NEP cafe is amazing! I had the tiramisu coffee and Xoi Chien and both were delicious. The Xoi Chien stole the show with these delicious crispy, sticky rice cubes unlike anything Ive ever had and I thoroughly enjoyed. Love this place read more

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

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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! read more

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Stumbled upon Nep Cafe and loved this Vietnamese fusion gem. Fresh, trendy vibe with light wood panel decor and live plants. The staffs were super friendly and knowledgeable. The seafood ceviche was a standout--perfectly balanced with coconut, mango, and Thai chili. Paired it with the squid mango salad--bright, herby, and had a delightful crunch of peanuts. We also shared the shaken beef and chicken wings (both great, but I favored the wings). Drinks impressed too--the Calamansi Fizz was refreshing, and the Pandan Old Fashioned was strong but well done (bonus points for the large ice cubes). Best detail? Complimentary mouthwash in the restroom--such a thoughtful touch after all those bold flavors. FYI- Our order came to about $116. Appetizers runs about $15-20. We shared the rice dish which run just under $30. The drinks were $16 each. Ironically we got married 01/16. It's our lucky number! I'd absolutely love to return and try their Crème Brulee Coffee! It's only an hour and a half drive from San Diego. I guess our next date is a road trip to indulge in some coffee! read more

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Spacious and open interior, great for larger parties. The service was great, you're limited by party size if you try to reserve a table online, but I was able to get a reservation for 14 by calling in during business hours. They were very helpful and accommodating, especially since we had children and babies in our party. I think the food was hit or miss. I appreciated the vision they had for each dish and the plating was nice. The Vietnamese shaking beef was solid, safe choice but not standout. The tom kha pasta was the unanimous winner of the night of our table though! I wasn't able to get a drink this time but I think I'd definitely come back to try the cocktails. They all looked very interesting and definitely piqued my interest as a cocktail hobbyist. read more

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

Right after landing into California, I knew where I wanted to take my parents to dinner that night immediately! If you follow any of my other reviews, Asian fusion food IS MY THING. Kei Concept restaurants does such a great job at it, and Nep in Irvine is no exception. My parents, who are quite picky eaters when it comes to restaurants, enjoyed every bite, as did I. Though the food was spectacular, I want to give a full on shout out to our waitress - Janelle. She went above and beyond to make this experience for us truly memorable. What a phenomenal night. Okay, back to the food! I was trying to get my veggies in so I ordered the broccolini & squid/mango salad. I love a good goi! The sauce the broccolini was in was sooo yummy; I kept dipping everything in that sauce. I'm not much of a sauce girl myself, but the sauce that comes with the calamari is sooo freaking delicious. PERFECT definition of Asian fusion. It has a heavy taste of lemongrass, which I love. My parents really enjoyed the seafood tom kha pasta; they didn't skimp on the seafood portion! This location is bigger than their FV counterpart. Lots of space and very open location. Clean and sleek. I'll definitely be returning, and will request Janelle as my server because she rocks! read more

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overall: a very solid 4.5/5 TLDR: loved it here, honestly a great pick for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! first time here & devoured my food! the ambience & environment definitely set the tone. I went around 3:00pm on a Sunday & it was not super busy - no wait for a party of 2. the customer service was great all around; everyone was very kind & you can tell they enjoy the overall environment. here's what we ordered! bevs: mango sticky rice (non caffeinated) - 5/5 calamansi white peach - 5/5 they were both so delicious & fresh - loved! appetizer: seafood ceviche - 4/5 such a solid ceviche - the flavors + spice just balanced so well; I would love maybe a little more shrimp chips entrees: filet mignon banh mi chao - 4.5/5 this dish was so great honestly. the meat was a bit chewy, but it didn't matter to me that much because the flavor was amazing. the plate itself is on the heavier side, but the sauce is deliciously savory & really had depth in the flavor profile. (dip the bahn mi in the sauce it was so yum) fried rice (no protein): 4/5 the eggs in all of the items were fried perfectly. the one thing that makes this dish is for sure the aji sauce - it was a lot better than I was expecting. I will say that without the sauce, it's not super crazy - still a great, filling meal paired with the filet mignon. dessert: mango sticky rice: 3/5 the mango was sweet & ripe, & the pandan sticky rice was pretty good as well. I wasn't the biggest fan of the nuts & I would've loved more of a coconut cream instead of the coconut meat as it just didn't have too much flavor, in my opinion. this was a great post-work meal & I will definitely be back to try more of the menu & cocktails! read more

