I have been wanting to try this place as it has fantastic reviews, but unfortunately i was disappointed. I got the rose matcha latte and I wish it was not so milky and sweet and more matcha flavor forward. I was also caught off guard by the salty cream top as it was not noted in the description. The place is overall very small, with limited seating and service was ok. read more

Lagu Cafe - Matcha Rose Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

This coffee shop is a hidden gem! The best part is the variety of drinks--they have unique flavors like Matcha Sea Salt, Strawberry Cicada Latte, Matcha Rose, Banana Cream, and Sea Salt Taro. Each one is high quality and well-balanced, never too sweet or artificial. Plus, they serve onigiri, which is a great bonus! We got the Banana Creme Latte and it compares to Okayama Banana Creme Matcha!! Lagu has a banana creme top while Okayama has banana in the matcha and a regular foam vanilla creme top (just a by the way!) The prices are reasonable for the quality, and while the shop itself is small (only two tables), it has a cozy, intimate feel. If you're looking for something beyond your usual coffee order, this place is definitely worth a visit! read more

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The Strawberry Sakura latte from Lagu is delicious and not too floral! Think the sweetness of the strawberry complements the cherry blossom flavor. Small cafe so it's best just to grab and go. Their onigiri looked like a good snack but they were lackluster sadly. read more

Lagu Cafe - Sakura latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

The food is so good, I love the salt bread sandwiches. The bread itself is salty and buttery, and the filling inside is very flavorful. The onigiri was typical and a great midday snack. As for the drinks, the matcha wasn't as strong as I would usually like it, but the lemonade was refreshing. read more

Lagu Cafe - ham and cheese salt bread, rose matcha - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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We ordered the strawberry sakura latte and melon cream latte. Both of it were so good. I actually really enjoyed my strawberry latte. The latte's were sweet but not too sweet. It was the perfect amount. I want to try their other drinks on the menu! read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

My sister and I love a good quality matcha and are so glad to have found lagu! it is a very small cafe located amidst office buildings, but they offer delicious onigiri and creative drinks. My sister got the melon matcha with cream top and i got the regular matcha. We were both very satisfied, though the melon matcha was a bit too sweet for my taste. We went around 2pm on a weekday and it wasn't very crowded, though when I went around 12pm previously it was very crowded. However at 2pm they were sold out of a lot of the onigiris. read more

Lagu Cafe - melon matcha, regular matcha, salmon onigiri - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

This is solely based on the iced matcha latte. It's sweetened with vanilla syrup that overpowers and you can't taste any matcha. I hate paying for overpriced milk I heard their banana matcha is good so maybe I'll come back for that but their regular matcha was disappointing so idk I don't have high hopes. Maybe their coffee options are better. read more

Lagu Cafe - Iced matcha latte - pass ;( - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

I wish this cafe had more seating. It's definitely a take-out spot. Worker was very kind, but expect the service to be a bit slow because there isn't much space for many people to be working at once. I had the Sakura Latte and it was deliciousssss! Super creamy but not heavy and perfectly sweet. I didn't really taste Sakura (it was mostly strawberry) but still amazing regardless. The texture and taste kind of reminds me of the drinks from Okayama Kobo (which is a compliment, I love the drinks from there). I will definitely be back to try their other drinks and onigiri. read more

Lagu Cafe - Sakura Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Stopped by for a quick bite since I was in the area. I ordered the matcha cheese foam cold brew, banana cream matcha, and salmon onigiri set. The service was super quick, but the store can get crowded quick with limited seating. You also have an option to order ahead as well. The onigiri was pretty standard, but the drinks were so so good! My partner couldn't stop raving about his matcha, so that definitely means we'll be back soon! read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

