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Pho Dakao

3.2 (733 reviews)
ModerateVietnamese, Noodles, Soup
Closed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Pho Dakao Photos

Business Info

PHO DAKAO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Good for kids

Recommended Reviews - Pho Dakao

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Pho ga
Jamie C.

Pho Dakao specializes in chicken pho and it's excellent! That being said, I've had better at A Nu Quan but I still think if you want something that's easily accessible and hits the spot, Pho Dakao is your place! Just note that they are traditional and traditionally you don't put in sauces in your chicken pho like you would do with beef pho so if you're really into the hoisin sauce taste... Well to be honest I don't know if they even have those condiments so you'll have to ask! Their herbs are super fresh which I always appreciate and their ginger dipping sauce for the chicken is so good! It gets packed on the weekends - both the restaurant and the parking lot since it's in the same plaza as a ton of other great vietnamese spots like brodards and all those other kei concepts restaurants.

We come in and order 3 Pho Kho and 1 Pho Bo 4 water. The owner should train their employees again. No respect to the customer at all. If you want to waste your money and treated at shit you can come here. I dont care how good the food is but with this kind of service they should sell the business. The waitress who take my order was rude, we wait for 20 mins and constanly ask 3 times for 4 waters. When she bring out the water I saw she hostile glare at us. We wait for 10 more minutes no food. The table who come in after me but they already had their food so we question another waiter. That waiter begin to yell at us disrespectful and said our waitress is new, and do we want to cancel the order and take our busniess somewhere else?? Never say a sorry or whatsoever. I would never spend my money here ever

com ga roti
Megan D.

I haven't been back to pho dakao in a while, but the food this time was just okay. The bánh bèo was pretty bland, and the cơm gà rôti was dry and lacked flavor. The miến gà was alright, but nothing special. Honestly, I'd probably only come back if they had trứng non.

Pho Ga Kho
Binh L.

Pho Dakao is the spot for pho ga kho (dry chicken pho). I love coming here for that when I want something comforting but am too lazy to cook. Also notice how I specifically said pho ga kho. I have tried their pho ga uc (the soup one) the first time I visited and it fell a bit short for me. While the broth was clean, it tasted a bit plain and the amount of chicken I was given was underwhelming. It was mostly bone, hardly any meat. I also have a preference for the thin noodles, so do note that they serve the thick noodles here. When I came back a second time, I got their pho ga kho. They also serve the soup on the side when you order this. I was much more impressed with this dish. The amount of chicken in my bowl was generous and the soup tasted much better this time. Ginger-infused, savory, and comforting. The sauce is also what brought this dish to life. It was mostly sweet, but also savory with a kick to it. The veggies added a nice crunch and the noodles were chewy. I've been here a few more times after to order the same thing. I don't think the service here is as bad as everyone is saying. They're helpful and attentive when I need them. It may be difficult to flag somebody down when they're busy and also in those cases, the only time you see your server is when you order and they bring out your food. However, this is pretty common at many Vietnamese restaurants in the area lol. My food always comes out quickly after I order though so no complaints there from me. The inside is also very spacious and clean. Parking is a hassle sometimes so I would recommend coming on a weekday when it's not as busy.

Kayla H.

Service is slow but the food is good! You know it's good when you see older Vietnamese people here. They're picky! I come here for one dish that is a standout. I come for the Pho Ga Kho / Dry Chicken Pho. I've never had anything like it before and it's delicious. My mom introduced me to this dish and we always come here on the weekends. I typically choose the dark meat option. You mix the sauce into the dry pho and enjoy. The mixture of the salad/herbs along with the pho noodles and the sauce is chef's kiss. There's also a small side soup that comes along with it. Everything about this dish is just right. I highly recommend coming here to try this dish out.

Beef stew
Jennifer Yolanda B.

Pho Dakao If I could give 10 stars , I would! Their beef stew is seriously the best Vietnamese food we've ever tasted. We've tried many Vietnamese restaurants, but this one takes the cake. Please, do yourself a favor and try their beef stew - you won't regret it! excellent service and ambiance

Menu
Jakaria A.

We went to a nearest restaurant but it's was too crowded and long wait time so we decided to eat there. Food was quick but the service was okay. In the pho has more fat then the beef and crispy rice with beef needed little bit more cooking it's was kind of hard rubbery. Inside the restaurant was beautiful the have a nice tree inside.

RIP Anthony!
Will M.

We were in the area the other weekend, and a friend recommended this spot for lunch, saying they had legit chicken pho. Pulled up, got seated right away, and noticed a cool Anthony Bourdain quote about pho on the wall--always a good sign. I ordered the Mien Ga, which is glass noodles in chicken broth with a side of poached chicken. The chicken was tender, and the dipping sauce was solid, but overall, it was pretty simple. The real standout was the Pho Ga Dui Kho Long--dry noodles with chicken giblets and dark meat, served with a sweet soy sauce to pour over. This one had way more flavor and was definitely the highlight of the meal. Honestly, I'd only rate this place 3.5 stars. The food was decent, but nothing mind-blowing. If I come back, it'll definitely be for the dry noodle dish!

