Not been back since i was a young anteater. Best sandwiches if u didnt have a car back before UniCenter had any other places to eat besides Lees (now chickfila), INO, TacoBell, and Jack in the Crack. its weird how empty it is now, but given all the food places that sprung up around, kinda sad. Still low priced as ever. its like $2-4 more expensive now but damm for a decade thats such low climb. $8 for a damm delicious ooey gooey sandwich? hell fucking yes? '26 oops i never posted it. Swiss connection is now a whopping $10.5. highway robbery it is. But the bread is still unmatched for pillowy cheweyness (hot will get u a crisped exterior so always go for hot). Carrot n Daikons baguette would be my second for bread but their bread is thin flakey fall apart outside with a more airy pillowy interior. most important. do not say no to the mustard and whatever the other thing they ask if is ok to put in. the LeDIP experience is a whole deal ok. it's all or nothing. just like it should be in normal restaurants ok, like the shirt shoes and pants requirement? all or nothing. if you went to a restaurant without pants, you would not experience the experience as it was intended. take it all or leave empty handed ok? unless you're actually allergic to something. but like are u living if you miss out on the perfect combo of savory and cutting sourness? i acquired an allergy to shrimp and once a year i'll still boiling crab a lb of shrimp and just premedicate on Benadryl hoping i don't die. oh it's so good. god it itches so bad. ah so succulent. whole experience! hot french connection- can i eat this first please? oh my god i don't think i ever appreciated the soft pillowy softness of the baguette in my younger years. the outside crust is the thinnest crisp and yields immediately (unlike Lee's Trashwiches where the stale crust cuts the roof of your mouth). Simple sandwich but sometimes the best things are the simple things. Cold Swiss Connection - the only reason i get it cold is cuz this is my breakfast & lunch for the next day. so no point in melting it prematurely. i honestly can't decide between the two, so i just get both. the difference is Swiss cheese here vs the brie in the french. update-its like 10.5 now cry. and get it hot! i was wrong! it ooooozes Parking - shared with the whole center, plenty. Payment - cash, credit chip 5, or venmo? No Pay unfortunately. Credit chip wouldnt read my card either, took 3 tries, and u need to manually hold it down cuz its not secured so....not really contactless. '26 theyve modernized, apple pay now accepted so yayy. Menu is modernized printed board albeit boring. Chalk menu was wayyy cooler imo. read more

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I've been coming here ever since I was in college at UCI, and it still hits the spot! You absolutely cannot go wrong with the chicken broccoli mushroom sandwich with that delicious garlic sauce. It's a total classic! Everything taste so fresh. Service is pretty fast. You order at the counter and they have some seating inside or outside in the outdoor area. read more

We love Le Dip! I rarely eat here so it's always a treat when I do get a sandwich. A friend and I had a picnic yesterday and this spot was a no brainer, easy to take with us and delicious. The waitress was nice, I was also shocked it wasn't as busy! I always get the chicken broccoli mushroom so I got two to take home, then I wanted to try the tuna melt at the park. Tbh, I'll stick to the chicken broccoli mushroom because the tuna spread was so little, I was a bit disappointed. Other than that I really loved the sandwich, got extra garlic sauce - they charge 50¢ each but I thought it was worth it lol read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Tuna Melt - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

I got a banh mi sandwich and an Italian soda and it was pretty average. Not quite a traditional banh mi so it was fine. The Italian soda didn't really have too much flavor and the plastic cups are super flimsy. The cup is just getting crushed in my hand. Sometimes there's flies buzzing around and I'm not sure what this place is trying to do. Nice decor though. read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Banh mi - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

The chicken broccoli and mushroom sandwich is something you can eat again and again and probably not get tired of. Sandwiches here are simply done right. When you can't figure out what to eat or you're when you're looking for quick spots the area, this is a reminder that this is around. read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Chicken Broccoli Mushroom - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

