I order bun (dry vermicelli noodle) at every pho restaurant and this is by far one of the best ones I've had. We came by late on a weekday night. Their Thai tea was also so good, it wasn't watered down at all. Their menu is pretty extensive so I was overwhelmed honestly, but I'm so glad I stuck with my noodle dish instead of rice. I'll have to come back to try the rest of the items. They boast having a pho broth with no msg - and you can definitely taste it! Service was great, the chef that was working was super sweet and accommodating for our party although it was late. read more

Pho So 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Is this the best pho in Orange County then the answer is no. But is this good to satisfy your craving without driving out to garden grove/ Westminster then I say yes. It is nice they don't use msg so the broth is lighter. The small size is good if you are not feeling super hungry. Service wasn't terrible but it seemed like a college kid working there so he took our order gave us what we asked for and that's about it.there is free parking it's in the plaza with the Ralph's. Overall I would come back if I wanted pho but didn't want to make the drive super far. Oh and the eggrolls were delicious super crispy read more

Very disappointed with their cutting the food quality/quantity! we had a pork chop and 2-piece egg rolls with steamed rice combo plate. The pork chop was as thin as it could possibly be! Such a rip off! Everyone knows about the high raw material cost. But a restaurant should not raise prices and cut quality at the same time! read more

So gooooood! Nothing like some pho when you're not feeling your best. It was delicious!This place is a local favorite in our neighborhood and I'm glad they are here! The food is excellent and the people are so friendly! My husband picked up my food for me and they offered him some water while he was waiting for me- that kind of service isn't found very often any more. Plenty of parking. read more

Excellent authentic pho, clean and nice ambiance, fast and friendly service, delicious. Will be back!

Pretty good pho! Quick service! Love supporting a mom and pops establishment also! We are frequent visitors!

Wife had the Pho, was okay but the tripe was a little strong. This happens when you don't clean it right. I ordered 2 banh mi to Go one pork one beef, but very mediocre. I don't id order it again for $10 per sandwich. Service was good, my wife ate in while I ordered to go since I didn't have an appetite when we were in the area. A lot of people like it here so I recommend trying. read more

It's typical pho restaurant in O.C I can tell the vegetables is cold from the night before , coffee's good ,the most standard of a cleanest could show by the sauces tray on the table Look like this restaurant followed the health code regulations, bravo!!! The anopheles is relaxed,, I worked in pho restaurant for years both from back and front so I can tell you exactly what it is. Will coming back !!! read more

Great place to stop in to get some yummy pho. I usually just eat the brisket, tripe, beef pho in the regular size an always leave happy.

Im updating my review to give it 5 stars instead of 4 because I really like this place. I LOVE THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE MSG. THANK YOU!! They take pride in that and it's all over the menu and storefront. The pho broth has a clean, light, good flavor without the MSG. I usually get a small, but I can finish the large here. Prices are good, but portions are a little smaller. So my son gets a large and adds on noodles. They give you an extra bowl with soup. Also FYI, I just went today and they changed up the noodles to the slightly thicker ones. Not the thin rice noodles you usually get. I'm a traditionalist with my pho... but, I didn't mind it at all. It was good. My husband had the pork chops and that was good too. They don't give you with tons of sprouts, basil, lime, jalepeno for your soup, but I'm sure you can ask for more if you add a lot. I usually add more than what they give but it's been ok. Service is kind, friendly, attentive, and quick. We've been there 4x now and it's now our go to spot. And every time we have had great service. Ambience is just a casual spot. Nothing fancy but big enough to find a table for your group and not wait long and they keep it clean. Also having a little room after dinner isn't bad cuz the Boba Bee in the same plaza is worth having after! So good! read more

We came on a rainy Wednesday night and it was packed! We haven't seen it this busy before. The server looked frazzled and complained about it being busy all day. She was stressed. The cashier was very helpful and we still enjoyed our meal. Their pho sure hits the spot on a cold, rainy night. read more

