The food was very good. I liked the idea of being able to choose your base and then being able to add whatever meats you want. The egg noodle bowl on the top with fried chicken and tofu was phenomenal. The chicken was similar to fish sauce wings and the tofu was very caramelized and had a nice salty coating of sauce. The bottom was nem nướng and pork with the woven noodles. It was a very big portion, but the fresh herbs/veggies made it feel balanced. An order of spring rolls were also ordered, but wasn't in the photo. It was ordered with crispy pork belly. Based on some reviews, I was skeptical about ordering the pork belly, but I was pleasantly surprised. The skin was very crispy and you could hear the crunch from across the restaurant. The restaurant is very open with big windows, but I liked the concept of the open kitchen look. The service was really good. We ended up ordering pork belly and shrimp for our spring rolls and the worker politely came by and told us they were out of it. He was able to accommodate for it and was very kind about it. Even though you can order at the table with a QR code, the staff was very attentive. read more

Lúa - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Lúa specializes in their woven rice noodles. I ordered their woven rice noodles with the char siu/crispt pork belly and it was very delicious. It's a Vietnamese delicacy you can't find anywhere else in Oregon so I'm glad to have to a Portland restaurant to offer this. They give a plentiful amount of fresh herby veggies combo with fresh hot rice noodles alongside tender flavorful char siu and SUPER CRISPY pork belly! The staff are friendly and the store is extremely aesthetic, the interior has this spin on modern Vietnamese style of decorations. Great interiors that's won't disappoint your date. I absolutely recommend coming here for their niche Vietnamese food! read more

Lúa - Woven Rice Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

My favorite Vietnamese food I've tried in Portland. The food is very tasty and affordable. I love the Grilled Lemongrass pork with woven noodles. read more

3/5-UPDATES from 7/14/2025 dinner: A mixed bag this round, but still rooting for Lúa. Came back for dinner with the family tonight and left with mixed feelings. - Disappointed to see canh bí đỏ với tôm discontinued - Heo quay was cold and chewy - Canh hẹ với tàu hũ lacked flavor - Wontons soup and dumplings were okay, just chewy not tender - Xá xíu was solid - Lemongrass pork rice came with more fat than meat - Ube and egg coffees were decent as drinks but didn't taste like ube or egg Ordering was still confusing: the self-service order listed didn't match the outdated printed menu, which added to the frustration. We enjoyed sitting in the shared outdoor patio with The Box Social, but keep in mind with the posted sign. "Welcome to the Box Social! Feel free to order food from Lua at these tables but you must also get something from Box Social. Enjoy your stay!" Lúa's Loyalty program details: - $1 = 1 point - Free items start at 75 points - Points expire after 6 months - 25 bonus points for registering with email - You can track points via Apple Wallet or Cash App I'm still a fan of some of Lúa's comfort food staples, but hoping for more consistency next time. *****5/5-From April 2024 Visit: Almost like mom's cooking, if only it were closer! This is a long overdue review from our late April 2024 lunch, so I hope the menu is still close to what we experienced because it was memorable in all the right ways. I'd love to visit Lúa more often for my Vietnamese comfort dishes, but it's a bit of a trek from where I live in SE Portland. That said, it's worth the drive if you're craving home-style Vietnamese food made with love. We ordered a spread of comforting classics: - Heo quay (crispy pork belly): solid and flavorful though the sauce was just okay. - Bò lá lốt (beef wrapped in betel leaves): a bit dry but still satisfying. - Stir fried eggplant with fried tofu: an interesting twist, loved the texture play. - Canh bí đỏ với tôm (squash/pumpkin soup with shrimp): delicious. - Canh hẹ với tàu hũ (chive soup with tofu): I'd died happy. If you're Vietnamese or grew up eating these dishes, you'll know this lineup hits deep in the comfort zone. I'd definitely recommend these to anyone seeking that taste of home. A few notes: - I'm not a fan of the barcode ordering system, especially when you're hungry and it's glitchy. Thankfully, they kindly took our order the old-school way. - The space is lovely with high vaulted ceilings and roomy seating, but there were boxes stacked everywhere, which made it feel more like a storage zone than a polished dining room. - Two gender-neutral restrooms, but no toilet seat covers. People will use toilet paper for it so it's personal preference or you have to squat. - Parking is pure luck, so plan ahead and bring your patience. Despite a few kinks in logistics, the food shines. I'll be back when I'm on that side of town, and next time, I might just call ahead to skip the QR code drama. read more

