The Most Scrumptious Cafes in Irvine

Country Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.7 (311) • $$

"Food was really good and really good service. You have to try the granola pancakes. I will definitely be coming back."

Better Buzz Coffee

★★★★☆ 4 (166) • $

"Praise God! My heart is overflowing with gratitude.My husband and I had this morning to spend together, and he suggested he take me to better buzz. I love coming here but money has been tight for a while and so I haven't been in a few months. We grabbed $15 and left the house. We get in the drive through and it looked closed, and suddenly a voice came through the speaker!We ordered my food and the total came to $17 and some change and my husband said he would use his apple pay for the rest because he didn't have much on the card.After ordering i sad to him, "maybe this is actually God and He opened up the shop for us!" He laughedWe get to the window and the wonderful man filled with love offered to play a game of rock paper scissors and we played and we got our food taken care of! What a loving man. I was so overwhelmed with love and grace that I don't know if he said Brian or Ryan, but he had glasses and a beautiful personality. Management like that makes feel as a customer seen in all things. He didn't know the money troubles we were dealing with just a couple days ago, yet treated us with a blessing. Thank you God! Bless the staff and service workers here at Better Buzz and would they all experience your love and presence and would all customers experience your love and peace through these lovely people that make days better by a little coffee and toast"

Campesino Café

★★★★☆ 4.4 (11)

"We are not vegetarians (they do have eggs), but we have been eating here at least once a week since it opened. Usually because we crave what we had the time before. Very creative dishes, super fresh and really tasty. Great outdoor, on the farm, vibe too. Once on the property, you forget you are in suburbia. We order an extra side of their homemade Salsa Macha that comes with the tamales and put it on most everything we order. Not hot, but great smoky, nutty flavor. On the way out, we pick up a jar in the stand to get us through the week and invariably also grab a jar of house made jam."

Pollen and Pour Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (6)

"This coffee shop is the only place that opens at 6am on a weekday in the area. They use illy coffee which is great. Service is really nice and friendly. They always have bananas and ive been meaning to try their oatmeal...u add hot water, theres different flavors.The latte is smooth and creamy.I dont like having to sign a receipt and touch the pen. After covid i want to minimize contact when paying. And theres specific labeled parking for the coffee shop out front but since 2 weeks ago, valet?? Has been blocking all the spots so i always have to u turn in a small space and hesitantly park in a random area labelled valet only or park in front of the sliding glass doors of the hotel entrance. Really kind of nerve wracking. I dont want any complaints directed to me on an early dark morning, ya know? And...when wallwriters coffee across the street is butt slow getting ur order out (happens all the time). This is the place to rush over to."

Country Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (599) • $$

"My sister & I met for a late lunch the day before 4th of July. Found ourselves checking out Country Cafe referred by friends. They close at 1:30pm. We arrived at 1:00 Thought they might turn us away. We were so wrong. They greeted us cheerfully and never rushed us to order or finish up. Top notch service all around. Sister ordered a 2 egg scramble accompanied by brown rice, bacon and sourdough toast. Homemade strawberry jam. Delish. I ordered machaka - half a plate full of tasty shredded beef scrambled with fluffy eggs. Plentiful. Delicious. Cottage cheese, sourdough toast and brewed coffee completed my meal. So much food. We both took half our meals home for dinner. The cafe is ultra-clean. A wall of philodendron plants look well-loved - healthy, hardy, lacy - allowed filtered light to enter the lovely cafe. Impressive. Country Cafe has been in business for eight years. I live blocks away. I can't believe this was my first visit. It won't be my last."

The Brunch Cafe

★★★★★ 4.7 (314) • $$

"BEST CHILAQUILES I'VE HAD IN A WHILE! Definitely recommend grabbing a bite here! Will be coming back again!"

