NEP Cafe - Irvine
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Mother's Day landed us at Nep Cafe. Even though the place was buzzing, a table opened up right around 1:00 p.m. like it had been waiting just for us. We settled into the lively chaos...espresso machines hissing, gorgeous plates flying past, everyone around us looking happy. The kids demolished the Garlic Noodles (always a safe bet right?), while my hubby happily worked through the Xôi Mặn with sticky rice, with the Chinese sausage, quail egg, and all the savory goodness packed into one bowl. Then my Beef Belly Rice Bowl arrived and I actually forgot there were three other people sitting at the table. The lemongrass beef belly was smoky and tender, the fried egg melted into the rice, and the nuoc chấm tied everything together with that perfect sweet-salty-tangy magic. Then came dessert...and this is where things got dangerous. The Mango Sticky Rice with pandan sticky rice and salted black sesame was PHENOMENAL. Creamy, fragrant, tropical--like a vacation wrapped in coconut sauce. But then the Sweet Custard Sticky Rice showed up with even more pandan coconut sauce and completely stole the spotlight. I looked at Jordan after the first bite with the kind of expression that says, "We're canceling our afternoon plans because I need a moment." My only complaint? My stomach surrendered long before my curiosity did. There were at least five more dishes I wanted to order, which means one thing: we'll just have to come back!!!
This review is for NEP Cafe's happy hour. From Monday through Friday, 2 PM to 5 PM, you can experience some of their popular appetizers at a discounted price. I'm not sure if it's the regular size or if it's smaller, but it is a decent amount for each dish. The offerings from the happy hour menu is limited with just a few items. We ordered the spicy wontons with the sauce on the side, chicken wings, shrimp and garlic noodles. The wings were full of flavor and oh so delicious! The shrimp and garlic noodles were cooked to perfection and packed with so much flavor. Shrimps were succulent and noodles were bouncy and chewy. So helpful that there's complimentary mouthwash in the bathroom. Since we felt like having some vegetables, we also ordered the broccolini and the cabbage shrimp salad from the regular lunch menu. My favorite entree during this outing was the shredded cabbage shrimp salad. It was a good amount which filled us up. It's so light and refreshing and we didn't feel guilty eating it. If you like salad, don't sleep on this dish! Our server was friendly but she wasn't as attentive so we had to ask for help from other servers passing by. We arrived near the end of the happy hour, but came just in time to put in one round of drinks, which was lychee martini cocktail and wine. Most of the tables in the bar area were full, but plenty of spaces available at the bar. Will return for another round with some other friends in the future!
Since I came here the last time with my father, the place has gotten really good at making things better! I think it's because they provide excellent ingredients and large amounts of mixed fresh meat and vegetables. I was blown away by the deep series of savory flavors filled ingredients after ingredients starting with shredded beef belly meat with cold Bón Bò Sao and amazing Broken Rice Bowl with five separate complimentary vegetables and meats with separate sweet and sour Saigon sauce make it nearly perfect. The best part was their desert. The frozen yogurt Parfait with passion fruit orange with feuilletine mochi with condensed milk was by far my favorite.
10/10 customer service! We came here to celebrate my friend's birthday and loved how attentive they were with the birthday card and dessert at the end! Food-wise, I absolutely loved their tom kha pasta and highly recommend trying this dish! The garlic noodles were just standard garlic noodles so no notes there. I wanted to try their mango sticky rice matcha which was a lot prettier than it tasted and the ube coffee was alright but definitely a nice strong Vietnamese brew!
Really love this place! Tried the mango sticky rice matcha and omg it really tasted just like mango sticky rice but in liquid form! No idea how they do that. And the fried tofu is so flavorful, I love that sauce! When it was time to pay my server Johnny B. noticed it was my birthday because I had a $5 off birthday reward coupon and he asked if it was ok to bring me out a complimentary birthday dessert--so sweet of him! That is great service!
Came back for brunch and the food was delicious. Our server was great but there was an instance of another server serving the hot plate directly over the head of my toddler. Slightly concerning since kids are rather unpredictable but luckily nothing happened. Was seated underneath the skylight right next to the kitchen, they provided a coloring booklet and crayons for my kid. Something to keep him busy. Would definitely recommend for brunch/lunch.
