The drinks here are delicious! I got the Banana Creme Matcha Latte and it was just the right amount of sweetness and matcha. I also decided to get food there but it is a no go for me. I got the Onigiri & Karaage Bento: Mix & Match any 2 Onigiris, Karaage (fried chicken), edamame, miso soup, and Japanese pickles. I got the salmon oniguri and tuna mayo oniguri. It wasn't the tastiest. The salmon was a little dry to me as well. Karaage was soft and seemed like it was just warmed up. I would definitely go back for their drinks though! There is a parking lot with plenty of spots, but it does get busy! read more

Lagu Cafe - Oniguri & karaage bento with Banana Creme Matcha Latte. Recommend their drinks! - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Lagu Cafe is a premier Japanese deli and cafe known for their amazing onigiris and drinks. This spot is definitely on the smaller side but packed with so many goodies. They are located in a plaza with a decent amount of parking spots. Inside, they only have two tables for seating and no seating outside. This will be more of a grab and go spot so make sure you plan accordingly. As for their menu, they have a great selection of different onigiris, sandos, matcha, and coffee drinks. Wifey and I opted to get the Banana Creme Matcha Latte and Melon Matcha Latte for our drinks, a Tuna Cheese Salt and Butter Sando, and an Onigiri Bento Box that came with a Pepper Chashu Onigiri, Salmon Onigiri, Chicken Karaage, and Miso Soup. Overall, everything we had was very delicious and filling! All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Lagu Cafe is providing that quintessential Japanese cafe grab and go experience and definitely deserves more spotlight and attention! read more

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I love the cozy Japanese cafe ambiance! It felt so warm and welcoming, even though the space itself is tiny. We ordered the banana cream matcha latte and the strawberry sakura latte, and both were absolutely delicious. The matcha had a nice balance of earthiness and sweetness, while the banana cream added a unique, creamy touch. The strawberry sakura latte was floral, fruity, and so refreshing. I'd love to come back and try more from their menu. read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

You know it's good when there's so many people coming in and out when you get there. It's a super small space so it looks like there's a long line and a lot of people waiting but it goes by super quick and they're very efficient and taking orders and getting them prepared quickly. They have fun combinations and friendly staff. My friend enjoyed the banana matcha drink whole I enjoyed the strawberry latte and both were delicious. Definitely a sweet treat more than an every day morning beverage but was made well. Would recommend! read more

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

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I came here on a whim to order a quick snack and matcha. It's a small but cute little cafe that's unassuming on the outside but cozy on the inside. I ordered the matcha rose latte and onigiri set with the salmon and mentai mayo onigiri. The salmon was alright; the texture kind of threw me off because it was grainy rather than flaky. The mentai mayo, though - it was absolutely delicious. I'm a big fan of mentai so I had to order this and I was not disappointed. All I can say is, this is a must-try. The matcha rose latte was also very good and refreshing, pairing well with the salted cream top. This is a cute place to visit for a quick lunch or daytime hangout as it closes pretty early. They also have a few items for sale and a lot of popup collabs so keep an eye out! read more

This cafe is a shop that turned a office business space into a food spot, so the place is on the smaller side. There's only one doorway. Also, they do have a little area to sit, but there are only two tables that accommodate at least 6 people. That being said, parking is not too limited since it's in a shared parking lot. For a Saturday afternoon, it was quite packed, but the wait time was surprisingly not too bad, maybe 20 minutes. Got their Matcha Lavender Latte, Matcha Banana Latte, and Honey Lavender Tea. - Matcha Lavender Latte: With the matcha latte, the lavender flavoring is much better than their Honey Lavender Tea. I got this with regular milk and found this to be nicely balanced between matcha, lavender, and milk. While the lavender was more subtle and more floral in taste, it worked well. Not too icy or sweet. I would recommend this. - Matcha Banana Latte: While this is made with artificial banana flavoring in their cream, it's quite balanced with the sweetness and matcha. I prefer real banana flavor in my banana matcha lattes, but I would come back for this cafe's banana matcha latte. It's more of a banana pudding type of cream, which is well-done here. I would also recommend this drink the most of the three drinks I've tried. - Honey Lavender Tea: I did not like this. The combination wasn't to my or my friends' preference. Honey already has a distinctive taste while lavender can be floral that borderlines soapy, so I think that it lacks balance overall. I wouldn't recommend this drink. Overall, based on my visit, I would revisit if I'm in the area. The shop is small and can get cramped when it's super busy, but the service was nice and quick for a busy time. They have a decent menu selection with food options too. Maybe I'll try the food next time, though the price for what it is didn't really seem worth it to me. read more

