Hidden Gem: LUA Asian Fusion Eatery If you haven't heard of @luaeatery and live in South OC, it's time to check them out! LUA brings the bold flavors of Vietnam, Thailand, and China to life with a creative twist that makes every dish unique and crave-worthy. Their menu has something for everyone, with flavors that truly deliver and plating that's just as impressive. Whether it's a casual night out or a special occasion, LUA is the perfect spot. Don't skip their cocktails, mocktails, coffee, or desserts--every sip and bite is a delight. This place is an absolute must-try! - Crispy Spring Rollls - Garlic Parm Wings - Vietnamese Wings - Smoked Beef Rib Pho - Garlic Noodles w/ Thinly Sliced Ribeye - Crispy Mapo Tofu - Modern Bo Kho Dry Stew - Crispy Pork Belly Vermicelli Salad - Crispy Fish Lettuce Wrap - Cafe Su Da Vietnamese Coffee - Lychee Hibiscus Tea - Sea Salt Foam Thai Tea - Passion Fruit Cheesecake - Fried Banana Coconut Turon w/ Ice Cream Visual Review: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DD4-hhQynP9/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== read more

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The food here is AMAZING! Absolutely gorgeous presentation and even better food, we are just passing by after a beach day and we are so glad we did! We will be back! read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Yellow curry and delicious LUA mule cocktail - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

Came here after a hot day! The food was amazing and the servers were very attentive. Our table was ready upon arrival. Definitely worth coming this far! read more

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First time here and loved everything we ordered. Friendly staff. Looking forward to our next visit.

+5/5 Meat was extremely tender and flavorful . Noticeably high quality meat. Tried the original pho, smoked short rib pho and garlic noodles with shrimp. We enjoyed everything and it was cooked perfectly. Broth was flavorful and delicious Pho was very authentic and grounded to its culture. We will definitely be back for more read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Short rib pho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

I have been super sick and craving broth and Lua has been my go to. In my area there aren't many good pho spots and Lua is incredible. Love their vegan eggrolls, smoked brisket pho and mocktails. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Butterfly Passion and Lychee Hibiscus so good - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

Went in on a wednesday night 6:30ish, it was pretty empty there was only one table in use one guy at the front we ordered a boba drink and two bowls of phō. Our food came out fast but unfortunately the meat in both of ours was very pink, i sat for a while longer maybe 20min to see if it would cook but the broth was barely hot, the lady next to us with her kid also complained about the meat being raw when her kid told her it didnt taste good not sure what that was about but it wasn't that good maybe i'll try going back and seeing if they can make it right again. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Original Pho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

This was our first time visiting and it was amazing! They have a nice selection of apps, banh mi sandwiches, pho, and a vegan menu. The smoked pho was amazing, definitely recommend it. It is also a larger portion that can easily feed 2 people. Their cocktails were also very good. The space is very inviting and modern. There are so many plants and green accents that it created a beautiful atmosphere. Lastly, the service was amazing! We were seated immediately and helped shortly after. The food came out hot and quick. Our server was super nice as well! 10/10 recommend read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Smoked Pho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

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I finally made it here in person and it's so cute. Brian is adorable and worth coming here to meet him. He is awesome and he helped me choose some gluten free options like the chicken pho and yellow curry!! I love the food and can't wait to dine in and drink sake!! read more

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Came here with family to try out this recommendation. Bein' the glutton that I am, I wanted to try out a couple different things here, so I ordered based off of stomach .. obviously saw their chicken wings, so had to get the garlic Parmesan ones, while brother ordered the other one. Both tasted great. Was told they had somethin like a bao bun here, so I ordered that for the boyfriend cuz he loves those, and he was def happy wit it, along wit the eggrolls. Bless his white soul. So we both got the smoked pho, and I've eaten plenty of pho, and this was the first time we tried pho wit a smoked short rib inside! Needless to say, noodles, broth, and the meat all had plenty of Flavors and we were stuffed at the end. So would def recommend to any Asian food lovers that's lookin for a nice meal in a relaxing environment. read more