Nhi R.

My go to chicken pho spot. The broth is clear and clean, definitely a healthy alternative. Clean and modern restaurant with plenty of seating. Big plus that they accept credit card. Tip: They do run out of dark meat chicken towards the end of the day.

Amy Y.

I came here from my Viet friend's recommendation for the Pho Ga Kho, the dry chicken pho. This place definitely hits the spot when you're not in the mood for too much broth and want to just enjoy the noodles and chicken. My friend recommended the dark meat but unfortunately they ran out even around lunch time on the weekend. However, the lighter meat was still great! The entire meal is flavorful yet light, which is what I love about Viet food. Tons of veggies. The appetizer banh khot was also delicious - soft but crispy on the edges with a flavorful sauce to pair. We also had the mungbean drink which really surprised me, it was delicious and not too sweet. I took my family here again and they loved it as well.

Jasmine A.

Came here for dinner while visiting my sister and friend. They are frequent regulars here and raved about the dry chicken pho. We ordered the banh khot, summer rolls and dry chicken pho. Everything was delicious! I loved the banh khot - crispy, savory pancakes. The star of the show was the dry chicken pho - I ordered it with white and dark meat. The noodles were tossed in a light sauce and it was pretty flavorful. Came with a side of chicken broth and that felt very homey. Not pictured is as the stir fry shaky beef pasta. That's was delicious! The noodles were soft and coated with a sauce. The beef was very tender and dipped in the lime salt was tasty! I definitely would come back when I visit CA again.

Dry pho
Hanh N.

I bring all my friends here and every single time, it slaps. they love the flavor bomb of umami goodness that these dishes ooze of. My favorite is the dry chicken dish with dark meat. At times if it's really busy, they may run out which is a bummer. The service is good - it's a really busy place with all the mom and pops showing up for authentic cuisine, so be sure to cut their folks some slack. Love all their creative drinks as well. The aesthetic is foodie casual. They are efficient too!

Amy N.

Great place for chicken pho and good location to bring customer and or friends/family. Newer remodel, friendly staff and can accommodate large parties if needed. Parking outside can get crowded sometimes as it's in a busy complex but not bad at all. Expect a wait during the weekends

Chicken pho

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Pho Dakao Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Pho Dakao

Are there any gluten free options?

Chicken pho is gluten free, just dont add soy sauce

Do they still serve hainan chicken?

Yes, for $7.75

View All 3 Questions

Mai Phat Noodle House

Mai Phat Noodle House

4.5(857 reviews)
1.5 mi
$$
Locally owned & operated
Eco-friendly

Small hidden gem with a "hole in the wall" vibe in the Asian Village right across from Asian Garden…read moreMall - may God be with you finding parking on a weekend My dad suggested this place for lunch one day a few months ago and I came in with high expectations as his recommendation for Vietnamese food is essentially a seal of quality. Mai Phat still exceeded them! It has since become our go-to lunch spot, as well as a local favorite for my wife's family. They specialize in egg noodles - served either dry (with broth and main protein on the side) or wet like a conventional soup bowl. My personal go-to is the dry mì sủi cảo - egg noodles with sliced / ground pork, huge wonton dumplings, a shrimp cracker, and broth on the side. The wontons come in a super rich and delicious sauce that I actually got scolded for pouring over my noodles lol. The light and clear broth is very refreshing and well-seasoned. Excellent mix of perfectly balanced flavors from every component. Add chili crisp for extra oomph. My wife loves the mì gà quay - fried chicken leg & thigh with the signature egg noodles. This is honestly one of the most perfectly seasoned and cooked fried chicken I've ever had, and I've had a LOT of fried chicken. Service was prompt, friendly, and attentive Highly recommend Mai Phat for hearty, expertly crafted, and relatively guilt free Vietnamese comfort food

If you're looking for a dish that hits every craving at once, let me introduce you to Mi Vit Quay…read more(Kho): egg noodles tossed in a sweet and savory sauce, comforting broth, and crispy, fatty, perfectly tender duck. 10/10, I'd come back just for this dish alone! The experience doesn't stop at the food either. The server was super friendly, happy to give recommendations, and made everything feel easy and welcoming. Add in the fun decor and relaxed vibe, and it's the kind of spot you can bring anyone - family, friends, or just yourself when you want something tasty and satisfying!

