Irvine Improv Comedy Club

Worse Sunday comedy night ever… talent not funny from the warm up guys to the headliner. wait staff was rude and seemed like they were interested in your two drink minimum only. asked for sliced fruit to garnish my cocktail twice that never came, Pla e wasn’t even half packed. Guess you have to be leery of those cheap comedy nites, you get what you pay for. so disappointed. don’t recommend bargain nite. it’s a bomb.

Saw Kevin Smith and Ali Wong here on two separate occasions, and both performers killed it. It’s nice having a local place to see acts like these, especially a place smack center in the suburban, conservative heart of O.C. The place gets pretty loud (during the pre-​performance chatter), and now it’s partnered with Umami Burger, which has taken burgers to wonderfully unsatisfying heights of disappointment. That said, you don’t have to order from the Umami Burger portion of the menu. The nachos is solid, though the cooks really scrimp on the cheese, and the ahi poke was decent. Service is (understandably) slow during the show, but overall, the experience is swell and makes my wife happy. So there’s that.
Finally, to the dork behind me who kept yelling out things and talking loudly and woo-​hooing during Ali Wong’s warm-​up acts, and whose own friend actually had to tell him to shut up, you, sir, are a complete tool. Recognize. A comedy show is not a «let-​me-​participate» show. Nobody is there to see you, nobody wants to hear from you, nobody is amused by the obnoxious state of your drunken stupor, and anybody who does turn to look at you is probably filled with anger and pity and wishing for you to go away and do something else for the night. For the moment, being out in public and interacting with other people in a socially acceptable manner is not what you’re best at. Please go home and meditate on this and come back a better person.

Headliner was FRANK CALIENDO (His ruthless impression of Trump was hilarious) This Improv Comedy Club is way better then the Ontario Improv Comedy Club. It’s organized and the staff are extremely nice. Everyone is happy. The management here put’s the customers 1^st. They do there best to make you enjoy the show. The sweet potato fries come with cinnamon and sugar sprinkle on them yuck. Will go again.

We came here last night to see Ali Wong (so hilarious, check out her Netflix special!) and had a great time! The venue is clean and intimate enough where there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. I’ve been to other Improvs and the food selection here is much better since you’re ordering from Umami burger. We only had drinks this time but I would make a night out of it and have dinner for sure because the drinks and burger options were similarly priced ($ 12-​$ 15). Might as well get more bang for your buck! I really enjoyed our experience here and am looking forward to coming back.

I went for the show on 14^th June 2016, no big names were for that day so the tickets weren’t pricey — 10+2(service fee) at the counter (also the standard 2 item per person). This was my first time so I had pretty high hopes for the show but it turned out to be a very bland show with a lot of non sense.
There were five people who performed that day with each one performing between 10 – 20 mins. The first two ones were short — not too bad but there were decent jokes. The third guy had some very vulgar and disgusting jokes. I understand that the show is for 21+ and I usually have no problems with explicit material but this guy constantly had some disgusting things to tell along with mocking some older lady (who is sitting with her grand daughter) saying cougar and how he would fuck and stuff.
But the worst part of the whole show was a group of middle aged men talking louder than the performer with a microphone. Even the comedian got irritated with them multiple times and asked them to be calm. The big security guard did nothing but tell the group once to not be noisy. Those people continued making noises even in the next other two comedians’ acts. The organizers must have seen these kind of groups before and should have handled better to not spoil the experiences of the other people in the audience.
I personally found the last two comedians as the best for the night, they too had some explicit jokes but all were in good taste and humorous.
The food was another disappointment for me. I actually have heard many good things about umami burgers and was expecting a decent meal but the buffalo chicken sandwich which I ordered was one of the worst I have ever had. I couldnt even have more than couple of bites. The fries which came with the burger too were very bad. My friend said her umami burger was good though. The onion rings were bigger than I expected to be but were decent in taste.
Now the few positive things would be the interior seating where there were different kinds of arrangements for people preferences — small booths, restaurant style tables, bar style chairs and counters along with sofas. Also the staff at the entrance and servers were very nice.
Overall a very disappointing visit for me and my friend.

Great comedy venue. Saw Chris Tucker and he put on a great show. The staff was great and service was quick and food and drinks were good. One of the better comedy clubs I’ve been to. It’s a nice clean environment. Highly recommended!!!

