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

Excellent food, quick service, pleasant atmosphere. Appreciate fine organization with assigning seating and that you order at the counter before sitting. This helps keep the wait time down without a reservation system. We went on both a Saturday and a Sunday morning, with very minimal wait time. Food was made correctly and ingredients were fresh and tasty. Excellent fresh squeezed OJ and vanilla latte. Perfect menu size providing lots of options without being overwhelming. I'd definitely eat here again. I plan to try other locations as well. read more

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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Place super cute, menu options amazing. Gentleman who took our order might have been a manager also great customer service. Host at the front sitting people should be someone else. She didn't say hello, she wasn't smiling and looked annoyed and unhappy. That person is very important and she was also rude to the people before us. read more

Poached Kitchen - Chilaquiles, blueberry pancakes and huevos rancheros - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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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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

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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food is fine but service was poor. i asked for togo boxes, pointing to my maple syrup and jam too. the guy came out w just the boxes, but no small containers or bags for my multiple boxes. i said could you get me those too. he looked annoyed and said "anything else you need?!" there's literally only two other tables on a weekday in the whole restaurant so it wasn't busy. i did not expect the aggression for something that should've just been a given if im asking for boxes for 2 meals including syrup. i don't like the system they require of tipping at the front before the meal has even come out yet read more

We saw great reviews for Poached Kitchen on Yelp, so we decided to stop in for breakfast as a family. My wife ordered the green chilaquiles, I had the brunch burrito, and our daughter got the kids burger with fries. Starting with the positives--the atmosphere was great and the customer service was excellent. Very friendly staff and a nice, relaxed vibe. My daughter's burger was decent, and the fries were definitely tasty. However, the food itself was a bit of a letdown overall. My wife felt the chilaquiles were just okay--not bad, but nothing memorable. My biggest disappointment was the brunch burrito, which was extremely soggy. I'll be including a photo with this review, but I was honestly bummed to spend $20 on something that felt waterlogged and fell apart almost immediately. For a total of about $52, we were hoping for a better overall food experience, especially given the hype and reviews. Unfortunately, while the service and atmosphere were strong, the food didn't quite live up to expectations. read more

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

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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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

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

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

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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This is a decent breakfast spot with a cute, comfortable interior and nice outdoor seating. The service model is odd: you order and tip before you sit, but then the service ends. They bring the food, but you'll have to flag someone down if you need anything, as they don't check in. I had the Classic Breakfast. The bacon was the best part, and the freshly squeezed orange juice was a highlight. However, the cold brew had a weird aftertaste (heads up if you like sweet coffee!), and the hash browns were a big miss--they tasted like fried mashed potatoes. Overall, it was just okay. I wouldn't suggest it, but I'd tag along if friends wanted to go. read more

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Everyone in the family loves coming here for brunch. Food is amazing. Service is great. Crystal makes the best lattes. We especially love the salmon benedict, breakfast burrito, and french toast. read more

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"Dang, does anyone in Orange County work?" Was one of the first few things that came to mind when I arrived at this establishment on a weekday morning, shortly after landing in OC for a quick getaway. It wasn't even close to like leisurely brunch time (though when is brunch never leisurely), it was like 8am-9am, and the place was packed, and line out the door. Like IHOP packed, but not everyone was tourists or just locals who don't know any better. 8am-9am that's me barely making it through the door, struggling hard to just order my usual at Philz Coffee, 8am-9am at Poached Kitchen almost everyone was gussied up VSCO style and already maxed out their phone storage from taking so many selfies (am I projecting, maybe, but I don't wear VSCO). I never knew this place existed, nor was I originally planning on checking it out. It was just the only thing opened the time I arrived in town that was nearby. The food was ok. Vibes were good. I guess I had too many Crepevines or breakfast places like this back home that I wasn't really wow-ed or super impressed. It's definitely a good place if you want to eat at a bustling restaurant, and food seems to be well plated. This place doesn't serve Splenda, or any kind of alternative sweetener that doesn't have a weird after taste towards the end (looking at you, Stevia). Read the peer edited medical studies on sweeteners again. I am a firm believer in science, just because it's "natural" doesn't mean it's better. Also the onus isn't on you to make that health determination, I mean y'all are serving alcohol which wrecks our kidneys, pancreas, slows brain function, and much more. Not sure what a little sweetener that doesn't suck and has a 0 glycemic index could do in that regard. read more

Poached Kitchen - Avocado Toast ($15, pretty good and filling) - 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

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

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

THIS PLACE WAS AMAZING! Super quick service and lots of available seating. I love how casual this brunch place is. You order at the front and they bring it out. The breakfast burrito is packed with eggs, cheese, potatoes, and bacon. The salsa pairs perfectly with the burrito. The blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes are absolutely heaven. Three fluffy pancakes are stacked on top of each other. I love the blueberry compote on top and the whipped cream. I would definitely recommend trying this place! read more

