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

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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I think I'm becoming a brunch head and the California area has SO many cool brunch restaurants. Let me tell you why I rated this one 5 stars. Food: I had the birria benedict and yummmm I would eat it again and again. I also had the white peach iced tea and definitely got a refill. So refreshing and light and NOT loaded with sugar yummm. Service: I didn't love the ordering setup but I will say the team is delightful. From standing in line all the way through to getting a to go box after enjoying my delicious food. It was a beautiful experience., Ambiance: It's family friendly without being too noisy and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Parking is decent. read more

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

Food was delicious and service was quick and friendly! I think these two menus are a great way I get sweet and savory in, but definitely need to share the food with someone else! read more

Poached Kitchen - Eggs Benedict and Blueberry Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Came for breakfast with a friend and our two kids, and the front staff could not have been more rude. I was standing off to the side with a stroller, not in line yet, because I was waiting for my friend to arrive before ordering and getting seated. I stood there for about 15 minutes, clearly visible. The moment my friend arrived and we were about to place our order, the worker suddenly snapped at me in a very nasty tone, saying she couldn't seat us because of the stroller. Meanwhile, there were two other women in the restaurant with strollers. When I pointed that out, she claimed theirs "weren't blocking anyone." I asked to be seated somewhere we wouldn't be blocking anyone, but instead of helping, she caught an attitude and told us we'd have to wait "a while." I said that was fine. We waited--only to watch her let multiple groups order and get seated ahead of us. When I went back and explained that if she kept seating people before us, two tables would never open up to be pushed together, she continued pretending there were no open tables. I even pointed out available tables, and she seemed annoyed by that. The entire interaction was incredibly frustrating and unprofessional. I've never felt so unwelcome over something as simple as having a stroller. What is going on with people lately? read more

Approach the line at Poached Kitchen, it's not as long as you think. Countdown to the counter and you are introduced to some sweet and savory brunch and lunch with some coffee and mimosas, and celebrate a good brunch outing with some friendly staff, dining ambiance, and good people watching. Everyone has their imagination as to what they will eat and you and exercise yours. read more

The food overall was slightly over average in looks and flavor. I loved the presentation of the food. Waiters were really nice and jolly people. The restaurant was really clean and had a fresh look to it too. read more

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We went late morning and found they had a slightly different operation. I don't know if it's normal now, or if that's their procedure when it's busy. Before getting in line, the receptionist told us they only have patio seating and if that's ok. When we agreed, she put a number on a table and told us to go there after getting our food. No problem there, and I suppose it keeps people from wandering around looking for a place to sit after ordering. The chicken and waffles are so good that we don't often try other items, but I also enjoy the omelettes every once in a while. The service is always great!! read more

Poached Kitchen - 11/2023 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Everything was solid! Probably a 4.5. The chilaquiles were the most disappointing because it just felt like not enough was going on, but the flavor wasn't bad. The sandwich was stuffed well and had good flavor. The churro waffles were great, I just wish they came with syrup because I've got a big sweet tooth. read more

Poached Kitchen - Churro waffles and egg sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Great spot for breakfast! My favorite is the classic waffles. Everything was fresh and delicious. Lovely atmosphere and excellent service -- will definitely be coming back! read more

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We went to get breakfast here to see why it's very popular and always has a long line. We ordered Short rib omelet, Short rib Benedict, and Ube pancakes. Didn't disappoint. The short ribs were well seasoned and the Ube toppings on the pancakes were very tasty and filling. They served our order faster than expected considering their place is full. They have plenty of tables inside and outside the patio- we were seated right away when we arrived. Will definitely go back! read more

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I have lived like 2 minutes down the road from this spot for over a year and I'm disappointed it took me so long to try it because I have been missing out! We stopped by on a Sunday and I think we were in that weird spot where they hadn't yet cleared out the breakfast crew and there was a long line of brunch folks waiting already. Hostess said it would be a 20-25 minute wait and we probably waited about 20 so it wasn't too bad (there is an overhang and shade). They also gave us a menu to peruse while we waited. It's interesting for a brunch place, you order at the counter and they assign you a table. Once we sat, they had our coffee ready in about 5 and it was hot and fresh. It wasn't too crowded actually compared to what I had expected based on the line. There's plenty of space indoors and outdoor on the patio. It only took 10 minutes for our dishes to arrive: the chile verde Benedict (because I had to get a poached egg!), the cherry French toast (a seasonal item), and the al pastor tomahawk (another seasonal item). The chile verde Benedict was an easy 5 stars. The pork was so tender and the chile sauce paired perfect with the yolk. I think the English muffins were homemade too, they were so soft. I wasn't a huge fan of the hash browns only because they were a little salty but I liked the texture, they were very potato-y. The cherry French toast was good but mostly due to the toppings: stewed apples and candied walnuts! The bread itself was a little lackluster. My husband liked his al pastor tomahawk but did mention it could have been marinated longer to really retain the juicy flavor. Overall, I definitely get the hype here and will be back in the future! read more

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This place gets packed but the line is super quick. I loved my birria Benedict. The pancakes were also really good. My latte was just okay. Would try this again:) read more

