In my previous review I knocked down a star for their other dishes not reaching up to my high expectations since I've had so many other places that serve Vietnamese food. However I am giving this place back to a 5 star again, because I've been coming here whenever I feel like having pho for the past few months. Any restaurant that goes in my regular rotation is always a 5 star to me. The consistency of how good the pho and pork spring rolls are everytime is why this place deserves a 5 star. It's close to the beach too so it's nice to eat after a beach day after the sun sets. Service is above average and the servers are friendly read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

Hands down one of the best pho places I have ever been too!!! Fresh noodles and delicious broth. I only wish I had tried it sooner. The service was very quick and the staff is wonderful. My new favorite pho spot. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Banana Fritter with Thrifty Vanilla Ice Cream - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

The food was great but service needs a little work. The food - as everyone has said, it's flavorful, a bit unique and comes out quickly. What can I say about the short rib pho that hasn't been said before. Great presentation, flavorful meat and a deep broth with hints of cinnamon and star anise. The service, however, was spotty at best. The server was very sweet but forgot to put in our crispy egg rolls. I ordered tea and she brought a tea bag in a cup of hot water. OK, but there was no place to put my tea bag and by the time I got her attention for a side plate the tea was bitter from sitting for too long. I would think they would serve tea with a teapot full of hot water, cup and teabag like most places. I would happily go back to try other dishes but have my expectations set to low for the service. read more

You can tell this food is made with love! We shared egg rolls, Brussels sprouts, and crispy chicken wings. All were absolutely delicious. The pork belly in the Brussels dish melts in your mouth. Chicken wings smelled like cookies. The egg rolls were my favorite, a light crunch and super flavorful (not too heavy and greasy). Thank you, LUA! read more

Dana point NEEDED a place like this! The food is fresh and flavors are insane-my mom and I got spring rolls, Bahn mi, and salad to split for lunch and it was perfect, Can't wait to go back and try the Pho Staff is so friendly, we had a great time talking over menu selections and service was quick! Overall this place is stellar and I'll be returning as soon as I can! read more

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The flavor of the pho was good, not very many noodles came with it and my biggest complaint was there was WAY too much oil in it, I've never had that issue before anywhere so that made it not enjoyable read more

Everything here is superb! We've tried the crispy egg rolls, bahn mi sandwich, garlic wings, the fresh spring rolls with pork and shrimp are phenomenal, and the bao buns are very very delicious. This last time we also tried the Branzino that had just the right amount of spice. I highly recommend this place. It's a very easy date night. read more

Love this place. The smoked pho is sooo good. Best Pho I think I've ever had. Some great appetizers too. Love the wings. Great little restaurant and very nice staff. read more

We came to LUA for lunch on a Friday; we were seated immediately & offered ice cold water. It was very clean inside with the AC pumping (hot day), the servers were very friendly & greeted us promptly. We ordered avocado spring rolls with shrimp, egg rolls & wings. Each item was very good & the dipping sauce was GREAT. I love that the items were served with a variety of greens as I dipped them all in the incredible sauce & ate them-a mini salad. Our food came out very quickly & we finished it just the same. I recommend LUA for a light, healthy lunch. read more

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I got the vermicelli salad and I loved it. No notes. I always love vermicelli salads but they are hard to find. I will definitely be coming back and trying the wings. read more

Finally good asian food. Actually amazing food! Enjoyed every bite and will definitely come back. Highly recommend! read more

Absolutely incredible! We had the pork spring rolls, bao bun, and smoked short rib pho. Every dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully done. Our server was so kind and welcoming, she made us feel like guests in her home. The restaurant is small, cozy, and stunning inside. Run to Lua: amazing food, heartfelt service, and a gorgeous atmosphere. Can't wait to go back! My only complaint is that my appetite wasn't bigger to try more of their dishes. read more

I'm so glad that we now have great Asian Fusion restaurant in Dana Point. We had the crispy egg rolls, the Brussels sprouts and the short rib pho. All had great flavor and well prepared. The Pho broth was so tasty. The best I have ever had. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Short Rib Pho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