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Food was okay for price. Service was quite bad. Interrupted my dinner to take my sauce to "refill" after I told them that I still would like it, then didn't give it back until I was done with my meal. Could hear them whispering and complaining about other customers as well, Better off going to another place lol read more

Decided to branch out from our usual. Super clean restaurant with quick and friendly service. Cha Giờ: one of the best in OC. One of the few places that uses rice paper for the Cha Giờ. Bún Thịt Noung Cha Giờ: good size portion. Veggies are fresh. Pork was good but I've had better from others in the area. Pho Bo Dat Biết: wife got the small bowl and she said it was a good size. Smaller than other small/regular bowl but in our opinion those are huge. She said it was good but others was good. They are one of the few places in Lake Forest that still make Soda Chanh, but they do the modified way not the traditional way. Overall we were happy with our experience but they have so much competition. When I'm craving some Cha Giờ I will definitely be coming to this place. read more

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We found this place about a year ago and whenever we have a yen for Bun or Pho for lunch, we come here. You seat yourself anywhere in the restaurant and soon enough, menus will appear. There's alot to choose from. The service is always fast and friendly and the food is delicious. There's plentiful parking in the large parking lot. Find it at 21771 Lake Forest at the corner of Trabuco and Lake Forest Drive. read more

Favorite pho place ever! We come here at least twice a month. The food comes out super fast and fresh. The servers here know who we are because we come here so often and they are so kind and friendly. There is always seating available and will let you pick any table that is available. Recommended! read more

This place deserves more than 5 stars , I have no words to explain , perfection 12/10 , the combination between everything is just divine . Soup is very warmth and light , they stuffed the bowl , the toppings always consistently a lot, I can't even finish small size , AND THEY GIVE HUGE TENDON, not like small strings like other places . Tripe always clean, and I ordered egg rolls and they have the best fresh eggrolls out there not the smooth skin ones . Me and my boyfriend are so addicted that we always want to come here any chance we have . And I drink the coffee everytime . Never a full moment . Ambiance is so nice and quiet . Even when they have full house, it's still quiet because people actually enjoy the food . I've come to this place 6x before this review . Very recommended . service is 10/10 fast, consistent . read more

Pho So 1 - No. 13 pho (small) - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I tried this place out for the first time and it is by far my favorite now. It's really amazing authentic Vietnamese food. Their menu has way more to offer than your typical Pho restaurant because not many places serve their beef pho with tender tendon or tripe. The servers were nice but I had to ask for water a handful of times. The place is cute inside and there wasn't a wait but it got pretty busy when we left. It was the perfect place to eat a nice bowl of Pho. And if you're really hungry go with a large bowl because the flavors of the broth will blow your mind. We also tried their salt and pepper shrimp and the fried egg rolls and they were both really good. Everything is made to order and tasted very fresh. read more

Pho So 1 - Fried egg rolls are the best wrapped in lettuce - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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We had an amazing experience at Pho So 1. Pho is delicious with that homey taste. They have lots of condiments on the side. I don't care much about the wontons since there was barely any filling, but the fried and fresh spring rolls taste great. Service was quick, friendly and efficient. For the price point, we really can't complain! Will definitely be returning. read more

Pho So 1 - Special Combo - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Our favorite pho place. Been going here for years. Love the owner's and the staff and the food is BOMB!

Excellent food. Like homemade. Family friendly. Good service. Open till late. We loooooooove it

While the departure of Majestic's will be missed, it's great to have a new pho place in town. Lake Forest is an up and coming place for Asian food and Pho So 1 is a welcome new addition. They had their grand opening today! It's more of an old school pho restaurant that you would find in Little Saigon, and we really don't have enough of those in South OC. You can find a rather expansive menu with plenty of different of cuts of beef for pho, bun noodles if you're wanting something a bit cooler, and plenty of fried rice and fried noodle options if you're looking for a change of pace. I had one of the custom combos and it was great with all the different cuts of meats to add different flavor and texture profiles. You can definitely experiment until you find exactly what you want, or go for the Dac Biet to try it all. Right now they're having a 20% off deal for their grand opening, for a month until the 8th of September, so now's a great time to give them a chance. TIP: 20% off until 9/8! read more

