+ Yummy homey phở. + Their sa tế (chili oil) really complemented the meal. + Nice, attentive staff. + Ample parking and indoor seating. - Not sure why their checking machine doesn't have the option to add tip after you pay via credit card. . First restaurant I've ever seen to bring out their vegetable plates in saran wrap. read more

Have only done takeout here. It's a casual restaurant with plenty of tables. The food is consistent and service is average.. The charbroiled pork noodles (bun) is a big portion with fresh veggies and generous with the pickled daikon and carrots. The large chicken pho hits the spot. The shrimp spring rolls are also solid. We only had an issue one time when the way they packed two pho broths and other dishes in one bag in such a way that it was precarious and spilled out everywhere on the drive home. I get wanting to conserve plastic bags but it wasnt practical or smart and they were unwilling to repack. To order takeout, it's the old fashioned way - by phone. They have a decent website but no option to order online. read more

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Parking: The place is located in a plaza with a huge parking lot. I don't think you will have any trouble finding parking. I came during the weekend and there were many empty spaces available. Inside: The inside is very spacious, cute, cozy and clean. They have lots of booth seating and table seating. Phở Tái Sách/Rice noodle soup w/ rare steak and tripe (small): The portion size was decent for a small. They gave a good amount of noodles, meat, tripe, green onions and sliced white onions. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the broth was not too salty. I do wish that the broth had a bit more of a deeper flavor but for the price point I can't complain. On the side they give you extra garnishes which include bean sprouts, lime, sliced peppers, thinly sliced white onions and basil. They were very fresh if I do say so myself. TBH I love eating the peppers, but they are pretty hot here. So be careful. The only issue I had was the meat. In my opinion the meat was cut too thick and it was a bit tough to eat. Other than that everything was pretty good. If you are on the hungrier side though I would suggest getting the large. Overall: I dropped in because I was passing through the area and it was a good choice. The pho prices are very affordable and they are generous with their portions. The service here is fast and the workers are all very friendly. If I am in the area again I would want to try their rice dishes. Great place to stop by for a quick and easy bite. read more

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Finally got around to trying this place. Had to go in and eat there since no Grubhub or Doordash options. I ordered the #13 with Well-Done Brisket, Brisket-Fat, Rare Steak, Tendon, Tripe and Meatball and the #1 appetizer combo which came with 3 spring rolls (shrimp/pork), 3 egg rolls and 4 crispy wontons. I also ordered a side of beef ribs. Everything was very good except the ribs. I was very disappointed with them as every other Pho place ive been to, the ribs were fall off the bone, melt in your mouth. These were fatty, stuck to the bone and very hard to make into smaller pieces. The rest of the meal made up for it tho, the broth was so delicious. I didnt like the tripe nor the tendon but that is usually the case wherever I get Pho. The appetizers were a huge surprise. They were very good. The peanut dipping sauce was divine. We will definitely be coming back here when we want Pho as it was clearly the best ive had since the place was called Majestic. read more

Can never go wrong with the vermicelli with charbroiled beef and egg rolls, my go to order. The food is always fresh and comes out quickly. read more

Pho So 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Called in an order around 6pm and they said it would be ready within 5-10 mins! I ordered a large pho dac biet (combination) and pennywort drink to-go. The pho was just ok in my opinion. I reheated the soup at home so that it would be hot enough to cook the rare beef that comes in the combo pho. the large portion was generous! I definitely felt like there were a lot of noodles and they gave plenty of broth. everything was packed nicely and the rare meat was packed separately. The broth was lackluster for me and it felt a bit imbalanced in terms of the flavors of the spices. It lacked depth from the beef and was too strong of a star anise/ bay leaf flavor. The pennywort drink was definitely disappointing. It was very watered down almost as if I was drinking water barely infused with pennywort. Overall, not sure if I'd come back again. Food was cheap and portions were great but flavor was imbalanced and lackluster overall. read more

Pho So 1 - Pho dac biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Came by for a quick dinner with some friends. Pho So 1 has the authentic feel to it, but where they lost me was they don't use MSG. We got egg rolls, springs rolls, and Pho. Egg rolls and springs rolls were good! Then came the MSG-less Pho.. it wasn't for me, I need the flavor and saltiness. I like the saltiness. Service was OK, you'll need to waive and call them over if you need something. Overall, I wouldn't particularly come here for Pho. If I happen to find myself here again, I'll give another dish a try. read more