I’ve been coming here since 2013 when the Improv was on the other side of the Spectrum. I’ve seen Patton Oswalt, Chris Titus, Hal Sparks and a few others here. It’s a two item minimum and they serve Umami burger as well. I’ve had it before but usually I go for their cheesecake and a root beer which are really good. If you’re going to order food on a Saturday night be prepared to wait. Otherwise any seat in the house is a good one.

Time to update: Returned this evening and out servers name was Daniel. He was great, very attentive and make some great recommendations.
Appetizer:
Nachos here are good here. $ 12, and they are tasty and good to share. I would say this is one of the best VALUE items (bang for your buck) on the menu.
Main course dinner:
Daniel recommended some good things, like the manly burger (a bit salty, but we liked it). I really wanted to sub out my fries for truffle fries & would’ve been okay if there they was an up charge fee, I just wanted to try them! But our server said they can’t do that here. Normally, the truffle fries cost a whopping $ 9 for a small bowl of them, so I would have liked to try them along side the burger, even with a +1 or +2 dollar fee.
For dessert:
The U.F.O is great. It stands for something but this is what it is listed as on the menu. Keep in mind that it is very very sweet & rich. So split this dessert! It is a warm oatmeal cookie deep fried, then topped with a caramel glaze and a scoop of French vanilla ice cream. My mouth is watering as I write this!
Visited the bathroom: there was water everywhere. All over the sinks, there should be someone coming around to check things like this.
Overall, I really enjoy coming here & will return.

First of all, show up early. The best time I had was when I ordered tickets ahead of time and had the chance to get there an hour before the event. Other than the obvious fact that you should be aware of the comedians, you gotta get the good seats near the stage.
I had a blast, this is all about watching a good show. The workers at the door and box office are fine, they get the job done and don’t harass anyone. The only issue is with the service when you get inside.
Turn your phones off, they don’t allow you to have them out because some people record video or audio of the comedians. It’s a 2 drink minimum, which is all overpriced and the workers take forever to bring them to you. The food service equally sucks, not only does it take forever to get your order, but you’re better off getting fast food.
Otherwise the place is awesome, it’s a comedy club. They’re generally all packed no matter what, but this venue has some good speakers and screens to watch the show regardless if you show up late around the back of the place. Much like I began this review, show up early and you should be fine, but don’t expect any decent service with your food or drinks.

Came here for Jo Koy last week. Great show, he was hilarious and the venue is awesome!
We bought VIP tickets and sat right up front, we almost regretted buying VIP tickets when Mr. Koy started picking on the audience in the front. Thank god he didn’t call us out!
The Irvine Improv is huge! The have community table seating and booth seating, all is dependent on when you get in line. If you’re the front of the GA line you’ll most likely get booth seating with great views, if you’re in the back of GA you’ll probably get community table seating behind the booths, either way you’ll get pretty good views and the community seating was fairly comfortable.
We’re hoping to get back for Bobby Lee and Margret Cho! Highly suggest Irvine Improv!

What a great place to go see your favorite comedians. Was just here last night to see JOKOY and he killed it! Show was at 7pm, but does opened up at 530pm. It is advised to come earlier if you’re not VIP to get good seats!
We sat down and we were given menus right away. They had alcoholic drinks and non-​alcoholic drinks. Umami burger was on the menu and I didn’t expect that! How cool. Enjoy a good burger and laughs at the same time.
The place is bigger than I expected and the restrooms were very clean. I’d go again to see JOKOY. #riceisrice #weridetogetherwedietogether
There’s a parking structure across the street or you can valet for $ 4

I came here to see Jo Koy a few nights ago, and was pretty impressed with the facility. It was clean, updated, with nice, modern décor. They had long tables to accommodate large parties but also these nice 4-​seat booths which is great if you have a party of 4, but can feel strange if you have to share it with another couple you don’t know. Luckily we had our friends with us, so the booth felt pleasantly intimate even with being in a crowded venue.
Irvine Improv seems to have a partnership with Umami Burger next door, which I think is a fabulous perk. I had the truffle burger which was super juicy and flavorful, and the fries were crisp. Comedy clubs aren’t exactly known for their food, so this was definitely a good surprise.
They seem to have a lot of great comedians at this location so I will definitely be back to check a few out.

