This is one of my favorite local Vietnamese restaurants when I'm reallyyyy craving pho or bun bo hue but I don't want to drive to garden grove or Westminster. They offer dine in, carry out, and delivery. This place is my guilty pleasure doordash splurge. I love their spicy beef noodle soup and my boyfriend loves pho dac biet. Everything on the menu looks delicious and I can't wait to try more but I'll probably keep ordering bun bo hue lol read more

Worst lo mein ever. For $19, it was six shrimp and a tiny amount of almost completely raw bell pepper and onion on a small portion of bland oily noodles. I added salt just so I could eat them. Honestly, after the first bite, I considered dumping the entire thing and spending more money to order something else for dinner. The (admittedly massive) tofu spring rolls had a weird smell and very little flavor except too much mint. I ended up tearing them open and dipping the tofu in peanut sauce and leaving the rest. I do not understand why people like this place. I will never try it again. read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - Terrible shrimp lo mein - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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We came to Pholicious Noodle Bar for a bite of lunch and had a terrific meal. We started with the Shrimp Spring Rolls and they were good with a nice peanut sauce. Next we ordered the Garlic Noodles with Shrimp and the Pho with Rare Steak. Both were quite good. The pho was well flavored and filled will noodles and meat. I could not finish it all. The garlic noodles are heavy on the garlic but really good. You will definitely keep the vampires away. Service was friendly. We will definitely come back. read more

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should've listen to my instincts. There's a reason why this place is empty during lunchtime. I was only one there. I ordered a Pho with meatballs steak. I received 2 meatballs They were cut into four pieces and half the amount of steak in the noodle soup. Keep in mind they charge me $18 and gave me virtually no meat. The broth needed a lot of salt. Deleted help me was friendly. I will never return to this place. read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - With meatballs and steak. Virtually no meatballs and 1/3 steak that needed salt. Not impressed at all. - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I recently revisited Pholicious Noodle Bar, hoping to satisfy a craving for Vietnamese cuisine. While the experience had its highlights, it also had a few missteps that left me feeling lukewarm about my visit. I arrived just before 3 PM on a rainy afternoon and was immediately greeted. The restaurant was empty, so I had my choice of seating. The space was clean and casual, with a relaxed vibe, though it lacked the lively energy of a bustling Vietnamese eatery. Service was friendly and efficient, no complaints there. I debated between the Oxtail Pho and the Bún Thịt Nướng Combo (Vermicelli Combo) and ultimately went with the latter. When my dish arrived, it was plated beautifully but in a way I didn't expect. Instead of the usual large bowl that allows for easy mixing, everything was arranged on a plate in separate sections. While visually appealing, it made mixing the noodles, lettuce, herbs, and fish sauce a bit of a challenge - some ingredients inevitably spilled over the edge. The egg rolls were also served whole instead of cut into bite-sized pieces, which I found to be also interesting. Photo - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQ&select=na2MWf0jH1kvfQNP_cm9rA The biggest disappointment was the grilled pork - it was overwhelmingly salty. The fish sauce already provides enough saltiness, so the additional seasoning made it almost too much to enjoy. I considered sending it back but decided to just roll with it. The rest of the dish was decent, but not enough to make up for the overpowering pork. No 60 (Menu) - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQ&select=kv7PPdRPlalDBCdPNDqpqA Cost: $17 +tax (+tip) Grand total: $22 Photo - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQ&select=1eD8smtPb3IQk_LRmbCRwQ I also appreciated the napkin dispensers on the tables - no napkin rationing here! Some places hand you a single napkin like it's a precious commodity, and asking for more feels like a negotiation. Not the case here - thankfully! Photo - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQ&select=TKlyW8wTGpBTmGTrPizN1w My recent visit to Pholicious Noodle Bar was just okay - not horrible, but not particularly memorable either. The service was good, and the food was visually well-presented, but the execution missed the mark for me. If I'm craving a solid Vietnamese meal, I usually visit Thanh Binh, my go-to spot, also in Lake Forest. That said, if you're in the area and looking for a quick Vietnamese fix, it's worth a try - you just might want to ask them to go easy on the salt. - Big Aloha! Food: 3 Ambiance: 3 Service: 4 Value: 3 read more

