I happen to get a tip from the nursing staff that worked on campus at UCI. When asked where they like to go eat during their lunch hour, they mentioned this restaurant because of their moderate to low pricing and the quality of their food on their menu. You are going to need either "Waze" or "Google Maps" direction to this restaurant as it is on the university grounds, but in the area that is lease to corporate tech businesses (and probably other industries) because it is the back half of the office building. There is plenty of free parking, along with handicap access. They have daily specials, but today I decided to have their hamburger and fries along with a drink (they have many varieties of different cold or hot drinks to choose from) I also decided to order a larger than a cup tomato bisque soup. This is an old school ordering ystem where you place your order with the nice cash register lady (that I presume was part of the family) Don't be discouraged if you have to wait a little bit because to my surprise, the food was excellent! And for the prices that I've paid I couldn't believe it. The prices here on the menu are quite reasonable. Other places they would probably charge you double. The hamburger was assembled very and paper wrapped tightly and very tasty along with their fries. I was amazed how well the tomato bisque soup tasted. It was very good and very hot. I hate when I get soup and it's lukewarm or that it doesn't taste like what you thought it should taste like, . Don't be turned off or discouraged when you go inside the building to see that it is a little dark and open tables, trust me you won't be disappointed because of the low price menu items and the quality of the tasty food that they serve. I'm also presuming that it is a family run establishment so that's another plus! I saw on their menu that they have reasonable prices for breakfast items such as a breakfast burrito(s) and another breakfast items. They had a good selection of salads and hot and cold sandwiches to choose from. And from the amount of people that was standing in line to order, you could tell that none of their menu items or breads have been sitting all day getting stale. This is not the case here everything is fresh. Again, I will say that the young lady at the cash register, probably the mother was very nice and helpful and suggest suggesting items and placing my order. When I'm in the area, I will definitely be going back unfortunately because of this on a great review that I'm giving them, the customer ordered line will probably be longer! But hey, that's OK. I really like to see family businesses be successful in the city of Irvine as most restaurants are usually corporate and you get that corporate attitude and lower quality of food. Here it is the complete opposite. Again, the parking is free. I didn't get a chance to see the inside bathrooms, but I have a hunch that they are nice and cleaned. Next time I go, I will try their egg salad sandwich from what I saw other people at the tables eating it, it appeared to be the style that is either Japanese or Korean style egg salad sandwiches which I really like. read more

Food is good but the customer service is not good. They need help at least one more person.

I ordered macaroni salad, chicken and rice soup, Chipotle burger, fries and a can of Dr. Pepper for $20.00. All of it was really yummy. I will be back with my friends and coworkers. This a super little lunch spot with outdoor tables and chairs. The young lady who helped me was very sweet. They also have smoothies with real fruit, which will be a must next visit! Thank you for a fast, fresh and great value lunch!!! read more

Skyworks Café - Chipotle burger - American Near Me - Irvine, California

If you work or just visiting the UCI Research Park area and looking for a budget friend breakfast/lunch spot this is one of those hidden gems only the locals know about. The Skyworks Cafe is tucked between Toshiba/Skyworks at the very end of the building. There is plenty of parking in the huge parking lot. The place is family owned by a family of Koreans so you will see a variety of Korean inspired items on the menu. This place has been here for over 15 years but not much has changed since it's built into the Skyworks campus. It feels literally like a cafeteria with office long tables for patrons to eat inside or you can eat in the courtyard outside. The do have weekly rotating "special" menus that you can find on there website. But majority of their items are under $10. The favorite items over the few years are the Korean fried chicken special which comes with spicy fried chicken paired with rice and macaroni salad. You can never go wrong with the many burger/fry options either. Every order is made to order so super fresh. So yes the wait sometimes does get long during peak lunchtime hours. You can pre-order online or call it in if you have meetings. Note the cafe does have a short operating window from 7am-11am for breakfast and then reopens from 11am-1:30pm for lunch. You can either call in for pickup at 949-231-3100 or order online at https://skyworkscafe.com/order-online The homepage will show the weekly daily specials, which are the best values. Overall highly recommended as the aunties and uncles working there are super friendly. They literally have the entire family working there from front to back so a totally family business supporting all the workers in the area. Absolutely recommended for a budget friendly tasty fresh meal. read more

