Vox Kitchen is one of my favorite restaurants in the OC!…read more Everything here is delicious. I live in LA and drive about an hour when I'm craving Vox. All the dishes are full of flavor and cooked to perfection. My go to is the lomo saltado with filet minion or picanha cooked medium rare. I prefer the filet since it is more tender, but both are excellent. The chicken wings are amazing, garlic noodles, and truffle fries. Service is always great and vibes are on point. Make a reservation, for wait times get close to an hour on the weekend. One of my favorite restaurants, highly recommend!

We arrived shortly before closing, but the staff was still very welcoming and attentive. They took…read morethe time to recommend dishes and explain the menu without making us feel rushed at all. The restaurant itself is elegant, beautiful, and very clean, making it a comfortable place to dine. The food was delicious, and the portions were very generous--definitely more than enough for a satisfying meal. I really appreciated the great service and relaxed atmosphere, especially considering how close it was to closing time. Overall, a wonderful dining experience and a place I would happily come back to!

We loved our server Chase!!!! Always friendly, helpful and quick with service. We're always lucky…read moreenough to sit in his section! Cheers till the next time!!!

Food was great, wait was long but worrh it. Had the beef bone pho and the broth was amazing....read more

My family loves Brodard. It is a go-to restaurant whenever we visit SoCal. We came on during…read moreSaturday dinner rush so it was quite busy! We had to wait over 30 mins for a table. There were a lot of people waiting outside. We were given menus immediately. Ordered quite a few dishes but the nem spring rolls are the best! It is definitely a must eat. I'm pretty sure they are known for it. We have ordered these to go before as well. You can even find it at SNA airport. Overall, food is great. Price can be a bit pricy, but worth it.

This is such an iconic OC staple and whenever I find myself in the vicinity, I get a major craving…read morefor their nem nuong (pork sausage) spring rolls. It really is that good.. and the warm sauce that it comes with is chef's kiss. This place is massive, but don't be fooled. You need to join the Yelp waitlist, or you'll find yourself sitting around and waiting for awhile. We ordered the following: 1) Nem nuong spring rolls - We ended putting in 3 order for this because one is not enough for each person! My daughter gobbled this up! 2) Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings - Holy moly this was also super good! Perfect crisp and flavor! I also liked the sauteed onions and peppers that accompanied them. 3) Brodard Special - This came with grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, BBQ pork, and nem nuong crispy eggrolls over vermicelli, accompanied with Asian greens, peanuts and lime chili fish sauce. It was perfect since it had a sampler of different items especially when there are so many options on the menu and you get decision fatigue. The staff was also great since they are very efficient when taking orders and when its time to pay the bill. They run a tight ship, but for good reason. Parking can be tricky since it is in a strip mall, but something opened up closer to the grocery store side. All in all, there is a reason why this place is always so busy! They have delicious food!

Delicious bowls of pho with consistently well-balanced broth and generous portions of tender meat…read more They also offer a side bowl of oxtail at an incredible price, which makes this spot feel even more special and worth the visit. When I arrived with my family, there was already a lineup and a waitlist board hanging by the door. I recommend stopping by to add your name before searching for parking so you can save yourself some waiting time. A huge recommendation if you're looking for a satisfying bowl of pho in Westminster!

Phở 79 is a true Orange County institution that has been serving the community for years, and it's…read moreeasy to see why there is almost always a line out the door. Be prepared: this place is incredibly popular, especially during peak hours. Parking can definitely be challenging because of how busy it is. The last time I visited on a Monday, the lot was completely full, and I ended up parking on the street. The restaurant is also primarily cash only, so come prepared. They open early, making it a perfect breakfast spot for an early bowl of pho. The pho broth is exactly what I want when I'm craving comfort food--clean, flavorful, and incredibly soothing. However, the star of the meal for me was the chả giò. Wow. Although they arrived after our pho, they came out at the perfect temperature. I was hesitant to take a bite right away because freshly fried food usually burns my mouth, but these were just right. Crispy, airy, savory, and absolutely delicious. Paired with their fish sauce, it was perfection. I enjoyed the egg rolls so much that next time I'm definitely ordering the egg roll vermicelli bowl. Service was friendly and prompt despite how busy it was, and it's clear the staff works hard to keep things moving. One thing I love is seeing all of the awards and accolades displayed on the walls. Phở 79 received the prestigious James Beard America's Classics Award, and it's easy to understand why after one meal here. This restaurant is truly an Orange County icon. The restaurant will soon be moving to a new location, as signs throughout the restaurant announce the upcoming move. While I'll miss the original spot, I'm excited for the new space--hopefully with more parking! Some places are worth the wait, and Phở 79 is absolutely one of them.

