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    Little Sister

    3.7 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Little Sister Photos

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    LITTLE SISTER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Little Sister

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    Crepe. Right side burned completely
    Elaine C.

    Food: mixed, overall good flavors but some burning messed with execution Service: server good, good timing bad Atmosphere: nice/ upscale The beef pho was excellent, soft beef and flavorful, drinkable, umami broth that wasn't too salty. The garlic noodles were just ok. They felt like spaghetti noodles that were coated in garlic sauce. Some of the garlic was burnt so it lent a bitter taste. We didn't finish and didn't pack home (I usually leave nothing behind) I ordered the Vietnamese crepe: I had to ask about it because everyone else got their food and was almost done. I got my dish about 20 min later than everyone else (who got pho). I almost asked to cancel it but the server said it was "almost done". Well the crepe was mostly good but about 1/3 of the crepe itself was burned and well...it tasted burned. See photo. The lychee non-alcoholic was tasty and tart but for volume not sure worth $10

    Michelle C.

    One word: salmonella. It was our first time here and we always saw how popular this place was. We ordered the chicken wings, pho banh cuon, shaky shacks beef, and the garlic noodles with prawn. First, we got the wings and the pho banh cuon. The pho banh cuon is basically rice paper rolled over beef and veggies. It was good and the beef was soft, but the rice paper was so slippery and thick where I needed a fork and knife or eat with hands. Second, the chicken wings were RAW! We open a few pieces and it was all undercooked! We told the waitress right away and decided to send the wings back and get dumplings. We never got our dumplings. Instead the server gave us bread with butter. It was good but not what we ordered. Also, we never got our drinks. We also ate the garlic noodles and the shaky shaky beef. These two were good. The beef was soft and came with a side of rice and small salad. The garlic noodles I got with prawn and it was good. All in all, I wouldn't come back here again clearly. There was no real apology or effort by the staff. They forgot our orders, got it wrong, served us raw chicken,...I mean I can go on. The two hostess also never smiles. Not very friendly. We paid as quickly as we could and left. We got other food on the way home

    An P.

    Little Sister is a gorgeous restuarant in Irvine Spectrum but its still very much an upscale Vietnamese restaurant with toned down flavors for their specific demographics. Safe tastes for a date night I suppose. An easy substitute for those who sadly can't be bothered to drive another 10 miles south and put in some effort to find parking for real Vietnamese food in Little Saigon area in Westminster.

    Pan-Seared Sea Bass
    Shelly A.

    My gf and I came to Little Sister for the first time and enjoyed our food on a Saturday night for dinner. We called an hour ahead of time to reserve a table and got lucky with a last minute reservation for two. Our server Hailey did an excellent job waiting our table. She was friendly, welcoming and great with recommending dishes. It was our first time eating here and the vibes were very warm, chill and pleasant. Everything inside the restaurant was decorated with detail. The dishes we ordered. Spring Rolls with pork & shrimp Papaya Salad Pan Fried Sea Bass along with a veggie medley on the side (Delicious and worth it) Shaky Shaky Beef along with Watercress salad and rice (So good) We recommend trying this spot for the vibes and food.

    Ernest F.

    Tasty food. Nice decor. Service needs improvement. Tried LSXO a couple of times and really liked it. Figured the Sister would be the same, but unfortunately the service here is not the same. Will stick to LSXO.

    Caitlin H.

    I really love coming here for the food. You can definitely find cheaper Vietnamese spots that are still good, but the quality here stands out--and the vibes inside the restaurant are great. The bar area is especially cute. The service was a bit slow this visit, though. It was a weekday just before lunch, and the restaurant was only about a third full. Our food took a while, and the table next to us hadn't gotten their order yet by the time we were leaving. Still, the food and atmosphere make it worth coming back.

    Papaya salad
    Nayiri M.

    Service and ambiance is very good. I recommend sitting inside to stay warm for dinner. Food was delivered is the proper order and not just brought out all at the same. Papaya salad is packed with flavor. I don't I've such a flavorful salad in a long time. Highly recommend! The beef and tendon appetizer was light and good, but I think there are others items I would prefer next time. The seafood with the black rice was delicious especially with the provided condiments. The seafood was very fresh. I just wish the portion was a little bigger. This is a really spot and does Vietnamese well with a lot of wonderful flavors. We also appreciate that there was no mandatory prefix menu for Valentine's Day like most other places.

    banh mi
    Kourosh M.