Photos
Mai Phat Noodle House - Mì Hải Sản

Mì Hải Sản

Mai Phat Noodle House - Mì Hoành Thánh

Mì Hoành Thánh

Mai Phat Noodle House - Mì Sủi Cảo Khô

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Mì Sủi Cảo Khô

Grandpa's Kitchen - Grill Bar 168 - Bo ne

Grandpa's Kitchen - Grill Bar 168

4.0(982 reviews)
2.0 mi
$$

I've been wanting to try this restaurant but they're very busy on a weekend so I popped in on a…read moreweekday and loved it! The restaurant was not busy at all, nice and quiet, great service of course since it wasn't busy. I ordered grandma's dry egg noodles and they have one of the best dry noodles I've ever had since moving to OC. They put the perfect amount of sauce, some places don't have enough sauce for the noodles. Also had plenty of protein. I added an order of wonton's which is an additional charge but well worth it. The broth on the side is so refreshing! What I love most is that this restaurant is still very affordable, $10.99 for a bowl of dry noodles is amazing. Definitely a returning customer!

I came in for the Sweet Corn Milk BOGO & the cashier already told me they ran out, I asked further…read more& he said an hour ago. So I decided to try an OC entree for $9.99. I picked the Sò Lông Nướng Mỡ Hành & it was really good. But then I felt something hard when I was chewing & I think I chipped part of my tooth - I'm going to go home & have my boyfriend check it for me & I'll attach the photo of my chipped tooth. Anyway, I have a crown cap so I wasn't super alarmed, but still a bit shook. I still finished my food but I politely tried to let one of the cashiers know. I showed him & everything & he was apologetic & asked what they could do to fix the situation. So I asked for a refund. And the other cashier said in Vietnamese something about me, like "Con nhỏ này" & I thought maybe he's talking about something else-but then when he gave me the receipt of my refund, he said "and I don't want you to be a customer here anymore." I was very appalled and I stood there wondering if he really just said that to me after I had an experience. I asked him why he didn't want me to be a customer anymore. And he turns to a customer to ring them out, ignoring me. So I waited til he was done with that transaction & repeated my question. He flat out said "because you're annoying." WOW. That's just so rude. And unfortunate bc I thought the food was really good & wanted to come back for the clam & the sweet corn milk. So I definitely wouldn't want to be a customer anyways with that kind of attitude towards a customer. Btw they give you plastic utensils here even for dining in which is a con.

Photos
Grandpa's Kitchen - Grill Bar 168 - New special item - Banh Mi Chao

New special item - Banh Mi Chao

Grandpa's Kitchen - Grill Bar 168 - PHNOM PENH DRY EGG NOODLE WITH SOUP ON THE SIDE #6

PHNOM PENH DRY EGG NOODLE WITH SOUP ON THE SIDE #6

Grandpa's Kitchen - Grill Bar 168 - 6. Nam Vang Khô - Phnom Penh Dry Noodles: Choice of Noodles, Pork, Shrimp, Liver, Heart, Quail Egg & Ground Pork | $9.99

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6. Nam Vang Khô - Phnom Penh Dry Noodles: Choice of Noodles, Pork, Shrimp, Liver, Heart, Quail Egg & Ground Pork | $9.99

Xishang Roodle - Wagyu Beef Crossing- The-Bridge Rice Noodle

Xishang Roodle

4.4(241 reviews)
4.3 mi
$$

Met with friends from all over So Cal for an event down South. After the event our friend found a…read morenoodle house in Santa Ana, odd find location but lets go ... Massive parking lot so that was easy, one friend went ahead and let them know we had 10 incoming. They made room and we sat immediately. One of the spots that you scan a menu at the table and you review, order and pay all in the app. I was really not familiar with the line up and went with the "House Special Beef Pot Roodle" (Roodles are their rice noodles). It was a weekend only item and I tried that. The noodles came separate from the soup. Over all it was very tasty. The meat was a bit fatty and the soup had tendons too. I took that part home and my wife loved it. I tend to avoid the fatty meat and tendons are not good to me. 10 of us so some of the appetizers got passed around. The smashed cucumbers are excellent, and my buddy also got some friend potatoes of sorts, reminded me of a fat French fry. Because my buddy and I sat at the same table we scanned the same menu, he ordered a bunch of stuff and also House Special Beef Pot Roodle. That confused the kitchen and they asked me if I meant to order 2, I said no and didn't realize I cancelled my buddy's order. Part of the confusion of a large party and many scanned menu orders. My buddy was struggling to order and our initial waiter seemed to not understand my friend and that took a little bit to work out, young lady came from the back and was able to quickly resolve some of the confusion and get questions answered as needed. In the end he had lot of food to explore. One thing that caught my eye was several couples there and sharing a large soup item served with a tray of various food items for the soup. Kind of a date night visual and something that looked very interesting. Several couples around us had that same dish and its got me more curious. Might have to come back with my wife and try this one.