Pho So 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

As soon as we walked in things seemed fine with the young kid smiling and greeting us. He was the best part of the dining experience. Then the guy taking our order came over with zero personality talking like a robot looking like he hated his job and making us feel like we were bothering him just by ordering food. Then our pho comes out with hard undercooked noodles that were flat out inedible and when we brought it up an older man storms over looking pissed off asking what's wrong like we were the problem. I stayed calm and told him the noodles were undercooked but the way he glared at us made me not even want to say more so I just asked him to redo my mom's bowl. The rest of us just ate our pho. He snatches it back and then mutters something under his breath while glaring at me which is flat out disgusting behavior for someone running a restaurant. This was hands down the worst pho I've ever had and the service was a complete joke. I honestly don't know how this place even has any good reviews other than they're old and probably fake because there's no way anyone would enjoy this garbage food and hostile service. My mom refused to touch her food after that because we were both worried he might have spit in it from how angry he looked and that's how bad the vibe was. If you can't handle being told your noodles are undercooked then maybe don't run a pho restaurant because I can cook instant ramen at home better than this trash. This place is embarrassing compared to other Pho So 1 locations and it deserves to be shut down. Avoid this place at all cost. You'll thank me later. This experience ruined our Labor Day vacation. read more

I don't usually like to write bad reviews, but this experience was enough to deserve one. I was at this restaurant with my service dog, Estrellita, who is a psychiatric service dog. I've learned that many places should only ask two questions if they're unsure, and they should not demand proof or ask if she's a "real" service dog. Still, this staff member pushed. When I sat down, he said dogs are not allowed here. I said she's a service dog and he immediately asked whether my dog was a "real service dog." This felt judgmental and unnecessary. The presence of a service dog should be respected, not scrutinized. I explained she's a psychiatric service dog and that I have documentation showing she's a service dog. I, of course know my rights, and know I did not have to show it, however I was being polite and given them the benefit of the doubt. However, I still felt judged by this staff member with his face gestures. As I said, I know rights protect me from being forced to present proof. Still, he pressed the issue. He repeated the line of questioning even after my clear explanation. It was uncomfortable and unprofessional, making me feel unwelcome. The interaction detracted from the dining experience. The service, food, and ambiance were otherwise fine, but the repeated questioning lingered in my mind and I chose to leave due to this encounter. Rather than a pleasant afternoon with my family, I walked out feeling stressed and unwelcome. Two things to note for future readers: The two questions allowed for service animal inquiries are: 1) Is the service animal required because of a disability? 2) What work or task has the service animal been trained to perform? It is not appropriate to ask invasive questions or demand proof of credentials for a service animal. Overall: If you rely on a service dog, you deserve a respectful, non- confrontational experience. This place is definitely not ADA friendly. I hope the management addresses this and trains staff on proper service-animal etiquette. read more

The food was so amazingly good! I had the pho and the rib plate with fresh chicken spring rolls. Definitely one of the best Pho places read more

Pho So 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Sooo glad we found this place on Yelp! I ordered for pick up at the Lake Forest location. Ordering via phone was easy and pleasant. The staff was not rushed and made sure order was correct. Food was ready promptly, 10-12 minutes. And everything was packed securely. We ordered spring rolls, pho, crispy yellow noodles with chicken, and combination fried rice. All were very good and fresh tasting. We also ordered Thai tea, on the smaller side but very good. This location is next to Ralph's and parking was not an issue. The restaurant is clean and updated, lots of seating. read more

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This place is amazing. The food is consistently great quality, the portions are great, and ingredients fresh, and the revive friendly. Everything I've tried has been amazing. read more

