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    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

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    Recommended Reviews - Pholicious Noodle Bar

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    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

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    10 months ago

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

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    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

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    Frank’s dumplings & noodles by sheungshui

    Frank’s dumplings & noodles by sheungshui

    4.4
    (407 reviews)
    3.4 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
    Interior
    Interior
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    Bone-in bangbang chicken

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    Bone-in bangbang chicken

    Pholicious Noodle Bar - vietnamese - Updated August 2026

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