We've been eating here after my son's orthodontist appts. My son loved his pho and always asks to come back. I think it's probably the best (if not the only) place to get pho in lake forest. They have the standard menus that you can expect in any respectable pho restaurant. The few times we've gone was during late lunch time or early dinner and it was empty every time. Service is pretty quick. Expect to pay around $13 a bowl or $15 for a larger bowl. read more

Amazing food! Fast service! Family centric ambiance! Three tv's with news/sports on (no volume). It's good food, try them. read more

Pho So 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Pho So 1 is a Vietnamese restaurant offering pho, rice dishes, and noodle dishes. The menu mentions that they don't use MSG anywhere, which was a wonderful to see. My group chose a few items to share. Salt & pepper shrimp ($12.50) - This consisted of whole light battered fried shrimp with head on, and not cleaned. I don't eat the head nor tail, so it was a bit messy to eat this dish, and I would pass on it next time. Beef with garlic noodles ($17.50) - The garlic noodles had a nice chew with strong garlic flavor and stir fried beef. This was the best dish out of all the ones that we tried. Beef and shrimp rice plate ($16.50) - This dish was made up of stir fried beef, shrimp, onions and bell peppers and served with a side of rice. Nothing stood out about this dish and I found it to be slightly plain taste wise. Vermicelli noodle bowl with chicken ($16.50) - This dish consisted of dry vermicelli noodles, sliced cucumbers, julienned carrots and radish, all served with some grilled chicken. Unfortunately the chicken was on the dry side but the rest of the ingredients were refreshing. Vietnamese iced coffee ($5) - This consisted of a strong Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk. It was refreshing on a hot summer day. Overall, everything was just ok. They had a large selection of items, just nothing remarkable. read more

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Came here recently with my wife to enjoy a local pho spot in the Lake Forest area. When we came in, there was a decent amount of seating available and we were free to choose where we wanted to sit. Inside was clean and the ambiance was nice. We were quickly attended to and ordered egg rolls (#2), pho dac biet (#13), and bun bo hue (#95b). The service was efficient and to the point and we got our food pretty quickly. The egg rolls were not the standard egg rolls I was used to, with the outside texture fried especially well and the inside very tasty, especially when paired with the fish sauce and accompanying vegetables. The pho broth was clean and tasty, with a good amount of meat, and noodles that didn't clump together. My wife had the bun bo hue, which she tried for the first time. It was a bit spicy and the flavors were a unique mix of spices, vegetables, and meat that came together for a hearty and rich noodle soup. It's hard to find a solid pho place that is local, so we are glad we found Pho So 1. The prices are pretty average for pho places, which is a bit on the more expensive end now, but in terms of the food you get and quality, it is good value. Looking forward to coming back when we are craving pho! read more

Pho So 1 - Bun Bo Hue #95b - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I tried this pho place last night. I had the beef and brisket pho and it was delicious. Also tried their salt and pepper shrimp which was to die for and will be ordering again! The ambience was relaxed and the servers were friendly and attentive. Had a great experience! read more

The lady that takes Togo orders weird me out. Call and place an order, you'll see what I mean. The Pho and Bun Rieu here are good. They don't give enough noodles in the soup though. HAPPY PHOING!! read more

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Pho So 1 is our go to restaurant for Vietnamese food in the area. The vermicelli grilled fish is one of my son's favorite, other vermicelli dishes are also reliable, spicy beef noodle is average but this is a difficult dish to master. Pho is better than other pho in the area. That's why it works for us. Service is sometimes questionable. It used to be decent then I've noticed new young ladies at the counter, must be newbies, was really slow that time. Overall, it's good enough for us for now. read more

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I'm not sure if this is the same pho place in LA that people rave about. The pho soup was a bit bland even for me. I like food to be a little on the bland side. I usually ask for sauce on the side. The soup was not pipping hot and was pretty much cold halfway through. We ordered just 2 bowls of pho and it took at least 30min to arrive. The veggies did not look very fresh. I liked their meatballs, but that's about it. Plenty of parking in this plaza. read more

