Delicious breakfast! We arrived around 9am on a Monday. It wasn't super busy but more people started coming later on. You order at the counter, get a number, and find a place to sit. It was a smooth process. We ordered the French Toast and Smoked Salmon Benedict. They were so delicious! I love the fries as a side, they were so crispy. The food was definitely filling. I would love to come back here again. If you love good breakfast food, come to the Poached Kitchen! :-) read more

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

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Food was great, service terrific clean restaurant but on the pricey side compared to others in Irvine!

Unfortunately, they don't take reservations for smaller groups of people but it was only a 10 minute wait at 11am on a Saturday morning for 2 people. Parking is never great here so definitely recommend parking in the back or closer to Ralph's. Staff was very nice and fast with bringing food and taking empty plates away. We ordered at the counter and they gave us a table to sit at. The seasonal cherry French toast honestly didn't taste like cherries and tasted like strawberry orange instead which was still very tasty. Plenty of cream and toppings on top. It's a little noisy inside and outside but otherwise a very bustling bright place to have brunch. read more

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This place is inviting, but fell short in certain areas. The young lady who took our order was unfriendly & did not offer any suggestions. We couldn't hear her at all. We had to ask multiple times where to sit. She was not clear. We ordered 2 lattes, Carne Machaca scramble & Red Chilaquiles. Our food arrived promptly, and food presentation was nice. However, we had to ask for our lattes which arrived 10 min later & lukewarm. The server not so friendly when we inquired about our lattes. What is the tip for? My husband's machaca had no flavor whatsoever. He had to ask for salsa, but was given a bottle of cholula sauce. He had to apply a great deal of salt & pepper for added flavor but to no avail. My Red Chilaquiles also needed salt & had no flavor? What gives? Your cooks need to taste the food. I'm from Mexico City, and just want to offer a few tips. Use a little more salt & pepper, jalapeños, use chicken bouillon to flavor food including beans. Beans needed some sautéed onions, jalapeños and chicken consommé, maybe sprinkle some Cajun seasoning (Tony Chachere's) to the hash browns to enhance. This was a disappointing brunch and certainly not worth $64 We truly wanted to like this place. read more

Poached is one of THE go-to brunch spots in Irvine you can't miss out on with such an extensive menu and flavorful choices that is peak breakfast food, both sweet and savory. We got the blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes and truly their pancakes are one of the fluffiest I had, and also incredibly moist (dry pancakes?? they dont know her), so I commend them for that. Breakfast burrito is always a solid choice too, packed with protein and a refreshing salsa to balance out the savoriness. As I've been in my chilaquiles phase, I was super excited to see they had chilaquiles verde, and I was certainly not disappointed. The salsa is more tangy than most but nonetheless the verde + egg + tortilla + avocado combo was a 10/10, would eat again fs. Service is great and they have a lot of seating both indoor and outdoor, so definitely recommend Poached for a nice brunch date and I'll have to explore the rest of the menu if I can resist the chilaquiles next time.. read more

Poached Kitchen - Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Breakfast Burrito, Chilaquiles Verde - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

always a good brunch spot! usually a line to get in but not that long! food is good, service is ok too. have been here many times and always recommend! read more

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

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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

We sat outside on a beautiful Monday late morning. The patio has ample seating. The interior is simple, colorful modern. Both are very nice. It's set up to order at the counter. Staff were all very personable. We ordered two chicken and waffles, a three egg breakfast over easy, a side of hash browns, a coffee and a Vietnamese latte. The eggs were perfect. The waffles were super crisp with a terrific fluffy slightly chewy interior -real maple syrup, and the chicken was delicious. Wonderful meal. But at $90, it's not going to be a regular spot for us. read more

Finally able to cross this off my checklist and sad it took me this long! I waited about maybe 10 minutes or less to be let inside to order, you order at the counter, pay, then get seated. The inside is pretty lively maybe mid to high noise volume but still able to chat, nothing unbearable on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I got a scramble with a side of hash browns, an English muffin, and the Dulce de Leche latte. CHEFS KISS ALL AROUND! The scramble was perfectly balanced of savory delightfulness, I'm a big scramble girl so this was definitely one of favorites! Portions are large I feel like it could feed two, I had left overs. The hash browns were the perfect light golden crisp on the outside and super soft on the inside. My English muffin unfortunately had a tiny morsel of butter but nothing to ruin the meal. The Dulce de leche latte had the ideal amount of sweetness I wanted to chug it all in one gulp. My friend got the waffles and strawberry matcha and I haven't stopped thinking about the waffles since Sunday. I'm not big on waffles of pancakes I usually stick to the more zesty side of breakfast, but when I tried a bite they were probably the exact amount of fluff and density to ever come of a waffle ahahah I cannot wait to go back and possibly share this time to try out more dishes! 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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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

