Nep cafe always hits with their matcha!! Their matcha cloud latte is my favorite drink of all time and their food selection always makes me want to go back to try others! The service is just bare minimum, nothing really special. I just love this place so much, definitely coming back. read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Garlic Noodle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Great food and service! This place is a little pricey so it might be better for a special occasion. What we got: Bun Bo hue dry noodle - big portion and very filling Crab Garlic Noodle - very good, has a good portion of crab on it! - the bowl is smaller than the bun bo huge though read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Crab Garlic Noodle Bun Bo Hue Dry Noodles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Came on a Wed for lunch. wasn't busy. got a table easily. the place was about half packed. I haven't been back here in about a year. I got Seafod Ceviche. it wasn't bad but the coconut flavor overpowered the dish. also ordered the 5 Spice Roasted chicken. pictured looked good. when I got the dish they forgot the quail eggs (good thing I saw the pics first) but I got them once I told the server. the chicken was dry. it was overcooked. sticky rice was pretty good, however. lastly we got Seafood Tom Kha pasta. I wished I knew the words "tom kha" meant coconut cream. again nice dish but strong coconut flavor. all the dishes here had pretty presentation. the flavors for the dishes were mostly good. I did think the portions were a bit small for the price. the pics definitely looked bigger than reality. read more

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Nep is one of those contemporary restaurants that also brings some comfort to my heart. I was so happy to enjoy a nice dinner with my cousin and my brother. Jayden assisted us with our order and boy did he make our evening such a hoot! We very much enjoyed his company and service! We ordered the crab omelette, broccolini stir fried garlic, garlic sauced fried tofu, some chicken wings, and the dry bun bo hue. Everything was perfectly cooked. I will say the wings were a bit salty for my taste, but I'm also sensitive to salt. For drinks, we got the sake and the tiramisu Vietnamese coffee. The coffee was perfectly sweet, but be sure to mix th top cream with the coffee to ensure as such. The ambiance is very classy yet vibrant. Great for large party, but recommended to RSVP beforehand on a weekend. read more

the vibes in here were fantastic! a perfect brunch/date spot with lots of seating but may want to reserve for the weekends. the service was top notch, making sure that we had all we needed and providing great recommendations. i love thai flavors so the tom kha pasta hit the spot, with fresh shrimp, scallop, and squid. the dry bun bo hue was surprisingly really flavorful and a hefty portion, and the banh mi chao is a staple (would recommend beef belly if you want less to chew). i would opt out of the shrimp salad and get the squid salad instead. read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Seafood Tom Kha Pasta, Bun Bo Hue Dry Noodles, Banh Mi Chao - Filet Mignon, shrimp salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

So thrilled to have another (and much larger) location! No wait for bar seating on a rainy Saturday noon. But beware of the white Tesla parking lot battles since a charging station is right next to the restaurant! Banh Mi Chao Filet Mignon was delicious. Just be wary of when the food runners get it to you since the hot skillet may overcook the eggs and you want that yolk runny to dip the lovely baguette in! But the filet mignon was perfectly cooked. Lemongrass Tofu was tasty accompanied by the sticky rice. If you're a savory gal looking for a solid protein option, I'd recommend. The sauce was very umami. I'll be back for happy hour! read more

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Plenty of availability on a Sunday evening. Got the curry crab omelet, vietnamese shaking beef, and seafood tom kha pasta and all were delicious. Also got the calamansi white peach drink which was also very good and refreshing. For dessert we got the banana bread pudding. It was ok, I would try another dessert next timr. The service was very quick, we got our food fast and our drinks were always filled. Lots of available parking spaces outside and overall great experience inside. read more

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This was absolutely amazing. Right from the start things were great. Spicy wontons - melt in your mouth excellence and cooked to perfection. (I didn't know you should eat the outside! lol) Shrimp and garlic noodles with such great flavor and grilled nice and crisp. Seafood pasta delicately plated glowing in the light. The crab curry omelet was so delish- surprising me with every bite. Calamari so perfectly light and lightly crispy in every bite. The shaking beef- only wish there was more beef- juicy and flavorful. And the fried rice. We shared the table of food with colleagues, enjoying every bite and could ignore work for a few and speak of the flavors and relish the food we shared. Enjoying the experience as food was brought out in perfect timings, giving us time to enjoy each item separately and then devouring them all again. A coworker even went back with family that same weekend. I will definitely go back and enjoy this experience again. read more

