I got the garlic noodles with both bulgogi beef and chicken, and wow, this hit the spot. I ordered it off doordash and it was so yummy. The garlic noodles were super flavorful, perfectly cooked, and had that rich garlicky kick without being overpowering. The bulgogi beef was tender, juicy, and had just the right balance of sweet and savory, while the chicken was cooked really well and added a nice contrast. Together, it was such a satisfying combo. Portions were generous, and you could really taste the quality of garlic in each bite. Definitely one of those meals where you're already thinking about your next visit as you're finishing up. Highly recommend! Only thing I would recommend is to brush your teeth after bc it leaves a garlic smell read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Nguyen's Kitchen in Costa Mesa!?! I didn't know it was in multiple spots now. I've only ever been to the one in Orange, so I was happily surprised when I saw this familiar place. At 10pm, there were a handful of folks inside, waiting for their to-go orders. Since they close at midnight on a Wed, we decided to eat in. I like the industrial vibe they have going on w/ live edge tables, black pipes, & farmhouse lights. I wanna take the big live edge dining table home & plop it right in my dining room! The lady at the counter was nice, taking our order with a smile, then repeating it for accuracy. The garlic chicken breast sandwich did not disappoint. It's just as I remembered it... tasty, moist, & even more delicious w/ the green sauce. The garlic noods w/ bulgogi was a new try for us; we usually get it w/ shrimp. It was yummy, but afterwards I felt like the meat was too salty. The peach & lychee green tea is my fave, while the hubbs enjoyed his Thai tea. Soo good! read more

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Love their garlic noodles and crawfish pasta!! Their noodles are very tender and not chewy. They offer free garlic noodles on Postmates if you order $15 or more so pretty much buy one get one free. Glad they open late since most of the places closes early. I was able to place an order and went picked it up after 10pm. My noodles are nice and hot when I got home to enjoy them. Their popcorn chicken are a bit small, wish they are the size of a chicken nugget but it's more like half of that. I will definitely coming back next time. read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Their garlic noodles were too dry and chewy. No thanks. - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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"One free drink with purchase of any garlic noodle..." Advertised outside the restaurant, but when paying for my order I was told my garlic noodle dish was not included in the "any" garlic noodle because there was no protein in it. Suggestion, don't write 'any garlic noodle' on your 24 inch up sale poster. read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - "One free drink with purchase of any garlic noodle, crawfish pasta or rice bowl" - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My second time here, they're open late, and that's what drew me the first time, after a concert at the Grove across the river, in Anaheim. The recent occasion, however, preceded a show at the same venue. My buddy and I found a parking spot in back, which was good, and upon entering, we discovered that one half of the building is another restaurant. I learned something new. I recall liking the Banh Mi and whatever else I had years ago, but the rice bowls sounded more my speed given the size and contents. I selected the beef bolgolgi, and my friend got the grilled chicken. A peach tea also hit the spot to round out the meal. I enjoyed both sauces, especially the spicy green one. The pickled veggies are a nice contrast to the rice and meat. A bite of chicken confirmed my pal made a good choice as well. If I have any complaints, it's that the food definitely has a LOT of sodium. I commented after the show at the Grove that my lips felt chapped, and my friend said the same and attributed it to high salt content. I'd definitely go back, especially since the prices are reasonable and I wasn't hungry for anything else later. read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Bulgolgi Beef Rice Bowl. - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came here with my girlfriend last night. We really like this place. I always knew about it but I never checked it out until now. Super delicious and hot food at a reasonable price. And they are open late. I'll definitely be visiting here more often in the later hours. Started with the Pork Buns and Egg rolls. Both were super good. Hot and crispy. I got the Beef rice bowl and my girlfriend got the beef noodle bowl. I also got the Iced Tea. So good. This place has great food. Not a lot of seating but if it's not busy you'll definitely get a seat. read more

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This is our go to place for late night dinner, after an event when most places are closed or just whenever we're craving Nguyen's. We usually get the chicken wings (NK wings) with a side of steamed rice, sometimes the garlic noodles with grilled pork, or the grilled pork bowl, popcorn chicken, Cajun garlic fries, NK sliders. Those are our usuals. They are all good, just depending on what we're feeling that day/night. You queue up to order and is called once order is ready. They are pretty quick. The place is not big with some outside seating. Sometimes even at late night, the place gets packed! The smell of food cooking is pretty strong so we try not to bring jackets or extra clothing as it sticks to your clothes for a while. read more

