Stumbled on the Golden Rabbit and stopped in today as my wife and I were talking a walk around Balboa Island. It's a small location with very little seating inside and with perfect weather on this day we dined outside. We tried the shrimp and pork spring rolls to start. The serving size were four large rolls that were more than we could even finish. It was accompanied by a flavorful peanut sauce. Spooning the sauce onto the first bite was a total surprise and didn't know what to expect. The ingredients were so fresh, crisp, and flavorful. The peanut sauce didn't have that cheap skippy peanut butter taste but was not overpowering and just enhanced every bite. My wife had the Chicken Curry with rice. It was a large serving that she couldn't finish on her own and I joined in to assist with my own spoon. It was filled with pulled chicken that was tender and tasty. The curry was more of a broth that had the perfect amount of curry flavor. Not too spicy and the soft white big potato halves made the dish feel like a warm, hearty bowl of comfort food. The rice was some of the tastiest I've ever had. Not sure what it's seasoned with but it's yellow and stick and delicious and balanced the curry broth perfectly. I ordered the marinated chicken with rice. It's served with a wonderful fish light fish sauce that you often get with vermicelli dishes at Vietnamese restaurants. The chicken was a thigh meat that was tender and flavorful. The rest rice was the perfect accompaniment that filled me up in a good way. Highly recommend both dishes. They use no seed oils, everything is fresh, made to order and be patient as the food doesn't come out right away. Good, healthy, fresh food takes time and worth the wait. They have a bunch of boba and coffee drink options that many around us had ordered and seem to really be enjoying. This place will go on our list of must return and perfect for those summer evening date night spots in one of the best beach cities in all of California. read more

Stumbled upon this place while walking around balboa island. Good value. Great find among the restaurants on balboa. Walk-up to order and they bring the food to your table. The service was attentive and friendly. I got the chicken vermicelli. It was delicious. Made fresh with a flavorful side of fish sauce. The shrimp spring rolls were also freshly prepared with crisp lettuce and plump shrimp. These were lettuce heavy rather than vermicelli heavy which made them nice and light. A few tables inside with a few tables in front of the restaurant. read more

See all

Grabbed a ube foam Vietnamese coffee to go with my cinnamon roll from across the street at balboa island baking company and it was a beautiful pairing. Their vietamese coffee is strong and creamy and the ube foam added a nice layer of flavor and color. It's a large portion as well. Love this spot! read more

Golden Rabbit - Ube Foam Coffee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

Had lunch today with my bestie and a good friend of hers, we sat outside and had veggie and shrimp spring rolls. Food was 10/10, so fantastic and refreshing. The peanut dipping sauce was perfect and the spring rolls were equally fantastic, had a nice bite to the rice paper which I love. The service was friendly and attentive, and of course outdoor seating which was very comfortable. Can't wait to come back and I'll post pictures as I forgot to take them today. read more

Very nice staff with some outdoor seating and stool seating inside. Street parking in the front and in the neighborhood in the back. Our server Onyx was very attentive and checked on us often. Filet Mignon Beef Pho: very clean and lean. Not heavy at all and pretty fresh. Decent portion size and plenty of vegetables. The food came out quickly and hot. Chili oil was not spicy but still tasty. The shop is small but it has a lot of spirit. I hope it does well. read more

Golden Rabbit - Menu October 2025 - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I first heard about Golden Rabbit through my foodie grapevine--word on the street was that their pho broth was different from the same-old you'll find everywhere else. Curiosity won, so I packed up my family of five and made the 90-minute trek from Marina del Rey to Balboa Island. When we arrived, I expected a big, flashy spot. Instead, we found a cozy boba-style storefront with a few tables outside. Honestly, it reminded me of the street stalls I grew up with in Asia--unassuming, but full of promise. Every staff member was super nice. I felt extremely comfortable asking about the various dishes, and trusting their recommendations. They were so nice, i almost traded them for my rambunctious kids. The payoff? Totally worth the drive. With five of us, we sampled five dishes, and each one impressed. The secret here is Mysa, the founder. Her food stands out in the details. Yes, the pho broth really is different--and better. Like David Portnoy has his best cheese pizza quest, I'd say Mysa has redefined the pho test. It just hits... GOODer. Don't miss the filet mignon pho. My personal favorite was the chicken curry--a soupier vermicelli version that reminded me of the hearty soup dishes I grew up with in Indonesia. Comforting, flavorful, but not heavy. Easily a new go-to for me. Just pour the side of rice right into the soup bowl, and slurp away like a Viking. It's a must. We also loved the shrimp vermicelli, wok-seared beef rice, and crispy egg rolls--all excellent. If you come, bring at least three other people so you can order family style and taste a little of everything. And don't skip the brown sugar boba milk tea. My kids loved it so much they dragged me back 20 minutes later for a second round. According to them (aged 20 and 17, aka "boba experts"), it's a must. Bottom line: Golden Rabbit is absolutely worth the drive. I'll be back. read more

See all

Everything we ordered was delicious. Portions were good. It's a small place so seating is on the sidewalk out front, which was just fine.

