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    Oc & Lau Restaurant

    4.1 (3.5k reviews)
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    OC & LAU RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Oc & Lau Restaurant

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    Clams tom yum
    Cheryl C.

    The grilled shellfish and seafood here are delicious! They are very fragrant with spices, sauces, and aromatic toppings. The place is busy but thankfully they have a waitlist. The restaurant is a good size and clean. Our server was friendly. At the end of our meal, they brought out a complimentary dessert which was a nice touch!

    Veggies for our hot pot
    Sherry T.

    I've been here several times and it's always busy. Be prepared to wait. Luckily, there is Yelp Waitlist. The key is to be here before 6pm. We came on a Friday night at 5:40 and was seated right away. A big restaurant with lots of seating and best to come with a group of people so you can order a variety of dishes. With that being said, restaurant is loud and packed. The staff is friendly and quick to help. Now, on to the food...it is so delish! Everything comes hot piping HOT, well seasoned, and oh so flavorful. I don't think I can pick one dish that's my favorite. Definitely coming back to try more of their dishes.

    Soft shell crab
    Michelle W.

    This was my first time trying a Vietnamese seafood restaurant and overall no complaints. All of the seafood was fresh, flavorful and unique. They have a wide selection of dishes that isn't just seafood but I would say it defeats the purpose if you're getting a meat dish at this place. The soft shell crab was super crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. The crab/shrimp fried rice was also pretty solid but I think I prefer Thai crab fried rice. We also got a beef hot pot which was my first time having viet hot pot. I don't think it's for me, the beef broth was sweet and I don't typically enjoy my savory foods to be sweet. The meat itself was really tender though, maybe if we opted for a seafood hot pot it would've been better. Service was standard, quick and friendly. The restaurant was clean and modern with ample amount of seating. I don't think I would go out of my way to come back here but it was still an enjoyable experience where I got to try new dishes.

    Mango Salad
    Ilene M.

    Food 5* Service 4* Ambiance 3.5 This is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants for seafood. The flavors are on point, each being so unique, not over seasoned or bland. The food comes out piping hot and so fresh. We waited 40 minutes for a table, but well worth the wait. I haven't been to Vietnam, but I've heard this food here is comparable from there. Definitely coming once a month here for my seafood fix!.

    Grilled King Scallop w/Fish Eggs
    Ann C.

    When you're craving Vietnamese grilled seafood Oc & Lau is the place the go! We ordered their: - Mango Squid Salad - Grilled Gorlic Buttered Escorgot - Grilled Garlic Butter Oysters - Egg rolls - Cha Gio Cua - Grilled King Scallop w/Fish Eggs Our favorites were the Mango Squid Salad and the Grilled King Scallop w/Fish Eggs. Everything was flavorful, and the service fast and friendly. If you come on a weekend, there's definitely a wait.

    Fried tilapia
    Rick S.

    The seafood here was authentic (Vietnamese style), freshly made and delicious. My favorites were the razor clams, fried soft shell crab and tilapia. The staff were attentive and food came quickly. The ambiance is casual, bright and full of fried garlic-onion aroma. Highly recommended!

    An P.

    Oc and Lau is the OG since I was a child; get on the yelp waitlist online to save time. Love their razor clam, whelks, escargo, the whole shebang. Hotpot are too damn spicy for me but now that I'm older, I kill it with some delicious beer. DZO!! Pay tip via cash if you love your server, great for parties. Servers might be hard to flag down but they work hard. Flavors can't be beat.

    Ter L.

    It's been about 7 years since my initial review for Oc & Lau Restaurant & here I am, still coming here religiously whenever my fam and I are in town. If that bit of consistency doesn't speak volumes I don't know what will. Oc & Lau specializes in Vietnamese street food and essentially works in family style dining. Everything is brought out in platters & large bowls where food is shared amongst the table. The menu is filled with Vietnamese salads, snails, assortment of seafoods, rice, noodles, and hotpot. Vegetarian options are available. As if the menu isn't extensive enough, there is a whole section of drinks- alcoholic & non alcoholic. Must haves: *COCONUT ESCARGOT w/ BASIL LEAVES *GRILLED GARLIC BUTTER ESCARGOT *GRILLED RAZOR CLAMS IN GARLIC BUTTER & PEPPERCORNS *GRILLED RAZOR CLAMS IN TAMARIND SAUCE *SALT & PEPPER SQUID *SPICY GRILLED CHICKEN FEET *RARE BEEF SALAD *DEEP FRIED QUAIL IN BUTTER HOUSE SAUCE *GARLIC BUTTER QUEEN CLAMS The food is authentic and genuinely great! Ingredients are always fresh and the quality is on point. My complaints stem from the restaurant ALWAYS being "sold out" of the razor clams and the stir fried basil clams coming out soupy and off tasting to what they normally should taste like. Not too big of a deal once you factor in all the other great qualities Oc & Lau has. The pricing is costly and the portions can be small depending on what you are ordering. Things add up quite quickly since my family and I eat to get stuffed. Lmao. 5/5 stars because a trip to LA isn't a trip to LA without visiting O&L!!! I'll forever be a fan!!