Might be the best matcha in OC- trumps Airoma! Cute, cozy japanese cafe with fast service. No power outlets or seating, so don't expect to stay long. The matcha lattes were smoky, creamy, and not too sweet- I do wish the drink was colder because mine came out a bit lukewarm. read more

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

I love the banana pudding flavor/cookie pieces on their Banana Matcha. Very affordable compared to other matcha places, but their interior only has 2 seats and is very small. I'd say it's good to grab and go, and I'd return again to try their food too. read more

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

The drinks were really unique, and the flavor was very strong however, I felt like it, overpowered the coffee and the Matcha itself. The rice balls were very delicious and I felt like the overall value for all of the food and drink was really good. There's usually a pretty long line during lunch lunchtime, but there's a lot of parking and other cute shops around the area. read more

Lagu Cafe - Banana matcha and Sakura latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

This spot gets pretty packed on Saturday morning. I got the matcha rose latte which was really tasty. The cream on top was great with the matcha. The spot is very small and there's no room for hanging out. read more

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

Been on a matcha run lately so I decided to check out this shop this morning. The vibes were so spot on walking in with IU playing in the background. I ordered the following for myself: banana creme matcha iced latte, arabiki sausage dog, French toast, and the shiso konbu onigiri. I ordered the following for my husband: the bento box with the mentai mayo & tuna mayo onigiri and also the arabiki sausage dog. I thought everything was delicious, usually I don't go out of my way to order hot dogs but the picture they had looked so appealing and I thought it was delicious. Surprisingly my husband thought the hot dog was mediocre which was a shock because he's usually the hotdog fan. He thoroughly enjoyed his onigiris though and said he would definitely try this place again. The inside space has two small 2 seater tables and there's a few outdoor seating so this is definitely more for the folks who need to grab and go. read more

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My coworker turned me on to this place!!!! The banana matcha is amazing!!!! It's a refreshing taste of banana cream and matcha that's not over powering!!!! The flavor is perfect and all there. Definitely returning as a regular. read more

I have been wanting to try this place for a while and finally picked up smoked salmon sandwich, uma-kara mentai and takana mentai. The bread was pillowy and buttery. The sandwich was delicious with combination of smoked salmon, dill, capers, cream cheese and black pepper. Uma-Kara mentai was surprisingly spicy. I loved it. Takana mentai was also yummy. read more

Lagu Cafe - Uma-Kara Mentai - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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I finally got to try this place and picked up food and a drink during my lunch break. The girl at the register was patient and explained the items on the menu. There was always a steady line out the door while I was there. The amount was pretty small for my lunch and I probably won't get the onigiri again. It's fine for a small snack, but not lunch. My sea salt taro latte had a very nice creamy flavor. I enjoyed it in with return to try other drinks. read more

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Lagu Cafe is one of my favorite places to grab a quick bite for lunch. The tuna mayo onigiri is my go-to choice. Even though they offer a wide variety of options, the tuna mayo never disappoints. The tuna isn't overpowering or fishy, which makes it an easy and discreet option for anyone craving tuna while working without worrying about strong smells lingering. It's surprisingly filling. Still, I sometimes wish they came in a set of three. read more