Had a nice lunch here with the family. Food was good. We ordered egg rolls, pho with beef bones, spring rolls with beef and the vermicelli bowl with beef and shrimp. All the food came out about the same time. My son enjoyed his beef spring rolls, which were cut into small 2-bite pieces. My husband's vermicelli bowl was tasty and substantial. My small pho with beef bones surprisingly had three beef bones! The spring rolls were tasty although my son is so used to regular spring roll wrappers that he didn't really care for these ones with the rice paper wrapping as much. Service was nice and we were brought out ice waters immediately upon seating, which was appreciated. Prices were reasonable... and especially with their current 20% off for dine in. I would return to try some other items. read more

My friend and I were looking for something warm to end our hangout, so we opted for the ultimate comfort food - pho! I won't lie, I'm not a huge pho connoisseur, so I'm pretty easily pleased if all the components are there. This location is in a huge plaza, so there was plenty of parking when we came there around 8pm on a Saturday. It wasn't busy, either. We were able to seat ourselves easily, and service was quick! I got the Pho Tai and it came out within minutes of ordering. I was pretty satisfied, but I would say I wish there had been more protein in my bowl (small size). Overall, solid though - I can see why this is such a staple spot with regulars. read more

Was feeling a little under the weather and craved some Pho. This was the first time trying this place. We placed an order for pickup and the ordered was prepared very quickly, we barely had to wait. The food was amazing, even when it was eaten at home. The broth, noodles, and meats were incredible. We also got the shrimp and pork spring rolls which were delicious. read more

If you're looking for pho, look no further. This is the superior pho shop. It has great pho, beautiful broth, good portions of both meat and noodles, and unbeatable prices. Great all around. This is what other pho shops should aspire to be. As a bonus - the Thai tea is also super good. read more

Great food and service!!. Food portions are generous.. price is reasonable and ingredients were fresh.

Great service, good food, suprised me with the no msg label but still tasted quite good regardless of the no msg! Will definitely be back.

We came here after a massage next door and needed something quick to eat. It was around 11am on a weekday and we were seated and served right away. Got the rib pho and hubby got the brisket. The broth was flavorful. The only complaint I have is thar the noodles were stuck together. Ambiance is just a quick spot to eat at. We'll be back. read more

Not too busy on Sunday evening, it is spacious and has a good amount of tables for a grocery plaza. Both my Vietnamese parents enjoyed the pho. My husband and sister prefer the pho bo chin. I had the com ga roti. The chicken was made very well without being dry like other locations. I do think the sauce I've had with it is better at other places but overall I'm happy with it. My son had the kids rice and charbroiled chicken. He ate all the plain white rice (since he's not quite 2 yet he is picky) but the chicken was a good flavor. There are a lot of options in the menu that offers variety. read more

Above average pho place, but located in Lake Forest, so 5 stars considering the neighborhood. Good service, seems to be family run. Solid, recommended. read more