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Shrimp with the garlic noodles are huge. Crispy calamari is perfect breading. Chicken from com ga roti was a little dry. Wish there was a bigger beef potion for the shaking beef. Interior is beautiful, lots of seating. Service was friendly and attentive. Drinks were phenomenal. read more

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My family and I were in the area after visiting Great Wolf Lodge, and decided to grab some dinner before we made the drive back down to San Diego. In short, we LOVED this place. From the food, to the service and the atmosphere. They even have mouthwash in their bathrooms which was a small but "surprise and delight" feature that added to our overall experience. For food we ordered the Vietnamese shrimp salad which was delicious. We also ordered the Shaking Beef dish, ALSO delicious. We also got the tiramisu cold brew and mango sticky rice for dessert. The kids got the box meal which was cool since it comes in a cute box/package which made the kids excited to eat it. Everything we had, I'd honestly order again. Would come back when we're back up here! read more

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I had a good experience at NEP Cafe and I would return. The restaurant itself looks great and the food was good. The brunch and dinner menus have different items so make sure you are familiar with the menus if you are going there to try something specific. FOOD Seafood Tom Kha Pasta Vietnamese salad Vietnamese beef I thought all 3 of these were good and worth ordering. SERVICE Friendly, good service. PARKING Large, shared parking lot (free) read more

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This place is so so good! We got the bun Bo hue dry noodles, the fried tofu and the filet mignon banh mi hot plate. Everything was really tasty and so creative! The service was exceptional. I just wished this place was closer to me! read more

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

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I recently tried Nepo. The restaurant felt clean, modern, and relaxed without trying too hard. It's one of those places that works whether you're grabbing a quick lunch or sitting down for a casual dinner. My family absolutely loved the food. They described themselves as being in a food coma after they were done. The pho had a rich, flavorful broth that you can tell was simmered for hours, and the meats were tender without being overcooked. I just took nibbles off of certain things on people's plates like the vegetables and rice, because I'm a vegan and unfortunately they do not have many vegan choices at all. I did try the lemongrass tofu and it was absolutely delicious. Service was friendly and efficient. Overall, Nepo is a solid spot if you're in Irvine and craving Vietnamese food that feels a step above the usual casual places. However, due to the lack of Vegan choices I won't be back soon but if you're a carnivore, this is a solid place to try. read more

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Waited about 20-30 minutes on a Sunday afternoon. Got seated outside which was nice considering the breeze. Met with a gf and their family for a party of 7. We had an enjoyable lunch! The calamari, wings, crab toast, fries were delicious appetizers while the garlic noodles were perfect! My son enjoyed the beef belly rice bowl-- I thought the presentation of each dish was aesthetically pleasing and the ambiance was comfortable and nice. The drinks were unique. Joined the Kei concepts rewards. Looking forward to coming back. read more

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NEP Cafe is such a cute modern Vietnamese spot with a bright, trendy vibe. We got the beef tongue fried rice, shaking beef, sugarcane kumquat, and mango sticky rice matcha. Everything was super flavorful. The beef tongue was tender, the shaking beef was juicy, and the matcha drink was a standout (unique and not too sweet). Service was quick and friendly, but it does get busy. Definitely a spot I'd come back to! read more

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I love the happy hour here. They have some of the best food at an amazingly discounted price and the bartender is always so nice. Only downfall is happy hour is only until 5pm so it's not every day I can get away fast enough from work. Love the spacious circular bar where I can finish work too! read more

