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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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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A great last meal before my flight back to SF! Such a good brunch spot and place to socialize. The Bahn Mi Chan - Beef Belly was delicious and the bread it comes with is sooo good! Be careful since it comes out in a hot plate. I'd love to come back and try their noodles! Service was also quick and we were seated right away on a Sunday around 12:30. It was still pretty packed! read more

NEP Cafe - Banh Mi Chao - Beef Belly - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Very efficient service, food got out in 5-10 mins of ordering. Highlights were the fried rice and the viet salad. Loved the creative drinks as well. Great place to meet up for brunch! Spacious interior and plenty of parking in this shopping center read more

NEP Cafe - Strawberry Yogurt Matcha, Mango Sticky Rice Matcha, Wildberry Matcha Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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It's a Vietnamese fusion restaurant that blends modern flavors while still keeping the authentic essence of Vietnamese cuisine. The dishes are unique, flavorful, and beautifully balanced between traditional and contemporary styles. What impressed me the most was the service. Everyone was incredibly friendly and attentive. From my experience dining at many Vietnamese restaurants, servers usually take your order and rarely check back afterward. But this restaurant was completely different -- the staff constantly checked in, made sure everything was okay, and genuinely cared about the customers. It made the whole dining experience feel warm and welcoming. They serving Branch And happy hours is good deal read more

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Good food, nice selection of Asian dishes, servers are very attentive, good prices, can be a bit noisy when busy

My Bestfriend recommended me this restaurant , we always attend her relatives Party in Santa Ana and when we talk about restaurants this is what they always recommend to visit. There are 2 locations for Nef Cafe my best friend recommended and we chose the one that most of my Yelp friends go to between the 2 locations, which is this one. It was easy for us to find a parking space, there's actually plenty of parking around. The restaurant was packed when we arrived, but didn't get that long for us to be seated. We checked out the menu right away and there were so many delicious things I saw, but here were our picks: *PORK TOMAHAWK *SEAFOOD TOM KHA PASTA *WHOLE BRANZINO *LYCHEE MILK PUNCH COCKTAIL The TOM KHA Pasta doesn't have a lot of Seafood, but they were bigs ones in my plate ,so thats okay for me. On this one I could really taste the Tom Kha flavor in my Pasta, really good. My son ordered the PORK TOMAHAWK. This has a good portion for the price. This one was so Tender and cooked to perfection, my Son was already complaining about how I kept reaching out for his Pork Tomahawk , that's how much I liked it, I kept getting some from my Son's plate ;) My Husband shared the Fish with wraps with me 'coz the Fish was big, plus all the veggies salad and wraps that came with it were so sharable. I do like this one too, it's Fun and delicious to eat, but I think I prefer these more as Fried Fish, the Fried ones have more Crunch to it when eating it in a lettuce wrapper, but as I said, this is still a very good one too. My LYCHEE MILK PUNCH Cocktail is also good. Delicious foods and the service was fast and friendly here . Definitely this NEF CAFE is a place to come back for dining again. read more

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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!!! read more

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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 - 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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Everything on the menu is tasty! We've been here four times and haven't been disappointed yet.

Great place to go with friends and family. Service was quick. I ordered the Banh Mi Chap with Filet Mignon. It was delicious but extremely rich and sits heavy on your stomach. It comes with a side of toasted banh mi bread, but the bread is extremely hard to cut through without smashing it flat. read more

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

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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Top tier modern Vietnamese restaurant that combines high quality ingredients and complex delicious flavors. The food was fantastic, a short and simple menu and every dish was beautifully presented. The interior is very well designed and offers plenty of seating as well as a bar area. The staff are all very professional and helpful. Best to make a reservation since it very popular especially on weekends. 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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Amazing experience! The food was exceptional with beautiful presentation and a delight to our senses. The service was outstanding with attentive staff. The ambience was upbeat, loud but joyful. read more

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We've been coming to Nep almost every month and we had to bring my family to show them the amazing food! Food was 10/10! We had the beef belly banh mi, crab curry omelette, ribeye fried rice, and spicy wontons. What really topped it off was our server, James! He was an amazing server and made it such a memorable experience. I'm happy I trusted his judgement on what to order. It was lively and busy during lunch on Saturday, I'm glad we got a table under the skylight and with James! read more

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

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Very fast service. Food was amazing, definitely coming back! The place is so cute and clean. Recommended coworkers, friends and family to come already LOL. 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 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