Came for a large party of about 50ish people for dinner and the staff did great with us. We were seated outside, had the menu preordered and brought out at the same time - similarly to banquet style. Tried the: Crispy calamari, 10/10 Vietnamese chicken salad 8/10 Shrimp garlic noodles 8/10 Vietnamese shaking beef 8/10 Com Ga Roti (chicken dish), 8/10 Banana bread pudding, 9/10 Mango sticky rice, 8/10 Everything was really good, brought out in a timely manner, drinks were refilled in a timely manner, and all went well and smooth. Truly impressed, especially with having such a big group. read more

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Amazing experience! I love the environment, very intimate at night and so pretty at noon. I've been to both restaurants plenty of times, and I'd say their customer service is always on top. Never had a bad experience! Can I just say their food is to die for & their matchas are so divine. My favorites dishes are: Garlic noodles w/ charred shrimp [10/10]: I love garlic, and this is always cooked to perfection. Perfect for garlic lovers. Fillet Mignon Chao [10/10]: super duper delicious! Very filling, and seasoned to perfection! Coconut Matcha [10/10]: Even my coconut-hater friend loves this drink! Not too sweet & the coconut flavor doesn't over power the matcha. Definitely will come back again!! read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Ribeye Fried Rice - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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I came here twice in the past two months as part of my travel plans, since I've heard that Nep Cafe is super popular! The first time I came here I really enjoyed my dishes and the service was great! I love the crab toast! The portion is generous with a good amount of crab with perfectly crisped bread. It's quite rich, but enjoyable. The chicken wings were also good! It's saucy and garlicky and fried really well. The Five Spice Chicken was delicious both times. I think about that chicken sometimes. The skin is perfectly crisped and the rice is flavorful. It really hits the spot! The garlic noodles are also delicious. A little spicy, but good overall. Definitely worth a try! If you go during happy hour, the shrimp garlic noodles are only $12! The first time I had the Banh Mi Chao Filet Mignon, it was remarkable! Really well cooked and tasty. However, I was slightly disappointed in this dish the second time. I'm not sure if it was the cook or how the meat was prepared but there were a handful of chewy pieces of meat that I couldn't swallow. It makes me hesitant to order it again. Lastly, the drinks! The Viet coffees are strong but delicious! My favorite is the egg coffee!! Overall a good place to eat and enjoy with friends and family. I like the Irvine location, since I heard the Fountain valley one is smaller and I can see this place getting crowded. read more

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I tried Nep's brunch around when it first opened years ago, and it was the only Kei Concepts restaurant I was disappointed by. I finally gave them another shot (AND SO GLAD I DID)! The dishes were unique, flavorful, and delicious. I need to come back and try their cocktails and coffee/ matcha because WOW. Top tier ambiance and service as well. This might just beat Ini and Rol for me. read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Vietnamese Shaking Beef - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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I came here for Sunday brunch with a group of 5 and we were seated on the patio since we had a dog with us. Our server was Bobby and he was amazing! This was my first time at this Nep location for brunch and Bobby was very thorough in his explanation for the different dishes I had questions on. He also some recommendations based on our group size. We got a variety of things: Beef Belly Banh Mi Chao, Tofu Lemongrass, Shrimp Salad, Skinny Fries, Chinese Sausage Sticky Rice. Beef belly banh mi chao (4.5/5) - The flavor was incredible and paired really nicely with the bread on the side. There was a good amount of beef so we all had leftovers to take home. Would get again! Shrimp Salad (4/5) - I loved how refreshing this was and was a greater starter to the meal. The shrimp was plump and the small pieces of mango added some freshness to the salad. I couldn't really taste the dressing though as that was pretty muted within the salad so I wish they offered some dressing on the side that we could pour on. Still a good portion for two people to share though. Skinny Fries (5/5) - I love how perfectly this was fried and the fries were pretty seasoned just by itself. It was a huge portion too so I also took most of it home and it still tasted great a couple hours later. Banana Bread Pudding (5/5) - The bread pudding was warm and paired nicely with the ice cream. I love how the cereal added a crispness to the dish and definitely helped enhance the flavor of the dessert. It was a good portion to share between all 5 of us too. Throughout our meal, our water was consistently being refilled and Bobby was checking up on us so I appreciated the attentiveness. Will be back! read more

