Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Lab C Food Kitchen - San Marcos

    4.4 (71 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Lab C Food Kitchen - San Marcos Takeout or Delivery

    Lab C Food Kitchen - San Marcos Photos

    LAB C FOOD KITCHEN - SAN MARCOS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Lab C Food Kitchen - San Marcos

    Recommended Reviews - Lab C Food Kitchen - San Marcos

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Drinks and desserts
    Victoria M.

    I'll cut to the chase...this place is the real deal and will be a staple go to for me. It's close to my house, affordable and most importantly DELICIOUS. I'd wanted pho for days and I waited until the weekend to treat myself. I went in and even though there were some people seated inside, I was able to walk right up to the counter to order. It's a small but very clean place. It's well organized and would be a pleasant place to sit inside for an afternoon meal. The young man at the counter was friendly and patient. I had questions and wanted recommendations since it was my first time there. He answered everything and helped me come to a decision, even engaging in my small banter about another place I'd been that I didn't care for. My food was finished quickly which I appreciated because I was hungry. The young man let me know that usually they only provide chili oil with the pho if you ask but he provided some since it was my first time and I didn't know to ask. He said he gave me the least spicy since he wasn't sure how I was with spice. I said I LOVE...i'm basically a fire eater and he went into the kitchen to get me their hottest (level 5). I was much appreciative. Side note: I also appreciate that they don't ask for 18% minimum tip like at more and more places I'm seeing. Anyway, getting home, I unpacked my food (steak and meatball pho and egg rolls). Everything was still piping hot. I got a large soup and it was very generous. But again, I was grateful because it was so delicious. It was flavorful, herby and packed with all the additions you want in your pho. Both chili sauces were good. They both had good flavor but I'm so glad he was kind enough to get me the level 5. Eating the soup normally for most of the meal, dipping ingredients into the chili sauce or adding it to my spoon for spice here and there. Then towards the end of the bowl adding the chili sauce to the broth for a flavor changeup after most of the other ingredients had been consumed was a great end to the meal! That sauce is perfect! The egg rolls were a bit more perplexing for me. At first I wasn't sure what was inside them. There wasn't much if any veggies inside. There was, for lack of better words, a mush or paste inside. I couldn't figure out what it was but looking at the receipt it was shrimp and pork. I think they make them into a paste and add them. They didn't taste bad by any means. They were rather large, crispy and moist inside. But for me the texture was a bit of a turn off, and I would have liked a bit more veg inside. But it wasn't enough to keep me from finishing them! The crispy outside was very addictive. I can't wait to go back because there was so much I wanted to try. I'm very excited about the drinks and desserts I saw; and they have vietnamese seafood boils which I LOVE. Thinking about it now makes me want to make a run!

    A2. Fresh Spring Rolls have boiled shrimp, comes with peanut sauce. Big serving and Nice produce but flavor's very mild. 27SEP26
    Heather R.

    Smooth delivery via the Yelp link (GrubHub) on a weekend afternoon. The banh mi itself is five stars. __BANH MI $9.29__ (+ ADD AN EGG $2) Okay, Banh Mi and More (now in Austin) was good but THESE are better if you're opting for meat. I chose pork and I cannot exaggerate to you how absolutely succulent it was. Like BM&M they opt to use soft bread (which I don't mind) and the produce, as in the spring rolls, is great quality. Tasty carrots, jalapeños, cilantro and enough moisture it goes down easy even if you are having a hard time pretending to be civilized and not down it in two bites. Came packaged with a sachet each of soy sauce and chili oil which I'll be using on something else in the kitchen bc this was perfect as is. __FRESH SPRING ROLLS $7.89__ a fine pair of enormous rolls, beautiful and well wrapped. More filling than flavorful but everything was crisp, the noodles properly cooked, and I loved they gave a shot of (also very mild) peanut sauce for EACH of these big ol' logs. Some chili oil or condiment of your choice wouldn't go amiss for most of us, but these were a good serving at a competitive price. I'm excited about trying the rest of the menu here, that pork absolutely sold me. 27SEP26

    baoni L.

