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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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
While in the area and in the mood for Pho, I was fortunate to come across this gem in Lake Forest. It definitely satisfied my craving and more. It also happened to be their grand opening and they were offering 20% off and free dessert. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that it's an extra 5% off if you pay in cash. This evening visit was during the dodgers game and they have 2 big TVs that were showing the game. The rest of the restaurant is nicely decorated with hanging lantern lamps and pictures of Vietnam on the side wall. Right off the bat we received a friendly greeting and throughout our dinner, everyone helping us was very nice and attentive. Now on to the food - pretty impressive! The menu contained all of the dishes you would expect and more. I ordered my favorite spring rolls and all of the ingredients were fresh and was everything I could hope for in a spring rolls. Next, to satisfy my pho craving, I went with the shrimp & broccoli pho with beef broth. Amazing rich flavor of the broth and lots of shrimp! My dining partner ordered the rib bone pho and had never seen such a pho bowl, with 2 huge rib bones with a surprising amount of meat. A little messy to eat but well worth it! I hope I get to return in the future and try some of their other dishes. read more
Easter Sunday, 2026. Stores closed, restaurants open! Yay for me!! Although I know I've definitely physically been to this location before, it definitely was NOT Pho Lab.... however, still unable to remember the previous business, I guess *that* is precisely how memorable that last spot was. Pho Lab is a fantastic hybrid of the authenticity of central OC restaurants and the more modern, 'newer' generation style of south OC suburbia. The food is amazing. AMAAAAZING. But the place is definitely run by, I'd estimate, younger-end millennial-esque employees. In other words, you'll love what you order might have to fish for a water refill. No big deal -- it isn't any kind of a dealbreaker. The spring roll wrappers are just about the freshest around, and that. Peanut. Sauce. *chef's kiss* The pho: broth tastes like it came from the tiny kitchen of your Bà, the meats all *literally* melt in your mouth, and the noodles have the perfect balance of chew and soft. All this, along with a generous amount of typical accouterments, plus a pretty tasty iced coffee, and a grilled pork banh mi to go, went for just under $38. I consider this a steal in this economy and neighborhood. Edit: the banh mi is disappointing. It has some sort of flavor-canceling lettuce shred that kills the char and marinade of the delicious, albeit tiny portion of, pork filling. My unsolicited advice? Kill the shrubbery, increase pickled veggies, slather the mayo spread on the entire baguette ("crust to crust, is a must" -- Chef Jeff Mauro). Overall, I understand, and wholeheartedly endorse, the high rating this place has earned thus far. It was busy today, so my waits were understandable -- but thankfully everyone is kind and responsive. Can't wait to visit Pho Lab again! read more
Very interesting modern take on Vietnamese food and atmosphere. The restaurant is clean, modern and felt more elevated than your typical pho restaurant. Service was incredibly friendly and attentive and I hope they are able to keep it up. Quite a few tables so hopefully they don't get overly crowded once they are more well known. Easy parking in a large lot. The bathrooms are very different from most pho restaurants. For appetizers started with the golden bao. Slightly sweet dough that was crispy on the outside with meat, sausage, and egg yolk. Very tasty and creative dish that haven't seen at other Vietnamese restaurants. The deep fried crispy skin was a unique take on the Vietnamese bao. The spring roll tasted pretty standard except it used iceberg lettuce which made it taste slightly more mild. Peanut sauce was excellent. Shrimp were a bit dry and not very flavorful. Got the pork bahn mi and it was well done. Good crisp bread and mild pickled veggies. No jalepenos and had shredded iceberg lettuce at the bottom of the sandwich. It came with an interesting spicy garlic sauce. Pork was well flavored, although it didn't have the crispy grilled bits. Excellent pho. Broth was flavorful and very generous portions of meat. Got the ox tail pho and it came with three pieces of ox tail. Did the pick your own pho with brisket, flank, and ribeye. Each bowl of pho came with its own veggie plate which contained a good sized portion of your standard pho vegetables. Bottles of sriracha and hoisin at the table along with pepper grinders. Finally we got the vermicelli noodles with the combo meats. Both the shrimp and pork were lacking the char that you typically see. Pork was still good being flavorful and tender. Shrimp was a bit lacking in both flavor and texture. While it's still in its initial soft opening, there is a lot to like about pho lab. read more
12 hours ago
9 days ago
delicious food with great prices. steak was tender with good sauce. We finished it with some leftovers so portions are really good and its great to even share. read more
5 months ago
I have visited Pho Lab twice. I was highly satisfied both visits. The place is clean, great service, the food comes out hot and fast! Rib eye pho with egg rolls Both delicious read more
5 months ago
FINALLY a good pho spot with really good broth (coming from a Vietnamese woman!!!) Service is awesome, space is huge and spacious. Can't wait to come back soon! read more
3 months ago
Love this spot. The pho broth and protein is savory and delicious. All the staff have been helpful, attentive and kind every time I'm here. My favorite is the pho dac biet and iced coffee. Hits the spot! read more
