34 Best Cafes in Irvine

“It's Hello Kitty cute in here! This spot inside the Irvine Spectrum, this Hello Kitty-themed speakeasy is an adorable hidden gem!!! The bow-filled decor is playful and insta-perfect, making it a must-visit for HK/Sanrio fans. The interior is cozy yet cutesy. Cocktails are priced between $18 to $22, which is pretty reasonable for the experience. Each drink is thoughtfully crafted and often comes with a cute Hello Kitty twist. Whether you're here for the drinks or the vibes, it's definitely worth checking out! :) be sure to make a resy before hand~“

“The regular 85 C was as good as always for our orders but the espresso with separate cup of ice was messed up The line was long for people to buy bakery so 3 orders of coffee took too long and when they had to fix our messed up order there was another wait We wouldn’t come back tomorrow since other coffee places nearby offered better and faster service with nicer environment and Wednesday discount on drinks“

“I love this place! The coffee and matcha are amazing — rich, smooth, and beautifully made. The food is always delicious, and the atmosphere is cozy yet modern. The staff is super friendly, and it's the perfect spot to relax or catch up with friends.“

“First time at Ellie’s Table this morning (breakfast). Excellent! The baked goods are terrific and the restaurant itself is wonderfully open bright and clean in a historic house.“

“Amazing food and service!“

“Lagu is one of our favorite neighborhood cafés. Everything I’ve tried has been a hit, and their banana creme matcha latte is an absolute treat. The food is just as delicious. The space is small with very limited seating (for dine-in), making it more of a grab-and-go spot. Online order is also available.“

“If you're looking for a breakfast spot where the food is made with genuine care, look no further than Avocado Cafe. Their breakfast burrito is a masterpiece—you can tell it's crafted with love, and the fresh, high-quality ingredients make all the difference. The wonderful experience was topped off by the excellent and kind service from the entire team. Five stars!“

“Cassel Earth feels like a hole in the wall coffee shop. Customers service was excellent, baristas were so warm, welcoming, and kind. Most importantly, the coffee was delicious. I tried one of their “Regulars’” lattes- “Michael’s”. Espresso was excellent quality and the pistachio/vanilla flavor was a yummy match. 10/10 would recommend.“

“This is my favorite sandwich shop! Out of all the amazing menu options, my current favorite has to be the turkey pesto sandwich it’s so good! I’ve seen a lot of people ordering it too, so I guess it’s pretty popular. Everything else on the menu is delicious as well. They also have plenty of drinks, chips, and even cookies and smoothies, so it’s a great spot to visit with kids. Plus, they always play classical music, which makes the place feel super cozy and relaxing!“

“🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰“

“Awesome service! Great desserts. Shout out to the guy taking orders. Very patient and kind. Gave my son milk to wash down his desserts. Yum yum“

“I eat here about once a month. Honestly, it is the only place to eat within 1/2 a mile of here. The service is very good, positive environment and when you are done you walk the grounds of Mariner's Church and stroll past babbling brooks, ponds, olive trees, and read a little scripture along the way.Positive environment and pretty easy to be social here. Open and safe environment.“

“We celebrated my sister's birthday in this cafeteria, and we have an amazing day. The foods and the drinks were very good and worth it. Besides, the waiter and the waitress that served us at that time were very friendly, nice, and professional. They treat customers very well, and that was a satisfaction to us. Their cafeteria also has a good view and style. It was perfect!“

“The cookies are so fabulous! Everyone that works there remembers me and they always greet me with a smile and a warm hello.“

“Red straw is actually great. High quality ingredients and most importantly, MANY decaf options, which is what I am always looking for. Not just for myself, but my young son as well who will not be getting a caffeinated drink. The only thing I really wish most tea places had were kids sizes! Instead my son and I have to share a drink because I am not buying a 4 year old his own full size boba drink. So technically I would spend more money there if I could buy myself a full size and him a kids size. Oh well, hope to see more kids sizes in the future. Otherwise the drinks are delicious“

“The iced chai, churro latte (hot or cold) and their bagels are to die for. I live out of state but cannot wait to go back when I’m in So Cal! Employees are so nice too - seems as though they are very happy working there:)“

“Thank you to "The Green Room" and Iciar for her help in organising a NICE 2023 pre-show commission from Aneke, who was as warm and friendly as ever when I collected the artwork, I had great communication from Iciar during the entire purchase, before, during and after the convention. The website is clean and easy to use, they have informative emails and a good social media presence and I won't hesitate to use "The Green Room" again for my collecting goals with the wonderful stable of creators they represent. I'm already thinking of my next request! Highly recommended!“

“This is a family owned establishment that truly puts the meaning to the phrase ‘Hidden Gem’. The food is prepared fresh and comes out hot. The best way to describe the menu and meals here is homestyle. I could eat here everyday. Everything is good. Prices are also better than any fast food. 11/10.“

“Amazing food and service!“

“Love this place! Food is always great. Made fresh. Staff are always nice and give great service. My favorite thing to get here is the TUNA MELT! I am not a fan of tuna at all until I had theirs. There are times where they will run out because they make a certain amount of tuna salad for the day. Not complaining about that, I just know that it was made fresh that day, so I definitely love it! So order ahead by calling in. If you're not a fan of it at all, give any of their sandwiches a try and ask them to add that chipotle sauce, changes everything, you will thank you me later. If you are in the Irvine area, give them a try!

Kid-friendliness: They have baby seat chairs for dine-in and kid friendly items as well.