Skyworks Café - Hawaiian Vacation: Mango, pineapple, banana, yogurt and apple juice - American Near Me - Irvine, California

My first time trying skyworks cafe and I was given moldy bread . I don't recommend eating here read more

Skyworks Café - cheese burger - American Near Me - Irvine, California

Quick service, family owned, very reasonable and I can WALK there! Cafe is clean, but closes early! I'll update about the food after I eat it! Tuna Melt on toasted SD for $7.25??? Yes, please! read more

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Parking: Skyworks Cafe is located in one of the buildings in the business complexes. There are plenty of parking spots. Exterior: There is a patio area with plenty of seating and shade. Interior: The interior is pretty much a cafeteria. There are some tables and chairs for indoor seating. Service: The cafe is run by a small family. They are pretty nice but sometimes the food takes a while to make during lunch since there are only 3 them. They accept both cash and credit card payment (additional $0.15 charge). Food: The food is pretty good and made to order. They have a daily specials and all the prices are pretty cheap. I have been coming here multiple times for lunch since I started working in the area. My only complaint is that sometimes the food is very greasy. read more

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Read Joy C review from 9 years ago. It still holds true today in 2022. I recently started working in the area and this cafe is a gem. $6 dollar breakfast burrito. $8 lunch entree. $6.25 breakfast plates. Specials vary every week. Solid well prepared food. Good quality, simple , like home cooked food. Not at all greasy and well cooked. If you like mayo the egg, tuna, salad here are for you. If not just ask for no mayo on the bread. Support a family run business. They're located in the industrial park off of California and Bison. Off California take a right into the lot with Toshiba and drive straight back. They're a little cafe on the right hand side of the little outdoor seating area with orange umbrellas They do require masks indoors and are contactless payment at this time. read more

Skyworks Café - Ranch breakfast with buttered toast - American Near Me - Irvine, California

Nice spot for lunch, food has been always good so far, prices are good. They accept cards and Apple Pay. read more

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I love stopping by here for a quick lunch as I work across the street. The menu offers a variety of different choices, but i would recommend getting the daily entree special. The food has that perfect home taste and is very reasonable! (under $10). Make sure to order ahead via online or phone as it does get busy during the afternoon. read more

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Great spot for breakfast or lunch, price is just right. Service always friendly. I'd eat here every day if I could.

Consistently delicious food at a can't-beat price. Best place to go for a quick lunch, especially if you work near the UCI Research Park. Highly recommend! My favorite weekly specials include the fish w/ garlic noodles, avocado cheeseburger, and the honey mustard chicken sandwich. The burgers and fries are truly phenomenal, better than most fast food joints and restaurants I've been to. The breakfast burritos are beyond reproach. Make sure to ask for extra salsa And how could I forget the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that are more precious than gold. They only make a dozen or so every day so if you get there too late they'll be completely snatched up by ravenous Skyworks employees and UCI graduate students. read more

Skyworks Café - Avocado cheeseburger with fries, Monday grill special, $7.50 - American Near Me - Irvine, California

