The setup is as old-school as it gets: minimal yellow walls, a bustling dining room packed mostly…read morewith locals, and classic tunes or instrumental tracks buzzing overhead. The kitchen operates like a well-oiled machine; your food arrives mere minutes after you order. The service is direct and lightning-fast--you come in, eat the best meal of your week, and head out.

Amazing food! Service was good and waiters were attentive. Overall great experience! :)read more

warm atmosphere, good food, good service :) came on a…read morewednesday night, not too crowded! decent size parking lot! highly recommended:)

Been wanting to try this place for a while as I love food from Northern Vietnam. I've actually…read moredined at their other restaurant, "Ngon", and the food there was delicious. So I figured the food would be yummy here too. Well, their pha lau - pork offal stew with coconut - was pretty good. Can't remember the last time I had something like this and it was actually delicious. It's a little more "soupy" than I'm used to but I guess that makes for good bread dipping. The only disappointing part was the french bread that comes with it wasn't as crunchy as I had requested it. But I'll probably still come back to try their popular grill dill fish.

I love a good Vietnamese place that not only gives you good portions but also great deals. They…read morecaught my eye a while ago and I saw they had the infamous Waterfall Chicken for only $10.99, a steal of a deal especially with tomato price & an egg. The chicken was crispy and the dipping sauce gave it that extra yummy goodness. The dish also came with a side of broth that had chicken bits in it, was nice to help digest your dish. I also loved that they gave you pickled veggies & fresh veggies. We also ordered the Loi's Fusion Saltado, upgraded the rice to garlic egg fried rice. The beef was soft and tender, the fries were nice and crispy and the fried rice was fresh. You 100% need to get the Thai Tea. A lot of place add too much cream/half and half diluting the tea flavor, they do not skimp on the actual tea in their drink. The color speaks for itself on the dark orange hue!

Welcome to Day 2 of OC Food Journals, where I try a new place every day so you don't have to…read more Today's stop was Loi's Kitchen, and honestly, this review is a little overdue. I'm a bit late getting around to writing this, and unfortunately, they are already closed, but I still felt like I had to share my experience. I'm not completely surprised that they closed, especially after trying their bò né. I've had this dish many times at different places around Orange County, and unfortunately, this was probably the weakest version I've come across. The first thing that stood out was the presentation. As you can see in the picture, there was this purple-colored sauce on the meat itself, which honestly did not look very appetizing. To make things worse, the sauce was cold and did not heat in time with the skillet, which really took away from the experience. The flavor itself wasn't terrible, but it also wasn't anything memorable. It was just okay, and when you factor in the cold food and the presentation, it made the whole dish disappointing. With so many places around Orange County serving bò né at a much higher level, I would probably recommend spending your money elsewhere. If you were wondering whether you missed out on some hidden gem, don't worry, you didn't. This one felt more like a piece of coal than a diamond. That being said, every restaurant has its journey, and with more time, maybe they could have found their footing. Hopefully, they can take this experience as a lesson, refine their recipes, and bring something better in their next venture. I am rooting for you Loi!

Oc & Lau is always packed, with good reason! For those who…read moreare interested in exploring Shellfish / Escargot (Snails). These dishes are amazing grilled-seasoned to perfection. I have been here over a dozen times and they are very consistent. Always the same great taste every time. The staff here is swift with getting you taken care of, no matter how packed--Tables cleaned and new customers seated right away

I love Oc & Lau so much that I ended up visiting both locations within a few weeks of each other…read more The location on Garden Grove Blvd is smaller so seating is not as comfortable. This review I assume is the OG on Garden Grove -- parking could be tough during the weekend. OC & La, is a Vietnamese seafood spot for sharing a bunch of dishes. I found out that "OC" means snails! I thought it was Orange County! Hahaha. We tried - razor clams, scallops (HUGE), the selection of salads are amazing so we got the spicy mango - House Special Mango Salad with squid & escargot -- is spicy , tangy, refreshing, and the refreshing taste! My favorite dish was the HUGE fried fish...color is amazing and the way the fish was presented seal the deal for me. Between two people, we devoured the entire fish !! It's the kind of place where you order "just a few things" and suddenly the entire table is covered in food. But, I'm not complaining since the team is very quick in getting the used plates off our tables. Also, both places offered FREE dessert. It's like a coconut based taro and other root sweet dish.

Ok, I get the hype. I didn't before and thought my friends were over hyping this place up, but one…read morebite into their spring rolls and I understood why. My friend and I came after the lunch rush so we were seated promptly. The menu is vast, but we zoned in on what we wanted right away and the food came out fast. The spring rolls were great. Nice and cripsy. Their house special pho tasted okay, but I thought the broth could've used more flavor tbh. Overall, it's a good pit stop if you're nearby and craving Vietnamese food.

