Wonderful service, super helpful! Restaurant is completely covered in beautiful decor. Thai tea is absolutely smacking!!!

Wow first time trying this place food was delicious and extremely fresh. I got the vermicelli with ribeye and shrimp spring rolls wow it was definitely a great experience. I will definitely make this spot a usual. read more

It's good! We came here on Thursday, 7/2 and service was fast and they were able to accommodate our large group. We had some allergies in our party and they took it seriously and gave us choices we can eat and took measures to minimize any cross contamination. I ordered the Pho special and the portion size was decent to fill me up for dinner. The broth was delicious and the meat was fresh. I also had the fried eggrolls and they were good too. The previous Pho restaurant in the same spot didn't do it for us and was mediocre. When we saw that another owner took over the spot and it was rated high, we took a chance. Fellow yelpers didn't let us down. read more

Pho Lab - Special - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Disappointing experience, unfortunately can't recommend. There was a fly landing on our table and around our food multiple times while we were eating. Not exactly appetizing when you're mid-meal. Service was the bigger issue though. Our server took our order and then completely disappeared. We sat there for a long time waiting for the check, checking the room hoping someone would swing by, and eventually just gave up and went to pay at the front ourselves. No one checked on us once. On top of that, the food itself was just okay. Nothing that would make up for the wait or the flies. Between the bugs and the lack of service, I won't be back. read more

Pho Lab - Flies landing on our food - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I decided to give Pho Lab another try and came back with a few friends because we wanted to try some of the newer menu items. Unfortunately, this visit was a completely different experience from my first one. The biggest issue was the number of flies inside the dining area. There were so many that we spent most of our meal constantly swatting them away instead of enjoying our food. It became distracting enough that it affected the entire dining experience. What concerned me the most was seeing that many flies indoors while people were eating. As a customer, it made me wonder how the restaurant is managing cleanliness overall, including around the food preparation areas. I obviously can't speak to what happens in the kitchen, but the situation was concerning enough that it made me lose confidence during the meal. It's unfortunate because I had a positive impression from my previous visit, and that's why I decided to come back. I really hope this was just a temporary issue and that management addresses it quickly, because no one should have to spend an entire meal fighting off flies. Based on this experience, I probably won't be returning until the issue is resolved read more

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Got a list of suggested local restaurants via email by Yelp so decided to try Pho Lab out. Was so surprised how good it was. I got the combo pho and everything was delicious. The brisket was very lean and so tender. Meatballs were very good. Rare steak and tripe were also tender. Broth was good. So I took my husband, my sister and her husband back a week later. The three (3) of us ordered the same, combo pho, and my husband got the shaken beef with garlic noodles. Everything was good but the brisket in the pho was more fatty this second time around. Service was also better the first time. Second visit, service was slow. We sat and waited for a long while and no one came to take our orders. The owner came around and checked on us later when we were done eating. She's always so nice. Absolutely a great local pho restaurant to visit when we don't want to drive to the Little Saigon. read more

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Yummy! So happy there is another good pho place in South OC! I don't have to drive all the way to garden grove. Price is reasonable, the bowl is big, however it could use more meat! The broth comes out piping hot, tastes great, authentic, and delicious. It did take a while for them to get our order (because the World Cup was one) and then the food did take a while to come out. But I would overall come back! read more

Pho Lab - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Came back to try the shrimp spring rolls - freshly made, light and delicious with the peanut sauce. Also got my usual pho combination - a solid choice with lots of meat and savory broth. Staff were welcoming and attentive. Ambiance is airy and casual. read more

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Saturday late night dinner. Called to see when their last-seating time would be and we made it just in time. Delicious per usual, and the food came out lightning fast. Til next time! read more

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One of my favorite Pho spots in OC. Broth is always so delicious and hot. Food comes out quickly and the meat is so tender. I love the crispy spring rolls here so much definitely a must try when you stop by. Staff is so kind and friendly and service is top tier. It's always so clean inside and the music is low but still enjoyable. Definitely stop by for your late night pho cravings. read more

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Came across this spot one night while trying to figure out dinner and decided to check out Pho Lab for some pho. My husband and I both ordered the pho combination and added the rib bone. The broth itself was really good--flavorful and comforting--but the rib bone didn't quite hit for me. It wasn't as tender as I expected, and I think it could've been cooked a bit longer to get that fall-off-the-bone texture. We also ordered their fried chicken wings, which are a must every time we come here. They're perfectly fried and seasoned, and honestly delicious even on their own. The garlic butter dipping sauce is a great bonus, but not even necessary. Even our 3-year-old loves the wings. The restaurant itself is pretty spacious, and we've never had to wait for a table. They do seem to get a lot of to-go orders though. Overall, solid food and a place we'd come back to. read more