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A medium size restaurant with around 10 tables inside. They could accommodate most size parties. You have the choice to order from your table or leverage an interactive menu with the hostess. This seems to be a popular food delivery kitchen and they are built for it. It slowed the internal service but still fairly efficient. read more

Lúa - Front counter - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Lua has turned into fast food style self serve ~ self qrcode ordering, pre-tip, self water & utensils. Tables not clean. This is all tolerable but the last couple times the staff was not in a good mood. This makes the pre-tip unjustified IMO. Asian beer gone and chicken tastes different. read more

Lúa - $8.95 - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This place is really underrated, it's a solid viet place and every time I come to Portland I always visit them. You have to try their crispy pork banh hoi, and you can add extra meat for under $3 which is a steal in today's economy. read more

3.5 stars* The restaurant is set up that you order by phone or the screen, serve yourself water, get your utensils, etc. we ordered the soft bun with bbq pork. It was ok- the meat was cold and kept slipping out the bun. The pickled veggies aren't as tangy as I would've liked. Unfortunately, they were out of the crispy pork. The rice noodles with lemongrass chicken was pretty good, but I wish it came with some mint leaves. The beef wrapped in betel leaves had a nice grilled flavor and liked it with the chili. The portions were good size- I left stuffed! The tables felt sticky and not clean. It's a pretty good place for a quick lunch, but the ambiance wouldn't match for a nice dinner. read more

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Randomly came across this place after a doctors appointment. When you enter you can choose a place to sit and place your order through your mobile or you can do the self service order tablet up front. We both got their egg noodle dish, jalapeño butter chicken, and bbq pork buns. The food is just AMAZING and bursting with flavor. So clean and fresh and the presentation was just beautiful. My husband LOVED the chicken wings. A new twist to just getting fish sauce chicken wings. I really enjoyed the noodle dish. I don't normally turn to noodle dishes because either the noodles are under/over cooked. But this dish was just breath taking. We've tried different entrees the next few visits. And everything just taste amazing. Hands down my favorite dish is their egg noodle. read more

Lúa - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Ordered take out. I ordered the beef pho with steak, brisket, and shank. Came with a good amount t of meat and toppings. Broth a was flavorful. I only wish they had thrown in to go sauce packets. Next time will be better. read more

It's hard to find a place with banh hoi around here and it's so good! As it should, it comes with plenty of fresh veggies. I love that there are vegetarian and vegan options as well! I also got the bao buns which were good, I preferred the char siu over the chicken. As others have mentioned, it is all self service now which I don't mind. It's always been clean when I've been here and the food keeps me coming back! read more

The food is good although we usually get the egg cream coffee which is a rare find in Portland. Service is always quick and friendly and the location is close in PDX which makes it convenient for us when we want good Vietnamese food or an iced coffee. read more

The food here was unreal and the portions were really big for the price. The only thing I didn't love was the sort of self service aspect (order with the QR code, pick up your own food trays when they're ready etc). We had a big group so it was a little cumbersome and some of the trays could have been too heavy for some of our party if they were alone. That said, the Pokémon decor was charming and again, the food was incredible! read more

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First time visit, A+---graded on food and service. Friendly, humble with a smile. Banh mi, wings and egg cafe sua da was da bomb.com read more

Food was good, small portion. I like the real spicyness level of this restaurant. We ordered a few dishes to share. -Chicken wings (fish sauce, dried rub, garlic salt, and pepper) -Woven rice noodle with five-spice crunchy roasted pork (this dish has too few veggies for the pork, but the crispy pork was so good!) -Pho (a half bowl size of normal portion), taste was alright. Self-ordered at the counter. Service was alright. The tabletop was sticky. Food came out fast. Pretty spacious space and not many tables. No parking lot, and parking can be a challenge in this area. read more

Two people, 2 entrees, 2 appetizers, might have been a bit ambitious on our part but well worth the over full feeling after. Delicious with a capital D! A nice casual spot with fresh, timely (not too fast not too slow. Just right for a fresh meal) service. We ordered the lemongrass pork lettuce wrap with wavy noodles. It may sound silly but the noodles stole the show. All of it together was so satisfying though. The sweet chili chicken wings were crunchy and super flavorful also. Bun noodle salad with shrimp was gorgeous! And wontons in chili oil was quite decadent. So packed with pork and chive filling and silky smooth. Just spicy enough. Can't wait to overindulge here again! read more

