Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pholicious Noodle Bar

    4.4 (524 reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese, Soup, Noodles

    Pholicious Noodle Bar Photos

    PHOLICIOUS NOODLE BAR ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Pholicious Noodle Bar

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    With meatballs and steak. Virtually no meatballs and 1/3 steak that needed salt. Not impressed at all.
    Gilbert S.

    should've listen to my instincts. There's a reason why this place is empty during lunchtime. I was only one there. I ordered a Pho with meatballs steak. I received 2 meatballs They were cut into four pieces and half the amount of steak in the noodle soup. Keep in mind they charge me $18 and gave me virtually no meat. The broth needed a lot of salt. Deleted help me was friendly. I will never return to this place.

    No 60 - Vermicelli Combo ($17 +tax) Vermicelli with grilled shrimp, grilled pork and eggrolls. Okay; grilled pork was way too salty.
    Darrell P.

    I recently revisited Pholicious Noodle Bar, hoping to satisfy a craving for Vietnamese cuisine. While the experience had its highlights, it also had a few missteps that left me feeling lukewarm about my visit. I arrived just before 3 PM on a rainy afternoon and was immediately greeted. The restaurant was empty, so I had my choice of seating. The space was clean and casual, with a relaxed vibe, though it lacked the lively energy of a bustling Vietnamese eatery. Service was friendly and efficient, no complaints there. I debated between the Oxtail Pho and the Bún Thịt Nướng Combo (Vermicelli Combo) and ultimately went with the latter. When my dish arrived, it was plated beautifully but in a way I didn't expect. Instead of the usual large bowl that allows for easy mixing, everything was arranged on a plate in separate sections. While visually appealing, it made mixing the noodles, lettuce, herbs, and fish sauce a bit of a challenge - some ingredients inevitably spilled over the edge. The egg rolls were also served whole instead of cut into bite-sized pieces, which I found to be also interesting. Photo - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQ&select=na2MWf0jH1kvfQNP_cm9rA The biggest disappointment was the grilled pork - it was overwhelmingly salty. The fish sauce already provides enough saltiness, so the additional seasoning made it almost too much to enjoy. I considered sending it back but decided to just roll with it. The rest of the dish was decent, but not enough to make up for the overpowering pork. No 60 (Menu) - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQ&select=kv7PPdRPlalDBCdPNDqpqA Cost: $17 +tax (+tip) Grand total: $22 Photo - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQ&select=1eD8smtPb3IQk_LRmbCRwQ I also appreciated the napkin dispensers on the tables - no napkin rationing here! Some places hand you a single napkin like it's a precious commodity, and asking for more feels like a negotiation. Not the case here - thankfully! Photo - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQ&select=TKlyW8wTGpBTmGTrPizN1w My recent visit to Pholicious Noodle Bar was just okay - not horrible, but not particularly memorable either. The service was good, and the food was visually well-presented, but the execution missed the mark for me. If I'm craving a solid Vietnamese meal, I usually visit Thanh Binh, my go-to spot, also in Lake Forest. That said, if you're in the area and looking for a quick Vietnamese fix, it's worth a try - you just might want to ask them to go easy on the salt. - Big Aloha! Food: 3 Ambiance: 3 Service: 4 Value: 3

    Oxtail Pho - Dry, tough, little meat
    Jason G.

    Im a fan of their Spring Rolls - large and tasty. The pho not so much. Very bland. Oxtail pho was mostly bones and meat was hard/sinewy and not tender. They do give big shrimp in their dishes. I also got to try their Shaken Beef. Flavors good but Fries were hard and meat was small portion/not the softest. Garlic noodles ok bit too buttery. Connor, the only person running the register and taking orders, was very friendly. Comfy seating. Cool AC. Filtered water. I would come back for spring rolls. But they need better execution on their other dishes.

    Tam M.

    Really happy I found this pho place that also has bun Bo hue near my home! It's hard to find good pho or bun Bo hue places in Irvine normally we have to head out into fountain valley or Westminster for the good Vietnamese food but my husband liked their bun Bo hue here and would come here again. It's spicy and flavourful. It doesn't beat the best bun Bo hue place quan vy we like next to da vien coffee on Bolsa but it's definitely top 5 for us so far. I also liked their pho even though it wasn't as good as phoholic or pho lovers I wouldn't mind coming back here to eat it since it's so close to our home. Shrimp spring rolls also delicious even though my kids didn't love it they prefer spring rolls. I liked how this place gave rau ram the thin herbs it's so good to eat with my noodle soups other than just basil! Their Vietnamese ice coffee 10/10 it was made perfectly for me and came out super fast! Their service was also so speedy and great. Highly recommend coming here

    Brisket pho
    Marissa L.

