Sonder was amazing. We really enjoyed their creative menu and everything we ate was delicious. My…read morefavorite would be the pork belly skewer. It was fatty, juicy, and had a slight charred taste. All dishes ordered were done really well. The vibes were fun and upbeat. I really appreciated the design and interior decor of the dining room. Deeper in you will find more seating, the bar, and a live DJ! Service was good. it was a little slow at times but I understand it was a busy night. Staff were friendly and helpful. Great spot for a night out with friends or date night :-)

Stopped by for an impromptu date night and left pleasantly surprised. Our server Jenny was super…read moreattentive and made sure we were taken care of all night with on point recommendations. She suggested we try the skewers and each one was a 10/10. Drinks were unique and definitely worth the price. The Smooth Operator and Kokomo were our favorites. Overall, great date night vibe with good music, interior and amazing service. Will have to be back with a larger group to try more items!

Amazing noodles! Best hand- made noodles ever! I am…read moreincredibly impressed by the perfect chewiness, rich flavor, and absolute freshness of every single bite.

Tastes so good!!! Service was fast and the food came out…read morequickly. The dry noodles dish with the house noodles taste so good

the place is super private and clean ! service 10/10 they…read moreattend really good and are always on task. Jonathan our server was always on top on attending us. Food was super good, the fried rice was a 10/10 recommended !

Colin is the best waiter that we have ever had. It's our first time at nova but the experience was…read moregreat thanks to him. The food was not only amazing but so was the customer service. I can't wait to come here again especially if Colin is serving us.

Lately I've been exploring Vietnamese food and when I looked at Nguyen's Kitchen's menu, I was…read moreintrigued by some of their menu items, so I decided to go check them out. I was meeting my foodie friend there at 12:30. The parking lot has limited space, which made it an extra challenge to park. Thankfully I only had to circle the block once to come back and snag a spot. (Meanwhile, my friend got there before me and was already enjoying an appetizer). Orders are placed at the counter and they call your number once your food is ready. The dining room consists of mostly booth seating with one "communal" table, and counter seating with 5ish chairs. There are also a handful of tables set outside. I've really been enjoying banh mi and their Bulgogi beef sandwich sounded great. I also happen to have a thing for popcorn chicken, so I got an order of that to round out my lunch. Oh, and based on the rave reviews I've read about their peach & lychee green tea, I ordered one of those as well. Let me just say, lunch was very satisfying! The sandwich was generously filled the fresh ingredients and the meat to veggie ratio was perfect. I'm not sure what the green sauce was that they finished the sammie off with but it was SO tasty!! I requested the popcorn chicken with medium heat and it was just spicy enough to leave my tongue tingling slightly. My friend saved an egg roll for me and it was also really good. (The tea by the way was very refreshing.) Now, this was my first time here but I never saw anyone come out to check the dining room or wipe down the tables after the lunch rush. This was especially concerning to me because they had a guy doing work on the windows who put his feet/ shoes on the tables right under said windows. Ewww. But aside from the parking challenge and the table hygiene/cleanliness, our visit was quite enjoyable and the food was very good. We would definitely return, but we'll have to plan around the lunch rush!

I was really looking forward to trying the crawfish pasta, and the portion was generous with plenty…read moreof crawfish and sausage. The presentation was nice, but unfortunately, the sauce was way too salty for my taste. I usually eat less salt, so the saltiness really overpowered the other flavors and made it difficult to enjoy the dish. Overall, it had potential, but I think the sauce could use a lot less salt to let the crawfish and other ingredients shine.

My most favvvv brunch spot. Came here with bf's parents and they loved it as well. My fav is The…read moreDao and the Banh Mi Chao. I personally liked the filet mignon more, but bf likes the beef belly more. They're both yum though! We always get extra bread with The Dao bc the slices they give are never enough! And we use the extra bread for the Banh Mi Chaos too. I'm usually not the biggest fan of asian fusion places, but Nep Cafe does it really well. For their other food, I've also had the Seafood Tom Kha Pasta which is incredible in flavor to Tom Kha. So if you don't like Tom Kha, then don't get this! We've had the crab toast which wasn't my favorite. I think their banh mi bread is tons better, so maybe have banh mi bread with the crab. The drinks are also delicious! I had the thai princess and it reminded me of the lychee martini at din tai fung, but better!! I loved the addition of lemongrass, it wasn't as alcohol forward like din tai fung's lychee martini. I also tried the beer that had a citrus flavor to it which is nice and a refreshing pairing to the creamy saucy food. Their coffees are also delicious, you can tell from looking around when you walk in bc everyone orders the drinks! Overall, all time fav brunch, I recommend Nep Cafe to everyone Service is always fast and friendly. Ambiance is beautiful for a brunch w the fam or going out w friends. Parking is easy in a lot, but if it's busy, you may struggle but I rarely found that the case.