Cafe Koyomi

★★★★★ 4.9 (30) • $

"Amazing hidden gem of Santa Ana. Small, family owned a café with heavy Japanese influence. Very interesting given it's inside of a corporate building almost like a speakeasy!Had the breakfast menu along with the Japanese toast, which was Instagram worthy. Come for the hospitality, stay for the amazing food."

Deli & Bagel Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (297) • $

"Excellent bagel & deli spot! Their sandwiches are yummy, especially the bulgogi (try it)! And the owners are even better! Always welcoming & hard working They also always have specials, so keep an eye out! Recommend this great spot for your bagel or sandwich craving. Nice outdoor seating too!"

Crema Artisan Bakers

★★★★★ 4.7 (18)

"This updated review will mainly focus on their croissant loaf.I have been searching for the PERFECT croissant loaf, which is a cross between a croissant and yeast bread (I think). The texture is soft like bread, but has buttery flakey layers when toasted. This mix creates a unique crispy exterior texture that tastes and smells like a buttery croissant, but retains a fluffy interior like you would find in bread.Oh boy, Crema Artisan did not disappoint! I knew that their croissants were phenomenal when I had their pastries so I had really high hopes for this croissant loaf. I am absolutely hooked and happy to know that my search for croissant loaf is over! Seriously, if you have never tried a croissant loaf before, order or buy it from Crema Artisan - it's so good! You can follow them on Instagram and Facebook to see if they have it in stock or you can request it for a special order! I enjoy eating my croissant loaf slice plain or with a fruit jam.Thank you for making the croissant loaf! I am a huge fan!"

Brio Brio Bakery & Café

★★★★★ 4.6 (552) • $$

"One of the best sandwiches in recent memory (aside from work in progress + brew story)Cute cafe with some small candles, fresh coffee beans, small snacks + dipsQuality Japanese baked goods with tranquil musicSandwiches range from $16-$18, but are worth! Also comes with a yummy salad.Also have rice bowls and drinks/caffeinated drinks ==========Food and atmosphere are great here!Service is very sweet and friendly.Upon entry, the place smells glorious. They took out a fresh baked hojicha cheesecake and my nose was so happy.In the past, I've gotten a walnut cheese bread here and tho it was kinda pricey $5-$6? It was very high in quality. It was chock full of walnuts and lots of salty cheese bits throughout.I shared a roast beef sandwich with my friend, and tho two girls ate the entire half easy, it was well worth the $18Their meat used is prime, juicy, and flavorful. My pet peeve is when the protein just tastes like boiled protein - here, it is definitely not that. I very much enjoyed the sandwich with the kick of wasabi aioli (the smell went a teensy bit up my nose), and freshnesss from greens and tomato. The bread was fluffy and slightly sweet, it ranks very high in my bread world. I will grab a loaf when I run out of bread in my freezer!Side saladNot just lettuce, but a spring mix with crunchy rice crackers? And a light sesame dressing - none of that prepackaged stuff - delish!Cheesecake $8the slice is quite large and every bite was very yummy. It leans on the milky side and there's a soft tang with vanilla undertone. Somewhat dense, more creamy, but not gooey soft. I was expecting a basque cheesecake by the looks, but it's not as caramelized. Cannot wait to try the hojicha! Regular is their best seller.Lemon brioche $4We ate this warm and it was fantastic. Very fluffy and plush, with lemon zest speckled in-between the bread. Sharing a half made me appreciate it hahaOh and I think I found a wonderful study spot :x dogs can be outside as well!A little sad they changed their menu and removed curries/tacos, but I guess better something than nothing."

20/20 Cafe

★★★★★ 4.8 (5)

"As much as I would love to give this secret hidden place a 5 star I just cant because I have to walk here and NO PHONE orders! But you ask: "Is it worth it?" DAMN right! Killer Bfast burritos and overall special breakfasts served here every day. Everything is home made to specialty breakfast and lunch menu items. The staff is one of the best features of this place as they are friendly, warm and treat you like family. Be warned that since this is a hard place to get to, the access during lunchtime can be brutal as far as wait time, parking. The prices here are amazing also for what you get compared to local eateries. I hope they wont get mad at me for this review but I have to share this (hesitantly) since I really appreciate them and want to see their business grow (hesitantly again....lol)."