Order first sit down and they bring your food. Of course egg meals our eggs were fresh my veggie omelette was cooked perfect no over cooked the veggies were fresh and they give you a half of an avocado. The fruit was fresh and sweet. Clean and friendly. read more

Poached Kitchen - Veggie omelette fruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came here for weekend brunch with a friend. Despite a line, we were seated quickly on the patio, but immediately faced issues with sun exposure. I asked a busser to open an umbrella, but was told they were all broken--which I found hard to believe. Unfortunately, all available tables were in the sun. We tried to adjust, but as the sun moved, it became too uncomfortable to eat. Thankfully, a hostess noticed and moved us. On a positive note, the food was nicely plated and fresh. My friend and I enjoyed the lavender latte and dolce latte but felt the short rib omelet was average. The short rib lacked seasonings and was a bit bland. My morning scramble was cooked perfectly, and the chicken sausage was great. However, as we left, I saw that the 'broken' umbrellas were actually open for other guests, which was frustrating. The food is good, but the service experience leaves me on the fence about returning. read more

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My friends were in town for the week, and they really missed Poached Kitchen, so of course, we had to make a stop here for brunch. Not sure how bad the wait was since my friends got there first and waited in the line, but they did tell me that we had to get there asap before brunch service ends... Once they have a table open, they let you inside where you order and pay for the food first. There is both outdoor and indoor seating, but it was a full crowd, and all the tables were full. Once you order, you are seated at your table, and the food and drinks are brought to you. For the table (we were four people), we got Chilaquiles Verde, a breakfast burrito, Huevos Rancheros, and, to wrap it up, we got a classic waffle. Everything was a super solid choice. The portion sizes were just perfect for sharing. It was more than enough that everyone was able to enjoy each thing, and we still had lots left over! By default, all the eggs were sunny-side-up eggs, so if you have a different egg preference, you can let them know and they'll make your eggs differently. My favorite of the four items we got was the Huevos Rancheros. I especially liked the crispiness of the hash browns, and it really just paired so well with the eggs and other toppings. I also like the chilaquiles verde. It gave a different flavor profile, it was a bit on the tangy side, and while fresh, the tortilla chips gave a nice crunch. If you are looking for something a bit hefty, then the breakfast burrito might be it. I tried a bit of it, and it was super filling, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to try the rest of the things that were ordered. It was really good, the bacon provided a nice crunch to the mostly soft fillings, and the tomatoes gave it a little refreshing bite. Finally, the classic waffle... what can you expect? It was simply a yummy waffle with some berries! The waffle was light and fluffy, and the berries were fresh. Overall, the food was good, and the service was good. Definitely would love to come back again if I'm looking for brunch. read more

Poached Kitchen - classic waffle + Chilaquiles Verde - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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This was a pretty good brunch spot. We ordered the steak and eggs and the chicken and waffles. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium and the multigrain toast with the strawberry jam was exceptional. The chicken and waffles were very flavourful and came with a side of county fried gravy to help balance out the sweetness from the waffles. My only complaint with the food is the hashbrowns. The hashbrowns are not crunchy and seemed more like mashed potatoes. It was ok with the steak and eggs but it was not a good addition to the chicken and waffles. Overall, i'd definitely come back. The inside is clean and aesthetic and the service was good. read more

Poached Kitchen - steak and eggs, fried chicken and waffles, and a side of hashbrowns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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

Cool Breakfast/Brunch spot. Modern interior. Patio seating. Clean restrooms. Lots of parking out front. You order at the register first and you take your number to your table. You still get table service. FYI: You might be tempted to helping yourself to a cup of water at the water station as I did. But there is a sign that says. " Do not touch" which is still confusing for a first time visitor. Until i realized that although you pay first, they still have table service. The service is quick and friendly. The menu is varied and is focused mainly on breakfast items and especially eggs with a strong Mexican and maybe Korean cuisine influence as well. But the menu is not limited to breakfast items. They also serve Pancakes, sandwiches, salads etc.. and of course Coffees, Lattés, Cappuccino, hot chocolate, soft beverages, beer, wine and fresh squeezed OJ. I had the Birria short rib Benedict with hash brown and the Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pancake. The Birria short rib Benedict was very flavorful. The eggs were perfectly poached. The yolk was more of an orangey color which is consistent with most organic free range chicken eggs. The hashbrowns were warm, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes came as a stack of three very big buttermilk pancakes. Still hot and topped with a little bit of blueberry compost, some fresh blueberries, a lemon Ricotta whipped cream and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. The whole thing was garnished with some fresh mint leaves. And on the side, a very light maple like syrup. Everything tasted really good. Prices are average. Overall, I really liked it and I recommend trying poached kitchen. read more

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For a random Thursday at 8 am this place was popping! It filled up quick! They also had classic 80s jams playing, respect. The food was great as well. The seasonal waffles were so good! And also so pretty. Everything else was great as well. Great service too! I can understand why this is such a popping breakfast place. read more