Nguyen's Kitchen hits the spot at 1am!!! We got the grilled pork banh mi and grilled pork bowl, both of which were exactly the savory meal we needed in the early AM. I think the bowl is more filling than the banh mi because of all the rice and more meat in the plate, but both were great. There was a sweet, yellow sauce that came with it that I wasn't familiar with, but it was also delicious. The service from the cashier was timely and enthusiastic despite how busy it was at the time. Highly recommend and will be coming back for sure! read more

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Ok. I really don't know why this is so highly rated. With so many really good Vietnamese restaurants within 10 miles, the only reason to come here is that you are too lazy to drive. Barely comparable to food in Little Saigon. The vermicelli was soggy and the sauces were mediocre. To top it off, it's double the price as a dish that is twice as good in Little Saigon. Drive. read more

Garlic noodles were okayI enjoyed the texture of the noodles and the smell of the garlic, but i thought it was way too oily. Banh mi was fantastic! Generous size with flavorful meat. I loved the softness of the bread. Popcorn chicken was fantastic! Nice, light and crispy. read more

Gteat food! Enjoyed the Rice bowl with beef, Garlic noodles, egg rolls & house marinated chicken sandwich. Welled priced! read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Eggrolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This place is a quick fast casual Vietnamese fusion joint where you'll find various noodle/rice dishes along with banh mis. It is not the most authentic, but it is a fast casual place so you get what you pay for. My go to is their crawfish pasta with the spicy creamy sauce. The dish has gone downhill over the years as I've noticed that they skimp a little on the meats and the pasta is not as saucy as it used to be before. Service was quick, and most people grab takeout here but there are a couple tables available for dine in for smaller groups. read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Crawfish Pasta - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I'm quickly becoming a regular customer here. My favorite item is the chicken rice bowl. It's a huge portion of mostly rice, so you won't leave hungry. Although it's mostly rice, there's still a substantial amount of chicken and vegetables. All together it's a fresh and satisfying meal. It also comes with two sauces that pair extremely well. The chicken isn't overly seasoned; therefore, there are no flavor clashes with the sauces you are provided. The shredded carrots seem to be either pickled or marinated, which is a nice touch and flavor boost. I also ordered their chicken wings and got them extra spicy. The spice level was good, not unbearable, but it had a good kick. Moist chicken, too. The food is always prepared quickly as well. One of my favorite places to stop by whenever I am craving a simple yet delicious meal! read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - House Marinated Chicken Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Ordered Nguyen's Kitchen via Uber Eats the other night. The food was packaged well, the shrimp tasted great, grilled and buttery. Came with 5 shrimps. However, I wasn't a big fan of the garlic noodles, felt like the noodle would have been better if it were thicker - something about the texture or taste. read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Garlic Noodles w/ Shrimp - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This was so fire I would definitely come back again. The bowl was also much larger than anticipated which was great because I got two meals out of it. Service was also super quick. I would really recommend coming here! read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Bulgogi Short Rib Steak Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is amazing - their garlic noodles are so so good!! When I lived around the corner I would eat them a minimum of once a week! Fast, quality service as well! Also recommend the chicken wings read more

I was so looking forward to a delicious meal tonight but was disappointed the minute I bit into my grilled pork banh mi. The bread was PETRIFIED - it was obviously microwaved. I only ate half and scooped out the filling of the second half because it was fine. I've ordered banh mi sandwiches to-go from other restaurants that were still good (and soft) after a couple hours! For the record- I bit into the sandwich as soon as it was delivered, it didn't sit in the container long after it arrived. Also the egg rolls were bland (but did have a good crunch). Good restaurant concept, however quality needs to be improved. read more

Went here back in 2021. I remember appreciating their late hours. However, their butter garlic noodles lacked flavor.

I went into this restaurant with low expectations. Didn't think a "modern" Vietnamese bistro in the middle of Costa Mesa would be any good, but I was surprisingly impressed. My kids ordered bulgogi Bahn Mi and a chicken bowl. My son inhaled his sandwich before I could even ask for a bite. From what I could tell, it was bomb. He literally inhaled the sandwich. Judging by the amount of crumbs he had on his tray, the baguette is fresh baked with a nice bite to it. My daughter let me have a bite of her chicken bowl. It was very tasty, especially pair with the jalapeno sauce it comes with. Chicken was a little on the sparse side and I thought the rice was a little overcooked/mushy. But overall the flavors came together. Service was friendly and the ambiance was causal, walk up to the counter and order. Clean restrooms but parking can be a pain in the butt. read more

