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    Pho byob Ktown

    5.0 (42 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

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    Oxtail pho
    Gee K.

    went to ktown pho for my usual pho fix and noticed a sign and remembered the same owners opened up a second location on 8th street near vermont. so i took a leisurely weekday lunch to check out byob. although i usually get the filet mignon pho at ktown pho, here i decided i'd go for the oxtail. i think i generally just like the filet mignon garnished with ginger at ktown pho better, but byob's oxtail pho was solid. the broth was clean and deep just like its sister restaurant. next time i come, i'll try the wagyu steak or ribeye to see if i can get closer to the almost perfect filet mignon taste at ktown. service is pretty streamlined and minimalistic although the employee I talked to was friendly and informative. it's more like a food court/cafeteria concept where they bring out your pho on a tray. you can order at a tablet by the door and pay there or go to the counter and order through a worker. one of the employees told me that ktown pho had a problem with dine and dashers, which was one of the reasons for this concept and surprised me that it was even a thing. an especially shite thing to do to small mom and pop business owners. the condiments are basically self service, like onions, cilantro, and limes if you want more. they do bring out an initial batch to you, but i liked that i could just go serve myself. water too. i was told the owners are here getting this place up and running and they'll be expanding the menu as well in due time. their menu is definitely less expansive currently than ktown pho. only veggie egg rolls and shrimp spring rolls. Ktown pho offers regular cha gio, rice plates, banh mi, and even bun ho hue. byobs menu is much more simple yet it does what it does well. clean little restaurant with good pho. i'll definitely be back to try the other bowls and foods to come. convenient to have another ktown pho iteration on this side of ktown that appears to even have later hours. Parking lot is tiny though and likely valet during busy hours.

    Thai tea
    Stephanie L.

    PARKING: Small lot but it is $3 for valet! SEATING: Plenty of tables! There's about 9 in total! I did come here at 11PM so I don't know how packed it gets in the daytime. SERVICE: There seemed to be about 2 workers on staff but they were fast and attentive! They welcomed me. The self service kiosk was nice. FOOD: The drinks came fast and so did the appetizer! As well as the pho!! Everything was so amazing and you could tell they made sure we were taken care of. The rolls were excellent and you could tell they were made to order with the little crispy part still a bit hot. So yummy! The broth of the pho was fantastic! I usually don't drink all of my broth when I get pho but for this place I downed it all. The meats too were so tender and delicious. Only minor thing I didn't care for was that the meat was well done when it came out. I like it when it is still pink. But honestly what I loved the most was the self serve onion/cilantro/lime station. I get so embarrassed sometimes asking for extra limes and onions because I love A LOT. Here though? I could have demolished that whole tray of onions. Just wow, that really was so awesome. And at the end of the meal, they gave complimentary snacks! It was dried taro? sticks, cashews, and coconut cookies. That was really sweet of them! They were also very yummy! OVERALL: Definitely coming back here because this place is so chill and delicious! Really glad they open so late or else I don't think I would have found this place.

    Ribeye pho
    Grace Y.

    No one was here on a Wednesday for lunch. We came in right before 12pm so there was no valet in sight we parked on the street which was not easy to find at all. Especially it was Wednesday and half the streets was unparkable due to street cleaning. (Other side is no parking on thursdays 10am to 1pm) Staff was very nice. Place is modern industrial with concrete floor, unfinished walls and light natural wood tables. Their wagyu beef pho was frozen so they had have us wait to thaw or change the order but other than that everything else was clean and good. It was not really the make your own bowl as we imagined, you just pick from the menu. Still, the feel of the pho was still lacking compared to my walkable pho place down the street where I live, probably because it gets a lot of incoming clients, they have perfected what the customers want without us saying so. Whereas I didn't see anyone here. It feels as though it's doing a soft opening. There should be: more veggies for pho, more meat with pho, this one was still on the skimpy side.

    Their waffles, UNIQUE waffles! So delicious!
    Karen Z.

    Food: I honestly loved the food! We got the Pho combination chicken and steak I believe and it was so good! They gave us free mini waffles and they were also Delicious! ( it was free cause it was like their grand opening). I've bee meaning to come back because food, service and atmosphere was great! Service: Let's just say if I could give it 6 stars I would! The owner was super kind and the cashier/ waitress went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. She gave us water 2 times while being there and we were only there less than 1 hour. She was also super kind to my toddler! Not everyone is kind to kids so I appreciate that a lot! Ambiance: You could tell they took their time to decorate and build this place! I was here previously and it didn't look like this at all! Looks so classy and nice! I really loved the vibes it gave!

    BYOB 2 Protein Brisket and Tendon
    Ver S.