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Came in at 7:30ish on a Tuesday for my birthday since everything was closed. There was 1 party inside and 1 ordering food to go. As we sat, 4-5 groups of people came in to eat, and there were 3 orders for pick up. -Ca phe sua da. My husband loved it and wanted more lol. 4.75/5 -Crispy Vietnamese wings. Great texture. Perfectly cooked. I just didn't like the flavor so much. I ended up dipping it in the sweet and sour sauce of the egg rolls. 2.75/5 -Crispy egg rolls. Very hot. Very crispy. Was not a fan of the inside of the egg rolls. Obviously, it was much better with the lettuce and the pickles though. 3/5 -Smoked pho. The meat was not even salted, so eating it by itself wasn't really flavorful. I also am not a fan of smoked meats, but it wasn't very smoky either. The broth and the noodles were very complimentary though, so it worked if eaten all at the same time. 3.75/5 -Brisket pho dip. Definitely different, but I liked it. My husband thought it was just ok. 3.75/5 I'm glad we tried everything. Everyone has different tastes, and fusion is definitely not supposed to taste like the norm. Still enjoyed dinner, but I personally would not be back for more. My husband would probably go here for the Vietnamese coffee though lol read more

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Had the original pho. My hubby got the smoked pho. Both excellent. Flavorful. Melt in your mouth brisket and ribeye. Also has the LUA bao. Yum! Will definitely come back here again. read more

kat best customer service ever they have a variety of vegetarian and vegan food l got the fresh vegan fresh roll and the vegan Vietnamese salad I love it. Everything was so good in Fre read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - fresh vegan spring oil - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

Excellent bistro! My girlfriend and I stopped for a bite on a Sunday around 7pm. The restaurant accepts Yelp reservations but luckily we were sat immediately after waking in/joining the list. Their staff was very attentive and courteous. The green themed decorations featured nice booths, chic golden touch on furniture, and nice plants for a small room. There's not a ton of space but still a lovely space. Our orders came out workin 10-15 minutes. We tried their signature short rib pho, the crispy branzino, some decent, fried spring rolls and their Thai chili wings! The spread was immaculate. Great presentation. We had to request to extra siracha and jalapeños for some spicy as those weren't on the tables/brought out. The steamy pho had an excellent broth, rich beefy and subtly sweet hints. The rib was prepared well and was tender. Excellent choice for any soup lover. I think the fish was also a great choice. It was savory yet refreshing as it was plated with lettuce wraps and other veggies for a delicious bite once fully constructed. Their Thai chili wings are a must try entree. The sauce was amazing and the wings were ginormous! For as much as we ordered we did still have some room in the tank but the quality of the food was good. I liked their ingredients! The service was great, i enjoyed our experience a lot :-) read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Crispy Branzino lettuce wraps - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Delicious, flavorful and unique combos. I had the Brisket pho dip, it hit all the tastes I wanted a little pho to sip or dip and a delicious banh mi type sandwich. The Vietnamese wings were popping with flavor, we asked for a side of rice to sop the leftover sauce. Shaking beef was also really good but not as flavorful with the appetizers that where so flavorful. We also had the mapo tofu with beautifully fried tofu and smoked eggplant and delicious sauce. Highly recommend, a little pricey for traditional Vietnamese but worth the price in flavor by far!!! read more

Food was very good. Staff were very nice and sweet. I love how there's a small little pho shop all the way in Dana Point. A great whole in the wall with awesome delicious food! The meat (smoked brisket) was really tender and soft. read more

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SO FRESH - Let your tastebuds dance - be sure to embrace and enjoy the accompaniments along with order versus simply seeing them as a garnish - the pairings are exceptional. Quaint comfortable setting with knowledgeable and attentive staff - highly encourage you check this spot out and trust it'll make its mark to become a mainstay. read more

Coastal Orange County was long overdue for a standout Asian fusion spot--and LUA absolutely delivers. This place has only been open for about a year, but it's a gem. The food is bold, vibrant, and full of flavor. Portions are generous, and the ingredients--from the crisp vegetables to the tender meats--are clearly high quality, fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The chef even came out and delivered our food to us himself! The short rib pho was a knockout--rich, savory, and comforting, with melt-in-your-mouth meat and a super flavorful broth. Honestly, every dish we tried was on point. You can tell there's real care behind the menu here. The service was great, our waitress was so happy and kind and helpful. We will definitely be back regularly for dine in and take out. Whether you're local or just passing through, LUA is the kind of place you'll want to come back to. A fresh, modern take on Asian comfort food that hits all the right notes. read more

