Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pho Saigon Gem

    4.5 (306 reviews)
    ModerateSoup, Vietnamese, Noodles
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Pho Saigon Gem Takeout or Delivery

    Pho Saigon Gem Photos

    Business Info

    PHO SAIGON GEM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like Pho Saigon Gem

    Recommended Reviews - Pho Saigon Gem

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ed L.

    My friend and I were craving for Vietnamese food so here we are. Just look for Smart & Final if you need a landmark. It's my first visit to this shop so I ordered the #1 house special pho as I usually do. My friend ordered the house fried rice. Food came quickly and they were tasty. Service was acceptable but not as cozy as I expected of a top notch place.

    Thai Tea
    Millena P.

    Visited here after a whole day at the Niguel Botanical Preserve. This restaurant is about 12 min away. Parking: They're located in a large plaza with plenty of parking spots. Ambiance/Environment: We visited on a Wednesday for dinner, and it wasn't busy. They have a large indoor space with plenty of seating. Perfect for groups of any size. The indoor area is really nice and clean. They also have outdoor seating if you want to bring your pets. Service: There were two workers present. We were seated immediately since it wasn't busy. Throughput was quick and efficient after ordering; took about 15 min or less. We were checked on once and didn't see our server after that. Food: I ordered Pho Dac Biet. The broth was clean and flavorful. I could tell they didn't add anything extra like msg or chicken bouillon because none of us were excessively thirsty. There was a generous amount of beef slices, but I'd prefer a bit more meatballs. The tendons were good, not too chewy, and held enough flavor. Each pho bowl came with a side of bean sprouts, jalapeños, lemon, and basil. Pricing: I personally think the prices for a pho bowl have gone up ridiculously throughout the years. The economy just gets worse and worse. Their prices match every other pho restaurant. Definitely worth it though. I really enjoyed my bowl.

    2. Thai Iced Tea
    Julie S.

    I loved the Thai iced tea. Wasn't too strong but not light. The pho was delicious. They only have the thin rice noodles. The filet mignon was pretty decent just not as tender as I would have hoped, I would try to order some alternative meat next time. The broth was great, and they provided a great amount of bean sprouts and mint leaves. Service was great. I was attended to right away. Order was taken quickly. Since I went early in the afternoon on a weekday, it was quite empty but it was very peaceful with mostly music playing in the background.

    Garlic noodles with chicken
    Amy D.

    I have been wanting to try this place and now I ask myself why have I been lagging it?! Hubs was craving pho and I was hungry so this was the perfect spot. Kids loved the egg rolls. Only two for the appetizer plate though. Most places come with 5. Kids also got the garlic noodles with chicken. Although it did not look appetizing the kids loved it. I wasn't allowed to try any or have leftovers so I can't tell you how it tasted but I guess that nears it was awesome. They never hoard food like that. Husband thought the pho did not have enough meat. Barely got any brisket. Huge bummer. Soup was good and serving size was good. Got the vermicelli noodles myself. Always a fave at Vietnamese shops. I was very impressed. The pork was perfectly marinated. So much flavor! Plenty of noodles and lettuce but wish there was more sliced cucumbers. Still, I highly recommend and would definitely be back.

    Mher M.

    Authentic Vietnamese food. Wish the crispy tofu was cut into smaller cubes so they would be crispier but we still enjoyed them. The shrimp spring rolls and seafood pho were as expected. Peanut sauce needed a little more taste. I ate too much! At least they're healthy foods ;) Not a lot of diners on a weeknight. Service was good and place was clean. Our server probably owns the place and he was very friendly, asking where we're from. I guess he can tell we're just visiting the area and not regulars.

    beef BM1. Charbroiled Sandwich /  Banh Mi Bò/ Heo/Ga Nuong
    Morgyn D.

    Out of all the Vietnamese places i've had the pleasure of eating, this still remains my #1! friendly staff goes above and beyond. clean place. the food is outstanding for a fair price, large portion. i absolutely ADORE the pho filet mignon. the broth is so rich and you can tell they spend lots of time on it. tried the bahn mi beef today-- 10/10!!! thank you for always serving me. PS i've ordered from here on doordash 30+ times. never fails to come piping hot with all the fixings. please give this place a try!!

    P9. Pho Tai Nam
    Trina D.

    I was in the mood for pho after a long week and unexpected turn of events. My husband was amenable so I took a look on Yelp to see if there was a place nearby I'd want to try out. I saw that Shane D. had previously reviewed this place and gave it a glowing recommendation so we headed to Pho Saigon Gem. We sat down and ordered after looking at the menu. We both wanted pho. I ordered the short rib pho (P4) and my husband got the pho tai nam (P9) in the regular size. While we waited for our food to come out, I happened to hear a familiar voice at a table nearby. It was none other than my friend Shane D. who's review I had seen earlier in the day and one of the reasons we chose to dine there that evening. What a coincidence! After a brief greeting and conversation, our food arrives. My husband inhaled his food, down to the last drop. On the other hand, it took me a little longer to get through my food. The short rib presentation happened to be smaller rib bones than I'm used to seeing. Other places give one big bone but Pho Saigon Gem gives you the meat in smaller pieces. One, it wasn't as tender as it could have been and two, it was tiring picking up the smaller bones as I was eating. It wasn't fall off the bone tender so it was hard to remove the meat from the bones. I made the best of it and finished most of my bowl of soup and noodles. The broth was nice and aromatic. We added the usual suspects of herbs and lime to the bowl. It was a delicious meal on a chilly December evening. Thanks to Pho Saigon Gem and Shane D. for popping up on my feed. 4.5 stars rounded up.

