I work right by Poached. So before work we like to stop by for some breakfast. Their breakfast burrito is awesome!! The salsa it comes with is so good, and their pancakes are to die for. On top of an amazing breakfast, their coffee is great. It does take awhile to get your food, so I would leave an hour to eat here. read more

Got a scramble and pancakes. They were ok. Ordered an orange juice and they gave a small plastic cup even though we were dining in. Thought that was normal till we saw others who had a taller glass cup. $6 for oj doesn't seem reasonable to begin with though. Top it off, me and my partner had stomach aches after from what we ate. read more

Poached Kitchen - Orange Juice - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

The servers are very sweet! The food was amazing, the latte has a good sweetness and if you don't prefer a heavy coffee taste, thats your latte. The cinnamon in it was the cherry on top. Eggs benefit were also delicious! They do have an extra green sauce in it that's hidden underneath the ham. It adds flavor to it and is spread on lightly so you only slightly taste it, but I know some people may not prefer it. The inside is cute, the art on the wall is super pretty, and the lighting gives it that perfect cafe feel. read more

Poached Kitchen - Dulce de Leche Latte (Hot) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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came here for brunch and everything we got was honestly so good. we tried the house benedict, machaca scramble, and the brunch burrito. the benedict stood out the most to me. the hollandaise sauce was a 10 out of 10, super rich and flavorful, and we even asked for some extra on the side because of how good it was. the hashbrowns were really unique too, crispy but also melted in your mouth, and pairing them with the hollandaise was perfect. the machaca scramble was another favorite. the slow cooked beef with avocado, cheese, eggs, and bell peppers worked so well together. we ended up mixing it with the english muffin to make little sandwiches and it was amazing. the brunch burrito was solid too but we had way too much food, so we packed it up. eating it the next morning with the chili verde sauce was still super good since the sauce had that nice tangy kick. service was great from the start. they give you your own big water and utensils right away and the staff checked in on us multiple times, even the owner came by to make sure everything was good. overall, a really nice modern diner vibe with food that's both tasty and filling. definitely a spot i'd come back to. read more

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Although the line was long when we arrived, Poached was managed the line efficiently. I got the breakfast burrito and it was filled with lots of eggs and potatoes, but a bit oily. Other than that, it was tasty! read more

Poached Kitchen - Breakfast Burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Horrible customer service. They have an ai chatbot answering phones because they refused to pick up a phone to answer a simple wait time question. The chatbot refused to connect me with the host stand or any person when it couldn't answer my question. read more

Waffles were great! I would definitely come again the waffles are soft and wasn't eggy. Service was good although I did think it was a little pricy for one person I spent $30. The ambiance was normal nothing special but it was very clean. read more

Poached Kitchen - Waffles with fruits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Poached Kitchen is a clean & cozy brunch place that serves classic, hearty breakfast items! The variety here suits anyone's palette, and the flavors taste exceptional. The korean short rib eggs benedict is a popular, and it had such a warm feeling. Just by glancing at the tables around me, every dish looked beautiful, tasty, and nutritious. I would come back :) read more

Poached Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Everything was bad and this piece of chicken was $8 tiny as thing terrible service waitress and hostess just stare at everyone down read more

Poached Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here for a Sunday double date brunch and it did not disappoint! We came around 9:30 am and waited in line for about 20 min. The hostess will come up to you in line and ask for your party size, if you prefer first available or inside/outside, and approximate wait time. They will also hand you a menu to take a look at while you wait. We got the short rib omelette which was okay imo, nothing special and wouldn't get it again. There was nothing about the flavor of the short rib that stood up. We also got the blueberry lemon ricotta cakes which were surprisingly pretty good! The pancake was fluffy and a nice balance of the lemon blueberry and ricotta flavor. For drinks, we got a chai latte which just tasted like an average chai. Total was about $45 for three items which isn't terrible. My friends and I sat outside and it was pretty nice. The ambiance is 4/5 and the outside noice is comfortable enough to hold a conversation. Def a good sunday brunch recommendation! read more

