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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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

meh. this may be a good thing to some but in the braised pork, the pork to rice ratio favored the pork. my problem with that is usually the gravy in a dish like this goes really well over rice so I would have liked more rice. however, the gravy was more like sweet and salty grease and the pork seasoning was very sharp in sodium, too sweet. it was hard to eat. the fish burger was ok, it was a step up from a McDonalds fish sandwich but it wasn't crisp for being fried? and the bu to fish ratio heavily favored the bun. the lychee pear tear was very refreshing. it tasted like fresh fruit and not flavoring. not too sweet. could have been colder. over all they should tone down the sodium in all their food. read more

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

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

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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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

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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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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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

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

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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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

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

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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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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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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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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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

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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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

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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* 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

I tried the blueberry matcha. The matcha was in a jug so I'm not sure how fresh it was. The blueberry was grainy in the drink. I also tried the chicken pancake wrap. It was okay. I have revised my review and understand this is fresh blueberry matcha. I will be back to try the guava matcha!! And the other menu items! read more

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

Walking around the Great Park on a nice cool day got me the cravings for some Taiwanese popcorn chicken. I decided to give Bopomofo Cafe since it was about 10 minutes away. I walked in and was helped by a friendly employee, which says a lot given that there was also a self-service kiosk. She said they only had dark meat for the chicken, the best option in my opinion. I can say the popcorn chicken had some kick to it with the spice, which was perfect for my taste palette. There were decently sized pieces filled with the juices of the dark meat. It definitely could use a little more crunch but I was satisfied. The sauce had a light soy sauce taste which blended with the chicken well. The sauce reminded me of a diluted version of the Daybird sauce from Daybird, a chicken sandwich spot in LA. Overall, this was one of the better Taiwanese popcorn chicken spots in Irvine and I am sure to be back, maybe bringing a bowl of rice to further complement the chicken. As someone who used to live in Maryland, this reminded me of my favorite Taiwanese popcorn chicken spot in the DMV area. Nothing like a new place unlocking core memories. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Popcorn chicken (dark meat) - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

I was in the area and decided to get takeout. The chicken sandwich was a little salty and dry. The tots were tots. The popcorn chicken was decent but pieces were bigger than I preferred. Everything was OK. read more

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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

Bopomofo Cafe was great! What we ordered: -popcorn chicken -two guava matchas (50% and 20%) The ordering process was super smooth; we just used their website and ordered ahead, and by the time we drove over in some ten-odd minutes, it was ready. There's a deal on the guava matchas--- if you buy two, you get a discount. We were both curious about the flavor, so we got it. I liked the flavor, and it wasn't too sweet at 20%. The matcha itself was really good quality, and so next time I would probably order just a regular matcha because the flavor of the tea itself is just gorgeous. We got it without ice because we weren't sure how much they would put in, but next time we would definitely get ice. The popcorn chicken was delicious, and we really enjoyed it! We got the spicy chicken, but it wasn't super spicy, which is great for those who might not have the highest spice tolerance. There's also an option to add more spice for the fuego lovers out there. Overall I would come here again. It's not at all a sit and chill type of place, moreso of a pickup counter situation, but there's seating outside and we wanted to take a walk around the lake anyhow. If you're looking for a study spot, this is not gonna be a good fit, but if you want high quality boba, it's a great spot. read more

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

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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Inspired by Phil from Wong Fu, I FINALLY got the chance to try Bopomofo!!! At first, I was disappointed to see that the place was very small with no seats inside. But that's okay because it was a beautiful day in Irvine, CA, and there was plenty of table seating right outside the cafe. Worker Kate was so sweet and kind in helping me place my order, which took a little while to come out. We got a buzzer and waited patiently outside until everything was ready. Overall, the food was great! The fried chicken was thick and juicy, the shrimp patty was soft and savory, and the sandwich buns were buttery and soft. I really liked the crunchy tater tots as well, which costed $3 extra in addition to each sandwich. The strawberry corn milk, which I ordered at 25% sweet, was a little strange -- I usually love corn milk, but this one had a weird salty aftertaste that I didn't like. In hindsight, I should've taken advantage of their 100% happiness guarantee and gone back to the counter to have the drink adjusted. My friend said his strawberry matcha was good though, so no complaints there! I'd love to come back to Bopomofo to try some more of their super interesting menu items but, honestly, at the high price point (we spent $55 for 2 meals and 2 drinks), I don't know if I'd come here frequently. read more

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The word "bopomofo" refers to the four characters that are essential to learning the Mandarin language. Bopomofo has multiple locations across the Southern California area and this location in Irvine is their first in Orange County. There is no indoor seating but there is lots of outdoor seating and ample parking. They have a variety of offerings including classic drinks, signature drinks, espresso, and matcha. They also have seasonal drinks along with food. For drinks we ordered the jasmine milk tea ($7.75) and the honey roasted oolong milk tea ($7.75) which were both decent. For food we ordered the mapo tofu tots ($13.50) and the spicy popcorn chicken ($12.50). The mapo tofu tots had just enough mala for a kick but it wasn't too spicy. Some of the tots were not covered in the sauce so they were crispier, but the ones that had the sauce were soaked in that flavor. The spicy popcorn chicken also had a good level of spice and the dipping sauce added some sweetness. The drinks were good but I really enjoyed the two food items we ordered. I'd be interested in trying some of their other drinks like their matcha series and lattes. read more