This is a small little cafe located in what looks like old school office buildings. The outside is not all that decorated and the sign is very plain like the rest of the other buildings around it. There is minimal seating, meant for the normal person to be in and out within a few minutes. I ordered the sea salt taro latte iced (substituted oat milk) along with an onigiri set (you have to buy 2) of the mentai mayo and yamitsuki. The taro latte was so GOOD. It was very creamy in the best way and had an obvious taro flavor while not being overly sweet. The sea salt top was also thick and had the perfect consistency to mix in or keep seperate from the latte. Nice saltiness! The mentai mayo onigiri (spicy cod roe and japanese mayo) was recommended to me by a friend. It did NOT have a fishy flavor so that's good if you don't like things tasting fishy! The mayo had an extremely subtle spiciness to it. Overall this onigiri just tasted like kewpie mayo with some rice, not sure what the hype is. Just alright, rice was cooked well. On the other hand, the yamitsuki onigiri (tempura crunch, aonori seaweed, and pickled red ginger) was definitely better, having an overall more robust (not really robust but compared to the mentai mayo it is lol) flavor it was favored over the other onigiri. The rice was also cooked well here. The latte was so good that I'm curious to see if their other drinks are also good. Also interested in their bento boxes as well! read more

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- Friendly and helpful staff - Located in a business area so ample parking in front though tight spots - Store is pretty small (2 tables) so you're likely grabbing the food and drinks to go - Drink: Matcha Lavender Latte - pretty good and flavorful read more

Lagu Cafe - Matcha lavender latte (with location in the back) - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Omg just found this place recently. The barista was so nice and service was fast. I got the matcha latte and sausage sando it was delicious !! I will definitely be back read more

Just got the order. Didn't eat yet, but friendly staffs and cute shop. They have many flavor choices on food and drink. read more

Came here after shopping for some miffy gear with my sister and it's a small cafe situated in this large industrial shopping area near the Santa Ana Airport. We got our drinks relatively fast and didn't wait long at all. We also went during a saturday afternoon. My sister liked her strawberry sakura latte and I got a hojicha latte. I thought my drink was fine and the flavor was as expected. I would want to try their specialty drinks next time if I want something on a sweeter end. Overall, it's a nice place to get a snack and/drink before or after shopping for some comic books, miffy merch, etc read more

Lagu Cafe - Strawberry sakura latte and hojicha - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Went to Lagu cafe after seeing them on social media. Wow! This place is a hidden gem, did not disappoint . I always take my friends here if we're ever around this area. Lots of options to choose from. My go-to is the Strawberry sakura latte .Their matcha and tea are really good too. I believe they use high quality ingredients They also have variety of food options such as bento box, onigiri and French toast. (Must order!!! Took my bf here for the first time and he loved it!). Definitely come back again and again read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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The shop itself is very cute and well set up! The drink menu has a variety of drinks. They all look very good, but I was a bit disappointed with their regular matcha latte. Quality of the matcha seemed to be not the best so I didnt enjoy the drink as much. The coffee looks very promising. I will say the star of the show was the onigiri! I highly recommend trying any of the mentai onigiri! read more

I love the banana matcha latte here!! It's the perfect creaminess and balance of banana and matcha flavor. I love the cookie crumbles that come on the top to give it a fun texture too. It's definitely a once in a while sweet treat due to how rich the drink is but i can definitely see myself as a regular here. I went two weeks in a row and tried the Sakura latte the second time and loved that too! It was a nice strawberry flavor that wasn't too overpowering and really unique. They have really different drinks here from other cafes so I'll always come here when i want a change. Only con is that they close pretty early so i always have to bust a mission before or during work on weekdays to get my latte fix in. read more

Lagu Cafe - Nigiris and banana matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

This has been my go-to matcha spot ever since i have found out about this cute cafe! I am a very picky matcha connoisseur and their banana matcha is THE BEST!!! The baristas are always really nice and I recommend you order online during rush hour as there is not much room inside to wait. read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Make sure to check this spot out if you like onigiris! They have a great deal of 2 for $7.50 and they're super filling. You can mix and match so you can try out any flavors you want. I've tried almost all the flavors but I usually get the mentai mayo and tuna mayo. Honestly though you really can't go wrong with any of them. The service here is super quick and orders usually take less than 5 minutes. The shop is a bit small though so I'd recommend just taking the food to go. read more