Wow! We were expecting a good Asian fusion restaurant but were blown away by how fantastic it really is. The combo fresh spring rolls were by far the best we ever had,. That's saying a lot after 40 years of trying so many Asian restaurants from NorCal to SoCal. Had one of the Curries and the smoked short rib pho. OMG, the fresh,flavors exploded in our mouth! Portions were so large that we had to take home half our dinners. Next time we're taking the combination fresh spring roll appetizer and sharing one dinner. Hope we can even finish that :-) Ambiance was modern and clean, well decorated and comfortable. Service spot on! We'll be back many times, suggest you try it too! read more

Had a great meal at this Vietnamese fusion spot. The food was solid, service friendly, and decor was nice--modern but still comfortable. The Bo Kho was a little creamier than usual, but it worked well--rich and flavorful. The combination pho had both thin noodles and little flat ones mixed in, which added a nice texture, and the meat wasn't overcooked (I prefer it slightly rare). The Viet wings had a Peking duck-style sauce, which was a nice touch--sweet, crispy, and tasty. Overall, a good spot that I'd come back to. read more

This place is amazing! My go to order is always the crispy egg rolls (my favorite) and the original pho with tofu. Everything is so flavorful and one of my favorite spots. The service is also amazing and everyone is nice and helpful. Definitely recommend read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - The Original Pho w/ tofu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

I saw this restaurant on TikTok and boy it did not disappoint. We had the Smoked Pho, Crispy Egg roll, and Coffee Creamy Hanoi. The soup in the pho was good and not greasy. The meat instantly fell off the bone. The noodles were a little bit thicker than I like it, but was still decent. The egg rolls were delicious, but be careful they were temperature hot. My Coffee Creamy Hanoi (egg coffee) drink hit the spot. The service was 5 stars. The server was very attentive. He gave us a great rundown of their menu and what were their specialty dishes and what we should eat. The restaurant was super clean even the restrooms. You know what they say. You can tell a lot from a restaurant's restroom. Overall, it was a great experience. Definitely a good Vietnamese fusion spot in South OC. I little bit on the pricey side for a bowl of Pho, but they're not in Westminster. read more

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So glad we stopped by here after the beach! Everything tasted amazingly delicious! Cute very little clean spot. The service was even better. Everyone was very kind with genuine smiles. read more

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Had a delicious late lunch here today! I had been to the vegan restaurant that was previously in this space. I was happy to see that LUA has a robust vegan menu and I enjoyed the crispy rolls and vermicelli. It was the perfect amount of food for sharing. The decor is beautiful and the ambience is casual but elevated. Nicole was a friendly and attentive waitress. I love that they even had 3 different varieties of vegan jerky to choose from! Parking is free and there is plenty to choose from as it's located in a large shopping center. I will definitely be back next time I'm in the area. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Vegan menu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

Found this through DoorDash. Husband had the chicken pho w/ veggies added. He loved it said it was the best he's ever had. He said the chicken broth was surprisingly delicious. read more

The ambiance is perfect for this location near the coast. Nestled inside the restaurant was their delicious Smoked Pho. They don't kid with the smokiness of the short ribs. Our host Taylor was spot on in recommending leaving the Smoked Pho as prepared by their chef. The broth has a unique taste of seasoning. Sizzling Bo Kho gave our taste buds another treat, with its tender braised beef. I kid you not, it was tender alright! Blended with the beef were potato wedges and carrots ... perfect for this ''meat and potatoes" kind of guy. To start off our visit today, we had the Crispy Egg Rolls, and to cap it off at the end we enjoyed their Banana Fritter with vanilla ice cream. My family looks forward to returning again soon! read more

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Very attentive service. We got there around 1230 and it was empty but it was full by the time we left. So happy they are getting traction. They should! Excellent cuisine from Kei Concept alums. Takes everything to the next level. We tried the vermicelli salad and the banh mi. Both Excellent. For the vegans, there are some great options. Ample parking. Yummy food. Great service. Nice atmosphere. Look forward to returning and wishing them lots of success! read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Vermicelli Salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