So I went back to the improv to see Jo Koy & he was great! Super funny and I would totally see him again. Only difference between this visit vs. my previous visit was the service.
I’m starting to think the experience here varies on what seat you get. Was here a couple of weeks ago for Anjelah Johnson. Sat near the front tables & the service was great. Went to see Jo Koy last night with a friend and we sat near the back. Don’t get me wrong — the view was still good! I don’t think there’s a bad view in this place but the service was sub par. It was hard to get the attention of our waitress & it may be because they really squish you back there with other parties! My friend asked for water 3 times before our waitress brought us some. Our waitress would leave and them come back again and asked if we were OK which is when we’d ask for water again… Maybe it was just an off night? I’d like to give them the benefit of the doubt because my previous experience was awesome! I’ll most likely be back because they have pretty good headliners at this location.

Came to see jo koy and loved it. This place is so nice, from buying tickets to seating, food and great great great customer service. This is a great place for a date night. Drink are good, food is delicious and the view in the room is always great because of the way the stage is set up. Every one get a great view no matter where you sit. I highly recommend coming here and I will be back soon.

Saw Adam Corolla do his podcast from here.
Nice venue inside. If you book dinner and get there when doors open, it is first come first serve seating which was great for us. We sat right next to stage.
Food — Umami Burger is the food selection as well as appetizers. We had onion rings which were good; pot roast nachos that were ok.
Service — was great but they make a lot of money on how much food and drink they can shove in your «pie hole@ before the show begins.
Overall — we had a great time! I highly recommend the Irvine Improv.

We came here to watch comedy great, Dave Attell. He rarely does shows on the west coast, so when his tour dates were announced, I jumped on getting tickets.
A little backstory: I flipped my car 12 years ago. Every anniversary, I receive a mixed bag of emotions. Usually, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my life. However, on occasion, I can find myself in a funk. To combat that, I purchased these tickets to ensure a night of laughter. Appropriately, Attell’s show «Insomniac» kept me entertained while I was on bed rest.
In addition to ticket prices, Improv requires a two item minimum purchase. They have a decent drink menu with non-​alcoholic options, but I thought dinner would be a nice idea. Also, diners get to sit closer to the stage. There weren’t many vegetarian options, but I spotted a salad that sounded good. I believe one entrée counts for the (two item) minimum.
We arrived a half hour after doors opened. I thought it was a good sign that there wasn’t a line, but once inside, the venue looked almost full. The hostess sat us at a cramped, four person table. (Think fast food dining table) We were in the last seats in the last row. The set up was long and narrow, almost like communal bench seating. They left a gap between us and the people next to us. This didn’t last long because they sat another couple at our table. It was awkward, so we introduced ourselves because it already looked like we were on a double date. Booths are reserved for parties of 4 or more.
The boyfriend ordered an ahi burger and beer in a souvenir glass. He was excited that he finally had the opportunity to try Umami Burger. The beet salad I saw online disappeared from the already meager menu. My only choice was to get the Mediterranean salad. When it came out, I was hugely disappointed. Iceberg lettuce with some olives, feta, tomatoes, jarred artichoke, and what seemed like bottled Italian dressing. Two pieces of stale garlic toast was probably there to resemble croutons? It was already late, too late to grab dinner anywhere else, so I finished the anemic salad. I ordered an iced tea and they brought me a bottle of Snapple. I asked if I could have a fountain drink instead. Our server didn’t offer me a refill and I had no interest in purchasing another drink. The boyfriend loved everything he got. I was disappointed that Umami didn’t have a veggie burger. Or a salad with a bit more effort.
Watching the show was uncomfortable for me. I had to turn in my seat to view the stage and my neck was sore by the end of the night. Attell killed. His inappropriate humor was lost on most of the crowd, but we were in stitches all night. I had to scoot my seat in a bunch of times to allow people to make their way to the bathroom. Unfortunately, I don’t think this will be my last visit. They get amazing headliners, but I’ll likely grab dinner somewhere in The Spectrum and have two drinks at the show. Parking was easy and free. The venue is located on the side where the movie theater is.

