I've been wanting to try Bopomofo's nori fish sandwich ever since I read the rave in the LA Times. It did not disappoint! It was a like a fancy version of McDonald's Filet-o-Fish, with a piece of fish at least twice the size. It came on a brioche bun (way better than McD's), a healthy dose of tartar sauce, red onion and cheddar. I added a side of tater tots for $3 more, which I shared. It was the perfect-sized lunch! Our order was over $20, so I was able to add on the Guava Wang for free, It was just the right amount of sweetness and a nice treat! I ordered online, and my order was ready on time. Service was friendly too. One of these days, I'm coming back for those maps tots! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Guava Wang - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Bopomofo was something that I tried years ago at the San Gabriel location and didn't end up enjoying their drinks. After trying it again at this location, I could say it was a much better experience. The store itself is located in a large plaza with other businesses. There are lots of parking spaces but it was busy when I went around 6:30 pm. The store doesn't have any seating inside but there are some tables out in front. There's a tablet in the corner for ordering and paying. American Express is accepted here. Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger: This was my favorite item from the visit. They got the flavor down to what you'd expect and makes a good asian fusion dish. Pancake Scallion Pancake Chicken Wrap: Another asian fusion dish that was interesting on paper. I felt it was an okay flavor, especially with the sauce. It was a good first try but not something that I'd go out of the way for again. Fish Burger: Not something that really unique. Flavors tasted very similar to a filet o fish. Hojicha Latte: Unlike other ones that I've tried, the hojicha flavor was very vibrant and didn't get lost in the milk. read more

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Bopomofo Cafe is finally in Irvine, so I had to try the famous Wong Fu cafe! It's a small shop, but the space does the job. It's located in the Alton Plaza, which has plenty of parking, so no worries there. We walked in and were greeted right away. The cashier was super nice and recommended a couple of things for us to try. What we got: Spicy Popcorn Chicken - 8/10 I've been looking for a good popcorn chicken spot outside of Tastea, and this wasn't bad! Lots of spicy seasoning on top, and the aioli it comes with pairs really well. Watermelon Oat Milk - 6/10 Nothing super special for a seasonal drink. It pretty much tastes like a creamy watermelon drink haha! Not bad, but probably wouldn't get it again. Lychee Pear Blossom - 9/10 Big fan of this one! I got it a little less sweet, and it was delicious. Just the perfect blend of lychee and pear without being overly sweet. Highly recommend this one! Overall, glad I finally got to try Bopomofo and would definitely come back for the Lychee Pear Blossom! read more

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We always assumed this place was just drinks but I managed to walk by at just the right moment when the electronic menu boards swapped over to a picture of food. I tried out the popcorn chicken bento (spicy) here and it was great. It's about $15 with tax for the spicy version and came with about a cup of popcorn chicken (complete with dried basil and a side of sauce), a scoop of rice and a scoop of cabbage salad. It wasn't a huge portion of food but it was the perfect size for a lighter meal and it was the right amount for me. The staff member asked if I wanted to add any sides, such as an egg, but I declined. My bento took about ten minutes but the chicken is clearly fried to order. The employees here are very friendly and engaging with smiles on their faces so that's much appreciated. I would definitely come back again. I actually like the fast food/to go style set up because honestly, I'm tired of everything being a sit-down place that necessitates tipping. read more

I usually go to the Artesia location but I tried out the Irvine location for the first time! This location is to-go ONLY-- if anyone was looking for indoor seating. The artesia location has indoor seating though :) There is a lunch combo deal right now with regular/spicy popcorn chicken and your choice of drink!! Definitely a good portion for a single person having lunch alone. The service was quite slow (maybe abt 15 min standing) but the food was good! I chose dark meat (there's also white meat), and chose spicy which was not too spicy but did have a nice kick. I think the lunch combo is worth it-- if you're looking to grab and go some milk tea and popcorn chicken :) read more