    My wife and I were in the area and wanted to eat some pho. Not just any pho though.. we used to live in Koreatown close to Western and Olympic and the first original KTown Pho was over there. Kid you not we ate there at least 1-2 times a month and made great friends in KT and his wife. Their pho is simple and delicious. The broth itself is like a warm hug. This is their 4th restaurant and the broth itself felt like seeing an old friend. We moved away to Gardena and then Las Vegas and now back in SoCal but in Orange County and happened to be up in LA. The byob concept is what makes this place a little different than the usual places. I built my own bowl with brisket and tendon. A good combination of you like the usual protein and something else in addition that isn't quite tripe or meatball but still good and great for your skin! It was delicious. The meat was tasty and the broth had great flavor. Tbh I've tried some of the places down in Garden Grove and Westminster and I just don't like them. Either it's me or they're overrated vs a bowl made by KT and his crew, I always leave satisfied. It was or is their grand opening and they were giving free Pandan waffles out with your meal which was a great bite after a big bowl of soup. All in all, I'll be making my way back here anytime we are in the area but if ur local or have easy access to check this place out, you should! They have valet parking and it's $3. Cheaper than other places honestly

    Brisket, chicken pho
    Jude K.

    The food was above average and the staff were very friendly but the music was a bit much. They play loud club tracks that made it hard to focus on the meal. Great spot for Pho but I really wish they would change the playlist!

    Their interior with lunar new year decorations!
    Colin F.

    This is one of those gems that you want to stay here forever. Between the warm welcome and friendly conversation by the owner KT and the delicate and flavorful pho broth, Pho BYOB is an instant favorite of mine. Right now they're celebrating the lunar new year with great decor - check it out! P.S. try their in house made chili sauce - it's got a great roasted flavor

    Christian R.

    This is one of my favorite places eat pho in LA. I swear I have been coming once a week. Build your own bowl pho with different meets is a cool concept! Pho broth is very rich and has lots of flavor all of the rolls and drinks are really good too! Highly recommend this place to anyone. Downside I think it's closed on Tuesday. Great food restaurant and clean establishment!

    Chef recommended
    Francois W.

    The best pho in LA! The best owner in LA! Truly a wonderful experience every time! The lore is the best! The story! He is truly for the people! And not for just profit! The only place i eat pho at!

    Nice stuff and waiter
    Shynggys R.

    Lived this place, favourite place in LA from now on. They've opened 1.5 months ago so you are not going to see anything better and newer. Top Pho place for sure. Servers are nice as well and prices are not expensive.

    delicious super strong Vietnamese milk coffee
    Kat L.

    delicious family owned spot. they have a build your bowl style setup where you can choose multiple proteins if you want or stick with just one. pricing is on par with average pho spots nearby but imo the taste is the best. good enough I never add sauces to it which I can't say is true about anywhere else. their egg rolls are also some of the best I have ever had and i'm obsessed. every time I go whoever is working is so kind and helpful - you can order at the counter or the ipad right by the door and they DO have take out available. but it's such a nice spot I love hanging out here and i'm usually pretty set on eating at home! definitely worth checking out. parking may be a bit annoying depending what time you come but it's also ktown so you get what you get

    Brisket Pho

    New spot right next to the super popular matcha spot, Stagger! Piqued my interest and im glad I went in for lunch! It's Viet-owned and tastes authentic. Friendly staff, and nice/new vibe inside! Ask for some extra fish sauce on the side to give the broth that lil extra umami. I like the side of boiled onions you can ask for--mix chili oil and sriracha/hoisin for a nice little side dish. It's $15 for a single protein bowl, and I'd say thats probably average for Pho in the area (tho slightly on the pricer side in you're comparing to the OC). That being said, ktown is missing some authentic Viet food and I'll definitely be back to try the egg rolls

    A good bite!
    Leesh W.

    10/10 Pho!! The vibes here are as amazing as the Pho. Customer service is a 10 I felt right at home & like a princess at the same time. The brisket is sooo good, it's tender and I didn't get a single chewy piece. 10/10! Broth is super flavorful as well and it came to my table super hott. I was done with my bowl in under 10 minutes! I can tell the ingredients are quality I feel nice & cozy after eating a bowl, not like other places I've been where I feel bloated. Afterwards the brought me sweets for Vietnamese New Year it was so sweet. I love the candied ginger so good!! Thank you so much Pho BYOB!! *hearts*

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    22 days ago

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    7 days ago

    Everything was great. Owner takes pride in his restaurant and is so knowledgeable. Highly recommend

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    24 days ago

    Very good pho. Broth was super clean and hot. Service was also a 10/10 and everyone was super nice and friendly. Will def be coming back.

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    3 months ago

    Please visit to keep this spot alive it's so delicious. Make sure to try the mini waffles!