I love Oc & Lau so much that I ended up visiting both locations within a few weeks of each other…read more The location on Garden Grove Blvd is smaller so seating is not as comfortable. This review I assume is the OG on Garden Grove -- parking could be tough during the weekend. OC & La, is a Vietnamese seafood spot for sharing a bunch of dishes. I found out that "OC" means snails! I thought it was Orange County! Hahaha. We tried - razor clams, scallops (HUGE), the selection of salads are amazing so we got the spicy mango - House Special Mango Salad with squid & escargot -- is spicy , tangy, refreshing, and the refreshing taste! My favorite dish was the HUGE fried fish...color is amazing and the way the fish was presented seal the deal for me. Between two people, we devoured the entire fish !! It's the kind of place where you order "just a few things" and suddenly the entire table is covered in food. But, I'm not complaining since the team is very quick in getting the used plates off our tables. Also, both places offered FREE dessert. It's like a coconut based taro and other root sweet dish.

Almost every time I come down to OC, I come here. It's not dusty or sticky and they try to make the…read moreinterior look modern and nice. The most recent time, we came at 8:30pm on weekday and there were 29 parties ahead of us (LOL), soooo plan ahead and join the waitlist through yelp. We probably waited about 30 minutes. Here are a few things I can think of to recommend: --Deep fried smelt fish ( i love smelt ) --Stir fried glass noodles with escargot and crab ( make sure to dip in the maggi sauce they give ) --House special mango salad ( squid & escargot ) --Razor clams ( sometimes sold out :( ) --Deep fried Quail ( this is one of the best ) --Stir fried water spinach with garlic ( for bowel movement assistance ) --Grilled garlic butter oysters ( the cheese one overpowers the oyster ) --Scallops with fish eggs --Coconut Swirly Escargot with Basil Leaves ( this is not my fave, but people i go with, love it ) Service is good.

Just realized Nguyen's Kitchen is actually a chain! I had tried the one in Whittier before, and…read morethen discovered this location tucked into a little corner plaza down a couple streets by CHOC. My take is Nguyen's Kitchen is fast-food Asian fusion, and honestly, it's a pretty good option when you're craving something quick and flavorful. I love this concept of restaurant -- lots of Vietnamese -inspired flavors and even have burgers combinations to choose from. I think there's another location close to Santa Ana so will check that one out next time.

I was really looking forward to trying the crawfish pasta, and the portion was generous with plenty…read moreof crawfish and sausage. The presentation was nice, but unfortunately, the sauce was way too salty for my taste. I usually eat less salt, so the saltiness really overpowered the other flavors and made it difficult to enjoy the dish. Overall, it had potential, but I think the sauce could use a lot less salt to let the crawfish and other ingredients shine.

Must try: -garlic noodles -- 10/10 hands down our favorite…read more -spring and shrimp rolls -- very authentic. Servers were very nice but some of them didn't know the menu by heart and would give the wrong meat/steaks to family members. Still, it was a good dinner for the family. Will def be back for the garlic noodles alone. They are superb!

First of all the service was above and beyond. Our waiters and servers were very polite and…read morerespectful. We came for a birthday celebration for my wife. We came in semi-formal attire. The atmosphere was formal, but other people at the restaurant were wearing everything from casual to formal. The food was cooked well and everyone was pleased with their meals. I was personally expecting a little bit more seasoning in my Clay-pot seafood medley. But it was still very fresh and good..