    This place is pretty fantastic shaky shaky beef noodles banh cuon pretty much everything was great and the cocktail beesting gin was great too... very nice place def coming hack

    Chicken wings
    Norma D.

    Little Sister is a great place for modern Vietnamese food. Had the Shaken Beef with red rice, the chicken wings & spring rolls. Everything was delicious. The wings were the last to come out but totally worth the wait. There's always a long wait list but you can sit at the bar usually with no wait and you can watch the staff prepare some of the food items. They use such fresh vegetables and it all looks sooo good. It's a bit on the pricey side, however you can come during happy hour and it's a little less expensive. Even with the high prices it's so worth it. Everything is prepared with care and always looks beautiful on the plate.

    Banh mi with lemongrass chicken
    Karlee H.

    Sat outside on their patio. Great ambience and service. The food was delicious. We started out with their spring rolls. The veggies inside were to refreshing and the peanut dipping sauce added a great flavor! I ordered the Banh mi with lemon grass chicken. It was so good! The bread was a perfect combo of soft and crispy. The flavor overall was fantastic!

    Shrimp
    Elisa G.

    We are back at our favorite restaurant at the Irvine Spectrum sitting at the bar ordering from the Lunar New Year menu. If we both order it, the price is $55 each which is a great deal! The restaurant is decorated so beautifully for the Lunar New Year I was very disappointed in the three course meal. They brought my salmon out and it was overcooked so I sent it back I asked for medium rare and when they brought it back to me, there was no sauce like the first time they brought it. Our waitress/bartendress was very apologetic and said they ran out of sauce which frankly was the best part of the dish. IMO, they should have subbed it out for something else. I called and left a VM about this issue and Jorge called me within the hour and left me a very sweet message apologizing and offered to refund the credit card. I think he's great and give him all the stars!! I wasn't expecting that so I'm beyond pleased!

    Crispy fried prawns
    Michelle N.

    Interior and exterior design is lovely. You feel like you're in an elevated restaurant with aesthetic lighting, furniture, and ambiance until you look down and see to-go looking chopsticks next to metal utensils. That's odd..they should consider upgrading their chopsticks to match the theme. But let's dive into the food: Salmon crudo- YUMMM. Light and refreshing. LOVE the pickled strawberries and the pickled leek. Flavor explosion, especially with the fried shallots. Black rice- Think seafood paella. The rice had a curry taste to it which paired really well with the seafood. The sauce!!! Dip the shrimps into the green speckled sauce! SO GOOD!! The dish was a bit salty though. Sticky rice- some pieces were good and some were too salty. Shaky shaky beef- The beef was so soft, tender, and moist! It's cooked medium rare by default, just the way I like it! Eaten with ketchup rice, it makes me feel homey. Six pieces of meat for $42, that's pretty steep. Crispy fried prawns- this was good! Crispy and juicy! Dip with the green sauce, delicious!! This place was good to try. If I were to come back, I'd get the salmon crudo again and the Kennedy cocktail (sub vodka for mezcal).

    Bar inside restaurant
    Michelle T.

    We really liked Little Sister! We weren't expecting authentic Vietnamese food, of course, but we were hoping for flavor and a nice setting, which we definitely got. We had gift cards to use, so even better! We went in on New Year's Day around 11:30 am and there were only about 3 other parties there. What a beautiful space! The decor, the dim lighting, the furniture, very pretty and comfy. I love that its at Irvine Spectrum so I can get some shopping and browsing done at the same time. Our server took a little while to come over, which was odd since there was barely anyone there but she was great and gave us some good recs for ordering. I got the Chardonnay and that was excellent with a good price. Our food was delicious, the portions on the smaller side, but the flavors and freshness made up for that. We got the pork belly with Bok choy, the tofu broken rice bowl and the shaky shaky beef plate. Everything was amazing, from the cooking of the vegetables to the sauces served on the side. I would love to try their Happy Hour next. Highly recommend!

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    Little Sister Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Little Sister

    Do you need to make a reservation?

    Hi Jose, it's not required to make a reservation as we welcome walk-in guests, but if you're looking for a particular time and number of guests, you can make a reservation through OpenTable.com or on our website at dinelittlesister.com - thanks!

    Could you provide information about your happy hour menu?

    There is none!!

    Do you have happy hour? What time?

    Hi Cristina, unfortunately we don't have happy hour at this location however our Redondo Beach and El Segundo locations both have happy hour! We'll hope you'll join us!

    Can this restaurant accommodate larger parties (8-12 people)?

    Yes there is space.

    Do I have to make the reservation?