Hidden cafeterias or food courts sprinkled throughout business parks is generally a secret, catering to nearby employees and to those "in the know." I remember going to a few of them when I was working my first job fresh out of college, and actually enjoyed some of the food. But now, I'd be hard pressed to tell you exactly where these spots are located. Chalk it up to old age. But thanks to fellow Yelpers, this little eatery will be a welcome addition to my list of affordable places near work to eat for breakfast or lunch. Ever since the roach coach left the friendly confines of the company parking lot, things haven't been the same. My Spanish had dramatically diminished as a result, and I was tired of eating the same overpriced fast food. So today, I decided to check this place out and ordered the steak tacos with bean and rice. Two tacos were generously topped with guacamole, cheese, lettuce, salsa, and carne asada that could use a bit more seasoning. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/3xTbXKlqf3luiSHdwr4qBw?select=ctrACShabJU9CySzmsyB4g There was just too much food for the corn tortilla to handle, as trying to pick it up with bare hands proved to be futile. Everything broke apart, so I had to eat the tacos with a fork and knife, which is kind of sacrilegous. Double tortillas next time, for sure. By the end, I was full and satisfied, which is all you can ask for $5. The "chefs" behind the counter are friendly, although the cashier lady doesn't seem to want to be there at all. At a prior visit, I asked for the weekly menu list and she seemed annoyed. This time, I asked for the punch card and she seemed downright reluctant to give one up. She finally went to the back and got one for me. Who knows how she will react when I ask to sign up for the email list on the next visit. Por favor? read more

Skyworks Café - Taco Tuesday - American Near Me - Irvine, California

Fair warning....you will wonder why I am rating an office cafeteria five Yelp stars. Read through this review and understand why....this cafeteria is truly a needle in the haystack of a place to eat for people who work in the area. I do not work at the Skyworks offices where this cafeteria is at, but as far as I know, I am welcomed to go to this cafeteria as an outsider. By no means is the food the best in the world and it definitely should not get a five star rating on the Zagat's Restaurant Rating Book, but I'm rating it high on my Yelp stars is due to the prices and decent food that comes out of there for so little money. For the people who work in the area, they are familiar with the Bluffs and the University Center where spending $10 for lunch is not uncommon. I can go to the Skyworks Building where the Crystal Cove Cafe cafeteria is and get a decent breakfast or lunch for less than $5. The is a HUGE SCORE for the people who work in the vicinity. Thanks Crystal Cove Cafe...although you are a quick five minute drive away...you will get busier as I tell people in my office...don't you go changin' on us! read more

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Crystal Cove Cafe is getting better an better w/ their menu!!! Forget Lori's Kitchen..sorry Lori.. I fall in love w/ the hot food w/ Crystal Cove Cafe. I'm eating corn beef and cabbage today.. it's as always $5 including the tax.. I should take a few pic of the kitchen and post on yelp!! There was salmon pasta, rack of lamb, pork loin...roast beef even.. There was a while we thought they were going out of the business since they don't have much clients.. so we start to get nervous when the menu email didn't show up the first thing when we open our emails on Monday morning. The staffs are very friendly and they know us by name now.. hehe.. since my co-worker and I go there at least 2-3 times a week and Angel even know that I don't like carrots in my plate.. hehehe.. read more

Skyworks Café - Sample Menu - Week of 3/16/2009 - American Near Me - Irvine, California

Yes another 5 star for a office cafeteria. Ha its my office cafeteria thats why!!! I eat here at the cafe and play UNO almost everyday and I just recently found they had a Yelp review and so I had to leave one of my own. As mentioned in previous reviews the menu changes every week. They offer breakfast and lunch. For us that work at Skyworks we also order lunches buffet style during meeting. For a office cafeteria the taste of the food is pretty damn good. I have my favorites that I get excited about when I see it on the weekly menu, like the Fideo soup, Crispy Chicken Salad, Rib Eye, Carnitas all are yum! The staff here at Crystal Cove are the best!!! Friendly and always accomodating. If you come here enough they will remember your name and what your likes/dislikes are (like no tomato or onions) if you have any. It does get crowded here some days more than others. I guess it depends on whats on the menu. Very reasonable prices and a nice change for going out to the bluffs. During the World Cup's games we have the 2 big screens on so that we can catch the games from breakfast through the afternoon. read more

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First I'd like to say that the cafe will validate your parking ticket and save you $10. We only had drinks and appetizers from the bar at the Cafe. Service was good and drinks we're fine. We ordered a bowl of clam chowder and fries. It was like a cup poured into a bowl. It was tasty though. Setting was amazing!! We've been wanting to check this place out for a while. read more

