NEP Cafe in Irvine

Review №1

2023-11-11 15:38:59

I honestly enjoyed everything I ate. Flavors are on point, everything was seasoned well and delicious! Beef tongue fried rice I would get every time. The sauce is good, but honestly you barely need it because the fried rice is already great without it. Definitely go with several friends or family members so you can try more things. Been to both their Fountain Valley and Irvine locations as well, Irvine one is newer and nicer.Service was great. Everyone there is so nice and helpful. They explain everything and anything if you ask. Gave great recommendations too! FYI for the fountain valley location there was definitely a wait so just be prepared. When we went to the Irvine one, I was expecting a wait but I guess we got lucky and didn’t even have to wait. So make yourself a reservation in advance to avoid waiting.. we just went on a whim in the moment when we went to each location.Parking (for both locations) - there are lots, it’s free. Super easy and convenient parking.

Review №2

2023-12-04 01:39:27

Lots to like about this place. The restaurant has been redesigned and styled with a bright, hip vibe. I like the circular ‘Vegas style’ bar and the openness. I wasn’t a fan of the acoustics. It was lounger than one would expect based on lunch time crow and I attribute that to the space. The service was great and the food was good.

Review №3

2023-11-23 06:14:27

Great service and bustling atmosphere. It’s actually quite nice inside :)went to brunch today and ordered the bone marrow pasta, xoi man and elotte. The elotte (corn) was so yummy, I could eat it forever. unfortunately, I found the bone marrow pasta to be overly salty, and the portion size was very tiny…xoi man was alright as well but again, a bit salty/too sweet. Not sure if I just have bland taste buds but I found the combined flavors of the xoi man too overpowering.I’m pretty sure this restaurant group also runs Sup noodle bar which I would easily have chosen over nep any time haha

Review №4

2023-11-20 18:58:55

I’ve had like 3 different people tell me I’d like this place, and they were right! Nep Cafe has a great brunch selection, and provides a good variety of food and drinks (both boozy and not) for a memorable meal with friends and family.I came with my parents, and while this cafe has more of a trendier vibe for younger people, they enjoyed their meal there. Do keep in mind that the general ambiance is noisier, so if you’re going with people that are sensitive towards noisy places, this might not be the place for you.So, the drinks. My mom got the coffeetini, which is their version of an espresso martini, and it was solid. I got the ube horchata, which was nice and creamy, and tasted kind of like a ube pina coloada combo. The star of the show was the egg coffee that my dad ordered (the hot version), which was surprisingly good. The foam was on the thicker end, and not too sweet, and the cocoa powder was a nice touch too! I can definitely see why people rave about it.For food, we all ordered a crab toast to share, and it was a good thing it came with 3 slices of toast, because we would’ve fought over it. The crab, sauce, and roe came together super well with the crunchy toast! My dad is usually pretty picky, but he really enjoyed the toast. He also got the filet mignon, which he liked as well! The peppercorn sauce was not too salty, and the eggs were just cooked enough to not be overly runny.My mom got the bo kho, aka the beef stew, and it was similar to the filet mignon but with a more tomato based sauce that suited the beef tongue well. The bread that came with both these dishes were baked just crispy enough too.I got the szechuan spicy noodles with dumplings, and it was also really tasty! I will say, the spice does build up over time, so be careful. The dumplings were also cooked just right, where the dough was nice and chewy and not too soggy.I will definitely be coming back! It’s a trendy and popular place for a reason, and I’ll have to try their dinner menu another time!

Review №5

2023-11-05 19:29:31

Restaurant is nice and very comfortable, not trying to fill every empty space with a table. Service was excellent, the servers were young and very attentive. Music was a bit loud to me liking since I could barely hear my wife across the table. Now in terms of food, nothing special. A little twist to traditional Vietnamese food. My wife got the filot mignon, it was a little salty but a good amount of meat. The bread didnt taste as fresh for the price we paid. It tasted a bit stale. I got the pasta and it was very butter Yana and creamy. The bone marrow tasted good though. I enjoyed it and so does my wife.We got there before the lunch rush and didnt have to wait without a reservation.If we brought our kids here the bill could easily be over $120 and theyll be hungry again in an hour.Would we come again? Probably not. Very expensive for the type of food and nothing special.

Review №6

2023-09-29 05:44:26

I highly recommend reserving a table for lunch, as this place tends to get quite busy and the wait can be quite long. However, I can assure you that its worth it! The coffees and fruit drinks here are simply delightful, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. The lunch options are not only tasty but also offer a great variety. Its important to note that prices can be a bit higher, but considering the quality of the food, its definitely worth the occasional splurge. The atmosphere is perfect for gathering with friends, providing a warm and inviting ambiance. Overall, its a wonderful spot for a memorable lunch experience!

Review №7

2023-11-17 08:38:19

The new Irvine location of Nep and KIN improved upon something that was already great! Nep Café in Fountain Valley has been one of my favorite go-to brunch spots in 2023, so I was super excited to learn Kei Concepts was opening a location in Irvine. Now that the initial hype has dissipated, my partner booked a reservation for a chill Sunday we didnt have anything going on. The food was fantastic, and the setting was even better. Everything tasted fresh, and service and presentation were excellent. Out of the Kei Concepts restaurants in Orange County, Nep is exceptional with the amount of flavours the chefs pack into each dish. I cant recommend this place enough!

Review №8

2023-11-04 20:16:56

Their Vietnamese coffees are good! I also recommend their spicy noodles and crab toast. The spicy noodles are a good mala spice level. The crab is fresh.

Review №9

2023-10-10 08:06:45

Good service. We got seated at the bar immediately at a Sunday brunch hour without reservations. If you want a table, definitely have a reservation. Most stand out thing for me was the seafood cevicheWe got the following:Seafood ceviche 5/5- seafood was so tenderCrab toast 4/5Filet mignon 4/5Bone marrow pasta 3/5Ube coffee 4/5Egg coffee 4/5I would come back if others want to try. Its a splurge so Im reserving to come back only for special occasions

Review №10

2023-11-08 00:58:46

Fast and efficient service.The food was delicious!We ordered a non-alcoholic Ube Horchata and our server Stephen assured that its not alcoholic since my kids also tried it.