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    Plern Thai Cafe

    4.6 (403 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Soup, Noodles
    Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    PLERN THAI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy

    Recommended Reviews - Plern Thai Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    The Basil Wagyu
    Mike B.

    Great authentic Thai restaurant with some unique dishes! Stopped here for lunch with some friends. Quaint dining area that's well lit with a good amount of seating. Service was quick and friendly. We had a couple appetizers like their pork jowl and the wagyu roti mataba. They were both delicious, perfect bites before the meal. For the main course we all got the basil wagyu. It's a plate of minced wagyu beef with green beans and basil leaves, topped with a fried egg. I opted for a salad instead of the rice but it usually comes with jasmine rice. You can choose your level of spicy, I got medium. It also has a small sauce on the side that was quite spicy and tart. The meal was a perfect lunch, not too filling but enough to get full. I'll be back to try more!

    Ground beef with basil
    Figaro R.

    A very satisfying meal . I ordered the ground beef with basil and fried egg on top of the rice.it was satisfying. Spicy can be adjusted from spicy to no spice at all. I chose the latter and it was perfect. The only thing i can say is, beef was a little dry but because of the sauce it compensate it. I received my order still HOT which means they cook to order which is a plus on my book. Yes, I will patronize this restaurant again and will try their other dishes soon. Oh , I have this to-go.

    Papaya salad
    Carol S.

    Found this cozy lttle gem in Lake Forest and had a great experience. The space is nice and the server was incredibly friendly from the moment i walked in. I ordered the papaya salad, it was refreshing and crunchy. I then ordered the chicken satay and they came with a delicious peanut sauce and a tiny cucumber salad. I wish the cucumber had a more acidic vinaigrette, but the dish was still good. This was a nice spot for a quiet lunch.

    Pad see ew with chicken
    Alex N.

    This is probably one of the cheaper Thai places I've eaten at but still has great flavor and execution. They have a good selection of food on their menu but I went pretty basic with pad see ew. This was cheaper than all of the places I've been to in the last year, but was still very delicious and fills you up pretty decently. We also got the plern signature pork jowl which was juicy with a nice char taste, but the star of that dish was the accompanied sauce which just went well with everything. We'll have to come back and try some more stuff. All of the workers were also very friendly. Only downside is they don't seem to have public bathrooms.

    Crispy Chive Cake
    Alexis T.

    First timer! Late weekend lunch and had no wait. Lots of parking in the plaza. Cozy and clean restaurant. (FYI they do not have a restroom). The woman who served us was very welcoming, friendly, and attentive. The menu isn't overwhelming. Prices are reasonable. Food came out fast and beautifully plated. All three plates we ordered were DELICIOUS. - The pad see ew tasted very authentic. - The pork jowl bowl was refreshing and we liked how the purple rice was broken rather than traditionally sticky. - The chive cakes were crunchy and unique. The sauce was yummy too. Lovely experience. We will definitely be back! Can't wait to try other dishes.

    Inside. No restrooms??
    Michelle T.

    The food here is really good. The portions are on the smaller side but flavor is there. The tofu is crisp and firm that's a plus! Price is about same as other Thai places around. I go here because they are on the Lake Forest gift card program. The service is always good - we have visited in person once and ordered to go once. Ladies very kind and friendly. Located in the plaza near Jack n the box. The restaurant is small but clean and bright.

    Steamed Chicken and Rice
    Jason G.

    Been here twice now. Nice little Thai Cafe. I like the steamed chicken and rice but wish it came with more chicken. Portions are smaller/prices higher than average Thai restaurant so its not my first choice with so many Thai restaurants around. But the service is friendly. Note: there is no restroom so you will have to search nearby restaurants which is a big inconvenience.

    Delicious Egg Pad Thai
    Susan S.

    Our food was delicious. This is a very small casual restaurant and a shopping center in Lake Forest. Our service has been lovely. The menu Included vegan and vegetarian options as well as items for every pallet. I opted for the pad Thai with egg . It was delicious.. The sauce was amazing. The noodles were delicious. The presentation was beautiful. The chicken dish was moist, juicy with beautiful aroma and nice spices. We were very pleased and happy. The chive cake is outstanding.

    Desire N.

    Michelin quality restaurant in Lake Forest, California. #PlernThaiCafe is a popular Thai restaurant known for its authentic and flavorful #Thai and #Asian #comfortfood, often with unique twists from the chef. They offer vegetarian and vegan options, small plates, and wine. It is known for its quality ingredients and affordability. I love their Wagyu basil stir-fry, crispy pork Brussels sprouts, and authentic Thai teas.  Other standout, authentic dishes including the pork chow with purple rice, steamed chicken with rice and wagyu curry. Many dishes are under $20 making it a local favorite for both dine in and takeout.