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I would put this below mid. Nothing had flavor and it is comparable to hotel food. It was pricey for the amount of food. The pictures definitely look better than it tastes. The service was good they were kind waiters read more

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

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

The food was delicious as usual when I visited today. But I would appreciate it if Poached Kitchen put a couple of wheelchair accessible tables inside the restaurant so that I don't have to eat outdoors in the patio on a cold winter morning. The larger four-top tables on the patio are the only ones I can fit my wheelchair underneath. They used to have a couple of accessible tables inside (that were labeled with a wheelchair icon) but now all they have are the two-tops and pushing two of them together does not make them any more accessible to my wheelchair. The staff was very accommodating, as always. read more

The food is good and amazing! It was fresh..someone told me if it was a bit pricey, but if you look at the portions and the freshness, it is all worth it! The only thing that my friend was not too happy, it was her steak.. she asked for medium rare, what she got was medium well... but other than that everything was good, the service is quick and fast. The place is not big, so if you have a big party, it might be a bit of a wait for the table, but I do see a sign of "Reserved" place on couple of tables, so maybe you can call the place to reserve your table first. They do have inside dining and outside dining... read more

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Delicious food. Quick once you ordered. We got the Short Rin Omelette and the Birria Benedict . Iced American and coffee. Everything was super rich and hearty. The wait can be long if you go after 9:30 AM. We got there at 9 and only had to wait about 10 min. read more

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My neighbor recommended this spot and it just so happened to be near my office in Park Place so I was able to walk to it for brunch. It's a nice big brightly lit spot with lots of outdoor seating. The service is quick and friendly and most importantly the food is great. read more

Poached Kitchen has become one of our go to breakfast spots and for good reason. We have been here a few times now and honestly have never had a bad meal. This time I got the Morning Scramble with bacon which is always my favorite and it was perfect once again. The eggs are creamy and airy, never dry or overcooked, and they hold together nicely. The cream sauce with the bacon on top adds just the right flavor, crispy and tangy. Their sourdough is great too and makes the best little egg and scramble sandwich. The hash browns are usually the highlight for me. Perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside with a soft inside, not soggy or greasy, just the right balance. My wife and I usually split a salad on the side and it is always fresh and a nice touch. We have also tried a few of their other dishes in the past and everything has been excellent. The salmon lox Benedict was amazing and their short rib omelette is another standout. The portions are generous and satisfying. The owner is super sweet and you can tell he really cares about the details when it comes to both food and drinks. The line is always long every time we come but that only shows how popular and consistent this place is. It has definitely become our regular Sunday after church spot and a place we will keep coming back to. read more

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Service was quick. Food was delicious. Restaurant was bright and welcoming. We can around 1pm do it wasn't too crowded. They blocked out a few tables as "reserved" but I think it's just for easier management. Chicken and waffles 3.5/5. Waffles deserve 6/5 but the chicken was tooooooo dried. I'll recommend getting the waffles without the fried chicken. Benny was very unique. The English muffins were quite special, and they didn't turn soggy after the sauce and yolk. The poached eggs were perfection. Hash browns were warm, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. This one is a keeper. read more

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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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Delicious Sunday brunch! Even though they were busy, the service was quick, warm, and very attentive. The staff was genuinely nice and welcoming. Great food and great experience highly recommend! read more

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Always a great brunch spot and worth waiting in line. Even on a busy Sunday morning, we were able to get seated in ample time. Once inside you order from a kiosk and take a number to get seated. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Ambiance is always very vibrant. Service is solid. Whenever we needed something, servers were very efficient. We really enjoy the food every time we come here. Love how everything is made in house and fresh. We always love getting their seasonal waffle flavors. This time we ordered the seasonal waffle with fig jam and kiwis. The flavor was amazing. The waffle was perfectly crispy despite all the toppings. The homemade cream on top was exceptional along with the homemade fig jam. Always a must get when I visit! Additionally, we tried the Egg Benedict. This is also a repeat order for us. The eggs are perfectly poached and the hollandaise sauce is delicious. We always love their hash browns. My friends tried the ricotta pancakes which were also very flavorful. My other friend ordered the chilaquiles. It was both their first time and said it was the best brunch spot they've ever been to. Drinks were very good. The fresh squeezed orange juice was amazing. We also tried a caramel latte which was solid. Overall, we always have a pleasant experience eating here. Food is always flavorful and consistent. read more

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

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Food was really good. Will visit again . Cashier seemed a bit distracted when we ordered, however, staff was nice. Place does have a long line to be seated. read more

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We had brunch here this week and it was delicious. I had the house poached eggs. So good, the eggs were yummy - they look like balls! Hash browns were crispy, flavorful. The fresh squeezed OJ hit the spot. All told it was good! read more