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I got a blueberry matcha, it was made with fresh blueberries and it was delicious! The blueberries did overpower the matcha where I didn't get that strong of a matcha flavor but it was still good! Plenty of outdoor seating, no indoor seating. The lady who helped us seemed very fake friendly. read more

We've been here a few times and every single time feel very unsatisfied. We love bopomofo- Cerritos and would rather drive 45 minutes for better quality food and drinks. The wait for our order is always more than 20 minutes- not sure why when there's only a few orders ahead of us. The drinks are light and underwhelming. You don't really taste the tea in milk tea. I do love the lactose free milk and nondairy milk options! The food is expensive and portion doesn't justify the price especially when quality isn't there. Walnut shrimp sandwich didn't taste as fresh and there seems to be more fillers. Fried chicken scallops pancake wrap just didn't do it for us. I would have preferred the chicken sandwich with pineapple buns, but that's not on the menu. The braised pork rice was good but a bit too pungent of Star anise and bay leaf. The store is quite small and only enough for an ordering counter and 2 kiosks. Service, interaction with staff was minimal. read more

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I decided to stop by this cafe to grab a small meal, which I think is perfect for those who don't want to eat something so heavy. This place is ran by mainly ordering through the screen inside and waiting to pick up afterwards. I waited about 10 ish minutes or so. I ordered the honey walnut shrimp burger and black sesame matcha latte. I was excited about the burger because I don't usually see people include honey walnut shrimp inside. It was super crunchy, however, I do wish I got to taste more of the walnut shrimp. If you're a huge fan of black sesame then I would definitely order the drink because I think its flavor overpowers the matcha. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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I've loved bopomofo for years! I think the Irvine location Isnt as good at the Artesia location in terms of drinks and food but it still holds up amazing! Drinks are very unique and the food is very yummy. This location is really small, theres no indoor seating which is sad but the service is fast and friendly! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Jasmine Milk Tea and Honey Roasted Oolong Milk Tea - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

It's not Taiwan or 626, but it'll do. I had a sudden craving for Lu ruo fan and decided to bite the bullet to try here. Last time I came here, the boba was quite whatever so I wasn't sure about the food. $15 for a plate which seemed a bit pricey to me, considering it's pork and rice, but I was pleasantly surprised. It had enough sauce, was flavorful enough with the fried shallots and shiitake mushrooms, veggies + jammy egg. The pieces of pork are cut not too large or too small. Overall enjoyable! I ate two bites in the car and my husband inhaled the rest after he failed to not hear me say "eat half". read more

Been seeing this place on my tiktok for you page and had to give it a try! I definitely see the hype with the spicy popcorn chicken, it packs some heat with that crunch. The service was nice and helpful, they recommended me the dark chicken for my first time. The boba was great as well, refreshing and not too sweet. Has plenty of out door seating so perfect this summer if you want a place to hang out with some good drinks and food! read more