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They weren't mean and the staff was nice but the food is not good. Maybe I went on an off day for the kitchen. Idk but there are much better brunch spots. The food tasted like the ingredients had been stored uncovered in the fridge/freezer, especially the hashbrowns and the smoked salmon. I'm glad the food was kept at good temperatures, but part of that regulation is also for the ingredients to be stored covered to prevent cross contamination. These were not. The potatoes used for the hashbrowns absorbed the flavors of everything else in the fridge/freezer and were gross. The matcha latte was very bad and watery, which shocked me considering this was served in Irvine. Where considerably better matcha can be found in the same plaza at cheesetella. Oh also, the chairs are pretty filthy and would benefit from being wiped with a Clorox or a damp cloth. Overall I can't recommend this place. read more

First time there and cafe style where you go to the counter and order and pay and are assigned a table. Seems well run as a decent queue on a Sunday. Asked for bar seating as my legs don't like low seats. Best seats in the house as you see every dish that leaves the kitchen and they looked impressive, large portions. I only ate half of the hash browns and Kevin asked me what was wrong with them. Nice to know he cared and we talked about hash browns and will order home fries next time. I'll gladly tip 20% but refuse to tip on the tax, that's double dipping. That slows the line down me recalculating the tip on the food and how to enter custom tip on the ipad. Also tipping is something you do at the end of the meal if you are satisfied with the service and got refills etc. Also only one bathroom working and a long line. What do women do in there for 10 minutes knowing there's a long line. read more

I loved the inside of the place! I ordered the waffles with the fruit and sweet mascarpone ontop. I thought the waffles themselves were perfectly crispy on the outside but soft and pillowy in the inside. The fruit was a nice addition and the syrup was not too sweet. The mascarpone topping ontop was nice with the waffles but after a few bites of it, it got too much since it was so sweet. read more

Poached Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

have had this place bookmarked for a while but just hadn't had a chance to have brunch whenever i'm in irvine! it's quite busy here coming on a weekday around 10am. i kinda like how you order at the front of the store and they'll just deliver to you, i can see how that's much more efficient at turning the table and whatnot and prolonging people who cannot make decision if having to take their orders at the table. my chile verde benefit was pretty good - eggs were perfectly poached and runny, just how i love them!!! my friend and i really love the hash browns and i just say it's one of the best i've had - bc it's crispy on the outside and always feels like there's a little bit of cheese or sth and it's very soft on the inside!! i usually really don't like hash browns at all but this is chefs kiss! my friend's short rib omelette was a bit salty so we didn't like that one as much. could def do half of the seasoning. the classic waffle was pretty good, really like how the texture is light and airy! fruits were sweet compliments to the waffle and cream was fresh. read more

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Love the open space & high ceiling with big windows to let all the sunshine enter into this eatery. It is a casual place to meet up with friends & enjoy the food. Orders: Classic Breakfast- came with sourdough bread, hash, 2 sausages & scrambled egg. No frills & your basic American breakfast with no surprises. Chicken Al pastor Melt-nice sized sandwich with a pineapple slaw made this a unique experience. There were good pieces of chicken & plenty of fries to enjoy in this sandwich. Short Rib Omelette-a substantial egg wrapped with shredded pork with sourdough & hash-brown. It looked inviting, but I can't comment on the taste bc it wasn't my dish. Lemon Ricotta Pancake- 2 fluffy pancakes with a large scoop of ricotta with blueberry preserve. With a very faint lemon note, the blueberry preserve was a nice addition to the pancakes. It was also nice having syrup that wasn't overly sweet. For a casual sit down breakfast, Poached Kitchen is a great place to go. read more

Wow just wow. Our food came in under 5 minutes after ordering , Breakfast was spectacular. Lovely server. Will be returning read more

This is an order and sit place. I enjoyed my time here. They refill your waters quick and the food was fresh and a good proportions. Definitely family friendly and could easily get packed during the weekends. They have outdoor seating and are walking distance from a Ralphs (in case it's an errand day). read more

Poached Kitchen - Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

First time at Poached Kitchen. Plenty of parking, and the space is nice, clean tables, and fast service. For me, the food didn't quite match the expectations. Everything was perfectly fine, just not particularly memorable. The French toast was okay, though the bread wasn't my favorite, and the eggs benedict with hashbrown were solid but didn't really stand out. Overall, a good spot if you're already in the area for breakfast or brunch, and I'd be open to trying it again. Just not somewhere I'd personally drive 30 minutes to visit read more