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We ordered quite a few dishes (see photos), and I absolutely loved the appetizers, especially the raw beef tongue, which was a standout. The crab garlic noodles were good but not particularly memorable. They mentioned it would not be spicy, but it did have a noticeable kick. The Vietnamese shaking beef was unfortunately tough, and I would not recommend that dish. On the other hand, the spice-roasted chicken was very flavorful and not dry at all. The shrimp egg rolls are worth noting--they are all shrimp with no pork, which I personally liked, but they are different from the typical version people might expect. Overall, the appetizers felt stronger than the entrées. For dessert, the banana bread pudding was not to our taste. It was not very sweet, but it also did not quite feel like a dessert. The ice cream that came with it was the best part. Service was okay: friendly, but not very attentive. The music was also quite loud, which made the experience a bit less enjoyable. Overall, a solid spot with some standout starters, though I am not sure I would return given the mixed experience. read more

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Whelp, this is embarrassing. While being pretty tardy when it comes to posting my reviews isn't all that uncommon (if anything, it's the norm), I admit this is probably one of my more egregious cases. However, in my defense, I actually had this written out a long time ago! It's just that, for some reason, I somehow forgot to, you know...post this. The silver lining? Since almost everything I tried is no longer on the menu, it gave me the chance (forced me?) to come back to try even more! Between the great things I had heard and the number of friends who have recommended them, NEP Cafe has been sitting high my list of OC bookmarks for quite some time. Yet, despite how popular they are, it was surprisingly easy to snag a reservation on OpenTable both times we visited to avoid the typical line for walk-ins (did it about an hour in advance). As for the menu, they have a few fixtures, but the rest of it seems to change frequently (as I learned the hard way). However, whether it's a small tweak or a dish being replaced/reconceived, whatever mix of appetizers, entrees, noodle dishes, and drinks/cocktails they have is always be super enticing! -- VIETNAMESE PATE MOUSSE - Vietnamese Mayo, Pickles, Toast Pretty good, for the most part. The pate mousse was terrific - smooth and luscious - and the pickles helped cut the richness well. However, the baguette was more soft than toasted and there wasn't enough of it (we had to order more). -- SHRIMP TOAST - Milk Bread, Sesame, Hot Honey Mayo This was probably my favorite dish the first time we came here. Not only did the milk bread taste good, but it wasn't overtoasted and the shrimp meat (smear?) on this was so full of flavor! Easily could've polished off two orders of this! -- SEAFOOD TOM KHA HOT POT - Spicy Coconut Broth, Scallop, Calamari, Shrimp, Cabbage, Vermicelli Too bad this isn't offered anymore because we both thought it was great! The broth was oh so rich and had layers of flavor to it while the seafood was fresh and plentiful. I just wish the portion had been larger, as we thought the pot was fairly modest in size. -- GARLIC NOODLES (SIDE) - Garlic Butter Soy, Lemongrass Sate, Fried Garlic Not bad, but hardly special. While I liked how the noodles had a nice bite and were topped with chives, this wasn't as garlicky as I thought it would've been, especially with the chunks of garlic confit on top. -- CALAMANSI PALOMA - Tequila, Mezcal, Calamansi, Kaffir Lime, Lime, Grapefruit, Soda On the one hand, I wish this had a bit more tequila and mezcal in it, but this was still pretty solid! Given the three different types of lime, this felt equal parts tart and refreshing. -- EM-OI - Vietnamese Gin, Salted Apricot, Tamarind, Calamansi, Honey, Li-Hing, Lime, and Egg White I'm usually a fan of egg white cocktails, but this was just okay. That's not to say this was "bad", though - I'm just not big on gin and the salted apricot, tamarind, li-hing, and lime felt jumbled. -- TIRAMISU COFFEE - Black Coffee, Brown Sugar, Tiramisu Foam, Lady Finger This was terrific! Although the foam and brown sugar made this fairly sweet, I liked that this really did taste like tiramisu in a cup while still tasting like coffee. Plus, we loved dipping the lady finger into it as well! -- UBE COCONUT BEER Too unique not to try and I'm so glad I did - this was AWESOME. Aside from the super dark coloring (almost like grape juice), loved how well the ube and coconut mixed together and how easy this was to drink. -- BROCCOLINI - Charred Broccolini, Lemongrass Soy, Fried Garlic, Chili To be honest, this was a miss. Mostly, the broccolini itself wasn't the greatest - not very leafy and the stalks were super fibrous. The cook on it was fine, though, as well as the seasoning. -- SEAFOOD TOM KHA PASTA - Shrimp, Calamari, Scallop, Linguine, Tom Kha Cream, Shiitake The presumed replacement of their Seafood Tom Kha Hot Pot and, admittedly, the better of the two. The pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente, there was a good amount of fresh seafood, and the Tom Kha sauce was just as rich and flavorful. Delicious! -- WHOLE BRANZINO - Herbs, Turmeric, Peanuts, Wrap Set, Vermicelli Essentially a take on Cha Ca and a tasty one at that. Although it's not really battered, the branzino was crispy yet still really moist. Also, I love how they use watermelon daikon and butter lettuce, but there was a ton of tarragon. Beyond the food, both the ambiance and the service here have been terrific. We've eaten both inside and on their patio and they're equally relaxed (the latter is nice on a warm night). Whichever area you end up sitting, though, the servers do a great job of coming by to check on you without being overbearing, are super friendly and efficient, and the kitchen gets orders out quick! All in all, I'll definitely be recommending NEP Cafe as well and will be back for more...like to try their brunch! FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now. read more

