YNK

Name: YNK
Address: 18000 Von Karman Ave, Irvine, CA, United States, 92612-1004
Telephone: (949) 553-0100
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

39 Reviews

$31 to $50

Speakeasy

Top Tags:

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

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 21, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 4 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

Location
18000 Von Karman Ave, Irvine, CA 92612-1004
Neighborhood
Irvine
Parking details
Self Parking will be validated up to 3 hours
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 39 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.8Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

South Orange County
Best Ambiance

39 Reviews

a
abbb
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
overall3food2service5ambience2
Cocktails were good but very pricey. I would lean more towards the cowboy theme and stuff, or whatever the theme is, it was lacking.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
2 reviews
vip
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 3, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience5
We just had drinks here, it’s small but with a real cool speakeasy vibe! Drinks were only okay for the price, but the presentation was amazing! 2/4 drinks came out on fire. There was only one bartender and our drinks came out one by one, which was a little odd. Not a place I’ll be running back to but I’m glad I tried it out!
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DC
DrCharlesW
Los Angeles
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall5food3service5ambience5
Perfect date night location. Quiet and intimate. Don’t expect to burn the night away with drink after drink. Take the time enjoying the craft cocktails and conversation.
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ED
ErinD
Orange County
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 18, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
We didn’t order food, but the drinks were spectacular! I couldn’t believe that Nick took care of the place all by himself making all those drinks. Will go again!
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CM
ChristineM
Hawaii
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on August 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Mixologist was excellent and very friendly. Will return again.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 30, 2023
overall5food3service5ambience5
No food on the menu and only two Mocktails available, but delicious drinks and a really cool atmosphere
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AR
AdreseR
Los Angeles
48 reviews
vip
5.0
48 reviews
Dined on July 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was our first time and it did not disappoint! I'm not sure I would call it a "speakeasy" but perfectly crafted cocktails that the mixologist created were nothing short of amazing! I wish I could remember the gentlemen's name but he was able to conjure up a cocktail that I will come back for time and time again! And the food paired perfectly with our cocktails!
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DD
DoctorDave
San Diego
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was actually cocktails. They were delicious. And "quiet" was exactly what I wanted, so not sure how that rated.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was a nice chill vibe. My friend and I enjoyed the ambience. Our mixologist was very knowledgeable and explained the cocktails and how they were crafted.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Nick was amazing !!!! We will return . Those drinks were on point !
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A
Awa0403
Orange County
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 4, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
I made a reservation for yesterday evening ahead of time as I read in local social media that it is quite small and can only accommodate maybe 18 people comfortably. Also not guaranteed that walk-ins will be seated. The ambiance was very chill and quiet. However, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and relaxed. We were sat at the "chef's table" in front of the mixologists, Ben and Sean. Their customer service and friendliness were impeccable. They were sociable, funny, and enjoying their time making creative drink art! We ordered from FLOE (their restaurant next door) to have with our drinks and the food was delicious. Overall, fantastic speakeasy bar and the decor was awesome!
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KL
KerriLynn
Orange County
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Super cute speakeasy bar with amazing mixologists
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D
Davey
Las Vegas
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very cool decorations and intimate touches of old world artwork. Great job with the colors and interior design too. Great drinks for the price.
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NM
NurseMary
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A great find in Irvine with rotating themes every 3-4 months. We loved the Asia inspired cocktails and Nick was superb in crafting his cocktails. We will be back!
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E
Ernie
San Diego
24 reviews
vip
1.0
24 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience1
This place should not be called a speakeasy. It’s a small bar with a bartender who is not happy to be there. The drinks were mediocre at best and way over priced. 21 bucks for an old fashion made incorrectly? Waste of time. The hotel was great but this bar needs to be replaced.
3 people found this helpful
DN
DrNelson
Orange County
10 reviews
vip
3.0
10 reviews
Dined on March 19, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience3
Ok, well.....I guess it was ok. Interesting that it is kind of tucked behind the lobby. Small, really cute decorations, great drinks that are made to order. I just was a little underwhelmed by this place. Not sure if my expectations were too high that led to the disappointment but it was just ok. I think it is a one time experience. The bartender was very knowledgable, engaging and described the cocktails well. We didn't order food so I can't comment on food. The lace is very small. If I were staying at the hotel this would ben a fun place to grab a drink at the end of the night before heading up but I don't believe I would drive there, deal with the parking and walk through a hotel lobby for this experience again. Give it a try.....at least once.
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g
gourmaemial
Orange County
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!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 25, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Pretty nice place
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j
jrvandy
Alabama
43 reviews
vip
4.0
43 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.
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FT
FoodforThought
Orange County
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.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Nick our mixologist was absolutely amazing! Loved this spot!
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C
Chad
Orange County
16 reviews
vip
3.0
16 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience3
Inside a marriot
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SC
SandraC
Orange County
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.
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BO
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!!!
3 people found this helpful
OT
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.
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OT
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.
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M
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!
4 people found this helpful
OT
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.
2 people found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
2 reviews
1.0
2 reviews
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.
3 people found this helpful
ES
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.
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NT
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.
1 person found this helpful
OT
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.
2 people found this helpful
M
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!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
vip
1.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience3
They never let us in… lol
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FE
FancyEats
Orange County
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 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!
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AC
ACP37
Los Angeles
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 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.
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RE
RedE
Los Angeles
4 reviews
vip
1.0
4 reviews
Dined on September 26, 2021
overall1food1service1ambience1
Most awful experience ever.
2 people found this helpful
l
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
5 people found this helpful
JL
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!
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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 4.6 stars by 39 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 21, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 4 times today

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

YNK

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

What 39 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

How is YNK restaurant rated?

Is YNK currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information