Nep completely blew me away. I had never experienced modern Vietnamese cuisine before, and this was…read morean unforgettable introduction. We ordered the Seafood Ceviche, Bone Marrow, and The Dao, a silky potato purée with truffle oil and toast. Every single dish was delicious, creative, and beautifully executed. Service was equally impressive. From the hosts to the waitstaff, everyone was professional, friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. The pacing was spot on. The space itself is sleek and modern with warm wood throughout, and the open kitchen is a highlight. You can watch the chefs work with real care and precision. It's clear this is a tightly run operation led by people who are passionate about what they do. Nep is absolutely worth the trip, and I will be back the next time I visit Fountain Valley.

My friend and I happened to be in the area and came across a TikTok showing the food at VOX…read moreKitchen, and we immediately said, "Okay, we HAVE to try this place." And I am SO glad we did because everything about our experience was seriously a 10/10! From the moment we walked in, the customer service was amazing. The gentleman at the front greeted us and escorted us to our table, and right away we felt welcomed and comfortable. Our server, Quang, was absolutely the sweetest! He was so friendly, outgoing, attentive, and helpful, especially when it came to giving us recommendations since it was our first time there. He had such a positive energy and really made our experience even better. And the FOOD!!! If I could give it 1,000/10, I seriously would. We tried the Ube Cloud, Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Garlic Parmesan Fries, Spicy Shrimp Wontons, Corn Ribs, Garlic Butter Prawns, and Filet Garlic Noodles, and honestly, there wasn't ONE thing we didn't enjoy. Everything was full of flavor and absolutely delicious. But what really stood out to us was that it wasn't just the food -- it was the entire experience. The staff, the atmosphere, the music, and just the overall vibe made us feel so comfortable and welcomed. The music they were playing was amazing too! My friend and I were enjoying ourselves, eating good food, listening to good music, and just having such a great time. The whole place honestly had such a warm, homey feeling to it. When we were leaving, the gentleman who had greeted and seated us earlier ended up having a whole conversation with my friend and me. He was so sweet and personable! He mentioned that they may be opening a location in Culver City, and I told him I really hope they do because that would be much closer to home for me. I was even joking with him that if they open one, they need to bring the whole staff from this location over there too because everyone here was THAT amazing. At the same time, even if there ends up being a location closer to me, I would honestly still make the drive back to this one. When you visit somewhere for the first time and have such a great experience, that location becomes special. You can visit the same restaurant somewhere else, but the people, atmosphere, and experience aren't necessarily going to feel the same. This location definitely left that kind of impression on us. I really hope this review reaches management because the staff here deserves the recognition. Everyone we interacted with was wonderful, and Quang especially took such great care of us. This was our first time at VOX Kitchen, but it DEFINITELY won't be our last. We're already talking about coming back and bringing our family and more of our friends so we can all enjoy it together. 10/10 food. 10/10 service. 10/10 atmosphere. 10/10 experience. You guys definitely gained some returning customers!

I didn't know fusion food could taste so good! Today I learned that Chifa is Cantonese Peruvian…read morefood, and I honestly love it so much! Saltado fries with picanha: fries were deliciously fried so that it's crispy but doesn't get soft in the saltado sauce. The picanha was super tender and juicy! Vox pear salad: a refreshing starter with a healthy bed of arugula on top of burrata and pear. The balsamic glaze really pulled it together! Corn ribs: just finger licking delicious Chifa fried rice with filet mignon: fried rice was solid but didn't have the most wok hey flavor that I usually like. It was a bit too moist for fried rice. Filet mignon was a bit tough, but flavor was good! Garlic noodles with crispy salmon: yummy salmon and yummy garlic noodles (could be more garlicky). I wonder if these two could have been more cohesive together somehow, but both individual parts were good! My friend told me this restaurant's owner had a few other fusion restaurants in the plaza, so I'll have to try those as well!

My go-to non ayce shabu spot!! The food here always hits. They have alot of delicious and flavorful…read morebroths to choose from as well as alot of protein options from beef, lamb, and fish. They also have a garden plate for vegetarians so just about anyone will be able to eat here. Don't sleep on their drink menu either- the cocktails here are both pretty and delicious. Service here is always amazing; all of the staff is friendly and has great energy :) Parking here can be rough being in DTSA but there is a paid structure nearby. The inside seems a little dark and is only bar seating. There are tables outside for larger groups. The owner of Kaizen also owns Sonder next door so check that place out if you like the food here!