Poached always seems packed and has a crazy line! We decided to go around noon on a Tuesday to ensure we'd get seating -- it still had a decent amount of people in it! The way that you order is like a fast casual order then seat yourself and we'll give you a number and bring it to you. Prices were okay. The food came out SO fast, but I'm not gonna lie it was a little too fast for my liking. My friend said her Benedict was amazing, she ate every bite! My scramble was okay, it definitely needed more seasoning on both the scramble and the potatoes, and the cheese they paired with it was just not right. The service was very fast and the staff are kind, they check up on you continuously and bring you a big carafe of water. Bathrooms were clean. read more

Poached Kitchen - Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came in on a Tuesday morning and they weren't too busy. There are many tables inside and outside. As soon as you're seated it doesn't take long until your food arrives. I got a waffle and it was absolutely delicious. The fruits were fresh, the cream was sweet but not too sweet, and the waffle was crispy. My friend got the 2 egg breakfast (I think that's what it's called?) and she really enjoyed her food too! Definitely a pretty good breakfast spot and I'm glad I came in to try. read more

Poached Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Poached is a solid breakfast/brunch spot I frequent often. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, but the indoor area has nicer decor to admire while you wait for your food. Even during rush hour, they manage to get the food out pretty quickly. I'm a creature of habit, so I always go for the chicken and waffles, which come with a delicious chicken gravy and syrup. If I want a sweet treat I'll order the fresh squeezed orange juice as well. Their hashbrowns are really yummy and crispy btw! Poached is also the type of place where you order at the register first, then find a seat. read more

The hashbrowns are not how they used to be. I preferred when the consistency was more like mashed potatoes but now they are big chunks. Some people might prefer that but I don't. I asked them to make them more mushy and they weren't able to. The veggie omelet had too much feta and not enough onion. read more

Poached Kitchen - Veggie omelet (they put too much feta) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Vegetarian review: Chilaquiles rojo (5/5): really good here! Nice crispy chips with a delicious sauce. Avocado was perfectly ripe too. Omelet a la crecque (3/5): Omelet was pretty tasteless but the hash brown side was really good. read more

Poached Kitchen - Chilaquiles rojo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Service - 10/10 Even though you pay first and then find your seat, they have a great system to make sure they find a table for you before you order so you dont struggle with that. Matcha green tea latte - 5/10 I ordered with whole milk. The latte was good until half way it started to taste stale and a bit odd. Not the greatest Ive had Chicken n waffles - 8/10 The chicken portions are plentiful and all chicken breast tenders. The waffles were crispy and light. Im not exactly sure what the white sauce was. It tasted like gravy with a slight hint if ranch. A side of ranch or honey bbq sauce would have paired better. read more

Poached Kitchen - Chicken & waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Out of the ricotta pancakes, huevos rancheros and spinach/mushroom omelette, it's the omelette that wins. Coffee is refilled at a very sensible pace and there's plenty of employees to keep the line moving, the tables bussin' and the coffee flowing. No butter with the bread on the side but you do have Tabasco and cholula next to full bottles of ketchup on every table and the food comes out pretty fast and fresh. Great for local better than iHop's breakfast. I can't promise the same for the pancakes or waffles. read more

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Had brunch today @poachedkitchen in Irvine, busy busy place but great hospitality and good food. Green chilaquiles are nice and crunchy and the breakfast sandwich was really good. Had to get some mimosas to enjoy this delight brunch. Great job read more

Just got back from a pretty pleasant brunch here with my husband and two-year-old toddler. We got there on a Saturday at 9:30 AM and there was a line out the door. However, the wait wasn't too bad. we ended up waiting for about 15 to 20 minutes. Once we got called inside, we were led to their ordering counter. You place your order, pay, and then get directed to your table. We got seated in their outdoor patio. After about another 10 minute wait, we got our food. They gave us a kid friendly plastic cup, but they gave us a regular adult plate which can be scary for parents of toddlers. One drop of that plate and it's over so we had to keep a close eye. Everything was pretty good. I probably wouldn't get the Dulce de Leche latte again because it tasted just like a regular latte. The chicken and waffles were good though especially the crispy waffles. The chicken was OK; the best that it could be given that it was white meat, so the flavor was bland and some parts were dry. luckily that white gravy gave it more flavor. I enjoyed the smoked salmon Benedict. The hashbrowns were also bland, but they do give you salt and pepper at the table so you can season it to your taste. Overall, a decent brunch place. With tip, my total came out to about $54. Service was good and everyone was friendly. read more