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The good at Pho Lab is absolutely delicious. The meat is tender and the broth rich. The pho with beef bone is my favorite. The meat falls off the bone. The service is just ok. My biggest complaint is the cleanliness. The floors and booths are always dirty which can be off putting. FYI if you pay cash you get a discount. read more

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Pho places have come and gone in this spot but I'm really hoping this one lasts because the broth is excellent (very rich and savory), the meat quality is very high, and the size is super generous. The pricing is also really great, especially for South OC! Please check this place out for authentic Vietnamese pho that is warm, comforting and well made! Spacious restaurant with friendly service but be prepared to wait for the pho, it's worth the wait! read more

Been to around 100 pho restaurants and the noodles here might be the best yet. Broth is also very good. Vietnamese ice coffee is delicious. Great spot. Service not good though. Completely ignored after ordering when lace was empty and 3 employees constantly walking by without looking read more

Pretty decent looking place with nice seating and space. We were greeted immediately and sat down right away. My friend ordered their brisket pho I ordered the filet mignon garlic noodles. Their noodles and meat were fantastic. Super tasty super tender. 10 out of 10. read more

Pho Lab - Shaken Filet Mignon Garlic Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

More like 3.5 stars. I came for lunch excited to try a new spot for Pho since I was in the area. Sadly it was just ok. The broth in the pho was too light in flavor which is more telling of a northern style pho. I prefer a southern style pho so please take that into consideration with my review. I also got the golden bao which was interesting. I never had a fried version of the bao. I'm glad I tried it because the texture of the crispy outside with a soft dough on the inside was nice. That being said, I wish it was more juicy. I was looking for the wonderful meat juices that normally come with a steamed bao. Vietnamese coffee was also just ok. I was looking for that bold coffee depth of flavor but it also seemed a little on the light side. read more

Pho Lab - Golden Bao - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I got the combination pho which came with tripe brisket, flank, tendon, and meatballs. It was really comforting and reminded me of the pho I had growing up. They were generous with the portions and it was well-priced. This might be my go-to spot for pho moving forward read more

Pho Lab - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This neighborhood pho restaurant have a good selection of appetizers, pho, vermicelli noodles, and rice dishes. I ordered the garlic noodles with prawns and enjoyed it. Noodles are very tasty & prawns are cooked right & very flavorful. Staff are really friendly & attentive. Will definitely come back to try other dishes. read more

Pho Lab - Garlic Noodles w/ Tiger Prawns - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Best place in the area. You don't have to travel to Westminster or Garden Grove to get pho. You can tell they make good noodles and Vietnamese dishes because of the constant flow of clientele coming in and out. It is always relatively busy during lunch and dinner. The chicken pho is solid as well as the various beef pho. My favorite is the special pho with everything. Service is good and they are very attentive. Drinks are good too. read more

Mannnnnnnnnn, when I had gone the very first time, it was truly an amazing experience. I have been twice after my first time and every single time I dislike this place more and more. The last time we went, they forgot 20% of our order , and it was so hard to get service. The workers seemed annoyed. Then I went again today on 02/28/25 and 1. I found an animal in my soup....... I wanted a refund, instead gave me another one. 2. I had asked for tofu spring rolls & got shrimp instead 3. The garlic noodles were so cold..... 4. Our sitting area was dirty and it just killed the vibe Im like what the heck. And it was so hard to get service!! My boyfriend had to go to the counter at least 3 times to ask for something. It's definitely no longer a favorite .... read more

Pho Lab - Build your own pho, tofu spring rolls, shrimp spring rolls, crispy egg rolls. - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

We don't have a go-to Vietnamese spot around us yet, so we gave Pho Lab a try. Unfortunately, this restaurant will not be it. We came here on an evening for a pretty hot day, and I don't think the AC was on. The venue was pretty warm, which is probably even more annoying for those who ordered pho. Now admittedly, we didn't order pho, but still, I'd expect your other menu offerings to be of good quality. Here's what we got: Spring rolls - I'm a huge fan of spring rolls but this was such a let down! It was like 90% lettuce and the shrimps were sliced ever so thin. They very obviously cheapened out on this. Pork Banh Mi - Bread good, meat pretty good, but again that stupid lettuce is there! I already had enough from the rolls... and also I think this is the first time I see lettuce in a banh mi? There was also barely any pickled carrots and daikon, which is my favorite part. No jalapenos either. I do like the green sauce though. Garlic Noodles with Filet Mignon - The meat was cooked well, but there was all this oil on the plate? It was just too much. Overall, we were quite underwhelmed with our experience. There are a lot of Vietnamese options around here, so I'm quite surprised that this one in particular has such a high Yelp score. read more