Cousins night out! I love almost everything Kei Concept touches. We've heard the hype about their brunch, but we wanted to try their dinner experience. Parking: Free parking lot. They're located in a high foot traffic plaza. Parking will be difficult to find. Ambiance/Environment: We visited on a Saturday evening around 19:30, and it was extremely busy. Luckily we were seated within 15 min. I love the vibes here. It's a bit loud, but you can still have a conversation. They have a large indoor area and a nice bar. Everything is kept clean. Service: Thank you Mia for taking care of us! She's very attentive, and throughput was surprisingly quick & efficient despite how busy it was. She also checked on us multiple times and refilled our waters. Food & drinks: We absolutely enjoyed everything! Safe to say the hype is real. 1) Curry Crab Omelette - This is my favorite dish. This was presented on a small skillet with rice in a separate bowl. The omelette was drenched in curry. The curry was seasoned well, semi thick consistency, with a hint of spice. 2) Vietnamese Shaken Beef (one w/ garlic noodles & one w/ rice) - I personally prefer the shaken beef at Vox. For whatever reason, the beef seemed to be overcooked bc it was very chewy. The vegetables tasted as expected, and the red rice was really delicious. The garlic noodles were good. 3) Lemongrass Tofu - The tofu was cooked well and seasoned deliciously. 4) 5-Spice Roasted Chicken - Exactly what the description says. The roasted chicken was huge. We weren't sure exactly what it was seasoned with, but we all devoured it. Yum! 5) Lychee Milk Punch - It's not dinner without alcohol. I thought it was pretty strong with the rum & whiskey. It's more on the sweeter end from the lychee & pineapple. The foam wasn't too thick, and it paired well with the drink. Pricing: These are elevated prices. We'll definitely be back for dinner, and we can't wait to try their brunch. Highly recommend joining the Kei Rewards!
One of my faves in Irvine! The service is exceptional, vibes check always passes, and the food and drinks are amazing. There are interesting coffee options, cocktails, and even great mocktails! I've tried: - avocado coffee - 10/10 - calamansi white peach soda - 12/10 - crab toast - 20/10 must try! - chicken wings - 15/10! - they're crispy, juicy and have the most perfect balance of spicy, salty, and sweet - garlic noodles - great with salmon or shrimp! this recipe seems to have changed from a while back, but still delicious! - lemongrass tofu - tried this once and can't order anything else now ... so good! tip: when it's busy, you can sit at the bar - full menu is available there! You truly can't go wrong here.
I've been to Nep Cafe a few times whenever I'm in Orange County, and it's always one of my go-to spots. The food is always good, but this time my sister and I stopped by just for some matcha drinks and dessert. We ordered the Coconut Matcha and the new Mango Sticky Rice Matcha, and both were so good. The Mango Sticky Rice Matcha was especially unique and definitely worth trying if you're a matcha fan. For dessert, we got the bread pudding and honestly, it was the star of the visit. I loved the crunchy bits mixed in with the soft bread pudding. The sweet and salty flavors were perfectly balanced, making it dangerously addictive. We couldn't stop eating it. We didn't have a reservation, so we sat at the bar and got lucky finding seats. If you're planning to come, definitely make a reservation ahead of time because there's usually a pretty long wait. The service was great as always. Even when they're busy, the food and drinks come out pretty quickly. I also love the atmosphere here. The space is huge, the vibe is fun and trendy, and it's just a great spot to hang out with friends or family. Can't wait to come back and try more of their drinks and desserts.
We decided to celebrate our nieces birthday her at Nep during the lunch hour on a Sunday. My wife made reservations and once we arrived we were seated quickly. Paul our host was great and brought us some waters and I ordered a cocktail which was the Pandan old fashioned (best old fashioned I've had in a long time, the Pandan flavor at the end of every sip was great) we ordered some appetizers the dao and the wings both were good and my wife and niece ordered some of their special iced coffee. I ordered the Bun Bo dry noodle dish which was so delicious I have never had anything like that before the beef belly was soooo good the sauce and other meats were great. My wife had the tom kha seafood pasta and it was soooo good too, our niece ordered the bahn mi plate and that was great as well. At the end our meal we were greatly satisfied. The restaurant was very well presented, clean and had a great ambiance. Will come again for sure!!!
