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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!
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.
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.
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.
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"
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.
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!
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.
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 :)
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
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.
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.
11 months ago
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
3 months ago
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
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Victoria!…
11 months ago
I'm a fan of Wongfu productions so when a friend suggested we meet here, I enthusiastically agreed to support them this way. It's just a counter - no seating inside, just outside. The menu doesnt have all of the food you can see on the website, but we found some good options. Popcorn chicken was flavorful and juicy. Wish it had more crunch. The creamy green dipping sauce was slightly sweet and added a good balance to the saltiness and other flavors of the chicken. We were intrigued by the mapo tofu tots. The cheese made us pause when we took off the lid - wouldn't have thought to melt cheese on top of mapo tofu, but then again, wouldn't think to serve it on top of tots. The tots did get soggy underneath but the flavors were all there. Slight spicy. Wish it had more tofu. You'll need the fork. The sweet basil ginger lemonade was so pretty! A little sweeter than I expected - would've liked a little more bite from the ginger. The milk tea with Boba was decent. Service was patient and friendly. I'd like to visit another location, as I hear the shrimp sandwich is tasty. Hope to try it soon. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Victoria!…
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
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Cathy!…
Bopomofo I really do want to love you because the staff does seem sweet and i love your owner for being a core part of my childhood memory/work ethics. But for some reason, it doesn't hit. Fast ordering, kiosk or at the register, but limited space inside w/ no seating (lots of outdoor seating, parking space within a short walk in the plaza but limited right in front). They offer drinks ($7-8) and food~ they appear to have the bolo bao burger back in stock?? I remember ordering one a while ago but it came with regular buns. Previously I got the corn milk latte and do be aware IT IS REALLY SWEET. So get reduced sugar. I tried to go in to ask them to change the sweetness level, but they said it'd cost another $3 for another shot of coffee and didn't offer to remake it (but the policy is there....) so just order reduced sugar. Not too coffee tasting, does have the corn flavor in the milk. Not sure if adjusting the sweetness affects the corn flavor. I think they specialize in cool drinks but its more of a drink place than distinct coffee/matcha flavor place. I got their spicy popcorn chicken this time and it was made FRESH to order. Which I love and they seasoned it a lot so I had to go haah haah with my mouth when eating so u know it was hot. I think the breading is some sort of millet so it is a little softer. The spice isn't super spicy, you do need to pay more for more sauce/ spice. It was a bit salty but I think its because whatever lovely chef made it was generous with the seasoning this time. It pairs well with the aioli which helps cut througn the flavor and also ended up being perfectly paired with something sweet (like a drink? Wink wink) lol. I do find the oil to cling onto the breading so at the end I did feel a little bloated/heavy and thirsty. Not much basil flavor. Definitely go for the dark meat, it makes it juicy. Portion is decent for the price. The staff is nice, i think there might be some consistency issues. However, they seem to be on a continous improvement scale. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Jessie!…
6 months ago
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Brittany!…
8 months ago
You can order online for pick up or at the counter in person. Their blueberry compote matcha latte was pretty good. Wasn't a fan of their iced latte (didn't taste good to me) nor the B.O.G. (blueberry compote orange green tea) as it was too floral for me. It looked pretty though. Overall, it's very convenient to order online and pick up (it's much quicker that way!) The drinks are very pretty looking though. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Christine!…
I have been to the SGV location so I was very excited to try the new Irvine location. The storefront is small with no seating but there is outdoors seating in the plaza. We ordered the guava xin xuan oolong and the mango assam tea but unfortunately both drinks didn't have much flavor to it. I saw most customers ordered the matcha drinks so maybe that's the drink I need to try next time. We ordered the regular popcorn chicken in white meat and the spicy popcorn chicken in dark meat. Both were well fried and tasty and I prefer dark meat more, it's much juicier. Next time I will ask to have the spicy powder on the side, they put a bit too much so it was overwhelming. We also ordered mini tots which were very reasonable for the price and portion size. I hope they will add more menu items in the future! read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Nancy thanks for taking the time to leave us a review here! We're…
6 months ago