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Went to Nep again with 2 of my friends! We were able to make same day reservations and were seated quickly even though we were 5 minutes late. Parking was quite scarce so I definitely recommend coming early. My server was extremely accommodating to my friends allergies and was attentive to our table refilling drinks and checking on our order. The coffee and matcha drinks were so yummy. Even though the food was yummy and the service quick, we've noticed the prices have gotten a bit more expensive. But definitely worth a try for brunch if you're looking for a nicer sit down meal! read more

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The Pork Tomahawk. That's it. End of review. J/k. Truly though, it's the best item here and I was obsessed with it, even from San Diego. My clients took me here several months ago and introduced me to the famous 'only after 5p' Tomahawk pork chop. For a whopping $59. No side dishes. Just straight up pork chop. Our last visit here was just ok though. They got rid of their brussel sprouts as well as our favorite Tom Kha hot pot soup (or the Thai soup that was on menu some months ago). THey have have a pho hot pot that didn't even come close to the amazingness of the Thai hot pot . We tried (on this recent visit): Ceviche: - tiny portion. Scallops tasted fresh Shrimp mango salad: - refreshing SEAFOOD TOM KHA PASTA: - noodles were prepared nicely. The sauce was reminiscent of the Thai hot pot so that's primarily why we wanted to try this dish. It was ok. BÚN BÒ HUẾ DRY NOODLES: - pretty presentation but the proteins weren't memorable LEMONGRASS TOFU : - tofu remained nicely crispy in the thick flavorful lemongrass sauce CRISPY CALAMARI - light batter but the calamari rings were small CHICKEN WINGS: - nicely sweet with a light crisp PHỞ HOT POT: - we didn't think the hot pot presentation was necessary. It's a nice way to share and try out the dish. But we found the pho to be standard compared to alot of authentic pho-specific restaurants in Irvine. PORK TOMAHAWK: - do they sous vide the tomahawk? As the meat is flavorful and tender. I enjoy the fattiness of a true pork tomahawk and this dish here at NEP delivers. The table also ordered a plate of 'toppings and wraps' for the tomahawk (I don't know the price) but it came with noodles, mint, basil, pickled veggies, beautiful radish slices. Service was good. It was a nice younger gentleman who had a welcoming smile. We had placed a to go order of the Tomahawk in the very beginning but he might have forgotten about it as it took a very long time to get the porkchop even after we paid. The to go Pork Tomahawk wasn't nearly as good. I'm not sure if they rushed to prepare it. Some slices of the pork seemed to have extra grill marks to speed up the cooking process so those pieces weren't as succulent and juicy. It's unfortunate as it's an expensive dish to order for take out and not taste 100%. I hope they bring back that Thai hot pot. It was truly such a memorable dish. I would still return for the Pork Tomahawk if I was in the area but would make sure a future to go order of the dish was better. read more

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my partner got the lemongrass tofu and it was literally the best tofu i've ever had in my life. highly recommend this place. the service was quick and kind and it was very chill inside! read more

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Another amazing meal to the book! I tried their tom khả pasta and it tastes exactly like the tom khả ramen from from their kin restaurant! Such a great bowl with lots of seafood, I'd get this again! read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Seafood Tom Kha Pasta - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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A much accessible alternative to the Fountain Valley location...the space is huge! Not sure why the waitress tried to seat us right next to the door on a chilly rainy day with the restaurant more than half empty during weekday morning hours. Asked for a more interior table. QR code menu but staff drops by to take the order. Must get the banh mi chao (sizzling plate served with baguette) with filet mignon. The meat portion is generous. Crab toast was good, strong crab miso flavor. SKIP the 5-spice roasted chicken...our waiter recommended it but it was pretty average. The drink experience was a bit disappointing. The calamansi white peach was TOO SWEET...don't taste the citrus component of calamansi at all. My husband ordered the pumpkin pie matcha...they gave him the pumpkin pie latte instead but he kept it instead of saying anything to the waiter who took our order. Overall, would return for the food and try new dishes. read more

