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    Thai Lai Restaurant

    4.2 (427 reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese, Noodles
    Closed Closed

    Thai Lai Restaurant Photos

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    THAI LAI RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Thai Lai Restaurant

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    Bun rieu
    Tony L.

    My new favorite local vietnamese restaurant!! Family owned, with great service. My favorite item on the menu so far is the Bun rieu which is a traditional vietnamese noodle soup that is served with tomato broth and rice vermicelli with crab meatballs and fish cakes. The dish is packed full of flavor with its homemade broth and tones of quality ingredients. My wife always orders #53 pork chop ririce plate that comes with fried egg pork cake, pork skin, and fried pasted shrimp wrapped in bean curd on a bed of rice. The banh mi at $5.50 is also a good choice for someone looking for a cheap lunch with quality ingredients on a fresh baguette. Overall I love the service and the at home feel of the restaurant. I will definitely come back to try some more vietnamese dishes on the menu.

    #27 crispy noodle! Yum!
    I. A.

    The food here is always perfect! So delicious! I can taste the love that is put into the food preparation. The service is fast and friendly! It feels like you are walking into a friends home when you come here. The restaurant is small but filled with a sense of heart and community. I love coming here .

    Wan L.

    My favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the South Bay! Fast and friendly service. Great prices! Recommendations: ~ #53: Grilled Pork Chop Rice Plate ~ #41: Bun Rieu (vermicelli soup) ~ #11: Banh Uot Dac Biet (rice paper) ~ #6: Banh Beo Chen (rice cakes) ~ #3: Goi Cuon Nem Nuong (grilled pork spring rolls) ~ #4: Cha Gio (egg rolls)

    Yummy app!
    Toshi I.

    CASH ONLY. It's been years since I've been here and I really forgot how great this place is. No frills and for authentic Vietnamese food in the South Bay, this is one of the few places I highly recommend. The building looks a little sketch but once inside, you'll see other patrons who know this is the place to go to. The owner is super warm and friendly. Good thing, I had cash since I rarely carry any. My fave was the rice paper apps, so delicious. You really can't go wrong with any dish here based on my prevous review and photos. I will be back for sure!

    Pho Tai, egg rolls & great Thai tea

    First thing first- it is cash only Second thing? delicious! I got the Pho Tai, egg rolls & Thai tea ! I was sent to this place by my nail tech Kenny! The place itself is small but while I was there? It filled up! & there were many to go orders. I've been there twice to dine in, and both times food was great & service was excellent by the woman who I assume is the owner & Latino man that brought my food out. If you love Vietnamese especially Pho? This is your spot. THE BROTH IS DELICIOUS. I'm picky about my Asian food.

    Pho with everything but green and white onions.  So good!
    Mark K.

    I come here once a week. The food is amazing. The service is quick and friendly. It's always a good time. Everyone is happy and enjoys their food. See you next week!

    Bun Rieu
    John T.

    Combining 2 reviews into 1 as I had tried their pho and Bun Rieu. Bun Rieu - 5/5 On par with the ones served in Garden Grove. Noodles cooked to perfect texture and temperature. Broth is piping hot and plenty of proteins all in one bowl. They don't have sea snail anymore I think based off menu. Pho special - 5/5 Noodles cooked perfectly! The broth isn't lacking in any areas. You do get tendon and tripe which most places around Gardena don't always have. Parking - located outback Restrooms are clean. Would definitely like to try their banh mi on my next visit.

    Bánh ướt
    Cao P.

    Đồ ăn rất ngon, bạn nào thích vị miền tây nên ghé đây nhé, chuẩn vị miền tây, cô chủ cực dễ thương

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    6 months ago

    Small, family-owned Vietnamese restaurant with good food and service. Cash only and parking is limited.

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    10 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Authenticity at it's finest!! Their Bahn Beo is delicious along with the Banh Xeo. Love this place . What a hidden gem

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Ordered a pho and unfortunately it was quiet bland. The noodles had a weird taste to them and the broth lacked in flavor, wouldn't be back.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

    I love their spring rolls and vermicelli noodles. This is my summer Viet restaurant. For pho I go down the street to pho daisy.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

    Great food great service and fair prices. A small family owned restaurant and pretty authentic. My go to for Pho and Vietnamese food.

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    10 months ago

    Friendly service and authentic taste. I would recommend to any first timers trying Vietnamese food.

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

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    8 months ago

    It's the most authentic and delicious Vietnamese food in the area! Our favorite place when craving Vietnamese food.

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    8 months ago

    One of the long standing Vietnamese restaurant in Torrance, and still going strong with great foods and reasonable price!