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This is a fun new place for pho. It gets crowded on a weekend so I would recommend getting earlier to avoid peak hours. The place is clean and nicely decorated. We got thai tea to drink and pork rolls with peanut sauce for an appetizer. For our main course, we got pho with rib eye and rib bones. Thai Tea- This was rich and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. Very refreshing! Pork Rolls with Peanut Sauce- The pork sausage was savory with a hint of sweetness. You get a wonderful mix of veggies and fresh herbs to heighten the flavor. The peanut dipping sauce was the cherry on top. Rib Eye- The broth base is flavorful and the noodles are soft and chewy. The rib eye is thinly sliced and tender. The bean sprouts provided on the side add a layer of texture. Rib Bones- The meat is fall off the bone and very tasty. Pairs well with the rich broth and chewy noodles. A squeeze of lime adds a burst of freshness. Very filling! Great experience overall! read more

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I picked up some broth for my husband, since his dr put him on a temporary broth diet. He said it was delicious. It smelled amazing. The service was quick. Next time I'd love to stop inside to enjoy a great meal. read more

Pho Lab - Broth - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Delicious food and great service! Our server's name is Mi, very friendly! I recommend this restaurant read more

Absolutely delicious broth! Tried both their brisket and chicken pho and both stood out! Their popcorn chicken was also great. Very attentive staff and plenty of seating inside! read more

Pho Lab - Brisket pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Seriously the best Beef Pho in SoCal and beyond! Mike offered great service! And he passionately explained other dishes to try and a few off menu items. What I loved about their pho - - Generous green onions sliced as a garnish - Broth was spectacularly well balanced (other pho places too much medicinal herby spice), not here!!! - The rib eye well done (cooked in the back) was plentiful, when I thought I ate it all, I kept finding more meat - This is a very satisfying portion Usually other pho places the noodles are clumped together and take some time to separate, as well as it brings down the soup temp. - NOT at Pho Lab - The noodles are already separated and ready to eat - SUCH A PLEASURE EATING IT THIS WAY I asked for extra bean sprouts, sliced onions, cilantro and lime to make my own salad (w Hoisin and Sriracha). So delish. They have three sauces: - Chili garlic - Sriracha - Hoisin But the best part is their electric pepper grinder (Imagine fresh black pepper with a rough grind). It totally elevates the dish! I also ordered an appetizer to take home, the Goi Cuon (Shrimp Spring Roll - 2). Excited to try it! If you pay with cash, you get a 5% discount! I left very full and happy. Satisfying portion size! Super well made! I am going to think about this meal for days! read more

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Jen and I decided to try this place on Saturday. After reading the reviews, we felt coming early (just before 5pm). Good choice as the place only had two tables with diners. I ordered the Pho Chicken (breast) and Jen ordered the Pho Combination. I also had an order of Shrimp Spring Rolls. The Pho was great, plenty of meat and my broth had all the comforts of chicken soup. Jen said the same about her order. The staff was a bit light when we arrived and place still needed to be cleaned up, with several tables needing to be bussed and a few napkins, etc on the floor. Perhaps we caught them on a shift change. As the place started to fill up, they got around to cleaning tables to make room for new customers. We paid cash and saved 5% on our order. By the time we left (6pm) the place was full and people waiting for tables. The food is the star of this place and worthy of a 5 star rating. We will be back. read more

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Stop here because we play a tournament at great park . Have to recommend this place , because of the chili sauce . So good ! read more

Pho Lab - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Ambiance Such cute decor and plenty of seating Service Really and and everyone was so friendly! They checked up on us constantly and we got to eat within our 1 hour lunch break. Food I got the pho combo, it was so good and the both were light and hearty. It came with so many meats - trip, - Rare steak - flank - meatballs - tendon The rice noodles had a good chew and all the herbs were fresh. The broth was so clean and really great on a rainy day. read more