    Menu
    Alejandra F.

    Delicious, we love everything we order, keep in mind that the coconut soup was very simple but actually taste delicious, place is small very small, their taste is good, also the servers were very friendly, price was also ok to us for the delicious meal. but something we didn't like or approved is that they don't have a public restroom, that's not good.

    Tofu pad see ewe 5/5 !!
    Linda F.

    Probably some of the best Thai food in South County. Been eating their food for years now. My favorite dishes are the tofu pad see ewe noodles, fried chicken with rice, and shrimp green curry. I love all their Thai condiments they have which enhances the flavors. The food tastes authentic and very flavorful, not overly sweet like Hanuman Thai (which I feel the food at Hanuman is way too sugary and Americanized flavors.). The ingredients are fresh and authentic. The service has always been prompt and friendly. The ambiance is casual but it's clean and cool. Highly recommended this awesome gem!

    Pad Thai clean plate
    Gordon W.

    Restaurant is very cozy and quaint. Staff was very attentive and friendly. To-go orders were handled promptly. My waitress, Nancy, was amazing! I dined in and ordered the "Sen-Jan" Pad Thai with chicken and Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango. When I ordered the mango sticky rice, the waitress was careful to mention in advance that the mango would not be very sweet. She was very aware and timed the desert to when I finished my Pad Thai. The Pad Thai presentation was excellent. The serving was a decent size, enough for one person to be satisfied. Taste and texture was great and as expected for Pad Thai. One of the better Pad Thais I've had. Mango sticky rice presentation was excellent. Serving was large enough for 2-4 people to share comfortably. Taste and texture were all great and as expected for mango sticky rice. TLDR: Exemplary Thai food, great restaurant, great value. Would recommend!

    Ben H.

    If you want the best crispy fried chicken ever... you NEED to come here. Crispy Fried Chicken: GET THIS!! The most deliciously crispy, juicy, and mouth watering chicken you will ever eat. Paired with the sauce, I don't think it can get any better. I don't even live near here and I come back just for this. The other items were tasty and seasoned well but the fried chicken just stole the show for me. The service was very friendly and accommodating. And for dinner time, we were almost the only ones in the restaurant. For how good the food was, this place needs to be put on the radar! Food: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Value: 7/10

    (side option) Roti

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    Plern Thai Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Plern Thai Cafe

    Is there outdoor seating in this restaurant?

    No.

    Can they make dishes vegetarian? Can they use Tofu?

    Yes, there are some dishes they can but some not.

    View All 4 Questions

    SUP Noodle Bar - Irvine - Beef Belly Dry Noodles & Wagyu Carpaccio

    SUP Noodle Bar - Irvine

    4.3(3.3k reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$

    I walked into SUP Noodle Bar not entirely sure what to expect from a Vietnamese-Peruvian fusion…read morespot, but I am so glad I checked it out! To get a taste of both worlds, I ordered the popular shrimp and sausage garlic noodles and the rib bone pho. The shrimp and sausage garlic noodles were garlicky greatness. It came with a side of aji sauce, but the noodles were already so loaded with flavor on their own that I didn't even think they needed it! As for the rib bone pho, it absolutely lived up to the menu description. The meat came clean off the bone. Usually, rib bone pho can skew a bit too heavy and fatty, but this broth was incredibly balanced. I actually found myself enjoying the natural flavor without immediately reaching for the hoisin sauce. Plus, a major bonus: they offer unlimited noodle refills! Service was fast, super friendly, and they checked in on us often.

    Really solid spot for vietnamese food! The couple of times I've been here, I've had the brisket…read morepho. The meat is tender, and the noodles are cooked to a nice al dente such that throughout the course of the eating experience, it does soften a bit to a perfect texture in the hot broth. Speaking of the broth, it is clean, light, yet so flavorful. It needs no sriracha sauce or hoisin sauce. I've also tried the pho shaken style, which added even more depth and flavor to the broth. The charred vegetables and the oil that it's cooked in adds even more complexity to the broth. Naturally, it does make the broth a little heavier, but that's not a bad thing and it's definitely worth trying at least once. The truffle fries are also great. It comes with ketchup, a green sauce, and an orange sauce. All of these sauces are great, but the orange sauce is really special to me, probably my favorite out of the three sauces. I'm excited to come back and try their other dishes, like the various garlic noodle dishes they have. Service is good and the ambiance has a nice, clean, modern look and feel to it.

