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    Mama’s Cha Ca

    4.7 (98 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Mama’s Cha Ca Photos

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    Marie V.

    This review is for the fish patties only as that the only thing I got from this place. Great taste and reasonably price. These fish patties are great as snack or add them to your favorite noodle or udon soups. Pick up a few when you are in the neighborhood. Parking can be difficult. Come on weekdays for easy parking.

    Hans S.

    This is primarily a take place, but they have 2 tables out front in the courtyard where you can sit, eat and smoke, sharing space with cafe I4 and Quan Bun Co Giao Thao which seemed to have closed for good. Bun rieu was $13, tasty broth more of pork stock than pure crab, a chunk of minced crab meat, slices of fish cake, 2 cubes of blood curls, fried tofu, served with plenty of fresh herbs, hot pepper sauce, lime slice. Bun rieu here is unique with the addition of slices of cha ca, which were tasteless to me. Lots of people ordered take outs. Good food, reasonable prices, quick service, nice airy outdoor sitting where you can smoke, a good place for lunch. Parking is tight in this strip mall. Will try their other dishes.

    Vietnamese Iced Coffee (TikTok: @justandyvu)
    Andy V.

    1. The fish cakes in the sandwich are good! The coffee was also comforting! 2. The spot has fast-casual vibes! 3. One table inside and another table outside! 4. Staff was friendly and timely with my order! 5. Parking lot is medium size but there is street parkjng nearby! Note: There is a single restroom! Photo: Vietnamese Iced Coffee and Banh Mi Cha Ca

    Fresh hot fish cakes!!!! 1 lb
    Sanny C.

    I don't know about the other foods but for sure, you can't go wrong with the fish cakes. Super fresh!!! They make new ones on the daily. I came here twice today lol The first time, I got 1 lb. They just made it, so it was still very hot. At first, she wrapped up a whole piece for me. However, I wanted to eat it right away, so I asked if she could cut it. She was really nice. She got it cut and packed up neatly. Also, she gave me utensils and napkins. The fish cake was chewy and tasty. I usually like mine with dill, but these were good even without. My mom enjoyed it very much as well. We went back and got 2lbs. I didn't think we would get fresh hot ones. However, they were almost done making a new batch, so we waited. Such a good snack or add it in bun rieu or whatever you want.

    Truc T.

    Honestly one my favorite Cha Ca Chien(Fried Fish Cake) & Bun Rieu(Vietnamese Crab/Tomato Soup) places! The Cha Ca Chien which is fried fish cake, was absolutely flavorful & very light & tasted amazing in the Bun Rieu. Bun Rieu is a light & flavorful tomato pork broth that is generally accompanied by crab paste/mixture/meatballs, fried tofu, & vermicelli noodles, along with choices of herbs & vegetables. Truly one of my favorite dishes that warms the heart & Mama's Cha Ca definitely hits a home run for it. Most notably I'm super impressed by the Cha Ca, & how delicious it was. Definitely coming back just for the $12/LB to add to some home-cooking! Recommend to go here since theres barely any space to really dine, but super grateful to had the chance to!

    Ky N.

    I came here on a random afternoon because I was craving banh canh. It's really good! Their broth has so much flavor that I literally finished the entire thing. It's a very small place, there's not really seating inside and maybe 2 tables outside so definitely not a dine in kinda environment.

    Bun rieu
    Linda L.

    Location* In the corner of a small L-shaped plaza Atmosphere* Small, clean, fast-casual to-go but they do have 1 table inside for dining---at least 1 outdoor table, sometimes I've seen 2 Food* They specialize in cha ca which is all made fresh from them. However, I just want to share that their bun rieu cha cais sooo good especially since they give a generous amount for price of $13. I crave it all the time... They also have banh canh, bun cha ca, banh mi cha ca. Beverages* Very limited selection: water, tea, milk yogurt with condensed milk, soda chanh, might be missing a few more options

    Nhi T.

    Very sweet service. Fish cakes tastes homemade, which is why I found some bones in it so be careful while eating but that's how you know it's legit fish and not fillers lol. The broth was a bit light but you can add your own fish sauce and shrimp paste they put in the side to taste. I would come back for more fish cakes :)

    Oh S.

