It only makes sense that a brunch restaurant seemingly lifted out of a hip Ho Chi Minh City neighborhood landed in Fountain Valley, a majority Vietnamese American city near Orange County’s Little Saigon, its tables tetrised with mandarin tequila cocktails and Vietnamese coffee topped with egg foam. Nep Cafe, from the prolific Kei Concepts group, grew from a pop-up to a bustling brunch destination with as many colorful beverages as it has fried egg dishes. Instead of pancakes and hash browns, Nep serves pan-fried noodles, tender beef belly in cast-iron skillets, and mango sticky rice for dessert. Expect to wait during prime weekend hours, though tables turn quickly as the morning progresses.
Typically, restaurants this popular don’t take reservations, but Nep Cafe does on OpenTable for both its original Fountain Valley and newer Irvine location.
The tables near the glass wall are bathed in soft light that not only gives an almost cinematic level of brightness but also makes for the best food photos.