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Always a hit whenever we come. Brunch, lunch or dinner - always consistent, everything executed so well, and food comes out fast. Service is great, ample parking and seating. read more

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Dined at Fountain Valley location before and was blown away by the food, so while visiting Irvine to go strawberry picking we had the opportunity to dine at their Irvine location. This one is definitely more spacious and grander than FV. Very large covered patio, great to host a private party. Food was just as good, the highlights were definitely the shaking beef (able to swap the rice for garlic noodles!) and the whole branzino (so fresh and perfect for the summer). But what was better than FV, was the service. Table staff were super attentive and our waiter, Nathan C., really was interested in knowing our thoughts on their new dish. He relayed our suggestions to the cook and even brought us out another one to try. Wow! read more

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

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Amazing Vietnamese brunch place. Everything is amazing here, can get a bit loud but ambiance is great. Our server was very knowledgeable on the menu & gave great some great recommendations. We tried a variety of dishes, my favorite was definitely the wildberry matcha latte (MUST TRY!!) & tom yum pasta (sour & sweet, umami heaven). Banh mi chao & crab toast were also really good. We also got Vietnamese salad on the side, which was super refreshing. read more

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We still love it here. We had reservations for 5pm and it was not too packed. We asked for a booth but were initially sat at a table. They corrected it but put us right next to the kitchen. We didn't mind tho! The waitress was nice and informative. The food was tasty. Portions are not overly huge. I had to give my compliments afterwards. We'll be back. read more

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We were seated promptly even on a Sunday brunch. The waiters were attentive and we were served so quickly! Within 5 minutes of ordering, our meals came out. We got the garlic noodles with shrimp and the Vietnamese coffee which was amazing! I loved the sugarcane drink and the coconut matcha. I would go back for the drinks for sure. It was modern and clean with tons of seating! read more