I want to start this review by saying that I love the taste of the drinks and the food, and the workers are all very friendly! Service is quite fast for how small of a cafe it is. It's definitely more of a grab and go place, though, since there is very limited seating. However... I want to say that I will likely never go here again. Earlier this week, I got a melon matcha and a rose matcha for my coworker and myself, both with oat milk. I've been able to stomach the banana matcha from here before and typically milk-based foams don't bother my coworker or me. However, I suspect that we were given lattes that used whole milk instead of oat milk, or something was bad in the milk, as we both suffered from terrible stomach issues afterward. It's been four days, and I still feel sick. As much as I love the taste of their drinks, I will unfortunately have to stay clear, as I can't guarantee that my drink will be made properly during the lunch rush. If you're not lactose intolerant, though, you'll probably have a great time! read more

ORDER matcha latte (4/5) -- light ice originally wanted to try the banana creme latte so I was bummed to see that they sold out :') i opted for the matcha latte, which had a nice flavor. however, it was super grainy. SERVICE (5/5) quick and efficient. AMBIANCE super small cafe with only a few seats.. more of a take out situation. read more

Lagu Cafe - matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

I came to lagu cafe today and I'm so glad I did! I got the strawberry sakura latte and the 2 pc onigiri with the uma-kara mentai and the salmon onigiri. The strawberry sakura latte was unique, sweet and floral. The cherry blossom flowers on top were cute. The onigiri was fresh and yummy. The uma-kara was my favorite because it was spicy. The server at the front counter was super sweet and helpful with recommendations. The cafe was definitely on the smaller side and it was hard to find standing room, but that showed how popular it was. I can't wait to come back with my partner to try more onigiri options and also their banana cream matcha! read more

8/10 Matcha sea salt cold brew Couldn't really taste the sea salt in the foam or the matcha Foam was really creamy Coffee not too strong Salty to sweet ratio was pretty good after mixing 7/10 hojicha latte with almond milk hojicha flavor was nice and nutty drink was a bit powdery I think the almond milk made the texture a bit thick? Overall - 7.5/10 We enjoyed their drinks and the prices weren't too bad! We didn't try the food this time but they have onigiri that looks yummy. The inside is pretty small and only has 2 small tables so this's more like a to-go place and not for studying. Overall, we would come back to try their other drinks! read more

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Lagu Cafe is tucked away in a corporate plaza near John Wayne Airport. The interior is small and cozy, but with only 2 small tables (seats for maybe 4 total people), I would recommend planning to just grab & go. They have a variety of drinks, onigiri, and sandos. I got the bento box with 2 mix & match onigiris, karaage, edamame, pickled veggies, and miso soup for $15.25. Everything was just ok to me. I chose the tuna mayo and uma-kara mentai onigiri, and both were decently large. The tuna mayo tasted exactly as it sounds, with not much tuna filling or overall flavor. The uma-kara mentai packed more heat than I expected, which was pleasantly surprising. The karaage was soft and seemed to just be warmed up (reminded me of chicken nuggets), and the edamame and miso soup were standard. My favorite side component of the bento was the pickled veggies, which you can also get by just ordering onigiris alone. If I were to return, I would probably just get 2pc of the uma-kara mentai onigiri for $7.50 and skip on the bento. While it was definitely filling, I feel that the flavors and components could be easily recreated at home. However, if you're in the mood for something substantial with relatively basic flavors, the bento could be good for you. read more

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The cafe was very cute! It is quite small as there's only two tables inside. Prices were all very reasonable. I ordered the banana crème match, and personally, I found it too milky. There wasn't enough of the matcha flavor i personally go for. However, if you're not a fan of strong matcha, then I'd definitely recommend you go for this place for a matcha. And service was very fast. There were about three people in front of us and we got two drinks in about 10 minutes read more

Lagu Cafe - Banana Cream Matcha Latte and strawberry sakura latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