I've visited Pho So 1 on several occasions over the past couple of years, normally whenever the Banh Mi sandwich craving hits as theirs is very good indeed. I decided to drop by again for a quiet and relaxing dinner this evening with my partner. One of the best bits about Pho So 1 is that the menu is huge, with well over a hundred dishes (counting protein switches) listed. That's great for those who are indecisive on dining location or who have a party with varied desires, as there's likely something for everyone. Despite the pressure that must put on a kitchen, our food arrived extremely fast and was good as usual. Everything was hot and flavorful, although I was a little disappointed with the lack of spice heat in my Spicy Noodle Soup today. Ordering a large bowl is definitely one for the big appetites, as the portion size will definitely not disappoint. I was a little bit annoyed to be presented with our check while we were less than half way through our meal, but that could just be a me thing and isn't that big a deal when the food is so good. It won't stop me regarding Pho So 1 as a go-to for sure. read more

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Stumbled upon this place because it was open late . Service was good and fast . Food was good also . My only complain was that everything was served really hot it took me a while to be able to enjoy it . read more

Pho So 1 - #13 pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Excellent choices, wonderful staff. Their Pho is good, but my favorite dish is their Garlic noodles with charbroiled beef. Good portions. I wouldn't recommend the Banh mi however read more

I had a very delicious banh mi sandwich here today. I got the pork and was very happy with it. perfect balance of meat and veggie, just the right amount of heat as well. I've also gotten the pho before, excellent as well. read more

I like the friedegg rolls, the pho is very delicious. We always get it Lean brisk, without tripe. In addition, Service is fast, prices are very good too. I've eaten here a number of times, and also feel that they could be more personable, the entire staff! The only reason why they didn't get five stars because , the topping such as bean sprouts, basil, everything is pre-wrapped in plastic wrap, and it's not a very generous amount in my opinion and I always need to asked for two. Is four stars because the pho is above average. One of my kids didn't like the way their soup noodles because they all stuck together in a big glob in parts of the soup. But the taste was spot on. This reviews probably be at three, but they are family owned, and the whole family works there, so taking everything into consideration it becomes a four again. read more

Pho So 1 - Pho items that automatically automatic - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Another great experience being fed and served by Ben and the crew. We had a large vegetable pho with chicken broth and pork steak with garlic noodles. it was good to see a good crowd in the restaurant because this is still a great vietnamese eatery! read more

Pho So 1 - small veg pho, veg spring rolls, pork chop plate (mostly eaten) - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I am giving this place a 5/5 rating solely on their pho (and bun bo hue). Their broth was very flavorful and had a lot of depth for being free of msg! There aren't a lot of restaurant that offer bun bo hue, so I thought I'd also give that a try. I ordered the pho special, but swapped the pho broth for BBH because I saw another review on here mention they did that - and I am so happy I did! It was really tasty and flavorful with the perfect hint of spicy! I would say I'm pretty picky with food and I would bring my Vietnamese parents here. 5/5 on their taro smoothie. I like that it tastes like fresh taro. I don't really like when it tastes too artificial or too sweet, like the taro milk teas from boba shops. It's also extremely light. Super refreshing on hot days. For being a pho shop in lake Forest and not having to drive all the way to Westminster or bolsa. 5/5 on their pho 5/5 on their bun bo hue 5/5 on their vermicelli noodle dishes. I liked their fish sauce with the sambal 3/5 on the shaken beef (bo luc lac) they don't give you a lot and texture was a bit inconsistent. Flavor was good but wouldn't order it again for the price 2/5 on the chicken curry (ca ri ga) I'm used to Vietnamese curry being a bit sweeter and more coconut/creamier? It tasted a little unbalanced, not enough cream and too much spices (tumeric + cumin + coriander). Slightly salty and watery. I didn't like the chicken either . Service is good when you walk in to be seated and when ordering, but they don't always check in if you need water. You just flag them down. Not a big deal. I'm more interested in how the food tastes. I like that the inside reminds me of typical pho restaurants. Nice and simple. Here for the food! I'll be back! read more

We ate at Pho So 1 in Lake Forest and ordered a few dishes, including brisket pho, BBQ spring rolls (#4), vermicelli bowl (#89), and #57. The total came to about $72, which felt a bit pricey--but the food was tasty. The BBQ rolls were our favorite,. Dish #89 was light and refreshing. It's perfect for a warm day for anyone who prefers clean flavors. Dish # 57 was just okay. Service was quick, and the restaurant was clean and comfortable. Overall, it's a solid spot for Vietnamese food if you don't mind spending a bit more. We'll definitely be back. read more

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First time here a couple weeks ago and had no complaints. The pho broth was good, eggrolls were crispy and flavorful... but what won the show for me was the Bun Bo Hue. The broth was on point! Rich, full of flavor, not too salty... just right. Restaurant was clean and nicely decorated with lots of seating. Staff was friendly and the food was prompt. Will definitely come back again! read more