Pho Lab - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I've been coming to Pho Lab about 3-4 times a week, and I can honestly say it's one of my favorite restaurants. Their pho is hands down some of the best I've ever had. The broth is incredibly flavorful, the ingredients are always fresh, and every bowl is consistently delicious. One of my absolute favorite menu items is the ribeye fries! With extra Ribeye!!! They are unbelievably good and something I find myself craving all the time. Honestly, everything I've tried on the menu has been amazing. Beyond the food, the restaurant is always clean, the staff is welcoming, and the overall experience keeps me coming back again and again. A special thank you to Mi and Tiffany, who are always so kind, welcoming, and make every visit feel even more enjoyable. Great customer service goes a long way, and they truly make you feel appreciated. It's not often that I become this loyal to a restaurant, but Pho Lab has definitely earned it. If you're looking for authentic, high-quality pho or just an amazing meal, I can't recommend this place enough. They deserve all the support, and I'm so glad they're here in Lake Forest! read more

Pho Lab - Pho Ribeye and Pho Brisket - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Fan of their restaurant in HB and glad they opened up another spot near me. For historical reference, this location has seen many a pho restaurants come and gone. At least a handful over the years. Some restaurants had broth not so good, or too oily, or charged way too much. There's a lot of competition from other Pho Vietnamese restaurants around. When I think of pho, I think cheap quick tasty comfort food. Im not paying $20+ for a bowl of pho. I like pho lab because their pho broth has great depth flavor and its not oily. The prices are also reasonable. I have tried their pho rib bones and you get a lot of meat around the bones and is very satisfying at $14.95. Their shrimp spring rolls are also great and probably the cheapest price I've seen in South OC at $5.45 (2). Lots of comfy bench seating. Big screen tv playing sports. Friendly service. They only had 2 people working entire place so service was slow but overall prob my favorite pho spot around me. As long as they keep their prices low, maybe add another server or 2, I think they will last. Tip: Pay cash get 5% discount on bill. read more

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So heavenly ... I came here as a post Final meal and it was definitely the right decision. The pho [7/10] was definitely good, though due to personal preferences, not my favorite. But the garlic fries [10/10] ... WAS HEAVENLY Everyone should try their fries!!! Their service is definitely amazing! Always checking in on us, and making sure we are getting the best service possible! The overall place is well lit and very organize. I saw there is a waitlist during rush hours, but it is not too bad to come and try their fries read more

Pho Lab - Cajun Garlic fries and sauté ribeye - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Came here since I saw the reviews were very good (4.8/5). Walked in was a very cool vibe and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Not sure why but everything to me did not seem that way at all. Dirty floors, bathrooms and tables all around. My pho had A HAIR in it, manager came around to show me that the hair is from the cow. Yeah fat chance. Pho was very mid too and the severs are just some kids that like messing around in the kitchen instead of tending to their guests. Won't come back read more

Pho Lab has only been open a couple months, but it already feels settled. The pho is the reason you come. The broth is clean and well balanced, savory without being heavy or overly salty. It shows restraint, which is often the hardest thing to get right. The beef pho comes with generous portions of meat, and the beef cuts are tender, properly cooked, and easy to enjoy. No fighting with tough slices, just solid, satisfying bites. The pho ga is just as good. The chicken pho had lots of dark meat, plenty of flavor in the bowl, and fried onions on top that added another layer of texture and depth. It felt hearty and well thought out, not an afterthought on the menu. One detail I appreciated was the way the green onions are cut: long, thin, and fresh, layered generously on top, just like in the photo. They add aroma and texture without taking over the broth. Small detail, but it shows care. Service is friendly and easy going. Comfortable from start to finish. The banh mi is decent. Not the star, but solid. The iced jasmine tea is clean, refreshing, and only $2, which pairs nicely with a hot bowl of pho. Pho Lab isn't trying to do anything flashy. It's just doing pho well, and that's enough for me. read more

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The pho broth was delicious and soothing. My Oxtail pho was ono but had too much meat (Like that's a bad thing?) and I only ate 2 out 3 of them. My wife had the combination Pho and she loved it. Egg rolls were fresh and delicious as well. We washed it all down with some jolting iced Vietnamese coffee. We'll be back! read more

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GREAT FOOD GREAT SERVICE AMAZING everything was perfect and i enjoyed coming here to dine with my friends will be back soon! read more

