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    The Mugs

    3.8 (384 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order The Mugs Takeout or Delivery

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    THE MUGS ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - The Mugs

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    Sejin C.

    if you live in Irvine, you know this place already, I love their latte in the mug. Also their matcha is also amazing! one thing that is not so perfect about this place is always busy, barely find table if you go there late. lol. there are outside tables too but outside tables are taken all most all the time. parking is decent,

    Tim C.

    Been wanting to try out Mugs. Came here right before Zion market. The lots of pastry options available. We tried the Koyoto cold Brew and the Spanish latte. I really liked the taste and smoothness of the Koyoto! The Spanish was sweet and flavorful. Service was good, the cashier was super nice. The have table and chair to work or lounge with you drink. Seems very study friendly

    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.

    Plain Croffle
    Samantha L.

    The banana foam top tastes amazingly light and fluffy by itself but becomes more subtle once mixed with the matcha. However, I still thought it tasted great, and the matcha is pretty high quality. For the plain croffle, I do wish that they added a bit of glaze to give the croffle a little bit more of an initial crunch, but it was still pretty good and chewy. The inside is spacious (I saw a lot of people working off laptops), and there's some patio seating outside.

    red velvet cake pop Rose Matcha
    Charlize V.

    Lots of seating both indoor and outdoor - there is also a separate quiet room. Drinks and pastries had good flavor for average price and fast service. I really liked the chocolate cream cheese muffin and my partner enjoyed the horchata latte.

    Pastries
    Andrew L.

    I got a chance to visit the Mugs and had a good experience. They offer a wide selection of drinks and pastries with a lot of comfortable seating. Food: They offer a good selection of crossaints, scones, macaroons, and other pastries. I got a chance to try the iced latte and it was very flavorful. Service: The employees are very friendly and helpful. Ambiance: The Ambiance is very nice. Theere is a lot of comfortable seating. There is also a study room.

    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!

    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.

    Flavorless latte
    will c.

    I'm a regular at Mugs and have always treated it as a reliable neighborhood spot to sit down with a proper latte. At $6.25 for a 16 oz, the baseline expectation is consistency--temperature, balance, and execution. Today's drink was, frankly, the worst I've had here--and it didn't even qualify as a latte. A proper latte should be built with espresso first, followed by well-textured milk at the correct temperature, integrated through a controlled pour. What I received instead tasted like espresso and milk were haphazardly combined, with no structure or technique behind it. The milk itself was improperly steamed--off-temperature and leaving a sour, flat, unpleasant finish. Even after a remake, the result was just as disappointing--tepid, flavorless, and simply wrong. No body, no balance, no indication that standard preparation methods were followed. This points to a broader issue. It's not the first time I've seen staff being trained on the job and inconsistent drinks being served as-is. At this price point, that's not acceptable. Customers come here expecting a dependable experience--whether it's early morning or late afternoon--and that consistency is part of what keeps people coming back. Right now, that trust is eroding. More attention to staff training, quality control, and basic execution is needed.

    Menu as of March 2026

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    Page 2 of 10

    Ask the Community - The Mugs

    Do they use real matcha in the matcha latte?

    Yes

    View All 2 Questions

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    4.6(683 reviews)
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    The blueberry matcha is to die for! I'm not the biggest blueberry fan but I will definitely come…read moreback just for this. The service was 10/10 and the vibes were even better. Going to stop by here when I can before my dog walks ;)

    This is currently my favorite matcha place in the OC!…read more I like to think I'm a matcha latte purist, so I get mine 25%/less-less sweet and normally don't get cream tops or a bunch of extra toppings. I've tried many of the popular matcha lattes in OC, and I feel like a lot of them are only good when you add a cream top or some kind of fruit puree/mash...or just too sweet for my liking. Not this place. Their matcha latte is genuinely good on its own, and not too sweet at less-less sweet. You can actually taste the matcha, and their lattes are a nice bright green. I also really appreciate that they hand-whisk their matcha. A lot of places use a premixed paste or some kind of pre-made blend, so I really like knowing their extra effort put into my $7 latte. I also noticed they use Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract/Paste in their syrup, which I thought was a nice little indication that they care about the ingredients they use. (It's a good quality brand!) Also, their standard milk is oat milk! Definitely get a salt bread to go with your matcha! It's soft and chewy with a buttery center and is such a good pairing. Pretty solid. I've also had coffee here, and I enjoyed it. I'm not a coffee expert, but I thought it was smooth. It didn't have that over-brewed bitter taste. There's plenty of parking in the plaza, but just be prepared for a long line. It can get pretty busy! This place is small (with most of the space being used for whisking match) and there's no seating, so this is definitely more of a grab-and-go spot. I've only had one bad experience with this place, where my latte was a little too milky and clumpy (which I'm going to attribute as an off-day), but that was only once out of the....ten(?) times I've been here. Overall, this is my go-to matcha spot in OC and one I'll happily keep coming back to!