I loved my shrimp it was a juicy piece of little fish it was delicious I loved it my appetizer (calamari) the sauce was oof theirs no words I loved it. It has a amazing view of the ocean perfect place to have a go to restaurant. read more

Rather Limited selection grille in one of the industrial buildings on the UCI Campus. Decent tasting sandwiches at a more affordable price than some of the other places nearby, but there is not much choice in that part of the campus. You basically need to drive across the bridge to MacArthur and Bison to find anything better. Due to COVID restrictions, seating is outside in the breezeway between the buildings. There are some tables out there. Okay. Nothing special. read more

Ordered a Skyworks burrito and a California burrito ($5.75 each). A little bit oily and salty but it wasn't bad. I'd definitely come again because of the reasonable prices and the nice Asian family who runs it. It's a little hard to find--the entrance is located adjacent to the outdoor seating area. read more

Affordable eatery.......in IRVINE???!! That's some kind of oxymoron right?? And the food is _consistently_ good to boot. WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? -- It's just as the below yelpers have said; this place is hidden. No sign on the building, no sign on the door, you get nada. WHAT DO THEY SERVE? -- This cafeteria serves a variety of foods, daily specials, and all decent portions. Their specials range from Italian to Mexican to Chinese, but they always offer American items. Everything is customizable, so don't hesitate to ask for a different side. Don't have change for a vending machine? Come here; they take card and have a large assortment of drinks. Annnnd the bread is fresh baked there! OTHER SUGGESTIONS? -- I also recommend that you sit at the outside benches to grub. After all, this place is a cafeteria, so you might have that "cafeteria smell" on your clothes if you stay in there too long. read more

Been there several times now for breakfast. Their breakfast burritos are top notch and only $3.25 (that's $3.50 with tax...or two for $7). Every Tuesday they have juevos rancheros (and tacos at lunch). Saweeet. Going there to pick up breakfast for myself and some people at work in just a few... read more

Yes it's an office cafeteria, but it's closer than my own company's cafeteria the food is better and the prices are lower too. The entrance is located at the back of Skyworks. They dont seem to mind if you are an employee ir not. Daily specials are a good choice if you just want to grab your food and run. Portions are good sized and they don't mind if you substitute steamed veggies for fries. read more

Hidden little gem for those working nearby for lunch. Their taco tuesday lunch special is sooo worth the hunt to find this place. This place is funny because it's totally a cafeteria specifically for the company/building but word is out and work neighbors hit this place up like it's their own. haha When you come during lunch time you can witness random workers playing ping pong or watching TV during lunch - how fun is this work environment!? It's a nice little break being able to just even people watch here. Love that you can just walk in because it's sooo worth the $ and hope it stays that way. read more

I eat breakfast and lunch fairly often here. The service is good and the prices are reasonable. I especially enjoy an omelette or breakfast burrito in the AM. read more

Breakfast Burrito FTW. I used to work in the same plaza as this cafe which is located on the side of the SkyWorks Building. I used to go here for lunch and could usually get a decent quantity of food for below $6. Not bad. Nowadays, i moved outta this complex but am still in the area, so when I get the hankering in the morning, I may drop by from time to time to get a breakfast burrito (red potatos, eggs, bacon and salsa). All for under $4 and pretty good. This is a clean burrito, not overly oily and the salsa really does top it off. If I had to say, one downside would be the ventilation int he place sometimes is bad. I'll come out smelling like the place and because i go in the morning, I subsequently smell like it for the rest of the day. Ugh. read more

This place is pretty solid when it comes to the food. I've been patronizing this establishment for years, and even now after a change in management. So why the two stars? Well, I also believe that eateries should be more than just the food, it should also be about the service from the staff. The behind-the-counter staff are great and attentive; HOWEVER, the cashier is, at best, a charm school dropout. I know, some of the other reviews have not had the same experience with her. That's because she appears to be selective with who gets the lucky treatment (I've observed her attitude on a number of occasions). My thoughts? She should get another job. But then again, I do know that I can take my $8 elsewhere read more