The food is DELICIOUS!!! I would have never been able to tell that they've only been open for a few weeks. It was so so so good. You can tell everything is made from scratch. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Crispy Egg Rolls - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Service is great! Our server was very sweet. The ambiance is beautiful with thoughtful interior. The restaurant looked huge on the outside, so I was a little surprised by the dining space once we walked in. I love that they have a regular menu as well as a vegan menu! As for food, we had the ribeye pho which was very interesting. It definitely has the Asian fusion element to it, as it looked like pho, but the flavors were more sweet than the traditional style. If you like a lot of hoisin in your pho, then this is the place to go to. it was still yummy, and I look forward to trying all of the other dishes in the future! read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - menu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

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What a delightful café with delicious food and drinks. The staff is also very friendly and great at recommending something to suit every appetite. We shared an appetizer and each had an entrée, and it was plenty of food. Very flavorful and served piping hot Its located in a strip mall so there isn't a lot of but very clean and well-maintained read more

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Came with my family for dinner on a Saturday. It wasn't too crowded for 7pm. The appetizers were delicious, and there was plenty of options to chose from on the menu. The wings and crispy egg rolls were great! They also have a drink menu, with lots of options to choose from. I didn't order a drink, but I tried some of the Hibiscus Lychee mocktail and that was good. For the entree, my mom and I shared a smoked brisket pho. It was so flavorful, and the brisket meat was cooked to perfection. It was soft and delicious. Personally, the broth of the soup was on the saltier side for me but that's due to the smokey flavors of the soup in there as well. The service was great. The restaurant itself was a little small, but they make it work! Cute place overall with lots of fusion items to try! read more

one of the best restaurants!! food fantastic, service outstanding, clean and great atmosphere!! the food yummy!! everything was outstanding!! will definitely come back!! read more

Two words you need to know: Smoked Pho. Since I was visiting Dana Point and wanted to try something new, LUA popped up on Yelp. With the sous vide and smoked short rib, which was beautifully presented, the Smoked Pho is an elevated pho of beauty and taste. Instead of the classic sticky bottles of Hoisin Sauce and Sriracha, the condiments are served on a dish upon request. In addition to the pho, I had a Crispy Lechon Banh Mi with a garlicky sauce that will keep any vampire away, but in a good way. To wash it all down, I had a Saigon Bia Lager which paired well with the soup and sandwich. The decor of the restaurant is airy and modern and the service is attentive and knowledgable. For my critical comment, I was seated near the open door where it was quite chilly at 8pm so I had to get my jacket. read more

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the best pho I've ever eaten! Yes, it's a bit pricey, but the Smoked Pho is worth every penny. The brisket is good without a doubt. I will definitely be back to try more dishes. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Smoked Pho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

Easy to get to and easy parking for this very vegan- friendly Asian restaurant. The service was fast and courteous and there were many vegan options. The fresh spring rolls and yellow curry veggies w/tofu dish both had a larger variety of ingredients than any similar dishes I've had elsewhere, and there have been many. Flavors were delicious. Spacious airy interior. One side note: while the men's bathroom was very clean it could use some touch up painting in several areas. Well worth a return visit. read more

Came as a last minute dinner option to try and saw there was no wait. Seated almost immediately which was nice. It took awhile for them to actually come take our orders. Once our orders were placed it took awhile as well. Service was below average at most especially here in Dana Point. We aren't really checked up on until the very last moment. Some of our phos came cold. Brisket in the pho dip banh mi was already premade which makes me think that not all of the meat options are freshly made. When it was time to pay and we already tapped, server then came back to add on top a 20% gratuity, then told us for six people it's added when it was not stated or prefaced anywhere which unprofessional and not transparent like other places. Asked for receipt, server just went back to talk. Overall don't recommend eating here pick another establishment that would be more grateful for business. read more

Excellent food and great service Always consistent good quality food Very glad to have this place read more

We are always in search of a delicious Asian meal and this new restaurant didn't disappoint! The place is small but clean and aesthetically pleasing. The staff was friendly and welcoming; they were definitely eager to provide excellent customer service and build clientele. We enjoyed every single bite of the flavorful cauliflower tempura, the smoked brisket pho, and the bo kho sizzling plate. The Thai tea and lychee mocktail were refreshing. Unfortunately, our stomachs were too full to try dessert but we will definitely be back to try the banana fritter and other dishes on the menu because everything looks good! read more