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Food: 5/5 Are you craving for pho when the weather is cooling down? This pho place is a definite go, broth was nice and flavor and most importantly, piping hot! Love when the broth is hot when pho is brought out. Comes with nice portion of meat and noodles along with bean sprouts and mint leaves. Service: 5/5 service was great, waiter was attentive and enthusiastic. Ambiance: 5/5 Nice and clean Service read more

Im a fan of their Spring Rolls - large and tasty. The pho not so much. Very bland. Oxtail pho was mostly bones and meat was hard/sinewy and not tender. They do give big shrimp in their dishes. I also got to try their Shaken Beef. Flavors good but Fries were hard and meat was small portion/not the softest. Garlic noodles ok bit too buttery. Connor, the only person running the register and taking orders, was very friendly. Comfy seating. Cool AC. Filtered water. I would come back for spring rolls. But they need better execution on their other dishes. read more

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Really happy I found this pho place that also has bun Bo hue near my home! It's hard to find good pho or bun Bo hue places in Irvine normally we have to head out into fountain valley or Westminster for the good Vietnamese food but my husband liked their bun Bo hue here and would come here again. It's spicy and flavourful. It doesn't beat the best bun Bo hue place quan vy we like next to da vien coffee on Bolsa but it's definitely top 5 for us so far. I also liked their pho even though it wasn't as good as phoholic or pho lovers I wouldn't mind coming back here to eat it since it's so close to our home. Shrimp spring rolls also delicious even though my kids didn't love it they prefer spring rolls. I liked how this place gave rau ram the thin herbs it's so good to eat with my noodle soups other than just basil! Their Vietnamese ice coffee 10/10 it was made perfectly for me and came out super fast! Their service was also so speedy and great. Highly recommend coming here read more

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this is not the best review but i'm inclined to give another go at pholicious in the future. we placed an order to go and although the food was good there was a piece of non edible matter in one of the meals which caused us to lose our appetites. good size portions and the understanding owner offered compensation. just one of those things i guess. read more

I last reviewed this place a couple years ago. I ordered take out through Yelp this time, not delivery. The service was quicker than I expected. Yelp said it would be ready between 3:09pm and 3:30ish. I walked up around 3:05pm and it was ready. Nothing was missing from my order this time. I got the brisket pho, shrimp spring rolls and Thai milk tea. I did have to reheat my pho a little bit in the microwave when I got home. The Brisket pho was pretty good. The broth was flavorful and the veggies were fresh. I added some hoisin and sriracha sauce to amp up the flavor. The only issue was the brisket was on the dry side, even in the broth. The spring rolls were tasty. The shrimp was clean and cooked perfectly. I liked the ratio of noodles and veggies, with there being more noodles than veg. The peanut sauce was thick and flavorful. This is still a good place for a quick lunch, highly recommend for pick up rather than delivery. read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - Brisket pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Menu offerings are great they have different phos/ garlic noods/fried rices etc.! I ordered their traditional pho combo and ox tail pho to go. both were solid, but for some reason the soup in both was... watery? I could taste the spices and beef flavor but it was just very muted. I had to add salt, but it didn't bring out more flavor :/ Meats were on par with other pho places read more

Stellar food, friendly service (they even threw in a few jokes), customizable menu options for vegetarians, ridiculously good fresh lemonade, and affordable prices. It's a casual dining place with comforting fresh Vietnamese food and I'll definitely come back next we're in the area. read more

The food was GREAT. Amazing portion, filling, and flavorful meat! The service was great especially as I came in 20 minutes before closing. I also loved the ambiance eating here. sociable, chill, and am bummed that I missed the sign for their bun Bo Hue. Will update this review for when I do! Definitely make sure you have time to enjoy this place! read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - 11. Pho Tung Special (Ph c Bit) - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Came here on New Year's Day for dinner. We wanted have something warm and comforting, and this place definitely fit the bill. Not many places serve Veggie Pho with Veggie broth. This was my first time trying vegetarian pho and I was pleasantly surprised. The broth was delicate, yet flavorful. I could just sip on the broth. They are also generous on the veggies and Thai basil. It came out hot and I always give extra points when the food comes out at the right temperature. We ordered an egg with the pho but I think we would just skip it next time. We also ordered the edamame & vegetarian spring rolls (tofu, noodles, thai basil & lettuce). Liked the Thai basil in the spring rolls and the peanut sauce was decent. The edamame was just ok for us. Small place but they have the ability to accommodate a large party given that it's not a full house. Just a couple of tables open when we walked in. Our server was attentive and kept checking up on us. And the prices are reasonable! We definitely will be back for the Veggie Pho and to try some of their other veggies menu items! read more