Different setup than most breakfast spots. You order first, then they bring food to you. Efficient and good service for how busy it was on the weekend. Loved both the savory and sweet options! Dreaming of their pancakes and looking forward to the next time I can go back! read more

While the menu looks great it's disappointing as a gluten free customer. Each of their egg breakfasts says "GF" and has an icon on the menu but then there toast that's served with each mean is NOT GF. So odd. Never seen that and the "manager" chris wasn't very helpful or accommodating. The girls at front kept saying well we can keep the toast off. I just wanted GF toast. That simple. Or an exchange for something like fruit. They wouldn't do it and thus I gave toast that wasn't GF to my kid rather than a discount or what I wanted. $21 before tax for a coffee and hasbrowns is on the pricey side. 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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First time here and literally going to talk about this place for awhile! Everything was amazing! We had Juevos Rancheros and a breakfast burrito. They accidentally missed some stuff on the burrito, immediately took it back and re-made it and then gave us a complimentary waffle that was probably the best I've ever had! Food was unbelievable. Coffee was great and so were the mimosas. Better than everything else was their incredible service! We interacted with so many of their staff and EVERYONE was exceptional! Customer service is the main thing we look for And this place gets 5 read more

I was actually pleasantly surprised at how good the breakfast was at Poached! POSITIVES 1. The servers are super attentive and refilled my coffee a lot (even though I didn't want any more... because the black coffee was just horrible) 2. They let you swap for egg whites for a more macro friendly breakfast! The arrachera scramble was to die for!!! Also it comes with bread which is also so so good BUT they pre-butter it :( Not macro friendly so I wish they disclosed that so I could opt out of it. 3. There's a Ralph's nearby in the same lot so it's perfect to do a grocery run while you're out! NEUTRALS 4. You order at the counter and then are seated - this means your entire part has to be there before you can order and get seated. Could be a good or bad thing for you and your party if you have stragglers! 5. Parking directly in front of the place is limited but there's plenty of parking in the same plaza around the corner. NEGATIVES 6. I love me some good black coffee but it was honestly so terrible. It was sour, bitter and way too strong! I've had better black coffee at Chick Fil A. Also their latte was SO, super sweet that it was hard to drink. That's the only reason why I knocked off a star. Overall, I'd still come back for the amazing food but I'll skip on the coffee or go to Starbucks beforehand. read more

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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's called Poached and the best thing on the menu are the pancakes. What more do you need to know. Juevos were seven out of ten. Pancakes were ate out of 10. This place gets really crowded and is noisy. The food can take a minute. No place to sit while you're waiting to get a table. Too many other good places for breakfast to settle for this place. read more

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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This was a really cute brunch place. We had to wait about 10-15 mins for a patio table which wasnt bad. When you walk in you have to order at the front and pay then they deliver to your table number. We got the fried chicken wrap which was good, and the cubano sandwich which was interesting. I probably wouldnt get the sandwich again. The pear french toast was really good and i loved the bread they used. The service was great they noticed we were in the sun and asked if we wanted to move in the shade! Overall a simple and easy brunch place to go. read more

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

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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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Love the food and atmosphere here! One of my favorite brunch in Irivne Only thing is that there is always a wait line here read more

This is one of my favorite breakfast/brunch places! Super busy all the time! Have to get here early. There is always a waiting line to get in. Staff are very efficient. Great menu offerings! Some are common entrees, but there are plenty unique offerings! They have seasonal dishes. So different and unique! All their offerings are super mouthwatering and delicious! There is indoor and outdoor dining. read more

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Always crowded. People line up during weekends. You order and pay before you are sitted. This is one of the brunch go-to place in Irvine. Their food is good as well as coffee. Staffs are friendly. I know it is a breakfast and brunch place, but I wish they have dessert menu. Recently I have tried their patty melt, this seasonal menu that I love the most!!! read more

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Very creative with their poached eggs!! I was not expecting this great breakfast place behind the shopping center. You order 1st and then get sited, and the food comes very fast. Love it! No line, no wait and great food. I tried the short-rib poached egg and oh my God, cant have any other type of poached egg again! Tasted so right. Not so heavy and the sauce was very tasteful! The have both indoor and outdoor sitting area! So many parking spots as well. Please go and give yourself a great treat! read more

Poached Kitchen - Short rib poached egg - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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The staff were great. The presentation was very nice. The food sadly underwhelming. Something about the taste was just off. The hash browns were more like mash browns, and idk what kind of oil is used but i personally couldn't eat it. And the juevos rancheros were meh. read more

Poached neighbor Kitchen 17595 Harvard Ave A, Irvine, CA 92614 Amazing brunch spot in Irvine Cali, we enjoyed the green Chilaquiles, short rib omelette, carne en Salsa Verde Benedict and waffles read more

