I'm pretty confused on how this place has so many good reviews. I order the pancakes and somehow they were so flavorless?? The butter did not taste like butter, it tasted like water? When I got to the center where the butter was my pancakes just tasted watery and soggy. Very disappointing. I also ordered scrambled eggs which were delicious so I'll give them that read more

I was picking my wife up from John Wayne Airport, and our family of 3 needed wanted breakfast. All of us, including the picky 6 year old, loved our orders. Perfectly seasoned and tasted so fresh. My personal recommendation is the chicken and waffles. My wife's pancakes were perfect, and the eggs were perfectly seasoned, scrambled, and cooked. Wait time was under 10 minutes for us on a Sunday morning. read more

I came to this Poached Kitchen location around 8:30am on a Saturday. There was no line and plenty of tables inside and outside. How it works is you order at the front, get a number, pick a table to sit, and they serve the food to your table. I tried 2 things. The Salmon Benedict is a must - the smoked salmon paired nicely with the runny egg, dill, and muffin. The Huevos Rancheros had good flavor and texture. Both came with a side of choice, and I choose the hash browns. Portions are generous. Prices aren't cheap, but it's reasonable given the quality and size. The staff is very friendly there, kept the place clean and cleared out empty plates. They have large bottles of water per table which can be refilled. Overall, the service and food is great. I'd love to come back for the salmon Benedict. read more

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I really didn't like the eggs benedict. It was quite sour because of the mustard but also salty. The matcha was weak too and a bit clumpy. Servers are nice. read more

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I guess breakfast starts at 7:30am in Irvine. I was in the area looking for a quick breakfast spot and Poached came highly recommended. There were a lot of people here considering it was that early, but the service is fast. You order at the counter and sit anywhere you please. I got the classic waffles which came with a hefty unhealthy scoop of whipped butter and berries. The waffles were good, but not $22 good. Pros include plenty of parking, good amount of seating, and menu variety. Solid breakfast spot if you're in passing, but not a place I'd crave coming back to. read more

Poached Kitchen - classic waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Ok we gave it another try after an almost 2 year hiatus. They're back to being good again. I guess they just had an off day the last time I was here. My only complaint now is that the chicken tenders (that come with the waffles) were overcooked and tough. I almost wonder if they were previously cooked and then reheated. The waffles are your big standard variety, not the little specialized ones like they used to be years ago. Nevertheless the potatoes are back to been tasty and buttery. And the pancakes are back to being nice and light. read more

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I like their system where you go up and order and then you're seated. My friends and I all accidentally got the same thing because it seemed like the best option and what we were all craving, the chilaquiles! I do wish that they had a plate that had a mixture of savory and sweet, like with a little French toast/ pancake on the side, but the worker said they didn't have that. I also didn't like the fact that we were sat right next to the dumpster area so all the workers would be slamming the plates in the dishes section behind us, it wasn't very pleasant haha. The food was pretty good! My friend's said they had too much sauce on theirs but mine was perfectly sauced. We asked for extra queso yum. I wish I could add carnitas to it though read more

Poached Kitchen - Chilaquiles verdes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Can't believe it's taken so long for us to come here. I believe it's due to it always being busy and with 3 kids time is always fleeting. Anyhow the real reason we're here. Very pleasantly surprised with the lack of a wait on a Saturday morning. Place was spotless and busy with energy. We ordered at the register and sat down outside on a beautiful sunny day in OC (thinking of all our Midwest and East coast friends freezing...sorry). Our food and bloody mary quickly arrived. Chilequiles - perfectly textured with all the right ingredients. The verde sauce was nice and tart with hint of lime. Great dish for loading up on carbs like we needed to. Chicken and waffle - stole the show. Chicken batter was very crispy while the chicken was nicely seasoned under the batter and juicy. Waffles are usually just to me but these had a really nice crispy outside while the inside was nice and soft. Oddly it was good without the syrup. Crazy. Lastly the bloody mart was everything it needed to be as daughter number 3 was having a bad morning. Come here for a nice breakfast. It's located in a great part of the city. read more