Parking: Since this is a small cafe surrounded by business establishments it will be difficult to park but it is fortunate that you do not have to pay for any parking. Usually people come to just pick up and go so parking isn't usually a problem.“

“From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the comforting aroma of freshly baked pastries and the warm, inviting atmosphere. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and always willing to offer recommendations.

I tried their croissants and pain au chocolat—both were buttery, flaky perfection. The coffee was rich and smooth, the perfect companion to their artisan baked goods. You can tell everything is made with care and high-quality ingredients.

Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or sitting down for a relaxing brunch, Le Diplomate delivers a fantastic experience every time. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates authentic French baking and cozy café vibes!“

“I pretty much eat here 2 times a day. Both breakfast and lunch. The daily specials are wallet friendly and tasty. Jose, Diana and Katie are always great and I get what I order regardless of how strange my combinations of meals are. Fast, friendly and delicious!!!“

“This place has awesome food, i just love coming here for lunch on most work days! I HIGHLY recommend this place!“

“If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! This restaurant is an absolute hidden gem and has instantly become my favorite restaurant in the world. Not only is it dedicated gluten free (a dream come true for me), but the food is so incredible you would never guess it’s gluten free.

From the first bite of the freshly baked croissant, I was in disbelief—it’s soft, flaky, and buttery, just like a Parisian bakery, only gluten free! The Popover Carousel came out golden and airy, topped with house-made jam and honey butter—heavenly. The Brisket Benedict with perfectly poached eggs and roasted veggies was rich and comforting, while the Steak Frites rivaled any fine bistro with tender hanger steak, chimichurri, and crispy fries. Every dish was beyond delicious.

What makes this place even more special are the owners, Laura and Michael. Their warmth and passion shine through everything—from the service to the thoughtfully sourced ingredients. Laura has spent 7 years perfecting her own gluten free flour blend and dough (which you can even buy to take home). Her breads, pizza dough, and pastries rise and bake just like traditional gluten dough—soft, crusty, and flavorful. She’s a true genius.

We went for brunch, but I cannot wait to come back for dinner. I’ll be dreaming of this place until my next visit. Run, don’t walk—you need to experience this!“

“I sent my friends to this place with my highest recommendations. I go to this restaurant often. I get very good feedback from my friends. The the cooking is tasty and the team is welcoming and cooperative. Every time we go to this place we have a cheerful evening. warmly recommended.“

“Kit Coffee is an absolute gem and my go-to first stop whenever I come into Irvine. The moment I walk in, I’m reminded why I keep coming back — their coffee is simply outstanding.

Beyond the amazing coffee, their food selection is fun, fresh, thoughtful, and perfect whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or enjoying a light meal. I’ve learned to order ahead online, which makes pickup super convenient, especially during the morning rush. But honestly, even if I had to wait, it would be worth every minute.

The atmosphere is welcoming, and the team is always friendly and efficient. Kit Coffee is more than just a coffee shop — it’s an experience I look forward to every time I’m in town.

Highly recommended!“

“Quick place to get a coffee or tea. This is not a high end coffee shop, but it’s quick and convenient. I always order on the app, drive over and pick up. I prefer the sea cream black coffee easy sweet. The Vietnamese coffee and mint sereno are good too

This place is take out only and parking is usually not too bad since it’s in the back corner of the shopping center“

“I love the cool clean freshness of modern architecture and light the restaurant provides; with a decided touch of old ranch atmosphere; you can be left alone to yourself, or join in community. The food is varied, always fresh, healthy, creative modern nouvelle cuisine along with more traditional dishes, the ingredients definitely high quality -California Sunshine. If you really wish to muse, meditate, read, or silently work, the place is surrounded by little nooks and crannies in the midst of nature. You can even lull yourself to a nap, abandoning all care for a few precious minutes. Or else you can sit outside in community, perhaps choosing a more intimate table conversational setting on certain days, resolving the woes or the theories our world is constructed on. All together a complete experience🙏 Thank you.“

“The food is above average for a hospital cafeteria. The best value is the soup station, $2.70 for one serving. Optional rotate daily but I've seen chicken noodle, lobster bisque, clam chowder, red pepper Gouda, French onion, Italian wedding, broccoli cheese, vegetarian chili.There's also a small salad bar, hot food bar, grill, pizza, yogurt bar, baked goods, and some chilled grab-n-go items. Tuesdays are Taco Tuesdays (carnitas or quinoa, plus 2 sides of black beans/roasted corn/Spanish rice)

Vegetarian options: Taco Tuesday had pork and quinoa as options. There's also a self serve salad bar. Today also had vegetarian chili.

Dietary restrictions: Lots of options for different dietary needs.“

“This is a coffee shop near the Engineering school in UCI. It's between buildings and there are chairs outside, so it's a great place to have a cup of coffee. Because it is hand dripped, the price is a bit expensive. They also sell other simple snacks, so it's a good place to have a snack.“

“Best chilly beans soup ever! I was referred to this place by the hotel front desk clerk, and boy, was I glad! I had a BLTA sandwich as well. The food was amazing! Reasonably priced, taking the geographical location into consideration. The staff was very friendly. Highly recommended! Will go back there the next time I'm in the area for sure!!“

“A charming coffee shop with a warm, welcoming ambience that’s perfect for relaxing or catching up with friends. The mocha coffee is rich and satisfying, and their selection of Middle Eastern sweets is a delightful treat. They also offer tasty snacks and a good variety of drinks. Just wish service was a bit quicker. ⭐⭐⭐⭐“