My sister was having a minor surgical procedure and couldn't eat any solid foods for 2 days and the first thing she wanted after was Ho Sum Bistro. Parking can be a pain on weekends but it's worth the struggle. It's not huge inside but there is a little counter and a few tables plus more seating upstairs. They have great lunch specials and all of the food looked amazing. We decided to share a variety of things including the lunch special salad and fried rice, garlic edamame and some chicken potstickers. Literally every single thing tasted so amazing, I wish I lived closer to this spot so I could come all the time! The service was amazing, everyone was so nice and helpful. I look forward to coming back and trying everything else! read more

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WOW! This place hits the spot after a long day on the beach. Their combo salad is refreshing and unique in flavor! Don't miss out on their dumplings and bao buns, honestly some of the best I've ever had! We came here 2 nights in a row because it was so yummy! Service was fantastic! There isn't much seating, but it's worth the wait if you go during peak hours! read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Combo Ho Sum Chicken Salad - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Shout out to Chloe!! ( sorry if I'm spelling it incorrectly) She was super helpful. A few times we had asked for things that didnt come out-yet and she promptly helped us get those other items. Super sweetzzz We were sitting at the bar and we saw her was all over- helping where she can. Definitely great work ethic - something you don't see as often any more. Way to go!! Food wise- Salad is amazing. Skip the hot and sour- different than I've ever had it. Wasn't my fav. Dumplings choices were okay- pretty uniform in a sense of taste. Wish there were more a variety or unique tastes for the different dumplings. Overall good! I'll always come back for the salad! read more

me and my friend have been seeing this everywhere on Instagram and we had to see what the hype was so we came and got the combo salad. She got it with the chicken fried rice and then I got it with the wonton soup and we just split it and it was a really really good deal for a combo like that. We both left really full. The salad was crunchy and tangy and hit all the spots. I really enjoyed it and it was a really good price point. Service was quick. Would definitely come back for like a quick lunch. read more

Ho Sum Bistro - combo salad - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I felt compelled to go here because of its presence and reputation in Newport Beach. Front entrance has stairs not sure if you can enter in the back without stairs? Restaurant has unique look and architecture. Not sure if it was originally built as this restaurant or if it was something previously. We got the lunch special, Ho sum combo chicken salad & fried rice with shrimp. It was a lot of food for lunch and it was difficult to finish due to the quantity not the quality. It was great food and I would go back. Server was great. Sat us quick, took our order when we were ready, and checked us out when we were done. Server definitely had the routine down. read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Ho Sum Chicken Salad - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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This place seems like an institution here in Newport Beach. Interesting entrance, as you walk up a few stairs immediately. Small space, large menu. We got the lunch special. Ho sum combo chicken salad & fried rice with shrimp. The salad was huge. Tasted good. Service was great. read more

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my favorite meal in the world i will name my first born child "lunch combo with ho sum salad and pork fried rice" read more

Ho Sum Bistro - pork fried rice - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Came here with my uncle in law who has been coming to this spot for over 20 years. He raves about the chicken salad. I tried a bit of it and the salad and salad dressing were delightful. My husband and I ordered the Califoriental Lo mein and the orange glazed citrus chicken. The flavors were fresh, there were plenty of vegetables, and it wasn't greasy like so many other Asian restaurants. The portions were also generous. Overall, a good and reasonable spot on the peninsula. read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Califoriental Chicken Lo Mein - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I went for lunch with a friend and the lunch special of salad and fried rice was more than enough. I selected the sesame chicken salad and vegetable fried rice. Sesame chicken salad was delicious and the dressing not too sweet. The fried rice was perfect with the veggies. I took half of the salad and rice home and had it for dinner later. Service was friendly and timely. We sat up front by the window which was nice and bright, but got a little warm. I would definitely go back read more

No dedicated parking lot so you have to find street parking. Not sure if there's any free daytime parking nearby, but there's metered parking around the corner that becomes free after 6PM. The menu states that it's healthier oriental cuisine and no items contain MSG which kinda tells you already how flavorful the items will be. Food - Combo Salad: Maybe it's my fault for assuming this would taste good since it's on the menu, but I have some regret ordering and wish I got one of the other salads. The flavor was okay, but it did feel like imbalanced flavors colliding with with each other. The other salads probably have a more solid flavor. Other people weren't joking when they said this salad was huge. The waitress asked me if I was splitting the salad with my partner and the salad was prepared in two bowls which was nice and convenient. Half of the 1/2 order is definitely enough for 1 person. Service - Service was great here. No wait around 6PM on a Friday. Order was taken promptly and food was quick to come out. read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Combo salad. 1/2 of the "Half order" - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Brunch food was all the same and not much difference in flavor. Champagne was too sweet. Maybe other stuff on menu is good because there were many customers there, just the brunch didn't live up to the hype. read more