If you're into breakfast that isn't boring, Poached is worth a visit. They get busy, so don't be surprised to find lines. but they put out food at a surprisingly fast pace, which keeps the waits shorter than you might expect. The menu is varied enough but not at all overwhelming. My wife had the chilaquiles, a staple one of us always orders if on a menu, and found it to be tasty enough, but not really a stand-out in the chilaquiles world. I had the smoked salmon benedict, and found it flavorful, with poached eggs that did not run. I really hate that. My other small complaint would be the hash browns. They had a thin, crispy crust, and a mashed potato textured interior. I prefer my browns with a little texture, and didn't care for this style. Servers are friendly and really hustle. Whatever you order will still have you drooling at the neighboring plates, or those passing by on the way to their tables. Everything looks so good. I look forward to trying something else there. I will complain next time if they overcook my eggs again. Oh, and coffee is good. read more

I finally stopped by poached kitchen early enough to beat the lines. There's a decent amount of indoor and outdoor seating. I ordered the cold brew coffee and the verde chilaquiles. The coffee was refreshing and surprisingly bold. A great way to start the morning. The chilaquiles, on the other hand, were just okay. The flavor leaned more tangy and lemony than I expected and it didn't pack any real heat. The beans served on the side were decent, but nothing memorable. Service was friendly and attentive, and the space has a welcoming vibe. I'd come back and give it another try with a different dish. read more

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Great parking. No line when we went. Expecting an elevated breakfast hang out. Kind of disappointed. I can't really review the service because we didn't really get much. The front person took our order without a smile or welcoming feeling. Lots of reserved tables so we were allowed to take a table inside near the front. The restaurant itself is bright and open. Our food came out & just set down in front of the person who said, "oh that one is mine". At first glance, the food looked nice but it was cold or room temperature. Like the butter didn't melt on the waffles and stayed solid. We were so hungry that we just started eating. The food was so so but I could tell the flavor of the bacon and chicken fingers were pretty good. We should've taken them to go to reheat in the oven. My husband ordered over hard eggs and they were over medium - with a runny yolk but solid white. I ordered over medium and they were cooked enough so I could eat the edges. Someone did come out to ask how the food was but didn't stay long enough to hear our responses before they walked to other tables. We were not loud or rude, we left a tip when paying for our order. I don't know know what else we could've done. For spending over $120 for a breakfast with no service and cold food, we were kind of disappointed. Maybe we hit an off day, but it is a lot to give it another try. read more

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It's always a long wait which tells you that this place is pretty good, especially being in Irvine. Staff is friendly, quick and helpful! We got the breakfast burrito and pancake. The both were moist and delicious! It's an upscale quick brunch place. You can either sit for hours (which I'm sure the people in line won't appreciate) or be done in 30 minutes. read more

Poached Kitchen - Burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came here during the summer. I was choosing to be healthy with my salad but luckily my neighbor ordered the chocolate chip banana pancakes and allowed me to steal a photo which prompted HIM to take his photo lol. I'll be back so I can order this. We bought the lattes which were unsweetened and absolutely delicious. I felt like the salad had the perfect blend of tart and savory. But you can never go wrong with goat cheese. I snagged a piece of the chili verde omelette without the sauce and was quite impressed. That would be a shared dish. Would visit just for the seasonal menu! read more

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Delicious breakfast! We arrived around 9am on a Monday. It wasn't super busy but more people started coming later on. You order at the counter, get a number, and find a place to sit. It was a smooth process. We ordered the French Toast and Smoked Salmon Benedict. They were so delicious! I love the fries as a side, they were so crispy. The food was definitely filling. I would love to come back here again. If you love good breakfast food, come to the Poached Kitchen! :-) read more

Poached Kitchen - French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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At poached you get in line to order first & pay then get seated which is cool. Nothing about poached really stuck out to me food wise. My hash browns were mushy and the eggs Benedict were okay. It's a nice spot to get breakfast when you're feeling basic and classic. I wouldn't come back here unless someone else wanted to come here though. read more

Poached Kitchen - Eggs Benedict with hashbrown - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Unfortunately, they don't take reservations for smaller groups of people but it was only a 10 minute wait at 11am on a Saturday morning for 2 people. Parking is never great here so definitely recommend parking in the back or closer to Ralph's. Staff was very nice and fast with bringing food and taking empty plates away. We ordered at the counter and they gave us a table to sit at. The seasonal cherry French toast honestly didn't taste like cherries and tasted like strawberry orange instead which was still very tasty. Plenty of cream and toppings on top. It's a little noisy inside and outside but otherwise a very bustling bright place to have brunch. read more