Lagu Cafe - Tuna Mayo - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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My brother and his girlfriend picked up two drinks and onigiri for us right before they picked us up from the John Wayne Airport. I was really excited to try this place, but it ended being disappointing. Iced Jasmine Rose Tea ($4.50): Super basic - literally just jasmine tea with a hint of rose. Felt ripped off since I can make this at home. We originally wanted their melon cream latte but they were out (and this was early Friday AM). Iced Strawberry Sakura Latte ($5.50) + Oat Milk ($1): This is a strawberry flavor infused latte with double shot of espresso, a hint of Sakura, and topped off with a salted vanilla milk foam. This sounded really cool but it honestly tasted like chocolate milk with light coffee. The strawberry flavor was subtle and I'm not even sure if I tasted the sakura. Pepper Cha-Shu Onigiri ($7.50): This came with two onigiris. The pork belly was not umami or fatty, and the meat portion was small. The rice had salt & pepper which gave it a nice subtle flavor. If you like bland or naturally flavored food, you can appreciate Lagu Cafe more than we did; it was just not for us. read more

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The banana cream is really good! Subtly sweet, the banana flavor is comforting and overall a great add-on to the matcha. The matcha base is not as vibrant and the matcha flavor doesn't stand out for me, and not so smooth. The baristas are so nice and friendly, and I was able to sit down to enjoy my cup for a bit. It was cozy in there despite being small! Overall I may come back for this banana matcha again :) I hope the matcha quality could improve! read more

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

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I got the melon cream latte. The taste of the melon was subtle, the drink wasn't overly sweet, and it didn't overpower the latte itself. The coffee wasn't extremely acidic and went well with the melon. The fragrance was amazing. I would come here again just for this drink! However, I didn't like the onigiri -- tuna and salmon. There wasn't enough filling so it felt like I was just eating a plain rice ball. I would not get it again. As for parking, it was relatively easy for a Friday afternoon, and customer service was fine. read more

I love going to Lagu! My favorite place for unique matcha and coffee flavors. I haven't had a single miss on the menu yet. It's a smaller place, better for take out... but it is pretty worth it! read more

I drove all the way from Riverside County to try this cafe! My personal favorite was the French Toast. It's the perfect ratio of sweet to savory and it's so buttery! All of the reviews rave about the Banana Crème Matcha Latte, but in my opinion the topping is way too sweet and the matcha doesn't balance it out enough. I didn't get pictures inside of the store, but the menu is easy to read, and despite the lack of space it's super aesthetic! I will definitely return here in the future for some of the onigiri but i was in a bit of a rush and the one i wanted was out of stock. read more

Lagu Cafe - French Toast (1 PC) - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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I'm officially hooked. I always order mine with pure matcha, one pump of vanilla, and that cream top? Perfection. Like a little cloud of happiness in a cup. Their sandwich and French toast are also so good--total comfort food vibes. And the girls behind the counter are always super sweet and welcoming, which just makes the whole experience even better. Honestly, this place blows Febe out of the water. Highly recommend! read more

Lagu Cafe - Liquid gold - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

The banana crème matcha latte is one of the best I've tried! The banana crème is sweet, with little cookie crumbles in the foam (literally amazing!!). The foam was a bit thicker than I expected, but paired very well with the matcha. The drink overall is on the sweeter side (which is perfect if you're looking for a sweet treat/pick me up!) and the matcha is very authentic and flavorful. The cafe itself is super tiny with one or two tables inside, so this place is probably better to get your drinks to-go! Baristas were super sweet and my drink came out fast! I waited less than 5 min for my drink, which was really nice. 10/10 recommend, I love this spot! read more

Lagu Cafe - Iced Banana Cream Matcha Latte w/ Oatmilk - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

My friends and I visited this spot and absolutely loved it! We ordered the tuna and salmon onigiri set, which includes two pieces for $7.50 along with pickled vegetables. It was simple yet so filling! My friends also got the smoked salmon sando with capers, dill, and cream cheese, and everything we tried was absolutely delicious. I had never had smoked salmon before, but I really enjoyed it! The drinks were the highlight of our experience. The menu was so cute and straightforward. We tried the matcha latte, strawberry sakura latte, banana matcha, and vanilla iced latte. My friends and I especially loved both matcha drinks, and for me, the banana matcha was amazing! Everything was a 10/10, and the staff was so kind and welcoming! read more