I picked this up not even 30 minutes ago and I have no pictures to show you guys.... It was that good. As soon as you walk in, you know you're going to get authentic Japanese onigiris. The place is so tiny and cozy but that makes me feel like they really put all the care and effort into the food and drinks they make. Which was SO true. The onigiris are individually so unique. I got the salmon and pepper chashu. The salmons rice was seasoned different than the pepper chashu but I love how they really season up the rice but not with salt, just more flavor. I wanted to upload a photo of this but it was literally devoured in 5 minutes.... (So I'll have to take pictures next time, because I'm definitely coming back) the rice is super fluffy and soft, not dry at all and each bite was just soooooooo delicious. I also ordered the Sakura coffee. I originally bookmarked this place for their matcha and onigiris, which I'll have to try the banana matcha next time but this morning I needed the extra caffeine. The sakura coffee was okay, it doesn't scream floral but I appreciate a good coffee that doesn't need a lot of additive flavor to make it good. I'm definitely going to be coming back hopefully once a week to get my breakfast because it's literally the best onigiri I've had in Orange County!!!! Thank you Lagu cafe :-')))) read more

This small cafe is close to john wayne airport, located in a plaza. There is plenty of parking but shares with fedex so it can get packed. I have tried the lavender matcha and rose matcha lattes here and they are both amazing!! The drinks are less than $6 and a perfect pick me up for before class. I also tried to onigiri set and it wasn't bad. You can get 2 onigiris for $7.50. I got the chashu and the salmon onigiri. The chashu was delicious but the salmon was nothing special, especially since I have the ingredients at home to make it. The onigiri is pretty big tho so 2 definitely filled me up! It is best to eat them fresh because the seaweed is directly touching the rice. I will definitely be frequenting this spot to get matchas/coffees before class. There are only two small tables indoors and one small table outside. This spot is definitely a to go spot. read more

Lagu Cafe - onigiri set and rose matcha - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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I feel like you guy are about to be mad at me but, I'm not sure why Lagu Cafe is so popular. I wasn't expecting fine dining from a takeout-style spot, but the service? Was kind of unbelievable, in the worst way. I walked up to the counter to pick up my scheduled order, and the staff member literally ignored me. Not too busy, not overwhelmed, just ignoring me. I even tried the classic "Hi excuse me, I have a question," and got a glance followed by her walking away. A minute later she came back, called someone else's name, and walked off again. I finally asked again offering my name for pickup, just wanting to confirm which bag was mine, and she pointed without a word. No name on the bag, no confirmation, just bad vibes. Maybe I was supposed to grab and go, but the total lack of communication was weird and made the whole experience feel cold and awkward. As for the actual food? Also a letdown. - The cold brew was fine. Not bad, but nothing to write home about. - The banana cream matcha? Super artificial-tasting and just not good. Try Brew Story or Paderia if you're looking for banana matcha done right. - We got the bento box to sample everything and, honestly, the miso soup was the best part (lol). - The karaage chicken was soggy outside, dry inside--warm at least, so points for that? But if you want good karaage, skip this and go to CHA for Tea. - The onigiri was almost disrespectful, 92% rice with a tiny teaspoon of salmon buried in it. And the salmon? I don't know what they did to it, but it had the texture of jerky dust. Like they pulverized it into flakes. My friend nearly gagged. I wish I was exaggerating, but we were actually excited to try this place and it was unfortunately not it. Maybe we're spoiled with good food options, but this spot just felt like hype with no substance. If you like experimental, raunchy food, I guess give it a shot? Otherwise, there are so many better places out there. Sowwy :/ read more

omg this place is busy! located in a corporate business area with plenty of parking. there is limited seating inside with two small tables. i got a banana creme matcha latte and it's $5.50! such a good price considering cafes are so expensive now. my drink was pretty sweet so i'd suggest for less sugar next time. i was actually in a rush and asked the barista the status of my order. staff is very nice and understanding even though i was rushing so 5/5 stars for service thank you!!! prob allow 10-15 mins wait time for your order since it does get pretty busy. would love to go back to try the cold brew! read more

Lagu Cafe - horrible pic but banana creme matcha - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Melon matcha was delicious! Honestly a little too creamy for my palette but if that's what you're into, I'm sure you'll love it! read more

Lagu Cafe - Melon matcha - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

My first review on my new hojicha dedicated account. 10/10 best hojicha latte I've had in a long time. Excellent balance and full flavor. On the less sweet side. read more

