Few restaurants make me feel strongly enough to leave a review. Usually, when either the food or the service is decent, I don't complain. I came with my date on a Sunday evening around 8. It was not crowded, and we were promptly led to our seats. After we got our water, the staff was a little too eager to take our order, checking in on us every five seconds with a "Are you ready to order?" even though we told them repeatedly we'd still need a couple more minutes with the menu. But the service was fast; the food came out almost five minutes after ordering. After the service, they did not check on us to see if we needed more water or anything else throughout the meal. The food was decent, and the pho was just like any others I'd had in terms of taste. The #8. Cha Gio appetizer was a decent fried rice paper rolls with shrimp. I got #23. Pho Tai Nam Gan, pho with rare steak, well-done brisket and tendon. My date ordered #30. Pho Bo Vien, beef meatballs rice noodle soup. The portions were overwhelmingly more rice noodles than meat, but it seemed fair given the price ($15 for my large pho). The rice noodles were a clump in the broth. The brisket seemed cooked, but the tendon was pink and rare. What made me feel strongly enough to leave a review here is that almost immediately after having my first couple of tastes of the tendon, I started developing a stomach ache that lasted throughout the meal. It ended up with me on the toilet trying to make a deal with God later that night and now woken up at 3 am the very next day by the discomfort from the itch in my throat that is now developing into something serious. As I was writing this review, I stumbled upon their Health Score on Yelp and discovered that they somehow got a PASS from a recent routine health inspection in March 2024 -- just last month -- even with 18 violations. Take this with a grain of salt, but I would NOT recommend anything "rare" at this place unless you want to take your chances with food poisoning.
A P.
Craving pho on a rainy day. Ordered the #21 and egg rolls both were great and service was fast and efficient. One heads up is the floors get a bit slippery when it's raining out. Also I wish they had the little condiment dish for sauces.
Tina G.
Located Jeffrey and Trabuco spot is nestled in near tea spot & Starbucks. Place was quiet, offered outdoor seating, and the gentleman that took our order was polite however the pho both rare steak and chicken were less than flavorful. If this is your spot continue to support - for my liking its a miss!
Alexandra Galiacho
EXCELLENT AND DELICIOUS!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Julia A.
My take out (door dash) from pho Ha Noi is always delicious! I'm not sure why there's negative reviews on here. My veggies are always fresh, and they don't skimp on the portions. I think they flavor the food well. A favorite and only 10 mins from me! They are fast as well.
Julie Oh
My daughter found this in the food, where are all the legs of the bug.
Food: 2
Service: 3
Brian K.
This is my favorite in the lake forest area because they are consistently good and they have affordable prices compared to the other 2-3 in the area.
Sam M.
Hair in the food I got for take out. I got hung up on when I tried to call in. I can't recommend paying $16 for a plate that grosses you out.
Nick G.
Ehhhhhh.My girlfriend was craving pho and spring rolls so I decided why not give this place a shot since it is so close to us. I've gone here prior and only had some spring rolls (which I didn't like) but thought the place deserved another chance.We came here on Saturday evening to find an almost empty restaurant, which I'm assuming most people were going to Mokkoji Shabu Shabu next door. We got seated immediately. Once our server returned my girlfriend order #24 Pho Tai Nam Sach (Large), Goi Cuon (spring rolls), and I ordered the Com Bo Luc Lac. We also got a pot of hot tea.Our food came out very fast and I couldn't complain since we were hungry. My girlfriend said for her pho the broth tasted good, but she's had better. The spring rolls were OK. The hot tea was good.My food:- Com Bo Luc Lac: The meat was tender and tasty, as well as the onions. I wasn't a fan of the orange rice that came with it, which had the scent of coconut but tasted nothing like it. I would have preferred regular white rice. The salad that accompanied it was very dry, with a spritz of whatever dressing they put on it. Normally this dish at other restaurants would come with a soup on the side and a bowl of salt/pepper with a lemon, but this one didn't.Service was a little dry. No one came to check on us and the server just stared at us at times.Parking is plentiful, there are even charging spots super close. A motorcycle parking area is right by there as well, barricaded for safety.Good food is worth traveling far for, and I recommend making the trek to Westminster for better pho.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Nicholas G.
Ehhhhhh. My girlfriend was craving pho and spring rolls so I decided why not give this place a shot since it is so close to us. I've gone here prior and only had some spring rolls (which I didn't like) but thought the place deserved another chance. We came here on Saturday evening to find an almost empty restaurant, which I'm assuming most people were going to Mokkoji Shabu Shabu next door. We got seated immediately. Once our server returned my girlfriend order #24 Pho Tai Nam Sach (Large), Goi Cuon (spring rolls), and I ordered the Com Bo Luc Lac. We also got a pot of hot tea. Our food came out very fast and I couldn't complain since we were hungry. My girlfriend said for her pho the broth tasted good, but she's had better. The spring rolls were OK. The hot tea was good. My food: - Com Bo Luc Lac: The meat was tender and tasty, as well as the onions. I wasn't a fan of the orange rice that came with it, which had the scent of coconut but tasted nothing like it. I would have preferred regular white rice. The salad that accompanied it was very dry, with a spritz of whatever dressing they put on it. Normally this dish at other restaurants would come with a soup on the side and a bowl of salt/pepper with a lemon, but this one didn't. Service was a little dry. No one came to check on us and the server just stared at us at times. Parking is plentiful, there are even charging spots super close. A motorcycle parking area is right by there as well, barricaded for safety. Good food is worth traveling far for, and I recommend making the trek to Westminster for better pho.