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Bopomofo was so good! It's a small spot next to Handel's, they don't have any tables inside but outdoor seating is available Theres a lot of snack and drink options so anyone with an appetite can find something they like! I ordered the spicy popcorn chicken with dark meat and a cream top jasmine tea The spicy popcorn chicken was AMAZING. So crunchy and meaty. The batter wasn't too thick but perfect ratio compared to the meat The meat was juicy & packed with flavor!! It is quite spicy so order with caution The cream top jasmine tea was great! My bf killed it!! Service was good, the guy working cashier answered all our questions & was super patient and kind Highly recommend to anyone looking for some good boba & snacks! I definitely wanna try the spicy chicken sandwich next time hehe read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Spicy Popcorn Chicken w Dark meat + Cream top jasmine tea - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

I love their seasonal matcha drink offerings! You could tell their quality is top notch. My fiancée got the hojicha and it's just the right amount of roasted taste to it. Their popcorn chicken had two options either white or dark meat, and I got their dark meat option. The popcorn chicken was made to order, fresh, hot and juicy. Service was quick and easy. There is no seating inside but plenty of outdoor seating. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Hojicha and matcha - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Not really sure why anyone shows up here but intrusive thoughts and cravings of their honey walnut shrimp burger brought me to their location in Irvine. Unfortunately, the one and only dish (both food and drink) that has any resemblance to delicious was taken off the menu. TF. I had to pivot and choose something I would mildly want to retry - the mapo tots. To preface, I've tried this years ago with friends warning me how tasteless and bland it is. But the combination sounds amazing so I always have to judge myself. Mapo tofu is supposed to be spicy and have a flavorful gravy. Years ago, it was straight up bland. I'm assuming this was to allow the spice avoidant people to enjoy - which is absolutely stupid. If you're not going to make it spicy, at least making it flavorful - meat gravy or a non spicy doubanjiang. Lucky for me, after reading a review on the Mapo tots from a few days ago claiming an improved recipe, I ordered it. AND ITS NOT BAD. There is actual flavorrrr - which I Know, the bar is low. There's a teenyyy weeny bit of kick but I would definitely crave this occasionally now. I would definitely not avoid it like the plague. There's definitely room for improvement but like - I would order this dish occasionally now because I absolutely love tater tots lol. Now drinks are just absolute shit - generally speaking, they don't do a great job at teas. In their defense, most places in Irvine are quite shit at their teas. I ordered the mango Assam - a seasonal drink at the recommendation of the person taking my order. I didn't mix the drink initially and got a whiff of the Assam tea. That tea was bitter and helllla over extracted astringent 澀 - like the Starbucks of teaaas. Luckily, the mango pureeee in all its sugary goodness definitely covers it up but the astringency still follows through. I assume it's batch made and the tea leaves over sit in the liquid. All in all, drinking liquid sugar as tea is not my vibe as I come from a family of diabetics. Overall though, definitely fits the Irvine vibe. A little expensive for what it is, looks pretty, aesthetics, and not a lot of actual substance. And please keep the shrimp burger as a permanent item; it's the only item actually worth trying here read more

I'm a WongFu fan and when I heard Phil opened a boba place it was on my list to try. Unfortunately, I live in NorCal and don't visit SoCal very often and when I do I'm visiting family and have my kids with me. Thus, I've never been able to try it until now that they opened one in Irvine. I've also heard mixed reviews about their boba. Now they have a more extensive drink menu other than their special drinks, which benefits me too. ORDERING - I ordered online on New Year's Eve and my drink was ready in about 10 minutes. FOOD - I love roasted oolong so definitely got that with added boba and 100% (standard) sweetness. ROASTED OOLONG TEA - one of the better roasted oolong teas I've had (and I've had a lot). I will say 100% sweet was too sweet so next time I would get 75% (most places I get 75% except for boba guys and Mr. Sun I get 50% and TP Tea I get 120% haha). The flavor was good though, decent tea flavor and I could tase the roasted oolong tea. The boba was a little mushy but sweet as well. I think the sweetness from the boba also makes the drink more sweet. Overall, would definitely come back especially when I'm in the area and craving roasted oolong. read more

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

Love how they opened a new location in Irvine! This place is a lot closer when we are visiting so happy we can always stop by when in town! This location is smaller than other locations. There's no indoor seating. Plenty of outdoor seating though. The must gets are the mapo tots and the honey walnut shrimp burgers! They were so delicious like always! The tots are so perfectly crispy with the mapo tofu toppings. The walnut shrimp burger was again flavorful and delicious! They have very unique drinks and this time I tried the blueberry matcha latte and it was really good!! Love trying a new drink here. Service was prompt and friendly! read more

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