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TLDR Pretty good milk tea with fun recipes. The seasonal sweet much better than the standard menu goods. Everything seems to be made in house but very little seems made fresh aside from espresso. Also expect service to be centered on online orders. Bopomofo is a simple shop with a visible kitchen in the back and drink bar in the front. Ordering is best done online or on the self service tablet as it seems the barista doubles as cashier. Most of the staff I noticed was in the back hustling and bustling. I did notice several online orders were fulfilled before my order was made, and I was served well before 2 parties that ordered before me with the cashier. The more digital you go, the more priority it seems. Service 5/10 Black sesame matcha latte Strong matcha flavor comes through with a decently smooth texture though it's a bit grainy at the bottom (and not from the black sesame, definitely a difference). Not as creamy as I would have liked either. 6/10 Black sesame cold brew oat latte This was fantastic. Tasted exactly like black sesame soup. Not too sweet, very nutty, and a great balance of grit and smoothness. Didn't know I'd like this dessert as a drink or like it cold; color me impressed! This one is a winner winner for me 10/10 Drinks vary in quality. Would be curious to come back to try food. Looks good on the menu. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Black sesame matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Having been a fan of Wong Fu Productions ever since their second video (my ex was friends with one of the guys in it), I had been wanting to check out Bopomofo for the longest time. Sadly, the few trips I made down to SoCal never brought me close to any of their locations, but the stars finally aligned here in Irvine. And I have to say - even though it took far longer than I ever would've liked, it was worth the wait! Sort of, considering how it still took me a couple of trips down here before I could finally make it happen...ha. Although this Bopomofo is notably smaller than how the others look in photos, it doesn't take away from the fact that this place is pretty awesome. Despite how their modest size dictates why they have more of a takeout set-up, there's still plenty of seating right in front. More importantly, though, the menu still has all of the same innovative and enticing food and drink options, like their Mapo Tots, Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger, Black Sesame Matcha Latte, and Ba-La Matcha. In fact, if anything, the menu actually had more than we expected to find, as we saw a couple of things listed that only seem to be offered here! -- BLACK SESAME MATCHA LATTE (75% sweet) - Matcha Latte with Black Sesame Puree...$7.25 This was great! Macha lattes have become one of my default orders and I love black sesame, so this pairing was perfect for me. The slight bit of nuttiness worked really well with the matcha. I do think 50% sweet might have been the way to go, but this wasn't bad as is. -- BA-LA (GUAVA) MATCHA (50% Sweet) - Guava Nectar, Matcha...$6.75 The second drink that caught our collective eye - we both love guava, so it wasn't a hard sell to try this one. Loved how well the fruitiness of the guava balanced the matcha, but my gf thought 50% was a little too sweet (FWIW, I thought it was perfect). -- BA-LA (GUAVA) MATCHA (25% sweet) with Taro added (+$0.75)...$6.75 We got this one only 25% sweet and we both agreed it was a little too light. Also, we both liked the taro, though I still prefer my drinks without toppings. -- TRIPLE STRAWERRY MATCHA LATTE (50% sweet) - Real Strawberry Puree, Strawberry Cold Foam, and Premium Matcha...$7.25 Not as intriguing as their other drinks, but I wanted to compare this to the Ba-La Matcha. While this wasn't too shabby (loved the strawberry flavor in this), I do think the Ba-La was better and just not as common. -- SCALLION PANCAKE CHICKEN WRAP - Salt & Pepper Chicken Tender, Scrambled Egg, and Thai Basil Wrapped in a Homemade Scallion Pancake with Sweet Soy Glaze...$9 We got this as a snack, but it was so filling! The chicken tender was surprisingly moist, the pancake was crisp and just the right thickness, and the glaze wasn't cloying, like we had feared. -- MAPO TOTS - Tater Tots topped with Hearty Mapo Tofu, Ground Pork, and Cheese...$13.75 I was most excited to try this and it didn't disappoint! The tots were as crispy as I could've reasonably hoped for, the mapo tofu and ground pork were super flavorful, and the cheese added a nice richness. SO GOOD! -- HONEY WALNUT SHRIMP BURGER - House-made Shrimp Patty, Honey-Wasabi-Yuzu Sauce, Candied Walnuts, Pickled Jalapenos, Red Onion, and Shredded Romaine on a Kings Hawaii Bun...$18.50 Along with the tots, this was the other item I was dying to try. And just like with the tots, this delivered! The shrimp patty was crispy and juicy and I loved how well the sauce, walnuts, and jalapenos complemented each other. I just wish it had the bolo bun! -- SPICY TAIWANESE FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH - Taiwanese Salt & Pepper Chicken Breast Filet, Napa Cabbage Slaw, Thai Basil Aioli, and Chinese Pickled Cucumbers on a Buttery Nini Bakery "Bolo" Bun...$17 Pretty solid, though, I thought both the shrimp burger and chicken wrap were better. For me, the highlight was the bun - super soft and I loved the bolo crust on top. While I enjoyed the chicken filet and all of the toppings, I just found the other two to be a bit more flavorful. As far as service goes, it was just as good as the food and drinks. Each time we've been here, the workers have always been on top of everything and I love how they all seem to be so genuinely warm and friendly. Also, even though it can take a while for food orders to come out, it's nice that their buzzers reach will reach you wherever you are in the complex (we'll usually do some shopping at the Ralph's or wander into The Game Chest while we wait). Between how much we've enjoyed the majority of the food and drinks we've tried and how great the service has been, Bopomofo has quickly become my favorite milk tea shop I've tried so far in OC. Yes, their prices are a little higher than other places out there, but I love the fact that they use real fruits and ingredients instead of powders or anything artificial. For that reason alone, and also the tots and shrimp sandwich, I'll definitely be back plenty more in the future! FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded up. read more

