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

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

See all

"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

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

See all

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

Had the most delicious short rib omelette at Poached Kitchen in Irvine, absolutely outstanding! The flavors were rich, the ingredients tasted truly natural, and you can tell they use real, quality products. The staff was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and on top of everything. Even though it was busy, the food came out in record time. And honestly, you know a place is good when people are willing to wait for it and this spot is definitely worth the wait. I'm already looking forward to my next visit so I can try more items off their menu. I even heard they may be introducing Dubai chocolate pancakes, if that's true, I'll definitely be making a special trip back! Great place, great vibe, thoughtful decor, and consistently excellent service. Highly recommend Poached Kitchen Irvine! read more

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

See all

$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

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

See all

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

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

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

See all

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

We used to love to come here every weekend but the last few times we went were disappointing. The quality of the food just isn't the same. The eggs Benedict had the egg cooked all the way one day and we had to send it back. Another day we ordered the chilaquiles and the tostada was so hard you couldn't even bite or cut through it. They gave us our money back but that wasn't the point. The food just isn't the same and we aren't going to be going back anymore. 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

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

underrated breakfast spot if you ask me. i dream about their waffles every night, it's so light, fluffy and airy but also so crispy. seriously it so freaking good. the breakfast burrito, omelettes and eggs benedict's are also my favorites. once you order the food comes out so fast, i also think the portions are on the bigger side. if you're looking for a good breakfast spot this is my go to recommendation! read more

Poached Kitchen - salmon eggs benedict, chicken and waffles, breakfast burrito - 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

See all

Love having breakfast here. Everything I've tried is great but my favorite item has to be the breakfast burrito! Great service as well every time we dine here at both Irvine and Anaheim locations. read more

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

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

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

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

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

See all

Great quality breakfast! The coffee was really good too. The staff was very helpful. Clean restaurant.

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

Came here on a weekend and there was a bit of a wait. The line is out the door but it moves rather quickly. I got some poached pear French toast and was pleasantly surprised. It was delicious and no crumbs were left! read more

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

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

See all

Recommend this place for Brunch... Efficient service My favorite spot for the weekend read more

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

See all