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The service and ambiance were great and so was the food. There wasn't anything bad to say about this restaurant. read more

The most disappointing Egg Benedict I have ever had in my life. My friend was not impressed with the Burrito either. The restaurant stinks (like sewage). I do like the ordering at the counter concept though. Won't be coming back even though I live less than 5 min away read more

The Poached Kitchen in Irvine is a great breakfast spot with good ambiance and attentive service. The staff was lovely and the food was excellent. I went on a Sunday afternoon for a birthday brunch and waited for about 25 minutes as it was a busy early afternoon. They gave us menus so we knew what to order when our table was ready. We ordered at the counter and sat down; our food came to our table faster than expected. I ordered the iced vanilla latte with whole milk and it was quite good. It has a strong coffee and vanilla flavor, without overpowering one another. For my main dish, I ordered the chicken and waffles, which was delicious. The chicken was flavored well and the waffles were perfectly crispy. Additionally, it came with maple syrup and gravy. I have never had the dish with gravy before, and I thought it was okay. I think I'd prefer butter but another member of my party quite enjoyed the gravy with his waffles. Additionally, a staff member, I unfortunately do not remember his name, but he gave us an extra cup of to-go hot coffee as we were leaving, which was exceptionally kind. If you're a fan of breakfast/brunch, I'd highly recommend Poached Kitchen for birthdays, small gatherings, family time, dates, etc. I'd be aware that it gets busy, so try get there earlier if possible. Additionally, you can book reservations if your party is larger than 6, so I would also keep that in mind if you plan on having multiple guests. read more

Poached Kitchen - Vanilla latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food is solid, definitely order the eggs Benedict, I tried my friends and it was much better than the sandwich. The sandwich was just okay, oatmeal was good though. The service is chill solid place for brunch. It's a chain so keep that In mind when managing expectations. read more

Poached Kitchen - Chicken sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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The ambiance at Poached is super neat and nice! There is a lot of seating but anticipate a wait if you are going at a peak time. In all honesty, I did not find anything on the menu super exciting but still gave it a try. The food was good, but nothing super notable. I recommend Poached for something that feels familiar and reliable, but not if you're specifically looking for a unique brunch spot. read more

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I've been coming to poached for a few years now. This spot is perfect for a family breakfast. Upon arriving you order at the register and are given a table number. Seating can be a bit difficult since this place gets so busy so you may have to wait a little for a table to clear up. We went on a Friday morning and it was a full house. There is seating both indoors and outdoors depending on your preference. We ordered the tiramisu waffle, short rib omelet and benedict, kids pancakes, and the egg sandwhich. The kids pancake was a huge portioning. Egg sandwhich was fluffy and had a thick bread to hold it. My favorite was the short rib benedict and omelet. Tiramisu waffle was good it had a marscapone type whip cream that was delicious. Great spot when you're looking for a breakfast spot that is family friendly and local. read more

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It was my first time here and I'm not sure if I'll be back! The whole sitting and checking in is kinda weird. You have to line up and order your food first and they assign you a table afterwards. We ordered the Korean short rib Benedict with house has browns , chile verde Benedict with house hash browns, desert pear lemonade and white peach tea. They weren't lying in the reviews when others said it was lacking flavors overall. The chile verde had little to no flavors, the meat itself was dry best part was the poached egg and the house hash browns. I did not like the Korean short rib one. Had such a weird aftertaste. Not what i was expecting. The lemonade was okay. Kinda more sour than anything. The peach was very subtle hardly any peach flavor though. Service was nonexistent. They don't offer you anything else, don't check up on the table, or maybe I'm missing the whole idea of this place? Def would not come back overhyped , overpriced and just not worth it. Total came out to $56 for some mid breakfast read more