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I read through the reviews on Yelp and decided to order their famous chicken, broccoli, and mushroom sandwhich. The reviews did not disappoint. The sandwich took about 10min to make and came out hot with melty cheese. The garlic aioli sauce was delicious. Price is good. Overall, it's a quick pickup and on the go spot. The broccoli was slightly on the rawer side. There's not much seating indoor but there's plenty outdoor seating in the common area. I would come back for their sandwiches. read more

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I've been a customer since 2007. I've frequented here over the years and this year 2026 was when I felt compelled to write a negative review. The amount of chicken I got in my chicken cordon bleu was but 5-6 tiny chunks of chicken. The portions were much better in years past, but I'm definitely sure this amount of chicken shouldn't pass as any sort of chicken sandwich. The economy is bad but I don't think it's an excuse to serve little to no food for $10.5 a sandwich. I'm better off going to subway instead. If I could give negative stars, I would. Sad to see a campus staple turn into this. read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - A very sad chicken cordon bleu - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

Absolutely disgusting!! I ordered my old favourite, Tuna Melt and was really disappointed. The bread was old and stale, feels like chewing on old soggy cardboard. The tuna was cold, hard and unseasoned. I couldn't even finish it, had to throw it away. This used to be a good place with freshly made bread but since the new ownership, it has become gross. read more

I had the NY Liason and it was a total joke. Two measly slices of pastrami in a sea of bread and lettuce. The meat wasn't even good -- if you told me it Oscar Meyer meat I would believe it. Yes the breast was toasty, the cream cheese and mustard was inventive, but this was the saddest looking sandwich! My wife had a tuna salad sandwich and it was average, but at least it had some tuna inside. One and done! read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - NY Hot N.Y Liason Sandwich -- where's the beef? - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here from a recommendation and wanted to see what the hype was all about. I came here on my lunch break and, if you've ever been to UTC, you know it's a mess when it comes to parking during lunch rush. Parking wasn't terrible but it was far from great. Parked near the Trader Joe's and walked towards the restaurant. I was recommended to try the chicken cordon bleu and I also grabbed a Vietnamese iced coffee. The chicken was okay, it was flavorful from the sauce they used but the sandwich overall was super chewy. My mouth got tired of chewing by the end of it, and I don't know if it's the bread or the chicken. If it wasn't for the chewiness I would've liked it a lot more, because the sauce was pretty good. The coffee is not for the weak. It's got the signature Vietnamese hazelnut bitter flavor, so don't expect it to be super sweet. It wasn't terrible, but wasn't the best I've had either. It was okay - I don't know if I'd get it again though. The service was good at least - I told the worker that it was my first visit and they were quick to explain how everything worked. They were also realistic with their wait times so I wasn't stuck sitting around wondering when I'd get my food. Be advised that there is no seating inside, but since this is at UTC there are plenty of outdoor seats and tables to eat at. It's also an easy spot to pick up and go - which is exactly what I did because I was on my lunch break. Overall, I can see why it's a popular spot among students - it's across the street from the school, prices seem pretty fair, and their food has potential. If I were to come back I'd try something totally different because I believe that they have good ratings for a reason and I don't want to give up on them just yet. I'll likely come back in the near future as I still have high hopes, but as of right now, I wasn't too impressed. read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Hot Chicken Cordonbleu Sandwich and Vietnamese Iced Coffee (L) - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

I love this place. Perfect for a quick little bite. Menu is pretty varied and well priced. In fact, the prices are pretty low in comparison to most of the other restaurants. Food usually coms out pretty fast as well. The young ladies working here are pretty kind. On one occasion though, I asked for extra milk on the Viet coffee which threw off a lady in the cashier. I don't think it was anything out of this world to ask for more milk and less coffee. I simply wanted more milk since Viet coffee is notoriously strong. She made it seem like a big deal and got a bit of a standoffish vibe. Other than this interaction, great place for a quick bite and strong coffee. read more

HAPPY HOUR: 9" chicken garlic with chips/drink I've been wanting to go in for happy hour (3-6pm) for the longestt time. Their happy hour is just one menu item (chicken garlic sandwich with chips/drink) and it's CASH ONLY ($7.40). I was so underwhelmed and disappointed though... I thought it would come with more ingredients but it was basically just bread, cheese and chicken. Overall, the sandwich was just kinda dry and definitely needed the tobasco sauce. read more

