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    The Mugs

    3.8 (366 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order The Mugs Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    THE MUGS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for working
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Mugs

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    Emily K.

    I loved the mugs in diamond bar so I wasnt surprised to see this one in the same concept -- lots of seating but PACKED on a weekday afternoon, lots of coffee and matcha options but it just seems impersonal, since there's so many people coming through. Not much service here, the barista didn't say welcome or hello, didn't really talk at all. I ordered tea and it came out fairly quickly. 2 points off for lack of seating area (despite lots of chairs and tables) and lack of service. Otherwise it's a casual study cafe located in prime spot of Irvine.

    Pastries
    Dave L.

    Mugs is a new coffee shop in the Northwood Center near the Korean market. The layout has a lot to offer, two separate rooms to sit, drink coffee, and work on your computer. Therefore, a better name might be "chairs, " and not mugs. There are three separate rooms to find a seat, not including the outside patio. The staff is very friendly and helpful. It was a very hot day, so they gave us ice water right away. The coffee was great, for they have some special choices that tend to the sweet tooth in me. They also have the traditional unsweetened choices and lattes. Those are more what I like. Their pastries are wonderful. So many places are so crowded it is so hard to find a seat, not here. There is lot's of room. A couple suggestions to add to this wonderful place: add a few live plants, some soft music, artwork on the walls. I hate to say it, but the glasswork needs to be wiped down. Do these things, I'll change my grade to five stars. I do recommend Mugs as a great place to relax and have some coffee.

    matcha double
    Jocelyn Y.

    Outlets - yes! Bad wifi. Mid matcha. I love the vibe of this cafe - a fun place to come with friends or to get work done. Service is fast and friendly. They are also pretty busy and popular, so it's hard to get a seat (I've come a couple times and its packed). I will have to say the double matcha was not worth. Something (I'm assuming the milk) tasted funny/irregular - not sure why. I would come back to try the Mitsugaru though!

    Menu as of March 2026
    Jenny Y.

    We ordered matcha latte $7 (march 2026h and banana matcha latte $7. They were very creamy. Little too creamy for my taste and the place was super busy and packed with students from UCI getting prepared to their winter quarter finals! Service was pretty quick. Ambiance was like an on campus student cafe! Good to be around young kids!

    Dalgona Latte
    Wesley M.

    So my coworker and I have a standing appointment weekly to go get coffee on Wednesdays and try out new places around town. Unfortunately this week I have to go alone, but got to go try out The Mugs! Honestly it's overall ok. The places vibe is set up mainly as either a quick 2 person coffee and chat or as a study coffee shop. But really just seems like a study or work coffee shop. The staff were pretty friendly and kind of helpful, lol IDK. So there's this trend where a lot of coffee shops for some reason don't like to tell you what's in their coffees? And that's fine since most places don't and most items on the menu are standard fare, but The Mugs had a drink I've never heard of called the Dalgona Latte (I'm not on TikTok so I missed it becoming viral in 2020 per my google of it later). Overcoming my personal issues of asking questions to a cashier I asked what this taste sensation was and was told that it's an iced coffee with sweet cream and candy. A little more detail somewhere would have been great or a better explanation! But quick service . As mentioned, I got the Dalgona Latte and was taken aback by it lol. The coffee sweet cream were good! It was a VERY rich coffee, I think? That's the best term that comes to mind when trying to describe it. It came topped with a darkly toasted honeycomb toffee-like candy which was neat. Overall I'd say if your in this neck of the woods to give it a shot. Thanks!

    Matcha lattes with regular milk - cute stickers on the cups!
    Sydney H.

    The Mugs is a nice cafe in Irvine if you're looking for quick service and a place to sit and chat! I came here with a friend and we got our drinks in what seemed like just a minute after ordering. We ordered matcha lattes with regular milk. The sweetness was at a good level (not too much, but not too little), but the matcha taste was a little mild. There's a lot of seating indoors and outdoors. A lot of people come here to work/study inside. We sat outside, and it was great that the tables are in the shade with umbrellas to cover too. Really nice to people watch outside as well :) I do want to come back sometime and try some of the pastries they have in their case, they look tasty.

    Seating by the window with charging outlets
    Linda C.