    Photos
    SUP Noodle Bar - Irvine - Our Beef Belly Pho Lunch Special is back! Valid for dine-in only from 10AM to 4PM.

    Our Beef Belly Pho Lunch Special is back! Valid for dine-in only from 10AM to 4PM.

    SUP Noodle Bar - Irvine - The answer to all your cravings!

    The answer to all your cravings!

    SUP Noodle Bar - Irvine - Garlic Chicken Wing with Aji Sauce

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    Garlic Chicken Wing with Aji Sauce

    HanBop - BBQ Short Rib / 갈비구이

    HanBop

    4.4(264 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    It's been a while since my last visit to Hanbop, and after my recent visit, I now want to go more…read moreregularly! I was able to go in during lunch to get the lunch special price. The price has gone up since I last posted a picture of the menu but I think that it is still SUCH a steal for the amount of food and quality. I ordered the beef short rib lunch special and was amazed by how much food arrived! The preview pic on the menu did not do the actual meal size justice. I was surprised by the amount of short rib pieces included as well as the variety of side dishes within the bento (fried shrimp, dumpling, some sort of fried roll, 2 pieces of another roll, 2 pieces fried chicken and soup). This is still separate from the regular banchan they provide! I really love their kimchi and potato salad. There are plenty of seats in the restaurant and parking spots in the plaza. There were a lot of solo diners at the time of my visit. The workers are friendly and quick with your order and refills. Can't wait to go back!

    I have been on a Bibimbop eating streak of late...You must try this place in Lake Forest if you…read morelike Bibimbop. No need to go all the way to Irvine. It's situated in the same shopping center as Albertson's. The banchan (side dishes) served was delicious & just enough but you can always ask for more. Your bibimbop is served with small side of soup. It's filling. Will definitely be returning!

    Photos
    HanBop - Interior

    Interior

    HanBop - Sides that are feee before meal. Delicious

    Sides that are feee before meal. Delicious

    HanBop - Marinated Salmon Lunch Special

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    Marinated Salmon Lunch Special

    Simply Pho - Shrimp spring rolls

    Simply Pho

    4.3(999 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I'm from LA, and I can honestly say this spot is unmatched! Finding a place that balances quality,…read moreportion size, and price this well is rare. I ordered the XL Pho, and it did not disappoint. Packed with plenty of protein, and the broth was super flavorful--everything ties together perfectly. For the amount of food you get and the quality of the ingredients, the price is unbeatable. The staff is super nice but some are not that attentive. but i really appreciated that they let us sit exactly where we preferred. It's a pretty calm and peaceful environment too for a smaller space, It wasn't noisy, which made for a really enjoyable, relaxing meal. If you're in Lake Forest, i suggest you to check this place out! Highly recommend for anyone looking for authentic, top-tier pho.

    I came here with my in-laws for a late night dinner as they're always on the hunt for a great, non…read morehomemade pho option. They're definitely tougher critics than I am (as I don't have grandparents/family recipes to compare them to) but I'm always happy to tag along with them. The interior of the restaurant is small and I could see that it could be a bit tough to move around if they're busy. They also have little to no waiting area inside so if you aren't seated right away, chances are you'll be hanging outside in the parking lot. But we were there when the restaurant was maybe 1/3 full and we could move around easily & not feel like we were talking over other guests. The wait staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, but not so much so that it felt like they were trying to move us along with everything. I appreciated that. The menu is quite extensive. Yes, Pho is in the name but there are plenty of other Vietnamese options. I opted for the shaken beef plate. I wanted to get the version with fries, but my wife accidentally told the woman in Vietnamese that I wanted just the regular version. I guess I'll have to come back another time to see how it compares to one of my favorite dishes: Peruvian lomo saltado. However, I will say the standard plate I was served was delicious. Everything was well seasoned & cooked perfectly. Definitely one of the best bò lúc lắc dishes I've had in a restaurant in awhile. We had a good meal. My in-laws said the pho was fine. I think it tasted good. Our 3 kids slurped their bowls all up so that's a great sign. In all, if we're in the El Toro area & want some Vietnamese food, we'll absolutely be back.

    Photos
    Simply Pho
    Simply Pho - Beef and rice

    Beef and rice

    Simply Pho

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    Plern Thai Cafe - thai - Updated May 2026

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