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The vibes here are immaculate! I love how easy it is to make a reservation. We had a table of 7 and the server was extremely patient and attentive. I LOVED their 5 spice cornish hen! It was fall off the bone. I wished they had some salt and pepper with lemon to dip for nostalgia, but you didn't really need it. There's so many good dishes here, bring your friends and try it all family style. read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - 5-Spice Roasted Chicken, Seafood Tom Kha Pasta, Crispy Calamari - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Finally got to try NEP Cafe after hearing so much about it and it didn't disappoint. There was no wait, and I got the strawberry yogurt matcha which was so good. I loved the creamy strawberry yogurt top. The crab toast was delicious and the sourdough bread it comes with pairs perfectly. I tried the banh mi chao filet mignon which was good but I wish it was a little less cooked. The shrimp garlic noodles were really tasty with a strong seafood flavor. Our server was super attentive and I'll definitely be back to try the beef tongue fried rice next time. read more

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I don't think I will ever not recommend this place. It's my go to whenever I come visit. The menu changes so I look forward to trying new items. There's also something for everyone, which makes it a nice spot for large groups. I recently tried the tom kha pasta, and it was so good. I already love tom kha by itself, but with pasta? Amazing! Why didn't I think of that before? The banh mi chao and crab toast are staples, and the dry bbh was also pretty good. It didn't really taste like bbh, but I like dry noodles and would order again. read more

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This was my second time at this location - I previously came for dinner months ago and I really enjoyed it (especially their pork tomahawk)! This time around, it didn't hit the same. For context, I've also had brunch at the Fountain Valley location a few times. FLAVOR (3.5/5): 1. THE ĐÀO: The dao was interesting, but a little underwhelming for what it was. Make sure to scoop all the way down to the bottom, because that's where the egg is. There's a strong truffle flavor, but I think I was hoping for more of a wow factor since it's one of their more popular dishes. Maybe a third texture for contrast? 2. CRAB TOAST: The crab toast was good, but also nothing crazy. I wish they did something special with the bread, like a sweet/savory butter spread. 3. 5-SPICE ROASTED CHICKEN: The 5-spice chicken was okay, but also not amazing. I'm not sure I would order it again. 4. SEAFOOD TOM KHA PASTA: The pasta might have been the best dish of the meal. It was very flavorful and tasty. 5. BANH MI CHAO W/FILET MIGNON: When I previously had the Banh Mi Chao w/ Filet Mignon at the Fountain Valley location, I loved it. But for some reason, it didn't hit the same this time around. Not sure what it was, but I was left underwhelmed. SERVICE (4/5): Service was good. AMBIENCE (3.7/5): Great for large parties / casual brunches. PARKING (5/5): Plenty of lot parking. TAKEAWAYS: The star factor of Nep Cafe has faded away for me, at least at this location. Maybe it was just an off day, but there was just a little bit missing flavor-wise from each dish. read more

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All of the food here is simply delicious! It's a great addition to the restaurant scene on Culver in Irvine. NEP is great for any occasion and has indoor and outdoor seating options. The bar at the center of their dining space is beautiful and adds to the liveliness on the restaurant. The staff was wonderful as provided us with all of their recommendations and checked in to see how we enjoyed our meal. The food is so good and nothing like I've personally had before. None of the dishes were short on flavor or creativity. They have brunch and dinner menus as well as seasonal delicacies that make me want to come back and try more! read more

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Tried a few items here recently and had a mixed experience. We ordered the spicy wontons, crab toast, and the Ba Mi Chao beef belly, along with a drink and dessert. The spicy wontons had a nice kick, but the wonton skin was a bit thicker than we prefer, which made the texture a little heavy. The crab toast looked great, but the crab had a pretty strong "seafoody" flavor that might not be for everyone. For the Ba Mi Chao beef belly, we were expecting it to be served on a hot stone plate, piping hot, but it came out on a regular plate instead, which was a bit disappointing and not what we anticipated. For drinks, we tried the calamansi white peach, but it leaned a little too sweet for our taste. For dessert, we had the mango sticky rice. It was okay, but the addition of black sesame kind of threw off the flavor we personally prefer the classic version with just the coconut sauce. The outdoor seating was really nice not too hot and the inside was cool and comfortable. The overall ambiance has a great vibe for a relaxing brunch in the morning. The server was very nice and friendly we loved her and she made the experience better. Overall, not a bad spot, but a few things could be improved in terms of texture, flavor balance, and presentation. read more