Wow this place is awesome! It's in a nondescript office park, but open to non Skyworks employees. This ain't your average Sodexo cafeteria... The food is delicious and restaurant quality and cheap! It's so nice to find a place in Irvine that doesn't gouge you. This company must love its employees. Some of the soups and potatoes are a little salty, but it's no biggie. read more

Skyworks Café - Chicken sandwich and fries $7 - American Near Me - Irvine, California

Good place for lunch. Quick service, pretty decent food for a cafeteria and friendly staff, EXCEPT the younger woman taking orders is extremely rude and unfriendly. It's a shame that I have give this place 3 stars due that individual. read more

Went there on the advice of yelpers. The crew and I are always looking to find new and exciting places to eat. After searching the parking lot, we were directed to the nondescript entrance and proceeded to look at the specials. While the food choices were similar to what we could get at Checkers Sandwich (http://www.yelp.com/biz/checkers-sandwich-irvine) near our offices, my MVF buddy and I saw a turkey cranberry sandwich. Now this was creative, although the turkey was store bought, I had to give them an "A" for creativity! It was not too bad, but fresh roasted Turkey this close to Thanksgiving was what we would have expected.... The MVF buddy also was liking the Jalapenos in the salad bar and the selection of Habanero salsas. Not too many places go beyond Chalula or Tapatio...xtra point for this place!. The tuna sandwich I brought back was really almost tuna flavored mayo! It never made it out of the sandwich container... $30 for 5 people (5) sandwiches, one soup, four fries and 4 drinks... Would not go back.....Why drive when we have Checkers across the parking lot...... read more

Hard to find breakfast in the UCI area. Good fresh food and incredibly inexpensive at this hidden spot! Had a delicious cooked to order omelette and my husband had a great breakfast burrito. In the "Skyworks" building in the Irvine/UCI/Broadcom complex. Very helpful, friendly workers. read more

Hi all. This place has a new owner and the cafe goes by the name of SkyWorks Cafeteria. I've been frequenting here as a non-Skyworks employee because it's close to my work. The Crystal Cove Cafe was run by Mexican people with nice mix of Mexican food and standard American cafeteria food. I've been to the new place 4 times now and it's run by Asian and the menu has changed to a nice mix of American and Asian. I had their Friday special curry over chicken katsu and although I like this dish, the chicken tasted a bit "processed" and overcooked. Curry was yummy. I'll frequent this new place again but they are not on yelp yet, they don't have a website and they don't have a phone number that is published. Best to go there in person since it's never crowded and food is prepared fast. read more

Love this cafeteria as they give you ample portions if you order a sandwich. Egg salad sandwich + fries comes out to under $7.00. The lunch choices are relatively healthy and range from $7.00-$8.50 when you order a drink. The soups smell good and I can't wait to try it next time I'm there. read more

Thank you yelpers!!!!! Had no idea I've been working for over three years so close to this hidden gem! Would not have found this reasonably priced cafe if it weren't for the pics, directions and reviews. You all are the best. This will be a go to lunch spot where I can grab a bite and get a nice walk all in one lunch break. read more

My review on the Crystal Cove Cafe. The food is great and always a variety of choices u can choose from. The staff is very friendly also. For the price the food is good read more

Very hidden gem!! Came here because I worked down the street and saw how cheap the pricing was. Good food. Very friendly people.

This place gives you the bang for you bucks in Irvine! You can get a healthy and filling meal for under $8. Most places around the area would price this amount of food for $12-15. Come try this place for breakfast and lunch! You will come back for their healthy food selections. read more

definitely a hidden gem, as one would not think a restaurant would not be located in an bona fide office building, but alas, perhaps it is better this place is hidden from the masses. The menu changes daily (just like in elementary school :P), yet unlike elementary school, no tater tots or pizza bread is served here. the food hits the spot, and it is very inexpesnive. today, i ordered a veggie burger with a side salad, and the total was $5.48. i have convinced many people to go here instead of specialty's, and not one person has been disappointed. :) read more