This was a so-so for me. The place is very simple but yet modern. Does not have too much display or decor. They do have a television though and some music. The staff was very nice, friendly and was able to suggest some food. The food was okay, I guess it did have a modern twist to it. The sandwich was very modern, it lack some flavor and the bun wasn't the bun you would get from a traditional Mr. lee's sandwich place. read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Grilled Pork Sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Yeah this is still a problem. Walked in at 1:32 pm, open sign lit and everywhere online says open til 2 AM. And they tell me the kitchen is closed. Mind you this isn't a sit down restaurant or a bar. It's fast casual. Just say you close at 1:30. read more

Still really love Nguyen's kitchen and their crawfish noodle is still something I crave on the regular. The service here is quick and efficient, and the ambience is a little loud if you want to have an extended meal here, but not bad. Also really love their drinks as well. Docked a star off because it's now a little more pricey which is understandable but sad. read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Crawfish Pasta! - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The food was amazing! The noodles were so flavorful, the fries were crispy and so good! Only issue was the young Hispanic girls who was clearly too unprofessional to work around any customers. She should be in the very back maybe doing some inventory or prepping. She has no business front of house!! The music was perfect volume. The hours of operation are perfect!! Late night options are a huge plus. read more

I love their food here... I had ordered a dish but just asked for no chicken and the cook refused to make the dish. States management orders. Not sure why they couldn't just take the chicken off the order. I've ordered this before too this way and had no problems. Of course no manager was here to talk to. read more

I am new to this area, so I wanted to find a spot when people socialize and enjoy food,. I like to interact with people or being approach by people when I visit places, so on my internet search I was looking for a popular spot and directed me to this place and me being familiar with same restaurant brand at a different location thought it wa going to be crowded with people. But to my surprise there was not a living soul at this place, so my rating review is based on that , everything else was as good as the other location food is fresh and tasty, free drink today that's a plus. Location and set -up is more like for to go then enjoying a good time with friends, the rest I believe the images will tell you more than I can do with words. read more

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At first, we thought it was a normal Vietnamese restaurant with noodle soups and pate sandwiches until we finally went inside. We were pleasantly surprised when we saw the short menu and a different fare from what we expected. That first time, we all ordered the garlic noodle dish. Each time we have returned, we only order the garlic noodle dish. It is that amazing! My wife and I get the noodles with chicken. My son orders the noodles with grilled pork. We also always get the garlic fries, which rival the ones you can find at Angel Stadium. The seating is unusual. There's this giant oak table that seats about 8 people, counter seating, and one tall table for three. There's a table for two outside. If it ever got really busy, there aren't that many places to sit. That doesn't mean the place isn't popular. Whenever we visit, there's a steady stream of customers, most to go and some to eat in. We always eat in. There's a self-serve soda fountain and a unisex restroom for customers only. I'm sorry I can only vouch for the noodle dishes. It's like nothing I've ever enjoyed anywhere else, so it's all I have ever considered ordering when I go there. read more

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The management here and owners have a serious issue with some very rude staff. I have been here many times and order the crawfish pasta with rice instead of the noodles because I cannot eat them due to an allergy. The guy in the kitchen told me that he could not make it that way he would give me a side of rice. I said I cannot have the noodles and I've had it here before and asked "What is the problem?". He informed me that he was told by the owner that they can no longer do that, and he could not make me food. He was beyond rude and said that there was no additional amount I could pay to substitute and that it would not be done and that if he did it, he would lose his job. To quote him " because if I make it that way for you, I will lose my job and I care more about my job than making your food." He was beyond rude in his approach with me. I would not recommend this restaurant. Their staff so clear to stain for the ownership and cared very little about doing anything to help me. I will never be eating here again. I highly recommend you do not either. Not to mention it was completely empty when I walked in. .. seems others have had some experience and are staying away read more

The garlic fries were absolutely bomb, especially how big the portion size is. Definitely going to come back for some lil munch

I love this place it's soooo good ! And they were playing kali uchiessss. Wish they made more locations towards the IE or LA area

Went here yesterday for dinner and this is my second time coming here. And obviously the food is good enough for me to come back and try it again. The NK Wings have an incredible spice to it and are nice a juicy to the bite. The second time I went I got the Crawfish Pasta, and while I think the spice this time is a little much, the crawfish as well as the pasta have an incredible punch of flavor. The second time I ordered I went to pick up through DoorDash and when I went to pick it up the service was quick and easy! However they didn't ask for a name or to check if I was the said person. So just for future reference, be careful. The ambiance is nice and simple as well inside. The small interior to the establishment is very authentic and I would never mind to just sit and eat inside. Overall a great place to stop for some nice pasta and wings! read more

I've tried this restaurant once four years ago in Santa Ana. I was in the area for this one in Costa Mesa and can't believe how great the food is! I ordered the rice bowl with bulgogi and got Cajun garlic fries on the side. I love this take on Vietnamese fusion foods. The portion was great and the flavor just as much. FYI: The parking here is pretty bad so be prepared for to park in the lot of the plaza next door and walk over, or fight for parking. PS I've attached the current (11/16/22) menu to this review. read more