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

Big fan of Nep Cafe and the KEI Concepts food group. My family stopped in on a busy Saturday for brunch. This restaurant was at max capacity. We ordered everything from from the beef tongue fried rice, crab toast, banh mi chao, bun bo hue dry noodles, and chicken wings. All of the flavors were on points and we literally finished each dish. The crab toast, bani mi chao and fried rice are must orders if you're here around lunch time. If you're a big coffee fan definitely try their creme brulee coffee, egg coffee, coconut ube coffee. Servers here were attentive and the food came out quickly. I loved the variety of hearty, rich and savory dishes. I feel like each dish was elevated with premium fresh ingredients and flavors. The ambiance here is very bright, warm and inviting. Perfect for small parties to large groups. I'll definitely be back to try their dinner menu. Highly recommend booking in advance even on week days as this is a very popular and gets packed. read more

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Visited with my sisters for brunch and we grabbed a little bit of everything from the menu to try. Good flavors and delicious bites. Great space. There is no waiting at this location when compared to the Fountain Valley location. Parking was easy also. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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Nep Cafe has a modern liveliness to the restaurant! Service was smooth, attentive, and well-paced. Our server was proactive in attending my table's needs and made my friend and I feel extremely valued and well at home! Spicy Wontons (5/5) Started off with the Spicy Wontons and they were a hit right away! The spice and chili gave it a nice kick but didn't overpower the dish. What really stood out was how generously each wonton was packed with beef. They were bold and savory with each bight. Shrimp Garlic Noodles (4.5/5) The noodles were cooked to perfection as they had a nice chewy texture. The shrimp was slightly charred which rounded the dish reall well. There was a very small kick to the garlic noodles, which stood out from tasting like standard buttery noodles in the best way possible. Really enjoyed it! The Crab Curry Omelette (5/5) The curry in this dish brought a warm, aromatic depth to the dish. What I loved about this the most was that the amount of crab was super generous! When you pair it with the rice, it soaked up all the flavor. Pork Tomahawk (5/5) First of all, the presentation of this dish was absolutelye stunning. Beautifully plated, cooked to perfection, and the best part was that it was extremely moist! I get nervous that some pork might be served dry, but this tomahawk was extremely juicy. It had the right amount of fat and the char gave it a nice smoky flavor profile. The honey glaze also gave it a nice subtle sweetness that brought the dish all together. Bana Bread Pudding (5/5) This dish deserves all the awards and hype. It was AMAZING. They bruleed the top of the banana. Absolute genius idea because it was caramelized and torched to perfection. The bread itself was rich and savory with hints of toffee and had a balanced sweetness. The black sesame cornflakes added a nice crunch that elevated the texture. Paired with vanilla ice cream? I'll be eating this over and over again. Pandan Pina Colada (4/5) This was their drink special! The pandan had a nice sweetness to it. You can definitely taste the pineapple and coconut profile mixed with the drink, it was a little treat to sip on while eating dinner. This restaurant has such amazing food with amazing taste and would definitly come back over and over again. read more

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My family and I just tried NEP Cafe in Irvine for the first time, and it's already one of our new favorites in Southern California! My goodness--everything we tried was delicious. Our server, Annie, was amazing--so friendly, attentive, and helpful. I went with her recommendation for one of the more unassuming dishes, the curry crab omelette, and wow... it was incredible. The seafood ceviche was super fresh, and the coconut milk with fresh peppers really took it to another level. My daughter ordered the shrimp garlic noodles, and we were all blown away by the flavor. All of the seafood tasted like top quality and perfectly cooked. The ambiance is lively, clean, and comfortable, making it a great spot for a family meal. Thank you, NEP Cafe, for one of the best meals we've had in a while--we'll definitely be back with more family! read more

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I love NEP! This is the second location I've been to and I love that their food and service are great and consistent. Too many great options to choose from! read more

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

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This is not a cafe, it's a restaurant! Interior is clean, upscale. Loved celebrating my friends birthday here. First time here and loved the food. They did not charge us for cutting cake which was so kind of them! Def recommending to my friends if I can make the trip out to Irvine! I got the house special tom yum noodles, seafood cooked perfectly, soft and tender. Noodles very elastic and QQ. Our friends all wished there was a larger portion! The beef bowl was juicy and more affordable. I was told the chicken was on the drier side and the sauce helped them eat it. For birthday they give you a scoop of ice cream and a candle with a personalized card (assuming you tell them when making reservation). This place has a cafe and great dessert all in one so we got mango matcha. They even have ube beer! Service is great, very prompt and friendly. The waiter let us split checks for a large group of 10. Thank you for accommodating us! read more