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Great service, food & ambience! We were the first customers on Memorial Day (5/26/25) Steve and Tracy took care of us. The pho was delicious, just like the reviews said flavorful without being salty. Generous portions for a regular size. Big thanks for the amazing food and friendly service! read more

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Pholicious Noodle Bar is an unexpected, delightful surprise sitting in an old shopping lot in Lake Forest. The storefront is unassuming and the interior is clean and bright, but you certainly wouldn't expect to find some of the incredible food offered here. The pho is great with a bright, clean taste and a hint of your classic pho spices, it's swimming with plenty of fresh, delicate rice noodles and the portion of protein is generous. Whether you get their namesake, the Pholicious, with rare filet mignon, brisket slices, and very flavorful meatballs, or their Oxtail pho with tender meat, you should be able to satisfy your pho cravings here. However, you cannot visit Pholicious without trying their Garlic Noodles with Filet Mignon at least once. The garlic noodles are sweet and savory and a bit saucy rather than dry. The cherry on top is the most tender, juicy pieces of filet mignon soaking up the addictive goodness of the sauce. Honestly, this dish blows away other filet mignon garlic noodles. Flavor, execution, and value (~$17 compared to most places charging $20+ for the same) all come together here. Other dishes that will sweep you away include their egg rolls, which includes a mix of pork, shrimp, and taro. The savory, sweet mix makes this an exceptional egg roll; the only thing that could make this better would be more lettuce wrap and pickled veggies. And do not miss out on their spring rolls! Their tofu spring roll comes with freshly cooked fried tofu. The tofu is delicate and soft, which works wonderfully with the greens inside. Even better, this dish is served with very fresh, soft rice paper and an amazing savory, dark peanut-based dip that balances the sweet, salty, and umami perfectly. To top this all off, the service here is exceptional. The servers are so kind, not only to customers but also to their kitchen. It's clear these people love working here, and they enjoy working with each other. We are finding excuses just to make our way back down 20 minutes to Lake Forest just to have another delicious bite here. Between the food and service, I suspect you will be very happy to make your way down here as well. Yum! read more

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I went to Pholicious for the first time with my family about a month ago and I don't know what took me so long to try this place! Personally I don't really like to eat Pho at restaurants because my mom makes it best, but after coming home from a long trip, all you want to eat is pho. When we walked in we were greeted immediately by a server and the owner. We felt very welcome and they had a pleasant attitude. The store is also very clean, bright, and open which I loved. The food was amazing!!! We only came for the pho, but we ended up trying the Crispy Shrimp Rolls and the Chicken Wings w/ Garlic Butter. Literally amazing and came out so hot and fresh. The sweet chili dipping sauces that came with them were good too. I got a regular sized bowl of pho with rare steak filet mignon and the tendon add-on. Everything about this bowl was incredibly generous, I don't know who can even finish the larger size! You get so much meat and the bowl in general is just huge, you could easily split this into two meals. You can also request for some pickled white onions, mix with sriracha, and add it to your bowl to make it extra tasty :) The owner is so sweet and social. She made us feel welcomed and made sure our food was to our liking. If I ever need to get some pho again I'm definitely coming back here. 10/10! read more

Best pho and fried rice in town. So yummy, so tasty, and the flavor is rich. The vibe is chill. The environment is clean and well decorated with all the amazing art canvas. We ordered rare steak and meatball pho, chicken fried rice and butter garlic chicken wings as appetizer. All of them are wonderful and the portion is large. And don't forget to order the Iced Thai tea.:) definitely come back soon to try other dishes. read more

Out of the many pho restaurants I have tried in this side of south OC,this place happens to be my favorite. Chefs/servers are on top of it and you literally see/feel it. The pho broth is so good and the food always comes out piping hot. We decided to try the noodle dish #33 with beef and WOW, I would eat this everyday if I could- beautiful flavors, peppery/lil spicy and the beef is so tender. Highly recommend this lil gem:) read more

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They offer the most delicious vegan pho! Their broth is simple and flavorful. And with generous portions of veggies and tofu!