Lúa - Pork and chive wonton in chili oil - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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WARNING!!!!!! STAY AWAY FROM THIS RESTAURANT!!!!! DO NOT COME HERE ... if you are looking for a decent restaurant experience!!!!! I would give a zero if that option was available. Don't be fooled by the pictures online. The place feel like a messy storage room than a restaurant. Boxes everywhere. Main shelves are displayed with plates, bowls, and condiment jars, and cardboard boxes. First impression was more like suffocation - not welcoming. The business model is terrible. As we came in, we were told to wait for them to clean up the table before we can sit down. There were literally less than 10 customers in the whole restaurant, yet most tables were not cleaned. The casual greeting from the employee (not sure what to call this person as they did not wait on us - so waiter would not be appropriate) was more like the nod of a passer by on the street. Nothing friendly and nothing that screamed we were welcomed in. Then were told to order at the cashier counter or scan the QR code and order online. We had to go get the cups and pour our own water from one corner of the counter. There were about 10 empty pitchers on the counter. After having to check every single pitcher, we had to hunt down an employee to ask for water. Well, they brought a pitcher with water to our table but we still had to get our own cups and served ourselves some water. We had to get our own napkins, utensils, and paper bowls for sharing from another corner of the counter. The food was mediocre at best. Chicken wings were loaded with raw salt. Chicken pho looked nothing like the picture. Portion was small. Nothing about the food that would make me want to come back. However, the lack of the services and the experience for sure made us NOT to ever come back again. THE WORST part is that they were so sneaky and automatically added 18% to 20% tips on our bill when we placed the order online without any warning that extra tips were included. This pissed me off when they purposely ran a business model without providing any services and yet trying to automatically include tips in the bill. For clarity, we had 4 people in our party. DO NOT COME TO THIS RESTAURANT!!! read more

Great Vietnamese food. Service is excellent and fast, and they're really making an effort to keep prices affordable. One of my go-to. Always good, always reliable! read more

The wings are great when they have them but the service is terrible. Every time I've been there, they have one person working the front. I agree with another yelper that they should have a sign in the front directing people where to go because the one worker/owner? is rarely available to welcome guests since he's busy bringing out food or in the back. I assume he's the owner because there's no way an employee would stay there that long being that overworked. We're Asian and frequent many hole in the wall Asian establishments where you have to walk up the counter to ask for things and to say this place is worse than that says a lot about this place. As long as you know what you're walking into to, you'll be nicely surprised with the food. read more

I ove this place. Some of the most flavorful Viet food you can get in Portland, in my opinion. They don't have Pho, but their menu is substantial with everything else. They have the tabletop QR code menu system, so you can just walk in, grab a table, and order. read more

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I'm visiting from out of town! In case you're wondering about parking, it's slim pickings, and it's only street parking. I had to park a bit away and walk in the rain, but it was worth it. The food was wonderful! I ordered the egg roll noodle bowl (very flavorful) with the butterfly pea matcha milk tea (almost too pretty to drink, make sure to stir). There's a neat ordering system where you order on a website at the table. I had some trouble getting the transaction to go through, but it finally worked. There's also a bar if you want some alcohol. The vibe is airy and spacious. My server was approachable. I would come back for sure... as long as parking wasn't too difficult! read more

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Saw some reviews calling this the best Vietnamese food in town. Big claims that made me a bit skeptical but seriously delivered. The pick up process was nice and easy, and the service was very friendly. we got the pork vermicelli bowl and the fried chicken rice bowl as well as spicy fish sauce, wings and char siu baos. Also it's very nicely lit on a more dark themed street. The vegetables in the bowls were all flavorful and crispy and the friend chicken was very well seasoned and crispy. The pork belly in the vermicelli bowl was also super juicy and crispy. Wished the portions were a bit bigger but the flavor was amazing and the price was pretty fair. The highlight for me was the spicy fish sauce wings. The breading was so crispy and the spicy fish sauce was so good and tangy. The spicy level was perfect for me who likes spice. It was a bit too spicy for my wife but she's a bit weak to the spicy. Don't think I'll try the spiciest level. Overall it was amazing and will be back for sure. Also the lychee mojito was super refreshing. read more

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We came in with a group of 6 right when they reopened for dinner at 4:30pm and got a table easily. We wanted to place one big order, but the QR codes at the table to order off of makes you pay right away, which didn't make sense since it was all going on one card. We also had some older folks who preferred a paper menu, but we could only find two copies that they had to share. All of the silverware, napkins and water were self serve. We also bussed our own tables, but eventually the area to put dishes was completely full and we had no more room on our table for the food that was still coming out. The workers were nice, but clearly didn't have time for any service outside of ringing us up or cooking. The food was good and the prices were decent. They had a ton of vegetarian options. The tofu bahn mi had a ton of flavorful tofu, but lacked variety and portions of the pickled veggies and toppings. I've definitely had better. The tofu bao was pretty much identical, but in a bao bun, which was light and fluffy. I would go back, but not to sit in and eat, just for take out. read more

