NEP Cafe

The inspiration

NEP Cafe began in 2020, during the pandemic, when nobody could travel and chef Viet Nguyen wanted to bring a little piece of Vietnam to Orange County^1,2 . The setup of short stools and low tables was a deliberate nod to Vietnamese street cafes, and the name itself refers to routine and sticky rice² . The idea was to spotlight Vietnamese breakfast and brunch, a tradition shaped by both native customs and French influence that Nguyen felt deserved more attention in the States¹ .

Who's behind it

Chef-owner Viet Nguyen came to the kitchen from IT and finance, studying at Le Cordon Bleu before opening his first restaurant in 2014² .

What to order

• Crab toast: lump crab over soft-scrambled eggs with Cajun seasoning, a familiar breakfast given a Vietnamese twist .^1,3
• Egg coffee: thick egg-yolk cream poured over strong Vietnamese coffee, a drink the team says they introduced to Southern California .^1,2
• Seafood tom kha pasta: the lemongrass tartness of the Thai soup turned into a creamy pasta with shrimp, squid and scallop .³
• Coconut ube coffee: Vietnamese milk coffee layered with coconut cream and ube cream .²

What people are saying

Critics at Eater describe a brunch destination near Little Saigon with as many colorful beverages as fried egg dishes³ . Reviewers at The Infatuation call it the best brunch in Orange County, praising Vietnamese dishes given subtle luxurious makeovers in a light-filled room with hanging plants⁴ . Eater also recommends the crab toast and the sizzling beef skillets in particular³ .