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    3 years ago

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    8 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Pho was great one of the best I've had. Friendly service. Plenty of parking. I will be back thank you

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Very affordable menu and kind staff. Banh Mi was delicious!!! I got the pork banh mi, it was very fresh, spicy, and sweet. 100% recommend!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Page 1 of 11

    Thai Lai Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

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    Saigon Dish - Bánh Xèo (only Friday and Saturday)

    Saigon Dish

    4.5(2.7k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$
    20 years in business
    Family-owned & operated

    I have been searching high and low for a Bo Kho with a thicker roux like broth, it's how I was…read moreintroduced to Vietnamese beef stew in Virginia. Saigon Dish is the first restaurant I've found near LA that prepares Bo Kho that way. My dramatic self stopped the employee to tell him how long it's been since I've had a Bo Kho that reminded me of home. Although it was sweeter than what I'm used to, it was still delicious. I was lucky enough to come in on a Saturday when the Banh Xeo was available. The crepe was light and crispy (now this dish I'm actually used to being a bit sweeter) but the nuoc mam really balanced everything out. I contemplated taking a container of the fish sauce home but I know what happens if that spills in your car. Anyways, this is one of those restaurants where you want to come hungry so you can eat 3 meals.

    A great local spot to satisfy your Vietnamese cravings! We stopped by for an early Friday dinner…read moreand found the place already busy, but luckily a table opened up for us. I like to switch things up between pho and bun rieu, and that night I went with the tomato-based noodle soup. It was a bit mild at first, but adding extra shrimp paste made it just right. I also appreciated that the staff had no problem blanching the bean sprouts upon request just the way I like them. My husband ordered the grilled pork chop with rice, and they were happy to swap out the shredded pork for a fried egg. We also shared an order of shrimp cakes to start. The food came out quickly, service was prompt, and overall it was a great experience. We'll definitely be back to try more dishes on the menu.

    Photos
    Saigon Dish - Bún Riêu # 21A

    Bún Riêu # 21A

    Saigon Dish - #35 Combo rice platter with Korean BBQ

    #35 Combo rice platter with Korean BBQ

    Saigon Dish - Phở filet mignon 13A

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    Phở filet mignon 13A

    South Bay Restaurant

    South Bay Restaurant

    4.5(49 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Yes! Definitely goes all the way to the top of my list of best Vietnamese foods…read more Go try it now, stop reading, who cares, just go!!! Anyway, if you want to read... When we got there, there are uncles chilling in the back parking lot, enjoying their coffee, cigarettes, and friendship, talking about who knows what.. We walk to the front, and there are two doors open, the owner comes out and tells us to come in the right side, but the right side said Cafe Ngo. We were confused and told him we were here for the left restaurant. He said same, but we didn't know. When we ordered, we got what he was trying to say. They own both sides, so he wanted us to sit in the right one so he could chill with his friends while we ate. Ohhhhhh. Sorry, we didn't know. Anyway, we ordered a bowl of pho, a banh mi, and an egg roll plate. The pho tai chin nam gan which is pho with rare steak, brisket, and tendon. The broth was spectacular! The meat cuts were cooked perfectly. Everything was right! The banh mi dac biet came with all the cold cuts. It was delicious! The pate (liver wurst) and all the meats were great. The cha (pork cake sliced) in which some people posted pictured thinking nasty stuff like mold.. no it's not! It's whole black pepper corns that are sliced! Just take a good look! I noticed it right away. It was a great sandwich, great bread, great meats, great ratio! The eggrolls are awesome too! Good ratio, good dipping sauce. Only thing that could have made this entire meal better, some mint with those eggrolls. The whole meal was great and super delicious, and they open super early compared to all other places. Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Definitely will be back soon, and again and again too!!!

    I came here because of the Yelp rating. I wanted a Banh Mi and this was close enough to my work…read more I got here right before noon and everyone was working in the kitchen. Took a couple of minutes before I was helped. No biggie. Each table has hoidin, siracha, and fish sauce. If Infelt like pho, this place smells authentic. The sandwich has legitimate bread, crusty roll with good flavor. The vegetables are very good and well proportioned. The meat in the combination sandwich was not the typical lunch meat. I couldn't really identify the meats. But it was clearly put in hot. It was a good sandwich.

    Photos
    South Bay Restaurant
    South Bay Restaurant - Banh Mi Đặc Biệt

    Banh Mi Đặc Biệt

    South Bay Restaurant - Inside

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    Inside

    Pho House

    Pho House

    4.5(710 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    My family & I eat pho pretty frequently & this place is a forever staple in our household whenever…read morewe're craving pho. They never miss. There are a lot of delicious pho spots in the area, but what makes them special is the owners & their dedication to providing warm & stellar service, maintaining cleanliness, & most importantly cooking delicious food. We usually get the rib eye, round eye, or filet mignon pho, house special vermicelli, & egg/spring rolls. We have a vegan in the family who also really enjoys the veggie pho. Their chicken pho was also very new & yummy, but I can't stop myself from getting beef. Their house made chili oil is a must to add in your broth or dip your protein in. Smallest size is large, so be ready to eat! There's plenty of hot broth to enjoy your meal too. The rolls are crunchy & fresh every time. Their drinks are also really good: pineapple smoothie is my favorite for dessert vibes (perfect balance of creamy & sweet) & iced peach or passion fruit tea for refreshing vibes. Parking is very abundant. Service has always been consistent & friendly even when they're busy. You'll understand why you'd want to keep supporting them when you see how they interact with their regulars. Very sweet & genuine people. Only one bathroom, but always clean. Please go & give it a try

    Came here for some pho. I ordered the #3 pho which came with the filet mignon slices. Beef was…read moretender but noodles were overcooked and mushy. Broth was savory. Ambiance was soft Chinese intrumental music in the background. They have a restroom in the back. Owners were friendly. There is a $15 min to use credit card.