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Food is usually good but the service/ pickup always seems to be a mess. This evening was exceptionally bad. Arrived 10 minutes after my estimated pick up time (since I know they are usually running behind). I still had to wait additional 30 mins until I actually had my order. This was 40 minutes past estimated pick up time without any explanation. And the food ended up somehow being cold? Lua, you have so much potential and are in such a convenient location. But not knowing if my order will be ready in 15 mins or 60 mins is not sustainable. I don't plan on coming back because of this inconsistency. read more

Lúa is always a favorite when we visit Portland -- consistently delicious, and absolutely worth a visit. The woven noodle plates are highly recommended ...beautifully presented with herbs, greens, and perfectly grilled proteins including tofu! Their bánh mì is also incredible! read more

Many tables were full of dishes. No table service - order at your table through phone-qr or at the front tablets. "paper menus are outdated" we were told, and he was right. Serve your own cutlery, water and come back to front to pick up your food. The air inside was very cold too. Boxes of food supplies hanging out all over too. I would not recommend coming to eat in house. Do takeout if you enjoy their food. read more

We were really hoping to love this place since it's in our neighborhood and we love Vietnamese food. Unfortunately, it was extremely disappointing. We were surprised by the high prices ($25 for chicken wings). And despite having a full bar there, we were unable to order a drink because there was no staff to serve. The bathrooms were also absolutely disgusting. They have not been cleaned in days. And the tables were sticky and not wiped down. The food was mediocre at best. read more

Food was yumm. I wish I had a bowl of broth with my rice. Service was pretty fast as well and very nice. I did not like my drink tho the passion fruit juice was not for me. read more

Lúa - Vietnamese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We were here for a short trip but ended up coming back twice. Our group of 7 had no problem being seated both times and service was quick. We did struggle with the QR code ordering/paying both times but there is a paper menu available and you can pay at the register. The Bánh Hoi Woven Rice Noodle Entrées were our group favorite (don't sleep on the Lemongrass Tofu option, so flavorful and delicious). I was taught by my Viet friends to start with the lettuce base layer, then unroll the woven noodles as the second layer, then top with pickled vegetables, meat or tofu, and mint before rolling and dipping. Must try! read more

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We're Vietnamese and we love the banh hoi thit heo quay, nem mount and bo la lot. As a returning customer, I have some suggestions to the owner. We've been eating here every few months for the last 3 years. The service has changed in the last couple years where they no longer serve you at your table. You order through the app, get a pager and bus your own table. We love the food and the staff is always friendly so we'll keep returning. The set up would be confusing for a customer who is coming for the first time. A tablet at the front door or register would be helpful to help customers order, especially for people who don't have a good cell phone. If we bus our own tables, have a dedicated area for us to leave the dishes and throw away food. read more

Lua is a gem of a Vietnamese restaurant that specializes in rice noodle rolls, offering an elevated dining experience that combines authentic flavors with fun presentation. The crispy pork belly woven rice noodle rolls here are outstanding. They are perfectly crafted, with a delicate texture that pairs wonderfully with the flavorful fillings and dipping sauces. We also got a lychee jasmine tea drink and canh ga chien which was delicious, but not too memorable. The ambiance is elegant yet comfortable, making it a great spot for both casual meals and special occasions. The service is attentive and friendly, ensuring that your dining experience is enjoyable from start to finish. There is little to no designated parking, so you'll have to opt for nearby street parking. read more

Still a solid go-to place for delicious food, but during a recent visit on a weekday for lunch, I found the place an odd "one-man show" that caused a long wait for your food. Not sure if they're cutting back on staffing or trying to save money in the face of rising costs (I sympathize with small businesses trying to squeeze out profits in today's economy), but they had no one in the kitchen. Instead, the person at the counter was also the chef. He ran between prepping food in the kitchen and checking on orders that were coming in from the self-service kiosk. I came in to order something to go, and it was a simple dish of egg noodles topped with roast pork and cha siu. It took me 30 minutes to get my food, and everyone else in the dining room seemed like they were just waiting and waiting. My egg noodles also was gummy, sticking together in a ball when I got home to eat it, although the pork had the same crunchy skin as before. So just a warning that if you go in and you don't see anyone in the kitchen, you might consider coming in another time when they're more fully staffed. read more

It has been a year since I'm back to give it a third chance but hmmm, the food took an hour to come out and the food was super salty, especially the beef garlic noodles. Please consider hiring more staff particularly around lunch and dinner time so groups don't have to wait 1-2 hours. read more