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This is my second time here. We got the egg coffee which is the highlight - I highly recommend! We got the beef belly with baguette which we loved last time. However, the yolk was completely overcooked today which was a bit disappointing. Normally it's runny which you can mix with the beef and eat it with the bread read more

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Our party of 7 made a reservation on a Friday night and I highly recommend making a one regardless of your party size. Located in a plaza that shares a parking lot with many other establishments. Even though there seemed to have a lot of spots, it was completely packed. Our server was attentive. She gave us the option to either stagger the dishes or bring them all out at once. We did family style for food and we were all stuffed by the end of the meal with no leftovers. I was very impressed with every single dish! Each one was unique and I would definitely get all of these again. I recommend doing family style so you can try out several dishes. -Beef Carpaccio ($16): thinly sliced American wagyu; I enjoyed the flavor of the beef along with the herbs and peanuts -Squid and Mango Salad ($17): served with large sesame rice crackers -Crispy Calamari ($17) -Chicken Wings ($16): came with 7-8 pieces -Whole Branzino ($49): served with another plate filled with about 4-5 wrap set and perfectly cut vermicelli; loved this dish! -Vietnamese Shaking Beef ($26): tender and flavorful meat served with rice -Beef Tongue Fried Rice ($21) -Bun Bo Hue Dry Noodles ($19) -Seafood Tom Kha Pasta ($22): needed to try this dish since it was a new dish. Enjoyed the shrimp and squid. Loved the spiciness! -Garlic Noodle with Charred Shrimp ($20) Overall: Great, unique dishes-- order several dishes for family style. Make a reservation! Would love to come back again. read more

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Have not tried the food yet but the drinks and desserts and incredible! We ordered their entire seasonal set - pumpkin matcha, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin bread pudding, and banana bread pudding. The matcha pumpkin was literally like fall in a cup. These flavors worked surprisingly well together and were very creamy. Both drinks are on the sweeter side though so would recommend sharing them. The banana puddings had layers of soft bread with flavors oozing in between. Their banana bread pudding was a nice mix of salty and sweet, and the caramelized banana was the best part! Chefs kiss. Would like to come again and try the entrees next time read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

First of all, I almost never write reviews but my experience at NEP was something to write about. We're visiting from San Francisco and our friends took us here and 10/10 best decision! James was our waiter and if you get him as your server, PLS KISS HIM FOR ME! He was giving us the best recommendations for food and just overall the sweetest sweetest person The coconut matcha is a MUST, so good i was genuinely upset when i finished mine (ended up ordering one to go) I ordered the Tom Kha pasta and legit the best seafood pasta ive ever had! The fried chicken and the broccolini are 10000/10 staple apps and would even get them as my only meals if i wanted (James recommended to eat the with a side of rice, we also agreed!) We went for brunch and there wasn't a wait at all and the overall ambiance was soothing and nice to sit an eat in (lots of natural light that i enjoy) Pls come here if you are in the irvine area and craving Asian cuisine!!! read more