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First time here. Glad we had a reservation. Limited tables for a weekend so best to call ahead. Nice casual and quaint place. Excellent food. Everything was flavorful and better than expected. We had the vegan yellow curry with rice. It had potatoes, carrots, portobello mushroom, tofu, zucchini and the vermicelli salad (more of noodle dish in my opinion) with peanuts, veggies and egg rolls. Yum! Server was friendly and attentive. Overall great experience. read more

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Amazing service, very accommodating for prom and a large group. Boba is very fresh, and food was prepared perfectly. Restaurant is small and intimate, ambiance is wonderful read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Original Pho and Crispy Egg Rolls - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

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I stop in at 6:30pm. They were packed with happy customers. I asked to make a to go order. I was initially told it would be 1hour wait. My face must of sunk so sadly. I said I just wanted a bowl of beef bone broth with rice noodles. Server said; I'll make that up for you right now! Total cost was under $4 including my 20% tip. When I was given my order 2 minutes later I handed him a $5. I've been here before and will keep coming back! Plus the fish was so delicious. read more

Everything we ordered were flavorful. Plating was appetizing. Would highly recommend Lua.

I came here with my parents and my girlfriend and we all loved it! I got the butterfly passion fruit drink and the bite style chicken yellow curry. The drink was super sweet and yummy, just as I hoped for. The curry was a huge portion and it was very tasty. I got the choice of bread or rice for my entree. The service was fast and our server was friendly. The interior of the restaurant was well designed. I would definitely be back here again! read more

The smoked pho was tender and flavorful. I wish that they had regular pho noodles instead of the flat rice noodles though. I would definitely go back to try new items! read more

Wow what a great find. My wife and I went for lunch and the food, service and decor were excellent. We ate the brisket sandwich with the pho dip and boa buns. Highly recommend both. Great spot. We will be back. read more

Excellent Food and Service! Best Asian food in South Orange county! Great location. Our new favorite spot.

I never leave reviews but I felt compelled to write one for LUA. The best Asian food I've ever had outside of Asia. Hands down. It's fresh, flavorful and delicious. Amazing. read more

The service was phenomenal. Both of the employees made great recommendations, including to a local dessert spot. The smoked brisket pho easily stole the show. The crispy lechón banh mi was a close second. read more

I felt like venturing a little further out to try something new and came across this place. This restaurant is fairly new and currently has a soft opening menu. You'll notice when you walk in how clean and modern the interior is. To your immediate right is where the host would be. To your left you'll see a handful of tables. Their soft opening menu, which we were given when we were seated, had a good selection of items (including vegan items) which all sounded good. We ended up ordering the following: Crispy Egg Rolls, Smoked Pho, and the Original Pho. I also ordered a Lychee Hibiscus to try as well. How did it all taste? - Crispy Egg Rolls: 4 moderate sized egg rolls. These were good, crispy and flavorful. The sauce that was included was icing on the cake, a little bit of spice goes a long way. - Smoked Pho: Smoked short rib with a bone rests on top of this bowl of pho. The short rib was good, tender, and had some flavor. The broth (which we were told to enjoy without sriracha/hoisin sauce) was a little bland. It was rich, and I could tell there was some flavor, but I feel like it was a little watered down. Sure, I could've mentioned something when asked how it was, but I kind of felt bad if I did. - Original Pho: Like the Smoked Pho, the meat was good. Huge pieces of brisket (we opted for brisket only), which were tender and had some flavor. The broth tasted similar to the Smoked Pho, but slightly more watered down. - Lychee Hibiscus: The drink was pretty, and tasted good. It wasn't too sweet. It came out with a straw that was skinny so it was someone difficult to drink with the lychee jelly. I requested a larger straw but they didn't have any, so they provided me with 2 small spoons. Service was a little awkward from the two people that helped us. But, they were friendly. It took 15-20 minutes to receive our bill after our table was cleared and were asked if we wanted anything else. There were only 3 parties of 2 people in the restaurant at the time. Parking isn't a problem here. There are plenty of spots though I'm not sure it is during the day when most people are at Gelson's and other neighboring businesses are open. I'm sure they're still working on kinks here and there being so new, so I'll have to come back and give them another shot! read more