Doheny Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (112) • $$

"This establishment is amazing. Not only is the food great but the service is phenomenal. We need more restaurants and cafes like this."

The Beachcomber Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"I visited the Beachcomber recently for my dad's birthday and it had been a few years since my family and I have been here. I think this restaurant is in such a beautiful location and the service is great, but I think the food here can be hit or miss. I also had a minor issue with my reservation. I had my reservation here booked 3-4 weeks in advance so I was expecting to be seated immediately but unfortunately despite our entire party being there on time, we waited an additional 20 minutes past our reservation time before we got seated. It could've been worse if we were hungrier and if the view wasn't so nice, but I think that's a bit much of a wait for having reservations.The appetizers we got were solid! We ordered the Ahi Nachos, Mini Brioche Lobster Rolls, Ceviche de Camaron, and Clam Chowder. The Ahi Nachos were so fresh and flavorful, and the texture of the wonton nachos were soooo perfect! The Lobster Rolls were so cute and had amazing flavor and the lobster was cooked perfectly. The Ceviche was also super fresh and limey. The Clam Chowder was a bit salty for me unfortunately. If I had to pick one appetizer though, definitely go for the nachos.As for the entrees, we got the Pan-Roasted Blue Crab Stuffed Salmon, Frutti di Mare, Miso Glazed Butterfish, and the special of the day which was the Swordfish. All portions were generous which is appreciated.I was disappointed by the Frutti di Mare as someone that loves seafood and pasta. I think the flavor was more tomatoey than it was seafoody despite being packed with seafood (and I love tomatoes too). I was most excited for this dish, but it fell kind of flat for me. I just expected a little more flavor and the texture of the sea bass wasn't my favorite since it was kind of firm. But the bread it comes with is delicious, we ended up asking for extra!The rest of the entrees I only had little tastes of so take what I say with a grain of salt. The Blue Crab Stuffed Salmon wasn't my favorite but I think that may just be personal preference. I like both blue crab and salmon but maybe not together. I feel the same towards the Swordfish which was average for me, but that's mainly because I find swordfish to run drier.BUT the star of the show here is 1000% the Miso Glazed Butterfish. This is the one dish I remembered from my last visit here and it continues to be the best entree I've gotten to try here. It's so so so good. Buttery, flaky, juicy. The crust is even better, just perfectly thin and crispy but packed with flavor. I LOVE this dish, it's a must have.Cocktails!! All solid, but beware of the big jars hahaha they're pretty strong. If that's what you're going for though, good bang for your buck. They taste good though! Love the Watermelon Mojito the most.Since it was my dad's birthday, they brought out a warm gooey brownie with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream on top. I swear these simple desserts are always the most unsuspecting but it was delicious. The brownie was PERFECTLY gooey which is just the best paired with vanilla ice cream and that's all I have to say about that :)Loved our server, she was super sweet and attentive. We enjoyed having her for the evening!The ambience is warm, visually, but also literally. I love how they have their heater set up to run up through the ground. You will feel nice and toasty even on the chilliest day on the patio. Love the lighting and the aesthetic here, it's a cute upscale beach shack.A tip if you're a first timer here, park at the Los Trancos Parking Lot ($15) and either take the $2 shuttle or take a short 5-10 min walk to the restaurant. Arrive a little early to enjoy the nice view and take some pictures! I definitely take the beach for granted despite living so close.Overall, my experience at Beachcomber was on the positive side. This place is a good destination type restaurant and has that unique flair, but it's the kind of place I'll only come to every once in a while for a celebration."