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Poached Kitchen is a super popular place for brunch, with a line out the door on the weekends. I arrived at around 10am on a Sunday and waited about 15-20 minutes until I made it to the front of the line. It's kind of an unusual set up because you line up and then are let inside to order at the counter once a table is available. They have both indoor and outdoor seating available (there are headlamps outdoors). The food came out pretty quickly, considering it was a busy Sunday morning. I usually agonize over which protein to select for my breakfast burrito ($16) but at Poached Kitchen, you'll get all three (bacon, sausage and chorizo) so you don't need to choose! It's filled with eggs, meat, hash browns, pico de gallo, white cheddar and serrano aioli and comes with a side of salsa roja. Sometimes breakfast burritos are complete belly busters, but this one was easy for me to devour. My friends got the breakfast tacos and said they were delicious! The other dishes like French Toast and waffles that we spied on neighboring tables looked amazing so I'll be back for those! They also have an alcohol license so you can enjoy a mimosa or sangria with your meal. If it's cold outside, you may want to sit indoors. We weren't able to get a heat lamp initially because they were all being used, so it was a bit chilly. Parking may be a bit tough right next to the restaurant, but there is plenty of parking over in the lot by the Ralph's. read more

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

I came here for brunch to celebrate a friend's birthday and it was amazing! Like other reviews say, come early as there can be a bit of a wait, but they are efficient and it goes by fast. The matcha cold foam was deliciously sweet and I enjoyed every sip. I got the chilaquiles rojos with sausage and liked how the tortilla chips were still crispy coming out! The smoked salmon benedict was alright; it had this green seaweed like vegetable which didn't match the dish and ruined it for me a bit. read more

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Nice breakfast spot. I had the chili verde omelet, very tasty and cooked perfectly . Nice fast casual restaraunt.

We needed something to eat before hitting the road and this place was opened early enough for us to sit down and dine. We arrived around 9-9:30 am and it was already crowded but no line. We hadn't been here before and so we quickly ordered at the register where the menu is. They should have the menu outside or somewhere else so people can decide before reaching the register where the menu is located on the wall. You order your food, pay then sit wherever. They give you a number to place on your table so the waiter knows where you are. I ordered the huevos rancheros with hash browns. It comes with chorizo but since I don't eat pork I was able to sub it with chicken sausage. It was ok. The tortillas seemed made in-house. I liked how thick and crunchy they were. The flavor was decent. The hash browns were terrible, they could do without that option all together. Breakfast is pricer than it should be. A bowl of granola is $10. My meal was over $15. Wild times. The staff was super nice. By the time we left there was a line of people waiting to order. Glad we got there as early as we did! read more

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

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Came to Poached, ordered a chicken sandwich.. not the best idea as they specialize in eggs as their name says :') portion was huge, chicken was juicy and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, but it lacked in the flavor department. We came in at around 11am and although it was busy, we only had to wait around 15-20 mins. You order first then sit down. I would definitely be back again and order something with eggs instead!! read more

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Great concept for a fast breakfast or brunch craving. The service was great and fast. The food was delicious. The birria egg benedict was great. The pancakes were on a different level, better than most. Overall a great experience. read more

It was meh... not bad at all but definitely not amazing. I only had the oatmeal and wasn't feeling good so I cannot really complain BUT my husband, son & GF all were not impressed. And they are not easily disappointed at all. Side note... 1 carafe of ok is enough for 3. We ordered 2 because we love fresh oj and it was super fresh and not overly sweet. It was perfect. Service was nice even tho it is self ordering & seating. The server who brought the meals out was pretty funny, making many people giggle while giving them their food. read more

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

This is one of the best brunch spots in OC. It's my personal favorite and I'll tell you why. What truly sets Poached apart is the quality of ingredients and the creative twists they bring to classic brunch dishes. Each item on the menu feels like a carefully curated experience. Service: The staff's friendly and attentive service enhances the overall dining experience. Whether you're enjoying a leisurely brunch with friends or grabbing a quick bite, Poached consistently delivers on taste and atmosphere. Food Consensus: The menu has so many options and everyone should be able to find something they like. My favorite is the Chilaquiles Verde. It is the bomb!!!! I even recommended it to a classmate once and the person sitting across us said yeah poached does have a good chilaquiles. I mean, even a stranger said I was telling the truth. I have tried many of the dishes on the menu including the breakfast burrito, churro waffle, eggs Benedict, pancakes, steak and eggs, and so far, all of them have great. Get their orange juice, it's fresh and just perfect. I love that they also offer have seasonal specials. Value for Money: The prices are average considering that you're in Irvine. Spend the money and enjoy that nice brunch. It's worth it. The lines get quite long on the weekends so just anticipate for that. read more

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I came on Valentine's Day for breakfast hoping to skip the dinner rushes. They had a valentines menu that looked good but I opted to order off the regular menu. The restaurant is interesting in that you walk in to order and then find your seat. Instead of waiters they have bus boys that help you with what you need. My hubby and I ordered the breakfast burrito and, short rib Benedict, churro waffle and a hot Vietnamese coffee. Everything was delicious and what surprised us was how the waffle had just the right amount of sweetness. It wasn't overly done. The short rib also had a kick to it which we didn't expect, nonetheless was still good. Even though we went early, the place was still packed. But as we left, there was a line already waiting outside. It's a good thing they have seating outside. Would def come back to try other things on their menu. read more

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