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The food was absolutely phenomenal. I was so pleasantly surprise. I didn't know what to expect. Ordered the Vietnamese steak with salad and red rice. I can't wait to go back and try all the other dishes!!! Highly recommend! Service was fantastic. Great place it's super nice inside. We sat at the bar. read more

I really liked the bar area here. The bartenders were friendly and helpful. The vibe was relaxed, Not as loud as the rest of the restaurant. The drinks were yummy and strong. I highly recommend the broccolini for an app too! read more

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

10/10 everything ambiance, service, cleanliness and food! I've gone twice already and already salivating to return! All of their menu items are unique and tasty! I want to go back and try other items. I commend the staff as they are super friendly, fast and so busy but are amazing. Hosts, servers, wait staff, everyone, all around very good vibes The calamansi drink was refreshing, the tom yum udon was delicious and creamy and all around 10/10. Legitimate Vietnamese food with touch of creativity. If you're in the area, worth the wait and drive. Bun bo hue dry style is so interesting! read more

So ive heard LOADS about this place and living just around the corner I finally caved in and gave it a try. It looks pretty busy on weekends so I went on a random weekday around brunchtime and the place was relatively empty and quiet. I even got to ask to change my seat to be outside in the sunshine (but there are shaded bits too if youd rather that)! Immediately I was attended to and since i knew what I wanted the whole process was super quick. You see the menu via a qr code on the table. I ordered two appetizers, the crab toast and the seafood ceviche. They both came out SO fast and with such beautiful presentation!! The crab toast was a buttery blend of creamy scrambled eggs and a hearty portion of lump crab with sourdough slices. It was amazing and i boxed half to take home (and enjoying it as i write this). The ceviche was out of this world!! There was a variety of flavors that worked just perfectly together. A nice tropical mango paired with a bit of red pepper spice and then the creamy base - the seafood was snappy and just YUM! While the price keeps me from coming back as soon as Id want, id love to try their other mains and maybe a coffee in the future. Get the price below 7 bucks a pop and im sold!! read more

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This place is a vibe! If you like garlic, this place is your jam. We ordered garlic noodles with shrimp, wonton and spicy chicken wings. All of them were delicious and I have no notes! Service was quick and they made our order pretty fast. Drinks at happy hour looked pretty great but was being a responsible driver. The bathroom needs a little love. Parking is right in front and relatively easy but heard it can get busy here! read more

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Annie is the best!! She was very attentive, kind, and friendly!! We ordered the egg coffee, wildberry Matcha latte, crab toast, Vietnamese shrimp salad, and tom kha seafood pasta. Everything was absolutely phenomenal, but the shrimp salad and tom kha seafood pasta were definitely the stars of the show!!! read more

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It was our first visit here and Nick helped out us out and was AMAZING! He made our experience a great one by providing us with recommendations for the entire menu. If there is no parking due to the charging cars needing to charge do park across from the restaurant. Upon arrival the hostess outside and inside both were nice peoples too. This made our first impression of how the restaurant was nice and clean feel look to it. It's definitely a go to place to try. Their drinks, food, and desserts are delicious! Definitely a place to try and come back again! read more

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Fresh ingredients, rich flavors, great drinks, and a really nice atmosphere. One of those places that's worth the wait. I LOVE their ceviche it is my absolute favorite. Their matcha & coffee is also super delicious and perfectly balanced. I unfortunately don't have any photos of anything else because we are always so hungry & excited lol! We have tried the dao, which is creamy & tasty, the vietnamese salad which is super refreshing, and the delicious ribeye fried rice. Everything tastes fresh & is packed with flavor! read more

