Maldon’s Bistro

Driving home from San Diego to LA, we stopped for a Tesla charge and discovered this AMAZING cafe! We popped in right at closing time and were treated to the kindest, most considerate service I've ever had!! Beautiful cafe, lovely ambiance, the best of folks own and operate this treasure. Let's not forget about their perfect latte - smooth, full bodied without any bitterness or burnt taste. Absolutely perfect! If you're in the neighborhood, you won't regret stopping in and, I can pretty much guarantee, this will be your new go to. I can promise that we'll be stopping in on our next trip down south 💖

Staff here was so helpful and outgoing. I think we met just about every one of them. Practically everything here is gluten free and there's so many amazing sounding dishes it was hard to choose. Per our waiters recommendation I got the BLT and the short rib sandwich on gf sourdough (I know!). They were both impeccable. They cure their own bacon and it's a thick cut that's crunchy, but also melts in your mouth. They also have 3 gf beers on draft that is local, Divine Science, and my family that was with me said you couldn't tell it was gf. All of us (gf and non-gf) wish we had this restaurant back home and plan on trying to stop back here in our way to the airport. There is such attention to detail here from the food down to the spoon for the tea. It's impressive. Great ambiance and food!

Amazing food and adorable place! Good variety of options, and where all delicious. Friendly staff and owner. I personally like my soup really hot, and mine was more warm than hot. So only advice would be to request yours hot if that's what you prefer!

It turns out this is a very popular spot for treating yourself to a delicious weekend breakfast. There's parking nearby, and the café offers validation if you stay for no more than 120 minutes.

When we arrived, they asked if we had a reservation. Regardless, we didn't have to wait long, and we found seats easily. However, there was a large line of people afterward, so it's best to make a reservation in advance.

The menu features omelets, sandwiches, sweet and savory pancakes, and beverages. The pancake with Nutella and their jam absolutely won me over. I highly recommend this place.

One thing to note: be attentive when placing your order because, due to the high volume of customers, they sometimes make mistakes or forget some dishes.

There are seating options both outside and inside. The café is located in a lovely area, with beautiful buildings, a fountain, and plenty of places to sit and relax.

Quick Summary
Nice French bistro spot. Food was pretty good, especially the French onion soup and the fries (plenty of butter and salt, as expected!) They offer validation for the parking structure next door. Comfortable seating indoors and outdoors in the work complex

Food- 5 stars
The food is good and everything tastes like it's made from scratch

French onion soup- this was pretty good and I would come back for it on a cold day

Short rib sandwich- I should've taken the server's advice and used sourdough instead of a baguette. The short rib and au jus were good, but the baguette did get soggy pretty quickly when eating the 2nd half of my sandwich. The french fries were fantastic though!

Service- 5 stars
Fast casual spot with table service. Food arrived pretty quickly and all the servers were very helpful throughout our meal

Bottom Line
Great lunch spot if you're around the area, and easy free parking with the parking structure next door.

Amazing! Beautiful, soulful cafe. The staff here is the nicest and most attentive. I wish I lived here so I could visit all the time. Gluten free paradise.

I had the burger, medium, spinach salad and a glass of wine. Portions were good and I ended up taking home half of the burger and the salad. Hard to believe everything is gluten free!

Amazing!!! The people, the food, the atmosphere, the passion for their food and the customers …. All of it is amazing! They were short handed today but that didn’t stop them from trying so very hard to get to everyone as quickly as possible. It gutted them to think someone might have left unsatisfied. They care and that passion and love for delicious food and customer service is only one amazing part of their magical equation… the food is infused with their passion and love!! Worth the wait, enjoy the ride - and have the cupcake!

Such a cute breakfast place and food was excellent! We had the American breakfast and some latte’s. The biscuit trio was my absolute favorite! I’ve never had better biscuits than these! So yummy! Service was great, only negative was that parts of our dishes came out separately. We realized that was experienced by others who have left reviews. They maybe need to have a better ordering/food processing system. Will definitely be back! 😋

We love David and Sher. They are so amazing. Sher is very away of allergies and dietary needs. She will always check with the chef to make sure you can get what you request. Sher is very accommodating and provides amazing customer service and experience.

We love coming for lunch on the weekdays. Sunday brunch is also good, it gets busy and it’s a specific menu so be sure to check the menu before.

We had a family gathering for two birthdays. People came from 3 different directions in SoCal and we randomly picked a spot in the middle. What a treasure we found! Unbelievable service. They brought handwritten birthday cards out with a pastry for the lucky two. Limited menu to focus on quality. Great family story. All the wonderful, delicious baked goods are gluten-free. Did I mention the amazing service from owners to busboys? We picked a wonderful day to be outside and even though it seems odd to be in an office park a couple block off 405, it was peaceful, sunny atmosphere with fountains. Literally just steps from validated parking. It is 100% worth making the drive. Did I mention the great, personal service?

I had the brownie and Chai tea for breakfast. It was delicious! The staff and cook was very nice. Everything is made fresh. Outside patio is decorated with flower and plants with blue and white colors. Inside was also decorated as well with plenty of windows to look outside. It definitely has french decorative taste. I'll definitely be back.

Gumbo was DELISH! I can't believe their pastries are gluten free here. Staff are kind :)

Wonderful service. Insanely good food. Great atmosphere! All gluten free 🥹.

Charming breakfast spot that instantly transported me to the streets of France. From the moment I stepped inside, the cozy ambiance embraced me, creating an inviting and delightful experience.
The decor exuded an authentic French charm with delicate floral accents. It was a perfect blend of comfort and elegance, creating a cozy atmosphere.
The crepes were a heavenly combination of lightness and flavor, accompanied by an array of delectable toppings that tantalized my senses.
The service was impeccable, with friendly and attentive staff members who seemed genuinely passionate about providing an exceptional experience. They were knowledgeable about the menu, offering recommendations and ensuring that our preferences were catered to.
To top it all off, the presentation of each dish was beautiful, elevating the dining experience to a visual feast. The attention to detail in both taste and aesthetics truly reflected the essence of a French breakfast.
If you're longing for a little slice of France in the heart of Irvine I wholeheartedly recommend this cozy breakfast spot. It's the perfect place to start your day with a touch of elegance, savoring the flavors of France in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

RUN don’t walk!!!
AMAZING food & AMAZING service. This French restaurant is the cutest! It is a must visit. All three of us got the special - chicken dish 10/10

I have been celiac my entire life. Finding a restaurant that not only caters to a gluten free diet but also has impeccable service, what a treat! We drove up from San Diego county and Maldons did not disappoint. We are already planning our next visit.

This charming little place is a wondeful find. As a Celiac, I felt safe eating here with their amazing gluten free menu and knowledge of Celiac and cross contact. In fact, the entire menu is gluten free. The french onion soup was incredible - I've not had that in 16 years! The fried fish and chips special was so tasty. I'll definitely be back. Need to try the burger next time! All the staff was friendly which can be rare to find these days at any retail/dining. Do yourself a favor and check this place out, even if you're not gluten free!

Love this place! We're from Canada and were looking for gluten free options. This is the place if you're in Irvine. David is a great host the food is great in a Parisienne atmosphere.

Absolutely incredible food, highly highly recommend the BLT the bacon is divine and their French Onion soup is next level amazing. Highly recommend their coffee too, overall fabulous experience with great staff.