    Jenny C.

    We came here for dinner on a Saturday and the wait was about an hour and a half, so be prepared if you're visiting during peak hours. This Vietnamese fusion seafood restaurant specializes in fresh seafood and hot pots. We started with the razor clams, which were the standout of the meal. They were incredibly flavorful and paired with a delicious sauce that had us wanting every last bite. The spicy scallops were another solid choice with just the right amount of heat. The escargot was a little chewy, but the savory sauce made up for it. For our main dishes, we ordered the Tom Yum seafood hot pot, which was just okay. We also had the deep-fried tilapia, which was cooked perfectly--crispy on the outside. It's hard to go wrong with anything deep-fried here. Overall, the razor clams and deep-fried tilapia were the highlights of our meal. If you're willing to wait for a table, this is a good spot for fresh seafood with a few standout dishe

    Grilled Escargot with garlic butter and peppercorn
    Yi C.

    One of my favorite Vietnamese seafood restaurants in the area. If you like anything and everything shellfish (claims, scallops, escargot, etc), then this is the place for you! Have been to this restaurant many times, and food is always consistent! Came visit to the restaurant last week, and ordered my favorite Grilled Escargot with Garlic Butter and Peppercorn, Grilled Scallops with Cheese, and my all-time favorite Chilean Sea Bass hot pot! The grilled escargots are a must-have when visiting this place! These are perfectly grilled with rich garlic butter for sweetness, and with a slight kick of spiciness from the peppercorn. Don't forget to also dip the escargot meat with black pepper and a few squeeze of fresh lime juice! If you like melted cheese, then the grilled scallops with cheese would be the perfect match. Each scallop is covered melted cheese and comes sizzling on a hot plate when ordered! Last but certainly not least, my favorite dish of this restaurant is the Chilean Sea Bass hot pot. The order comes with your own tabletop gas stove, along with a hot pot filled with a tom yum like sour soup base. For ingredients, it also includes a plate with slices of pineapple, quarter cut fresh tomato slices, fresh bean sprouts, rice noodles, and a full plate of large pieces of Chilean Sea Bass. Just put all the ingredients in the hot pot and let it cook for 5-10mins on high, I promise you it is one of the best soups you will ever have! Service is good as always. This place always seems to be busy, so you may have to be on the waitlist during certain business hours (eg holidays, prime dinner time, etc). Parking wise, the restaurant is located in a busy plaza, and so you may have to drive around a few times before finding an open spot. However as I said earlier, it's worth the wait. Highly recommended.

    Eric L.

    Every time I come here, the restaurant is busy, which says a lot about the quality of the food. The hotpot is packed with fresh ingredients and a rich, flavorful broth that's perfect for sharing with family and friends. The standout for me, though, is their authentic Vietnamese snail dishes. The snails are fresh, perfectly cooked, and seasoned with bold, traditional flavors that remind me of eating street food in Vietnam. The restaurant has a lively atmosphere, the staff work hard to keep up with the crowds, and the service is friendly despite how busy they are.

    bread
    Jung Min L.

    Came here for the first time after a friend recommended it, and I can definitely see why it's so popular. It was super crowded when we got there, and we ended up waiting about 30 minutes for a table. But once we were seated and placed our order, the food came out pretty quickly. Everything tasted very fresh and had that authentic Vietnamese flavor. My favorite dish was the snail -- it paired so well with the sauce they provided. The mango squid salad was also really fresh and had a unique flavor that stood out. Overall, all of the dishes tasted like they were made fresh to order. The only thing I probably wouldn't order again is the bread. It was fine, but it was really just an ordinary loaf of bread and nothing particularly special compared to the other dishes. There are still so many other dishes I want to try next time, so I'll definitely be coming back!