Pho Lab - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Easter Sunday, 2026. Stores closed, restaurants open! Yay for me!! Although I know I've definitely physically been to this location before, it definitely was NOT Pho Lab.... however, still unable to remember the previous business, I guess *that* is precisely how memorable that last spot was. Pho Lab is a fantastic hybrid of the authenticity of central OC restaurants and the more modern, 'newer' generation style of south OC suburbia. The food is amazing. AMAAAAZING. But the place is definitely run by, I'd estimate, younger-end millennial-esque employees. In other words, you'll love what you order might have to fish for a water refill. No big deal -- it isn't any kind of a dealbreaker. The spring roll wrappers are just about the freshest around, and that. Peanut. Sauce. *chef's kiss* The pho: broth tastes like it came from the tiny kitchen of your Bà, the meats all *literally* melt in your mouth, and the noodles have the perfect balance of chew and soft. All this, along with a generous amount of typical accouterments, plus a pretty tasty iced coffee, and a grilled pork banh mi to go, went for just under $38. I consider this a steal in this economy and neighborhood. Edit: the banh mi is disappointing. It has some sort of flavor-canceling lettuce shred that kills the char and marinade of the delicious, albeit tiny portion of, pork filling. My unsolicited advice? Kill the shrubbery, increase pickled veggies, slather the mayo spread on the entire baguette ("crust to crust, is a must" -- Chef Jeff Mauro). Overall, I understand, and wholeheartedly endorse, the high rating this place has earned thus far. It was busy today, so my waits were understandable -- but thankfully everyone is kind and responsive. Can't wait to visit Pho Lab again! read more

Pho Lab - Ah, the star of the show -- combination pho. The bowl is a looot deeper than you can probably tell - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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While in the area and in the mood for Pho, I was fortunate to come across this gem in Lake Forest. It definitely satisfied my craving and more. It also happened to be their grand opening and they were offering 20% off and free dessert. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that it's an extra 5% off if you pay in cash. This evening visit was during the dodgers game and they have 2 big TVs that were showing the game. The rest of the restaurant is nicely decorated with hanging lantern lamps and pictures of Vietnam on the side wall. Right off the bat we received a friendly greeting and throughout our dinner, everyone helping us was very nice and attentive. Now on to the food - pretty impressive! The menu contained all of the dishes you would expect and more. I ordered my favorite spring rolls and all of the ingredients were fresh and was everything I could hope for in a spring rolls. Next, to satisfy my pho craving, I went with the shrimp & broccoli pho with beef broth. Amazing rich flavor of the broth and lots of shrimp! My dining partner ordered the rib bone pho and had never seen such a pho bowl, with 2 huge rib bones with a surprising amount of meat. A little messy to eat but well worth it! I hope I get to return in the future and try some of their other dishes. read more

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Very interesting modern take on Vietnamese food and atmosphere. The restaurant is clean, modern and felt more elevated than your typical pho restaurant. Service was incredibly friendly and attentive and I hope they are able to keep it up. Quite a few tables so hopefully they don't get overly crowded once they are more well known. Easy parking in a large lot. The bathrooms are very different from most pho restaurants. For appetizers started with the golden bao. Slightly sweet dough that was crispy on the outside with meat, sausage, and egg yolk. Very tasty and creative dish that haven't seen at other Vietnamese restaurants. The deep fried crispy skin was a unique take on the Vietnamese bao. The spring roll tasted pretty standard except it used iceberg lettuce which made it taste slightly more mild. Peanut sauce was excellent. Shrimp were a bit dry and not very flavorful. Got the pork bahn mi and it was well done. Good crisp bread and mild pickled veggies. No jalepenos and had shredded iceberg lettuce at the bottom of the sandwich. It came with an interesting spicy garlic sauce. Pork was well flavored, although it didn't have the crispy grilled bits. Excellent pho. Broth was flavorful and very generous portions of meat. Got the ox tail pho and it came with three pieces of ox tail. Did the pick your own pho with brisket, flank, and ribeye. Each bowl of pho came with its own veggie plate which contained a good sized portion of your standard pho vegetables. Bottles of sriracha and hoisin at the table along with pepper grinders. Finally we got the vermicelli noodles with the combo meats. Both the shrimp and pork were lacking the char that you typically see. Pork was still good being flavorful and tender. Shrimp was a bit lacking in both flavor and texture. While it's still in its initial soft opening, there is a lot to like about pho lab. read more

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FINALLY a good pho spot with really good broth (coming from a Vietnamese woman!!!) Service is awesome, space is huge and spacious. Can't wait to come back soon! read more

Pho Lab - No hoisin sauce needed - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California