    Alright, so my sister told me about this place and said it's really good. I don't live in the area so I wanted to try it out. I saw one review that said, she found fish scales in her raw cha ca that she had bought but I didn't pay much attention to it. I did read her review and the comment with the owners family member responding to it. My two cents as a person who fishes, I already knew that, even when cleaning fish (no matter how much there is) you spray water to wash off all the fish scale off the fish or as much as you can see. Apparently they don't do that here. They prefer quantity over quality. I ordered a cha ca sandwich to try this place out and even when eating the sandwich, I felt the texture of fish scales. I thought it was just in my head and pretended it was maybe the texture of the bread or pickled veggies but then I found a piece of scale in my mouth. The sandwich was tasty though and they always say dirty places do have good food lol. But probably, I won't be coming back! As for their service, they suck here. It's a very small place and customers had to go towards the back to get the attention of their staff to come to the front. Never again!

    bánh canh chả cá
    Kelly T.

    It's a small little place that sells chả cá and chả cá related items such as bánh canh chả cá. Bánh canh chả cá was really good and was only $10 (tax already included). My piece of chả cá (1lb) was $12. Prices might have gone up since I last got these items. The girl taking my order and ringing me up was super nice and friendly. If you need fish patties, give this place a try.

    Fish scale.... What a  Waste of time!

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    1 year ago

    We are regulars to the Banh Mi Cha Ca. Hits the spot every time. Best Cha Ca place by far.

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    1 year ago

    Soo delicious!! Highly recommend! We'll be back for sure! Service was great! Overall, amazing experience!

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    Cathy N.

    Thank you for the kind review!

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    2 years ago

    My to go spot for bún chả cá. I also buy the frozen fish paste so I can make at home. They do have fried, steam ready to eat fish cake.

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    3 years ago

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    Cathy N.

    Thank you for the 5 stars!

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    2 years ago

    Good service. Great price, very tasty fish cakes! I appreciate that they are made daily

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    Thank you for stopping by!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Mama’s Cha Ca Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mama’s Cha Ca

    Do you ship cha ca overnight?

    Hello, we do ship overnight with Southwest Cargo. Please contact us at 714-814-6788 for more details. Thank you!

    Does cha ca have eggs in the ingredients ? My son is allergic to eggs and trying to see if he can eat here.

    Hi there, we do have eggs in our fish cakes. Thank you for asking.

    Hi, what kind of fish do you use for the cha ca?

    Hello, we use Ladyfish (ca mang) for our cha ca.

    Hi! Do you do large orders (party packs) for pick up?

    Hi! Yes we do large orders. Please contact us for more details. Thank you!

    Hi there! What bones are used in the noodle broth? We don't eat pork and any porcine products. Thank you in advance!

    Hi! Thanks for asking. We use half fish bones and half chicken bones to make the broth. There is no pork in any of our products

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Brodard Chateau - Coconut Cake

    Brodard Chateau

    3.9(2.7k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$
    Catering service
    Full bar

    Usually we would have to wait for a table but this time we were able to be seated right away…read more Must order is their Nam Neung Spring rolls. The sweetness of the grilled pork, the crispiness of the eggrolls wrapper bits, and the freshness of the vegetables pairs with the special sauce never fails to satisfy the craving. This time we tried their cheeseburger spring Roasted Duck spring rolls. I am not a duck fan so this was okay to me. The meat was well seasoned with the spices and the hoisin sauce was a nice balance. The crispy Vietnamese eggrolls were also a first and it was great! The meaty and crispiness of the eggrolls eaten like a lettuce wrap with the nuoc Cham sauce was delicious. This place always seems to be busy and rushed and can get a bit loud but the service is always great. They have a bar where you can grab some drinks while you wait. Their lychee martini is good. There is also a dessert display in the front where you check in which we haven't tried yet.

    Absolutely loved this Vietnamese restaurant! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully…read moreprepared. The pho was rich and aromatic, the spring rolls were incredibly fresh, and the herbs and vegetables tasted amazing. Great atmosphere, very clean, and excellent service. You can really tell they care about quality and authentic flavors. Perfect balance of comfort food and fresh ingredients. One of the best Vietnamese spots we've tried lately. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Brodard Chateau
    Brodard Chateau - Shaken Beef (Bò Lúc Lắc): Tender filet mignon in cubes sautéed w/mushrooms, onion in garlic ginger soy sauce & side salad | $22.95

    Shaken Beef (Bò Lúc Lắc): Tender filet mignon in cubes sautéed w/mushrooms, onion in garlic ginger soy sauce & side salad | $22.95