Ordered a drink online for pickup at Bopomofo and it was such an easy process. The drink was ready within a few minutes. I ordered the orange wang, which is so yummy cause it tastes like an orange creamsicle. Will be coming back soon cause I want to try some of the drinks from their seasonal menu. Also love how they wrote happy holidays on my cup! read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Allyssa!…
To me, there are never enough places that serve tea/coffee drinks and bites. This is a store that has both and their drinks looked really good so I got to try some out. I love milk teas specially black milk tea. They suggest Assam Milk Tea and for a refresher to try the Orange Wang which tastes just like a Creamsicle. I personally enjoyed the Orange Wang better which was strange because I love milk teas more than anything. I just think even though I brought the sugar down to 75% it was still so sweet that it almost hurt my teeth. And the drink was not very bold and dense as I usually get elsewhere. But it's still a nice shop with options for drinks and food such so it's always worth a try. read more
The drinks were good! We were there on Friday afternoon (Coachella weekend), so it wasn't that busy at all! We didn't have to wait, and the cashier was super sweet when I told her it was our first time there. She gave us all the details about how they don't use powders, artificial ingredients, etc. You can get milk alternatives like oat milk without paying extra, but I just got each drink their signature way. The drinks we got had a very clean and refreshing taste, so I see what the hype is about. I definitely appreciate quality drinks! I got the guava matcha drink, and it was good! The matcha tasted like quality matcha. You need to mix it well. It wasn't too sweet; it was perfect and reminded me of Junbi matcha drinks. I got the coffee milk tea at 50% sweet, and it was good! I think I'll add an extra shot next time, but I was pleasantly surprised because I've ordered coffee drinks at tea places before and was disappointed. However, I would definitely get this coffee milk tea again in the future! My little boy got the Orange Wang with boba, but he likes the more creamy slushy type of drinks. This was a liquid. But, it came with an orange slice on top, and he finished the regular size. The sugar level can be adjusted. I wouldn't wait in a long line, though. There's seating outside but nothing inside. There are several eateries (and Handel's) next door. Overall, I highly recommend and would love to try their other drinks! read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Nicole!…
3 months ago
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
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
JEN!…
6 months ago
The strawberry matcha is seasonal and absolutely amazing. I really think they should keep this drink available year-round , and maybe even add a mango matcha too. Their drinks are just that good. My husband ordered the blueberry matcha. I tried it, and while it wasn't my favorite since I'm not a big fan of blueberry, the flavor is very strong. If you love blueberry, you'll definitely love this drink. Overall, I'd rate my drink a 10/10, and my husband rated his a 10/10 as well. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Dina!…
1 year ago
I'm a big fan of Bopomofo since it first opened in the 626, and I'm so stoked to have one in OC now!! This spot took over omomo's old location so just beware parking can be a little difficult during peak hours as it's in a rather busy plaza. There is no indoor seating, you order at the counter and they give you a pager until it's ready. However, there are plentiful of outdoor seating and tables in the plaza. The menu is a bit limited with the food items, no Hainan chicken tacos or mapo tofu tots which are my fav from this spot. However, the drinks menu looks solid like the other locations. My friend and I decided to try new drinks so we opted for the orange wang and Phoenix juice drink. The Orange wang tasted exactly like an orange creamsicle pop while my drink was refreshing. However, we both agreed we'd stick to the other drinks next time. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Tiffany!…
My first time trying Bopomofo was in SD, and when we were in the area, we had to grab it again at the Irvine location. So glad that their drinks at this location is just as good. I love how consistent they are with their drinks. Service was really friendly here as well, and everything came out fairly quick. This time I ordered their Jasmine milk tea, and it was amazing! If you love high quality taste of tea, this place is it. I love the floral taste of jasmine. The boba is perfectly chewy. This spot is definitely on my rotation of boba shops now. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
TRAM!…
7 months ago
Bopomofo is a cafe specializing in Chinese and Taiwanese flavors, owned by the Wang brothers of Wong Fu fame. The Irvine location is fairly small with no indoor seating, though there are plenty of tables just outside the restaurant. On this visit, I tried both classic and seasonal items like the Taiwanese popcorn chicken, walnut shrimp sandwich, lu rou fan (braised pork bowl), and a scallion pancake wrap. Each dish was excellent. They felt authentic and well-researched but most importantly, well prepared and flavored. I also ordered a few drinks, including the seasonal strawberry matcha latte, which was outstanding. If you're looking for Taiwanese and Chinese inspired snacks and drinks, Bopomofo is definitely worth a visit. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Anthony!…
29 days ago
