NEP Cafe – Irvine

This Vietnamese restaurant has a more American-style approach, offering high-quality dishes and a great atmosphere for group gatherings

Cousins night out! I love almost everything Kei Concept touches. We’ve heard the hype about their brunch, but we wanted to try their dinner experience. Parking: Free parking lot. They’re located in a high foot traffic plaza. Parking will be difficult to find. Ambiance/Environment: We visited on a Saturday evening around 19:30, and it was extremely busy. Luckily we were seated within 15 min. I love the vibes here. It’s a bit loud, but you can still have a conversation. They have a large indoor area and a nice bar. Everything is kept clean. Service: Thank you Mia for taking care of us! She’s very attentive, and throughput was surprisingly quick & efficient despite how busy it was. She also checked on us multiple times and refilled our waters. Food & drinks: We absolutely enjoyed everything! Safe to say the hype is real. 1) Curry Crab Omelette - This is my favorite dish. This was presented on a small skillet with rice in a separate bowl. The omelette was drenched in curry. The curry was seasoned well, semi thick consistency, with a hint of spice. 2) Vietnamese Shaken Beef (one w/ garlic noodles & one w/ rice) - I personally prefer the shaken beef at Vox. For whatever reason, the beef seemed to be overcooked bc it was very chewy. The vegetables tasted as expected, and the red rice was really delicious. The garlic noodles were good. 3) Lemongrass Tofu - The tofu was cooked well and seasoned deliciously. 4) 5-Spice Roasted Chicken - Exactly what the description says. The roasted chicken was huge. We weren’t sure exactly what it was seasoned with, but we all devoured it. Yum! 5) Lychee Milk Punch - It’s not dinner without alcohol. I thought it was pretty strong with the rum & whiskey. It’s more on the sweeter end from the lychee & pineapple. The foam wasn’t too thick, and it paired well with the drink. Pricing: These are elevated prices. We’ll definitely be back for dinner, and we can’t wait to try their brunch. Highly recommend joining the Kei Rewards!