The Irvine location is much larger than the original Fountain Valley location. The brunch menus are the same, I've never tried their dinner menu as the FV location turned into Gem Dining at the time. I always bring friends from out of town to dine here because the restaurant is beautiful and to try Vietnamese breakfast. Their egg Vietnamese coffees are very popular! Reservations are definitely recommended if you have a large party or if you're planning to eat during prime brunch hours on the weekend. The dao - 10/5, I love the truffle oil, potato purée, and poached egg combo. Very elite appetizer here! Banh Mi Chao - 5/5, A staple Vietnamese breakfast, I always add on the Laughing Cow cheese. Beef belly and Filet Mignon are both good protein choices. This can easily be shared with 2 as the portion is large.
Not bad of a place to get your viet brunch fix. We came here on a Sunday without a reservation and we were lucky enough to get a seat at the patio. We ordered the sizzling plate beef tongue and filet mignon. Both were good and filled with flavor. This was pretty much a deconstructed banh mi, very satisfying! We also ordered the seafood ceviche. This was the best ceviche I've had around. I love the coconut milk base and the shrimp chip to eat with. We got the flan for dessert and though it was nice and creamy, it was just a little small for the price. Service was mediocre at best. Also, food did take a while to come out so this wouldn't be the best place for a quick lunch. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Edbert,…
5 months ago
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Jason,…
2 years ago
I've eaten at all the Kei Concepts but have eaten at Nep Cafe the most. My friends love this spot and we always enjoy the ambiance. The service is always a 10/10. The food is no frills, well executed, but nothing mind blowing. I've never had a bad meal, but also never had a dish that makes me want to come back for more. One thing I always get when I come back is the ceviche though. It's balanced and not too acidic. I really like the cocktails here. It's always a nice surprise to see the new recipes they come out with. Out of the ones I tried through the years, I think they had a pandan one way back that really hit the nostalgia spot. I wouldn't come eat here alone or DoorDash, but this is the spot I always go with friends for food that can't go wrong and great vibes. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Brandon,…
7 months ago
I tried Nep today and WOW everything was beyond my expectations! We ordered the Bánh Mì Chảo (filet mignon), beef tongue fried rice, garlic shrimp noodles, sweet custard sticky rice, and sea salt Vietnamese coffee. The bánh mì chảo tasted like a deconstructed bánh mì but in a fusion-y, elevated way. The filet mignon was so soft and juicy, and the egg was honestly perfect. even the bahn mi bread was soft inside. The garlic shrimp noodles had super tender shrimp (not rubbery at all!) and the garlic butter soy sauce in the noodles flavor had a nice kick without being too overpowering. The beef tongue fried rice might be one of the best fried rices' I've ever had. The egg and sauce on the side made it so flavorful and filling. The sweet custard sticky rice was just okay imo, the peanuts on top helped to elevate the flavors. overall I would recommend trying this place at least once. we came around 3 PM and got served really quickly :). read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Victoria,…
Very popular and busy location on the weekends. I booked a reservation ahead of time for my party. Upon arrival, the staff confirmed the reservation before promptly guiding us to our table. We ordered the beef belly banh mi chao, coconut matcha, xoi man, and salted egg yolk pasta. I highly recommend trying the salted egg yolk pasta and the coconut matcha. While the pasta leaned more toward a garlicky flavor than salted egg yolk, it was rich and creamy. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Jamie,…
11 months ago
My friends and I (a party of 3) visited Nep Cafe for the first time! We were seating pretty quickly upon arriving. We arrived during lunch time. I believe there are different menus for different meal periods because my friends and I were looking for meals that weren't displayed on the lunch menu but were on yelp. I got the Bon Bo Hue Dry Noodles. It was delicious and incredibly filling! I forgot what my friends got, I believe one got the crispy fried pork belly rice bowl and the other got the meal that was on the skillet. The portions of the food that were served were big! So expect to be full fast and to ask for to-go boxes. We were so full that we weren't able to try out one of their desserts even though it looked tasty :(. We will definitely come back to try more foods! The dining area is beautiful and our server checked on us often! read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Princess,…
NEP Cafe - Irvine is one of Kei Concepts newest, old restaurant. This Irvine location is the second NEP Cafe, and it continues to be an excellent choice for people looking for not only a good time, but solid food. The interior is beautiful, and I continue to love the atmosphere created by Kei Concepts. The service is always consistently good as servers are not only friendly but quick to check in. The food was really solid, and I was especially surprised by The Dao, as I was surprised by the texture and flavor. Overall, NEP Cafe - Irvine is another solid restaurant by Kei Concepts. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Brian,…
1 year ago
Visit nep for the creativity, not to leave full! Their dishes are delicate and delicious, but a little on the pricier side for the portions. I liked the deconstructed banh mi- you won't run out of toppings! The decorations are tasteful and conducive to an elevated dining experience. Food comes out pretty quickly, but there's usually a long wait because the cafe is popular! read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Kris,…
