Flame Broiler - Irvine

I randomly found myself nearby and was looking for a Flame Broiler, so this place was the closest option. I ordered the mini chicken bowl with white rice and vegetables. The staff was friendly, and my food came out quickly. The chicken was tender and flavorful.

I visited this restaurant for the first time to try their chicken shell, and I was pleasantly surprised by how fresh and delicious everything was! I really loved the secret sauce and the excellent service. I highly recommend this place if you're in the area.

I have never had flame broiler before, so I decided I would give it a try today. I am at work, so I googled the nearest location and clicked order to pick up, and headed down to get it because I received a text saying it was ready. When I got there, I was in a hurry and normally, I always have masks in my purse but because I was rushing, I forgot one in my car. I went inside and saw the online order on the counter and picked up the receipt to see if it was mine. The employee working ripped it from my hands and said that's not yours!! I said my name and that I did an online order. He said he didn't have any by that name and he could not help me until I put on a mask (4 times), even though I could see my order ready to go in front of me and could have just walked out with it.. This would have still been fine, I don't mind running to my car to grab one. When I got back, he then continued to question me and act as if I didn't place an order. He kept asking was it with postmates???? (4 times) And me, thinking postmates is a delivery service? and I was picking up, said no, I placed it online with your website and he continued to question me, saying there are no online orders. He asked my last name, I said it, but because only my initial was on the receipt he continued to act like he didn't have the order..... I seriously wanted to walk out the moment he yelled at me to put a mask on multiple times when I would have done so with one swift ask. I do not want to come back honestly, this experience left me feeling shakey, and I am not even sure why because it could have been handled kindly.

I work across the street from here and used to come here throughout all of COVID and NEVER wore a mask and was always polite and the server was also always very polite and then one day I walk in and I guess business was good cause they had a new employee and the employee rings me up and I 'm waiting for my food to be ready and as I am picking up my food the man that normally serves me sees me and he immediately says How many times do I have to tell you to wear a mask? Confused I say, I 'm sorry I was never told I needed to wear a mask before he said C 'mon, yes I have, don 't lie! I responded, No you didn 't, or else I would have never came back! And walked out the store. The CDC says cloth masks don 't work and they aren 't regulating what masks are being worn so this leads to the conclusion masks don 't work or else they would be regulating the type of mask being worn it 's about compliance not our health, furthermore you have hundreds of countries and states removing COVID restrictions including California on Feb 15th ....any way I felt attacked out of left field by what I can assume is the owner of this place when I thought we had a polite and cordial relationship initially ...anyways I will no longer be dining here as several other restaurants are happy to accommodate patrons wearing masks or not !

They refused to serve me today due to me not having a mask. I was getting food to go quickly. Lack of common sense costs real dollars.