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My lovely girlfriend and I had brunch here today, and we found the experience positive. We were greeted and seated instantly; we requested a different table while being showed to our table and the hostess obliged without any issues. Always nice when the staff aren't too strict and a bit flexible. The atmosphere is chill and has modern decor. There's also a nice window where you can see the cooking staff. My girlfriend wanted to sit by the kitchen window that also happened to be under the skylight. We scanned the QR code on the table to view the menu and our server was at our table within minutes; we asked for a little more time so we can get a good look at the menu which he was happy to provide. We ended up ordering the Banh Mi Chao with Beef Belly, Spicy Shrimp Noodle, Spicy Wontons, Mango Sticky Rice, and a Strawberry Yogurt Matcha. The Banh Mi Chao is a Banh mi that has been broken down to each ingredient with two sunny side up eggs served on sizzling flat plate. The beef belly had a similar texture to thinly sliced brisket with a nice sauce. There were also a scoop of liver pate, sliced cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic, and some onion slices. They give you a nice French bread that has been nicely toasted; we used it to dip into the sunny side up yolks as well as a base to eat with the beef belly and to spread the pate on. Overall nice flavors. The Garlic Shrimp Noodles was pretty good as well. I would have preferred if the flavor was a bit stronger, but it was still an excellent dish. The shelled shrimps were split down the back and had a nice char to them. The whole dish is served with a sprinkle of chili on top as well as pieces of whole roasted garlic cloves. The Mango Sticky Rice is an excellent dessert. The pandan sticky rice had a nice flavor and texture to it. The mangos were sweet and ripe, as were the coconut slices. We could have done without the peanuts, but they are very common with Vietnamese sticky rice desserts. My least favorite was the Spicy Wontons. They weren't bad, but nothing that made us really feel like we would have to order this again in the future. The wontons are pretty basic and the chili reminds me of Tajin (I'm sure that's not what it was, but that's what the flavor reminds of). Overall, I feel like it was passable. We had so much left over and one of the servers noticed and asked us if we needed anything; we asked for to go boxes as all of our dishes were more than half there. Wr agreed that the serving staff was friendly and was on top of things. My girlfriend gives NEP 5 stars and loves Vietnamese food. I'm more on the border that it should be around a 4 star. I'll give it 5 but I think it should be more like 4.5. Either way, I do recommend NEP Cafe and don't think anyone would be disappointed. read more

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I've been to the first location in Fountain Valley, so I was excited to try their new location. This place is very spacious and has plenty of seating. It has a nice bar area too. We came here around 4pm on a Saturday. Luckily there wasn't a long wait for a group of 4. The food came out fairly quick. It was all so delicious. I had the shrimp garlic noddles and the appetizer were good too especially the seafood ceviche and the crispy calamari. I love Nep cafe because it's like Vietnamese modern food. I would recommend anyone to come here. Next time I got to try their drinks. read more

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NEP has been on my list for so long! I was excited to expand my knowledge of Vietnamese food and try new dishes, especially banh mi chao. We came for brunch on a weekday and were seated immediately. The xoi man with quail eggs, pate, pork floss, Chinese sausage, and strips of ham was the ultimate comfort food, and I appreciated the variety of toppings. I'm weary of pâté because I don't enjoy that liver flavor, but I really liked NEP's pâté. The banh mi chao with filet mignon was delicious, hearty, but not heavy. The meat was quite tender, and the crispy bread dipped in the gooey eggs, pâté, and peppercorn sauce was great. read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Xoi Man - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Such a cute café! Everything was tasty. Came here on Saturday morning at around 10 AM with no wait. Service was great. It does get busy closer to brunch late morning time, so I'd recommend making an appointment if it's peak weekend times or if you have a large party. Ample parking available. Fun fact: there is mouthwash in the bathroom! Love that lol. read more

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Was driving thru Irvine, and told Yelp to find me something random. How did it know? WOW this place is amazing. I got take out but the restaurant is so cool and open, the bar looked amazing. As for my order I got Lychee Coconut water which is legit. Never had it before but I will again. I got the shrimp garlic noodles and it has a little kick to it. Highly recommend, I will definitely be back this time will be to eat in. read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Get - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Had a reservation for about 12 people or so. Scan the qr code on table for menu or ask for a physical one. Service was great she took our drink orders first, then if we werent ready gave us some time before coming back. Dont miss out on the coffee alcohol. Its strong but its so good. The thai princess lychee one tasted mostly of alcohol though and the lychee taste was from when i bite into it. I didnt realize my group already ordered crispy rice or elseni wouldnt have gotten the sticky rice. They were the same except one had crispy rice and the other was sticky rice with quail eggs. Crab toast was too creamy for me but everyone loved it. Shrimp salad was yummy and refreshing. I loved the beef belly chao because it has more fat than the filet mignon. Seafood pasta basically tastes like instant noodle but in pasta form. So of you like that then youd like this. But yes none of the dishes disappointed. read more

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NEP Cafe (Irvine), 14346 Culver Drive, Irvine, CA92604. Vietnamese fusion cafe opened for breakfast, lunch, dinner. I stumbled upon this place by chance and was glad we went. A 4.5* rating out of 2,010 reviews at the time of writing. We tried the Garlic Shrimp Noodle, Bun Bo Hue Dry Noodle, and Spicy Wonton. They were all really good and did not disappoint at all. The restaurant is clean, big, had a modern decor and nice vibe. It was already packed when we were there at 10am. By the time we were done with our brunch, the line was snaking outside. There's a bar within the restaurant that offers happy hour. There's also an outlet at Fountain Valley. Will definitely come again to try other items on the menu. read more