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Le Dip holds the keyyyy tooooo myyyy heartttttttt. I was back at the UCI Homecoming event and couldn't help but stop by the University Center, across the bridge. There I saw Le Dip and my heart was fluttering once more for their garlic chicken sandwich. My boyfriend and I had recently eaten lunch so we weren't ready for a full meal... but I figured I would order it for laters. We were pleasantly surprised that Le Dip had a 3-6pm happy hour DAILY deal for the 9" chicken garlic with your choice of the bag of chips or small drink for only $7.40 CASH ONLY deal. Whoaaa now that's good eats!! I was definitely happpyyyyyy. I asked staff if they can cut the sandwich up for me and they said they could in either 2 pieces or 4 pieces... Mhmmm... I opted for 4 pieces so I can snack on 25% of that sandwich haha and I got my bf to snack with me too. Mhmmmmmm the taste of the creamy garlic sauce. Yummmm!! Definitely lives up to my memories of my youth. I'm glad they have an affordable options for college students to enjoy near the UCI campus. With inflation these days, It's hard to find a meal under $10. Highlyyyy recommended and will definitely be coming back whenever I'm nearby. read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - happy hour deal daily! what a steal - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

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Omg, this used to be my favorite sandwich shop. Every time I'm in Irvine I come here. I am so sad. I always get the chicken garlic.. I know times are tough, but seriously the amount of chicken in my sandwich was so sad. I felt like I was just eating bread. It is with deep regret I say this... If this is the new normal, I'll pass next time. read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Chicken Garlic.. where's the chicken? - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

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Every time I'm in town I always make a special trip to this place. Their chicken garlic sandwich is one of a kind. I like the chicken eggplant too. It's prepared with the same garlic sauce. Can't say enough about these two sandwiches. It's simply the best and worth the trip. Service is fast and ambiance is very casual. read more

Been a customer for over 25 years. If I ever just need something quick bite to eat, Le Diplomate is the place. My go-to sandwich is the tuna salad ($10). Inside seating only has a couple tables but go and enjoy the outdoor tables...clean and plentiful. I remembered when I worked in Laguna Hills 10 years ago, I'd call in my order so that I could pick up and go...enough time to enjoy every bite. Since they cut the sandwich in half, you can eat at the 2nd half for later. The sweet young lady was nice and apologetic for not having the soft baguette nor the croissant anymore. It's a small place but it feels like home. read more

I came here after reading several yelp reviews, raving about their sandwiches. I had to come. I ended up ordering a bahn mi sandwich, along with a chicken , eggplant concoction that was spectacular! 5/5 read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Open 9am-8pm daily. Happy hour options for 9" Hot Chicken Garlic Sandwich bet 3-6pm, bag of chips or small drink $7.40 cash only - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

Love love love their garlic sauce!!!!!! I wish they sold just the sauce in a big ole bottle!!! Everything I'm in town, I make it mandatory to buy a Sando from here and another or an xtra side of garlic sauce. read more

Glad to see Le Dip is still in business since I graduated 10 years ago! Today I ordered the bacon chicken club, which was great. I typically gravitate to any of the chicken sandwiches that have their famous garlic sauce like the chicken dijon, chicken/broccoli/mushroom, and chicken garlic. I also enjoy their BLT. Along with the garlic sauce I really enjoy their bread. It strikes a good balance between crispy and chewy. Off to the side they have a bottle of siracha which I like putting on my sandwich as well. The service is quick, and the workers have always been friendly here. There isn't much seating inside which is fine because Le Dip is located at the heart of University Town Center (UTC) where there is an abundant amount of outdoor seating you can use to enjoy your food. Whenever I am back in the area and need a bite to eat, Le Dip is always on the list of places I consider. read more