Poached Kitchen - Chile verde Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Really cozy spot in the corner of the shopping center. You order before you sit and they give you a number for your order. They have complimentary glass bottled water. Hand painted interior wall mural and lots of natural light. It looks like a Mexican fusion spot bc they offer chilaquiles and churro waffles and such. The chicken and waffles were so delicious, the waffle was buttery and soft but had a light crunch. The chicken was juicy but had a good crunch and paired fantastic with cholula and the gravy. The strawberry matcha was not amazing but I think it's bc I ordered it with oat milk. It was pretty good though still. The pancakes had a nice light flavor I thought they were ricotta pancakes but they were just your typical buttermilk pancakes but even without syrup they were good. Overall services was really good we were checked on throughout our meal. The tables are a bit close to each other but outside seating available with a bit more space. The food came out in a decent time. Very happy with my experience here! Thank you. read more

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Check out a few places to go on Yelp. So we decided to check this place out. It is a sit down but you have to place your order at the front counter and they will bring the food to you. I ordered my go to breakfast Eggs Benedict. The Eggs was just the way I like it not to over cook and the sauce and the ham was delicious. It came with this Crispy on the outside and soft in the inside hash browns. There were good. My friend ordered the Breakfast Burrito she enjoyed it. No complaints there. The place was cozy and family friendly. Overall I would go back again when I'm in the area. read more

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I've been to Poached Kitchen before for their awesome breakfast burrito, but decided to give them another try for OC Restaurant Week. For $25, I was able to enjoy their House Benedict, Blueberry French Toast, and Iced Vanilla Latte! House Benedict - well balanced flavors of salty ham, tangy hollandaise sauce, soft poached egg, and crunch English muffing accompanied by a crispy buttery side of hash browns. Definitely a winner! Blueberry French Toast - not too sweet with a cream cheese topping and blueberry jam but a little too soggy for my liking Iced Vanilla Latte - great tasting coffee with nice creaminess throughout I'm impressed yet again on my 2nd time here and I'm glad the wait wasn't that long for a Sunday morning brunch. Try to get there before 9AM if you really want to guarantee an easy seating! read more

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This restaurant delivers exactly what it promises: fast, efficient, and comforting breakfast fare. If your priority is speed and reliable classics, it does the job well. Arrival and Wait * Expect a visible line and an initial wait estimate of 40-45 minutes, but the queue moves much faster than it appears. * The line appears to be part of the restaurant's strategy to attract customers, so don't be alarmed by the crowd. Check‑in and Service * Check in with the attendant outside who takes names; she is efficient even if not especially warm. * Front‑of‑house service overall is functional rather than friendly, but speed compensates for the lack of hospitality. Ordering System and Pace * You order and pay at the counter, then proceed to a pre‑numbered table. * The workflow is streamlined and effective: orders are delivered very quickly. Ambience * The atmosphere is casual and lively, often populated by locals in workout attire. * It's a relaxed, no‑frills environment that matches the restaurant's focus on quick, satisfying breakfast food. Food -- Positives * The menu's carbohydrate dishes are excellent; waffles and pancakes are particularly well executed. * Portions and flavors deliver classic comfort-food satisfaction. Food -- Suggestions for Improvement * The Cobb salad is overly acidic and salty. The olives should be rinsed before use, and the vinaigrette should be applied more sparingly. * The dish currently includes a runny poached egg; replacing it with two fully boiled eggs would help balance acidity and saltiness. Conclusion Overall, the restaurant delivers what it promises: rapid service and reliably tasty breakfast classics. If you value speed and comfort food over formal service, this is a solid choice. read more

This breakfast was SO good! The best i've had in a while :) Got the classic waffle & shared a classic benedict & those were so bomb!! The hashbrowns were a 1000/10. Service was pretty fast and I was able to sit outside w my dog :) Overall highly recommend & i would absolutely come again read more

Poached Kitchen - Classic Benedict :) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Food was great. It was busy but gotten taken care of. The first visit i was there during the week and the service was great but the second time with my Husband, it was crazy busy. I had to ask fir my own water and felt kinda forgotten after. read more

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