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I've gotten takeout from Lua a couple times. Their Lechon Bahn Mi is delicious and full of rich flavor. Terri is extremely friendly and makes you feel at home! We finally dined in and definitely grubbed out! We got the Vermicelli Salad, Yellow Curry, Bò Kho, and Crispy Chicken Wings. Everything was delicious and we will be back to try the dessert!! read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Sizzling Bo Kho - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

Came here for a date night with my husband. Luckily if wasn't busy, but you can easily join the waitlist if it is. The service was very friendly. I had a glass of wine to start the evening and we ordered the bao and chicken wings. The bao was so tasty, but it only comes 1 in the order. The wings were savory and full of flavor. My husband got the curry and it was delicious. Also packed with flavor. I ordered the smoked beef pho- and it was some of the best broth I had ever tasted. I would have loved for them to give me a side of the bean sprouts and Thai basil to put in the soup, but overall was very happy. We will be back read more

First off, I want to applaud the amazing service here. I could tell the staff and owner cared deeply about their customers, the food, and the impressions they made. We ordered: Egg rolls - 9/10, really good, good flavor and super crunchy! I do wish it was served with the pickled radish and carrots like at most Vietnamese restaurants. There were also only 3 lettuce for 4 eggrolls but that's me nitpicking! Fried chicken- 8/10, very good, good crunch and good sauce. Compared to other Asian fusion chicken wings it lacked a littllleee flavor. I believe they use a small amount of sriracha in their sauce which was good but I personally like other flavors as my sauce. If you're a big sriracha fan you'll definitely love these. Smoked pho- 8/10, tasty but didn't quite meet my expectations. The broth is good, similar to other pho I've had and the noodles are a little wider and flatter than other noodles. Looks like they were hand cut! The meat was not quite as tender as I thought it would be. The pieces were a little too big for me to eat in one bite but a little too difficult to bite through to get smaller pieces. If it were not a soup dish this might be fine as I could easily cut the meat, but in soups this is a little difficult. Also it was not served with hoisin or sriracha, we asked for it. I enjoyed it more with the sauce. Still a very good pho and worth a try if you don't mind textures as much as I do! Lychee hibiscus mocktail-8/10 really good, not too sweet which I liked! However, they gave a tiny straw which does not allow you to pick up the lychee jelly. They provide a small cocktail spoon which picks up one piece of jelly at a time which is a little difficult and time consuming. Hoping they get some boba straws! Banana fritter- 10/10, really good! Such a unique dessert and so tasty. Not too sweet and combines so well with the ice cream. Great crunch on the outside that pairs well with banana and light drizzle of chocolate. Overall would definitely recommend! I would love to come back to try the other dishes on the menu. read more

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We ordered the original pho, smoked pho, and a vegan avocado roll. The avocado roll had more of a general vegetable flavor than a distinct avocado taste, but both pho dishes were exceptionally delicious. read more

LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Smoked pho, Vegan Avocado Roll - Asian Fusion Near Me - Dana Point, California

Service: The online ordering was terrible. On top of that, there's absolutely no option to talk to a person over the phone. You will talk to a bot with a human name pretending to be a human. Foods: Traditional pho was very good for this area...at room temperature. Wings were alright...same as anywhere else. Pork belly banh mi was very greasy and bland. Fatty pork and lots of mayonnaise were not a good combination. Although pho was very good (for the area), we are ok with going back to the other Asian fusion place just a bit up the street with better services, more food options, and better price. read more

What a find- spent a beautiful day walking on a nearby beach- and looked up Hawaiian food nearby and somehow this popped up. Menu looked amazing- something for everyone. Drinks were also delicious and beautiful-everything was made from fresh, flavorful ingredients. We had the Bahn Mi, Tofu Curry, and our friend from Singapore had a noodle dish that met expectations. We will return.. read more

my mouth is in flavortown!!! the butterfly passion fruit tea along with the vegan spring rolls complimented each other so well that i highly recommend! jon had the very delicious and fresh chicken curry with rice. the red cabbage really makes the presentation pop! it's served in a cast iron pan with the rice on the side. the curry is on the watery side and the serving of rice is small. with a sapporo, tax and tip lunch was $55. service was super friendly and i loved the decor. read more

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