21 days ago
GREAT FOOD GREAT SERVICE AMAZING everything was perfect and i enjoyed coming here to dine with my friends will be back soon! read more
6 months ago
We were seated right away and the place was spacious. My husband and I both ordered the "pho your way" and we were able to choose 3 meats each. The broth was delicious and flavorful. We also got the shrimp spring rolls high my husband loved. The staff was attentive and friendly. We'd definitely come back! read more
6 months ago
Great spot for pho in the area. Get the extra bone-in with the pho. Clean and fast service too. read more
3 months ago
2 months ago
Thank you much food was so delicious every one love them well prepared and organized my lead was so excited her favorite food read more
we were a group of 10 wanting to get seated around dinner time. the servers were very gracious and immediately started making arrangements to get us seated asap! they were also handling other difficult customers at the same time but never forgot about us. they ended up putting 3 tables together for us and made sure we were comfortable. after placing our order, it did take a while for everything to come out. for example, we ordered 4 of the shaking beef garlic noodles, but only 2 came out until another 15 minutes later the other 2 were served. but overall, they were very accommodating and checked in consistently with our party to keep track of what foods we were still waiting for, water, etc. for the food, i felt that the golden bao was a bit underwhelming and too much dough/breading. the noodles (garlic & pho) were great though! read more
2 months ago
The food... wow... the flavor. I got the pork and rice plate while my partner got the combo pho. Very light and airy while still having that rich taste. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. The restaurant is very open and clean; therapeutic environment that we oh so loved. read more
3 months ago
It was absolutely amazing, food is delicious, we all got various things, wings, pho, rice, and garlic noodles. By far one of the best places, everything was well seasoned and went together perfectly. Costumer service is great, amazing service, all so sweet and fast. Would definitely come again. Environment is so colorful and beautiful, art is so pretty and so are the flowers. read more
7 months ago
Came here with a big group (12 people!) and was honestly impressed with how quickly they seated us. There was plenty of space, so it didn't feel cramped at all. Parking was super easy with lots of spots available. We ordered the spring rolls, combination pho, and the vermicelli with grilled pork -- everything came out fresh and flavorful. The wintermelon iced tea was really good too, perfectly sweet and super refreshing. The staff were friendly and attentive, and service ran smoothly even with our large group. Bonus: if you pay with cash, you get a discounted price, which was a nice surprise. Great spot for group meals. Would definitely come again! read more
This was my first time at this spot and I absolutely loved it. We got the shrimp and pork spring rolls to start and they were amazing. They were also super cheap for the area. The pho came out super quickly too and it was absolutely phenomenal. They have a "build your own" where you can pick three meats for like 15 dollars and I thought it was a great deal. The restaurant is well decorated and has an amazing feel to it. My server was really nice and helpful. I'm not sure how long this place has been open but you need to try it. read more
my fellow helpers definitely know what they're reviewing here! great tasting food that is fresh and appetizing, prompt and friendly service and a huge dining area with two large tvs (one had basketball and the other had nature scenes) i'm feeling that i must try more of the menu so i will return and i encourage you to dine here! read more
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Had their oxtail. Super tender and large portion. Now it's my new favorite spot. Highly recommend this spot. read more
7 months ago
Was craving late-night pho with a friend and stumbled across Pho Lab -- and I'm so glad we did. Even though I came in set on ordering pho, their specialty dishes completely caught my eye and I ended up going with the garlic noodles topped with shaken filet mignon. Absolutely worth it. We also tried a few appetizers: the popcorn chicken, grilled pork spring rolls, and egg rolls -- all generously portioned and packed with flavor. Everything came out fresh, hot, and satisfying. The vibe was great for a late-night bite, and the menu has way more variety than I expected. Next time, I'm definitely coming back to finally try their pho -- but based on this visit, I already know it's going to be solid. Highly recommend if you're in the Lake Forest area and looking for a late-night food spot. read more
7 months ago
Super clean and amazingly friendly staff! Food was out quick on a Sunday afternoon, and staff was attentive to us throughout the meal. I like their simple and straightforward menu. The pho itself was really good. Broth was clean and tasty, and the beef bones came with a ton of meat for a solid price. Highly recommended! read more
2 months ago
We got the Pho Combination, Chicken wings, and filet Minot garlic noodles. The portions and presentation were great, food was delicious and fresh, and the prices are reasonable. It also came out fast. We will definitely come again! read more
Within one sip of the broth, this instantly became my new favorite pho place. The service was amazing and all of the food was the best I've ever had. They even have ox tail pho which not a lot of places have anymore and it was perfectly cooked. read more
25 days ago
1 month ago