We just came in for a quick bite. So we ordered the Vietnamese Spring Rolls and a Vietnamese coffee. Both were fantastic! read more

Golden Rabbit - Bubby loves his Vietnamese Coffee! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

The wok seared beef rice is incredible and quite delicious! The beef was delectable, cooked to tender perfection and those flavors of the sauce with seared veggies just went so well together. Would love to sit and eat this on the beach, but the vibes and service make you feel like you're right there. Nice calm and relaxed while eating some top quality food, you can't beat it! Thank you!! read more

Golden Rabbit - Wok Seared Beef Rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

My mom was super excited to try this place. Restaurant was clean, servers were really nice. We loved the filet pho a lot. The chicken pho had good flavor but the chicken was really tough. Veggies were fresh. Awesome location. Tea was also really good. Would come back. read more

See all

I ordered this via Uber Eats. As you can see, the food doesn't look like the picture they sold to me. The broth tastes like beef broth. Throwing it away. I'm sure some people can eat it but at this stage in my life quality is more important than money. They also packed a cold ice drink in the same bag as the hot pho broth. Why??? read more

Golden Rabbit - What was sold to me. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

Food was perfect everything is nice yes love the atmosphere and the people were very nice and the food was great i will be coming back for more. read more

The food is amazingly flavorful and the service is great. Yum! I especially loved the no seed oil sign and gluten free option makes it a winner. read more

This is a great Balboa Island spot for very fresh well prepared, flavorful and reasonably priced Vietnamese dishes. The staff is great and attentive. The food is served promptly and hot. Portions are generous, you will not go away hungry or disappointed. This is a true island gem, worth seeking out! read more

Golden Rabbit - An array of dishes and choices - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Great chicken broth pho. Broth was wonderful. Would come back here again in a minute. Huge serving I couldn't even finish. Chicken was so tender. Usually find it overcooked in pho but not here. This was a great surprise. read more

Golden Rabbit - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

When we stay on Balboa Island this is the first place that we order from. Best takeout on the island. Broths are rich and flavorful. Spring rolls, wings, and other appetizers are always prepared perfectly. Super friendly service and the restaurant is clean and bright. read more

Amazing. A delightful, authentic Vietnamese culinary journey located in the heart of Balboa Island. The service is top notch and menu inspired. Its sidewalk seating adds to the charm of the overall experience. Highly recommend their chicken curry. read more

See all

Yesterday, I invited 3 friends to try out the Golden Rabbit's new dishes for lunch. Each of us ordered a different dish, and we relished each one. The weather was gorgeous, so we decided to walk to Sugar 'n Spice frozen banana shop, just a few yards up the Marine Avenue, and we were absolutely delighted with the treats at this iconic landmark. read more

We have had vermicelli all over the world and this was quite literally the best We have ever tasted. The home made sauce was amazing!! The place is small, but we sat outside. The peach tea was a bit sweet for us, but the vermicelli made up for it! read more

See all

My absolute favorite place on Balboa island. I think I have tried just about everything on the menus and it's all delicious. My fave is the beef vermicelli, but the pho is incredible too and you can't beat their spring rolls & peanut sauce. Their server is also the nicest and most helpful server I have ever met. I highly recommend Golden Rabbit! read more

One of our favorite places on the island to eat, PHO is so good. One of the best part is, they use no seed oils! read more

I absolutely love pho and tried all the restaurants in Orange County. This place is by far one of the best bowls of pho I've ever had. The filet pho broth is cooked for 18 hours and the chicken pho is cooked for 20 hours. You definitely taste the difference compared to others in the area. They have a large menu aside from pho and everything looks delicious, from the garlic wings, beef udon, and boba teas, I am excited to try it all next time I come back. Not to mention the ambience; it's a small restaurant but right by the water and close to tons of amazing shops and restaurants on balboa island. This place is a must try for all your Asian fusion food cravings. read more

Golden Rabbit - Filet beef pho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Authentic Quality ingredients Good value Clean and modern Excellent service Perfect 5.0 from 83 reviews read more

Excellent chicken curry! I don't care for super spicy and this curry was perfectly seasoned - not very spicy. Absolutely delicious! Huge chunks of tender chicken and buttery potatoes. Fragrant jasmine rice as a side. Enough curry for two or three people; had to take my leftovers to go. Their boba drinks are yummy too! Support locals that own small businesses like this when you can. They all put a lot of love into what they do! read more

Golden Rabbit - Chicken curry with jasmine rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

We happened upon Golden Rabbit in a Saturday...a Christmas boat parade Saturday. Mama mia, that was a feat! BUT Golden Rabbit to the rescue! It was busy, of course, but the owners and employees were all so nice and friendly, helpful, and our food was healthy and delicious! We had a rice vermicelli with chicken and a shrimp udon. They were both so tasty and with generous portions! Thank you, Golden Rabbit! We frequent Balboa, so we will happily be back. read more

The food was so delicious and fresh! They also had Great service as well. I'll definitely be back!