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I went to this restaurant with my friend. It was within an hour until their closing time. I ordered Smoked salmon Benedict, but the flavor was kind of weird. I usually order smoked salmon Benedict when I go have breakfast, and I must say this restaurant' was the worst. We wanted to use the booth,but they were about to close so we couldn't. And I guess they were in a hurry to close the restaurant, the weighted started cleaning behind us. They were dumping bunch of the left over foods and dirty dishes. They don't care about their customers who were still eating. Why did we have to keep looking at the dirty cleaning scene when we ate??? And i requested the waiter a cup.of coffee to go, but he looked kind of annyed. I will never go back to this restaurant. I really regretted I spend 15% tip for this nasty circumstance. (I had to pay it when ordered food.) read more

Poached is one of THE go-to brunch spots in Irvine you can't miss out on with such an extensive menu and flavorful choices that is peak breakfast food, both sweet and savory. We got the blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes and truly their pancakes are one of the fluffiest I had, and also incredibly moist (dry pancakes?? they dont know her), so I commend them for that. Breakfast burrito is always a solid choice too, packed with protein and a refreshing salsa to balance out the savoriness. As I've been in my chilaquiles phase, I was super excited to see they had chilaquiles verde, and I was certainly not disappointed. The salsa is more tangy than most but nonetheless the verde + egg + tortilla + avocado combo was a 10/10, would eat again fs. Service is great and they have a lot of seating both indoor and outdoor, so definitely recommend Poached for a nice brunch date and I'll have to explore the rest of the menu if I can resist the chilaquiles next time.. read more

Poached Kitchen - Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Breakfast Burrito, Chilaquiles Verde - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

We go at least once weekly. Our favorite place for breakfast. Food is always good - pasture-raised eggs done perfectly. Service is always excellent - at the counter and on the floor. Ambiance is surprisingly quiet even though it's usually full - we go typically at 830am. Last two times we've had to ask for water.. the guys are standing ready but don't seem to notice we sat down and are ready for water and silver and more napkins. If you have your barrista visit tables who got coffee drinks and offer more you would generally get more paid business - they just have to take the portable CC machine. read more

This place is where I think of when I'm craving good breakfast/brunch. It's a bit out of the way for me but worth the drive! Like a lot of places, you walk up and order. Their lattes are amazing. Plenty of seating but does get crowded so make sure to time it right. The servers come by and check on you quite often and the noise level is not bad for a busy spot. Overall, I highly recommend Poached kitchen! read more

There was a bit of a wait, and you need to stand in line to order at the register before they assign you a table. Once seated, the food was excellent. The quality was noticeably better than both Snooze and Stacks. We shared the classic waffle, which was perfectly crispy and stayed that way without getting soggy. We also tried the classic pancakes and a breakfast burrito, both were delicious. Overall, the food is fantastic and sits right in between Snooze and Stacks in terms of price, but arguably edges both in taste. read more

Finally able to cross this off my checklist and sad it took me this long! I waited about maybe 10 minutes or less to be let inside to order, you order at the counter, pay, then get seated. The inside is pretty lively maybe mid to high noise volume but still able to chat, nothing unbearable on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I got a scramble with a side of hash browns, an English muffin, and the Dulce de Leche latte. CHEFS KISS ALL AROUND! The scramble was perfectly balanced of savory delightfulness, I'm a big scramble girl so this was definitely one of favorites! Portions are large I feel like it could feed two, I had left overs. The hash browns were the perfect light golden crisp on the outside and super soft on the inside. My English muffin unfortunately had a tiny morsel of butter but nothing to ruin the meal. The Dulce de leche latte had the ideal amount of sweetness I wanted to chug it all in one gulp. My friend got the waffles and strawberry matcha and I haven't stopped thinking about the waffles since Sunday. I'm not big on waffles of pancakes I usually stick to the more zesty side of breakfast, but when I tried a bite they were probably the exact amount of fluff and density to ever come of a waffle ahahah I cannot wait to go back and possibly share this time to try out more dishes! read more

Excellent food, quick service, pleasant atmosphere. Appreciate fine organization with assigning seating and that you order at the counter before sitting. This helps keep the wait time down without a reservation system. We went on both a Saturday and a Sunday morning, with very minimal wait time. Food was made correctly and ingredients were fresh and tasty. Excellent fresh squeezed OJ and vanilla latte. Perfect menu size providing lots of options without being overwhelming. I'd definitely eat here again. I plan to try other locations as well. read more

Place super cute, menu options amazing. Gentleman who took our order might have been a manager also great customer service. Host at the front sitting people should be someone else. She didn't say hello, she wasn't smiling and looked annoyed and unhappy. That person is very important and she was also rude to the people before us. read more