Lake Forest has a new contender in town. Pho Lab took over an old pho shop, but the new place is way better. The restaurant is very bright and the employees are very attentive to people walking in. The wall decor was pretty and I was shocked to see a fresh black pepper grinder on every table. Food came quickly and for the price, you can't beat the portion sizes in South Orange County. We got a special and the pho your way which were awesome. We also got the egg rolls and shrimp spring rolls which were very good too. The spring rolls aren't Brodard, but the pricing is reasonable and they were fresh. Overall, we'll be coming back here for pho and to try some of their other dishes like the shaken beef with garlic noodles. read more
9 months ago
I came here with a curiosity of how the flavor be and I like the flavor with the mix of everything. I had a full and had to take to go. I'm just happy I got my tummy filled with goodness. I got my service fast and the place looks spacious and clean. I will be back again to see how the bun mi taste. read more
Happy to have a good pho place open south of the 55. My girlfriend doesn't have to drive 20+ minutes for it anymore and she's very excited. Service is warm and attentive. I like the sides they offer which are a bit different from normal pho places. We ordered Cajun garlic fries, which came out crispy and perfectly seasoned. The pho broth isn't my #1 here, as it's not as rich as it is at other pho spots. However, the meat is far better and more tender than my usual spots. It's in a huge open room with tasteful decor and a tv with sports on if you're interested. Really hope to see it thrive, as we desperately need good pho down here! read more
7 months ago
Pho Lab in Lake Forest makes me speechless. The pho broth is easily the best I've had its rich, aromatic, and incredibly satisfying. The shaken beef is fire...tender, flavorful, and cooked just right. If you're a pho lover, this place is a must try. Come try it for yourself if you dont believe me read more
I visited Pho Lab during their soft opening weekend a few weeks ago and I was SO blown away. The restaurant is so open with tasteful decorations, and the service here is phenomenal. As a Lake Forest local, this particular location has been cursed for pho restaurants for as long as I can remember. I can't remember the last time a pho restaurant has been able to last longer than a few years, but I genuinely think Pho Lab will keep its spot in Lake Forest! My family and I ordered a bunch of dishes to try which was great with the 20% off grand opening promotion. To be honest, when I eat out at Vietnamese restaurants, I don't have high expectations because my mom cooks everything so well at home, ESPECIALLY pho. However, the broth of the pho here is flavorful and doesn't feel heavy. It's just a genuinely high quality broth, which is this most important part of pho to me. The portions are also incredible and you could totally save some pho for later if you wanted to. I also got 2 different kinds of wings to try, Mango Habanero and Nước Mắm (fish sauce). The fact that the wings are an appetizer, but comes with 8 wings, is so generous of a portion. The Mango Habanero wings come out dry and you dip it into the Mango Habanero sauce. I honestly loved the way this was served rather than having a dressed wing because the crisp and crunch of the wings was DELICIOUS. The wings themselves are lightly seasoned (salt & garlic?) which pairs well with the dipping sauce. The Fish Sauce wings are not on the menu, but to my surprise, I liked the Mango Habanero flavor more. This is only because I prefer stronger tasting Fish Sauce wings and these were more mild tasting to me. It's all just preference! I loved the amount of garlic on this flavor though. I looove garlic so that hit the spot. Speaking of garlic...the Filet Mignon Garlic Noodles here are DELICIOUS. Like I said, I love garlic and of course garlic noodles, so I have pretty high standards for them. I really need you to understand that there's basically never enough garlic on anything for me. But these? Wow, literally the perfect amount of garlic for me. The noodles aren't greasy feeling at all. They were so flavorful and garlicky, I seriously crave this all the time now. I haven't even gotten to the Filet Mignon part yet. Each piece of meat was PERFECTLY charred on each side. The perfect shaken beef is an art, and Pho Lab had perfected that. The beef was incredibly tender, juicy, and filled with flavor. My mom literally brought me her leftovers when she went back here with her friends and I downed it in less than 5 minutes. It's seriously so good. It also comes with a green dipping sauce that complements the beef really well. It's fresh, spicy, and a little creamy. Loved the flavor combos in this dish. As for the drinks--the Winter Melon Iced Tea was nice and refreshing. It wasn't too sweet for me. The Thai Tea sweetness is not adjustable and is more on the sweet side, but the thai tea flavor is good. If you like sweeter drinks then this would be perfect. Not on the menu, but the complimentary Vietnamese Yogurt dessert was delicious. So creamy and flavorful, not too sweet. The service here was great and the servers are very attentive. I felt like they really made sure we were happy with our food and our experience. We got to talk with the owners a bit and they were super kind and hospitable. Lake Forest is so lucky to have Pho Lab and I can't wait to come back to eat here again. I highly recommend checking it out! read more
More info about Pho Lab
22641 Lake Forest Dr
Ste B1
Lake Forest, CA 92630
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(949) 328-9566
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Pho Lab - vietnamese - Updated August 2026
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