    The pho and the rice were decent. The summer roll was bad. No flavor and dry. Service was fine. Ambiance is good for a quick bite. Was definitely surprised about the high rating.

    Nicholas E.

    Food was awesome, very authentic and hearty broth. Excellent spring rolls with fresh grilled chicken. Really enjoyed the fusion touch to everything. Service was pretty good, my only complaint was I was brought peanut items twice after specifying I'm highly allergic. Portions were decent. I'll be back.

    Blue Moon for the win
    Robert M.

    Came here for a mid-week date night and really enjoyed ourselves. I've gotten in the habit of doing the date night thing in the middle of the week and that should certainly be a pro-tip. Definitely avoids the crowds. We arrived and the place was maybe 1/3 full. They had a steady stream and even more take outs/food deliveries, so I knew the place was good. We just found a quite dark corner and tucked in. Started off with the A1. Shrimp & Pork fried egg roll. It was a perfect Vietnamese egg roll. You can definitely tell the national differences across the different countries and I think Vietnamese style are my favorite. Very tasty and I love the texture. We had a Blue Moon that is only second to Tsing Tao beer at an Asian restaurant. For the main course I went with the B5. Shrimp Stir Fry Noodle (Vermicelli) Bowl. It tasted very good! Glad I went with it. Next time I'll try a pork or beef. For some reason the tails are attached to the shrimp. I get it likely is much more flavorful and easier, but it is always awkward to dissect them when you are eating. I'm pretty nimble with chop sticks but I'm not a pro, so I just eat them with my hands with the tails on. But they tasted great! And the bowl was HUGE. I need to eat thru more of the menu and we will definitely be stopping by again to troll thru it.

    L5. Chicken Stir Fry Plate
    Greg D.

    Was in town today and decided to come back. Had the chicken stir fry, spice level 1. Very good taste, temp, and presentation. A lot of food.. had to leave some.

    ronald m.

    Non stop laughs on a Tuesday date night. Stopped in here for dinner with my lovely fiancé for an after work date night. We were immediately greeted by the friendly staff. The entire restaurant was filled with vibrant laughter and smiles. The food was equally as good as the service and guests. I had a grilled chicken bowl. The chicken tasted flavorful and the bowl was filled with vegetables and noodles. It was really good. Check them out for sure!!!

    LS1. Noodle Soup Lunch Special Combo (Pho, spring roll, Unsweet Tea) & vermicelli noodle Lunch Combo
    Michelle C.

    I had graduated from Texas State back in 2022. Before there were no good Vietnamese restaurants until PhoTran88 opened. That restaurant is good, but it wasn't the best. I recently visited San Marcos again and saw that PhoTran88 was closed on Sunday's. I kept looking through Yelp and Lab C Kitchen popped up. My friend and I both share the vermicelli noodle lunch combo and the pho lunch combo. I would like to say that both of these dishes were pretty spot on. I would like to say it's better than PhoTran 88 due to its quality of broth being more rich and flavorful as well as having more options especially since I saw they had Bún bò Huế too! AS WELL AS SEAFOOD BOIL which I find so interesting. I 100% recommend this place as it provides better quality and a more variety of options to choose from.

    Pho
    Felicia C.

    I decided to try Lab C Kitchen for the first time after hitting the gym for my post workout meal LOL. The restaurant itself was pretty empty when I went, but I was also surprised that it wasn't busier given the quality of the food. I ordered the steak and brisket pho. I usually go to Pho Tran 88 for pho, but I wanted to switch it up, and I'm glad I did because this place didn't disappoint! Steak and Brisket Pho - The broth was rich, flavorful, and comforting--the kind that warms you up instantly. The portion was filling, and I upgraded to the bigger bowl, but I did feel like there could have been more noodles and meat overall. Overall, the pho was delicious, and I'll definitely be back to try more of their menu!

    Chicken stir fry
    Laura F.

    This is our second visit to Lab C. This time we brought friends because the food was so good. The owners greeted us immediately and they were able to accommodate our friend with a food allergy. We started with vegan egg rolls, and fried pork dumplings. I ordered the chicken stir fry. All of the food was delicious and cooked to order. Service is amazing and friendly. We'll definitely make this one of our regular spots.