1 year ago
The Happy Hour Menu is what brought us to try Nep Cafe, everything was very well priced. This menu can be enjoyed on the patio or at the bar. We ordered 4 items to share between 2 people and ended up bringing one of the dishes home as leftovers. The bartender was super entertaining and definitely impressed us. The food was good, but there wasn't anything that blew me away. It's pretty similar in flavors to the other Kei Concepts restaurants. ig: @cravingswithcat read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Catherine,…
7 months ago
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Virginia,…
1 year ago
Amazing culinary experience at Nep Cafe. A modern take on Vietnamese cuisine, the food is delicious, bold with delightful flavors and overall satisfying! Ambiance: since we're a big party, having come from a wedding rehearsal (over 20 guests), we all got seated comfortably in the patio with individual heaters and nice string lights as decor. Service: extremely poor and slow. Seems like they are short-staffed, so wait time was 15-25 minutes for each dish & drinks that comes out. My niece and her fiancée made reservations beforehand 2.5/5 FOOD: Shrimp salad- refreshing, with a nice crunch salad texture; huge chunks of shrimp 5/5 Chicken wings- Caramelized wings with fish sauce, chili and garlic. Every bite was an explosion of flavors. Crisp, garlicky sticky coating, not overpowering, just a combined sweet-salty flavors. One of my favorite dishes of the night. Totally worth it! 5/5 Calamari- light and crispy good 5/5 Garlic noodles with shrimp- delicious, good texture noodles, seasoned well with nice sized charred shrimp 5/5 Pork Tomahawk with the wrap set- Savory & heavenly! Tender, fatty meat packed with so much flavor. Enjoyed the meat with the veggies & fish dipping sauce. It's spot-on! Also good enough to share with 3-4 people. Price-wise, a bit hefty 5/5 Shrimp fried rice with egg- tasty, well-seasoned and simply divine 4/5 Mango sticky rice- conventional kind of sticky rice. Somewhat dry for my taste and needed more condensed milk. Not impressed 2.5/5 Banana bread pudding- outstanding! Loved the combination of candied toffee, cornflakes, vanilla ice cream paired with brûlée banana & bread pudding. Thumbs up! 5/5 NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS: Calamansi White Peach- light & refreshing 5/5 Coconut Matcha- hands down my favorite drink of the night! Surprisingly, the matcha didn't have that earthy taste. Perfect & not overly sweet, with hints of coconut meat inside the drink. Loved it so much, I had 3 drinks 5/5 Due to extremely slow service, had to knock off 1 star rating but overall, the food & drinks were satisfying & delicious; is worthy of indulging and ready for another visit in the future. FINAL SCORE: 4/5 read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Hello,…
The food here was pretty good, didnt get any pictures but the ribeye fried rice is a recommendation if you go, the service was pretty fair waited a good minute just to get a drink refill, the ambiance in here is nice dark and calm. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Javier,…
Great idea to make a reservation, as it got pretty full for weekend brunch. The server was very attentive and proactive about allergies. Xoi chein #1 dish. Also got the banh mi chao, beef stew, and beef tongue fried rice. Next time I'll try something new over the fried rice, but everything else was really great. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Jordan,…
1 year ago
This place had been on my list for a while, but I honestly don't understand the high ratings. Our fried calamari appetizer arrived after we finished our main course, and the mango sticky rice was so delayed we tried to cancel it. Within half an hour of eating, my husband had to rush to the restroom, and I also felt sick. Our server never checked on us or offered water refills. Overall, just a mediocre experience--I probably won't be back. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Caroline,…
5 months ago
Always exquisite. I love the food and it's SO cheap during happy hour. You HAVE to take advantage. They usually kind of bring your food and leave you alone (in a good way) so it's nice for hanging out and catching up with friends. The service is good too. Plus they have a rewards program that actually makes your tab cheaper! read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Azure,…
5 months ago
I had lunch with my husband here yesterday. We ordered bun bo hue dry noodle (as pictured), ube coffee and seafood tom yum pasta. Was going to give 4* because everything tasted good but the seafood pasta was on the expensive side for the size. And when our food came, it wasn't like hot hot straight from the wok. The restaurant was not busy. We came at 1.30 PM. Would've been a 3.5 but then the dry noodle made me disappointed. Sorry, you're getting a 3*. While it tasted good and the portion was great, I felt disappointed with my noodle. The menu said it came with beef tongue which I was so excited about, but they were NOT. I might only have 1 piece of it, but until I finished eating my food, no beef tongue. I honestly don't like to give bad reviews to restaurants, especially when the taste is there, but this is really bad not getting what's promised. Not sure if I'm coming back here again. The seafood pasta tasted ok, but the portion is only 1/2 of what you'd get from CPK. 3 pcs of shrimp of a $22 entree. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Hilda,…
1 year ago
This is a really popular spot for modern Vietnamese cuisine. I thought it was pretty good. A bit expensive for the portion sizes but worth the try. I really recommend trying their wild berry matcha, vietnamese shrimp salad, and banh mi chao. I wish this location served their famous bone marrow pasta, but i believe they dish is specific to the fountain valley location. read more
Business owner information
Dominick D.
