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Pho Lab

4.7 (601 reviews)
ModerateVietnamese, Noodles, Soup
Open • 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
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PHO LAB ATMOSPHERE

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

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Grilled Pork Vermicelli
JiaJia T.

Came by here for dinner during an event we had at the great park. The pho was very satisfying with flavorful broth. However, The vermicelli was a bit off balance with a bit too much bean sprouts and pork was a bit dry. Come here for the pho and you won't be disappointed.

Pho Oxtail
Hailey C.

Their pho oxtail is sooo delicious and yummy, with a very big portion. Service is really quick despite lunch rush hour being very busy. Traditional and pretty Vietnamese decor on their walls

Shaken Filet Mignon Garlic Noodles
Jen C.

Super fast service but mediocre food. My combination pho was a bit bland and probably loaded with msg since I felt a bit nauseous right after eating it. The grilled pork was a bit on the dry side. The only decent dish was the egg rolls since it came out piping hot.

Betty G.

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.

Michelle N.

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!

Keycee D.

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.

Spring roll shrimp
Rick S.

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.

Alexis T.

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!

Maritza S.

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.

brisket pho, shrimp spring rolls
Denice J.

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.

Golden Bao
Christine T.

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.

Garlic Noodles w/ Tiger Prawns
Karen A.

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.

Pork rolls
Raven R.

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!

Build your own pho, tofu spring rolls, shrimp spring rolls, crispy egg rolls.

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8 months ago

Nice place open later at night in Irvine. The pho combination was super good and loaded with meat, would definitely recommend it.

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6 months ago

Good place. Nice prices for that quality of food. We took one Pho and one noodle for 3 people. Plenty of food. Loved the place

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11 months ago

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11 months ago

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11 months ago

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8 months ago

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9 months ago

Food was average. Pork noodle dish was not fresh and didn't have all the fresh herbs that normally should come with this dish.

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11 months ago

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11 months ago

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1 year ago

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7 months ago

Nice decorations and friendly workers. Good food and fast service. This is my new pho spot.

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8 months ago

Good service and flavorful pho. The family enjoyed it. The price is in range for the area. I would come back if in the area.

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1 year ago

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6 months ago

The garlic noodles and golden bao fast and quick service. Andy one of the owner is super nice and kinda great customer.

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

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9 months ago

Friday night this place was busy! Food was delicious! The restaurant was adorable and clean!

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7 months ago

The atmosphere was very welcoming. Food and service was awesome! We will definitely return!

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8 months ago

Good portions and fair pricing! Would come back for a vietnamese food fix in lake forest.

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8 months ago

First time customers and would highly recommend to others. Great food, good pricing and a lovely atmosphere. Overall great service. 10/10

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8 months ago

A lot of amazing options, and food came out fast and was delicious. Great service and super cute on the inside as well!

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9 months ago

The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere and feels very clean. The staff are also nice. The pho soup is delicious.

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6 months ago

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8 months ago

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8 months ago

Food was good, service was prompt and fast. Would come again. Plaza was easy to find parking

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6 months ago

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6 months ago

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6 months ago

Mike was awesome. The food was also really good. I got the pho brisket and pork spring rolls

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8 months ago

We ordered the bone rib pho and pho only. both is very good. Service is also very good.

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8 months ago

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8 months ago

I had the pho chicken soup and it blew my socks off my feet. Delicious, %100 would recommend

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6 months ago

Got the rib bone pho and it was AMAZING!! Service was great and fast. Definitely recommend :)

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6 months ago

Generous portions, good service. Food came out fast and hot which was greatly appreciated

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10 months ago

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6 months ago

Great food, friendly staff, and affordable prices! I can definitely recommend the oxtail pho.

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6 months ago

Amazing customer service, my friends and I had such an awesome time here. The food portion was huge. The place is so pretty and very clean.

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6 months ago

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9 months ago

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8 months ago

Clean shop, pretty great food, really liked their pho's soup. Eggroll is very good too. Definitely will come back in the future!

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7 months ago

Best pho in orange county no need to go elsewhere OMG!!! Great broth and best service ok

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Pho Lab Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Pho Lab

Frank’s dumplings & noodles by sheungshui  - SheungShui Seafood Hotpot

Frank’s dumplings & noodles by sheungshui

4.4(406 reviews)
3.1 mi
•$$

A friend brought us to try this noodle spot in Lake Forest…read more This restaurant is part of the Shang Shui group, which has two locations next to each other. We visited the simpler Shang Shui Noodle House(Frank's dumplings and noodles) while the restaurant next door, Shang Shui Bistro(Frank's bistro Chinese cuisine) , focuses more on elevated Hunan and Cantonese dishes. Once we walked in, we could just find a seat and order through the QR code menu. It was convenient since we could take our time looking through the options. We ordered: 1. Roasted Duck Noodle Soup $19.99 2. House Special Fish Fillet Noodle Soup $15.99 3. Pork Knuckle Noodle Soup $16.99 Everything tasted pretty good! I ordered the signature fish fillet noodle soup, which was one of their recommended dishes. My husband thought the fish soup had the best flavor among the three dishes we tried. The portions were just right, and the prices were very reasonable. For the noodles, I would recommend choosing udon or ramen. My husband and our friend chose rice noodles, but they became too soft and broke apart easily when picking them up with chopsticks. After dinner, we stopped by Frank's bistro Chinese cuisine next door to take a look. The interior is much more upscale, and they also use a QR code menu. Most dishes are around $20 and up. We chatted with one of the staff members, who mentioned that they opened in August last year and focus on authentic Cantonese and Hunan cuisine. He was also proud to share that their dishes are freshly prepared, not the typical pre-made food you might find elsewhere. Will definitely come back to try the dishes at Shang Shui Bistro next time. Sharing this spot for anyone looking for Chinese noodles or authentic Chinese cuisine in the area! Frank's Dumplings & Noodles 20651 Lake Forest Dr STE A-102, Lake Forest, CA 92630