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OVERALL: Two stars for service and location. FOOD: Originally, I went to the West Hollywood location unexpectedly whereas every other bopomofo location was out of the way. Therefore, I was excited to finally head to one that had food because through their YouTube videos (wongfu ftw!), my mouth was drooling and wanting to try the mapo tofu (especially since I don't consume poultry). I was SO disappointed. Ninety percent were tater tots so much so people who shared it with me were like wtf is this; "I thought it was supposed to be mapo tofu but special" The rest were tiny bits of tofu. Then the entire thing was literally sitting in a pool of Lao gan ma. And it was freaking $13.50!!! Mad respect for the evenly thinly sliced green onions though! I also ordered jasmine milk tea with boba and pudding (something OG right? And I had to add the boba with the hopes they'll redeem themselves from last time) and guava fruit tea (who can resist that 20% discount?). Both were SUPER dilute. Boba was still hard in the middle and not chewy. I couldn't even finish either of the drinks. Pudding was good though. ***one person in my party who is born and raised in Taiwan legit said "they have to stop disrespecting Taiwan" -hahaha, sigh-*** SERVICE: The girl working the cashier was sooooo sweet. People mainly order via the one kiosk but the folks in front were taking so long so much so the girl allowed me to order with her. Drinks were done and sitting there. If I didn't see them (we went walking around in Ralphs), they probably would have no ice left since it was already partially melted which probably caused how dilute it was. About 10 minutes after I picked up the drinks, the food was finally ready. VIBEZ: lots of outdoor seating shared with other eateries in the area. No indoor seating. Lovely clean decor and very well lit. Gives you a pager which supposedly can work as far as Ralph's. Located in the Ralph's plaza with many many many eateries around. Located in close proximity to other plazas as well. Lots of free parking at your disposal. Would I come back? Definitely not and I should stop giving them chances. Even one of my friends who watched wongfu on the regular (because she also went to UCSD) said it was totally "meh" read more

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First time at Bopomofo and I was pleasantly surprised. While this is more of a pick-up/to-go place, there are lots of covered seating outdoors in this plaza so you can still have a dine-in experience. Came here early on a Friday and it wasn't too busy. They have someone at the register (super rare these days) and a kiosk for quick orders. We got two drinks, one from the seasonal menu and one from their main menu. Vineyard Green Tea | green tea shaken with real grape and pear juice - This was recommended and it was super refreshing. It's definitely more on the sweet side so if you don't want too sweet, you can try 50% sweetness. We got 75% which was a tad bit sweet but after the ice had melted, it was pretty balanced. BA-LA Matcha | pure guava nectar, layered with lactose-free milk & premium matcha - I had to try this because I rarely come across guava anything unless it's from Porto's. I'm a fan of strawberry matcha so this sounded pretty good in theory and is one of their popular drinks. While I wouldn't say this is better than strawberry matcha, I think it was a very good drink if you are a big fan of guava. The flavor comes through and works well with the matcha. We were told that the guava nectar can be a bit on the sweet side so I opted for 25%. I think given the earthiness of matcha, if I were to get this again, I would go with 50% on sweetness. Overall this was a great first experience. The staff was very nice. She took her time to recommend their drinks and also was very thoughtful in suggesting the sweetness modification. I would come back here again and try their other drinks. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - BA-LA Matcha (left) and Vineyard Green Tea (right) - I was too eager to drink the matcha so mixed it before I took a pic :( - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