Angelica,…
Birthday dinner celebration for my son, he picked this place. Restaurant is very nice on the inside. Bar is great, impressive presentation. The server is attentive and the food was good. They had an old fashioned house special which I recommend. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Steve,…
11 months ago
Went on a busy Friday night and was seated relatively quickly. As we entered the ambience and vibe of the restaurant was lively and cozy. We ordered a wide variety of their best sellers such as the beef tartar, sashimi chirashi bowl, yakitori and their udon hot pot. Seafood was very fresh and the seasoning on the dishes overall was perfect for our night. Perfect to pair with their variety of creative cocktails. Service and attentiveness to our party was great; and made sure our food came out gradually so our food was enjoyed warm throughout our time there. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Adella,…
6 months ago
The most tasty matcha, authentic flavors and kind staff. Great energy in this restaurant it can be just a tad bit loud sometimes! read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
McKenna,…
5 months ago
5-stars for the servers!! Everyone is so polite, well spoken & attentive. The food was so perfect... I'm picky as hell with my Southeast Asian flavors but this place did it so right. We had the shrimp fried rice & a few other items--the way it was prepared was so gourmet. The atmosphere was so classy & yet, so Southeast Asian at the same time. This is how I picture the elite dined in Vietnam & Cambodia back during French Colonial period. Certified Southeast Asian approved read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Ryan,…
I'm so in love with Nep Cafe! One of my favorite restaraunts by Nep Cafe. Their consistency for their dishes is always good! I ordered the Banh Mi Chao w/ Beef Belly, and the dumplings appetizer. Both were very good brunch food! read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Ryan,…
This was my second time at Nep but I believe they changed their menu. There is no more pasta and bone marrow which is a bummer. But I went there mainly for their sizzling plate and it is still as good as before. You can check out the menu on their website: https://www.nepcafe.com/menu As for the ambience, it can be really loud since the restaurant is quite big and very open. I didn't realize until my second time when I was trying to talk. The service was good and they have big seating area to accommodate a big group (10 people). read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Khaing,…
Good, fast service! Everyone is super nice & food arrived quickly. Seafood ceviche was my favorite and I definitely recommend that or an appetizer salad if you're getting the Mi Chao because it is really heavy, rich, and fatty!! I'd personally only come for dinner in the future but brunch is good to experience! read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Nikki,…
5 months ago
The food here is absolutely delicious, The drinks are also excellent the staff are friendly, attentive, and make you feel truly welcomed. I had a great experience and would definitely come back again." read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Ahe,…
1 year ago
Came here for brunch and was pleasantly surprised by how charming the interior is--super cute and cozy, perfect for a chill weekend meal. The menu leans modern Vietnamese with some fun brunch twists, and everything we tried had a lot of care behind it. The crab toast was the standout for me--rich, deeply flavorful crab that really came through with every bite. It's the kind of dish where you slow down because you want it to last longer. We also got the chicken leg rice, which was comforting and layered in flavor. The pork sung, crispy shallots, and pickled carrots all worked together to create these super satisfying bites--salty, crunchy, tangy, all in one. The banh mi chao was solid too--fun presentation and a great sharing dish if you're going with friends. read more
Business owner information
Dominick D.