Garlic and Chives had incredble service. They were very patient with us, because of our…read moreindecisiveness. I mean there was so many great options. We ended up taking their recommendation and getting the Pomelo Salad. My friend got the Grilled Pork Vermicelli and I got the Fried Chili Lemongrass Salmon with Crispy Rice. Pomelo Salad, was hands down the fan favorite, just an excellent combination of flavors. My salmon was good too. I would probably prefer regular steamed rice next visit. Overall, great restaurant. Side note: Please replace your bathroom door handle, the locking mechanism is very SUS. Maybe add a deadbolt? [shrug]

Wanting to eat garlic noodles, while in Orange County, takes me to Garlic & Chives…read more It was 30 mins before closing time and we were welcomed warmly. What interesting is the table set up, it was covered with paper for ease to clean. I ordered garlic noodles with prawn, as in the menu, and learnt that the protein can be changed to anything they have (chicken, beef or pork). It is a 10/10, very tasty and the garlic tasted perfect, not too much yet still quite dominant. The lady who served also a sweetheart. I would definitely come back to try their other delicious food.

Pho 45 is my go-to pho spot, especially when I'm feeling sick and craving something comforting. We…read morealways get the pho with well-done brisket. The broth is clear, flavorful, and not greasy, unlike some other places where the soup can appear oily or have a strong smell. I usually call in my order, and it's always ready when I arrive. Parking is generally ample, but be careful pulling in and out since it's on a busy street. Definitely my go-to for pho!

Wrapped up a nice weekend with a much needed beefy bowl at Pho 45 to offset a weekend of chicken…read moredishes. All chicken. All weekend. Story for another time. It was a good meal, friendly staff, classic Little Saigon energy but also a reminder that Orange County pho is still playing catch up with San Jose. The restaurant was busy in that typical pho joint way with a line outside, a packed dining room, steaming bowls, and the whole strip-mall-Vietnamese-restaurant setup that feels like home for me. Service was excellent and very friendly. To my surprise, I was offered the thick noodles as an option. Has this gone mainstream now? My expectations shot through the roof and I eagerly anticipated the ho-fun style noodles in delicious and meaty broth. Wide. Chewy. Lizzo thick! What showed up was the Ozempic version of Lizzo. Still a decent bowl, broth was good, meat was plentiful, but the noodles need to go back to loving themselves or something. Girlfriend, meanwhile, lived her truth: ordered the bland/safe pho. The well cooked thin slices, no tendons, no tripe, and as forgettable as another chicken meal. She refused the hoisin like it personally insulted her. Classic SoCal gal whose idea of fine dining still starts at a taco truck. Or with chicken. What matters is she was happy and I was proud she ate something other than chicken. Salty plum drink was the sleeper hit. It was tart, salty, not that overly sweet version that tastes like fast tracking to diabetes. That one I would order again without hesitation. Would I come back if I was already in Garden Grove? Yeah. This place saved me from a weekend of chicken and taco trucks. I owe them some loyalty. Would I drive past actual San Jose Vietnamese spots for it? Absolutely not. OC tried. San Jose still has the belt.

Another great meal. Got the bun 35 noodle dish with sautéed beef tofu egg roll bean sprouts…read morescallions peanuts, and vegan fish sauce. Very clean and light. The chicken lemongrass was very flavorful with a side of black rice and house salad. For dessert, we began with the chocolate chilled cake. It was amazing so good. We got a second that was called the scotch on the rocks chilled as well both excellent. Recommend this place for a delicious, clean meal.

Au Lac is the cream of the crop, the teets, if you will, of vegan Thai cuisine. All of the flavors…read moreand none of the fish sauce. But you do smell it, that stench of delicious fermented vinegar and sweet, warm aroma of southeast exoticism. The food comes out fast and hot. The tea is steeped properly and the longer it sat, the more flavor there was, the sooner it goes. I can't wait to return and make my way down all the menu items preferably 3 times over before the restaurant knows my name.