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Came here to celebrate a birthday. Such a great experience. They were able to set us up a table for 9 without a reservation. The space is very open and spacious with a modern vibe and open view of the kitchen. We ordered about half of the items on the menu and everything was delicious. Our favorites were the seafood ceviche, chicken wings, and tom kha pasta. Fun and tasty takes on southeast Asian fusion. Drinks were also fun and tasty. Food came out super fast and service overall was great! Couldn't get pics fast enough before people started digging in! Highly recommend if you're looking for a trendy, modern Asian fusion spot! read more

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I'm so glad they opened a second Nep Cafe location! This location has a stunning interior with great natural lighting. When it gets busy, it can be a bit loud, making conversation at the table difficult at times. The staff were very friendly and regularly checked in on us. When you arrive at the table, you scan a QR code for the menu. Depending on your phone provider, service can be spotty so I would recommend having the menu ready on your phone before getting seated. We ended up getting the Banh Mi Chao - Filet Mignon, the Egg Coffee, and the Vietnamese Milk Coffee. Banh Mi Chao 8/10 - loved the presentation of this dish. It came with a baguette on the side which was light, airy, and crispy. The meat was tender and flavorful. I would come back for this dish. Egg Coffee and Vietnamese Milk Coffee 7/10 - both were really solid coffees with a strong flavors and caffeine. Definitely kept my energy up for the day! If you're in search of a cute brunch spot, this is the place to go! read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Banh Mi Chao - Filet Mignon, Egg Coffee, Vietnamese Milk Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Had a nice time at NEP Cafe The food was flavorful and well-prepared -- slightly on the saltier side, but still really enjoyable overall. Ingredients tasted fresh, and the dishes were satisfying without feeling too heavy. The vibe is modern and aesthetic, perfect for brunch or a casual meal. Service was smooth and friendly as well. Definitely a spot I'd come back to read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

A honest work of Nep Cafe never disappointing my caffeine addiction when needing drinks to-go. Drinks: Wild Berry Matcha was a surprise of yummy. It had a berry purée that was slickly thick but jelly like to mix with the matcha. It was not overly sweet and the cheese foam add another touch of creaminess. Cheese foam over cold foam! This was my fun girl drink to get me through second 1/2 of the day. Coconut matcha: The base is coconut water giving a refreshing and light taste. The matcha was strong and not grainy hence a better quality (no cut corners). Drank it like water lol Coconut Ube Coffee: Faithful Vietnamese coffecito that will kick you into F1. My superior coffee choice! Drinks are not overly packed with ice. So your drink won't dilute AND you get what you pay for here :) Service: The drinks are always securely packaged and even prepared straws in the holder. It's the small things that allow pick up and go so much faster! Thoughtful and well executed service for online ordering Ambiance: chic, modern and I love the contemporary high ceiling architecture. Great dinner spot read more

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We got takeout from here for our Saturday lunch. We ordered some shrimp garlic noodles, with an extra order of kids garlic noodles, and a Vietnamese salad. The food was great! The shrimp garlic noodles were moderately spicy, but the kids noodles weren't spicy. The Vietnamese salad was delicious but it was pretty spicy. My husband is sensitive to spice, so he couldn't eat much of it. It would be nice if they had an option to select the spice level, especially for the shrimp noodles since clearly they're able to make non-spicy noodles. Overall though I really liked the food! The noodles had a great texture too - nice and chewy with a full body. Also, the kids noodle was the same size as the shrimp garlic noodles but was less than half the price! I guess you're mainly paying for the shrimp. The pickup process was a bit annoying. They don't have any "pickup"/"takeout" parking spots, so I had to compete with all the Saturday lunch-goers for a real spot. It would be nice even if they could add one spot. They also have a ton of Tesla-only spots which kind of takes away from the regular spots if you don't have a Tesla. read more

NEP Cafe - Irvine - Left- shrimp garlic noodles. Right - kids garlic noodle. They are the same size! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California