    I showed up right when The Mugs opened and there was already a small line of people waiting for their coffee, always a good sign. Seating & outlets: Very laptop friendly, lots of seating w/ outlets. I scoped out the options and was immediately drawn to the room with tables. There's a mix of chairs (some hard, some cushier leather ones), and every table has charging outlets, major plus. WiFi isn't the fastest, but good enough for light work or casual studying. Food & coffee: Started off with their Supremo drip coffee: smooth, strong, and just what I needed. Then I tried Mirado GR4 next: a bit more bitter, and my pleb palate couldn't quite pick up the fig, nougat, and brown sugar notes it claimed. Still, points for the zing I needed to get through my work. Said I wouldn't but caved and tried a croffle. I got the ham & cheese. VERY buttery. Tasty but def not worth the calories :/ The Mugs right next to Zion Market (the kimbap inside is great!) and you're surrounded by tons of restaurant options. They don't allow outside food inside, but the Mugs has a nice outdoor patio you can eat at if you buy food from elsewhere in the plaza. Parking: Easy and free in shopping center Service: Smooth & friendly. They carefully make most the drinks to order, so expect a little wait when it gets busy and they get busy quick. They've got both a self order kiosk and a human at the counter. What I didn't like: There's only one bathroom, it's clean-ish but the air freshener is way too strong and the ventilation can't keep up. The result? A bit of an olfactory battlefield, if you know what I mean. And the music....omg yikes. This was the real crime. Every song was worse than the last. Do yourself a favor and bring headphones. Great study spot. Definitely coming back but only with headphones.

    Horchata Latte
    Aimee L.

    Picked up a Horchata Latte here on a weekend before a long drive! Personally this drink was way too sweet for me, but the flavor itself was not bad - I could definitely taste the coffee. Service was quite slow - I waited around 30 minutes for this one drink. However, the workers were really friendly, and this situation was understandable since the store was extremely busy. If you want to visit this location, I would avoid going on weekend mornings, especially on Sundays when a lot of people are leaving the church.

    Ashley D.

    easily one of my favorite coffee shops in irvine! it's a quaint little shop but it's definitely a popular stop. there's a ton of indoor and outdoor seating, but the patrons are mostly students or other individuals who bring things to work on. they provide free wifi which is nice, but it can be hit or miss as to whether you'll be able to secure a spot to stay and sit depending on when you come. i usually just pick up a drink to go. their rose matcha is my go-to order every single time, and this place was honestly the shop that got me into starting to drink matcha. they also have a variety of snacks and small bites that are pretty good too. definitely recommend!

    Dalgona Latte
    Sarah A.

    I make it a point to stop by at the Mugs when I'm on my way up to LA or passing through. Their coffee is so good because it isn't very sweet like many other coffee shop lattes. My personal favorite is the Dalgona Latte, the top is sweeter so usually when I drive it melts a bit and becomes a well mixed drink. It's been very consistent each time I've gone. I also love their plain/butter scone. They have a great texture and taste great both room temp or heated. I've typically gone to get it to go, but waiting inside it seem like a nice area to study. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a really solid, robust espresso flavor.

    Two plain croffle. Had to remove from the liner because the melted whipped cream that I did not ask for is making the croffle soggy.
    Josephine C.

    I've been a frequent customer and always order plain croffle for my kids. Recently, my husband picked up 4 plain croffles and waited about half hour to forty mins because they had to redo the croffle as it was completely burnt. Today, I just ordered two croffles for my son's breakfast through door dash. I did NOT choose the option for whipped cream but it came with melted whipped cream and made the croffle soggy. On top of that, the two croffles were completely burnt, black!

    Rose Matcha and Blueberry Matcha
    Liz B.

    My go to coffee shop for a quick hangout with a friend, or a chill study/work session. I usually get a fruity matcha latte, but I saw that they had a new pandan latte so I opted for it instead. The latte was good, but I wish it had a stronger pandan flavor. I also tried the croffle for the first time, and loved the base, but the matcha topping was a little off. It seemed like it was undermixed, as I got chunks of butter in it that made the texture unappetizing. I would definitely try a different flavor of croffle, since I loved the crispiness of it. The staff were friendly, but I wish they used the speakers outside to call out orders. We were sitting outside and did not realize our drinks were ready.

    Flat White
    Mandro E.

    Got the mocha today. Looked and tasted amazing. Ordered at the kiosk since the line gets busy. Greater as always will keep coming back.

    2/2025

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    3 months ago

    Had amazing coffee at this place! Loved the self order machine, but the baristas are helpful and sweet!

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    Ask the Community - The Mugs

    Do they use real matcha in the matcha latte?

    Yes

    View All 2 Questions

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    Stopped by on a weekday morning around 10:30 am and the experience was smoother than expected for a…read morepopular spot. There were about 3 people ahead of me in line and a few waiting for drinks, but I was able to order and get my drink in around 10 minutes. Staff was very friendly and checked in with us while waiting in line! I ordered the Matcha Two, which comes as a matcha latte topped with salted matcha vanilla cream foam. The foam was velvety and creamy. The matcha had a smooth, earthy flavor with subtle sweetness. Oatmilk was the default choice, and while I usually think oatmilk can overpower matcha, it worked well in this drink. It is a little pricey for 1 drink, but that also seems to be the norm these days for specialty drinks. This is more of a grab-and-go spot than a place to hang out. There's no seating, just a bench inside, and everyone waited outside since the interior is on the smaller side. Parking was easy when I went. Overall, a pleasant experience for a yummy matcha drink, and I'd definitely come back to try more of their matcha menu!