Amazing service! Amazing food! Amazing prices! I love it here! My fiancé and I were in the area after heading back from the beach and decided to try this place out. We love pho and eat it pretty much every week. We were greeted upon coming in and instantly were seated. All of the servers were so sweet and full of personality. We ordered chicken pho (I needed something light on my stomach) and short rib pho. Short rib pho was delicious and the pho ga came with an egg which I'd never seen before. I will say there was a slight cinnamon taste in the broth which was interesting but we asked for their house fish sauce and house chili oil and it was perfect. Thai tea was fantastic as well!!! Ambiance was great and will definitely be back if we are in the area :) read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - 18. Short Rib Pho (Ph Sn B), 12. Chicken Pho (Ph G) - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Pholuscious was delicious! I ordered the rare steak Pho and it came out pretty quickly. The server was very kind and even helped me to find the wifi password. Thanks Pholicious! read more

Came here for lunch today with a couple co workers. It's a cute little restaurant; though not big, they've arranged it to where it seats many people without feeling too crowded. Now onto the food. Co workers ordered the House Special Pho and Garlic Noodles with Filet Mignon. I ordered the Ox Tail Pho. We also got the House Special Egg Rolls to share. The egg rolls were actually very tasty, we all liked these a lot. The Ox Tail Pho was pretty good - although I got 2 ox tails, one was like 5% meat and the bone. Kinda disappointed in that. Flavor was still pretty good, so I wouldn't knock them just on that. Co workers also thoroughly enjoyed their food. My only complaint is that I asked our server to cook my bean sprouts and she even confirmed with me. But when she brought out my bean sprouts, they were raw and uncooked. Everything else was great though. The garlic noodles did sound really good though, and since my co worker enjoyed it - I may have to try that on my next visit. read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - 2. House Special Egg Rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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This place is slept on! I recently came across this place while I was visiting the vet nearby and went back a 2nd day in a row because it was -that- good. Things to note that were great first impressions: plenty of parking, plenty of seating, simple menu, and amazing staff. The staff is so genuine and one of my favorite things about this place. Is it weird that I've only been twice and I feel like a regular ? lol. Also their food is quick and delicious. Their pho serving is extremely generous and their vermicelli dishes are to die for. Also, haven't tried it yet, but my bf LOVES their Banh Mi sandwiches. Love this place and don't mind skipping over the pho restaurants in Irvine, where I live, to visit here. read more

I just moved to the area a few months ago from Costa Mesa, and Costa Mesa is a happening food scene so a lot to live up to. I've tried a couple of Pho places in the area, and this one is the best one I've tried so far in this area. I've been several times and it's consistently good. They are always really busy, so sitting at the bar is a good option or getting it to go. Spring rolls were great too, they're huge, so getting one order of two to split with the pho is plenty. Anyone I've engaged with here has been great even when it's swamped, they have always been very friendly and helpful, making it an easy choice to come back here when we're looking to get our soup fix. read more

The waiter was nice! I'm not sure what was her name but she has light hair and was Asian. She was pleasant and handled everyone in the restaurant. The food was good! It was normal but at-least it wasn't bad. I ordered a large and my friend ordered a normal and they seemed the exact same. The inside is spacious and there is lots of seating, they have music playing and fans and a tv with replays of old channels. There is only one bathroom so it would be better if there was atleast two. I would come back but it is a bit pricy for pho! read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - 19. Brisket Pho (Ph Chn) - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Amazing vegetarian options - everything I've tried has been incredible! Highly recommend the fried rice and garlic noodles. The team here are very nice as well read more

The warm funny server is amazing. He is Italian And the best at answering pho questions! Food is great! Amazing value and top service. Clean with good vibes! read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - Veggie pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I had walked in earlier today to pick up an online order from Pholicious.Then after waiting for my order to be packed up when I clearly see my order done on the counter for well over 10 minutes.. Finally was handed my order in which I thanked the man working the front register.. He responds to me with " If I didn't have too. I wouldn't". I couldn't help to just laugh at someone who HATES his job enough to be rude to a customer for absolute no reason at all. My only advice to him & this place is to just DO BETTER!!! Unbelievable read more