Bopomofo is a popular tea shop that originated in the San Gabriel Valley area and has now expanded to its first OC location in Irvine. They took over Omomo's former spot, and is neighboring with Handel's ice cream. I'm not sure if the location was a great choice, because Omomo abandoned this location and not to mention I came here intentionally and almost got swayed to get ice cream instead next door. The majority of their menu has beverages, but they also have a few food items. I decided to try their Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger with Tots ($18.50) and their Taro Sweet Milk ($6.50) with 75% sweetness. I ordered this drink cause it was later in the evening and I wanted to avoid caffeine. Their indoor space is tight so you have to wait outside. They give you a beeper that will go off when your order was ready. Most days have great weather but I came by on a super windy day and the wait felt really long. The taro drink was surprisingly pretty with this pinkish red hue. Apparently they splashed beet juice on top for aesthetic reasons since they use real taro and it's a duller color. I enjoyed the drink. It was still a tad sweet so I would probably get 50% sweet next time. They have a sign saying they'll remake your drink if you need adjustments but I didn't really want to wait around any longer. As for the burger, I was surprised that the walnut shrimp was a patty. I guess they ground up the shrimp. Interesting take. I wonder if I would prefer whole shrimp in this execution for a better bite. What I liked most was the side of crispy tots that it came with. A tad pricey but I get it cause shrimp is a pricier ingredient. What this place really has going for them is the cuteness of the drinks. Don't get me wrong, I like it... I just don't love it. Irvine has a lot of competition for this business category. I can see a lot of people coming to try it once like me... but not sure how many will come back for subsequent visits. read more
3 months ago
Having been a fan of Wongfu Productions, I really wanted to support this place...but idk if I would be back. The customer service was great, but drink, not so much. I got an iced matcha latte at 75% sweetness and it was too sweet so I asked to get 50%. There's nothing that bugs me more than paying almost $8 for milk. I could barely taste the matcha and I wouldn't consider it earthy, to me it just had a weird aftertaste. I should've tried the Matcha Jin Xuang Oolong, maybe I would've liked it better. The milk to matcha ratio is off. Less milk please! I would be open to trying their popcorn chicken next time I have a craving, but I would pass on the regular matcha latte here. read more
Bopomofo Cafe is now open in Irvine and is a welcome addition to the community! They are well known for their creativity and innovation while spotlighting Asian American culture and flavors. This spot is located in a plaza with a good amount of parking spots. Inside, there is no seating but there is a good amount of seating outside the shop. For their menu, they have a great selection of different teas, matchas, signature drinks, and food to choose from. Wifey and I stopped by and got their Popcorn Chicken along with the Hoji-Corn Latte and Strawberry Corn Milk for our drinks. Overall, everything we had was delicious with unique flavor profiles. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Shoutout to Phil for serving us our order and working hard in the back! Welcome to Irvine, Bopomofo Cafe! read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Vince!…
A great spot for quality drinks and unique Asian flavors. I tried the blueberry matcha latte, which was delicious and had a fresh blueberry compote. It was quite sweet, I would recommend getting 50 or 75% sweet. I also tried the orange wang, which was so refreshing and tart. It is a bit on the expensive side, but the ingredients taste fresh and high quality, especially in the fruity drinks. They also don't charge extra for oat milk! Unfortunately they were not serving food when I went, and I really wanted to try the fusion sandwiches. Service was great, it recently opened so they were still training some employees, but our drinks came out fast and they give a buzzer for when the drink is ready, which is convenient as it gets crowded. There's no seating indoors, but the outside plaza has a lot of tables, umbrellas, and benches to sit on. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Liz!…
1 year ago
A new location for the Bopomofo this one doesn't have any seating indoors, but there are a little patio tables outside that you can eat or drink at I tried the strawberry corn drink and overall I enjoyed it. I don't think it would be universally liked though because it does taste like you're drinking a corn soup a little bit. But overall, I thought it was tasty and cute. I'm excited to try their other caffeinated drinks Service is pretty fast! read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Heather!…
Been here twice now and both times have been great! They have unique drinks implementing corn, hojicha, matcha, etc which are cool. I wasn't a huge fan of the hojicorn latte bc it was a little too grainy for my taste but that's probably a personal preference. My fiancee also didnt love it because he doesn't like corn milk lol. I loved the jasmine milk tea with boba though! The popcorn chicken and the sauce that came with it was also really good. They only have outdoor seating and the shop is pretty small. Would love if they could turn on the outdoor heaters where the seating is as it was a bit chilly. The first time I went later at night we had to wait 25 min for our drinks to come out but the second time I went there was no line and the food and drinks came out within 10 min. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Grace!…