Poached Kitchen - Chilaquiles, blueberry pancakes and huevos rancheros - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Order first sit down and they bring your food. Of course egg meals our eggs were fresh my veggie omelette was cooked perfect no over cooked the veggies were fresh and they give you a half of an avocado. The fruit was fresh and sweet. Clean and friendly. read more

Poached Kitchen - Veggie omelette fruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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I had the veggie omelette with house potatoes, sourdough toast, butter and jam. The portion size was quite large and all ingredients were fresh. The odd part about my meal was that my "toast" was not toasted. It was just soft bread. The kitchen followed my special instructions of no cheese which is always appreciated. Im really interested in trying their other items like the birria eggs benedict! I'll give poached another chance soon! read more

Food was so yummy, and such nice people/service! Most of the tables were booked, so it's probably really popular. All in all, great place. read more

Poached Kitchen - French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

My friends were in town for the week, and they really missed Poached Kitchen, so of course, we had to make a stop here for brunch. Not sure how bad the wait was since my friends got there first and waited in the line, but they did tell me that we had to get there asap before brunch service ends... Once they have a table open, they let you inside where you order and pay for the food first. There is both outdoor and indoor seating, but it was a full crowd, and all the tables were full. Once you order, you are seated at your table, and the food and drinks are brought to you. For the table (we were four people), we got Chilaquiles Verde, a breakfast burrito, Huevos Rancheros, and, to wrap it up, we got a classic waffle. Everything was a super solid choice. The portion sizes were just perfect for sharing. It was more than enough that everyone was able to enjoy each thing, and we still had lots left over! By default, all the eggs were sunny-side-up eggs, so if you have a different egg preference, you can let them know and they'll make your eggs differently. My favorite of the four items we got was the Huevos Rancheros. I especially liked the crispiness of the hash browns, and it really just paired so well with the eggs and other toppings. I also like the chilaquiles verde. It gave a different flavor profile, it was a bit on the tangy side, and while fresh, the tortilla chips gave a nice crunch. If you are looking for something a bit hefty, then the breakfast burrito might be it. I tried a bit of it, and it was super filling, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to try the rest of the things that were ordered. It was really good, the bacon provided a nice crunch to the mostly soft fillings, and the tomatoes gave it a little refreshing bite. Finally, the classic waffle... what can you expect? It was simply a yummy waffle with some berries! The waffle was light and fluffy, and the berries were fresh. Overall, the food was good, and the service was good. Definitely would love to come back again if I'm looking for brunch. read more

Poached Kitchen - classic waffle + Chilaquiles Verde - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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food is fine but service was poor. i asked for togo boxes, pointing to my maple syrup and jam too. the guy came out w just the boxes, but no small containers or bags for my multiple boxes. i said could you get me those too. he looked annoyed and said "anything else you need?!" there's literally only two other tables on a weekday in the whole restaurant so it wasn't busy. i did not expect the aggression for something that should've just been a given if im asking for boxes for 2 meals including syrup. i don't like the system they require of tipping at the front before the meal has even come out yet read more

This was a pretty good brunch spot. We ordered the steak and eggs and the chicken and waffles. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium and the multigrain toast with the strawberry jam was exceptional. The chicken and waffles were very flavourful and came with a side of county fried gravy to help balance out the sweetness from the waffles. My only complaint with the food is the hashbrowns. The hashbrowns are not crunchy and seemed more like mashed potatoes. It was ok with the steak and eggs but it was not a good addition to the chicken and waffles. Overall, i'd definitely come back. The inside is clean and aesthetic and the service was good. read more

Poached Kitchen - steak and eggs, fried chicken and waffles, and a side of hashbrowns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

Managers have reached out, saying that they could not credit my bad experience. Since the credit card I used four months ago while eating there had expired/no longer active. Spoke to three different people over the last five months. All of the are unable to resolve their own mistakes. Very disappointed read more

Poached Kitchen - Examples of my correspondence right after the event in mention. I also called three times! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

always a good brunch spot! usually a line to get in but not that long! food is good, service is ok too. have been here many times and always recommend! read more

Poached Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

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Love this place! I've been going here since it opened around 2020. The concept of ordering at the counter and not accepting cash for payment streamlines operations. The quality of food is consistent and top notch. Portion sizes are generous; you can definitely share or take home leftovers. The service is friendly and helpful. I will, for sure, continue coming. :-) read more