    I last reviewed this place a couple years ago. I ordered take out through Yelp this time, not delivery. The service was quicker than I expected. Yelp said it would be ready between 3:09pm and 3:30ish. I walked up around 3:05pm and it was ready. Nothing was missing from my order this time. I got the brisket pho, shrimp spring rolls and Thai milk tea. I did have to reheat my pho a little bit in the microwave when I got home. The Brisket pho was pretty good. The broth was flavorful and the veggies were fresh. I added some hoisin and sriracha sauce to amp up the flavor. The only issue was the brisket was on the dry side, even in the broth. The spring rolls were tasty. The shrimp was clean and cooked perfectly. I liked the ratio of noodles and veggies, with there being more noodles than veg. The peanut sauce was thick and flavorful. This is still a good place for a quick lunch, highly recommend for pick up rather than delivery.

    Jasmin P.

    Came here on New Year's Day for dinner. We wanted have something warm and comforting, and this place definitely fit the bill. Not many places serve Veggie Pho with Veggie broth. This was my first time trying vegetarian pho and I was pleasantly surprised. The broth was delicate, yet flavorful. I could just sip on the broth. They are also generous on the veggies and Thai basil. It came out hot and I always give extra points when the food comes out at the right temperature. We ordered an egg with the pho but I think we would just skip it next time. We also ordered the edamame & vegetarian spring rolls (tofu, noodles, thai basil & lettuce). Liked the Thai basil in the spring rolls and the peanut sauce was decent. The edamame was just ok for us. Small place but they have the ability to accommodate a large party given that it's not a full house. Just a couple of tables open when we walked in. Our server was attentive and kept checking up on us. And the prices are reasonable! We definitely will be back for the Veggie Pho and to try some of their other veggies menu items!

    11. Pho Tung Special (Ph c Bit)
    David H.

    The food was GREAT. Amazing portion, filling, and flavorful meat! The service was great especially as I came in 20 minutes before closing. I also loved the ambiance eating here. sociable, chill, and am bummed that I missed the sign for their bun Bo Hue. Will update this review for when I do! Definitely make sure you have time to enjoy this place!

    Garlic noodles with filet mignon - close up
    Yoshi B.

    Pholicious Noodle Bar is an unexpected, delightful surprise sitting in an old shopping lot in Lake Forest. The storefront is unassuming and the interior is clean and bright, but you certainly wouldn't expect to find some of the incredible food offered here. The pho is great with a bright, clean taste and a hint of your classic pho spices, it's swimming with plenty of fresh, delicate rice noodles and the portion of protein is generous. Whether you get their namesake, the Pholicious, with rare filet mignon, brisket slices, and very flavorful meatballs, or their Oxtail pho with tender meat, you should be able to satisfy your pho cravings here. However, you cannot visit Pholicious without trying their Garlic Noodles with Filet Mignon at least once. The garlic noodles are sweet and savory and a bit saucy rather than dry. The cherry on top is the most tender, juicy pieces of filet mignon soaking up the addictive goodness of the sauce. Honestly, this dish blows away other filet mignon garlic noodles. Flavor, execution, and value (~$17 compared to most places charging $20+ for the same) all come together here. Other dishes that will sweep you away include their egg rolls, which includes a mix of pork, shrimp, and taro. The savory, sweet mix makes this an exceptional egg roll; the only thing that could make this better would be more lettuce wrap and pickled veggies. And do not miss out on their spring rolls! Their tofu spring roll comes with freshly cooked fried tofu. The tofu is delicate and soft, which works wonderfully with the greens inside. Even better, this dish is served with very fresh, soft rice paper and an amazing savory, dark peanut-based dip that balances the sweet, salty, and umami perfectly. To top this all off, the service here is exceptional. The servers are so kind, not only to customers but also to their kitchen. It's clear these people love working here, and they enjoy working with each other. We are finding excuses just to make our way back down 20 minutes to Lake Forest just to have another delicious bite here. Between the food and service, I suspect you will be very happy to make your way down here as well. Yum!

    Pho 11. Pho Tung Specia, Pho 12. Chicken Pho (Ph G) and 21. Veggie Pho (Beef Broth) (Ph Chay)
    Nor N.

    Great service, food & ambience! We were the first customers on Memorial Day (5/26/25) Steve and Tracy took care of us. The pho was delicious, just like the reviews said flavorful without being salty. Generous portions for a regular size. Big thanks for the amazing food and friendly service!

    18. Short Rib Pho (Ph Sn B), 12. Chicken Pho (Ph G)
    Cathlyn D.

    Amazing service! Amazing food! Amazing prices! I love it here! My fiancé and I were in the area after heading back from the beach and decided to try this place out. We love pho and eat it pretty much every week. We were greeted upon coming in and instantly were seated. All of the servers were so sweet and full of personality. We ordered chicken pho (I needed something light on my stomach) and short rib pho. Short rib pho was delicious and the pho ga came with an egg which I'd never seen before. I will say there was a slight cinnamon taste in the broth which was interesting but we asked for their house fish sauce and house chili oil and it was perfect. Thai tea was fantastic as well!!! Ambiance was great and will definitely be back if we are in the area :)

    Jessica B.

