaken beef, seafood tom kha pasta, and dry bun bo hue. The beef carpaccio was excellent. Bright, fresh, and carrying a Vietnamese twist with basil, mint, and that sweet-fish-sauce undercurrent that makes your brain sit up straight and pay rent. This dish had grace and flavor. 5/5. The fried calamari with jalapeños and lime mayo was better than I expected. I feared this place might be all cheekbones and no soul. Thankfully, I was wrong. I am not even a huge calamari person and still found this lively and enjoyable. 4/5. The shaken beef with broken rice and salad was good, but for me a little too mild. I am a flavor degenerate. I like dishes that kick in the door and overturn a chair. This was more restrained, more civilized, more "I went to business school." Still solid. 3.5/5. The seafood tom kha pasta had good ideas and real herbal notes, but it leaned too sweet. Reduce the sweetness by maybe 25% and increase the Vietnamese herbal personality by 25%, and this thing starts writing poetry in the margins. As served, good but not fully realized. The dry bun bo hue was also decent, though I wished they had gone further and added pork blood cubes. Some of us enjoy a little culinary menace. Still good. 4/5. I also appreciated that the portions were not absurdly tiny. I had feared fashionable starvation. Instead, each dish felt like a proper entrée: not foo-foo, not grotesquely oversized, just enough to justify being alive in Irvine on a Sunday. And bless the cheaper house junmai cold sake. Smooth, easy, and a good match for the food. So yes, NEP is stylish, a little performative, somewhat seductive, very Orange County, and thankfully not empty. The food mostly backs up the aesthetics, the service is amiable, and the room hums with youthful fancy without collapsing into pure nonsense. I would come back. read more

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Really love this place! Tried the mango sticky rice matcha and omg it really tasted just like mango sticky rice but in liquid form! No idea how they do that. And the fried tofu is so flavorful, I love that sauce! When it was time to pay my server Johnny B. noticed it was my birthday because I had a $5 off birthday reward coupon and he asked if it was ok to bring me out a complimentary birthday dessert--so sweet of him! That is great service! read more

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