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The hotel I stayed at in Irvine was so close to Lagu Cafe and I wish I had been able to stop by more than once to try more of their menu! It's a small shop that has onigiri, Japanese sandwich options, and intriguing latte options. We were working remotely from the hotel so I went to pick up breakfast for us and got: - Mentai Mayo Onigiri (set of 2) - Yamitsuki Onigiri (set of 2) - French Toast - Banana Creme Matcha Latte - Hojicha Latte The banana creme matcha latte was sooo good - it was a creamy matcha topped with banana white chocolate foam. They also had other lattes like matcha melon and strawberry sakura. We thought the hojicha was pretty grainy though. I love that you can mix and match onigiri options but we kept it to two of each. The onigiri we picked were solid options and it came with pickled veggies which is nice. We also loved the French toast which was made from shokupan (Japanese bread) so it was nice and thick and fluffy. This is a very very small shop so it is best for a quick pick up! read more

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Such a quaint hidden gem! This is nestled inside a corporate plaza and it's easy to miss but there is plenty of parking. We got their strawberry sakura latte and their banana creme matcha latte. Both were delicious but couldn't really taste the strawberry of the sakura latte nor see any of its usual pink as you can see in the photo. On to the onigiris...now this was a huge disappointment. My rating is a 4 just for the drinks but if I were to consider the onigiris it would probably be a 2 or 3. I would advise against getting them as they are quite literally a ball of really bland cold hard rice with seaweed over it. Barely any filling and everyone who tried a bite shared the same opinion that it was not good. read more

Lagu Cafe - strawberry sakura latte banana creme matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

I love the onigiris here. The tuna mayo and spicy one are my favorite, I pair it with a miso soup. The staff is always very friendly, the spot itself is very tiny but lively so it's best to order to go. Also you can't go wrong with any of the coffees/teas here. I recommend the sea salt black tea. read more

I have been wanting to try this place for awhile after seeing it on Instagram so I'm glad I finally made it out. The location itself is small so not a good place to do work. I got the banana matcha because that's what I really wanted to try. Overall, I was a bit underwhelming :( I think the flavor was good towards the end of my drink. The matcha flavor wasn't as strong as others I've tried. When you mix it, the flavor seemed water down. Till I got to the end of my drink is when I started to enjoy it a bit more. Maybe it was an off day as the other reviews seem to really enjoy it. read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

The onigiri is so good! I love that they have a vegetarian option because I'm not the biggest fan of fish. So I always get the Yamitsuki onigiri set. A specialty drink is always a must! My favorites are the matcha sea salt cold brew and the strawberry sakura latte. The last time I was there I saw a lot of people getting the sea salt green tea. It's a small spot, so not a lot of seating. But there are a couple spots. Sometimes there is a small line out the door. But service is fast and you don't have to wait too long. Lots of space to park as well! read more

Lagu Cafe - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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I was surprised to find this store in this lot accompanied by some other unique businesses. There's plenty of parking spaces but the plaza is pretty busy. Finding a spot wasn't an issue when I came after lunch on a weekday. I came right before they closed and there was still a group of people by the store. The inside of the store only has a couple tables so it's best to call in and place your order ahead of time since you'll probably be enjoying it somewhere else. The banana cream matcha latte was delicious. The banana cream was of a thicker consistency and the match was on point. Their food definitely looks good too, but I'll need to come back again to try it. read more

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

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The matcha drinks have a very subtle flavor, not quite strong as I like it. It was on the milky side and that overpowered the entirety of the drink. The store is very small and space is very limited, there are only two small tables inside. It is more of a grab and go spot. It is conveniently located next to John Wayne Airport- Santa Ana. I do want to come back and try their food options, everything looked really good. ig: @cravingswithcat read more

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My friend recommended this place to me and said the sakura latte tasted like Japan. So i stopped by and gave it a try. I ordered the sakura latte which had a cold foam on top. I also got the onigiri set and was able to get the tuna and salmon variety rice balls. The sakura latte tasted a bit too chocolate-y for me. If it was lighter in chocolate, I think it would have been perfect! The onigiri was a bit too plain for my liking. It was also 80% rice and 20% filling so it didnt seemed proportional whenever I bit into it. Its a super small shop and reminds me of Japan. Theres no seating and is more like a to go place. The workers werent as friendly though and seemed a bit impatient when I asked questions about their menu. read more

came here b/c i saw on tiktok and yelp reviews that the banana matcha latte was highly recommended - banana cream matcha latte 3/5 - LOVED the banana creme, but expected a lot more from this drink based on the reviews. still enjoyable, but did not get any matcha flavor bc of the milk and banana creme flavor. it was more like a banana milk drink - onigiri 5/5 - got the salmon and pepper chashu! really enjoyed it as a snack, would come back to try the others. also the lightly picked veggies on the side were a nice touch read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

