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Lounge  - YNK, Irvine, CA

YNK

4.7
4.7
23 Reviews
$31 to $50
Speakeasy
YNK, a speakeasy that guides you on a cocktail journey through various global regions, eras and fanciful interpretations of an ever changing cocktail experience, where You.Never.Know where the journey will lead you to next.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 9 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Speakeasy

  • Hours of operation

    Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am

  • Phone number

    (949) 553-0100

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

What 23 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Orange County

    Lively

  • South Orange County

    Hot spot

  • South Orange County

    Lively

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  1. gourmaemial

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Nick, I believe was his name, was very helpful and his mixes were delicious! The Wanderlust was the best of the 6 current drinks offered. The Monkeypod and the Tea Ceremony were the strongest out of it all. Food was great as well!
  2. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on February 25, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Pretty nice place
  3. jrvandy

    Alabama

    36 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    36 reviews

    Dined on February 17, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    I found YNK last minute while looking for a place to hang out for a few hours. The bartender and the cozy atmosphere were very welcoming. Not a place for large crowds but very comfortable. The drink selection was not huge, but it was very good quality and creative mixes using very good ingredients. The food menu was larger than expected and service was fast. I had a salad, but it was not inspired.
  4. FoodforThought

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 8, 2023

    overall3food5service2ambience3
    The drinks were good but service was chaotic to start. The entire team acted like they didn’t know what was going on. We spent an hour and a half in the bar and we’re only able to get 1 drink.
  5. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Nick our mixologist was absolutely amazing! Loved this spot!
  6. Chad

    Orange County

    11 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    Inside a marriot
  7. SandraC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 1, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    The service was great. The drink I ordered was very good but a bit on the pricey side. Although it was worth it. I felt sorry for for the server as he was a little over whelmed with a big crowd that showed up and did not have a reservation. But he very graciously handed it. I would go back if I where in Irvine again.
  8. BORING

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 20, 2022

    overall1food1service1ambience2
    The bartender was so slow and boring! He even kicked us out before our time was expired. You need a way nice and more fun Bartender ASAP!!!
  9. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 13, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing vibe! Loved how easy and convenient it was especially staying in the hotel. No food was provided just drinks but everything was delish & very peaceful.
  10. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 6, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Bartender was awesome and good vibes. Super nice set up and drinks were on point.
  11. Maximus7

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 31, 2022

    overall2food1service2ambience3
    It was awkward walking in because it sounded like we had to whisper because there was no music and there were two couples already seated in the tiny room, until we realized there was music but it was really really quiet. I asked politely to have the music turned up but was outright ignored the first time and had to ask again later and only then the music was at a comfortable level for conversation. We weren't served right away either and we all tried all of the specialty drinks on the menu except "gun smoke" and none of the drinks tasted good (like the proportions were really off or something) except for the "vieux carre", of which our friend who is a connoisseur said it's not even close to what it should be. The cocktails definitely felt overpriced for most of us not even wanting to finish our drinks. And to top it all off, all of this could have been excusable, but the primary reason I'm writing this review is that we booked two 4-person tables because we had a large group and the other person (birthday girl) in our group received a notification from open table that she was a no-show despite both her and I clearly stating our names for the reservation to the only person working the bar the minute we walked into the bar. That is really dirty to report someone as a no-show and force them to go through an open table review process. This is by far the saddest speakeasy I've been to yet, but at least it'll be a memorable story for all of our friends!
  12. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 31, 2022

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Bartender didn’t really know how to make drinks (6 of us all didn’t like our cocktails), no music at all so it was completely silent and creepy, then he booked me as a no show on open table for some reason! Idk what was going on here. Not the greatest birthday.
  13. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 9, 2022

    overall1food1service2ambience5
    I started going to YNK around 2018 when Ravin was tending bar. He was an amazing mixologist. After Ravin left, Nick (I believe his name was Nick) took over. Also good quality drinks. I am not sure what happened, but the drink quality has gone down tremendously, while prices have gone up. I ordered a penicillin. It was so unbalanced, it was ridiculous . I do not think this new bartender tasted the drinks as he made them. There was too much lemon. Another patron ordered the same drink and I noticed he only drank half. My husband overheard yet another patron state, ‘that is not what I expected’ and promptly ordered something off menu. The presentation of the drinks was also not consistent. I ordered the same drink as another patron and we had two different presentations. I used to be such a fan of this unique and awesome place. The vibe is so chill and quiet. The decor is amazing.. albeit a bit small, but the intimacy is a part of the charm. I do not think I will go back unless I hear of some radical changes.
  14. ErSp