We arrived at Brodard at 9:35 PM because the restaurant's posted closing time is 10:00 PM…read more Unfortunately, we were turned away and told that they had already made their last call. I understand that restaurants need time to close and prepare for the end of the night, but if the kitchen stops accepting guests before 10:00 PM, that should be clearly communicated in the posted hours. It was disappointing to arrive expecting to dine based on the advertised hours, only to be refused service 25 minutes before closing. Better communication about the last seating or kitchen closing time would have helped us avoid the wasted trip. A restaurant's posted hours should accurately reflect when guests can expect to be served.

I have nothing but good things to say about SEN Vietnamese Cuisine and the food and experiences I…read morehave had. The staff works hard to make sure that everything is delivered fresh and yummy. The food is so delicious and flavorful. I have so many favorites when I eat there.Here are a few: Cha Nem - these eggrolls are amazing. They are hand made and always fresh and yummy. Bun Cha Ha Noi - OMG this dish is so incredibly good. The grilled pork and pork patties are amazing. Bun Cha Ca Thi La - This fish soup was amazing. The fish cakes were so good and I love dill so that made it even better. All in all I highly would recommend SEN. Get there early on the weekends as it gets busy. Go try it out. You wont be disappointed.

I like how simple and straightforward the menu is here. I ordered the Miến Tôm Gà (Nước) and Bánh…read moreĐa Cua Hải Phòng. Both were pretty decent and had their own flavors. Bánh Đa Cua Hải Phòng was probably my favorite, the flat noodles were nice and chewy, which I really enjoyed. There was only one waiter when I visited, but he worked pretty fast and was very efficient. Even with just one person handling the service, I didn't have to wait too long for my food after ordering. Overall, a simple spot with a focused menu and some dishes with their own unique flavors. I'd come back to try some of the other items.

The staff were great and friendly, making sure the experience keeps diners coming back. Dishes like…read morethe garlic noodles, spicy chicken sandwich, and fish sauce chicken wings are a must and also a recommend. The dipping sauces were found out to be house made which only adds to the quality as well. Value for value the food is worth it! Though small it is a good place to meet with friends and share a meal!

I've heard a lot about Mama Hieu's chicken wings, so I got the party tray to try. The wings were…read morecrispy and I really liked the flavors. * Fish Glaze 5/5 (Mild) - I really enjoyed these. They were crispy and tasty fish sauce wings. The flavor was just right and not too salty. The wings were savory, slightly garlicky, with a hint of sweetness. I got them mildly spicy, but they weren't spicy at all. * Andy's Special (House Special) 5/5 - These wings were unique. They were similar to the fish sauce glaze, but topped with green onions, chili peppers, and jalapenos. They had more intense flavors, more garlicky taste, and a very mild spicy kick. The sauce was wetter, so the wings did get less crispy over time. Not a downside though. I even had them the next day, and they were still really good.

Delicious bowls of pho with consistently well-balanced broth and generous portions of tender meat…read more They also offer a side bowl of oxtail at an incredible price, which makes this spot feel even more special and worth the visit. When I arrived with my family, there was already a lineup and a waitlist board hanging by the door. I recommend stopping by to add your name before searching for parking so you can save yourself some waiting time. A huge recommendation if you're looking for a satisfying bowl of pho in Westminster!

Phở 79 is a true Orange County institution that has been serving the community for years, and it's…read moreeasy to see why there is almost always a line out the door. Be prepared: this place is incredibly popular, especially during peak hours. Parking can definitely be challenging because of how busy it is. The last time I visited on a Monday, the lot was completely full, and I ended up parking on the street. The restaurant is also primarily cash only, so come prepared. They open early, making it a perfect breakfast spot for an early bowl of pho. The pho broth is exactly what I want when I'm craving comfort food--clean, flavorful, and incredibly soothing. However, the star of the meal for me was the chả giò. Wow. Although they arrived after our pho, they came out at the perfect temperature. I was hesitant to take a bite right away because freshly fried food usually burns my mouth, but these were just right. Crispy, airy, savory, and absolutely delicious. Paired with their fish sauce, it was perfection. I enjoyed the egg rolls so much that next time I'm definitely ordering the egg roll vermicelli bowl. Service was friendly and prompt despite how busy it was, and it's clear the staff works hard to keep things moving. One thing I love is seeing all of the awards and accolades displayed on the walls. Phở 79 received the prestigious James Beard America's Classics Award, and it's easy to understand why after one meal here. This restaurant is truly an Orange County icon. The restaurant will soon be moving to a new location, as signs throughout the restaurant announce the upcoming move. While I'll miss the original spot, I'm excited for the new space--hopefully with more parking! Some places are worth the wait, and Phở 79 is absolutely one of them.

The food so good and the service was good and andy was very nice I recommend…read more Must try

They have the best food :) come check it out Very…read moreaccommodating when in a hurry Andy is very helpful

Lần nay làm bánh tráng phơi sương gan bò đen làm xây nhiễn quá không có ngon bơi bị tanh một chút…read morehơi thất vọng

Generous Portions , amazing flavor. This place always hits! Their menu is getting more diverse…read moreovertime with plenty of options