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LUA Asian Fusion Eatery recently had their grand opening! The food here is a delicious fusion of Vietnamese food with other cuisines all over the world! They draw inspiration from Thai, Japanese, Filipino, Italian, French and more! I have tried their: -Crispy Lechon Bánh Mì: roasted pork belly, mayonnaise, chimichurri sauce -Smoked Pho: bone-in smoked short rib pho -Sizzling Bò Kho: braised beef jowl with potato wedges and cheese curls -Butterfly tea Passion fruit -Viet-style Vegan curry: tofu, bean curd, taro and coconut milk -Banana Fritter with ice cream: Filipino style fried banana with shredded coconut and peanuts served with vanilla ice cream - Crispy egg rolls The food is absolutely delicious! My favorite was the pho, it tasted smoky and savory. As a Filipino myself, I also enjoyed their take on bahn mi, with Lechon! Service is very nice. Restaurant is cute and clean. Plenty of parking. read more

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Where do I start ? First of all the location of this place is awesome it is very close to the ocean on PCH although it is not that noticeable if you don't know about it but it's in a nice strip mall so parking is definitely not a problem. The stuff was very friendly when I and my friends went in for the very first time we felt very welcome and what we ordered were all delicious I had the Vietnamese sandwich with a touch of lechon and it was delicious it had chimichurri sauce in it too so it's a party in your mouth my friend ordered the chicken spring rolls and she loved it as well I will definitely go back to this place over and over again since it's not too far away from where I live . read more

Love love love this place, if you love Pho like I do! You better give it a try The Staff is wonderful also, Giving you space and time to glance over the menu there's no rush here. read more

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Absolutely fantastic experience. I tried the Vietnamese coffee, the smoked pho with beef rib, and the spring rolls--every single dish was excellent. The coffee was rich and strong, the pho had deep smoky flavor with incredibly tender rib meat, and the spring rolls were fresh and perfectly prepared. Service was friendly and the atmosphere was great. One of the best Vietnamese fusion spots in Dana Point. Highly recommend! read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Smoked Pho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

5/5 stars! The smoked brisket pho was everything I wanted it to be...flavorful, smoky tender meat, with a light pho broth that I enhanced with Sriracha and hoisin...their cocktail are also pretty and taste delicious! I will be back next time I come to the los angeles area, it is totally worth the drive! read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - I forgot the name of the drink but it had little seeds at the bottom that were fun to chew - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Great efficient service. Food was delish, very flavorful and the waiter had good suggestions. I'd go again.

5 = food 5 = service 5 = ambience 5 = decor My hubby and I both had the smoked pho. It really hit the spot on a cold evening. The Broth was chock full of flavor. In pho, it's all about the Broth. The smoked pho comes with tender pieces of rib meat. We also ordered their crispy egg rolls which comes with Lettuce, dipping sauce and Basil. It came out hot and was very delish. Servers were very nice. They refilled my water glass when needed. The decor is beautifully decorated with a landscaped wall and lattice chairs. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Smoked pho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

Fresh flavorful food. Had Roasted Mary's Organic Chicken Rice and Lychee Hibiscus Mocktail. Good service, nice inside. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Roasted Mary's Organic Chicken Rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Food service was wonderful. Our waiter explained the whole menu patiently and made qreat suggestions. It was clean. The food wow was very flavorful and high quality. We went there because of the Dan Dan noodle promotion and 5 star reviews on Yelp but when we got there the waiter said the place was under new ownership and they didn't have any dan dan noodle pho. We tried something different and the food was delicious. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Short rib pho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

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One of the best service restaurant in local, MUST TRY "Smoke Pho", which is umami and briefly can be stated as yummy, yummy!

Great taste, my husband is saying this is the best he ever had!!! Thank you Ikuyo H. read more