Nep Cafe

Not sure how I never ended up writing a review for this place, but this is THE place I take my friends when they visit OC.PARKINGCan be a bit tight on the weekends, but I've never not found parking in that plaza.WHAT WE ORDERED THIS TIME* Crispy calamari* Squid and mango salad* Xoi man* Crab salted egg yolk pasta* Banh mi chao with filet mignon* Skinny fries* Chicken wings* Egg coffee with salted egg yolk* Coconut matchaFOOD AND DRINKSNever disappoints. The crispy calamari was super crispy and flavorful and went perfect with the jalapeno and dipping sauce. The squid and mango salad was a good nod to traditional Vietnamese salads and was beautifully balanced. The crab salted egg yolk pasta was good, but I do wish the salted egg yolk flavor shined a bit more. The banh mi chao is a classic must order if it's your first time at Nep, super flavorful and the assortment of toppings is fun. Chicken wings were glazed in a sweet fish sauce (?) glaze, perfectly cooked. The xoi man is pretty solid too - also abundant in toppings.The egg coffee is probably one of my faves in the OC area, and I haven't seen anywhere else put salted egg yolk on it. The coconut matcha is also great - I think there's cheese in the foam which takes it up a notch compared to Da Vien's.As a long-time Nep fan, here are my thoughts on some other dishes that we didn't happen to order this time:- The Dao: Pretty good, but I personally wouldn't order it again given the price and how spectacular the other dishes were in comparison- Beef tongue fried rice: ORDER THIS! Very flavorful and the beef tongue is nice and tender- Xoi chien: I like this better than the xoi man. The crispiness makes it much more interesting texture-wiseSERVICEDishes always come out super fast! Tip - make a reservation in advance. The wait can be pretty long if you don't.VIBESGood for anything from dates to family to friends. I especially like the outdoor area when it's warm enough. I do have to say it was a bit cold when I went this week and the warming towers were not as strong.BOTTOM LINEA quintessential OC spot for me. As someone who's lived on the East Coast there's no shortage of Vietnamese fusion, but I always tell people that the difference with Nep is that it's Vietnamese fusion made with Vietnamese Americans in mind, and that's what makes it a must-try.

The food at Nep Cafe never misses! I usually love the Bone marrow pasta and Seafood Ceviche so I opted for something different this time- my friend & I ordered the Bánh Mì Chao and the Crab Salted Egg Yolk Pasta which were both delicious as expected.The wait time was pretty fast for Sunday afternoon. The hostess said it's be a 30min wait but our table was ready within 10-15min. So that's nice. The service was decent. Not super attentive but that might be because the music was way too loud. I loved EDM, but I'm not sure blasting it during brunch hours is a great idea. It also cheapens the place & kills the ambiance a little bit. Another issue I had was our table for two was so tiny. We ordered 2 main dishes & 1 appetizer & our meals barely allowed space to move things around.

Ooooooo another Kei concepts restaurants I've been wanting to try. We came around 6:30 and wait time was said to be 30 min but was less :)). It was busy so wasn't a big deal of a wait for me at least The inside was again quite full, plenty of seating, and very clean!!! And of course the mouthwash in the restroom which I always appreciate!!!! Will say I got my food before my drink and the waiter noticed so he did go check on it and made sure I got it. If I'm honest I forgot I ordered it but thank you waiter for noticing!! Now the food Salted Egg Yolk Shrimp pasta 10/10 it was good!! Creamy. Presentable and again very delicious!!! Green Thai tea 8/10 was a little sweet for me personally but still very good!!

An interesting twist on a Vietnamese breakfast! I got the xoi chen (5/5) and it was nothin like I've ever eaten before it was so delicious. The crispy rice were literally blocks of rice that were super crispy and so good. The lap chung sausage was delicious, I wish there was more pate on the dish but it was amazing. We also got the seafood ceviche (5/5) it was so fresh and the seafood was delicious. It had a little zest flavor on top that was delicious. The garlic noodle with charred shrimp (5/5) was also amazing. We also got an egg coffee that I didn't try but it was very sweet and masked the coffee, a must try! My friend also ordered the beef tongue banh mi chao but they brought the wrong meat, it was still really good and saucy and the flavor was ripe and the meat was tender. The lemongrass tofu was a bit salty (4/5) for my taste, but my friend enjoyed it. We went on a Monday at 930am and made a reservation but there were plenty of seats and the waiter was super punctual filling up our glasses and taking our orders. Must try!!

Nep Cafe is one of the best places to eat in OC. They offer some of the best dishes with delicious flavor profiles from breakfast to dinner. The service was amazing as the waiter was very professional and knowledgeable. The scenery of the restaurant was also nice and comfortable. The food is what brings it all together. The fried rice with beef tongue is extremely flavorful. The egg and the seasonings of the dish pack an insane flavor. The beef carpaccio was also so good. The beef was so tender and juicy, bringing a unique tasting experience as it is more if a rarer dish. The beef carpaccio is a must get item.

