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    Pho Lab

    4.7 (565 reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese, Noodles, Soup
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    PHO LAB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Flies landing on our food
    marcen m.

    Disappointing experience, unfortunately can't recommend. There was a fly landing on our table and around our food multiple times while we were eating. Not exactly appetizing when you're mid-meal. Service was the bigger issue though. Our server took our order and then completely disappeared. We sat there for a long time waiting for the check, checking the room hoping someone would swing by, and eventually just gave up and went to pay at the front ourselves. No one checked on us once. On top of that, the food itself was just okay. Nothing that would make up for the wait or the flies. Between the bugs and the lack of service, I won't be back.

    Cabin B.

    I decided to give Pho Lab another try and came back with a few friends because we wanted to try some of the newer menu items. Unfortunately, this visit was a completely different experience from my first one. The biggest issue was the number of flies inside the dining area. There were so many that we spent most of our meal constantly swatting them away instead of enjoying our food. It became distracting enough that it affected the entire dining experience. What concerned me the most was seeing that many flies indoors while people were eating. As a customer, it made me wonder how the restaurant is managing cleanliness overall, including around the food preparation areas. I obviously can't speak to what happens in the kitchen, but the situation was concerning enough that it made me lose confidence during the meal. It's unfortunate because I had a positive impression from my previous visit, and that's why I decided to come back. I really hope this was just a temporary issue and that management addresses it quickly, because no one should have to spend an entire meal fighting off flies. Based on this experience, I probably won't be returning until the issue is resolved

    Betty G.

    Got a list of suggested local restaurants via email by Yelp so decided to try Pho Lab out. Was so surprised how good it was. I got the combo pho and everything was delicious. The brisket was very lean and so tender. Meatballs were very good. Rare steak and tripe were also tender. Broth was good. So I took my husband, my sister and her husband back a week later. The three (3) of us ordered the same, combo pho, and my husband got the shaken beef with garlic noodles. Everything was good but the brisket in the pho was more fatty this second time around. Service was also better the first time. Second visit, service was slow. We sat and waited for a long while and no one came to take our orders. The owner came around and checked on us later when we were done eating. She's always so nice. Absolutely a great local pho restaurant to visit when we don't want to drive to the Little Saigon.

    Michelle N.

    Yummy! So happy there is another good pho place in South OC! I don't have to drive all the way to garden grove. Price is reasonable, the bowl is big, however it could use more meat! The broth comes out piping hot, tastes great, authentic, and delicious. It did take a while for them to get our order (because the World Cup was one) and then the food did take a while to come out. But I would overall come back!

    Spring roll shrimp
    Rick S.

    Came back to try the shrimp spring rolls - freshly made, light and delicious with the peanut sauce. Also got my usual pho combination - a solid choice with lots of meat and savory broth. Staff were welcoming and attentive. Ambiance is airy and casual.

    Alexis T.

    Saturday late night dinner. Called to see when their last-seating time would be and we made it just in time. Delicious per usual, and the food came out lightning fast. Til next time!

    brisket pho, shrimp spring rolls
    Denice J.

    One of my favorite Pho spots in OC. Broth is always so delicious and hot. Food comes out quickly and the meat is so tender. I love the crispy spring rolls here so much definitely a must try when you stop by. Staff is so kind and friendly and service is top tier. It's always so clean inside and the music is low but still enjoyable. Definitely stop by for your late night pho cravings.

    Keycee D.

    Came across this spot one night while trying to figure out dinner and decided to check out Pho Lab for some pho. My husband and I both ordered the pho combination and added the rib bone. The broth itself was really good--flavorful and comforting--but the rib bone didn't quite hit for me. It wasn't as tender as I expected, and I think it could've been cooked a bit longer to get that fall-off-the-bone texture. We also ordered their fried chicken wings, which are a must every time we come here. They're perfectly fried and seasoned, and honestly delicious even on their own. The garlic butter dipping sauce is a great bonus, but not even necessary. Even our 3-year-old loves the wings. The restaurant itself is pretty spacious, and we've never had to wait for a table. They do seem to get a lot of to-go orders though. Overall, solid food and a place we'd come back to.

    Maritza S.

    The good at Pho Lab is absolutely delicious. The meat is tender and the broth rich. The pho with beef bone is my favorite. The meat falls off the bone. The service is just ok. My biggest complaint is the cleanliness. The floors and booths are always dirty which can be off putting. FYI if you pay cash you get a discount.