We've been meaning to try this place for awhile now. We've tried their sister restaurant Frank's…read morenext door and wasn't impressed when they first opened. It's been awhile so I'm willing to give it another shot. Plenty of parking outside, the restaurant itself is really cute with tasteful decor. You order with a QR menu from the table. We ordered fish noodle soup, the 3 dumplings and soy sauce chicken with rice. Everything was pretty good! The fish noodle soup had a good fish profile in the soup, with a kick of white pepper which I liked. It tasted clean and healthy. The dumplings were really good. It definitely tasted like in house made dumplings. Much better quality than other restaurants in the area. The soy sauce chicken rice wasn't bad. But I thought the price was a little egregious. It should be max $15. All in all I'm glad we gave this "chain" another chance.

Photos
Frank’s dumplings & noodles by sheungshui  - Interior

Interior

Frank’s dumplings & noodles by sheungshui  - Buns

Buns

Frank’s dumplings & noodles by sheungshui  - Bone-in bangbang chicken

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Bone-in bangbang chicken

Sunny Dumpling House - XLB

Sunny Dumpling House

4.2(905 reviews)
1.1 mi
•$$

Very yummy food and super chill vibe here. A friend dragged me in after raving about their handmade…read moredumplings and yeah, this spot hits. Walk in, you get that classic red-lantern, cozy Chinese feel, and you can literally watch the staff wrapping dumplings and xiao long bao behind the counter, which is lowkey satisfying to stare at while you wait. We shared the soup dumplings and some wontons in chili oil - skins nice and thin, broth inside the dumplings was legit flavorful, not bland at all, and the pork filling tasted fresh. Wontons were bouncy, chili oil had a good kick but still tasty, not just burning your mouth for no reason. Fast-casual setup but the food feels more homey than "mall food court." Staff were friendly, patient, answered a bunch of our questions and didn't rush us. Grabbed a bag of frozen dumplings to cook at home too. Easy spot to hit when you're craving comforting, juicy dumplings and simple, solid Chinese food :)

Came here with my family after a friend in Lake Forest kept raving about their dumplings, and yeah,…read morethis spot hits the mark. Great place for family gatherings, super popular and bustling but still comfy enough to linger. Loved that everything is made to order - you literally see them wrapping and steaming behind the counter, very satisfying to watch while chatting. The鲜肉小笼包 are the clear signature: thin skin, super juicy, you get that fresh, clean pork flavor with every bite, not greasy at all, totally a must‑order. We grabbed a couple other dishes to share and the whole table was quiet for a minute just focusing on the food, which says a lot :) Staff were relaxed, helpful with recommendations, and didn't rush us even when it got busy. Easy yes from me, already planning the next family meetup here.

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Sunny Dumpling House - Dining area.

Dining area.

Sunny Dumpling House - Dumplings

Dumplings

Sunny Dumpling House - Beef noodle

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Beef noodle

HanBop - BBQ Short Rib / 갈비구이

HanBop

4.4(285 reviews)
0.5 mi
•$$

If you are craving Korean food, I highly recommend this restaurant!…read more They make all their side dishes themselves, even the kimchi. It feels like a special neighborhood Korean restaurant where you can enjoy a meal with homemade side dishes. The food is not too sweet or too salty, and it really tastes like homemade Korean food. I truly enjoyed it. I stopped by with my family today, and even though they were busy, the two servers (Sally & Eric) were very kind and welcoming. I'm so happy to have a Korean restaurant like this in our neighborhood. I wish you great success and continued growth! Plenty of parking!

This is a nice Korean restaurant in a strip mall in Lake Forest. The food and service are both…read morepretty good and the restaurant is very clean with food lighting and a nice feel. I ordered the galbi-jjim. The good part was that the pieces of galbi were huge. You won't complain about portion size. For rib meat, it was surprisingly lean ... But that might just have been a quirk. The not-as-good was that I don't think it was cooked long enough. Galbi-jjim is supposed to be slow cooked so that the fat tenders and the meat basically falls apart when you touch it. Also, the vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and radish should also be super soft. I also found the sauce a little thin and bland. My wife had the donkatsu. She said it was cooked very well. The outside was crisp without being greasy and the inside was tender. We also shared the kimchi jjigae. It was good. I would have liked it a little more tart but basically solid.

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HanBop - Interior

Interior

HanBop - Sides that are feee before meal. Delicious

Sides that are feee before meal. Delicious

HanBop - Donkatsu

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Donkatsu

Pho Lab - vietnamese - Updated October 2026

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