I decided to give this place a try because I heard their noodles were very authentic, and as…read moresomeone who loves noodles, I was excited to try it. I ordered their most popular dish, the A1 set, but honestly, it didn't really live up to the hype for me. The broth tasted pretty underseasoned overall. From what I understood, you're supposed to mix all the toppings into the soup with the noodles, but even after doing that, I still felt like the flavor was lacking. Yes, they provide seasoning on the side, but personally, I wish the broth already had enough flavor on its own without needing to adjust it myself. Would I come back? Probably not. Nothing really stood out to me enough to return, and it felt more like a one-time experience. Overall, everything was just okay.

Photos
Xishang Roodle - We came from all over to meet at this Roodle spot in Santa Ana. Fun times.

We came from all over to meet at this Roodle spot in Santa Ana. Fun times.

Xishang Roodle - Beef Stew Noodle

Beef Stew Noodle

Xishang Roodle - Devil Chicken | $9.99

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Devil Chicken | $9.99

Happy Lamb Hot Pot

Happy Lamb Hot Pot

4.5(382 reviews)
1.9 mi
$$$
Free parking
Kid friendly

Just left Happy Lamb Hot Pot and honestly... my soup now has higher standards than me…read more This spot is giving luxury hot pot energy without making your wallet cry too hard. The broth simmers for like 8 hours, and you can taste it immediately -- rich, cozy, slightly life-changing. The Wagyu disappeared from my plate faster than my self-control, and the lamb was super tender. I also love the self-serve setup because I got to pretend I was on a cooking game show grabbing veggies, sauces, shrimp, noodles... everything. Dangerous for competitive people. The vibe inside is modern, clean, cute booths everywhere, and the staff was super attentive even while everyone around me was entering full hot-pot survival mode. If you're hungry hungry, this place is dangerous in the best way. I came for dinner and left emotionally attached to the broth. 10 outta 10 Pricing: AYCE options typically range from roughly $28-$44 depending on the package, with weekday lunch specials often available.

When a restaurant has "happy" in the name... and it actually…read moremakes you happy Happy Lamb Hot Pot definitely lives up to the name. First, their buffet bar unlimited and most importantly, clean !!! The menu has so much variety too. Just look at the clam soup my husband made Their appetizers are so good too, but the most memorable dish for me? The lamb shank. It's a true Inner Mongolian-style hot pot experience. And if you're a meat lover like me... the wagyu beef brisket and wagyu bolar blade are impossible to resist. Also love that they have Happy Hour for $21.99 on weekdays IG: socalhkfoodies

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Happy Lamb Hot Pot
Happy Lamb Hot Pot
Happy Lamb Hot Pot

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Pho Redbo - Pho with Briskets

Pho Redbo

4.6(337 reviews)
1.9 mi
$$
Locally owned & operated
Women-owned & operated

If you're a pho lover, you have to check out Pho Redbō -- this place seriously changed the way I…read morethink about pho. Their Finest Wagyu Pho is an experience. It comes in a boiling hot stone bowl, with the noodles served on the side. You drop the thin slices of Wagyu right into the broth and cook it yourself while the soup stays piping hot the entire time. The flavor is incredible -- rich, savory, slightly sweet, and full of deep umami. Add fresh cilantro, Thai basil, lime, bean sprouts, and chilies, and it just elevates the entire bowl. And don't forget to try the Wagyu with their dipping sauce -- it's a game changer. Then we had the Wagyu sliders... and wow. The meat is so tender it literally melts like butter in your mouth. For drinks, the Redō Signature Vietnamese Coffee is amazing -- bold, smooth, and the perfect pick-me-up without the food coma. And their Passion Fruit Tea is super refreshing and not overly sweet -- honestly perfect as a light dessert. Also worth mentioning -- they have a huge free parking lot, which is rare for a popular spot like this. And although I didn't order it this time, they do offer halal meat options, which is great for more people to enjoy. Overall... 10 out of 10. If you're a foodie, Pho Redbō is definitely worth the visit. Service was Excellent! The ambiance was welcoming and great music taste to whoever had the AUX that day!

The service at the restaurant was genuinely excellent, making the whole experience comfortable and…read morewelcoming from the moment we arrived. The staff was attentive, friendly, and quick to respond without ever feeling rushed. Our server made thoughtful recommendations and checked in just enough to ensure everything was perfect. The pho itself was outstanding, with a rich, flavorful broth and perfectly cooked noodles. The balance of spices, fresh herbs, and tender meat made every bite satisfying. Overall, the combination of great service and delicious pho made this a place I would definitely gladly return to again.

Photos
Pho Redbo
Pho Redbo - Pho Combo, Egg Rolls, and Truffle Fries Yummyyyy!!!!

Pho Combo, Egg Rolls, and Truffle Fries Yummyyyy!!!!

Pho Redbo - Passion tea

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Passion tea

Pho Dakao - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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