Three words: crab garlic noods. SO GOOD. Came here to celebrate my brother's birthday and everyone really enjoyed their meals. We had zero leftovers. Good vibes with simplistic, modern, and clean interior plus friendly service. Cant wait to go back to try more dishes!

5+ stars 10/10 overall experience from the ambiance, service, to food! Place is super cute and feels very upscale with the modern decor, set up, and dimmed lighting/fixtures. The kitchens opened upfront you see their whole assembly. Staff is fast and attentive. Super friendly. We got there at 7pm or so on a Saturday and they said the wait would be 30- 45 mins, but they had bar availability so we opt for that since it was only two of us. We got seated right away. Service was quick we got our orders in and food came out fast as well. Our sever was able to put in a brunch list only coffee order for me which was super nice because I really wanted to try it as well as needed that pick me upper before heading out. Food blew our minds. The beef tongue 15/10! Don't knock it till you try it. Sounds oddly strange but it just tastes like super tender beef chunks / bone marrow (ish) in my opinion. The seasoning was so darn flavorful and it had a light fluffy yet creamy fried rice mixture. Hard to explain JUST GET IT!! lol it'll be no regret! The garlic noodles was good and gourmet, but it almost did not taste like your average garlic noodles where you can taste the Parmesan. It was still a 10/10 cooked to perfection and the prawns was cheifs kiss. They do not skimp on the proteins here. I'm not frm LA and seen this spot through my friends and so I knew I had to try. I would love to go back if I'm in LA area again. Mission to find beef tongue fried rice near my hometown now! Lol

Came here for another happy hour and I got rizzed by the server. No, I was not hit on, but instantly, chicken wings ordered boom + extra napkins, water finished- boom replenished, straw wrapper? Don't even gotta ask bbg it's thrown away. Table cleared, additional toast offered, out of the way but always watching. Server rizz. I like to think in another universe David ( i think that's his name) would be the person in kdrama that shows up with an umbrella in the rain. Anyways, good service and relatively fast seating time so no need for reservation. Happy hour menu again reasonably priced and great portions. It's a great way to try signature items from nep, but would still recommend their reg menu. They have a lot of yummy drinks like cocktails/ egg coffee too Chicken wings- classic, sweet, nicely seasoned, juicy Shrimp toast- oilier than I expected, like a deep fried sandwich, the sour and sweet hot sauce paired well *Ceviche- kind of coconut milk sauce. It's not too sour and a good refresher as most of the menu is on the oilier side. Also love the shrimp chips which aren't oily at all *Shrimp garlic noodles- a must get!! The grill on the shrimp was better than kins yakitori and the noodles are buttery/flavorful Pate- pretty strong pate flavor with a rich mayo. Again oilier because of chili oil. Crunchy bread fit perfectly. I loved the pickles which are crunchy and sweet. Overall, the food is on the heavier side so be prepared for that. Great pricing if you wanted to try this restaraunt out and as always w/ kei concepts well trained staff.

I havent been in the Orange County area for awhile, and wanted to try a trendy spot. My friend had recommended Nep Cafe, it's a vietnamese blend with traditional and modern flavors, this is a spot must-visit. Every dish were executed anything but traditional - in the best way possible. The Seafood Tom Kha Pasta was the highlight of the night. A fusion of Thai and Vietnamese flavors, this dish combined the rich, creamy coconut broth of Tom Kha with al dente pasta and fresh seafood. The balance of citrusy lemongrass, spice, and umami made each bite incredibly comforting yet vibrant.Lastly, the Filet Mignon Banh Mi Chao was a playful take on the classic banh mi. Served on a sizzling plate, the tender filet mignon was rich and buttery, complemented by a runny egg and a side of crusty bread to soak up all the goodness. It was an indulgent, interactive dish that elevated the familiar flavors of a banh mi in an exciting way.Beyond the food, the ambiance was trendy yet inviting, making it a great spot for a fun night out. If you're craving something different from your usual pho and spring rolls but still want those bold Southeast Asian flavors, this place is definitely worth checking out!

Nep Cafe is a restaurant located in a shopping center right in front of Miles Square Park on Warner. I wanted to try this place and it was easy to park! My party and I were glad to see that this place was lively when we saw the crowd outside!We pulled up to Nep Cafe on a Sunday at brunch time and was told the wait time was 45 minutes. The waitlist goes through the OpenTable app and was easy to track as we waited. We got the curry crab omelet, macaroni beef stir fry, xoi chien and I got the crème brûlée coffee as a drink. The macaroni beef stir fry was a big hit with my party! The pasta was cooked al dente perfectly, the flavor and seasoning blended beautifully and the beef was super tender! The curry crab omelet was delicious as well! It was served with sticky rice on the side and the blend of curry, crab and all its goodness was a great, unique omelette dish! I highly recommend those two dishes!Our experience from beginning to end was very enjoyable! The food was unique and delicious and the service was attentive and helpful. Lastly, I will say that the wait time to get seated could be better and hope it will be better in future visits!