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    Ktown Pho - Pho Duoi Bo Cha Gio

    Ktown Pho

    4.4(1.1k reviews)
    0.9 miKoreatown
    $$

    My wife and I came here for date night and it was our first time at Ktown Pho, definitely won't be…read moreour last. We ordered the house pho and the crispy egg rolls, and both were a perfect 10/10. The pho was rich, flavorful, and comforting, and the egg rolls were crispy and fresh with great flavor. The soda lemonade was also a standout super refreshing and a great complement to the meal. Overall, everything from the food to the experience made for an awesome date night. We'll definitely be coming back and recommending this spot to others.

    Where do I even begin? My friend and I came into this restaurant on a Saturday afternoon (4pm-ish)…read moreand it was slow. There were allegedly no tables available so we were told to put our names down. We waited about 7-10 mins and were sat. We each ordered the House Pho since it seemed to be the most popular dish, as well as an order of Spring Rolls. The waiter who was attending to us repeated our order which was (2) bowls of House Pho, Spring Rolls, and (2) beverages. When the food came out we only received one of the Pho dishes and one beverage. We asked to follow up on our additional soup and beverage only to the waited to tell us that we had only ordered one soup dish and one drink. We were very confused since he had repeated the order to us before sending it to the kitchen. The soup itself was lukewarm and flavor of the broth wasn't necessarily extraordinary. Similar to what others have written, it lacked flavor and tasted watered down. Pho should be packed with flavor and hot. The quality of meat was okay, but don't think I'll be going back. I wish I had nicer things to say about this place, but everything was disappointing. TLDR; overhyped, lacks flavor, and overpriced.

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    Ktown Pho - Interior

    Interior

    Ktown Pho - Combination rolls

    Combination rolls

    Ktown Pho - Condiments ha

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    Condiments ha

    Au Lac - Lemongrass Fish

    Au Lac

    4.3(1.3k reviews)
    2.5 miDowntown
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    10 years in business

    First time here, arrived at 5 just as they opened before a recital at the Disney Concert Hall, and…read moreasked our server Jack to feed us a meal that is gluten free (Living Food Omakase). One of us was doubtful and low-key worried about vegan and living foods--he was amazed before he was halfway through. Drinks: the ruby cold pressed juice so delicious, not too sweet; the thai tea, a desert drink with caffeine! He started us with olive cheese dip: so super delicious with the crunchy seeded crackers. The Bird's Eye Tofu, crunchy on the outside, hot and melty on the inside. And the entrees? He brought a Notrito Salad which felt alive and delicious. The Tori Katsu really blew my mind. The Octopus so crunchy ourtside, soft and chewy and flavorful inside. The yellow noodle soup, so cocoanutty and flavorful. The Jack Makhani a spicy jackfruit yumminess. So glad we saved room for dessert I love Au Lac. I love this DTLA location. Now off to walk in the Concert Hall gardens before a recital!

    I have been at this restaurant a few times before, having performed here with my sketch group and…read morealso coming for dinner before seeing shows at Center Theatre Group. Each time I've come the waitstaff has been super friendly, and the food amazing. So, when planning a little birthday lunch for my mom's 81st birthday, this was one of the first places I thought of. My mom lives in south LA and we live in the valley, so after picking her up, we wouldn't have to travel far to eat. Although we planned to arrive to the restaurant at 2, traffic was horrible and we arrived at 230pm. After looking for parking, I dropped the fam off at 2:40 so they could sit and look at the menu while I found parking. I get a text from my husband saying they closed at 3 so hurry. This was news to me, as I thought they closed at 5. I found parking and rushed in at 2:48, to see my family outside the restaurant. Perplexed, I went in to ask if we could still eat, as it wasn't yet 3pm. No wait staff came to the front to greet me, so I walked in a bit and asked the waiter if it was okay to eat. The waiter said we close in ten. I said I thought the website said you closed at 5. I must have read it wrong. I understand, but it's not 3 and we came a bit of a distance and it's my mom's 81st birthday. The waiter, whose name is Jack, offered to ask the kitchen if they would still make food. I said yes please would you ask? While Jack was asking, another waiter asked me if I had been helped. I told him yes, that Jack was asking the kitchen if we could still have lunch. This waiter says, we're closing in 10. I'd like to have lunch too. And walks away. Yes, with shade. Jack returns and says it's fine as long as we can order within a few minutes of getting the menu. I say great and we all come in. The 2nd waiter takes our order with the least amount of personality he possibly can, and the whole lunch is slightly awkward and we're not able to truly enjoy ourselves with the feeling of "we better hurry up and eat" lingering. By the time we ordered and received our food (which was delicious as usual) , there were still 4 other groups of customers there, and we actually left the restaurant within a minute or two after the last customers before us. Also, no one came around to ask how our food was and if we needed anything. I'm giving 3 stars because this experience didn't quite sit right with me. Yes, it was near closing, but your doors weren't closed and there was no sign saying last call/order at 2:45 or anything like that. I feel like once the kitchen approved making our lunch, customer service should have been at its peak for paying customers, who gave no attitude and tried to be as polite with the ask as possible. It was not. I still tipped 25%, because Jack (waiter 1) was polite and my 81 old mama who I was celebrating raised me that way, but I'm not sure I'll patronize them again.