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I had Le Diplomate for the first time in 2007 when I was a student at UCI and boy oh boy, was that a life changer! Writing this review in 2025 to say that this place still slaps! The UTC has had a pretty high turnover of food joints, but Le Diplomate has been a solid staple for many years. It's been 18 years since I've first had Le Diplomate (my friends and I would call it Le Dip for short). I hope Le Diplomate will still be around in the next 18 years! My go-to is the bacon chicken club with extra garlic sauce and sriracha on the side. The garlic chicken is essentially the same thing without the tomato and bacon. Don't skimp out on that garlic sauce. Trust. read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Hot Bacon Chicken Club Sandwich with extra garlic sauce - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

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First time I tried this place with my best friend and it was pretty good. We both ordered the chicken broccoli mushroom sandwich with chips, and a side of hot sauce. It was a great location with plenty of seating outside. The ONLY reason I'm giving this place 3 stars is because the cashier girl was rude, unfriendly, unhelpful, unwelcoming... ugh. Latina I believe, with glasses... management should probably have a chat with her. Other than the horrible customer service experience today, I'd come back! read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

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Chicken broccoli mushroom sandwich with extra garlic sauce in the side. Get some sriracha on there. HEAVENLY. I always come back for this sandwich, it's that good. Service is quick. Not much seating inside so I always take my sandwich and eat at the tables outside. What is better than enjoying a delicious sandwich outside in beautiful Irvine weather? NOTHING. I love this sandwich so much, it's my ultimate comfort food. read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Hot Chicken Broccoli Mushroom Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

Great spot for a quick lunch! I love their broccoli chicken sandwich. It's so hearty and filling. It's a small place, but there's plenty of seating outdoors. It's great for when the weather is nice and warm. I do miss their previous interior. It feels kind of cold and not as home-y as it used to be. However, the food is still great & service is quick! read more

I'm not in the area often after graduating years ago. During college I'd enjoy the local popular CBM (chicken broccoli mushroom) sandwich. Scrumptious! Every now and then the CBM's still a nice nostalgic revisit. . Very limited indoor seating. But plenty of outdoor seating. . UTC parking is often crowded. Can be a bit of a walk. read more

Soo good and affordable for almost on campus food! One of the best sandwiches I've ever had!

First stop here! Pretty good smoothies taste kind of like candy! A small wait but not bad considering one working doing it all. We got the raspberry and watermelon smoothies and kids were happy read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Watermelon and raspberry smoothies - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

Stopped by based on Yelp reviews. Not sure what the hype is, but the bread was hard and the sandwich was meh. Garlic sauce ok, but nothing out of this world. read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

Mmmm... have been wanting to try this place forever and finally did on a lazy Sunday morning.. on the one hand I love and respect that this place has been around for as long as I've been alive, even a lil' before maybe, but from what I understand since new owners, the breads are no longer the same. Everything that goes in seem to remain on par with what used to be but the croissants look and taste more spongy than flaky. The baguettes are not as crispy or flavorful. It was a fine fine breakfast when you're hungry but I.. don't think I'll be returning nor want to return. Sorry Le Diplomat, better bread next time!! read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Hot Eggplant Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

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I was waiting for my girlfriend to finish up a final so we could pack up and head to the airport for a trip and I needed to kill a few hours. Came here because it was highly rated, but unfortunately there isn't too many good things I can say about this place from my experience. Got the chicken garlic sandwich because that's what the lady at the front recommended, but when I shared it with my girlfriend, neither of us could make it past the first bite. I'm not sure if we just got a bad sandwich or if this is consistently how they make it, but it was not good. read more

Definitely a staple for UCI students! I think they have some of the best sandwiches I've ever had, and their garlic sauce is amazing. Although their prices have definitely gone up throughout the years, the quality and taste of their sandwiches has remained consistent. Plus, they still have their cash-only deal where you can get a chicken garlic sandwich with chips and a drink during happy hour. The service is great, the workers are quick to take your order and there isn't much of a wait time. I don't think I've ever waited more than 15 minutes even when it's busy. The restaurant itself is pretty small. There's only a few tables inside so seating is very limited, but there's a lot of tables outside. Parking can get difficult around lunchtime, but it's manageable. Overall, I love how the sandwiches have remained the same quality throughout the years. I enjoyed coming here when I was a student at UCI and I still enjoy it now. It's definitely worth a try if you're in the area! read more