One of the things I like about nep is how consistent it is. I feel like the things i got years ago still taste the same, but sometimes I get accustomed to it and it gets a bit boring (though they do change the menu often). However, i found one hidden gem of nep cafe is the stir fried vegetables. Especially the garlic fried greens the garlic flavor was so strong and good wok hei and my previous experience with the brussel sprouts were good too. I do think the portions went down a bit (inflation) particularly with the ceviche, but again same good quality. Filet Mignon Banh Mi Chao the meat quality is okay because its quite covered by the sauce so you don't necessarily need to splurge on this, but the dish is filling and the variety is a uniqur brunch exp to have. My go to is always the wings for the solid portion and consistent flavor. Everytime you state a special occasion they celebrate with a card with really nice paper and maybe even a dessert. Overall, its one of the go to spots to bring someone outside of orange county b/c I feel it represents OC foodie culture well where both aesthetic for food pics and decent flavor mesh. It was still a filling meal for 3 gals. read more

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Food taste great. Staff was were very attentive . My only issue is serving size of food. I ordered tongue fried rice. There was barely any meat in the fried rice and portion size for fried rice is really small considering it's priced over $20. Also they left an eggshell on my order. read more

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

Vietnamese Shrimp Salad (5/5) Amazingly fresh, tasty, and textured. My favorite dish by far and I would definitely order again. Chicken Wings (4.5/5) Flavorful, saucy, juicy wings. If this is your entree I would recommend getting a side of sticky rice because it can be a lot by ot 5-Spice Roasted Chicken Nice, crispy skin. Not dry per se but could be more moist. The best part is absolutely the sauce that comes with it. read more

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

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Had a delightful brunch in this Irvine location. It's a lot more spacious and less busy the fountain valley location too. I recommend the tom kha pasta if you want something unique, and their bread pudding dessert is absolutely delicious. read more

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

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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Came here for my dad's birthday and it was amazing! Service was very friendly, fast and they even provided him with a birthday treat. The Creme Brûlée cofee was balanced and had a great texture. The beef belly rice bowl was flavorful and was a good size. However, my favorite dish was the 5-spice roasted chicken. The flavor penetrated into the chicken all the way to the bone. The skin had great texture and flavor. I left thinking about when I could be back! read more

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This was our first time at NEP cafe and we loved it! If you're looking for a family-friendly restaurant, this is one of the best ones we've been to. They set up a kid-safe plate and a kid-friendly water cup for our child. We were seated quickly and food came out quickly. We ordered the garlic noodles with salmon, bun bo hue dry noodles, and xoi chien (crispy rice!) and all were delicious! Our server was extremely attentive and kind. We'd definitely come back! read more

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Love this restaurant!! We were in a hurry, but the food came out fast and was still delicious. We ordered the steak frites and wagyu fried rice and both were tasty. The restaurant was little loud, but besides that, this is a great Vietnamese restaurant!! read more

NEP Cafe - Wagyu fried rice - 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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tom kha pasta and shaken beef were delicious, flavorful and filling. service was friendly, attentive and quick. came on a tuesday evening and it wasn't crowded. the place is spacious, clean and very nice to take pictures. overall, a great experience and would come back again. read more

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

Came with my wife and her co workers, after visiting Tanaka farms. Place was packed but we were a party of 8 and didn't take too long to be sat. This was our first time here and everything looked good in the pictures. Coffee was nice and strong. Food tasted really good. Food was filling and flavorful. Justin, staff member came by and asked how I was doing and if he could get anything for me. Service was good, food was tasty. We'd definitely come back. We recommend the ban mi chao. read more

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Highly recommend going here if you haven't already done so. Their lunch and dinner menu changes completely and they're both AMAZING. I can confidently say I've tried almost every single menu item and they are all delicious. The restaurant does get loud when it's busy so don't go here if you're looking for a quiet place to talk. Also, very kid friendly! read more

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James was absolutely wonderful! He was so kind, efficient, genuinely attentive, and he took such great care of us throughout our meal at NEP Cafe. His amazing service and excellent recommendations really made our experience extra enjoyable. We left feeling well taken care of and very impressed by his warm, friendly attitude. James truly deserves recognition and promotion for the level of service he provides! Thank you James & we will definitely be back :-) ps. the coconut matcha & Tom Kha pasta was bombbbb! read more

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

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

First time visiting, they had friendly quick attentive service with modern spacious decor & delicious flavorful Asian fusion food that's beautifully presented. We enjoyed everything we ordered: Seafood Ceviche, Shrimp garlic noodles, Vietnamese shaking beef, Mango sticky rice & Yuzu white peach drink. Make sure you make reservations online! read more

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The restaurant dining experience service was amazing and a welcoming atmosphere. The menu showcases fresh, flavorful dishes. 10/10 read more

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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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