37 Best Cafes in Irvine

“The is was our second trip to NEP and was as good as the first! Both the shrimp salad app and the squid and mango salad were so well balanced and tasty. The garlic noodles and shaking beef were sooo good. Nothing was too spicy but really flavorful. The shaking beef was so good we ordered another one! The cocktail that night was a raspberry sour and too was perfectly prepared. For a casual restaurant, these guys really put out the effort. Oh, and the sticky rice/mango desert was the topper. Not too sweet and the mango was perfect! Will be back sooner than later. Well done NEP.“

“1. The coffee drink would definitely add a lot of energy to any day! The sandwich was delicious!
2. The spot has business casual vibes since it is located inside a commercial building! The interior has high ceilings!
3. The staff was friendly and timely with my order! During the lunch rush, my order took about 20 mins!
Note: I did not easily see if this spot has their own restrooms for customers!

Photo: Dirty Ghost and Tri Tip Sandwich“

“Amazing food and service!“

“Joy & Q are two of the nicest folks you'll ever meet! They take time to chat you up about your day and if you're a frequent flyer of Cassel Earth, like I am, they'll always remember your go to order and name!!

Their oatmilk lattes are by far my favorite thing to get there. They use quality syrups, espresso beans, and oatmilk! It tastes the same EVERY time which is amazing to me and so very appreciated!

Also, the location is absolutely perfect. It's clean, tidy, and overall such a fun vibe. You can tell Joy and Q love what they do and it is apparent in how the run their shop.“

“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.“

“It’s a hidden gem in Irvine where I like to go for breakfast or lunch whenever I am visiting Irvine. There’s limited parking but I have never had trouble finding. The outdoor seating area is so nice and relaxing. I prefer that over their indoor dining space.“

“Excellent location, service, treats, and drinks. An absolute dream and lovely time spent with my mother and daughter. We all dressed up cute and spend three generation time together. I was genuinely impressed with how tasty and adorable everything was!“

“Joe Biden sucks here too!“

“7 Leaves Café at Diamond Jamboree in Irvine is one of my favorite spots for tea and coffee. The shop is clean, bright, and conveniently located in the busy plaza, with a lively atmosphere and a line that moves quickly even during peak hours.​

The drinks are consistently excellent. The mung bean milk tea, house coffee, and Thai teas are rich and smooth, and the boba always has a great chewy texture. There are also good options if you prefer less sweetness or non-dairy, so it’s easy to get your drink exactly the way you like it.​

I especially want to recognize Tanner for outstanding customer service. He is friendly, patient, and professional, and he always double-checks orders and offers helpful suggestions. Service like that makes the experience feel welcoming and is a big reason I keep coming back to this 7 Leaves location.“

“My wife & I have been eating at The Broken Yolk Cafe in Irvine for several years now and we absolutely love the delicious food and the wonderful service, particularly via our regular server Alicia. She has such a positive attitude and shares our love of dogs. She always makes sure to bring our dog Maizie a bowl of water and a pup cup whenever we go there. I cannot recommend this Broken Yolk location and Alicia enough.“

“🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰“

“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“

“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!“

“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.“

“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“

“Best apartment in Irvine“

“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!“

“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:)“

“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!!!“

“I ordered a hummus veggie sandwich which I've had over 20 years ago here. The cashier was nice enough to let me try the hummus before I ordered. However, when I got it, it was smaller and quite paltry from what I remembered. For $8.50, coming from when it used to be half the price, it was a bit disappointing. The menu says there is supposed to be sprouts and avocado but there was none. The hummus was spread quite thinly - I remember it being spread with like 3x more. I've heard this place changed ownership and I was glad I took caution and didn't order more of my other favourites. Despite the lackluster order I received, it was still pretty good. The hummus was different but good. The cashier was really accomodating. It still hit some nostalgia points but I could make the hummus wrap myself just stopping over at Trader Joe's next door. It really didn't seem worth $8.50.“

“Amazing food and service!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“A popular Vietnamese‑inspired tea and coffee cafe with refreshing drinks like Thai tea, jasmine milk tea, and signature Vietnamese coffee — many fans highlight the flavorful beverages and friendly service. It’s a casual, mostly takeout spot ideal for a quick pick‑me‑up or late‑night drink, though sweetness levels can be a bit high for some.“

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

“Le Cafe Du Parc is a charming little café tucked into a residential/park area near the Irvine Spectrum. We tried the Strawberry Banana Sushi Crepes, which were fun, light, and decadent with the chocolate sauce. The Chicken Pesto Flatbread was warm and savory with a nice balance of pesto and toppings. We finished with an Affogato, which was simple but delicious, with rich espresso poured over creamy ice cream.

Ambiance:
It’s a small, cozy café that feels like a hidden neighborhood spot. It's right next to a little dog park and another walking park open grass area which is relaxing to work at.

Customer Service:
Service was friendly and welcoming, and everything came out quickly.

Overall:
A great little hidden gem if you're in the Irvine area and looking for crepes, coffee, or a relaxed café stop. Definitely worth checking out.“

“I just discovered the most incredible hidden gem and I have to share it—because it might just be my new favorite restaurant in the world! 🌟 This place is a dedicated gluten free restaurant (yes, you read that right!) and every single dish blew me away. I honestly still can’t believe how amazing the food was. The croissant was so buttery, flaky, and perfect I had to double check that it was really gluten free—it’s a dream come true. 🥐 The popovers with house-made jam and honey butter were out-of-this-world delicious, the Brisket Benedict was rich and comforting with perfectly poached eggs, and the Steak Frites rivaled any French bistro. Every bite was pure heaven. But what really makes this place so special are the wonderful owners, Laura and Michael. Their passion, warmth, and dedication show in everything they do. Laura is a true genius—she spent 7 years perfecting her very own gluten free flour blend and dough, and you can even buy it to take home for fresh bread, pizza, or cinnamon rolls. It rises and bakes like traditional dough, and the flavor is unbelievable. 🍞✨ The restaurant itself is gorgeous, the service was wonderful, and the food… I’ll be dreaming about it until I can go back. We went for brunch, but I can’t wait to try dinner next. If you’re gluten free, this is your paradise. If you’re not gluten free, I challenge you to come here and tell me you can tell the difference. You can’t. That’s how good it is. 🙌 Run, don’t walk—this is one of those rare places that feels like magic. ✨“

“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!!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Bluberry Social is my new go-to brunch spot in Irvine! Everything we tried — avocado toast, crece brulee pancakes, chicken and waffles, Cali chopped salad, and french onion soup — was amazing.

The blueberry and strawberry matcha lattes were delicious, and the cozy pink interior gives such warm, welcoming vibes. Service was super friendly and attentive as well!

Perfect place for a mommy date or brunch with friends — can’t wait to come back!“

“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.“

“This place has THE perfect coffee! We have been to seattle and portland and we're quite disappointed with the coffee in US so far, but this one just hit the bullseye, similar to some of the best speciality coffee shops in Europe! And the beautiful seating area outside is an added bonus. We will definitely be back“

“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“