📍 NEP Cafe – Irvine

Irvine’s hidden gem fusion spot | Vietnamese flavors × creative soul food 🍤🥩 Visited NEP Cafe in Irvine over the weekend—what a delightful surprise! They serve creative Vietnamese-inspired dishes that are both Instagram-worthy and mouthwatering. ✨ What we ordered: 🍤 Shrimp Garlic Noodles – Explosively garlicky! Noodles soaked in savory sauce, paired with crispy grilled shrimp—so addictive we couldn’t stop. Even the kids devoured it instantly 🤤. 🥩 Beef Tongue Fried Rice – Fragrant beef tongue with perfectly separated grains of rice. Every bite had a nice smoky wok hei. 🍳 Banh Mi Chao Filet – Sizzling skillet served with fluffy Vietnamese bread for dipping. A beautiful fusion of Vietnamese flavors and Western presentation. 🥭 Mango Sticky Rice – Perfect dessert! Fragrant coconut rice with fresh mango—light and refreshing. 👶 Kids Meal Box – Comes with juice, fries, and nuggets. Generous portion, though older kids might prefer sharing the regular dishes (they’re just too good!). 🥥 Coconut Matcha / Ube Latte – Drinks are photo-perfect 💯. Coconut matcha is smooth, ube latte is rich and creamy (just arrived a bit late). 💡 Overall vibe: Minimalist, clean setting; attentive service; food is both refined and creative. A modern twist on traditional Vietnamese cuisine with layered flavors—great for dates or group hangouts! #IrvineEats #VietnameseFusion #FoodieFinds #OrangeCounty #CaliforniaFood #BrunchSpot