Everyone was so nice and the food looked and smelt amazing!! I needed a coffee and tried their banana coffee. One of the best I'd ever had! The banana foam taste like real banana and the coffee was delicious! I would definitely go back and try all their drinks. read more

The best Vietnamese food!!! Wonderful shrimp udon and garlic chicken wings! Warm and friendly service !

I've been to The Golden Rabbit a few times now and it never disappoints. The filet mignon pho and chicken pho are both amazing. You can really taste the quality and the long hours that go into the broth. Everything is super fresh and full of flavor. Big shoutout to Casey. She's always super friendly, polite, and incredibly hardworking. You can tell she really cares about her customers. Can't wait to come back and try more from the menu! read more

So damn good. Every single time!! Love the pho soup. Best I've ever had! So clean and beautifully kept Gem on Balboa Island

I live on Balboa Island and i could not be happier to welcome such a wonderful new restaurant to the neighborhood! I am a vegetarian, so during the soft opening menu, i was worried there were't going to be many options here for me, but now with the full menu, there are a lot of options! i have tried the fresh spring rolls, veggie/tofu udon, and veggie/tofu vermicelli and each dish is so good! I've also had a boba tea here and it was awesome and i am so excited to have boba on the island. The ambiance is small and clean and it is nice that they offer outdoor tables too. I enjoy eating at the restaurant or getting to go. We met the owners the other night and they are so lovely and kind! This is definitely the new addition that was needed on the island and i cannot wait to bring more of my friends and family back. fun fact- the owners also own sugar and spice across the street, so check that out too! :) read more

Yum I can't wait to try all the dishes here!! On my first trip, I tried the beef vermicelli and I found it extremely delicious. I rarely order this dish but they have a limited menu. I thought I would give it a shot and wow, I was so impressed. However, it's not the "restaurant" that I thought it was it's more like order And eat your food kinda place, it's not the full "full service." I thought it would be. I was looking forward to having a glass of wine lol but it's just not that kind of place yet. When all the locals find out about how good this place is tho it's going to be busy! I overheard the owner talk to some patrons that were raving over the food and had been to Vietnam And went to culinary school there and telling her how wonderful her food!! There are 2 outdoor dining tables that they will serve you and then inside it's kind of warm and stuffy with a lot of cooking smells but you can grab a barstool and sit inside too at an eating book that aces the window! Closed on Monday too! Why do I go out to dinner all the time on Mondays read more

Golden Rabbit - Beef Vermicelli - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

I read the reviews and took a chance. The place is tiny and has a few tables on the sidewalk. Everything was tasty and delicious! I had the Bun/vermicelli with chicken and crispy spring rolls. Some of the best I've ever had. Service was friendly and efficient. Just a delighted to find this place. Can't wait to return. read more

I LOVE Pho, and I had perhaps the best ever here. Filet Mignon and spareribs beef, tasty broth and all of the accoutrements. Yum! The wife had chicken curry which she loved. Technically it is a takeout place but we sat a the window counter and had a nice chat with Mysa, the owner. Good to see this new restaurant is having early success! read more

Golden Rabbit - Chicken Curry - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

Never had Pho before. Heard golden rabbits is the best of the best- tried it, and we are all addicted. We want to eat it every single night. It's so healthy and incredible. Their ingredients are so fresh and perfect! read more

Incredible food high quality of ingredients I think best in oc. Try this soup and thank me later read more

Golden Rabbit - Beef stew soup unreal. This is one of the best soup I've ever had. It should get a Michelin star. Blow my mind. Wow. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The food was delicious and service was excellent. I really liked the Strawberry Spritzer as well.

Excellent service, great tasty food! Chicken vermicelli and Spring Rolls with delicious Mango Lychee drink was perfect! read more

No wait, good service, food was pretty good. Not much indoor seating so we sat outside. The flies were so annoying trying to eat the food before we did. It was unbearable trying to wave our napkins while eating fast. Ugh read more

This was a delicious meal here. Very good service and the food was excellent. I'll definitely return here when visiting balboa island. read more

Golden Rabbit - Beef and rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all