    Calamari
    Alice W.

    Arrived on a Friday afternoon and waited about 30 min for a table of three. Everything we got was delicious! We tried the scallops, crawfish fried rice, calamari, crab and pork egg rolls and basil clams. I would definitely get the scallops and calamari again.

    Mango squid salad

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    5 days ago

    Loved the crispy rice. It was so yummy. There were so many choices of food to choose from. Will be back.

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    Page 1 of 87

    Oc & Lau Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Oc & Lau Restaurant

    Are prices the same at both locations?

    Yes, same price , same owner

    Can I bring my dog sit outside?

    No, there's no outside seating.

    Are there options to omit the garlic in any of the dishes that have them? we have a person in our party that is allergic to garlic.

    Since there's outdoor seating, is my dog allowed to sit by our table?

    No outdoor seat just inside. Only during Covid was available. Sorry

    When are the razor clams in season? I haven't seen those available on the menu for quite a while.

    I had them there about a week ago, it's a popular item and then tend to "run out" but my impression is the item is always on the menu

    Does anyone know if the sauces are gluten free? I would love to take my friend one day, but she has an allergy. Thank you!

    There are plenty gluten free options there, including sauces... you would have to ask regarding several dishes however.

    This place is listed today as having outdoor seating. Is it still available? If it is, is it covered or heated? How many people can sit there? / April 25, 2023

    Since last week when I dined there, didn't see any more outdoor seating. I believe they resumed back indoor after the remodeling.

    How much are the seasonal coconut prawns?

    Are you open now at the location? It's early march so checking. Is there outdoor seating?

    I checked today (4/13/2022) and they don't do outdoor seating anymore but they are open

    Are they open now at this location?

    Yes they are open

    As of october 11 2021 how many tables do they have outside?

    For the location on gardengrove. They had about 4 tables outside

    Have Razor clam?

    Yes they do! Delicious!!

    They do take out for fresh scallop sashimi and oysters too?

    Probably no

    What are the hours?

    5:30pm

    Do they accept credit card?

    Yes they do

    Do they take reservations (not the yelp waitlist) for parties of 10 or more?

    Are you open for outdoor dining, yet?

    2021-04-08. Yes. Their outdoor dining tent is open. Tables are separated by plexiglass walls. They are also sanitizing after every customer.

    Will you guys be open for dine-in even when it is raining since you are set up outside?

    Yes

    Can we bring our dog for outdoor seating?

    Yes!

    Do they have razor clams? When I've called them in the past, their answer was YES. But I get there and they tell me they're sold out. Last time I left and went around the corner to Garlic and Chives.

    They do have it but it depends on the time you are there. Not sure if it was slow when you get there but usually they're out when it's rush hour. Also, if razor clams are in season as well.

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    4.6(607 reviews)
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    I love a good Vietnamese place that not only gives you good portions but also great deals. They…read morecaught my eye a while ago and I saw they had the infamous Waterfall Chicken for only $10.99, a steal of a deal especially with tomato price & an egg. The chicken was crispy and the dipping sauce gave it that extra yummy goodness. The dish also came with a side of broth that had chicken bits in it, was nice to help digest your dish. I also loved that they gave you pickled veggies & fresh veggies. We also ordered the Loi's Fusion Saltado, upgraded the rice to garlic egg fried rice. The beef was soft and tender, the fries were nice and crispy and the fried rice was fresh. You 100% need to get the Thai Tea. A lot of place add too much cream/half and half diluting the tea flavor, they do not skimp on the actual tea in their drink. The color speaks for itself on the dark orange hue!

    Welcome to Day 2 of OC Food Journals, where I try a new place every day so you don't have to…read more Today's stop was Loi's Kitchen, and honestly, this review is a little overdue. I'm a bit late getting around to writing this, and unfortunately, they are already closed, but I still felt like I had to share my experience. I'm not completely surprised that they closed, especially after trying their bò né. I've had this dish many times at different places around Orange County, and unfortunately, this was probably the weakest version I've come across. The first thing that stood out was the presentation. As you can see in the picture, there was this purple-colored sauce on the meat itself, which honestly did not look very appetizing. To make things worse, the sauce was cold and did not heat in time with the skillet, which really took away from the experience. The flavor itself wasn't terrible, but it also wasn't anything memorable. It was just okay, and when you factor in the cold food and the presentation, it made the whole dish disappointing. With so many places around Orange County serving bò né at a much higher level, I would probably recommend spending your money elsewhere. If you were wondering whether you missed out on some hidden gem, don't worry, you didn't. This one felt more like a piece of coal than a diamond. That being said, every restaurant has its journey, and with more time, maybe they could have found their footing. Hopefully, they can take this experience as a lesson, refine their recipes, and bring something better in their next venture. I am rooting for you Loi!