We capped of OC Restaurant week by trying BOPOMOFO for our first time. There is no seating inside, but there is a lot of outside seating as their often is in Irvine shopping centers. The inside keyosk said their OC Restaurant Week deal was sold out, so we asked a worker and they told us they were running low on one of the items, but they could still put the order in for us. Thank you! We added a Scallion Pancake Chicken Wrap and a Strawberry Corn drink. We were a bit disappointed that it basically tasted like regular strawberry milk. Using a Scallion pancake as the wrap(er), was pretty good, though. The nori fish sandwich is drowning in tater sauce. The sauce is flavorful, but I wanted to taste the taiwanese spices in the batter more. The tots were a pretty interesting take on mapo tofu. I just wish there was more tofu because the soft texture added to the crispy tots was pretty nice. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Scallion Pancake Chicken Wrap - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Popcorn chicken spicy (ask for extra basil!) and mapo tofu tots are my favorite menus items! The mapo tofu has great flavor and not very mala (I can't handle too mala flavor). read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Popcorn chicken - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Bopomofo's interior is clean and well designed. The menu definitely drew me in. There is an iPad for ordering or you can order with someone. The service was fast and everyone was very nice! They even leave cute messages on their cups. This review is for the drinks as I still want to try their food items, which look great! I've tried a couple of Bopomofo drinks and each time has been hit or miss. I've been on a recent Hojicha kick, but I found their Hojicha latte to be really grainy that it didn't feel like it justified the price. We also tried their seasonal Sesame Matcha in January which was also alright. I'd be excited to try the food but might hold off on the drinks for now unless a seasonal option looks good! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Hojicha Latte + Black Sesame Matcha - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

New location - used to be another boba place. It's a very small ordering place to go. There's really not that much space to wait inside the store so you have to order and wait outside. So if it rains, this place may not be ideal. They do have seating area outside. Once again outside. Usually not a problem as the weather is usually nice. I got a blueberry Matcha with egg pudding and Boba. The Boba was a little bit hard today. The drink was good. Parking can be challenging at this location . There's always a lot of traffic around. read more

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I was impressed by the guava matcha (Ba-La Matcha) drink, but I don't think real matcha lovers would love it because guava overpowers the whole matcha taste. It was refreshing and light. 10/10 in my opinion Strawberry basil ginger lemonade 6/10. I love all those ingredients, however I could hardly taste the basil, ginger was overpowering, and I think I expected a lot more from the combination of those 3 ingredients. Blueberry Wang was a 5/10. I think of it as a blueberry shake. My daughter loved it. Service was relatively quick for it being lunchtime and the employees were very kind and helpful. Place looks very clean and well kept. I'm still going to give a couple more drinks a try. Maybe I just didn't choose right for me :) read more

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I was excited to visit the Irvine location of Bopomofo, which opened after my last visit to Orange County. I used to go to the SGV and Artesia locations when I lived in SoCal, so it's nice to see they've expanded to multiple other cities. I came with my friend during my visit and got the black sesame matcha latte with oat milk. I was informed that the black sesame puree is dairy free for the win! I don't remember seeing this drink on the lineup before, but it was great and well balanced at 50% sweetness adjustment I requested. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - black sesame matcha with oat milk - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