Jefferson,…
1 year ago
I recently dined at NEP Cafe in Irvine, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The ambiance is bright and inviting, perfect for a relaxing meal. Our server, Brianna, truly made our visit memorable. She was incredibly friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. Her recommendations were spot-on, and she ensured we had everything we needed throughout our meal. It's rare to encounter such exceptional service, and Brianna's warmth and professionalism stood out. The food was equally impressive. Each dish was flavorful and beautifully presented, reflecting the care and creativity of the kitchen staff. I highly recommend NEP Cafe to anyone looking for a delightful dining experience in Irvine. Be sure to ask for Brianna--you won't be disappointed! Also as you can see in the photos my daughter approves! lol read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Kellie,…
1 year ago
As we continue my Kei Concepts journey, my girlfriend and I decided to try Nep! I'm usually the type of guy to try the most popular stuff I find online, so we definitely got the seafood ceviche! The seafood ceviche was stellar! It came worth shrimp crackers and it definitely has a thai flavor similarity to it with the added coconut milk. With the spice kick too, it's definitely a must try. The chicken wings are good too! If you know about fish sauce chicken wings this is pretty much that, can't go wrong. And lastly we decided to get the salted egg pasta. We've had the shaken beef and garlic noodles at VOX so we wanted to be a little adventurous and try something new. Surprisingly delicious! It went well with the pasta noodles and the added prawns really topped it off. Try this! read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Wesley,…
Nep Cafe is taking Vietnamese cuisine in an exciting direction. And I'm here for it. They have a large modern space with nice electronic background music. It gets loud in here, so you need to speak up and add to the cacophony. Garlic Noodles with Shrimp: The noodles are springy and soak up the tasty garlic, butter, and fish sauce very well. The noodles are lacquered up just enough, but a little more sauce wouldn't hurt. The shrimp is charred on the outside and just a tad undercooked, which I like because the shrimp seems juicier. Whole Branzino: The whole branzino has a lot of moving parts. The branzino is on the first plate and it is completely topped with a thick carpet of bright green herbs and peanuts. The second plate contains gauzy rice noodles, lettuce, mint, perilla leaves, and carrot and daikon pickles. You make little lettuce wraps with all the ingredients and try not to let too much juice trickle down your arms with each scrumptious bite. The fish is filleted already, which is convenient, and the flesh is flaky and tender. It's coated with a turmeric and onion sauce, but the tangy nuoc cham sauce just ties all the flavors and textures together. Soft Shell Crab: The soft shell crab has the best texture and tenderness. It has the right amount of chewiness and briny flavor. The batter is really light and crispy - perfect for soaking up the delicious curry laksa sauce. Calamari: The calamari is good and the bold flavor of the chili lime dip elevates this. Banana Bread Pudding: The bread pudding is topped with black sesame cornflakes, toffee, and vanilla ice cream. A banana is bruleed perfectly. The table crushed this dessert within seconds. I need to come back and try the egg coffee next time. Ordering: They have QR menus, but you can always ask for a paper menu. Parking: There is a giant parking lot with many spaces next to the Tesla supercharger. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Edward,…
I like their modern take on vietnamese food, and really enjoyed what I ordered! I got the beef belly deconstructed banh mi and it was really good, very juicy. We also got the Dao which is some toast with a poached egg - the egg part was soooo good. I was sharing but I wanted to eat the whole thing. The ube coffee was also pretty good! My only complaint is that we were seated on the side and it was kinda hard to get the servers attention since the restaurant is so big and we were hidden by a partial wall. Also that they were blasting the AC soooo hard that I had to go put on a jacket, and even then I was still cold. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Emily,…
2 years ago
The restaurant is bright, modern and inviting. We were seated after a 10 min wait. Our server was attentive and went over the menu. He was very accurate went over the menu quickly to ensure he got right. The food came out quickly. The pate was amazing. The flavor was good and tasty. The filet mignon skillet was my favorite. The skillet piping hot. Breaking up the sunny side up eggs made the meat taste oh so rich!! The meat is sweet and it balances out when you eat it with fried rice. We had the beed tongue fried rice. Great place for brunch and not your typical eggs, bacon & hashbrown kind of offerings! You won't be disappointed! read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Jennifer,…
First class experience! The flavors, freshness, and creativity of the dishes were outstanding. New really elevates my expectations of Vietnamese cuisine. We ordered many dishes and shared family style, allowing us to experience more. The tofu was super tasty with a great sauce, complimented by the Brussel sprouts. The beef carpaccio was a standout - amazing citrus and fresh herbs. The Branzino and side accompaniment surprised everyone with the depth of spice. Cocktails (the em oi!) were heavenly. Dessert was sticky rice and mango, plus the salted cream We watched other tables get the ribeye, calamari, and hot pot which we'd try on the next visit. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Dave,…
1 year ago