My friend suggested we should try this place for lunch today per recommendation by someone else. I ordered the combo salad & my friend had the lunch special soup & salad (wonton soup & ho sum salad). The combo salad was nothing spectacular but I was pretty impressed by how everything in the salad blended evenly well. The dressing was flavorful too. Their portion for the half size was huge! I wasn't able to finish it so I took it home. The downfall was there was hardly any chicken in the salad but shout out to our server Bernice! She was very kind enough to offer me extra chicken to take home at no charge. I would've initially rated this place a 3.5 stars but I give it 4stars for the extended service & the generous pour of wine. My friend enjoyed her salad & the wonton soup & devoured it. The ambiance was inviting & the art drawings on the wall were cute. read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Amazing! Everything here is so delicious ~ highest quality ingredients, healthy, delicious and prepared perfectly. The California twist on Thai food can't be beat! read more

I really wish I could do half stars - I think they deserve 3.5. I love that the lunch special is only $12.99 and even extends until Saturday. You get either soup & salad, salad & fried rice or soup & fried rice. It's a good amount of food too! I got the hot & sour soup with the salad. The salad was amazing! All the right mouth feels - a little sweet, a little tangy & has a balance of soft & crunchy. The soup was not like a hot & sour soup I've ever seen. It wasn't the deep brown color - it was the color of egg drop soup? It wasn't tangy at all. I didn't like this & didn't end up eating it. We got the potstickers which were tasty! The service was great and we never needed anything and our waters were always topped up. The ambiance is casual and cozy. read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Ho Sum Chicken Salad - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The only thing I have ordered, the only thing I will continue to order. I'm not a huge salad fan if I'm being honest. I have to really be in the mood for a salad, and most are not filling at all and I'm still hungry afterwards. Everything about this chicken salad HITS. Amazing flavor, the combination of their house chili sauce and the hot mustard is just chefs kiss. Filling, refreshing, good prices, friendly staff, awesome location. Next time you're craving a salad. Stop by and give it a shot! read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Ho Sum Chicken Salad - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Always delicious and precisely the same recipes (for at least the last 12 years) Lovs this place

I felt like I should clarify: FIVE STARS FOR SERVICE & PORTIONS Service has always been excellent. Staff are welcoming and friendly each visit. Portions are generous, even allowing you all the sauces I could need. It's just the flavors are falling short for our family. For the popularity and the Yelp status, I just hoped for more. Baffling for me only- the lack of flavors on some familiar items I've tried per yelp and locals' recommendations, just my impression so far so please don't hate me - if you're a fan of authentic Chinese flavors, this won't be your cup of tea is my guess. Not sure yet if I am a fan at all... I've tried the recommended combo salad and their crab wontons- the "hit" so far are their condiments- the sweet pineapple-like sauce for their crab wontons were delicious, and portions are generous. I didn't snap any pics on this visit as there are ample images here and it wasn't anything outstanding this round- The "miss" may be the combination salad flavor wasn't my preference, but I'll give it another try with just the standard salad next time. In my opinion, the Asian chicken salad anywhere else has more flavors, but that's just my first impression thus far. I wasn't a fan of the red/ginger, more vinegar-y flavor profile the combo salad had. I keep being recommended this place by some locals so I'll try it again. So...yep I've tried it two more times since this first draft of my review here. Went with the chicken potstickers. The coconut shrimp? And the honey spicy chicken. Their portions are very generous. Takeout presentation is nice and organized. The only item I would consider trying again, maybe the coconut shrimp and that's a stretch for me. It's really bland in my opinion- but the sauces, maybe that's what I was missing. I didn't add any condiments other than the marmalade and the sesame sauce that came with my items. The honey spicy chicken was far from anything I've ever tasted: it had no hint of honey for me, it was sour like lemon for some reason, and the steamed rice was even a bit soggy and a softer unfavorable texture- maybe from the sauce maybe not, as the rice isn't drowning in any sauce (just giving it the benefit of the doubt it's not the sauce). I really wanted to enjoy this place as I am in this area often. The flavors are nothing like anything "Chinese" for me, but again, I may not be using the right condiments/spices or maybe I'm just not ordering the right items. Really wanted to be a fan though. read more

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What I loved: gluten free options, healthier take on Chinese food I really enjoyed that this place offers healthy options for Chinese inspired food. It's almost impossible to find - especially gluten free. With that being said, is it the most delicious Chinese food? No. So I wouldn't recommend this place if you're looking for more traditional Chinese, I think you'll be disappointed by the healthiness lol. But if you want a guilt free option this is great. We really enjoyed the cashew chicken the most. It looks like it was a mistake we didn't try the salad, so I plan to order that next time. The service was great, friendly staff. Good spot for lunch. read more

I grew up in Newport, and Ho Sum Bistro is the first place that comes to mind anytime I'm craving a salad. If you know, you know. Their homemade dressing is what makes it! It takes days to make, and it's seriously addictive. I've never found anything else like it. The ingredients are always fresh, the portions are great, and it tastes exactly the way I remember. It's one of those local places that's been a favorite for years, and I'll keep coming back. read more

Sorry I'm never going here again This place is amazing. Going there for 15 years when I lived in Newport it is a family staple. I would highly recommend it. But We moved to San Clemente. I was surfing in Newport today stopped in to get a Ho sum salad to go. Got a $77 parking ticket by parking in a public street area where we have parked for years for free. No parking meters just an app that did not work. How muck money does Newport have to make? Come on. Ho sum, please move to San Clemente where we love you and parking is free for businesses and there customers. read more