I was surprised to learn that most boba spots in the general Irvine area don't offer popcorn chicken. However, Bopomofo specializes in this, providing a generous amount and you can even choose if you want dark or white meat. They also have been steadily increasing their food offerings. When I first visited months ago, it was just the chicken and the shrimp burger. But now there seems to be quite a good variety of options (and unique fusion items)! For drinks, I've been stuck on the Ba-La Matcha, which is a matcha with guava puree. The guava creates this creamy consistency which is really nice. Their boba is also pretty solid. Where I have to dock points...1st the venue is tiny. I guess this is meant to be a grab-and-go, but with so many food options now, it would be nice for there to be sit-down spaces inside. The outdoor seating in the center is quite vast, so just pray that it's a good day (not too hard to achieve in Irvine). Their non-matcha drinks are just not that great. The assam black milk tea was quite mediocre - tasted more like sugar water than any tea. A boba shop should have milk teas locked down. For that reason, I consider this more of a fun snack shop rather than a dedicated boba spot. read more

The strawberry corn milk is my forever go-to at bopomofo! but this review is specifically for the 02/14/26 limited special -- the Nami Rose Matcha~ first off I love that BPMF is doing collabs with other Asian-owned businesses, & hope they do more events like this in the future! The service was quick, and as many people have already mentioned in previous reviews, plenty of outdoor seating in the plaza to enjoy your drinks! I'm not a huge matcha girlie just bc of past experiences at other establishments with grainy matcha, but this was delicious! I was worried that either component of the tea would overpower each other, but the rose tea complemented the matcha so well. And ofc you can never go wrong with an order of popcorn chicken. prices are definitely more on the expensive side for tea & snacks, but the quality is worth it. Whenever I'm in OC, I will always try to make a pitstop at bopo read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Nami Rose Matcha collab + popcorn chicken! - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Consistently great across the board. We ordered the new items, but the walnut shrimp burger is still the fan favorite. We also ordered the scallion pancake chicken and pork belly, both were pretty good. The triple berry marcha was okay and the orange phoenix was refreshing. Food takes an average of 15-20 minutes to prepare. There's no indoor seating but there's a ton of outdoor seating. Parking might be rough because it's a popular plaza. Service was super friendly! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Scallion pancake chicken - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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How does your Scallion Chicken Wrap go from $9 to $13/$14 within 20 days? That's a ridiculous markup and increase. Always been a fan of WongFu and what they stand for, but BopoMofo's getting kinda crazy with their prices. $15.80 for a single shrimp burger is.... Flavor for both was great, but the portion size to price ratio is a turnoff. Hard to justify when you markup street style Taiwanese food by 70%+ read more

I like the Bopo in Cerritos and happy it is now in Irvine. Tried their seasonal drinks, but the tofu ginger espresso one was not good. Luckily they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee and replace the drink with a guava matcha happily. Great experience. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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Very excited that I discovered Bopomofo! It's a small little shop with a wide variety of flavors. Workers are ready to help you out and make sure that your drink is of perfection. FAVORITE ITEMS: - Bala Matcha: I'm biased but I love guava and matcha together. I just find it so refreshing and tasty. Get it at 25% and it's the perfect balance, but I am someone who typically gets 25% at other boba shops. THIS is honestly the drink that keeps me coming back. - Vineyard Green Tea: very tea-forward and fruity in a natural way. Love the flavors here. PARKING: it's in a plaza, with ample parking. Usually you can find one no problem. PRICE: drinks are about $6-7 which is pretty standard. Overall, I love this place if I'm craving a Guava milk matcha drink. Love it! Will continue to come back. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Vineyard Green Tea - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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After seeing a TikTok about the seasonal scallion pancake chicken wrap, it was on the top of my list to try, especially since it is currently only available at the Irvine location. I stopped by around 3 PM on a Saturday and was surprised to find no line. Ordering at the kiosk was quick and easy. Although there is a sign that mentions wait times of 30+ minutes, our order was ready in under 20 minutes. The inside was big enough for only a cafe counter with many pickup orders waiting, but there are plenty of tables outside for seating. For drinks, I ordered the Jin Xuan oolong milk tea and really enjoyed it. It was not too creamy, and you could really taste the quality of the tea. It was smooth and not bitter at all. I also had a taste of the seasonal triple strawberry matcha, which was well balanced. The matcha did not taste grassy, and the real strawberries tasted fresh. The scallion pancake chicken wrap was the perfect snack size and tasted exactly how I imagined. The chicken was fried to perfection with a great crunch while still being lean and moist. The scallion pancake added a nice texture with the scrambled egg, though I did wish there were more green onions. It also tasted lighter and cleaner than the scallion pancakes I am used to. Together, it paired nicely with the soy glaze. For $9, I think it was worth it. Overall, the quality here really stood out, and I cannot believe I had not tried this place sooner. I saw many people outside eating the popcorn chicken, and based on how good the chicken was in the wrap, I am sure it is delicious. I will definitely be back to try it. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Perfectly crunchy and tender | Scallion pancake chicken wrap - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Steep Thoughts: Florence's Quest for (Her) Perfect Black Milk Tea Black milk tea: 1/2. I got the Assam Milk Tea, 50% sweet, less ice. This drink is mild with fruity notes, and the sweetness level is appropriate. It's more watery than I personally prefer, but the tea flavor is smooth and pleasant. I will say that I am not a fan of the lids used for the drinks, as they don't seal fully and are not as comfortable to drink out of without a straw. Other drinks: 1/1. Curated and thoughtful menu of specialty drinks and Chinese fusion food. I would personally come here for the food over the milk teas; I love the mapo tots in particular. Ambiance: 0.5/1. This location has a smaller footprint, with no indoor seating or tables available, but outdoor seating is plentiful and parking is pretty good. Service: 1/1. Order at a digital kiosk or at the counter. Staff are friendly and responsive. Drinks come out quickly. Total: 3.5/5 read more