Excellent food and service! So glad I found this place! I go down to Irvine a few times a month. Definitely coming back! You order at the counter and they reserve you a table. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating but it gets packed. After that your drinks and food are brought to the table. Coffee drinks were great! I had a Lavendar Latte. Food was very tasty. My son and I shared the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, so good, and Chicken & Waffles. Both were excellent picks! Ricotta Pancakes should be light, and these were! Can not wait to have them again! My husband ordered the Classic Breakfast, his usual, but sampled from our dishes as well. Parking was easy, in a shopping center with several different lots. read more

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This is a great fast casual brunch spot. You will order at the front and then they'll find a table for you. The staff is super friendly, too. I ordered the house Benedict with fruit on the side, which was very delicious! And, the portion was a good size. Not pictured in my review is an omelette from someone else in my party, but in case you order the omelette, just know you get A LOT. So, it's worth the price! The service is pretty quick as I think we only waited about 10 minutes. They've got a decent space with a lot of tables and heaters outside. Theres also a lot of parking as it's located in a shopping center. Overall, they do a great job and I would recommend trying this place out when you get the brunch craving. read more

Poached Kitchen - Jasmine Green Tea - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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As typical of any brunch place in SoCal, the line is going to be long on a Sunday morning, but I feel that Poached did a good job turnout tables and getting people seated. With that said, they really do enforce the 90 minute dining period and will let you know to leave. I don't want to make it sound like they were being aggressive about it, but I get it. What I did not appreciate is that they charged automatic gratuity to my check for only 2 people. Although not illegal and could be charged as a service fee, I don't appreciate not giving what I felt was appropriate for tipping. I ordered the Brunch Burrito which consisted of short rib meat, eggs, and other signature breakfast burrito ingredients. The short rib meat was pretty bland with lack of seasoning or sauce. You would really need some type of sauce for the whole burrito to enjoy it. It's a decent establishment overall, but be prepared with the things that I listed. read more

We ordered the chilaquiles verde, chicken and waffles, and yogurt. I've been wanting to try this place for the longest time but so glad I did. The food was delicious. My favorite was the chicken and waffles. The chicken, waffles, and syrup went so well together and I'm currently salivating as I write this. There was a long line when we went for brunch but I think it's worth the wait. They have a lot of seats available but it may take some time to get seated. I'll definitely be back! read more

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I never knew this place existed but I have this friend who had her heart set on it for a while. We were hanging in the area and took the opportunity. It's in a nice shopping complex, clean restaurant, very friendly staff - quite a decent welcoming all around. She got the salmon benedict with a matcha drink, and I got the classic chicken and waffle plate with water. She was very pleased with her salmon plate but not so much the beverage. From her mouth: "the look was there but the flavor was sadly missing." I was pretty happy with my chicken and waffle plate, although it was absolutely nothing special and likely not worth paying the premium price. This chain has a pretty heavy crowd of followers. Our first visit certainly has us feeling out a second. I vote that all customers explore the menu beyond the basics. read more

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Brunch is in and so is Poached Kitchen! Chicken and Waffles: 4/5 The waffles were perfectly crispy and generously dusted with powdered sugar. The pork gravy added a savory touch and was a great dip for the chicken. I do wish the chicken breading held together better since some pieces fell apart easily. A little more syrup would have also helped balance the dish. Service: 4/5 Poached Kitchen uses a casual ordering system where you order at the front and seat yourself. There isn't a designated server for your table, so you'll need to flag someone down if you need water or utensils. The staff was still attentive and cleaned tables regularly. Ambiance: 5/5 The space was bright and welcoming with both indoor and outdoor seating. The decor and natural light made it feel like the perfect brunch spot. Overall: Poached Kitchen offers a diverse menu, quality food, and a super cute vibe. The food came out hot and quickly, which is always a plus. It's a great place to catch up with friends over brunch or lunch. I just wish the portion sizes and plate balance were a bit better. Plenty of parking. read more

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

Met up with family from out of town before going shopping. The blueberry pancakes were amazing! Will definitely be back. read more

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The waffles are great. Best I've ever had. My bacon and latte was good too but it was pricey

We came in on a Saturday morning around 10AM and it took about 10 minutes before we came in. You first have to order your food and then they will give you a table number to sit at. The interior felt a bit crowded in their seating and they even had outdoor seating. We ordered the house Benedict, ube pancakes, and Machaca scramble. I was really excited for the ube pancakes but it was really just an ube "frosting" on top of regular pancakes and it didn't have much flavor. The Machaca scramble was really good after seasoning it myself and adding hot sauce and overall filling. I think the food did lack seasoning and my disappointment in the pancakes did bring my rating down. read more

Poached Kitchen - Top: House Benedict with hashbrown Middle: Ube pancake Bottom: Machaca Scramble with hasbtown - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California