    Photos
    Pho House - Register

    Register

    Pho House - Short rib Bánh mì

    Short rib Bánh mì

    Pho House

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    Pho Ever - Gardena - Ph Oxtail. Flavorful!

    Pho Ever - Gardena

    4.0(1.3k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Probably one of the tastiest phos I have had, maybe ever. The food is very high quality and I…read morealways find myself calling them to place an order for pickup. The wait staff is very kind and helpful. As well as the decor inside is very cute and get you excited for the food. Definitely recommend.

    My father in law insisted we come here because he said it was really good. He also failed to…read moremention that this was years ago. As soon as we entered we saw a sign saying you had to pay before being seated. Red flag!! Paying before you even had a taste of the food rang alarms in my head. Asking for a tip before service has even been rendered is the most ridiculous thing ever. Alot of places do this and it needs to be changed. Tip after services have been rendered. The workers here at least the 4 that I saw were all extremely young. They looked like they all belong in high school. They were very slow in anything they did. During my whole time here I the resturant the phone kept going off and they ignored it quite a few times. The inside of the resturant nice and clean, no complaints from me. My wife used their bathroom but the door did not lock so I had to stand outside which is annoying and not suitable for any ladies wanting to use the restroom. The food took quite a long time to come out. We sat down for awhile before the appetizers came out. 2 of us got the pho lunch special and it comes with a fried veggie eggroll. It took 15 minutes just to get 2 veggie spring rolls which were fresh and hot. When taking a bite out of them the inside was just mushy veggies and tasted like they were soaked in soy sauce. Then the spring rolls came out and they looked ok. After tasting they were decent. My only complaint about them is there wasn't enough peanut sauce, just a little dish not enough for all of our rolls. My wife ordered the combination fried rice. It came and it looked nice and hot. Upon tasting it for myself it tasted extremely salty. The proteins in it (Chinese sausage,shrimp,chicken) were almost inedible with the exception of the Chinese sausage. The shrimp was extremely over cooked and the chicken was cut thin and wide, like jerky and was just as dry as jerky. My FIL and I ordered the combination pho. The pho was extremely lackluster and was missing some components commonly in combo pho (pho dac biet) it was missing tendon,flank and meatballs (sometimes not always in pho dac biet) The meat to noodle ratio is extremely terrible, had at least 8 bites of noodles left and no more meat. The broth was so bland no flavor at all except for the over abundance of sweetness from the sugar. Being part vietnamese myself I love alot of pho whether its super delicious or just ok. This pho is not even in the "just ok" realm its terrible, its a disgrace to pho everywhere. Even if you are the type to put Hoison/Sriracha in the broth it will not save it. FIL says this place uses to be good but I guess things have changed since his last visit all those years ago. You could pick almost any other pho restaurant and I am 99.99% sure it would be better than here. If you value your time,money, and taste buds please stay clear of this place by any means necessary.

    Photos
    Pho Ever - Gardena
    Pho Ever - Gardena - Calamari Deep Fried

    Calamari Deep Fried

    Pho Ever - Gardena - Women owned businesses

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    Women owned businesses

    Pho Daisy

    Pho Daisy

    4.6(80 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Most affordable pho restaurant in the South Bay that has solid broth!…read more +located on prairie and marine; small parking lot available +we ordered their pho and omg first of all their pride is insane! Regular size bowl is $10.95 and large is $12.95 which is a steal in LA. The soup was very flavorful and noodles were cooked to perfection! I'm kicking myself for not giving this spot a try sooner. I ordered large but I couldn't even finish the bowl and had to take some home! +we also ordered their cold iced tea and I think they serve jasmine tea? It was nothing special but I liked it to balance my piping hot pho -They only have one waiter so it might take some time for them to take your order or get your check but be patient since he's doing his best manning it all on his own!

    I visited Pho Daisy for the first time this past weekend and was impressed at how affordable…read moreeverything was. A large pho with rare steak and brisket was just $12.45 and five egg rolls were $8.35. The large pho was perfect for sharing, with a fair amount of tender steak and brisket. The egg rolls were packed with ingredients and were very hearty. I found these egg rolls to be very satisfying! The egg rolls were my favorite. Overall, I found the food here to be good and at an excellent price. The only comment is that they don't provide iced water. They do offer Vietnamese coffee, coconut water and soda for purchase. I made a note to self that I need to bring bottled water if I plan to dine here in the future.

    Photos
    Pho Daisy
    Pho Daisy
    Pho Daisy

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    Thai Lai Restaurant - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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