Strawberry matcha latte was delicious! Very strawberry-y. Sad that the seasonal Dou Hua Latte wasn't available -- I think they were out. We wanted to try it out! We also tried the seasonal scallion pancake wrap. We were so excited.. but great idea, poor execution. We were expecting the scallion pancake to be what you would get with those scallion pancake beef wraps, but this one was waaaay more egg?? It was like an egg wrap? The chicken in the wrap was the same flavoring as the popcorn chicken, so at least the chicken was good! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Strawberry Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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The dark chicken popcorn was nicely spiced and the meat was juicy and crunchy on the outside. A good combo for this taste bite. The service was good and the service was fast. The place is small yet easy to Come in and get out without hesitation. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Spicy popcorn chicken thighs (Dark Meat) - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Love Bopomofo! Irvine location is more to-go style, but the drink menu is very similar to Artesia. Customer service is superb, as I bashfully requested a drink modification of more milk. Friendly and informative workers on Christmas. Glad you were open around 3pm :)) Sweet Dou Hua latte was ginger forward, so a good choice for ginger lovers! My fav part was the silky tofu inside. Personally, I would have liked a little stronger espresso and coconut milk (or even cream!)! That said, I do not know what a Dou Hua dessert is supposed to be like, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. My mom loved her strawberry matcha. I enjoyed a sip and loved the fresh strawberies. 75% sweet was perfect. Hoping to come back soon while the scallion wrap is around! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sweet Dou Hua Latte 4/5 - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Bopomofo Cafe in Irvine is a nice stop and go location in my opinion for drinks and food. Most seating is outdoors if you're looking to eat in the area, as the inside is pretty small with limited seating. The workers were really nice so that's a plus! We got the Strawberry Matcha, Naked Tots, Popcorn Chicken, and Heritage Braised Pork Belly. The strawberry matcha was good, a bit above the standard strawberry matcha of other places you can get it. The naked tots and popcorn chicken were so good in my opinion, especially as a snack for studying. The tots and popcorn chicken were both crispy and the chicken was flavorful and great to have, I really enjoyed them both :) Overall I would recommend Bopomofo Cafe for a quick drink and snack when you're in the Irvine area. I loved their menu and would come back! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Strawberry Matcha, Naked Tots, Popcorn Chicken, and Heritage Braised Pork Belly - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