My Galley Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (280) • $$

"Loved it! Got the turkey club sandwich with sour dough bread. It was really fresh and had nice crispy bacon. We also got the peachy smoothie which to me tasted like an Erewhon smoothie. So good. Great portions and good quality. Was a relaxed vibe with some outdoor seating and friendly service."

Lu Lu Coffee Bar

★★★★★ 4.9 (65) • $

"This is a hidden gem. So so good. Their coffee is top notch and we also had a strawberry and banana crepe. The best crepe I've had. So delicious. The fruit was fresh and it was topped with delicious whipped cream and ice cream The owners are so sweet and very personable. We will definitely be back to try more of their menu items"

The Sketch Pad Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (7)

"Went to Downtown Disney for the day and walked through the Pixar Hotel firat. The sketch pad is in the cute lobby of the hotel and on the way to DTD if you cross the street and go through The Grand Californian hotel. This cute little coffee shop is fast and they have different flavors to choose from. I had a lavendar latte with oat milk that was so good. The food look yummy that they had in the front case. A great option for a fast bite."

Northside Cafe By Caliente

★★★★☆ 4.4 (106) • $

"Four star review because the portions here are insane! I got the chicken fiesta burrito bowl and this could easily feed 3 people. I love the service here and the staff are incredibly inviting. The ambience is great because you can sit here and eat, while getting some work done."

Board & Brew - Ladera Ranch

★★★★☆ 4.3 (113) • $$

"My husband and I love board and brew, and have had many positive experiences here. Unfortunately, today we ordered the chicken club and the Baja wrap, and both came with really brown avocado that looked super unappealing. My husband mentioned there were also a bunch of the special sauces sitting out and sauce spilled on the counter when he went to pick it up. Attaching pictures of my sandwich and his wrap for reference. Hopefully this was a fluke, as we hope to return often."

Lagu Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (373) • $

"OVERALL : I've been going to Lagu for years now and they never disappoint. The shop is super small with only about 2 tables, but always cozy and friendly. More of a takeout than dine in spot. They're essentially a Japanese deli and their menu is pretty simple with several types of onigiri, bread/sandos, and coffee/matcha. Pricing is not bad either at $7.50 for an onigiri set, although the breads for the same price can seem pretty pricey. However the bread is well worth the cost, especially the mentaiko one! I didn't get it this time, but def craving it for next time. PARKING :Located in a business plaza where local shops can rent out small shops to run their businesses (not busy) with a shared parking lot -- very low-key but the store is clearly labeled so you won't have an issue locating it!FOOD/DRINKS :Onigiri Set (can mix and match) - 2 Onigiri and pickled vegetables per set:- Salmon- Mentai Mayo+- Tuna Mayo- Pepper ChashuBanana Creme Matcha Latte - banana matcha latte, topped with banana white chocolate foam and Nilla cookie crumbles -- def a sweeter / milkier matcha drink bc of the banana flavor profile, but it was really pleasant for an afternoon treat! The banana went really well w the matcha and the nilla cookie crumbles added some texture to the drink"

Re Ca Phe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (354) • $

"It is located in a plaza with plenty of parking, making it convenient to visit. The interior is modern and minimal, though seating is limited.+ Black sesame coffee: It's on the smaller side, but the espresso really packs a punch. Love the black sesame cream on top, it's rich and adds a smooth texture. Highly recommend if you're a fan of black sesame! + Espresso tonic: The espresso to tonic ratio was spot on, very impressed! There's a hint of orange, but you can pay an extra $0.50 to add yuzu to it. + Marble latte: This wasn't particularly memorable, it tasted like a standard latte. I'd like to try it cold next time to see if the house-made sweet cream stands out more.+ White chocolate orange canele: The crust was slightly chewy with a soft interior, just wish we got it warmed up.Staff was very friendly and helpful when answering any questions I had."