Pho So 1 definitely lives up to its name as one of the top pho spots in South OC! This spot is located in a plaza with a good amount of parking spots. Wifey and I came for dinner around 7:30pm and we were seated right away. Inside, they have a pretty spacious restaurant with a good amount of seating. As for their menu, they are stacked with so many different pho, noodle, rice dishes, and drinks to try! Wifey and I opted to try the Pho Dac Biet and the Pho Suon Bo. We did the broth test and it was so flavorful and the entire bowl was a harmonious experience! Overall, this is a solid spot with some home style Vietnamese cuisine and generous portions! All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Pho So 1 is Viet gang approved! read more

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My family has ordered from here countless times over the past 3 years, did not disappoint once with service or food. They accept the LF city gift card (as of 2025). Food 5/5 Service 5/5 To- go speed 5/5 (expect big wait times during rainy days) They have no MSG which is unbelievable since the favors are great. Their food is really good. Pho 5/5 Spring rolls 5/5 Bun Bo Hue 5/5, not many places have this dish, still good. Not as authentic as it could be, but for LF very nice read more

We decided to try this place based on the good reviews we saw. It was pretty full, but very fast and efficient so we were seated pretty quickly. The staff was very friendly even though they were overloaded -- this place probably need one of two more people working. We had the rare steak pho and the well done steak pho. Both were very good. The broth was particularly good: very flavorful on one hand while also not being overly oily -- a very light and crisp flavor. The shrimp rolls were pretty good ... Maybe a little overcooked. But not bad. read more

Pho So 1 - Rare steak pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Excellent experience here at Pho So 1 in Lake Forest Dr and Trabuco Rd. Party of three on a Sunday around 3:15 pm. The restaurant was not busy at all. Very clean inside, very neat and organized. Lots of parking available. Staff were kind and welcoming. This was my first time at a Pho restaurant, and yes... I am a fan now. Prices were excellent, and the food quantity was plenty. The quality of the food was superb! Everything was so tasty and delicious. read more

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Came here for lunch . Food comes out very quick and hot! Service is very fast, can eat here and make it back to work with plenty of time to spare. Ambiance feels very authentic read more

Best Vietnamese food in Lake Forest. I have tried three others and this is the best. My favorite is number 88. Also the Vietnamese spring rolls are awesome. read more

It's the closest pho place to us. We tried a few times and consider it not only convenient but they have great flavor soup stock for pho. I think that is a good sign for a pho restaurant. read more

Some friends of ours raved about this place so we caved and gave them a try. Our first time we dined in the restaurant. We were immediately seated. There is a good amount of seating and they seem to get quite busy here. I obviously noticed the cute tables made of stones in resin...I think that's what it was in. Not sure. The second time we decided to do a pickup. Both times we've ordered, we felt very rushed to decide on what to eat. While ordering for pickup, when we blanked for about ten seconds and forgot what we were going to say, they tried to hang up on us and said they're too busy. Like what??? I am trying to order and I'm not worth an extra thirty seconds of your time because I forgot the name of a piece of meat in the meal? I should've just let them go. That was a foreshadowing. What we ordered for dine-in: 1) Garlic noodles with beef 2) Pork chop with fried eggrolls- comes with rice, sliced veggies, pickled cabbage. 3) shaken beef 4) #51 with pork, bean curd stuffed with shrimp - comes with rice, sliced veggies and pickled cabbage. What we ordered for pickup: 1) chicken pho broth only 2) pho with brisket and beef 3) 51 with pork, bean curd stuffed with shrimp - comes with rice, sliced veggies and pickled cabbage. Ordered extra pickled cabbage and extra of the bean curd stuffed with shrimp. 4) Durian shake -1 out of 5: garlic noodles. We didn't like the garlic noodles at all. The noodles were so soft it became mush in your mouth and it lacked seasoning. -3 out of 5: The pork chop dish wasn't bad. -3 out of 5: shaken beef was also ok -2 out of 5: Chicken pho broth only. This was bland -2 out of 5: beef pho with brisket was bland -2 out of 5: durian shake - the ice wasn't blended smooth enough for me. Usually these are more of a smoothie consistency when I order them elsewhere. Also, I wasn't sure if there was ANY actual durian in there or if it was just artificial flavoring? It was very sweet. I was so excited to have this until I tried it. As you can tell from the picture, the portion in the cup wasn't even filled up. It's tilted in the photo, but you can see it wasn't a full serving. -2 out of 5: #51. I was going to give three stars for this one but my second time eating it was a 1-2 stars for me. Some pieces of pork were undercooked because it was cooked folded up into each other. The bean curd stuffed with shrimp was good our first time, but the second time, it didn't look like it had the bean curd wrap at all and was just straight shrimp. It was very chewy and dry. The pickled cabbage...this is usually my favorite part of this dish in Vietnamese cuisine. I was gagging when I ate it. I thought it was just me, so I ate another piece. Again the same reaction. I smelled the cabbage and noticed it smelled off. That's when I just got irritated. I couldn't eat the veggies, I couldn't eat some of the pork and the shrimp was so dry and chewy I got tired of chewing. I wasn't that impressed with the food our first time, it was just ok. We even told each other it was just alright and we wouldn't come back. I was definitely not impressed our second time and I am unsure as to why we returned albeit to go. The customer service for me was lacking and to rush us both times wasn't cool. It's a 2 out of 5 for me. Maybe we had off days with them, I don't know. I'm glad to see that others have enjoyed this establishment. I wish them well. read more