    Christine S.

    My favorite place to come for the rib pho. The meat is so tender and juicy and falls right off the bone. The staff is friendly and service was so quick. Definitely give it a try!

    Golden Bao
    Christine T.

    More like 3.5 stars. I came for lunch excited to try a new spot for Pho since I was in the area. Sadly it was just ok. The broth in the pho was too light in flavor which is more telling of a northern style pho. I prefer a southern style pho so please take that into consideration with my review. I also got the golden bao which was interesting. I never had a fried version of the bao. I'm glad I tried it because the texture of the crispy outside with a soft dough on the inside was nice. That being said, I wish it was more juicy. I was looking for the wonderful meat juices that normally come with a steamed bao. Vietnamese coffee was also just ok. I was looking for that bold coffee depth of flavor but it also seemed a little on the light side.

    Garlic Noodles w/ Tiger Prawns
    Karen A.

    This neighborhood pho restaurant have a good selection of appetizers, pho, vermicelli noodles, and rice dishes. I ordered the garlic noodles with prawns and enjoyed it. Noodles are very tasty & prawns are cooked right & very flavorful. Staff are really friendly & attentive. Will definitely come back to try other dishes.

    Rachel C.

    I got the combination pho which came with tripe brisket, flank, tendon, and meatballs. It was really comforting and reminded me of the pho I had growing up. They were generous with the portions and it was well-priced. This might be my go-to spot for pho moving forward

    Pork rolls

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    21 days ago

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    24 days ago

    The food was amazing. I had the pho combination and the broth was just right. Mi was also such an amazing server. Will definitely come back

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    1 month ago

    Wonderful service, super helpful! Restaurant is completely covered in beautiful decor. Thai tea is absolutely smacking!!!

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    1 day ago

    There were three small dead cockroaches in the bathroom. We didn't stay to try the food.

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    Page 1 of 15

    Pho Lab Reviews in Other Languages

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    Frank’s dumplings & noodles by sheungshui

    Frank’s dumplings & noodles by sheungshui

    4.4
    (408 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    A friend brought us to try this noodle spot in Lake Forest…read more This restaurant is part of the Shang Shui group, which has two locations next to each other. We visited the simpler Shang Shui Noodle House(Frank's dumplings and noodles) while the restaurant next door, Shang Shui Bistro(Frank's bistro Chinese cuisine) , focuses more on elevated Hunan and Cantonese dishes. Once we walked in, we could just find a seat and order through the QR code menu. It was convenient since we could take our time looking through the options. We ordered: 1. Roasted Duck Noodle Soup $19.99 2. House Special Fish Fillet Noodle Soup $15.99 3. Pork Knuckle Noodle Soup $16.99 Everything tasted pretty good! I ordered the signature fish fillet noodle soup, which was one of their recommended dishes. My husband thought the fish soup had the best flavor among the three dishes we tried. The portions were just right, and the prices were very reasonable. For the noodles, I would recommend choosing udon or ramen. My husband and our friend chose rice noodles, but they became too soft and broke apart easily when picking them up with chopsticks. After dinner, we stopped by Frank's bistro Chinese cuisine next door to take a look. The interior is much more upscale, and they also use a QR code menu. Most dishes are around $20 and up. We chatted with one of the staff members, who mentioned that they opened in August last year and focus on authentic Cantonese and Hunan cuisine. He was also proud to share that their dishes are freshly prepared, not the typical pre-made food you might find elsewhere. Will definitely come back to try the dishes at Shang Shui Bistro next time. Sharing this spot for anyone looking for Chinese noodles or authentic Chinese cuisine in the area! Frank's Dumplings & Noodles 20651 Lake Forest Dr STE A-102, Lake Forest, CA 92630

    We've been meaning to try this place for awhile now. We've tried their sister restaurant Frank's…read morenext door and wasn't impressed when they first opened. It's been awhile so I'm willing to give it another shot. Plenty of parking outside, the restaurant itself is really cute with tasteful decor. You order with a QR menu from the table. We ordered fish noodle soup, the 3 dumplings and soy sauce chicken with rice. Everything was pretty good! The fish noodle soup had a good fish profile in the soup, with a kick of white pepper which I liked. It tasted clean and healthy. The dumplings were really good. It definitely tasted like in house made dumplings. Much better quality than other restaurants in the area. The soy sauce chicken rice wasn't bad. But I thought the price was a little egregious. It should be max $15. All in all I'm glad we gave this "chain" another chance.