    If you see a line out the door, you're in the right place! Ayer can get pretty crowded on weekends,…read moreand the parking lot fills up fast. But the line moves pretty steadily! They only allow one party in the shop at a time. You order with one person, and then they send you to the cashier to pay. Once you place your order, the drinks come out pretty quickly. I love a good Blueberry Matcha, so I knew I had to try one. The matcha latte has oat milk and their house blueberry puree. I really enjoyed it! They also have their Matcha Lattes "One," "Two," and "Three." We opted for the Matcha Three which includes salted matcha vanilla ice cream and matcha sorbet, oat milk, and house vanilla syrup. It was pretty good! Lastly, we got the Coconut Pandan Green Rice drink which sounded unique! It's ice blended with coconut cream, pandan coconut rice, and condensed milk. It's a thicker drink with more texture from the rice. I'll be back!

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    Caffe In Coffee Roasters - Sugar free vanilla latte

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    I came here early in the morning (~10am) to grab a drink and study with a friend! There were a…read morecouple open tables, but the only outlets were at the small 3 seat bar area by the window. The cashier was super patient while I looked through the menu, but there also wasn't a line that early yet. I got the banana matcha, which isn't something I usually get, but I liked it a lot! The banana cream taste definitely stood out. I would definitely come back again, but I would want to make sure my devices were charged first.

    Tried this spot after seeing it all over TikTok, and overall it was decent but a little overhyped…read more The matcha itself was underwhelming. the flavor tasted pretty light and lacked that rich, earthy matcha taste I was hoping for. The cream top definitely carried the drink though; it was smooth, creamy, and honestly the best part. The baked goods were the real highlight for me. I got the banana bread and almond croissant, and both were SO good. Everything tasted fresh and buttery, and I love that they can warm them up for you if you're eating there. I saved mine for later and they still held up really well. Not sure if I'd come back specifically for the matcha, but I'd probably try their coffee next time since that seemed to be what most people were ordering. Cute spot and good pastries, but the viral hype set my expectations a little too high

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    CUP by Blue Hummingbird Coffee - Blue Hummingbird Latte

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    We stopped by this spot since we were in the area and luckily found some parking that was close by…read more They had plenty of options to choose from, but it was a bit of a challenge to figure out what we wanted to order. The breakfast food options all looked so delicious and tasty, but I opted for a matcha chia parfait along with a redeye coffee. We seemed to have come across the breakfast rush in the area, so it took a few minutes for the staff to take our orders and prepare them. Even though it was a minimal wait, the staff was professional, quick, and friendly when it came to taking down our orders, paying, and packing the order. The inside of the shop is cute with some modern touches. The exterior had plenty of spots to enjoy our treats outside--plenty of spots to sit, lounge, and eat. An alternative is to take the items to go. The only challenge would be in finding a parking spot (free parking, but a bit limited). Honestly, if I'm in the area again, I'd consider coming back to try out other drink and food options.

    I had the most pleasant interaction with the barista there Luis! He was super knowledgeable and…read moregave very good recommendations and fun facts about why they serve and I have NEVER been to a coffee place that uses non dairy cold foam! That immediately sold me! They also can pretty much turn any seasonal drink into a matcha or latte. Im vegan and only drink matcha so this was a hit for me! I don't think I can ever go to another coffee place again. I live close by and usually take strolls through the neighborhood with my pups. The staff in general are always so welcoming and attentive. Their dog friendly environment and ambiance is quite impressive. This is a small shop but honestly has everything you need. STOCKED up with their coffee beans, u like some larger store that are sold out half the time. They have salads that offer a quick lunch, drinks that are right up my alley! Again, thank you Luis!! You have created such an amazing experience for me and my co workers today! I will definitely be back! P.S. Luis, you mentioned you could try to make any cold foam. I have not been able to find ANY banana cold foam that is not dairy that I can have on my matcha! You would be the BEST if that could be something g you could whip up maybe one of the next times I stop by! Thank you!!!

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    Wall Writers Coffee - Ube latte, solid!

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    This is an excellent coffee shop in one of the office parks in Irvine near spectrum. There is a lot…read moreof great indoor and outdoor seating, although it does tend to get busy. On this visit, I had the caramel banana latte, which had a very nice flavor and was not too sweet. The only complaint (and I'm not docking points here), is that the bathroom is not within the cafe, and you have to get a key card from the staff in order to use the restroom (can be difficult if there is a long line to order).

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    The Mugs - coffee - Updated May 2026

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