    Prefer yes.

    Is there a lunch menu? Also, are there lunch specials (special pricing)? Daily or weekly specials? Thanks!

    Yes, there is a lunch menu and a dinner menu. Each location has slight variations in their menu so to get the most accurate menu for the location you want to visit you should call that location directly and they should be able to send you their… Read more

    Do you have kids menu?

    Pretty sure NO.

    Is it MSG free?

    No. A restaurant doesn't have to add MSG for it to be present. It can occur naturally through certain foods or it is added through other ingredients such as chicken stock or oyster sauce.

    What vegetarian options do you have on the menu?

    What is your "must-order" dish?

    Black rice - mussels, shrimp, octopus, scallop, sausage, confit pork, lime leaf aïoli & okra.. pretty hard to go wrong if you enjoy seafood and generous portions.

    Can I leave flower and cake with the waitress for birthday surprise?

    I am sure they can accommodate your request. You would have to arrange that when you call and make reservations.

    Any gluten free options?

    We do not have a gluten free menu, but there are certain menu items that can be prepared gluten free.

    Do they serve food to the outdoor bar?

    Sometimes. Ask to be sure on the day you go. We were told they "don't always" do full service, just some days.

    Can I bring my dog?

    Yes we welcome dogs on our outside heated patio!

    I cannot see a to-go order page. Is this an anti-food to go place? Just wondering why with new covid19 infections with a new variant,.... I would really like to give this place a try with something to go.

    The restaurant seems to be dine-in only and does not support takeout options yet.

    Is there a bar to sit and eat?

    Yes!! I've been at the bar twice, it's fantastic! You have a front row seat to the amazing and intricate food assembly while a server acts as your bartender. It's super cool!!

    Is there a Happy Hour?

    No, no happy hour.

    Where is nearest parking fir handicap access? TIA

    Hi, we are located right next to a handicap access parking lot - we hope to see you soon!

    Hi, are there any vegan items on the menu and how can I know what's vegan?

    Is there corkage fee?

    Hi Phil, Yes, we charge a $45.00 corkage fee per bottle, and there is no limit to the number of bottles you can bring in. Excludes magnum bottles.

    View All 31 Questions

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    This is a great spot! We were welcomed right when we walked in. The place is nice and bright with…read morebig windows, high ceilings and open seating. You order your food and then find your seat. There were so many yummy sounding items that it was tough to decide what to order. I'm not a traditional pancake person but they had a tropical one that sounded amazing. And I really want to try their chicken sandwich and breakfast burritos. I ended up getting the churro waffles with a side of the mango that went on those tropical pancakes and it was so dang good! We also ordered Birria Short Rib Eggs Benedict - with perfectly flavored meat and the best poached eggs on top, a macadamia nut milk latte - loved it so much, and a delicious Bloody Mary. The service was great, the place is nice, neat, and clean throughout, and we can't wait to go back and try more of their menu!

    We go at least once weekly. Our favorite place for breakfast…read more Food is always good - pasture-raised eggs done perfectly. Service is always excellent - at the counter and on the floor. Ambiance is surprisingly quiet even though it's usually full - we go typically at 830am. Last two times we've had to ask for water.. the guys are standing ready but don't seem to notice we sat down and are ready for water and silver and more napkins. If you have your barrista visit tables who got coffee drinks and offer more you would generally get more paid business - they just have to take the portable CC machine.

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    Everyday Eatery - Market Scramble with Toast and side Turkey Sausage!

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    4.3(1.4k reviews)
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    I'm still waiting for my food, but I'm drinking my rose cardamon latte, which is delicious!…read more This place has excellent service, is clean and bright. It has a great vibe. I can see why it's busy. My order was ready in less than 8 minutes. Impressive!

    I came here for the first time over the weekend and loved the food here…read more The essentials: the standard, typical American breakfast with eggs, breakfast potatoes, choice between bacon/sausage, and toast or salad. The breakfast potatoes were good and flavorful. We picked sausage, but unfortunately they offer turkey sausage here instead of pork (so it's a little dry and bland). It's what you can expect from an American breakfast and a solid breakfast option Lemon ricotta hotcakes: The portion size is HUGE! I definitely recommend sharing with another person unless you have a large pancake appetite, haha. The honeycomb butter is sooooo delicious. I didn't even feel like I needed syrup for the pancakes after spreading the butter :) Nice lemon flavor, but I definitely wished it was a little more prominent Even though the line looks long, it does move quickly and I like that they had an employee managing the line inside and outside :) There's only a limited amount of seating inside, but plenty of tables outdoors. Considering how crowded it was, the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. Plenty of parking in the lot. I would definitely come back!