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    Buns
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    Bone-in bangbang chicken

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    Bone-in bangbang chicken
    Sunny Dumpling House

    Sunny Dumpling House

    4.2
    (882 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Our order was made right in front of us. How could it be any…read morefresher? The place is very small but clean. Someone was nice enough to guide us through the menu and everything we tried was delicious. What's not to like?

    I've been coming to Sunny Dumpling House long enough to remember when the dumplings felt much more…read morecarefully made. That's probably why the decline is so noticeable. The biggest problem is unfortunately the thing with the restaurant's name on it. The xiao long bao used to feel delicate and deliberate. On this visit, nearly the entire basket had already leaked before we touched them. Once a soup dumpling loses its soup into the steamer, you're basically eating a steamed pork dumpling with an identity crisis. The wrappers also felt heavier than I remember, with thick pinched tops that became dry and doughy. The pork filling itself was decent, but the overall construction just felt rushed. The boiled pork and chive dumplings had the opposite problem of what I want from a dumpling wrapper. Too much dough, not enough filling experience. The chili wontons were considerably better because the wrappers were thinner and more supple. If that texture showed up across more of the dumpling menu, I'd probably feel very differently. There are still good dishes here. The rice cakes were chewy and satisfying and disappeared quickly at our table. Bok choy was simple and solid. The pig ear had good flavor and texture, although ours leaned salty and a little softer than ideal. What pushes this down to two stars is everything surrounding the food. Ordering and paying are heavily pushed through QR codes, yet the system isn't particularly intuitive. I tried paying through Apple Pay with Amex several times before realizing it simply wasn't accepted, with no useful explanation on screen. Service feels similarly detached. Everyone appears extremely busy, yet getting help with ordinary things can be strangely difficult. During our visit one of my kids spilled water beside the table and we were told it could simply be cleaned after we left. I'm not asking for white glove service, but sitting next to a puddle while eating is an odd solution. The restroom situation doesn't help. You have to retrieve a key and head upstairs into an older restroom that feels completely disconnected from the otherwise modern ordering setup downstairs. That's ultimately my issue with Sunny Dumpling House now. There are pieces of a good restaurant still here and a few dishes I enjoy. But the execution has become uneven, the service feels increasingly automated without becoming easier and the dumplings themselves are no longer good enough to compensate for it. I'd rather have fewer systems and better dumplings.

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    Dining area.
    Dining area.
    Dumplings
    Dumplings
    Beef noodle

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    Beef noodle
    HanBop

    HanBop

    4.4
    (277 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Had a lovely meal at Hanbop - so many amazing and delicious options! Our eyes were definitely…read morebigger than our stomachs, we didn't realize how much food we were getting!!! We ordered a beef hanbop roll, Bulgogi, steamed egg, and kimchi fried rice! Each item was very flavorful and plenty for sharing! Plus, you also get Banchan (kimchi, pickles and celery) to start and a yummy broth /soup! The Bulgogi was our favorite and we didn't realize it came with forbidden rice which was also quite good! The restaurant is unassuming and very clean and the staff was kind. I will absolutely be back!

    This is the closest Korean restaurant to my home. I took my two little kids and got them the galbi…read moretang. The soup and the meat were very good. I got the kimchi soup or jjeegae (찌개) with pork. The only problem is, they forgot the pork. The jjeegae was good. I enjoyed it. I think the pork woulda made it better though. There is only one lady working the register, serving the food, and taking the order. I think that is why things got messed up. It also took like 15 minutes for our order to be taken. I felt bad complaining that they had forgotten about the pork in my kimchi pork soup so I just ate it vegetarian style (and I am the furthest thing from a vegetarian). I was sweating while eating because they did not have their AC set to a reasonable level. It was 92 degrees outside and like 87 degrees inside. I think it's a Korean thing. I'm Korean and all my life I noticed that Koreans will refrain from using their AC if they can get away with it. I will undoubtedly come back here for two reasons: the food is decent and it's very close to home. I just wish they would get some help and not be so stingy with the AC. And of course, having fountain drinks is never a bad idea.

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    Sides that are feee before meal. Delicious
    Sides that are feee before meal. Delicious
    Marinated Salmon Lunch Special

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    Marinated Salmon Lunch Special

    Pho Lab - vietnamese - Updated August 2026

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