    Brodard Chateau - Grilled Pork Spring Rolls - Nem Nướng Cuốn

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    Grilled Pork Spring Rolls - Nem Nướng Cuốn

    SEN Vietnamese Cuisine - New special dishes

    SEN Vietnamese Cuisine

    4.4(723 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Established in 2022

    Long time customer here!…read more They have a brand new dish: Bún Chả Cá Thì Là. The fish and the fish cakes are super tasty, and the amount of thì là (dill) they use makes it the perfect combo. It really nails that traditional Northern-style flavor profile. Pro tip: make sure to mix in some sa tế, as it completely amplifies the broth and takes it to the next level! Also, I'm so hyped that the Cháo Sườn Quẩy is FINALLY back on the menu! It came out piping hot and is just as comforting as I remember. Honestly, this bowl right here is what keeps me coming back and craving more. Solid spot, totally hits the spot if you want some legit, comforting Northern food.

    SEN has been on my list of Vietnamese spots to try for a while, given all the glowing reviews…read more Unfortunately, the food was just okay. Food Bánh Mì Pate Que (2) - $5.99 Served as two pieces, this Hải Phòng-style bánh mì came with pate, shredded pork, and a house chili sauce. The bread was nicely toasted and served warm, making it easy to share. Bánh Ướt Đặc Biệt - $14.50 Steamed rice sheets topped with pork patties, fried tofu, and fresh vegetables, served with a house fish sauce. The sauce leaned light and slightly sweet, which may appeal to some but felt a bit mild overall. Bún Chả Hà Nội - $16.50 Rice vermicelli served with grilled pork, pork patties, fresh herbs, and house fish sauce. Similar to the other dish, the sauce was on the lighter side in terms of flavor. The protein portions also felt a bit small for the price. Service My party and I were greeted and seated promptly upon our arrival. A server brought menus and returned shortly after to take our order. However, they did not check-in throughout the dining experience. We arrived about 30 minutes before closing and the food came out quickly. Payment is processed at the register near the back by the kitchen. Ambiance The restaurant is dimly lit with plenty of seating for dine-in. Location It is located in a strip plaza with a shared parking alongside other businesses.

    Photos
    SEN Vietnamese Cuisine - Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm

    Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm

    SEN Vietnamese Cuisine - New Menu: Bún Chả Hà Nội (Vermicelli with grilled pork and pork patties, served with fresh veggies and house fish sauce)

    New Menu: Bún Chả Hà Nội (Vermicelli with grilled pork and pork patties, served with fresh veggies and house fish sauce)

    SEN Vietnamese Cuisine - Mien Tron SEN

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    Mien Tron SEN

    Mama Hieu's

    Mama Hieu's

    4.6(1.3k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    I was making it a habit in coming here when they started their weekly wednesday promos where $4 for…read more4 wings and then the following 2 weeks it was $8 for 8 wings. When I would come inside, I would see their other limited time food items, like their brussel sprouts and order that as well. I really enjoyed their brussel sprouts and now sad to see it gone. I joined the Mama Hieus App which makes ordering ahead easier for pickup. I really like the app bc its simple to plan your dinner ahead. You can pick the day and time you want to pick-up. If I could make one request, is if you can give customers (me) the option to pay like extra $1-$2 for their orders to be ONLY FLAT WINGS on small orders. The chicken is so well crispy and coated and the non flat wings are too meaty but then carry less of your delicious seasoning in my opinion. Does that request exist? I guess I should ask this with your staff in person if I can get a special request to get all flat wings only. Overall, still love your wings and travel once a week when I can from Irvine to get them to share with my Mom for our bonding time.

    Chicken was crispy, juicy and packed with flavor - def up there with some of the best Vietnamese…read morestyle fried chicken wings. We got the Garlic Butter Wings and the Fish Sauce Wings (similar to Bonchon/IYKYK) with a side of sweet potato fries which also was delicious. Service was great, food came out in a timely manner. Can't ask for more. Seating and Environment was highly appreciated as there was plenty to select from. Will def return if we are back in the area.

    Photos
    Mama Hieu's
    Mama Hieu's  - New arrival!

    New arrival!