In short; Pho So 1 Lake Forest was okay but not without its own challenges and quirks most notably its customer service which was flat & very lacking. Unfortunately Pho So 1 Lake Forest was "just alright," overall. It is definitely NOT a 4 1/2 Star spot by any means. Pho So 1 Lake Forest is NOT one of those places that would be worth while to go out of your way to try; it was okay but not all that. Overall rating: 3 Stars I was actually headed to Súp Noodle Bar by Kei Concepts in Irvine; fellow yelp*er, Nicole T is my pro-pho-essional when it comes to a great bowl of broth. She recommended S'up Noodle Bar to me and it has been on my must-try list for several weeks now. However, I remember seeing Pho So 1 on one of my recent searches... 'AND it was 20 minutes closer to my location. "Please wait to be seated"- I walked in and waited... 'There were a couple of tables already occupied. I noticed an employee leaning up against the front counter focused on her phone... 'And so I continued to wait. Several minutes pass and still nothing. I gently kicked the side of a booth to make noise in hopes that the worker would look up. Photo - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=7-5M-X77gwad2QaIe1h3Kg&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQ After sitting down, I was hit with a strong feeling of deja-vu!... 'And then it dawned on me; this is the shop formerly known as "Majestic." - LOL (Insert sound of deflating balloon.) The "Majestic," was anything but... 'And now here I am with its replacement, Pho So 1 Lake Forest. Well, the service felt similar; let's see how the rest of it plays out. The worker handed me the menu and asked, "Ready to order?" - Uhm, you just literally gave me the menu?... So, that would be a no. Weird. My order: No 94: Bún Bò Huê - Spicy noodle soup; good portions; broth too salty. No 1: Khai Vi Däc Biêt (Combo Appetizer) - Spring Rolls (3), Egg Rolls (3) and Crispy Wontons (4) Hot tea No 13: Phò Dac Biêt (Large; to-go order) - Pho; good portions; broth too salty. Total: $50 (+tip) As I waited for my order, I decided to take a photo of the hot tea with the restaurant's menu just inside the frame. Without saying a word, the owner walks over to my table, grabs my cup of tea and moves it over it to the side and proceeds to grab the menu... 'All as I was preparing to take my photo. Really? She didn't say excuse me or ask if I was done; nothing. - "So, is that what you consider good customer service?" FAIL. I stopped her and told her that I was not done with the menu. In the end, the worker handed me my bill; I remembered the yelp* check-in offer - "FREE soda with meal purchase." I showed it to her, she abruptly waved me off & walked away. - "You have to take to front counter!" Okay, that was rude and uncalled for; noted. I looked up as she was now talking to the manager/owner, the worker threw her hands up in the air and gestured to my table. The next time she returned, I asked her, "Is there a problem with the check-in offer?" - She immediately changed her tone. So, why the drama? (SMH) I requested to-go containers for the remaining Bún Bò Huê and Khai Vi Däc Biêt. I started packing the food and the owner returned to my table. I guess I was being too difficult for the employee so the owner jumped in. - "So, me asking wanting to redeem the yelp* offer was an issue after all?" What gives? I asked the owner if the yelp* check-in offer could be used for the hot tea I ordered? - "No, SODA only!" Okay, that's fine; please add a Diet Coke to-go with light ice. I found it odd since the tea was only a dollar. Wouldn't it be better for the business to deduct the tea over the more $$, soda? (Shrugs) The owner circled my table a couple of times. It appeared that she REALLY wanted me to pay the ticket NOW! What's the rush?... I was still packing up my soup, appetizers and sauces. The owner returned to my table a few minutes later - "Okay, I take tea off! No charge." (I guess she did the math... - LOL) I am not a very demanding customer by any means. For the most part, I'm very fair but please do not interpret my laid back attitude as a green light for poor service. I will not be having any of that. This petty & trivial approach in relating to one's clientele is small minded given the the larger scope of things. The truth about customer service - Bottomline: The food can range from so-so to amazing but crappy service will ruin a great meal/experience every single time; like my first visit here. If you do not want to do the work required; close your dining room and just offer to-go or delivery orders only. This way, EVERYONE will have a better experience. Photo - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=r_Q4ZtdXHo-wu8XCoz2-hw&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQ Pau. (Done.) DO NOT PASS GO! Go directly to that other place you were planning to eat at before eating here; truth. I should've driven the extra 20 minutes. - HA! *See additional uploaded photos Food: 3+ Ambiance: 3 Service: 2 Value: 3 read more

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Still coming here almost every single Friday for my lunch. I can't get enough! The filet mignon is so tender, the broth is so delicious, and everything is so fresh. I used to order for takeout, but I've come to enjoy my time away from the office and eat at the restaurant. The vibe is very laid back and they always have relaxing music on. Service is always quick and friendly, Kacy is the best! My favorite lunch spot and look forward to it every week. read more

Pho So 1 - Filet Mignon Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Service is amazing, food was almost perfect (bahn mi was a little old) Honestly was surprised, as my experience with asian food south of irvine hasn't been great -but i can't wait to come back! read more

This is my favorite pho place. The owner is super friendly and professional. The pho is good and most is the stir fried dishes are great. It does get busy on the weekends. read more

We came back a second a time! Kacy greeted us cheerfully. We both ordered the Pho with rare steak and a side of the summer roll. Once again, the food was delicious. I was happy to see that a lot more people are trying this place. read more

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