I have long wanted to try this spot since I grew up watching Wong Fu haha. My boyfriend and I got a few items so here are my food/drink ratings: mapo tots, 6/10 - sounded like such a fire combo but the reason it was just okay for us was because the tots weren't crispy enough (took a bite right away) and I personally felt like the flavor profile needed something to cut through the fat. I really like sichuan/szechuan mapo tofu that's has that mala kick but the seasoning on this was just fine. I think this is a great dish that has lot of potential. Maybe the tots could also be fried for just a little longer or double fried to retain the crispiness. popcorn chicken, 9/10 - can't go wrong with some good ol' popcorn chicken. I loved this. corn hojicha, 6/10 - I think this would be better if the corn flavor was more pronounced. I think it's difficult to successfully mix a corn and hojicha into a latte, because the flavors seem to compete a little. I was hoping for something that tasted like a roasted corn, but I didn't get much corn flavor at all. Another item that has a whole lot of potential, and I would love to come try it again. The service is good/standard and it's in a nice spot because the plaza has a lot of outdoor seating. Hoping to come again soon and try more items on the menu! read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Kelly!…
8 months ago
revisited bc i heard they had new seasonal items and i just had to try! we ordered the Vineyard green tea, black sesame latte, triple strawberry matcha, scallion pancake chicken wrap, and popcorn chicken. I was really eager to try the scallion pancake chicken wrap bc it seems like the best of both worlds. and omg it was so delishhhh! there was a sweet soy glaze served on the side but honestly, we didnt need to use it! i preferred the wrap on its own. I also really liked my black sesame latte! it had great, strong black sesame flavor and it wasnt too sweet (i requested half sugar but i may want to decrease it more next time) service was good! the worker very patiently took our order and was very thorough with the customization of our drinks and food. as for the ambiance, we ate our food outside since there is no seating inside the store. it was relatively peaceful but we came at a time where the sun was unfairly beaming down on us :( read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Natalie!…
Bopomofo just opened last week! This is their 5th location. This little tea shop started in SGV. Small tea location but tea is amazing! No seating indoors but plenty outdoors. Find this next to Handel's ice cream shop, in the same plaza as Ralph's. They offer a great menu of tea, matcha, and unique milks. Tried their taro sweet milk 75% and love that they use real ingredients. The taro sweet milk has taro puree, beet juice for color and lactose free organic whole milk. We also tried the honey roasted oolong milk tea 75% and was surprised on how fragrant and refreshing it was. Drinks take a little long to come out but they provide a buzzer for you to be notified. I will definitely be coming back to try their other drinks and food. read more
This was a long-awaited opening for OC, and Bopomofo instantly makes a huge splash onto the boba scene. Not having to go all the way to Artesia or San Gabriel will be very welcome. They've had a reputation for their unique flavors and quality, and that is something they absolutely deliver on. The store itself takes over the former Omomo location in sort of poetic move, but surprisingly the space feels a lot smaller, as much of it is taken by the kitchen, so it's really just a stand where you order. The line of course extends outside the store when it gets busy. One thing I would have to note, and it could just be growing pains, is that they do take a while to get your order out even when it's less busy. It took a bit less than what I was quoted, but being told it would take twenty minutes is not exactly something I like to hear when I'm trying to grab a quick drink purposely during off hours. The food menu is also limited to just chicken, which I do hope is more of a factor of a new store rather than its size though I totally understand the trend has been shifting to boba shops just being drink only. The prices are admittedly a bit high even for the raising costs, I was out $10 for a drink which did come as a bit of a shock. I'll definitely be back, but it's definitely not gonna be my regular place. TIP: Strawberry corn is always a classic. read more
8 months ago
I have been going to the OG Bopomofo location for years and I'm so glad they opened up a location in Irvine ! This location is a bit small compared to their other locations, but doesn't stop their tea/ food quality from being so gud. I ordered the HEY Sesame Milk for my boyfriend and the strawberry corn milk for myself. For food, we ordered the spicy popcorn chicken -- EVERYTHING was delicious ! I actually came to Bopomofo with the intention of ordering the mapo tofu tots they usually have at their other locations but was so sad that they didn't have it here :( Other than that, everything was perfect. It makes me so happy to see them expanding :') I hope they open a location soon in the Rowland Heights/ Diamond Bar area. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Nicole!…
So happy BPMF is open in Irvine! They took over the original Omomo location next door to Handel's Ice Cream. My go-to has been the BALA Matcha, so of course that's what I got during their soft opening. Service was super friendly and the interior is cute and simple. Our cashier informed us that their grand opening is happening Saturday, March 1, 2025! Sounds like it'll be a fun time. As an FYI, there is no seating inside, but lots of outdoor seating. Excited to come back for their food. Their other locations seem to offer more food options, but hopefully they'll be adding more once they get settled in. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Joanne!…