    Out of the many pho restaurants I have tried in this side of south OC,this place happens to be my favorite. Chefs/servers are on top of it and you literally see/feel it. The pho broth is so good and the food always comes out piping hot. We decided to try the noodle dish #33 with beef and WOW, I would eat this everyday if I could- beautiful flavors, peppery/lil spicy and the beef is so tender. Highly recommend this lil gem:)

    2. House Special Egg Rolls

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 3
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gilbert S.
    21
    59
    209

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Darrell P.
    1210
    1104
    25214

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Ryan H.
    980
    828
    1139

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nor N.
    68
    6
    31

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sung T.
    199
    4
    11

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Anna T.
    1
    79
    125

    10 months ago

    They offer the most delicious vegan pho! Their broth is simple and flavorful. And with generous portions of veggies and tofu!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Natalie L.
    133
    155
    100

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan I.
    3
    58
    113

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Erin M.
    497
    429
    2551

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sumin W.

    Sumin W.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ryan B.
    33
    39
    6

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sharon Y.

    Sharon Y.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 14

    Ask the Community - Pholicious Noodle Bar

    Is this location permanently closed? Because I'm going to miss this restaurant

    Is your veggie broth soy and gluten free? Also do you offer 100% rice noodles in pho (gluten free)?

    Do you have Chicken broth Pho?

    No, we don't have it. Only beef and vegetarian broths.

    Do you have veggie pho with veggie soup base? Thanks.

    Yes we do .

    Do they have banh xeo?

    Yes we do .

    Do you use MSG in your pho broth? Is there a lot or a little used? Thank you!

    lot

    I there dining in option for lunch, possibly out door?

    Hi John! Thank you for your question. Patio seatings should be ready by next Wednesday or the latest is Friday. Looking forward to serving you at Pho Tung. Cheers!!

    Do you take credit cards?

    Yess we do!

    How long is the special price good for?

    Maybe until the end of the year Ellie!

    View All 12 Questions

    You might also consider

    Pho So 1

    Pho So 1

    4.4
    (354 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    I am giving this place a 5/5 rating solely on their pho (and bun bo hue)…read more 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!

    Have only done takeout here. It's a casual restaurant with plenty of tables. The food is consistent…read moreand 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.

    Photos
    I enjoyed the food BUT the lack of service was disappointing. I pay for service; not to be treated as if a simple request is an annoyance.
    I enjoyed the food BUT the lack of service was disappointing. I pay for service; not to be treated as if a simple request is an annoyance.
    #61 - Shaken Filet Mignon...sofa king good! Meat was so tender and delicious!
    #61 - Shaken Filet Mignon...sofa king good! Meat was so tender and delicious!
    Beef and Eggroll rice combo.

    See all

    Beef and Eggroll rice combo.
    Pho Tám Cali

    Pho Tám Cali

    4.0
    (231 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    We dined in here. The lady who helped us was very sweet so she provided great customer…read moreservice...She was very careful with our table and approached eventhough we didnt need anything and that service is 5 star for me. The ambiance was chill. Lay back decoration, clean and cozy. The food was missing the protein portion. The spring shrimp roll had very tiny shrimps so i didnt get the taste of shrimp. About Banh mi, the same thing as you see in the picture the meat portion is too little in compare to bread. Most of each part was bread so tasting mostly like bread If not the meat itself was delicious when i tried separately. They didnt offer jalapeños or lemon. For me jalapeños is the most with my spring roll. Also, i didnt like the peanut dipping sauce....It was too sweet. There is also bunch of parking lot outside...

    It was a hot day and we found this Viet restaurant served other options beside Pho…read more All the dishes were delicious. Very authentic flavor. I grew up eating Bun thit nuong - vercimilli with grilled pork and it is rare to find a restaurant that can nail this exact flavor .The rice noodle was not overcooked, they incluced pickle, chopped veggies and egg roll, every condiment was on point . The star of the dish was the grilled pork and it was perfectly seasoned. Such a refreshing dish to eat in the summer. I also tried their Garlic Noodle with shrimp and the shrimps were giant! Not overcooked. Very nice seasoning. I'd like the green sauce to be condensed but their version is on the liquidly side. Overall, I will come back next time to try other dishes!

    Photos
    Pho Tám Cali
    2 Fries & 2 Drinka for $15!
    2 Fries & 2 Drinka for $15!
    BBQ Pork Spring Roll Catering

    See all

    BBQ Pork Spring Roll Catering

    Pholicious Noodle Bar - vietnamese - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...