    Mama Hieu's  - Salted Egg Yolk Wings House Box (Instagram: foodwithbros)

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    Salted Egg Yolk Wings House Box (Instagram: foodwithbros)

    Pho 79 Restaurant

    Pho 79 Restaurant

    4.2(3.9k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Arguably one of the best pho places in my opinion. I think this place is older than I am, because…read moreI've been coming here since I was a baby! Over all those years, they have never disappointed me and continue to serve really good food. I usually get the beef brisket pho and it's really good. The noodles are just the right texture, the broth is clean and flavorful, and the meat tastes fresh and tender. Their dui bo is also very good, but usually runs out after 1:00 or 2:00 pm, since they only have a limited amount of this item every day. The meat is fall off the bone tender and has a more fatty flavor to it. It usually sits in some broth that absorbs that beefy and fatty flavor from the bone. A great addition to any bowl of pho. Alternatively, I sometimes also get the bun thit nuong and it's very good. The eggrolls it comes with is wrapped with rice paper, so when it's fried up, it has such a satisfying crunch and texture to it. The thit nuong is has a nice smokey, grilled flavor to it. The shrimps are okay as well. This is a very satisfying and filling dish, so if you're looking for a high volume dish, this may be the one to get. Expect long lines during peak hours. I can confirm though that the wait is worth it! Service is always very good. The ambiance on the inside is fine, very plain and unassuming in my opinion. It's really the pho that shines through at this restaurant. Parking can be a little tricky during peak hours.

    The best pho in OC hands down…read more Came in Sunday afternoon for lunch, lots of parking but busy! Be prepared for parking and maybe to wait. Put your name on the list hanging outside the door and they will call you when ready! We were sat almost immediately though. Inside is a large scale mom and pop shop that is FILLED with people and workers. We ordered a medium and large #23 pho and 2 waters, we got everything not even 5 minutes later. When I tell you this is the BEST broth I've ever had, it blew me away. I'm not one to usually order extra noodles but for this place I would order as many noodles until I ran out of broth, it is that good. Noodles were on the soggier side, I'm not picky about noodles but if you are then this is something to consider. Portions were huge for the price, very happy with that. CASH ONLY. I didn't see an ATM there but I'm sure they had one. Will always recommend and they have a new customer for whenever I'm in OC.

    Photos
    Pho 79 Restaurant - @endoedibles on Instagam 09/15/24

    @endoedibles on Instagam 09/15/24

    Pho 79 Restaurant - Spring roll

    Spring roll

    Pho 79 Restaurant - Pho Tai + meatball - small

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    Pho Tai + meatball - small

    Pho Redbo - Combo, Thai tea, flaming wagyu, and fried rice!

    Pho Redbo

    4.5(1.7k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Healthy dining

    Tried Pho RedBo and honestly this spot really surprised me. Finding halal pho in OC already makes…read morethis place stand out, but the food itself was actually so good too. The broth was rich, comforting, and super flavorful without feeling too heavy, and you could really taste the quality of the meat. My favorite dish from the meal was definitely the shaken beef because it was so tender and packed with flavor. I also really appreciated that the entire menu is halal certified because it makes the spot feel even more special and inclusive. Overall such a comforting meal and definitely somewhere I'd come back to again.

    Came by Pho RedBo in Garden Grove and was pleasantly surprised--plus points for being halal…read morecertified. We started with the Vietnamese coffee ($7), which was bold, strong, and nicely balanced with the sweetness from the condensed milk. A great way to kick things off. The egg rolls ($10) were packed with beef, shrimp, wood ear mushroom, and vermicelli--crispy on the outside and paired perfectly with fresh lettuce and fish sauce. The standout for me was the flaming wagyu ($18), torched tableside. For how thick the cut was, it was incredibly tender and soft. Definitely go medium rare. The ponzu dipping sauce really enhances the richness of the beef. We also tried the shaken beef ($21), which came with plenty of caramelized onions and bell peppers that added a subtle sweetness. The beef was slightly charred, bite-sized, and super satisfying--especially with rice. The combo pho ($25) came loaded with a variety of meats, all tender and melt-in-your-mouth. The broth had a deep, beefy richness, and the noodles were perfectly soft. Add in the garnishes for some crunch and it really ties everything together. Overall, a solid spot with quality ingredients and flavorful dishes. Would definitely come back if I'm in the area.

    Photos
    Pho Redbo - Halal certificate

    Halal certificate

    Pho Redbo - Water melon/ passion water melon.

    Water melon/ passion water melon.

    Pho Redbo - Pho meat-ball

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    Pho meat-ball

    Mama’s Cha Ca - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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