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Service is non-existent. Ambiance is cold and hollow. Some of the food might be tolerable but I have never seen shrimp cooked this much. It was pure rubber and absolutely horrible. Take your $$ elsewhere!!!!!! read more

Very good food We try 2 times Sườn bò đại hàn + mình xào tỏi Bún thịt nướng Cánh gà nước mấm Come to enjoy real vietnamese food in Portland Oregon Parking on the street read more

I'm visiting, looking forward to try Vietnamese foods in Portland, Oregan.. very disappointed in service and foods. It's not authentic Vietnamese foods. I guess this is how waiter and waitress treat their customers . read more

I saw this place a few months ago and wanted to try but they weren't open the day that I was in the area. Finally had a chance to stop in for dinner and everything was so delicious! All the dishes we ordered was so flavorful. Some spicy, some savory, some sweet. I also ordered a cocktail and the rum was very strong. The restaurant was cute and dark. Lighting was very dim. It wasn't very busy when we were there. Only 3 other tables. Service was okay. Kinda slow for being as dead as it was. I originally came for 2 other items that I saw on Yelp but they no longer serve it. Which those pics were posted by the business owner so I feel like they should take them down. Will probably stop by again to try another dish because my husband really enjoyed it. You can either order at the register or scan a QR code at your table to order. There is no parking lot. It's all street parking and hard to get a spot during busy nights. read more

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4.5 stars! I love the name of this restaurant. The decor is cute and modern. The food was delicious, I ordered too much knowing we wouldn't be able to finish but I had to try out everything we ordered. lol my boyfriend had a whole meal for leftovers the next day. We both got the vermicelli woven rice rolls with roasted pork belly, A side of nem nuong (grilled pork patty) and fish sauce wings to share. Everything was so delicious, the roasted pork belly was a bit too lean and salty but the skin was crispy! The woven rice rolls were soft and fluffy, exactly like it should be. Fish sauce wings were some of the best I've had, sweet, salty, crunchy with specks of fragrant fried garlic. Soooo good. This was my favorite dish of the night. Nem nuong a bit dry or overcooked but great flavors. Nuoc mam (fish sauce mix) was really good! I would recommend this place... get the woven rolls (banh hoi) and fish sauce wings! They have food service and really cute business cards too. read more

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Aesthetic, delicious, and wonderful service. Always worth the drive to stop by and visit Lua for some great Vietnamese food. Came here on a late Saturday afternoon and was able to get seated inside immediately. It looks like there was plenty of seating outdoor, inside, and at the bar area. Raymond gave us the rundown of ordering through the QR code and gave great suggestions and recommendations based on new items and popular dishes. It is evident that he cares a lot about his craft and the food he puts out! Pricing of the drinks, appetizers, and entrees were all reasonably priced when compared to the food portion size. We ordered the Egg Coffee, Lychee Mojito Jasmine Tea, Char Siu Pork buns, Roasted Pork buns, spicy Tamarind Sauce Fried Wings, Beef Betel Leaf Wrap noodle bowl, and grilled pork rice bowl. All the dishes were served at a moderate pace and served at a good temperature. Overall, the food was very delicious and aesthetic. The plating was impeccable and it was a feast for my camera as well as my tummy. My favorite dish was the spicy tamarind sauce fried wings. The presence of the wings - golden, clean, crisp. After each bite, it left me desiring more as I ravished each bone clean. I still remember the scent and the taste of the chicken skin on my lips. It was beautiful. Sweet, tangy, with a little kick of spice - a true definition of finger licking good. read more

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My first time visiting a city usually entails searching for the best restaurants and things to do in the area. Portland has a huge restaurant scene that I didn't know about, and Lua happens to be one of the local spots that is a hidden gem for Vietnamese fare. We ordered shrimp bao (missing a photo!), the wings, and beef which came with lettuce, rice, and other veggies to make a wrap. All of the food was delicious and had a good flavor, although the red pepper flakes dry rub on the wings were too spicy for my wife so that's a fair warning to folks who can't handle spicy food. The only reason why I'd give Lua a "mid" tier rating is because cleanliness and sanitary procedures goes a long way at making the entire restaurant experience enjoyable. Our server was also the busser, trash man, and food runner and not once during our time (from the moment we arrived to see him clear tables and up until he brought us our drinks and food) did we see him stop to wash his hands. When he brought our plates over you could see dirt under his fingernails as his thumb was pressed dead center in the middle of my wife's plate that she ultimately did not use. Overall a good restaurant but a little gritty and with some attention to detail could get consistent 5 star ratings. read more

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