Saw Felipe Esparza a few weekends ago and had a great time. This place is very large, get there early if you want to sit close to the stage. They do a raffle for the best center table booth just before the show starts, make sure to use your phone to win.
Parking is free in a private lot and valet for pay is very close by, if you don’t mind walking park for free.
We were sat across one another and saw the show sideways in a way. You will be rubbing elbows and maybe legs if you are a big person.
We arrived a hour and a half before the show and tried their nachos and onion rings, the portions are large but didn’t taste great at all, the nachos were with shredded beef and a weird cheese, skip them unless you have bland taste buds.
Staff is attentive and pretty cool.
Bathrooms are near the front door, so make sure you start walking if you feel nature coming.

This newer venue is so nice! Super spacious, and I loved the new counter seating. We were lucky enough to be seated at the front counter, which runs the length of the club (there are two). That means we got to face forward for the show! Bathroom was clean and not crowded when I went.
Drink was okay — a little to weak for the cost. Don’t get the truffle cheese fries. OMG, it came out cold, so the cheese sauce coagulated into a nasty chunk at the bottom of the dish. Plain fries would have been so much better, because the shoestring fries were actually well seasoned. Caesar salad was fine. Maybe a tad too much dressing.
We had fun, and laughed a lot, though that is obviously dependent upon the act you’re going to see.

The Irvine Improv is sure to bring smiles and laughter along with a humorous perspective about life. We held our annual company kickoff event at the Irvine Improv and everyone had a great time. The event was well organized, the food was delicious, and the comedians were amazing.
The food was a buffet style that included spring salad, chicken breast in a white cream sauce, beef pot roast, penne pasta in a marinara sauce, mashed potatoes and assorted sautéed veggies. For dessert, they offered cheesecake and chocolate mousse which they passed around. I was excited to try the chicken, but they were waiting to replenish it the moment I arrived from being in line. So instead I had the beef pot roast, which was still really good.
The drink waitresses were friendly and came frequently to check on us and replenished our waters often, without distracting from the show. At near closing, they provided us our checks and processed our payments very quickly.
The entertainment was stellar. Their humor touched on all age groups and lifestyles. Everyone had a great time. It made me want to go back again and enjoy more fun times. As Dr. Seuss said:
«From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.»
The Irvine Improv is conveniently located at the Irvine Spectrum. There is ample free parking in the close by parking structure and plenty of dining and shopping options available. Perfect for a fun night out!

I came to the Improv with a large group of friends. We were given the VIP treatment had a special entrance for us to enter. Each person was required to order 2 items (the first was complimentary). Since this was so late at night I went with coffee and the ahi tuna poke. The dish was really disappointing as it came with tuna, avocado and potato chips. Potato chips? A couple of my friends ordered the nachos which were huge and looked like a good deal. I also tried the sliders (2 beef sliders with thinly fried onions over the beef). They weren’t that impressive. The show started about 30 minutes after we were seated.
Friendly Frank (African American) from south-​central Irvine (LOL) did a short comedy routine and he was funny. I enjoyed his routine except some of his comedy was a little vulgar and graphic, and I felt a little uncomfortable for those parts. I don’t feel it is necessary to be vulgar to solicit a laugh. That seems to be a problem with many comedians today. He was doing such a great job and didn’t need to go there.
Eliza Skinner followed him and she was not funny at all. Her routine was boring and annoying from the moment she spoke until the painful 30 or 40 minutes of listening to her. I was wondering when she was going to stop. She was going on about cats, dogs, and their voices and other animal nonsense. She too tried to add some vulgarity to her act but I don’t think anyone was listening and people around me were booing her and wanted her off. I was having a hard time trying to stay awake.
And then finally, Trevor Noah (from South Africa) came to the stage. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance. He wasn’t vulgar and had a wonderful sense of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of his routine. I loved the way he could tell a story. He was so down to earth and the way he could impersonate the mannerisms of different people was hilarious. This is the kind of person I could see myself hanging out with. I’m looking forward to watching him on the Daily Show. He really is a class act. Trevor saved the day!
The venue itself is nice and the wait staff was extremely friendly and attentive. This is a great place to watch a show. For the most part I avoid comedy shows, because the performers are just too vulgar. I’m glad however that I got a chance to see Trevor live!