KIT coffee

★★★★☆ 4.4 (222) • $$

"1/3/2025LAVENDER FIELDS(Matcha + Blueberry Lavender Milk)This was recommended by the barista. I asked for whole milk, instead of my usual almond milk. Overall, it tasted refreshing, it would be great on a hot day. Lavender-forward flavor with the matcha quietly sitting in the background. It was slightly on the sweeter side, but I think it needed the added sweetness to balance the lavender and matcha marriage. A little bit of sugar goes a long way. CAPPUCCINO Got excited to try their Coava Coffee here, but I was disappointed. It was a dark roast that did not appeal to my tastes. It was dark with no personality. I've decided that instead of dumping the whole thing, I poured it into my lavender-forward Lavender Fields and I barely noticed it! That's how strong the iced matcha-lavender was!CUSTOMER SERVICETypical barista-customer service. Everyone did the minimal. It was okay. SEATSSmall indoor space with very few tables and bench seats, but there are large outdoor tables and sofas which is a much better option. PARKING / ASK FOR PARKING VALIDATION No street parking, unless you want to walk a whole block or two, as this whole area is office space and have a parking garage only. KIT Coffee does give 90 minute parking validation, so please ask for it before you leave. Based on the drinks I've had, not sure I would return. Nothing stood out."

Chaiwale & Co.

★★★★☆ 4.4 (128) • $

"You can just walk in, order and grab a seat inside/outside. This was quite possibly the best pistachio latte I have ever had! Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try anything from the food menu but I will be back! Parking: there's a parking lot behind and there's street parking"

Maldon’s Bistro

★★★★★ 4.6 (262) • $$

"Incredible dedicated gluten free breakfast/lunch place. Blown away by the made to order cinnamon rolls hot out of the oven on a cast iron skillet, and their out of this world sourdough bread. I've been a gf baker for 20 years and my daughter works in a gf bakery. I am very impressed with the taste and texture of their bread, and my son, the gluten eater agrees!The staff is lovely, and it's a beautiful location inside and out. Lots of little touches of love throughout. Everything is fresh and from scratch, and it shows. The tartines and the American breakfast are fab! Also, the thickly sliced smoked bacon, hello, maybe the best we've ever had.I had the pleasure of eating there twice before heading back to the Bay and I miss it already. Fortunately for me, I was able to make room for their giant sourdough loaf in my carry on!"

Haute Cakes Caffe

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$

"The food quality was amazing, service is fast once you order, it takes forever in the line to order, but once you order, you get the food pretty quick. Eggs quality"

Flo's V8 Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.5 (741) • $$

"If you are in Cars Land, you must try this place! The fried chicken is the best! Do not skip. You won't be disappointed. Sure, the wait is long but if you order it ahead, it is ready for you when you get there. Honestly if this restaurant was in my neighborhood, I would go weekly. The fried chicken here is the best in the entire park. It is crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Well cooked, not chewy chicken either. Yes, they got beer. Fried Chicken and beer are the best combination. There are many tables for seating, mostly outside. The restroom is next to the restaurant. They have everything you need on the side. The line goes pretty quick for order but expect to wait if you didn't order ahead. Highly recommend this place for Fried Chicken."

The Coffee Grove

★★★★☆ 4.4 (106) • $

"I love little mom and pop shops like this. The vibe was great and the interior was very clean.I went basic and ordered an iced hazelnut latte, less sweet. Like expected, the coffee was good and the perfect amount of hazelnut syrup was added.Make sure to tip your baristas!"

Global Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (30) • $

"The orange and cranberry kale salad was so delicious! There is an option to add more protein to the salad with a small cost and I opted for blackened salmon. While the salmon was flavourful, it was a little too cooked for my liking. It was probably fully cooked because it wasn't sashimi grade, but then again how can I expect it to be sashimi grade when it's so cheap! All in the all, I was quite pleased with the meal and I will definitely be back to try out more dishes!"