The Champagne Brunch was affordable and delicious. Incredibly happy we came here today

Fast, huge, and so so good. I love the salads and fried rice. Service is fast and nice. Cute little spot on a busy street so parking can be difficult but this place is definitely worth it!! Will have leftovers. read more

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This is one of my favorites. I love the brunch but my go-to order is the lunch special, combo salad & combo rice. You can't go wrong! read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Ho Sum Chicken Salad - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Have not been there in easily 20 years since life caught up and I moved out of town. Glad to see they are still doing their thing, had a Ho Sum salad, same as I remember. Decades ago I'd have ordered more, but these days, trying to trim down. Service was good, food was good. My only gripe(s), traffic, wow it was not what I remember as with the parking. But again, it's been ages. read more

Ordered here online after spending time in the area. Came from the good reviews and it being close by. Experience ordering was fine, simple online order. Food was ready and hot. I ordered a plate of noodles with beef- I wasn't impressed at all. It had no flavor and I had a hard time finishing the meal itself because it was bland. I hope to try a different dish next time with better things to say. read more

Everyone gets the Ho Sum salad and for good reason. The food is light and refreshing. They also make Dim Sum in house. Service is as expected of a smaller bistro and there is a vibe in the restaurant that is quite fun. Also, it is close to the beach. read more

Today I tried the Greg's Garlic Chicken. As with all of their diced chicken dishes, you're dealing with overcooked tough chicken. The sauce was like a tarty teriyaki sauce with absolutely no sweetness to it. Nevertheless I liked this dish better than the honey chicken, which itself was tarty with no sweetness. There's a pattern here! I'm on a mission to try the rest of their Specialties dishes... Orange Chicken, Szechuan Chicken, and Chinese Pepper Pork. I'm still giving them stars for their great dumpling dishes and their salads. read more

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Great food and fast service! Good sized portions too. The vibes upstairs are fun and the staff was very friendly. read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Ho Sum Dumplings Pot Stickers - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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This place is a Newport Beach staple! The food is always made fresh to order and everyone is always welcoming. The chicken combo salad is the go to here as is the won ton soup! Check it out, the prices are great and the food is super flavorful! read more

This has been one of my favorite places since the 90s until they took away the chicken salad. What the heck why it was the best thing on the menu people came from all over to get it.!!??? Or am I wrong and they brought it back? If so, please let me know.!!!plzzz read more

It still stumps me how a white man owns such an amazing healthy yet delicious Chinese restaurant! Flavors are amazing and all his dumplings are made with chicken, which is hard to tell because it's done so well. Service is always friendly and attentive, which shows this place has wonderful culture amongst its staff. read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Combo fried rice and poached won tons with cilantro sauce - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Awesome little spot for dinner right before you go into the peninsula. I had the chicken lettuce wrap, the chicken was cooked perfectly, juicy with lots of flavor. Our waitress was very attentive to our food allergy needs, offered several alternatives and brought us different sauce options. I will be back! There is a lot more on the menu I want to try. read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Chicken lettuce wrap - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Always great service. Good food. I like the combo salad, broccoli beef, wonton soup, and Kung pao chicken.

Some of the best salads around. My wife and I have been coming here to get their combo salad for over a decade. It's huge, fresh & delicious. We've moved out of state but anytime we're back in town visiting, we always stop at the spot. We just stopped here today and it's just as good as we remember. read more

Ho Sum Bistro - Full combo salad - Dim Sum Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Hands down the best salads ever!!! Nom nom nom! Unlike to take it to go and just eat it at the beach' it's affordable and delicious and the folks there never fail me! Super attentive and loving! read more

I obsess over Chinese chicken salads and this one did not disappoint. In all the yelp reviews I've read it's one of OC/Newport's favorite salads and I have to agree it's pretty yummy. It's not my favorite favorite I've ever had but it's in my top 5 salads for sure! The textures are awesome and the sauce has a great tang/heat to it. Love the smaller ambiance. No views but I still prefer to dine in vs. take to go. The portions are HUGE fyi so consider sharing or taking rest home. It's just as yummy the next day. Service was friendly and server was great on refills of diet coke. read more

The combo salad is the way to go. Definitely big portions- two people can easily split a half salad. The chicken dumplings were just ok, I wouldn't order them again. The orange/citrus chicken was pretty good- but the salad was by far the best item. Servers were very friendly! read more

Came here last Sunday for brunch and tried their Champagne Dim Sum Brunch (ayce). You really can't beat their brunch pricing which also includes the champagne. Love their combo salad and the dumpling options. Heather was our server and she was very sweet and attentive. read more

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Cute place! Got the lunch combo of the ho sum combo chicken salad and the fried rice. It was so so delicious and generous portions. The staff were all so friendly. Def add the chili oil and the vinegar too! read more

I love this place so much. My favorites are the combo salad, honey glazed chicken, hot and sour soup and pan friend quenelles is my got to. The staff is so friendly. Many of them have been working there for years. When I lived in Newport I ate here once a week at least and never got burned out. We are moving out of state and I sure am going to miss this place read more