NEP Cafe - Mango Sticky Rice Matcha & Tiramisu Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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NEP does it again! Now just in Irvine instead of fountain Valley. The service was amazing, but I had to make sure to reserve a spot for a weekend lunch since it was packed when we arrived. The service was quick, efficient, and we were checked on consistently throughout the meal. The interior is a bit busy, but it makes send and it flowed well. The food was delicious. No other statement or review needed. Savory, great blend of flavors for the fried rice. The pork was tender and juicy. The drinks were a little under the food standard, but a nice refreshment overall. I need to come and try their other dishes if I have the chance. read more

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I was able to make a last minute reservation for my family of 5 as there was an issue with the original restaurant we wanted to go to. We came here for my mom's 60th birthday! It was my parents' first time here and our server, Jamie, was the absolute sweetest despite it being so busy and a holiday weekend. Jamie was attentive, so polite, and very transparent about all of the wait times. She told us upfront that some people were waiting awhile for their food, but if we did end up waiting long she offered to talk to her boss to get discounts or free dessert or something. Thankfully, nothing really took long to come to the table! It just came a little out of order which we didn't mind. I told Jamie it was my parents' first time and she gave us recommendations on what to eat and suggested family style so they could try a lot of things. My parents only really stick to what they know (viet food), and it was a slight risk taking them to Nep, but I knew they would enjoy the asian fusion food. My mom is super picky but she really liked it here! Jamie's recommendations were all delicious. We ended up getting the crispy calamari, fish sauce wings, whole branzino, garlic noodles with filet mignon with an add on of shrimp, and the seafood tom kha pasta. Everything was delicious. The calamari was the only thing that was mid though. It wasn't that crispy, kinda soggy and it was one of the last dishes to come out despite it being an appetizer. For drinks we got the tiramisu latte, matcha cloud foam latte, calamansi fizz, and matcha coconut. The calamansi fizz was okay, it was on the stronger side, but it wasn't super sweet or anything special. The non-alcoholic drinks were delicious. My dad loved his tiramisu latte especially with the whole ladyfinger on top and my mom kept sneaking sips of my matcha coconut lol. The restaurant is pretty large so it's quite noisy inside. The only complaint my parents had was that the ambient moody lighting was too dark for them and they couldn't read the menu . It was nice giving my parents the experience to try something new, but still have the asian flavors that they enjoy! My one small small disappointment was that we made the reservation noting it was for a birthday, but didn't get a little dessert or anything special. Overall, I would add this restaurant to my parents' rotation. read more

Of all the kei concepts restaurants, I would have to say that this and INI are my absolute favorites. For this restaurant, they stay very true to the Vietnamese flavors while adding a new twist to the presentation, to the execution, and the overall interpretation of Vietnamese food. The interior is very modern very fresh and very clean which I like. The food is presented in a very modern well still having those authentic flavors. I love the garlic noodles and I love their mango and squid salad. Their cocktails are also very creative and tasty. The service is always on point. Always attentive, always close by and responsive. I usually stop by this restaurant when I'm vacationing down south from NorCal. It's always on my list of things to do. read more

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We came as a group for a brunch get-together and arrived around 10:30 with a reservation. We started with mimosas and I believe everyone tried something different from the menu. I went for the Garlic Noodles with Crab. I usually lean toward savory dishes, so this one caught my eye. The crab on its own was mild, but mixed with the noodles it made a nice combination. The dish had more spice than I expected, not too overwhelming, but enough to clear your sinuses. The servers were very attentive, checking in and refilling waters throughout our meal. The menu is unique, with a nice mix of flavors and creative fusion dishes. This is one of the few restaurants from Kei Concepts I've tried. If you're into modern Vietnamese dining, it's worth checking out. read more

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

The interior is so pretty! This location is more spacious than the FV location. I like how there are skylights so its light and bright inside, adding to the brunch vibes. Food is delicious, coffee and matcha top notch. Service was excellent. Will definitely be back! read more