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    Maldon’s Brasserie - Delicious latte

    Maldon’s Brasserie

    4.5(388 reviews)
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    You wouldn't guess it by looking at the broad selection of delicious dishes on the menu, but this…read moreplace is entirely gluten-free (& celiac friendly). The brunch was excellent and I highly recommend the chilaquiles (add the pulled pork!) and the cinnamon bun. The service and ambiance were top notch. It feels like you're in a European cafe or in someone's home, it's just that relaxed and cozy. We were able to enjoy a very leisurely meal and were attentively taken care of the entire time. A real welcome change of pace from the fast-turn mantra of other concepts.

    They closed Feb 15…read more We came here Feb 13. They had a paper on a podium written about their closure. And I truly believe that they are not really made out to be a full-service restaurant as much as I like their dedication and drive. I had a reservation at 7 pm. I checked in at 6:45 pm. At 7:25 pm, they brought us in and did not have a table ready for us. They made a table then after a table left 15 minutes later, they rearranged us. I do not understand why you offer reservations if you will not actually honor the system. Around 8 pm, we asked if we could order as they had only brought water. Listen I understand. You're closing soon. You only had 1 server for the entire restaurant the weekend of Valentines. You have to go lean on the busiest last weekend ..? I don't actually understand. When all came to, they were not offering dessert because "they were saving it for Valentine's Day". No notification about when their kitchen closed and no asks if anybody wanted to order for to-go. On top of that, everyone did not have free parking and had to pay upon exit even with validation. You will do great as a ghost kitchen since the food was good and everyone enjoyed it. If you come back as a full service, I would seriously reconsider how you do business.

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    If you're looking for a good local place, I mean a real neighborhood place with honest good food…read moreand great service, you need to come here. Places like this deserve our support. It's not just the food, it's the people who work here. Honest, kind human beings... doesn't seem like too much to ask but rare these days. I'm talking about Dallas who takes care of front of the house, and Sacramento who commands back of the house. I stopped by to kill time because they're located behind the tire place where I was going to get a new tire. Knew nothing about this place. Since I only had 50 mins to kill and not hungry, just wanted a coffee and something tiny. There's nothing on the menu that's small. Dallas understood what I needed and put in an order for 1 pancake. Most places wouldn't bother to accommodate outside of what's offered. Then I noticed they have a special of chorizo tacos with fixings that sounds great but I was not hungry enough or have the time. Dallas spoke to chef Sacramento discreetly and before you know it, there's one single chorizo taco on my table on the house. Who does that? They DO! Really, who is that sweet? Love them! These guys...

    I had a great experience at Rooster Cafe. I ordered the omelets with rice and they were really…read moresatisfying and simple, fresh, and flavorful. The iced coffee was also really good and refreshing. The staff was friendly and welcoming, especially one of the young guys who was very kind and attentive, which made the visit feel even better. Overall, a comfortable spot with good food and nice service. I'd definitely come back again.

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    Lion and Lamb Coffee Roasters - Breakfast Burrito

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    4.6(979 reviews)
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    Whoever is leaving a 1 start review is either never happy with anything or thoroughly finding…read moresomething negative to say in whatever they experience (at least on Yelp). Hands down some of the best coffee in OC. If you don't like sweet, don't get a drink with flavoring. Or ask them to adjust. Simple! If you want something yummy and different, try their seasonal menu. I have never once felt like staff was rude. Every interaction has been authentic and genuine. The best. Lastly, long lines happen because this place has grown A TON post-COVID. They're also in the same building as a church, so get there early on the weekend or sit in line and enjoy the atmosphere. There's a friendly crowd there. Thank you Lion & Lamb for being a consistent go-to since Covid. You guys rock.

    We stopped by on a Sunday at 11 -- it was very busy, as it's also connected to a church. The line…read morewent by fairly quickly with very friendly staff. For our drinks, we got two signature drinks: *lucky matcha* and *cookie butter latte* They're both on the sweeter side but still good. They live up to the name and description. You're able to taste the marshmallow in the matcha and the biscoff and cinnamon on the latte. For food, we got *avocado toast* The bread was very fresh, thick and moist. My favorite part was the pickled onions. I'd definitely get it again. And the *breakfast burrito* is okay. Nothing outstanding - they did tell us they get them made a day before and they warm up upon order.

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    Little Sister - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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