A restaurant called Nep Cafe has applied for a liquor license at 14346 Culver Drive in Irvine at the Heritage Plaza Shopping Center off the I-5 freeway. The application indicates a license transfer from business owners seemingly connected to EMC Seafood & Raw Bar, which is currently at this address.
Applicants for this liquor license are partly connected to Kei Concepts, which operates Nep Cafe in Fountain Valley. It is unclear whether this Irvine restaurant will be related to the Fountain Valley one.
One of the most popular offerings from the Asian-owned restaurant group, Nep Cafe is a French-Vietnamese coffee and brunch spot that pays homage to traditional Vietnamese morning rituals. Their most popular dishes include Banh Mi Chao, Bone Marrow Pasta, Crab Toast, and Cajun Pork Jowl.
They are also known for their Instagram-worthy beverages, including Ca Phe Dua Ube and Ca Phe Trung, as well as cocktails and mimosas. Given the popularity of Nep Cafe, it’d be no surprise if they are indeed planning an expansion.
For sure, it’d be a huge benefit to Irvine customers, who wouldn’t need to brave the 55 or the 405 traffic in order to make it to Sunday brunch. What Now Orange County has reached out to Kei Concepts for comment, so we will post an update if we hear back. Stay tuned.