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    SEN Vietnamese Cuisine - New special dishes

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    I grew up eating Vietnamese food at reataurants with over 100 options on the menu. Pho option after…read morepho option, rice dish after rice dish. It was overwhelming. SEN is stays true to their authencity, going for quality over quantity, with their two page menu. Didn't realize just how many Vietnamese restaurants were in the area, so stiff competition! And no, SEN is not a KEI Concepts location! After ordering, we were given our waters in plastic to-go cups, which I thought was a little strange. After our food arrived, there was no check in, no water refills, and you have to go up to the counter to pay. At least its very convenient, streamlined, and efficient! I found the food to have a great depth of flavor, something a lot of pho places lack. I especially liked the wider noodles which offered a nice chew and texture change. Everything was cooked perfectly, and there were plenty of sauces to mix and match if you wanted to spice things up. Definitely worth a visit!

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    Phở 79 is a true Orange County institution that has been serving the community for years, and it's…read moreeasy to see why there is almost always a line out the door. Be prepared: this place is incredibly popular, especially during peak hours. Parking can definitely be challenging because of how busy it is. The last time I visited on a Monday, the lot was completely full, and I ended up parking on the street. The restaurant is also primarily cash only, so come prepared. They open early, making it a perfect breakfast spot for an early bowl of pho. The pho broth is exactly what I want when I'm craving comfort food--clean, flavorful, and incredibly soothing. However, the star of the meal for me was the chả giò. Wow. Although they arrived after our pho, they came out at the perfect temperature. I was hesitant to take a bite right away because freshly fried food usually burns my mouth, but these were just right. Crispy, airy, savory, and absolutely delicious. Paired with their fish sauce, it was perfection. I enjoyed the egg rolls so much that next time I'm definitely ordering the egg roll vermicelli bowl. Service was friendly and prompt despite how busy it was, and it's clear the staff works hard to keep things moving. One thing I love is seeing all of the awards and accolades displayed on the walls. Phở 79 received the prestigious James Beard America's Classics Award, and it's easy to understand why after one meal here. This restaurant is truly an Orange County icon. The restaurant will soon be moving to a new location, as signs throughout the restaurant announce the upcoming move. While I'll miss the original spot, I'm excited for the new space--hopefully with more parking! Some places are worth the wait, and Phở 79 is absolutely one of them.

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    Pho Redbo - Combo, Thai tea, flaming wagyu, and fried rice!

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    4.5(1.7k reviews)
    2.4 mi
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    Beautiful restaurant with really good food! The Wagyu beef was amazing -- super flavorful, tender,…read moreand delicious. The staff were very friendly, helpful, and attentive. Great service overall. Highly recommend!

    Pho Redbo absolutely deserves more recognition because this place knows how to make an incredible…read morebowl of pho. From the moment it hit the table, I could smell how rich and flavorful the broth was. You can tell it wasn't rushed--it tasted like it had been simmering for hours. Every spoonful was comforting, packed with depth, and had the perfect balance of savory flavors. The beef was unbelievably tender, practically melting in my mouth, and the noodles had the perfect bite. This is the kind of meal that reminds you why pho is one of the best comfort foods out there. What really impressed me was the freshness of everything. The herbs were vibrant, the bean sprouts had a great crunch, the jalapeños added the perfect kick, and a squeeze of lime brought the entire bowl together. Every ingredient complemented the broth instead of overpowering it. I found myself slowing down just to enjoy every bite because it was that good. By the time I finished, I was honestly wishing there was another bowl waiting for me. The service and atmosphere made the experience even better. Everyone was welcoming, attentive, and made us feel right at home from the moment we walked in. It's always a bonus when great food is matched by great hospitality. Pho Redbo has officially earned a spot on my list of favorite pho restaurants, and I already know I'll be back to try more of the menu. If you're searching for a pho spot that delivers on flavor, freshness, and overall experience, don't sleep on this place--you'll leave happy and already planning your next visit.

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    Oc & Lau Restaurant - vietnamese - Updated September 2026

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