We recently dined at this location and noted that the food quality closely matched our visit to their Fountain Valley branch two years ago. * The crème brûlée coffee stood out--the caramelized sugar on top was thick and crunchy, with a rich layer of foamy milk. The coffee itself was decent but nothing extraordinary. * The shrimp garlic noodles were excellent, with the noodles cooked perfectly--chewy and flavorful. * My personal favorite was the crab toast, loaded with generous chunks of creamy crab meat--delicious. * On the other hand, the ribeye fried rice was passable, but it didn't leave much of an impression--just average. Unfortunately, we did have an issue with the service. We were completely overlooked: our server ignored us for over 25 minutes, during which time several tables that arrived after us were already served. Because of that, I took a star off our rating. Despite this, it was still reasonably busy and we were seated immediately on a Saturday at noon. The restaurant shares a plaza with SUP Noodle Bar (both run by Kei Concepts). Personally, I prefer SUP Noodle Bar--the appetizer selection there is more varied. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Serena,…
I've wanted to try Nep for a while after seeing posts about their food online! While they seem to no longer serve the specific menu items I had seen, I was interested in seeing what else they have. Inside they have a large seating area. It is neat, clean, and modern. I really liked the appearance! We showed up just before dinner service, so they still had "brunch" around 4:30pm. The brunch menu has a lot of the dinner food options, so we still found things that worked for an early dinner. I wanted to try The Dao and already knew that's what I was here for, and came with my husband and daughter. Here's where my first small complaint is; they asked if we were there for happy hour or not. This was out first visit and we don't drink alcohol, so we said no. After being seated at a booth away from the bar area, we learned that they have special happy hour pricing on some things we were interested. Had I been seated *in a different area inside the restaurant at the same time*, I could have paid $7 for my Dao instead of $12. A bit frustrating that they can't just give happy hour pricing anywhere in the restaurant as long as it us during the time-frame. I don't want to sit in the bar with my 5 year old. Our server was friendly and attentive. She answered our questions, and we learned that most of the fun coffee drinks are only available until I think 3. Odd, but ok. So we didn't get the avocado coffee or the egg coffee. Gotta go back earlier next time! Anyway, we ordered the banh mi chao with beef belly, The Dao, a kid's chicken nugget meal, and a sea salt coffee thing. The coffee was delicious! Deep and roasted flavor with just enough sweetness to balance, and the salted foam was a nice touch. The kids meal was a cute box that contained house made fries, fresh chicken nuggets, a juice box, and a little ketchup cup. The chicken nuggets are similar to McDonalds but so much better! This meal was delicious. The banh mi chao was also delicious! Served sizzling hot and with a side of bread to make it a sandwich. We agreed this would be perfect over rice instead, so I want to try that next time. No complaints at all on this; this is a must try! The Dao let me down though. It was served to me kind of cold. It's a light and smooth potato puree with a poached egg, served with little toast pieces. It felt like this should be warm? The toast was good. I don't eat large portions so this was a perfect size for me. Unfortunately at $12, I don't feel I can justify the value here. The $7 happy hour pricing is easier to swallow. I have had the same dish elsewhere and it was done better. Would probably not get this again. Despite the small negatives, we did enjoy our visit. The food was delicious and I want to get back for actual breakfast and try the egg coffee! read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Devin,…
5 months ago
This was my fourth or fifth time eating at Nep and it did not disappoint. They are great at accommodating large groups with a reservation. My sister held her birthday brunch with 20+ people and the service was fantastic. I had the garlic noodles with filet mignon with the perfect amount of spice as well as the cookie butter latte. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Sarah,…
Kei Concepts does it again! The food was absolutely amazing! From the banh mi chao to the garlic noodles with charred shrimp, all of the dishes had amazing depth of flavor and made me want to keep coming back. I love how spacious and beautiful the Irvine location was. The only downside was that the service was a bit lacking. The server was so busy she barely came to our table to check on us and we didn't even get the extra bread we ordered for the banh mi chao. I would definitely recommend this place and just say that be prepared to be unattended to if it's a busy day here. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Chris,…
Delicious food. I came for lunch before work and had the Shanghai dumplings and garlic noodles with fish. The dumplings were filled with pork and shrimp. It had a delicious spicy sauce. It's to bad these aren't AYCE. I'd be here all day. The garlic noodles were topped with delicious flakey fish. I love garlic, and I left with a happy tummy. Service is great. You scan to get the menu on your phone. This is the the third Kei restaurant I've been to and all were good. Kei will be seeing my Kia in their parking lots often. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Frank,…
1 year ago
I came here for lunch and the interior is so much larger than it looks from the outside. It's a great spot to order a couple drinks and all the food was excellent. I would definitely come back and try other things on the menu as well. I especially love the garlic noodle with shrimp. read more
Business owner information
Dominick D.