* my favorite items are their Carrot Matcha Latte, Ba-La Matcha, and Mapo Tots (not pictured) * innovative menu inspired by Chinese, Taiwanese, and American backgrounds * every drink is intentionally crafted with natural and fresh ingredients * free oat milk substitution * currently has locations around Southern California 10/10 read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Was very excited to try this place because it's come highly rated. Unfortunately my hojicha latte was so unbelievably grainy I couldn't finish it at all. This is very unusual for me since I hate to waste money but it was unbearably bitter and grainy the day I got it. Maybe it was a bad batch, idk. Would love to give this place another shot one day. The boba was the perfect texture and I really love that they use lactose-free milk by default as I do think it lends a sweeter flavor. Another deduction for this location in particular was that when I walked in the place smelled a bit like a porta potty? It seemed clean but it smell a bit like a bathroom so it was off-putting to hang around and sip on my tea. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Hojicha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Love coming here for a quick bite. One of the best places to get popcorn chicken in Irvine as the batter is perfectly crispy and seasoned. The basil aioli dipping sauce also makes this dish fantastic as it's not too creamy or oily. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Popcorn chicken - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

So happy that Bopomofo opened in Irvine! Their drinks are unique and pretty, and the service is very fast. I love taro anything so I got the taro milk, but unfortunately was lacking any taro flavor since I'm pretty sure it was just the plain milk and mashed taro at the bottom. The strawberry corn milk I tried from my friend was good since strawberry and corn are two flavors I like in boba separately, but I'm not sure how we felt about them together. Unique, but maybe too unique for us. Maybe the drinks we ordered just missed the mark this time because the other drinks on the menu sound really good and I'll have to give them a try because I want to come back and give them another chance. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - taro milk and strawberry corn milk - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

It's more like 4.5 stars! Came back here on 2 different weeks to try their hot foods. PRETTY GOOD! The spicy popcorn chicken has a nice kick, though it had basil in it, I felt like it was just laid on the dish instead of incorporating the basil flavor into the fried chicken if that makes sense. 8/10. hubby enjoyed the mapo tofu tots. The combination is bold and daring, it's adventurous to try this.. I'd rate it 9/10 for the concept and 8/10 for the taste. The honey walnut shrimp burger is nicely cooked. However, I feel the walnut flavor is not as sweet or aromatic as those in Chinese banquets so again the concept is amazing but I'd have to rate this one 8/10 as well. The scallion pancake is nice but I felt the chicken overpowered the scallion pancake a bit so the flavors weren't so balanced. However if you take each component as a single element, it tastes really good by itself. Also, it was just a tad bit oily. Overall the taste and concept is there but it is a bit on the pricier side so I have to drop it down a star. I also tried the strawberry corn drink and man it was AMAZING! It's like a savory drink but cool and sweet? I don't know you have to try it! I also tried the guava Jin xuan. Gotta say not the biggest fan and would prefer plain old Jin xuan more. read more

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Quick grab & go sandos & noms with great teas! Aesthetic & Ambiance: 8/10 very clean and menu is legible and easily presented there's not much space inside so a line sometimes forms outside. Ambiance was quiet during lunch with a lot of to go orders. Service: 7/10 service was okay, we ordered ahead and checked once we got there. I received a text saying my food was ready but wasn't. Then it sat on the counter for a few minutes before I flagged someone down to ask if it was mine. Taiwanese Fried Chicken Sandwich: 7/10 the bun was definitely buttery and a little sweet. The chicken was tender and juicy and the slaw/pickles were a good vinegar cut to the sweetness. Spicy popcorn chicken: 7.5/10 good tender some bits were just bread, and the spice was okay very mild I would say 2/5 on a spicy scale. read more

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This location does only togo orders. The plaza has plenty of tables outside though so you can order and hang out there. Food and drinks came out fast. Got a matcha oolong and Spicy popcorn chicken. Delicious and consistent with all their other locations. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Spicy Popcorn Chicken and Matcha Oolong - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California