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    Kovai Kitchen

    3.7 (42 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Kovai Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    Kovai Kitchen Photos

    Kovai Kitchen - Onion Chilli Uthapam - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Plain dosa without side - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Gobi Manchurian - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Cute, authentic, vegetarian restaurant - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California
    Kovai Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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    Kovai Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

    KOVAI KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Kovai Kitchen

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    Reviews With Photos

    Gobi Manchurian
    Sanj E.

    The food is really good honestly and a much needed south indian restaurant in orange county. We had a couple different dosas and I definitely recommend coming here if you are craving some indian style authentic food.

    Hailey K.

    I would give this place a 3.4-4 stars. The interior had a cafeteria-esque environment, with tables and chairs inside. The process of getting your food was unconventional but very easy. You scan a QR code once seated to place your order and then the staff come and hand you your food. We ordered the Rava Dosa and the Gobi Manchurian. The size of each dosa was pretty large, so I would recommend sharing one among two people. I personally liked my dosa and the tomato and coconut chutney that came with it. The sambar was a little spicy, but not too bad. The Gobi Manchurian, however, was too spicy for my taste.

    Bena (Benne) Masala Dosa
    Jenn Z.

    It's a sides-lover's dream! We ordered a Bena (Benne) Masala Dosa and a Regular Thali, and had 15 sides to try mixing and matching with 3 breads and rice. They did a great job curating a diverse arrangement too. It's my first time trying this kind of dosa, and it had an amazing crunch (almost reminds me of griddled cheese) and surprisingly moist, chewy interior. We will be back!

    Idli and vada combo

    Closest to the taste of Mumbai in CA! This is my fourth time here and consistently fresh, and delicious. The service is quick. I will be coming back again!

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    5 months ago

    The dosas are amazing here! Really great South Indian food, which is not common here in Southern California.

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    5 months ago

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    Nice Burger - Cali burger, Mexicali burger, and sweet potato fries.

    Nice Burger

    4.7(127 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    For a vegan place that makes a meat eater return, tells ya how good their burgers are!…read moreMacked down on the Jalapeño burger and it was fantabulous! What I didn't care for is the self-service menu/ordering. Missing the personal side of the experience, but again, I didn't come to visit. I came to eat. Place is cozy and clean too. If ya want to try a fake burger, I'd try this place first.

    Mixed thoughts on this place. The food was hit or miss, but the vibe in the restaurant was lacking…read more Service was slow, inattentive and not very friendly. I enjoyed the breakfast burger with tator tots. The wings? Not so much. They all had awkward, chunky sticks of wood in them, making them awkward to eat. I never understood why vegan places try to mimic that, I'd rather just have boneless "wings." Here, I felt like half of each wing was just wood. I had no idea they had an app. It turns out that the food is much cheaper to order in the app. Usually Google shows business preferred methods to order, but they didn't here. I thought my order was pricey, only to find out the prices in house and in app are MUCH cheaper. There was a huge fan blowing across the place, probably because there's no A/C? I definitely wouldn't want to spend much time here in the summer. A few of us ordered ahead and had to wait a while in the muggy lobby. The staff didn't pay much attention to two of us waiting at the counter. 4 stars for vegan food, but really 3/5 overall.

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    Barbonzai Lebanese Eatery - Cheese flatbread. Because cheese.

    Barbonzai Lebanese Eatery

    4.6(578 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I think that I tried most of the items on the menu. Everything was amazing. My go to was the…read morespinach pie with chicken bowl and greens. If anyone finds comparable food please post in reviews. Barbonzai will be missed

    My friends thought their meals were dry and underseasoned. Most of our food, especially the falafel…read moreand rice, were served lukewarm and didn't taste super fresh. I was hoping the leftover falafel would taste better the next day, but sadly, it didn't. Chicken and beef kabob were decent. Kinda bummed how they didn't have some sort of combo bowl. You'd have to buy extra meat if you wanted to try different meats together. The extras and sides were quite pricey, too. We also tried a variety of flatbreads. The spinach and cheese was our favorite. We liked the zataar one, and the meat with jalapenos was just ok. The thick creamy garlic sauce went well with the thin, crispy flatbreads, while the runny white sauce tasted bland and slightly bitter (unpleasant with everything, to be honest). Overall, the food is fine, but I wouldn't go again. A few tables were available inside the small, simple-looking shop, but it felt a bit awkward eating there. Staff were not very attentive, but once we got their attention, they were helpful.

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    Barbonzai Lebanese Eatery - Falafel wrap on our freshly baked bread. It awaits it's union with our tahini sauce.

    Falafel wrap on our freshly baked bread. It awaits it's union with our tahini sauce.

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    Its Tofu - New menu Jokbal salad

    Its Tofu

    4.7(1.1k reviews)
    7.2 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Free parking

    Good! The best tofu soup I've had in Irvine. The broth is rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced,…read morewith fresh ingredients that really stand out. The tofu is silky and soft, just the way it should be. The restaurant is very clean, which makes the dining experience even more enjoyable. Service is excellent--staff are friendly, attentive, and quick to help. Overall, a great spot if you're craving comforting and authentic tofu soup. I will definitely come back again soon.

    You know sometimes with highly rated up and coming Asian restaurants, I get a little skeptical of…read morethe authenticity of the dishes. Like for me, there's a prime difference in expectations with Din Tai Fung and Kei Concept restaurants vs your typical mom and pop business. Yet as someone who has had soondobu throughout the years, of all different variations, I can say that this one of my most favorites that I've tasted. And I could already tell from the moment I entered. Although the establishment looks modern, it has a traditional feel, with wooden tables, flat chopsticks, and the friendly but bustling Korean auntie waitresses who eagerly refilled the banchan at our table. The soondobu came out pipping high and I had to wait a little so I didn't burn my mouth. But with the first bites, I experienced a warm, comforting flavor with its deeply rich broth and silken tofu. Pair this meal with the marinated fish cake, fried fish, and japchae noodles and you have absolute perfection. I'll be returning soon for another meal~ (And yes that definitely beats BCD in terms of taste, cost, and wait time.)

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    Kovai Kitchen - indpak - Updated June 2026

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