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    Sana'a Cafe - BISCOFF CHEESECAKE, biscoff late, PISTACHIO CHEESECAKE

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    4.6(372 reviews)
    6.1 mi
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    Old-School Charm, Excellent Music, and Properly Hot Coffee -- 5/5…read more Tuesday, 9/8/26 -- 11:30 AM Sana'a Cafe -- Lake Forest, CA Sana'a Cafe feels noticeably more old-school than some of the newer Yemeni coffee houses I've visited. The interior and furnishings are a little worn and could use some refreshing, but the place still has a comfortable, lived-in character. The facade is odd: basically a big brown wall with the Sana'a Cafe sign floating above an otherwise understated entrance. The entrance itself is decent, though, and at 11:30 on a Tuesday there was no crowd, which made the visit quiet and relaxed. I ordered two savory items from the display. The first was the chicken musakhan -- مسخّن الدجاج (musakhan al-dajaj), served here as a long rolled pastry. The seasoning and filling were enjoyable, but the chicken itself was too dry for me. 3.5/5. The stronger dish was the spinach-and-cheese fatayer -- فطاير السبانخ والجبنة (fatayer al-sabanikh wal-jubna). Nicely baked, savory, balanced and satisfying without feeling too heavy. 4.5/5. Of the two, this is the one I would immediately order again. My coffee was the Sana'ani -- قهوة صنعانية, served black, strong, medium-bodied and, most importantly, piping hot. This is where my objectivity begins to collapse. I have developed something close to an addiction to very hot, strong Yemeni coffee, and this hit exactly the way I wanted it to. No lukewarm compromise. Just a properly hot cup that stayed enjoyable from beginning to end. Service was superb. The woman helping me was somewhat modest and reserved in demeanor, but attentive, gracious and extremely pleasant throughout the visit. She also had remarkably striking, intense eyes and a warm presence that made the service especially memorable without ever feeling overbearing. شكراً -- shukran for the excellent hospitality. The music was another major positive. Whoever controls the soundtrack here has excellent taste. During my visit I heard classic Arabic music including Tony Hanna's "Men Sharadli Ghazala," Hoda Haddad's "Ouyounak Elssoud," and Aida El Ayoubi's beautiful "Ala Baly." The selections wandered beyond Yemen into Lebanon and Egypt, but the effect was tasteful rather than random -- a warm, broader Arab-world soundtrack that fit the room beautifully. Sana'a Cafe may not have the polished, newer aesthetic of some other Yemeni coffee houses, but it has its own charm. Good pastries, excellent coffee, superb service and a genuinely great soundtrack more than make up for a space that is showing its age. 5/5. The coffee pushed it over the line.

    Food: Wow, Sana'a Cafe is incredible! Their chai is so flavorful, filled with spices and on the…read moresweeter side if you like that! Their Biscoff milk cake was delicious and not too sweet, with a milk soak and a Biscoff cream on top! Would come here just for this cake again! Curious to try their other milk cakes like their rose and tiramisu! Please let me know if you do! Service: The server was kind and explained their best-selling teas and pastries! Ambiance: The ambiance of this cafe was so nice with some cultural music, many tables inside, a lounge area (near the bathroom), a clean bathroom, and fast Wi-Fi. Overall, a great place to hang out or study/work! Please go to Sana'a Cafe for their delicious milk cakes and a nice place to hang out/study!

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    CUP by Blue Hummingbird Coffee

    4.4(216 reviews)
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    This coffee shop is pretty small inside, but there's plenty of outdoor seating right outside with…read morelots of comfortable sofas, so it's actually a nice place to hang out. It's located in the Great Park residential area, making it a convenient stop if you're visiting the park, going for a run, or biking around the neighborhood. The service was good, and I really enjoyed the coffee. They also have a nice selection of grab-and-go items like salads, overnight oats, snacks, and other quick bites. You can also pick up their coffee beans and other coffee-related products to take home. A nice little neighborhood coffee spot, especially if you're already around Great Park!

    full review: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DceZda9PF_b/…read more Thoroughly enjoyed the Ethiopia Pour Over and Double Matcha with Almond Milk. The drinks were delicious, savoring every sip. Sweet, fruity slightly acidic aftertaste for the Ethiopia Pour Over. The Double Matcha with Almond milk, was a pleasantly refreshing drink and the creamy matcha foam is a must-try! Paired very well. My friend had their Spanish latte with Almond Milk and said it was smooth and subtlety sweet. The financiers were delicious, raspberry, pecan, and pistachio. Nutty almond flavor and delectable. Inside the cafe itself is chill and clean, with ambient music. Lots of outside seating, friendly and welcoming staff. Will be back!

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    Spaces Cafe

    3.7(9 reviews)
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    I work in this complex and this place is a life savor. The guy who runs it is super nice and…read morepatient in case you're unsure of what to order. That have tons of new and trendy drinks such as the rose latte or lavender latte, as well as you standard coffee shop fare. Overall, it's a quick stop and always a great way to refuel my caffeine problem. Definitely check it out if you're in the area!

    I'm very sad to have to share this experience but I signed up for a three-month lease. The facility…read moreis great and the people are nice but they have hidden fees that are ridiculous. They have a restoration fee hidden under their agreement on line 55 that says you have to pay $1,300 for a 200 sq. ft. space after three months to restore the office to the way it was. Even though I didn't put anything on the walls and there was nothing changed in the office, all I had was my desk. I asked them to reduce the fee since it was only there for three months and not a year and they did reduce it but only by 50%. The fact that it exists at all is ridiculous and the fact that it's hidden is even more sketchy. Be aware if you come to this place because there are these hidden fees that they don't present to you up front. They pass them off as an agreement and not a lease so that they can hide their fees. I also tried to extend my lease by a month even though my office I was in was taken. I asked to move to another office but then they said I had to pay the restoration fee for that office as well, which again is completely ridiculous. If you're gonna charge a fee, make sure it's clear and up front. Don't hide it halfway down a huge agreement. I think this is totally against the California Hidden Fees Act too.

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    The Mugs - coffee - Updated September 2026

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