The Bakery Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.5 (55) • $

"Randomly found this place as I was walking around The Source. This place is so cute. I'm the outside there's a bench with its own tiny nursery. Inside, it's connected to a clothing store so no outside food is allowed. Service is always great! First time I came, they had a Nutella latte on their speciality/seasonal menu. I also tried the blueberry cake slice which was also good. They have such cute cakes shaped as panda or a bear head. I haven't tried any of the pastries yet bc I'm usually looking at the coffee menu haha. But today I tried the honey cinnamon latte & it's so good! The perfect amount of sweetness from the honey/cinnamon and the perfect amount of bitterness from the espresso. Would definitely get again!"

Le Cafe Du Parc

★★★★☆ 4.1 (256) • $$

"I love love love crepes. I found out about the existence of this cafe when I visited my friend, who lives in this Irvine company apartment village. I never knew they have shops in these mega apartment complexes. The fact that they had crepes was a calling card for me to come back and come back I did. I ordered the fruit crepe with Nutella and pistachio sauce, and it has ruined all crepe experiences for me. This is the most amazing and delicious crepe I've had ever. The crepe itself is on the chewy side, which is so good. The sauces were decadent and I would be lying if I didn't say I was licking them off the packaging. The fruit was fresh and abundant. When I came back in and took some pics for the Yelp, I told the employee that this was the best crepe I've ever had and he recommended the Belgium one for next time as it has Belgium chocolate on it along with bananas and strawberries. I told him, why wait, and I ordered the Belgium to go. I did split it up into 3 servings for the week, but the chocolate sauce is devine. They serve illy coffee, which complements the crepes. I am beyond excited I found this amazing crepe destination. Parking is tricky on street level, but there is garage level visitor parking also. Service is amazing. Outdoor seating is comfortable. Please visit to create your own experience."

CasaDamí

★★★★★ 4.9 (14)

"Service was outstanding! We met Allan, whom was very friendly. He walked us through the menu and a little history about the restaurant. My wife and I liked the serving sizes. Most of the items were shareable and delicious. We also had a coffee that was out of this world. I definitely recommend to stop by. Oh I almost forgot the best part was the wine and being able to sit at the fire pits! Super cool. We felt very comfortable and welcomed. We will definitely return."

KIT Coffee

★★★★☆ 4.1 (701) • $$

"Service was really quick even though the location was super busy! I love the variety of Matcha flavors they offered. I tried the raspberry I believe and orange and will say orange was my favorite. Orange and Matcha are just my favorite and not a lot of places offer it so I was happy to have it here there is plenty of seating even though the place is small. And I appreciate that there is free parking (not common in LA so LOVE)"

Lamill - Anaheim

★★★★☆ 4.2 (288) • $$

"The best coffee shop!!! People who work there and there coffee are the best. Sleek modern design inside. Simplicity at its best. The coffee, food and service are top notch. Great neighborhood addition."

L'Orange Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (37) • $$

"Pandor is a cute french bakery in downtown orange. It's a great location. Inside has lots of seating and some outlets to work all day. You order at the counter and have pretty quick service. Their latte was really good. The quiche was also amazing!! It was the perfect texture and had great flavor."

Board & Brew - Laguna Niguel

★★★★☆ 4.1 (327) • $

"Very large sandwiches with good service. They are friendly and personable. And, the food is great. Highly recommended local salad and sandwich place.Kimberly and Hunter provide top notch service!"

Ellie's Table

★★★★☆ 4.4 (99) • $

"Great spot for a quick bite of caffeine fix in Irvine! Located in a corporate building center with ample outdoor seating and work space. They validate parking for 2hr at the nearby structure or have 20min pickup spots out front.We placed an order pickup which was easy and ready right on time when we arrived. Amongst our group we ordered the churro latte, pumpkin cold brew, lavender matcha latte, honey oat latte, lavender lemonade, and the dragon fruit lemonade. All of the drinks were delicious and they use Kean coffee beans, which are my personal favorite. The pastries here are AMAZING, the biggest croissants I have ever seen. Would love to come back for lunch and try some of their salads and sandwiches!"