    Side of broth to go $7.50 and they surcharge for brussels sprouts, mint lime and jalapeños on top of that
    Jake J.

    Pretty expensive broth, not even filled all the way extra charge for everything pretty sad

    What you get for $20.

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Great good, super clean, and fantastic owners. Best pho south of westminister! Pho broth is hot and flavorful.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Exceptionally friendly staff and really good Bahn Mi's! Super excited that we finally have good Vietnamese food in south county.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Angela N.

    Angela N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    This place has me coming back at least once a week lol food was great as always today thanks again!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of JL L.
    68
    78
    7

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John T.
    67
    72
    32

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    I have been here multiple times with my boyfriend and we always enjoy the food. Service is kind.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Angela N.

    Angela N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    We got the Chicken Pho, Chicken Bahn Mi sandwich, the Vietnamese Coffee and Vietnamese Iced Tea. All great.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sierra F.
    124
    64
    21

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Javi S.
    2
    38
    38

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vee W.
    0
    63
    26

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Angela N.

    Angela N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kendrick N.
    12
    109
    101

    4 years ago

    The food is good and the service is very friendly. They also have Vegan options! I'd definitely come again.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Angela N.

    Angela N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nicole M.
    158
    25
    16

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    The best Pho in south OC for sure. The broth is to die for! The garlic noodles and all the rice dishes are delicious!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of zenah a.
    151
    15
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J H.
    7
    7
    2

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Abby P.
    10
    40
    28

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tran P.
    75
    20
    19

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 6 of 8

    Ask the Community - Pho Saigon Gem

    Is this place good good or is it good from an Orange County perspective? Lots of the Asian places in the area aren't good because they cater to a specific demographic.

    I agree, the menu is simplified based on the South OC clientele. Thanh Binh in Lake Forest serves good Vietnamese fare, fair value with great customer service. If you want a wider selection of restaurants & dishes, you'll need to travel further… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Pho So 1

    Pho So 1

    4.4
    (355 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $$

    I am giving this place a 5/5 rating solely on their pho (and bun bo hue)…read more Their broth was very flavorful and had a lot of depth for being free of msg! There aren't a lot of restaurant that offer bun bo hue, so I thought I'd also give that a try. I ordered the pho special, but swapped the pho broth for BBH because I saw another review on here mention they did that - and I am so happy I did! It was really tasty and flavorful with the perfect hint of spicy! I would say I'm pretty picky with food and I would bring my Vietnamese parents here. 5/5 on their taro smoothie. I like that it tastes like fresh taro. I don't really like when it tastes too artificial or too sweet, like the taro milk teas from boba shops. It's also extremely light. Super refreshing on hot days. For being a pho shop in lake Forest and not having to drive all the way to Westminster or bolsa. 5/5 on their pho 5/5 on their bun bo hue 5/5 on their vermicelli noodle dishes. I liked their fish sauce with the sambal 3/5 on the shaken beef (bo luc lac) they don't give you a lot and texture was a bit inconsistent. Flavor was good but wouldn't order it again for the price 2/5 on the chicken curry (ca ri ga) I'm used to Vietnamese curry being a bit sweeter and more coconut/creamier? It tasted a little unbalanced, not enough cream and too much spices (tumeric + cumin + coriander). Slightly salty and watery. I didn't like the chicken either . Service is good when you walk in to be seated and when ordering, but they don't always check in if you need water. You just flag them down. Not a big deal. I'm more interested in how the food tastes. I like that the inside reminds me of typical pho restaurants. Nice and simple. Here for the food! I'll be back!

    Have only done takeout here. It's a casual restaurant with plenty of tables. The food is consistent…read moreand service is average.. The charbroiled pork noodles (bun) is a big portion with fresh veggies and generous with the pickled daikon and carrots. The large chicken pho hits the spot. The shrimp spring rolls are also solid. We only had an issue one time when the way they packed two pho broths and other dishes in one bag in such a way that it was precarious and spilled out everywhere on the drive home. I get wanting to conserve plastic bags but it wasnt practical or smart and they were unwilling to repack. To order takeout, it's the old fashioned way - by phone. They have a decent website but no option to order online.

    Photos
    I enjoyed the food BUT the lack of service was disappointing. I pay for service; not to be treated as if a simple request is an annoyance.
    I enjoyed the food BUT the lack of service was disappointing. I pay for service; not to be treated as if a simple request is an annoyance.
    #61 - Shaken Filet Mignon...sofa king good! Meat was so tender and delicious!
    #61 - Shaken Filet Mignon...sofa king good! Meat was so tender and delicious!
    Beef and Eggroll rice combo.

    See all

    Beef and Eggroll rice combo.

    Pho Saigon Gem - soup - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...