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 9, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    I had higher hopes for this place given what I had heard, but I think they may have just been trying harder when it first opened a few years ago. The space itself is small and dimly lit but comfortable and clean, with various objects of décor to suggest a "worldly" vibe, as the menu is themed after various countries of Europe. Its not particularly ornate or detailed, but then again this is a side room in a hotel lobby. The cocktails themselves were competent, certainly better than your standard-sweet fare at an average drinking establishment, but not exactly what I would consider unique nor did they set a high bar. We had: -The Gun Smoke, which is just a standard Negroni with a burnt stick of rosemary in it. -The Fog Of War, which is pretty much a dark and stormy to the T (with "citrus bitters"). -The Pearls 75, which is a French 75 with something called "lemon caviar" that was conspicuously missing from our drink (I assume it would have been some kind of boba-like "pearl"?) -The Penicillin, which was made standard but too sweet for my taste (I am assuming this was to blunt the taste of Laphroaig, but the original calls for Lagavulin which would work better for this reason). -The Garden Walk, which was probably the best of the bunch, as it was a refreshing Gin Basil Smash following a standard recipe of gin, basil and cucumber (amplified by the use of Hendricks gin). If your normal cocktail repertoire is simple and/or sweet stuff, you may be pleasantly surprised. However, if you've at all been drinking the aforementioned cocktails regularly, you wont find anything novel here. Moreover, the bartender was unenthused and low-energy. He seemed to perk up a bit at our enthusiasm, but it was an awkward vibe in the beginning. I personally give people a wide berth with stuff like this, since we are all human and the cocktails are what matters more, but several other reviews mentioned the same thing.
  15. NotTheSame

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall2food3service1ambience4
    I was so excited to bring my party here after my initial visit. But this time, the bartender was so rude and didn’t seem like he wanted to be there. He wasn’t helpful at all and ruined the vibe.
  16. OpenTable Diner

    San Antonio

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 29, 2022

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    We rushed to get there on time! When we arrived they said they understaffed and not going to open! The managers need to Get it together ! Very unprofessional Dow not calling us ahead of time.
  17. Megan

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 15, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a phenomenal excellent experience. We were looking for something quiet and private, instead of a noisy club, and this place was perfect. It’s a small space, but the lighting is dim so it still feels intimate. Nick was fantastic; he was genuine to converse with and very pleasant. The gun smoke was exquisite!
  18. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 7, 2022

    overall1food1service1ambience3
    They never let us in… lol
  19. FancyEats

    Orange County

    28 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As always, I love the surprises at YNK. It’s one if the few speak easys that change their theme to keep things fresh. Great experience and service!
  20. ACP37

    Los Angeles

    25 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on December 4, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic experience! The room only holds maybe 12-15 people so it's a very intimate space, be prepared for that. Our mixologist Nick was an expert in balancing flavors as well as in presentation. There were drinks that smoked, drinks in bird cages, blowtorched orange slices, magnifying glasses, etc. All very fun. The decor and ambiance is what you'd hope for from a little-known speakeasy. Bookshelves with interesting collections, dim lighting, soft jazz, velvet couches.
  21. RedE

    Los Angeles

    4 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 26, 2021

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Most awful experience ever.
  22. lisaw

    Baja California Sur

    3 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2019

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Overbooked and closed another bar. They were not able to honor our reservation when we showed up. The manager was apologetic. Said he would make it up to us. Took my card to email me, never heard from him. It’s been 2 months. Was very much looking forward to it. But very disappointed
  23. JessL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 13, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Service was incredible and Wes is the best!! The cocktails were fantastic and each one came with a show. We had the honey pizza and honey on a pizza I never thought would work, but it was so good! Bar manager Aaron comes and checks in on everyone as it is his concept. It was a great experience, highly recommend!

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff temperature check required

FAQs

YNK is rated 4.7 stars by 23 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 9 times today
Google Map for YNK

18000 Von Karman Ave, Irvine, CA 92612-1004

Additional information

  • Neighborhood

    Irvine

  • Hours of operation

    Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am

  • Cuisines

    Speakeasy

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking details

    Self Parking will be validated up to 3 hours

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Phone number

    (949) 553-0100

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