Lagu Cafe - Hojicha latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

It was my first time trying this place and I absolutely loved it! I've been having a rough couple of days and decided to try a new coffee spot. The girl at the counter was nice! She even complimented my jacket, ( I didn't catch her name, but if she sees this literally thank you I was feeling so ugly recently and you have no idea how good that made me feel) I got an iced lavender latte and it was delicious! I really liked the actually lavender on top. Also got he tuna mayo onigiri and it really hit the spot, I was starving and ate it while driving lolll. Definitely can't wait to come back and try something new! Parking was no problem at all, the fun thing is while you're waiting for your order you can stand outside and watch the planes land! Inside is a bit small, but it has a nice cozy vibe. read more

Sadly not my fav. The onigiri are okay. I think the ones at mitsuwa are way better and cheaper. My matcha was also way too sweet so if you like sweet matcha this place is definitely for you. read more

The food was great! I got a salmon onigiri, and it came out fast and was delicious and fresh. The person that helped us was nice! There are only 2 tables, but its not cramped for those two tables. I had a great experience with my friend! read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

A very small, quaint and hidden place to get your food or coffee/teas. Discovered this spot after driving in the are during a warehouse sale. There's 2 tables outside to seat 4 people max and noticed it gets pretty busy so more than likely your food will be to go. I enjoyed everything I ordered, especially the matcha sea salt cold brew. It was creamy and cold brew didn't have a tart aftertaste the way my experience with other cold brews have been read more

Lagu Cafe - Onigiri, matcha sea salt cold brew, Japanese hot dog - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

My friend and I tried the Banana Creme Matcha & a banana creme vanilla latte, so good! read more

Lagu Cafe - Vanilla Latte with Banana Creme - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Not much seating -- definitely more of an order and go kind of place but the servers were great and the tuna mayo onigiri + banana matcha were good ! read more

Super small and cozy cafe in a quiet plaza. They sell Japanese convenience store items and simple lunchtime dishes like sandos and onigiri but their focus is clearly the matcha and coffee with Asian-inspired flavors. I ordered the banana creme matcha latte and while the matcha flavor was strong, I was shocked at how grainy it was. Every sip felt clunky - I could feel clumps of matcha in between my teeth. For a place that specializes in Japanese drinks, I was so disappointed. If they cannot take the time to dissolve the matcha and make a good latte when I was the only customer there at 10AM on a weekday morning, I can't imagine what it would be like during busier hours. Costa Mesa/Irvine has so many cafes and you can easily find better quality matcha lattes elsewhere. read more

Love their banana cream matcha latte, would come here every time when I'm in Irvine! I need to try their onigiris since they look so good! Definitely recommend coming here if you are in the area! read more

Lagu Cafe - Banana Cream Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Always on the hunt for good Japanese food, I somehow came across Lagu Cafe. It's a fast casual cafe located in Irvine off of Main St. in a business area. There's no seating inside and only a few tables outside, so plan on getting your food to go. Plenty of parking is available in the shared lot. They have a small but mighty menu consisting of onigiri sets, bento box, sandwiches and French toast. They also offer a variety of DIY take-out ramen options from Shin Sen Gumi and Tsujita LA. And last of all, they are probably most known for their organic coffee drinks, specialty drinks and tea. Upon arrival, I was greeted by two very friendly employees. I decided to order the Arabiki Sausage Dog for $7.25 - Japanese Pork Sausage with ketchup, mustard, relish, Japanese mayo in a salt and butter roll. I also got a Strawberry Sakura Latte for $5.50 - Strawberry Latte infused with Sakura, double shot of espresso, topped w/ milk foam. The latte was to die for! In a strange way it reminded me of strawberry milk, but the foam on top had a salty flavor to it. When I mixed it up, it was heaven on earth! The Arabiki Sausage dog was absolutely delish! The roll was super soft and I love fArabiki sausage so I knew I was in for a treat! Prices are very reasonable. I can't wait to return and try some of their other offerings. In fact, I may go back today! read more

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