A small hidden gem in Irvine by the airport, by The Square Plaza. There were so many different lattes and drinks to try! Today was my first time, and I decided to order the Banana Cream Matcha latte. They offer milk substitutes such as oat milk, almond and 2%. The shop is very busy and has only 2 small tables to sit inside. Most customers were ordering drinks and just picking them up to go. Other unique lattes were the melon matcha latte and taro cold brew. I'm looking forward to trying other drinks. I did not have the chance to try and of the food options, but they offered a variety of Onigiri and some croissants. read more

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I've eaten here a couple times now. I saw this place on TikTok and was interested in their onigiris. The establishment is built as a fast and casual (order and leave) type but their onigiris are not premade. This means that you have to wait about 10-15 minutes for your order. Their coffee and matchas are pretty average but their foams make up for it. We ordered a bento box and while the onigiris were good the rest of the box was cold and didn't take fresh. I would suggest ordering online beforehand and then picking it up to minimize wait. read more

Lagu Cafe - Matcha latte (right) coffee matcha sea salt cold brew (left) - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Small, unassuming exterior close to SNA airport. Seating is very limited but the drinks are delicious, and super affordable too! No $10 lattes for me please They also serve little 2 pc onigiri sets at 2 for $7.50. Get the banana latte! It's not too sweet. Also the hojicha latte is not very sweet either, more savory/nutty, which i like! Sweet employees as well :) read more

Lagu Cafe - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Been wanting to try their specialty matcha for awhile and finally tried it on a Friday afternoon. They are famous for their cream top matcha - I got a banana cream matcha with whole milk and a regular matcha latte with soy milk. The cream top one is definitely more unique - it has a nice foamy texture, but the cream was very sweet. It tasted more like a dessert rather than a coffee/tea drink. The regular matcha with soy was also pretty sweet and the body was a little watery. I also tried the French toast, which had a good texture, but nothing too special. Good stop for a sweetened matcha drink, but overall not my preferred style! read more

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Small japanese deli/shop (~two tables inside) with amazing drinks! Tried the banana cream matcha and the matcha sea salt cold brew. Both were delicious and not too sweet. Will come back to try their onigiri. read more

Lagu Cafe - banana cream matcha and matcha sea salt cold brew - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

I really love their strawberry Sakura Latte -- it's the best coffee you can possibly find The staff is always sweet and welcoming. It's a shame they only have one café read more

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

Cute little gem! I came to this small Japanese cafe in the afternoon, and they still had customers constantly coming in even after the closing time. I got the strawberry Sakura latte which was decent, but the key flavors weren't coming through as strongly as I'd like. My husband really liked his sea salt taro latte though. The onigiris were super delicious! I enjoyed the shiso konbu and the salmon. There drinks menu has a lot of options, so I plan on coming back to try different drinks and get more onigiri. read more

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Onigiri is okay, I've only had one out of two of the flavors. But this review is door dash related. You guys really need to invest in some better stickers for the lids especially if not providing straws. Along with chopsticks.. those were the driest cheapest chopsticks I've ever used It left a sticky mess didn't peel cleanly and was unable to use the lid. The Sakura strawberry coffee I was so curious about.. I personally didn't like it. It was too sweet and just the flavor alone wasn't very appealing. And I love floral flavors.. but that wasn't it. I should have went with banana.. long story short, I wouldn't order from this place again. Just not impressed and the sticker sent me. Not to mention my ice was completely melted but that's not why the coffee tasted so bad.. it's the flavor. If I had to give a positive the sea salt foam was decent, and the filling in the perilla leaf onigiri was not too shabby. read more