Jennifer,…
Nep Cafe is so chef's kiss! I came to the Irvine location for dinner and it was yummm We ordered: Ribeye - a little too rare for my liking but so flavorful and the sauce reminded me of Crying Tiger Soft Shell Crab - TO DIE FOR! You just try this!!! Garlic Noodles - I'd pass on this Little Saigon (cocktail) - I can taste more of the pineapple but the pandan flavor is subtly there read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Emily,…
6 months ago
I went there yesterday and had part of their brunch menu. The Shrimp egg rolls were light, with large radish slices and the sauce was very mild tasting. Most people won't order the filet mignon, due to the price. However, steak and eggs are well worth that low price since it is the filet cut and perfectly cooked in a cast iron skillet. Tender and juicy with a huge 9" torpedo crunchy white bread roll to dip in the eggs and steak sauce. That meal was well worth the price and it seems that the other customers enjoyed themselves as they were laughing and smiling the entire time I was feasting on my egg rolls and steak. It is right off the 5 freeway on Culver. Don't miss this unique place as the food is very good and the service was impeccable. read more
Business owner information
Christopher M.
Brian,…
More info about NEP Cafe - Irvine
14346 Culver Dr
Irvine, CA 92604
Directions
(949) 527-6533
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.keiconcepts.info/brands/nep
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Ask the Community - NEP Cafe - Irvine
What days and times do they have happy hour deals? I saw 2-5pm weekdays but is anything available on weekends?
Hi Tiffany. I think their happy hour is only on weekdays which is common with most restaurants. Hope you're doing well!! Have a wonderful day!
C el? See d s We ya
Joe much is the corkage fee?
Hello! Depending on bottle size, we typically charge $25 for the first bottle of wine. No hard alcohol.
Do they have any gluten free options?
Is the lemongrass tofu vegan? Are any of the desserts vegan?
I had the lemongrass tofu last time I ate there and it was delicious! According to toasttab, here are the ingredients: fried tofu, lemongrass soy, crispy shallots, thai basil, red chiles, and rice.
Will you bring back the salted egg yolk pudding?
We will definitely take this into consideration. Thank you for reaching out!
Is dinner and lunch menu available all hours? I just looked at the pic that someone took and the dinner menu seems limited to 4 main entrees, is there more to the menu for dinner?
Hello! Our brunch/lunch menu is offered until 5pm and from 5pm till close, we exclusively serve dishes from our dinner menu.… Read more
Good for large groups (10+)?
Yes, there was a large party seated next to us- many tables were large parties. They can definitely accommodate.
Are walk ins available?
Yes, we do take walk-ins daily and dedicate a section of our restaurant for walk-in guests. Please give us a visit!
Does your out door seating area open yet?
At this time outdoor dining is unavailable, but we are working to have that dining option available very very soon. Please stay updated by following us on Instagram: @nep.cafe
Does anyone know when online ordering will become available for this location?
Online ordering is now available as well as delivery via 3rd party apps! Please visit our website for more information!
Are there vegan/vegetarian options for mains/entrees?
We do offer select vegan/vegetarian-friendly options. Please do not hesitate to call in or give us a visit as our staff would be more than happy to assist you in your dietary restrictions!
Do you have an outdoor patio? Are dogs allowed?
We are working on having our outdoor patio available soon. Please follow @nep.cafe on Instagram to stay informed!
On the menu it says that the Szechuan Spicy Noodles is $14 with chicken and $16 with the shrimp & pork dumplings, but what if I don't want either proteins and just want the noodles?
The noodles alone are $10.
When will takeout available?
We do not have a definitive timeline at the moment, but please follow us on social media for the latest updates! @nep.cafe
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NEP Cafe - Irvine - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026
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