    Photos
    Au Lac - Octopus

    Octopus

    Au Lac - Laab Salad

    Laab Salad

    Au Lac - Salt & Peppered Shrimp

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    Salt & Peppered Shrimp

    Vui Ve - Vegetarian and gluten free - pho veggie

    Vui Ve

    4.0(292 reviews)
    3.1 miLittle Tokyo, Downtown
    $$

    Tucked away in the Lil Tokyo mall on the 2nd floor above the chaos of the plaza. The restaurant…read morecertainly had warm, and inviting ambiance with a relaxing feel, and some contemporary music. The spot was mostly empty when my girlfriend and I arrived for dinner around 5:30pm on a Saturday. We ordered with the host and picked out a table by the window to people watch while we waited for our food. We waited only maybe 10 minutes before the pho, vermicelli, and spring roles were served. Each dish was colorful, had great presentation, and nice portions for the price. The pho we ordered was spicy level hot and did have well done broth and a good amount of sliced steak. The protein was tender, and the veggie toppings added great elements of minty crunch and herbal delight. I enjoyed my combination noodles. The bowl had a good mix of vegetables and a few types of protein ( chicken, pork, fried egg roll, and shrimp ) it was awesome! The spring rolls were terrific as well. The peanut sauce had some nut crumbles for texture which had subtle crunch with every spring role bite. The food was good, staff was great, and I'd consider coming back if ever in the area again with a Vietnam craving.

    The rice-to-chicken ratio was better than expected, which I appreciated since many places give…read moresmall pieces of meat. The meal was decent overall, though some pieces of chicken had a stronger odor than others. Unfortunately, I found a hair at the bottom of the bowl near the end of my meal. It wasn't mine. This experience affected my impression of the restaurant and makes me hesitant to order from here again. /// Rice - Lemongrass Chicken $19.95 Jasmine rice Mixed greens House-made fish sauce

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    Vui Ve - Pho

    Pho

    Vui Ve - Pho tai - rare steak

    Pho tai - rare steak

    Vui Ve - Spacious inside seating

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    Spacious inside seating

    Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa

    Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa

    4.3(809 reviews)
    8.8 mi
    $$

    I have been coming to Nem Nuong Khánh Hòa for years and don't see a lot of people coming here. It…read moreis ran by your Vietnamese aunty and uncle and their food is authentic. Their prices have not changed in years and the portions remain the same versus shrinkflation. Their menu is not that big but it has your essential Vietnamese dishes. Today I ordered the banh beo bi, vermicelli with nem nuong and egg rolls, nem nuong coun and che ba mau. Banh beo bi are rice cakes topped with shredded pork. It comes with chilies and fish sauce for you to pour on top. The rice cakes are served warm and are super smooth and soft. The thai chilies it comes with are spicy so don't use too much. The vermicelli with nem nuong and egg rolls comes with a slab of meat and a whole egg roll. The bottom are the noodles and mix of veggie and herbs. The nem nuong is sweetened charbroiled pork that is grilled. Think of a sweet meat ball. The egg rolls are super crispy and filled with meat. The noodles go well with the fish sauce and there are a lot of veggies inside. The nem nuong coun is a spring roll that's wrapped in rice paper. It has the meat and lettuce wrapped inside and comes with a dipping sauce. I believe the sauce is made with ground shrimp. For $8 for 3 rolls it is a steal compared to other restaurants. If you are craving Brodards in OC this place can satisfy your craving. Their che ba mau which is a 3 bean dessert has a lot of beans inside topped with coconut milk and shaved ice. It is the person drink to finish your meal and it is not too sweet.

    CASH ONLY! Definitely a mom and pop spot, they have tables to dine in but it's one of those spots…read moreI'd prefer to take to-go and enjoy in the comfort of my own home. Com Tam is decent, rice texture is on point. Pork chop is marinated well but not enough lemongrass flavor, tender and not dry at all. Baked egg was good but not amazing, seemed like it missing shredded wood ear mushroom. Che Ba Mau by far hands down the worst I've had. Red bean wasn't soft, outer shell/skin was still pretty tough. Not much mung bean either after stirring it literally for about 4 seconds the mung bean basically disintegrated into the liquid. The liquid.. watered down skim milk, not a trace of coconut flavor anywhere. I didn't know you can mess up Che Ba Mau until I had it from here.

    Photos
    Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa
    Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa - Spring Rolls

    Spring Rolls

    Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa - Pork Chop & Charbroiled Meat Balls with Broken Rice

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    Pork Chop & Charbroiled Meat Balls with Broken Rice

    Pho byob Ktown - vietnamese - Updated June 2026

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