This review pains me to write but I'll keep it as simple as I can: yes, inflation is up. Yes, we…read moreare collectively boned as a society. I can understand how business owners, managers, servers, and customers are all caught within the vicious fluctuations of markets and so on. However, what I was recently served at Kaizen Shabu last week was, to my mind, an egregious example of a restaurant offering well below the bare minimum of what should be expected for the prices listed (and my photos will show this, I believe). At the outset, I want to say I have no grievances with the servers. Our server was kind, attentive, and was elegantly multitasking. Bravo. Now, the food: we ordered the salmon "sashimi" plate, and what we were handed was a platter of the thinnest, grainiest, obviously-thawed and poorly sliced salmon I've ever eaten in my life. I was a bit shocked. At Cal Shabu Shabu (and other shabu places I tend to frequent more often), sashimi is... sashimi. It *looks* like sashimi because it IS sashimi: a piece of salmon purchased by the restaurant and knife-cut into appropriate portions depending on what portion size the customer has ordered. It is sashimi that gleans in the light, where the striations of fat and tissue are visible to the naked eye on the fish itself. As you can see from my photos, we were served paper-thin salmon that I could barely peel off of the plate with my chopsticks without ripping the fish into smaller, grainier pieces. It was all but inedible, in my opinion. This is not sashimi, and to serve such a thing for the price listed is beyond atrocious: it is an outright deception. Now, onto the side of veggies and noodles that come with every order of meat or fish. Perhaps the cooks could not be bothered, but what I received was broken tendrils of 2-inch udon haphazardly thrown into a bowl. I'm not sure if this is an issue with the chefs, with a dwindling supply of food nearer the end of the night, or if this restaurant truly does not care about the quality of what they are serving customers. Again, I think my pictures speak for themselves. I used to love coming here as the atmosphere was chic, and the servers are so kind. After my last dining experience, however, I cannot justify the price of my bill in the face of the quality of the food I am being served. I won't be returning, sadly. I hope the manager has an opportunity to look at these photos and perhaps reassess what can be done to improve what they are serving their customers.

best food ever i liked it so much it was really good. very good workers. enjoyed the viberead more

My partner and I love going here for lunch on a random weekend. It's always packed, even after…read morelunch hours around 2PM. My favorite thing to get will always be the Truffle Cheese Bread. I love the Squid Ink Uni Past as well! I usually get that for lunch and the Short Rib Gnocchi for dinner. My partner and I have tried a few things, the Duck Ragu has great flavor, but the meat is a little dry for my taste. If you're a crab lover, the Crab Spaghetti has a great strong crab flavor! The sound can get pretty loud in the restaurant. I think the building wasn't made with a love of sound proofing, but it does make the place feel more lively than intimate. Overall, I love going here with friends and family for a nice meal out.

The combination of tasty food and attentive service earned the five stars. Been wanting to try this…read morespot for their mega katsu dishes and it did not disappoint. HUGE props to Ian for holding down the FOH fort solo on a slammed Friday night. He handled all the tables and the 8+ groups waiting with such grace and genuine care, showing just the right amount of urgency to indicate the patrons were the priority. He anticipated when the tables might need refills or extra napkins, never flinching when it seemed as though everyone wanted something broiled table side, all while juggling the scorching dishes the kitchen crew cranked out with ease. Ian very easily tipped this review into five star territory with his hard work! We ordered the chicken katsu and the bibimbap for the two of us, but really want to try the short ribs and cheese, and the bibimyun. The crowds were a diverse mix of Korean elders, young college kids, and neighborhood folks - all signs that the food speaks for itself. If you're looking for quality Korean comfort food, a simple menu, and an intimate atmosphere, this is the place for you. Oh, and the banchan choices were great for a kimchi, pickle, mac salad lover like me!

I went to Dawa Kitchen a few years ago with my younger sister and dad, and I'm glad this place is…read morestill in business and that their portion sizes are still incredibly massive! We ordered the chicken katsu curry, beef soup (galbi tang with glass noodles), and dawa chicken. All three dishes were shared family style and we had a good amount of chicken katsu curry to take home as leftovers for my friend's partner to eat for his dinner. Can you believe that a group of seven women only had to pay $71.86 total (including tax and the automatic gratuity for our party size that was 5+ people) for that much food? We each paid $10.27 for our portion and that's highway robbery in this economy. In terms of customer service, I'll say that our server was incredibly friendly when he was present, but he admittedly came by literally only three times during our visit: when we had to dramatically flag him down to order, when he dropped off our food when it was ready, and when we had to flag him down to pay for our check. I'm so glad they had a handheld terminal for us to use for checkout because we might have passed out from heat stroke if we waited any longer, lol. There are always trade-offs in this life, I suppose. We'll be back soon!

The XLB was really good the original and spicy. I wasn't a huge fan of the ham fried rice but it…read morewas still good. Service was good and atmosphere was good

* a must-visit Chinese restaurant that I cannot recommend enough!…read more* has multiple locations my favorite items on their menu: Pig-ear Salad with Chili Oil Dressing Garlic Butter Shrimp Noodles Golden Prime Beef Noodle Soup Taro XLB Mapo Tofu (With Rice) Seafood Fried Rice Pan Fried Dumplings Seven Grams XLB 10/10