Cool Breakfast/Brunch spot. Modern interior. Patio seating. Clean restrooms. Lots of parking out front. You order at the register first and you take your number to your table. You still get table service. FYI: You might be tempted to helping yourself to a cup of water at the water station as I did. But there is a sign that says. " Do not touch" which is still confusing for a first time visitor. Until i realized that although you pay first, they still have table service. The service is quick and friendly. The menu is varied and is focused mainly on breakfast items and especially eggs with a strong Mexican and maybe Korean cuisine influence as well. But the menu is not limited to breakfast items. They also serve Pancakes, sandwiches, salads etc.. and of course Coffees, Lattés, Cappuccino, hot chocolate, soft beverages, beer, wine and fresh squeezed OJ. I had the Birria short rib Benedict with hash brown and the Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pancake. The Birria short rib Benedict was very flavorful. The eggs were perfectly poached. The yolk was more of an orangey color which is consistent with most organic free range chicken eggs. The hashbrowns were warm, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes came as a stack of three very big buttermilk pancakes. Still hot and topped with a little bit of blueberry compost, some fresh blueberries, a lemon Ricotta whipped cream and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. The whole thing was garnished with some fresh mint leaves. And on the side, a very light maple like syrup. Everything tasted really good. Prices are average. Overall, I really liked it and I recommend trying poached kitchen. read more

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For a random Thursday at 8 am this place was popping! It filled up quick! They also had classic 80s jams playing, respect. The food was great as well. The seasonal waffles were so good! And also so pretty. Everything else was great as well. Great service too! I can understand why this is such a popping breakfast place. read more

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We saw great reviews for Poached Kitchen on Yelp, so we decided to stop in for breakfast as a family. My wife ordered the green chilaquiles, I had the brunch burrito, and our daughter got the kids burger with fries. Starting with the positives--the atmosphere was great and the customer service was excellent. Very friendly staff and a nice, relaxed vibe. My daughter's burger was decent, and the fries were definitely tasty. However, the food itself was a bit of a letdown overall. My wife felt the chilaquiles were just okay--not bad, but nothing memorable. My biggest disappointment was the brunch burrito, which was extremely soggy. I'll be including a photo with this review, but I was honestly bummed to spend $20 on something that felt waterlogged and fell apart almost immediately. For a total of about $52, we were hoping for a better overall food experience, especially given the hype and reviews. Unfortunately, while the service and atmosphere were strong, the food didn't quite live up to expectations. read more

Poached Kitchen - Brunch burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Irvine, California

The food is good and amazing! It was fresh..someone told me if it was a bit pricey, but if you look at the portions and the freshness, it is all worth it! The only thing that my friend was not too happy, it was her steak.. she asked for medium rare, what she got was medium well... but other than that everything was good, the service is quick and fast. The place is not big, so if you have a big party, it might be a bit of a wait for the table, but I do see a sign of "Reserved" place on couple of tables, so maybe you can call the place to reserve your table first. They do have inside dining and outside dining... read more

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Delicious food. Quick once you ordered. We got the Short Rin Omelette and the Birria Benedict . Iced American and coffee. Everything was super rich and hearty. The wait can be long if you go after 9:30 AM. We got there at 9 and only had to wait about 10 min. read more

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My neighbor recommended this spot and it just so happened to be near my office in Park Place so I was able to walk to it for brunch. It's a nice big brightly lit spot with lots of outdoor seating. The service is quick and friendly and most importantly the food is great. read more

Poached Kitchen has become one of our go to breakfast spots and for good reason. We have been here a few times now and honestly have never had a bad meal. This time I got the Morning Scramble with bacon which is always my favorite and it was perfect once again. The eggs are creamy and airy, never dry or overcooked, and they hold together nicely. The cream sauce with the bacon on top adds just the right flavor, crispy and tangy. Their sourdough is great too and makes the best little egg and scramble sandwich. The hash browns are usually the highlight for me. Perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside with a soft inside, not soggy or greasy, just the right balance. My wife and I usually split a salad on the side and it is always fresh and a nice touch. We have also tried a few of their other dishes in the past and everything has been excellent. The salmon lox Benedict was amazing and their short rib omelette is another standout. The portions are generous and satisfying. The owner is super sweet and you can tell he really cares about the details when it comes to both food and drinks. The line is always long every time we come but that only shows how popular and consistent this place is. It has definitely become our regular Sunday after church spot and a place we will keep coming back to. read more

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