First of all, i would like to say that i am very picky when it comes to pho: It's very important to me that the broth is clear but rich and flavorful... and not did this place deliver! I LOVED the pho so much! So much so that I had to tell the entire staff it was amazing from the chef to the owner! I soon found out they DO NOT put MSG in the pho! That's quite amazing as my mom makes the best pho and has never made it without MSG! Chef explained they use didn't kinds of beef bones (and lots of it) to make up for the msg. Makes sense and you can tell by the way it tastes! I don't care about customer service much because a lot of Asian places lack it and honestly I'm a hole-in-the-wall type of girl but this place has the nicest people waiting to serve you! The ambiance is very clean considering it's a pho joint! Overall, i was SO surprised to find a good pho place in lake forest! I live in Irvine and have yet to find a good place in Irvine. No, i don't think "pholicious" in Stanton and Costa Mesa is all that great although everyone rants and raves about it. I was visiting a friend who had already had lunch and i just dined by myself and was so pleasantly happy that at least I've found a place close to her so we can eat here some time together! read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - Pho special - my fav 3 meats are usually never in a bowl together (rare steak, lean brisket and meatballs)! - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

First time here and I was so happy I found this gem. Hidden in a little plaza, and wow, the food was incredibly delicious and fresh. Hands down, the best I've had. Authentic Vietnamese Pho with tender oxtails and garlic noodles with rib eye. Prices are reasonable, and the menu has lots of options too. The restaurant is clean and welcoming. Our waiter was so sweet and attentive. I'm raving about this place! A MUST try! read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Beef pho is okay. Lacks meat. However, their chicken pho is atrocious. Broth lacked any good flavor, had a plastic taste to it. Not sure if it's the type of the water used. Also, 4 small pieces of chicken meat only and a boiled egg. It was bizarre tasting chicken pho, and I have not had a bad pho. I can tolerate okay pho, but this chicken pho was bad. Other things on the menu are okay. Just avoid the chicken pho. Cannot comment on service or ambiance because we normally get to-go. read more

The food was delicious, the service was very friendly, and the restaurant was very clean. Will definitely come again! read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - 12. Chicken Pho (Ph G) 66. Vermicelli with Grilled Shrimps and Chicken (Bun Tom Ga Nuong) 4. Crispy Shrimp Rolls ( Tom Noa Tien) - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Ordered takeout. I ordered the bun thit nuong cha gio (vermicelli with grilled pork and egg rolls) and it was delicious. They put the noodles, vegetables, meat, and egg rolls separated inside a clear plastic container. Pro tip: cut up your eggrolls and mix everything together with fish sauce and enjoy. Viet approved. read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - Vermicelli with grilled pork and eggrolls after I mixed everything - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Ordered to go. Haven't been here is while and I was craving pho. I didn't much care for the presentation of my to go order... I understand the meats are rare but my appetite was a bit lost after seeing a bloody bag of meat... read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Really tasty, fresh and good portions. Free Thai Tea! Been here a few times and is always consistently satisfying. Great job! read more

I yelped to look for savory crepes called banh Xeo. Found them close by my home in Laguna Niguel. I was so Syked. Very good customer service and the food is delicious. read more

I'm surprised that Lake Forest has a good pho place. The broth here is pretty flavorful. And I'm so glad they have chili oil! The regular bowl is pretty huge already and they do not skimp on the meat! I usually don't like ordering pho when I eat out but this was definitely a good bowl. They even have bun bo hue on their menu. I can't wait to come back and try that! Service was really good and food comes out super fast. read more

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I was the first customer in the restaurant & had a wonderful conversation with the owners. They are very friendly hard working people. My first impression, this place is so clean & enjoyable. My lunch was absolutely phenomenal. I had the filet mignon with garlic noodles. I definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Pholicious Noodle Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This place is in our Vietnamese rotation of restaurants. My wife likes the taste of both the Pho Ga and the Pho Đặc Biet a lot. I've had a variety of things but the most memorable was the Cari Ga (Curry Chicken) and the Com Bo Luc Lac with fries. The curry was very flavorful and the beef was tender and flavorful. We've had the Goi Cuon Tom (Shrimp) which was ok. Way too much noodles in the roll so it threw off the ratio. I also wasn't a fan of the peanut sauce coming ins to go cup when we are dining in but minor detail. Service has always been friendly the multiple times I've been here. read more

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