Finally they opened one in Irvine! Has been fan of bopo for a while. We came a week after the grand opening. Although they were busy but line went fast (they had both in person cashier and device for ordering). Phil, the owner was there and made sure customers know about the wait time and made sure our drinks were what we ordered! Very friendly staff and owner! We ordered two matcha drinks, matcha latte and matcha bala with taro and my daughter said it's one of the best she had! We also ordered the pop corn chicken and a shrimp sandwich for lunch and they were all so tasty! Just wish that the bao could be pineapple bun instead of the king Hawaiian but still tasty! read more
3 months ago
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Cindy!…
1 year ago
Bopomofo was fantastic! I used to work at a boba shop, so I can be pretty critical, but Bopomofo impressed me so much. Hands down, they have the BEST popcorn chicken I've ever had at any boba shop--do yourself a favor and get it. I tried both the regular and spicy popcorn chicken, and both were a 10/10. The sauces that come with them are amazing. While the spicy popcorn chicken wasn't particularly "spicy" for me, the seasoning was delectable, and this will definitely be my go-to order from now on. As for drinks, we ordered the jasmine milk tea with boba and the Assam milk tea with pudding. The boba was soft and the perfect texture, and the egg pudding was great too. The drink menu isn't as big as other places, but that doesn't matter because the drinks they make are quality. Sometimes it's better to have a smaller menu so you can perfect what you serve. I also loved how efficient the ordering process was, and the use of buzzers to let you know when your order is ready is a great touch. There's lots of seating outside, you can find a spot to relax as you wait for your order to be ready. And lastly, Philip was so kind--really cool to meet him. Thanks for the hospitality and the delicious dining experience. Irvine has a lot of boba competition, but this is officially my new favorite spot. Will definitely be back! read more
1 year ago
Review coming from someone who ordered online! I ordered at 7:05pm! Ordering online was so easy! I ordered 3 drinks! The Blueberry Matcha Latte Orange Wang B.O.G I like that you can change the sweetness level! My order was ready by 7:20 I parked and went to get my order! Walking in they have no seating inside but outside they have a lot! When I picked up my order the nice worker explained to me which drink was which! She was so sweet definitely amazing customer service! All the drinks we got were so yummy! The blueberry matcha latte I got with 25% sweet and it was amazing! The matcha itself was great you can tell the quality of everything here is top notch! The prices here were very affordable and fair! Can't wait to come back and try other drinks!!! read more
1 year ago
I was really excited that bopomofo was opening up in Irvine and i was able to visit during the first day of their soft opening! I got my usual order of the bala matcha and it was really good! i rlly like the bala flavor. I got one with ice and one without and i recommend it with ice if you want that pretty gradient color the wait was pretty long considering there was only one other customer who ordered before me at that time, i waited almost 30 minutes for 2 drinks. the drinks are also on the pricer side if you upgrade to a large and also add toppings. There's no seating inside but lots of seating outside the store read more
Pretty satisfied with my first experience here. We ordered on the kiosk and there were so many options to choose from. The drinks were okay, pretty basic, maybe I'd try something more interesting next time. Food was pretty good though I wish there was more of a kick for the spiciness. Overall, great quality on all the items. read more
4 months ago
Daughter had chosen Bopomofo Irvine for 2nd day of OC Restaurant Week to have dinner before work. We ordered online the $45 dinner meal which included the Nori fish sandwich, the Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger, Mapo Tots, and a $10 gift card which you need to scan a QR code to claim, the large BA-LA matchas which are 2 for $12.00, another regular BA-LA matcha with oat milk, and the Heritage braised pork belly rice. Only the drinks were ready when we arrived at 4:00 PM. The young lady had us try our drinks and said that they would remake them if not to our liking. The drinks initially tasted great and you could taste the guava, but as we finished them due to amount of ice drinks were watered down and had no flavor. The food was ready at 4:11 PM. We rarely order the sandwiches, but got to try them this time with the OC Restaurant Week deal. We liked the Nori fish sandwich more than the Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger. It is like a high end version of the McDonald's fish filet. There is like Nori seaweed in the fried fish batter. The fish sandwich has cheddar cheese, red onions, and tartar sauce. There is a shrimp patty in the Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger and lots of shredded lettuce. I liked the buns used to make both sandwich/burger. I think they may be brioche buns. Daughter likes the Mapo Tots and orders them all the time. The Heritage braised pork belly is also a staple in our orders here. read more
Business owner information
Eric And Phil W.
Hi Belinda!…
More info about Bopomofo Cafe
5365 Alton Pkwy
Ste G
Irvine, CA 92604
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https://www.bopomofocafe.com
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