    Meatless Pho

    Service was excellent, the food was very good. The Spring Rolls were amazing! Large portions.

    Menu

    See all

    25 days ago

    Benjamin gave us great service and the food was amazing. Very good flavor and good prices.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    2nd time coming and the service and food has been great. Stark was our server and he did a great job, definitely will be regulars.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    banh mi was really good compared to other pho places. bread was really good and pork was very tender. 10/10 recommend!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Greg D.
    31
    198
    20

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lab C K.

    Lab C K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jordan B.
    5
    116
    118

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of AP R.
    0
    79
    2

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ngoc T.
    41
    24
    22

    5 months ago

    As a Vietnamese everything here are terrible! The only good thing about this place is friendly staffs

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lab C K.

    Lab C K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    spring roll rice paper was too chewy and lacked flavor. the pho was ok. I had the won ton

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    This place has the kindest staff ever!! The food is amazing plus portions are enough to share on a most items. Try the fruit tea!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Love their Steak Pho! It's my favorite on the menu. Staff are awesome too! The place is also always clean.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim P.
    1
    42
    28

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lab C K.

    Lab C K.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Fantastic food and quick service. I loved the abundance of veggies in my bowl. Nothing fancy inside but comfortable.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Lab C Food Kitchen - San Marcos

    You might also consider

    Palmer's Restaurant Bar & Courtyard - Herb crusted red fish

    Palmer's Restaurant Bar & Courtyard

    3.9(784 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    •$$

    I hesitate with this review, because then you'll know. You'll know what I know; one of our…read morefavorites in San Marcos. You'll experience the inviting ambience we've enjoyed the minute you step along the courtyard then encounter welcoming and accommodating hostesses. You'll discover the same unique, rich, warm interior we discovered; an elegance to be appreciated, which bows to unpretentious Texas hospitality. You'll again be greeted by a helpful, charming, engaging waitperson. Our latest waitperson was Sami, a delightful young lady who tended to us as if we were her only table. You'll discover a menu with great selections with Chef Monty's personal flair and reasonably priced. If he can free himself, you'll most likely meet Monty, both owner and chef. It's hard to imagine a nicer guy unless it's Kyle, the manager! Palmer's atmosphere is suitable for casual conversation over a meal, for Sunday brunch, an anniversary, or a romantic date night. One of our favorite activities is evenings in the courtyard with wine and appetizers. Also, it's difficult to resist their desserts, by the way! Reservations are accepted on a limited basis, but "call ahead" is always available. There, I've said it. Against my better judgement, you now what I you know. The rest is up to you.

    I came here for my graduation dinner, and overall the atmosphere was calm and relaxing, though I do…read moreagree with my family that the lighting was much too dark. The food portions were surprisingly small for the price -- honestly small enough for a toddler. However, i prefer the Graduate plate and I will say the mashed potatoes were incredible and probably the best I've had anywhere but the pot chop tasted like turkey and had no flavor. Unfortunately, the service was the biggest disappointment. Our waiter never really welcomed us or made us feel appreciated as guests, especially for such an important occasion with a party of 13. As the graduate and guest of honor, I felt completely ignored the entire night, which especially upset my mother. He mainly interacted with only one family member the entire evening and came across as cold and uninterested. I understand he may have had a broken wrist or was having a difficult day, but it still felt disrespectful and lacking basic hospitality. I might consider returning someday to try the regular menu instead of the preset graduation menu, but I definitely would not want the same waiter again.

    Photos
    Palmer's Restaurant Bar & Courtyard
    Palmer's Restaurant Bar & Courtyard - Bacon wrapped meatloaf, rice & mashed potatoes Redfish, chef's rice & a kale sweet potato mix

    Bacon wrapped meatloaf, rice & mashed potatoes Redfish, chef's rice & a kale sweet potato mix

    Palmer's Restaurant Bar & Courtyard

    See all

    Lab C Food Kitchen - San Marcos - seafood - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...