Micks Karma Bar

 

 

 

Micks Karma Bar, besides being featured always on the Hot On Yelp List my friend Andy told me about this place. So I have been waiting to try Micks Karma Bar, and finally when I had my day off I thought…why not today?! The day I visited here was pretty much just a day filled with adventure, Jacob joined me on this as well. Micks Karma Bar is located pretty much dead center of business circle in Irvine. I will admit I got a little lost trying too find the place, but just follow the signs to where the restaurants are, and you will find your way there. BIG hint, you will have to park in a paying structure, but no worries Micks will validate it, so you won’t have to pay! When you first park your car, and you walk towards where the restaurants are, it is an awesome scene, a huge pond with fountains in the middle, surrounded by metal art work, which the yellow one looked to me a lion…and to Jacob a front end of a pirate ship. Surrounding all of that is well all the business buildings, its one of those moments where you see what ant’s see because for sure I know I felt like I was tiny! Micks Karma Bar is right next to Kitma Thai Cuisine, which is also owned by the owner of Micks Karma Bar, which in due time I will be making my way there soon! Micks Karma Bar has a lot of seating outside, and very little seating inside but also has bar seating. Mick is a really awesome guy, right off the bat you can tell he had a lot of pride in his work. Really loved sitting there and just talking to him, he said we came at a perfect time where it isn’t packed, so placing an order and talking to him about anything and everything was seriously really awesome. The menu board which was written all in chalk, to make it easier to add or take off any changes, and on the real I was very surprised how awesome it looked! Here are some photos of what I described just above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now to the food after reading everyone’s reviews on what to get and what not, Mick made sure that I tried the Karma Burger, which was 100% Sirloin Steak Burger minced in store, hand made patty to order, topped with American cheese, with lettuce, tomato on our tasty bun.  And that is what I went with, I also wanted to try his Strawberry Basil Lemonade, and seriously…you know a drink is gonna be super good when you see it getting made, and it doesn’t come out right away. Just watching the whole preparation Mick does to make a glass of the drink, made the drink taste even better. Seriously this drink was out of bounds, really strong flavors of strawberry and lemonade, one wasn’t over powering the other it was a perfect blend, and then you got the basil, which I am not going to lie I was like BASIL?!?!…but wow it complimented the two flavors so well, it was really refreshing! Definitely a must try! When my Karma Burger came out,  it looked delicious already. Mick mentioned that the patty is made in store, as well as the meat being grounded and everything in store, again that co-signs my thought of Mick having such pride in everything he does. He said that the bread is something you wont see, because its their own batch himself as well as his other chefs have created. Made by..guess…us..people like us, he took all the suggestions from people and made it into this magnificent bun. It had a crunchy exterior, not to much like a baguette, but just the perfect amount, and a soft doughy interior, oh man hands down, major props on the burger bun. Taking my first bite of the Karma Burger, the first thing that pops out, is well the juice from the patty, just the juice alone you can taste all the flavors and its one of those Ssp Moments, the “close your eyes, shaking your head, opening your eyes and at the same time saying WHOA”. Seriously was one of the juiciest, tastiest and lastly most satisfying bite of a burger I have had. Like many other burger joints, what separates their burger from others is toppings and what not, but here at Micks Karma Bar, each element of the burger his cared for and made sure it is highlighted with every bite, at least to my eyes and taste buds! The fries that come with the burger are cooked to perfection for my taste, crunchy on the outside, and soft inside, and of course seasoned perfectly. I am very curious at the other burgers Micks Karma Bar has to offer, and as well as anything new coming out to their menu! Here are some photos of my drink and burger:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob ended up getting the Habanero Burger which was  Roasted Jalapenos, Chile Verde & sweet peppers with garlic mayo, lettuce and tomato topped with queso fresco on a bun. Jacob also ordered the Purple Palmer which was Pomegranate juice and Hibiscus/Cranberry Iced Tea topped with our fresh lemonade which tasted just like a super better grape kool-aid, it was good but really hard to when comparing with the strawberry basil lemonade…sorry Jake! When his burger came out at the same time, his looked more juicier than mine, due to the fact it had more ingredients between the buns than mine did. Another hint, Mick’s does have a huge jar of habanero peppers, which he also crushes and places a habanero sauce in a tapatio dispenser. But the Habanero Burger don’t let the name fool you as it doesn’t have any Habanero’s in it, if you didn’t read what was posted at the top of this paragraph. It does have a nice kick it to, and again if you don’t remember I don’t really do to well with hot stuff, but I was able to take a bite out of the Habanero Burger, and survived, and it was pretty damn good as well! The garlic mayo spread, is like the ninja in this burger, the taste hits your mouth from time to time. Again same outcome as my burger, perfect bun, juicy and tasty patty, toppings inside were very fitted for the burger. It was a fire work in your mouth, explosions of different tastes from heat to sour to sweet, I speak for Jacob because I do remember him saying that it was a pretty amazing burger, which it was! Here are the pictures of the Habanero Burger:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ssp’s Final Thoughts:

Micks Karma Bar holds up to its rep on why it is always on the Yelp Top List. You have an awesome owner who is friendly, knows his food business to the fullest, and again has so much pride in what he does, it makes the food taste that much better. The area with where it is located may be hard for us to locate, but a really great spot for a business, surrounded by huge corporate businesses, Mick did tell us that a lot of them phone orders in, and send someone to do the pick up, seriously I would love love love to have Micks Karma Bar just a walk away! Here are some of the hints again about Micks Karma Bar:

• Park in the parking garage, Micks Karma Bar will validate it so you wont have to pay
• Strawberry Basil Lemonade….most definitely a GET GET GET!
• Bring a couple friends so you can try different burgers, but of course try their Karma Burger.
• Don’t let the Habanero in the Habanero Burger scare you, trust me if I survived it, its a perfect amount of heat.

I know I will be making my way here again, to try as much as his menu as I can, because I know it will be super delicious! I hope you all enjoyed my food venture to Micks Karma Bar! Till next time feast well!