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It really depends on what location you go to. Costa Mesa's location is a little bit on the slower side and the space is smaller. I went to Orange and they had a whole selection of tea (plus samples!) and the space was significantly larger. The service at the Orange location was also way better. You can't beat the food though! Definitely a late late night comfort food! read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Bulgogi Short Rib Steak Sandwich & Garlic Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This food is amazing. I enjoyed the pork sandwich with the fried egg and the pork buns. So very good. The bread for the sandwich was wonderful. read more

Garlic noodles with shrimp 3/5 - this was just okay. I thought that the flavors could've been stronger.. maybe I had high expectations from their reviews but I didn't think it was anything special. It was also very oily! It actually made me feel gross how oily it was Came on a Friday night and there were only a couple other people in the restaurant so we got our orders quickly. read more

Are you looking for some great food ? Or maybe you're just tired of the same old go to food spots? If you answered yes to either question, then this is your place ! Rice Bowls, Wings, Fries, Banh Mi's, MILK TEA! I ordered this place one day on door dash and was really impressed, and since then I have ordered pretty frequently, especially for catering at work. The office loves it! The price point is not crazy either it's very solid and great quality food. I would recommend calling ahead and picking up, as this place gets a little busy and the parking lot/location itself is on the smaller side. I wish they had a complimentary drink for checking in on Yelp, I would love to get their premium drinks more often but I would definitely add this place to your must try list ! read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Bulgogi Short Rib Steak Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We took an Uber and came all the way over here at 1:50. It says it's open till 2 AM but it's really not the lady inside was a b and she didn't even care that we were here completely ignored us. Didn't even come to the door to say we're closed. They treat you like dirt read more

We showed up to an empty restaurant at 11:30am. Very limited menu. First of all, I tipped the cashier because the computer screen implied to. However, I regretted the minute she came outside and informed us that our food was ready to be picked up. I would expect her to at least bring the food to the table. Regarding the food, it was Very bland. We ate around the chicken, unfortunately only eating carbs. We ordered a rice chicken bowl, plain French fries, and a chicken noodle bowl. Was falsely advertised as a Vietnamese restaurant when the food was cooked by a white man in the back. If you are looking for Vietnamese food, go to pho 79 in garden grove. Very good pho. read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is a fast casual, order at the counter place. I've heard lots of good things about this place and finally got around to trying it. We just got some finger foods for a quick bite to eat. The staff was friendly. - Popcorn chicken (4/5): perfectly crispy, and some pieces were super spicy. The dipping sauce it comes with (chimichuri?) was okay, didn't really match the flavor of the chicken in my opinion - Cajun fries (4/5): love thin and crispy fries, super flavorful and lots of seasoning. Huge portion and perfect for sharing - Eggrolls (3/5): nothing special, would be good with a sweet and sour type sauce Need to try the garlic fries! read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Popcorn chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Ugh I hate to write this review because I love this place. But I'm writing and hoping that it gets the owner's attention. Please specify that the chicken in your garlic noodles has mushrooms. It's not listed in the menu in your restaurant nor is it mentioned on the online menu. I was so annoyed to see SO many mushrooms. Consider being more specific in the menu to ensure others who have preferences or allergies are aware what to order or modify. Otherwise, the food is good (especially when I usually get shrimp in my noodles). read more

Nguyen's Kitchen - Garlic noodles with jumbo shrimp - Vietnamese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've tried this place 3 times delivered via Doordash and I thought the food was okay. Some dishes were better than others, but overall, not too impressed. Perhaps I need to try this place fresh and my rating will go up! This time around I ordered the Bulgogi Short Rib Sandwich, Garlic Noodles with Pork, NK Wings, and Cajun Garlic Fries. The best tasting dish was definitely the bulgogi short rib sandwich. It was a little soggy by the time it arrived, but still good. It was nice and fatty and the meat was tasty. If I were to recommend a dish, it would be this one! They forgot the sauce on the wings so I'm pretty sure that affected its flavor as it tasted just okay. The fries and garlic noodles were fine, but nothing too special. I think what I dislike most about the foot is how sweet it is. Most of the food I have had here is just too sweet with nothing much to balance it. Even the green herby sauce they have is good, but again, too sweet. So when I added it to the sandwich or the noodles to try to cut the sweetness with acid, it just ended up adding more sweet. I did try the popcorn chicken once and thought that was great! Overall, I think I definitely need to try the food fresh to give it a fair shot. Would love to do that and update my review! read more

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