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

Great food. Fresh and good. I love the breakfast burrito, waffle, and pancake. Service: great service and attentive. Ambiance: modern and clean. read more

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Looking for a brunch spot in the Irvine area and came across Poached Kitchen during my search. There was a long line outside but it moved along pretty good. You order at the counter and are given a table number which you sit down at. It was our first time and we asked for a couple recommendations and the girl was very helpful. I did try to order a drink on the menu but it wasn't available. She said it was just stuck on there :( For entrees we got the Birria Benedict, Huevos Rancheros and a Yogurt Bowl with a side of toast. For drinks we got an iced Strawberry Matcha & a hot Vietnamese Latte. As busy as it was our food still came out pretty quickly. Everything looked so good! The drinks were good. The yogurt bowl also came with a side of honey which went well with the yogurt. Fruit was fresh and the granola was good. The huevos rancheros was tasty and had a little kick. The hash brown was just the way I like it - crispy on both sides. The birria benedict was also good, the meat was tender and flavorful. Overall we liked Poached Kitchen and would come back again! read more

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The service and ambiance were both fine on Memorial Day for an early brunch but I have to say the food was super mediocre. My Chicken Al Pastor Melt was bland and soggy. The chicken was sparse and tasted like tandoori chicken instead of anything like Al pastor. The side salad didn't have any topping other than dressing. The hibiscus ice tea didn't have tea in it that I could taste and seemed like just a mix. My friend wasn't a fan of her salmon Benedict and said the lavender latte tasted like fake syrup and didn't drink it. Don't understand how there is such a long line outside... read more

Poached Kitchen - Chicken Al Pastor Melt (w salad instead of fries) - 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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I'm pretty confused on how this place has so many good reviews. I order the pancakes and somehow they were so flavorless?? The butter did not taste like butter, it tasted like water? When I got to the center where the butter was my pancakes just tasted watery and soggy. Very disappointing. I also ordered scrambled eggs which were delicious so I'll give them that read more

This was my first time here and even though it was pretty crowded we were seated fairly quickly. My favorite food items were the pancakes with fruit on top. It was absolutely delicious. The fresh squeezed OJ was also a table favorite. Everything was fresh and kept me full and satisfied without being too heavy. When I am back in Irvine, this restaurant will be first on my list! read more

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The man who appeared to be the manager was very rude. It felt like he was ordering customers around instead of providing good service, which really ruined the dining experience. The atmosphere was not pleasant. read more

Run!!! don't walk to Poached!!! Went with my gal friends and I had their strawberry matcha and avocado toast with sunny side up eggs! Strawberry Matcha - the jam purée at the bottom was the best I've tried. Jam had a sweet taste that didn't overpower the matcha. The matcha was vibrant and yummy. Not too astringent. I got it with whole milk and the milk was delicious. I would say it is a bit heavy on milk drink. Avocado Toast - I liked it, feta was a bit strong for me especially with the sourdough so I'm glad the avocado was there. Egg was runny and perfect. 5 stars for service and presentation read more

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Food is absolutely amazing, service is great. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it.

I didn't realize that people line up for this place so it was good that we got there mid rush. It was still a 10-15 minute wait though. I like how they assign you seating already so they actually tell you the table number. Parking can be tricky, depending on the time you get there. They have a lot of options, make sure to check out their seasonal items! I ordered the Cuban sandwich and it was delicious! The serving is big so I ended up taking my leftovers home. Service was really good, I can see why it's so popular. 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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Was excited due to the raving reviews of this place. Ended up here one morning because the only other brunch restaurants open near me on a Monday at 9am are coffee shops and we wanted a nice sit down brunch. They are also dog friendly on their patio so we brought our pup! Plenty of parking and large patio outside. It was pretty clean. The establishment is an order at counter and take a number to your seat type place. Every entree was pretty much $16+ (expensive) but we are always willing to pay for great quality/ experience. Service was okay and pretty average. We ordered the breakfast burrito and salmon toast along with a dulce de leche latte and Vietnamese latte. Burrito and salmon toast were a good portion size but not really worth the price ($17 each). Dulce de leche latte w oat milk was mid ($7.50) and Vietnamese coffee ($7.50) was good but not worth the price. Overall, I'm not sure I'll be back due to the portion size and prices. Especially because of the ton of other great food places that are around the area. read more

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

$18.32 Insane! Need more characters but, $18.32 for a fast casual, order and pay at the counter, take out breakfast burrito! read more

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

Poached Kitchen never disappoints! The breakfast burrito and chilaquiles verde are one of the must-try! They are on the pricier side but it's normal nowadays for brunch spots. They can't accomodate too many strollers due to their limited space, so please keep in mind if you are planning a brunch with infants! read more

The classic eggs benedict here features perfectly poached eggs on top of a soft English muffin. It is my new favorite spot for a calm and comforting morning breakfast. read more

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

Really good brunch spot. The food was fresh and well seasoned and everything came out nicely plated.