==FOOD== The love of my life since I was attended school at UC Irvine. I will never ever forget the special taste of Le Dip's garlic sauce. When the server asks "Garlic or Ranch?" I want to reply, "WHO WOULD EVER ASK FOR RANCH?!" But I'm a normal person, so I just reply with "Garlic, please!" X) I've been getting the Chicken Mushroom Broccoli for as long as I could remember. It is the food of GODS!!! ==SERVICE== Seems like Le Dip is still employing students from UC Irvine. They're usually very polite and super nice. I always asks for a knife so I can cut the whole sandwich into even smaller sections. The workers are always happy to find a knife for me. ==AMBIANCE== I usually don't eat inside Le Dip. The whole UTC has lots of outdoor seating with umbrellas. However, the interior of Le Dip has not changed since 2010 when I started at UC Irvine. But as long as they never change their food, I could care less about how it looks inside. read more

And again it's been nine years since I last came here, and everything looks so different! But guess what? Everything still tastes the same. Chicken garlic sandwich with broccoli (age demands healthier life choices) this time around, which the chicken is still tender and slathered with the same garlic aioli with perfectly toasted, pressed, bread that holds the superbly oozy cheese. It still has that crunch on the outside, and still the ratios are perfect. So again, if you like garlic and paninis, then this is a must-visit place. read more

Garlic. Sauce. Is. Everything. Order the garlic sauce and you'll know why. This garlic aioli is the star and makes any sandwich delectable. Plain garlic chicken to mushroom broccoli chicken to eggplant chicken, you can't go wrong. Quick service, order and it's ready within ten minutes. Located in UTC across from UCI, Le Dip is a staple that has been around for a long time. There is plenty of parking but beware during peak hours like lunch rush, it fills up. Parking is heavily enforced. Le Dip is my favorite spot in UTC! read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Garlic chicken, mushroom, broccoli - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

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A UC Irvine college staple and a pleasure to visit again whenever we're in town. As usual, service is quick and the interior is quiet with limited seating inside but plenty of outdoor seating right outside in the shared courtyard. My go to is their Tuna Melt subbed with Swiss instead of cheddar but I've heard wonderful things about their garlic sauce on standard chicken sandwiches. It's also nice they let you order half sandwiches so you're able to try without feeling too full. It's almost as good as I remember but this time the bread wasn't crunchy and toasted enough and felt soggy combined with the tuna. In the past, it had always been the bread that made the sandwich stand out as a star so hopefully it'll be as good next time when we come back! read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Hot Tuna Melt Sandwich with Swiss - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

My favorite spot in University Center. When I arrived in Irvine, there was still a Lee's Sandwiches, but then it went away and there was a time when you couldn't get Vietnamese sandwiches anywhere near campus. Thankfully Le Diplomate showed up. My go to was always the chicken eggplant, and definitely add the chili spread read more

what the heck i thought i wrote a review here!! this place is special to my heart and even after graduating sooooo many years later, i still just love it! chicken garlic is the go to!!! the oozing cheese and garlic combo just makes this simple sandwich soooo soooo delicious!!!!!! read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - chicken garlic - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

I got a BBQ chicken sandwich and a Vietnamese sandwich with pate. The sandwiches were average and pretty good. It's located at UTC so it's convenient if you want a quick bite. There aren't many seats available but plenty of seats outdoors. read more

The garlic chicken sandwich is in town from la wanted a quick bite this place has two of my favorites French bakery and smoothies read more

Le Diplomate Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

Le Dip does a great job at providing delicious and filling sandwiches at a reasonable price. My personal favorites are the chicken broccoli and chicken eggplant. read more

I've been coming here ever since I was an undergrad at UCI. There's a reason this place has stood the test of time while others have come and gone at UTC. Their sandwiches are amazing especially the bacon chicken club or the chicken broccoli mushroom with their garlic sauce. For anyone new to the area, those sandwiches are a must try at least once. read more