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A place to get all your Pho cravings satisfied. This place has a variety of noddles and soup for everyone from vegetarian options to meat and chicken. I'm always a fan of the Vietnamese beef or filet with rice for lunch so I had ordered a beef dish with egg rolls rice and some vegetables. I didn't realize it was not filet but it was good but not what I wanted. I also got to try some of the vegetarian pho which was filled with broccoli, bok choi, carrots and the additional sprouts and basil. The soup tasted very good and that's the key to it. Overall it was a good experience and industry average. Dining area is pretty good sized and they also have a nice list of drinks and Vietnamese desserts. I got to try my favorite dessert the Trio Colored Dessert which was not bad. Definitely try this place out for some good variety of Pho. read more

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Pho So 1 is so good and I would recommend it to anyone looking for great Pho in Lake Forest! Every time I come in I am greeted by Liam and the other servers who are always very kind and happy to help. The restaurant is always clean and not too noisy. Thanks Pho So 1 ! read more

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very tasty and good portion. I always order the oxtail pho and it never disappointed me. the space is also clean but if they are busy there might be a little bit of wait read more

Can never go wrong with Pho So 1 the service is always amazing, the food always tastes fresh, and the music is always good. The pho dac biet is on point I love the tendon its always good size and the steak is a good cut, the bahn mi here is amazing, the spring rolls and egg rolls are definitely top tier. I have tried everything from the salt and pepper wings, the fish sauce wings, the calamari, the pork chop rice with the meatloaf, and it has never disappointed me. I have been coming here since it opened and I will continue driving 15 minutes to get here verse going to the one thats 2 minutes from my house. read more

For what south OC has to offer in terms of vietnamese food, Pho So 1 takes my heart! The store opens fairly late so our friends love to grab late dinner here. Pho is always so comforting here and we also like to order the fried eggrolls. You'll find me ordering here often! Thats it. I think their noodle dishes and soups are all good. I'll try some of the rice dishes next time probably. Service is always good and attentive. Ambiance is good as well, you will see lots of people just hanging out or family coming together to eat. Never a silent moment here. read more

GOI CUON BBQ PORK SPRING ROLLS: -- very small circumference -- no carrots, more basic on veggies -- pork not as charred as the best renditions RATING = B+ BUN CHA GIO THIT NUONG VERMICELLI: -- fish sauce very mild and not stanky which is nice -- needs more char on pork -- a good rendition overall -- fried egg rolls are quite good RATING = A- Booth seats need a better wipe down. Food comes out fast. read more

The biggest complaint I had with this restaurant is the portions. My son ordered the rice with pork chop and egg rolls. The pork chop was paper thin and very small. When I asked the server about the size of the pork chop, she even agreed it was small. And then to charge approximately $18 for this is simply highway robbery. Never coming back here again. read more

Pho So 1 - Rice with pork chop. The pork chop was paper thin and tiny. The egg rolls and fork is there to compare the size. - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Pho So 1 is known for not using MSG in their dishes. The food came out quickly. If you order pho, the sides of bean sprouts/basil/lime are already prepped and in the fridge. Since it's been in the fridge, the veggies are slightly discolored and not as fresh as if they were made to order. The pho was good and pretty average. There's plenty of parking in the front lot. read more

Pho So 1 - Combo pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Lake Forest, California