Server was super friendly. I sat down and ordered. All good until a minute later the server came back to tell me that the credit card machine was down and it was cash only. I don't carry cash anymore. It's dirty and inconvenient. When I said I didn't have cash and asked if it would be a problem...he chatted with the manager and then informed me that I couldn't order. (Not his fault- I get it-just the messenger here). So I left; it was weird. I've been coming here for years. I then read an oddly similar post from a month ago that seems way too coincidental. Either fix the machine or post a huge sign in the door that says "cash only". Out of curiosity I looked to see if they deliver. I found it odd that you can order online with a cc but not in the store? I don't really trust that I got the truth, I think the owner simply wants cash. But...it really doesn't matter....just weird. I probably wouldn't have posted at all if I hadn't read the other similar post that was fairly recent.
Alex S.
The pho was mid. Broth tasted a little watered down. Bahn mi was mid. The bread was stale. The lady at the front was also rude.
Rene S.
Really bad pho. Surprised they're still in business after so long. Can't wait for them to close their doors so another restaurant can open here.
mamta iyer
Pretty good phoI also like their beef and pork spring
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pho Combo Large, Spring Roll
Kathleen H.
Pho Ha Noi is a decent Vietnamese spot to visit whenever you're craving a nice, warm bowl of pho. The spring rolls and rice dishes (I usually get the chicken) are also pretty good. Restaurant is quick to answer the phone for takeout orders, and service is pleasant for dine in as well. Plenty of seating inside and I've never had to wait long to get seated, but if there is a wait there are plenty of spots to grab a drink or shop around in the plaza (Starbucks and Kohl's for example).
Few restaurants make me feel strongly enough to leave a review. Usually, when either the food or the service is decent, I don't complain. I came with my date on a Sunday evening around 8. It was not crowded, and we were promptly led to our seats. After we got our water, the staff was a little too eager to take our order, checking in on us every five seconds with a "Are you ready to order?" even though we told them repeatedly we'd still need a couple more minutes with the menu. But the service was fast; the food came out almost five minutes after ordering. After the service, they did not check on us to see if we needed more water or anything else throughout the meal. The food was decent, and the pho was just like any others I'd had in terms of taste. The #8. Cha Gio appetizer was a decent fried rice paper rolls with shrimp. I got #23. Pho Tai Nam Gan, pho with rare steak, well-done brisket and tendon. My date ordered #30. Pho Bo Vien, beef meatballs rice noodle soup. The portions were overwhelmingly more rice noodles than meat, but it seemed fair given the price ($15 for my large pho). The rice noodles were a clump in the broth. The brisket seemed cooked, but the tendon was pink and rare. What made me feel strongly enough to leave a review here is that almost immediately after having my first couple of tastes of the tendon, I started developing a stomach ache that lasted throughout the meal. It ended up with me on the toilet trying to make a deal with God later that night and now woken up at 3 am the very next day by the discomfort from the itch in my throat that is now developing into something serious. As I was writing this review, I stumbled upon their Health Score on Yelp and discovered that they somehow got a PASS from a recent routine health inspection in March 2024 -- just last month -- even with 18 violations. Take this with a grain of salt, but I would NOT recommend anything "rare" at this place unless you want to take your chances with food poisoning.
Craving pho on a rainy day. Ordered the #21 and egg rolls both were great and service was fast and efficient. One heads up is the floors get a bit slippery when it's raining out. Also I wish they had the little condiment dish for sauces.
Located Jeffrey and Trabuco spot is nestled in near tea spot & Starbucks. Place was quiet, offered outdoor seating, and the gentleman that took our order was polite however the pho both rare steak and chicken were less than flavorful. If this is your spot continue to support - for my liking its a miss!
EXCELLENT AND DELICIOUS!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My take out (door dash) from pho Ha Noi is always delicious! I'm not sure why there's negative reviews on here. My veggies are always fresh, and they don't skimp on the portions. I think they flavor the food well. A favorite and only 10 mins from me! They are fast as well.
My daughter found this in the food, where are all the legs of the bug.
Food: 2
Service: 3
This is my favorite in the lake forest area because they are consistently good and they have affordable prices compared to the other 2-3 in the area.
Hair in the food I got for take out. I got hung up on when I tried to call in. I can't recommend paying $16 for a plate that grosses you out.
Ehhhhhh.My girlfriend was craving pho and spring rolls so I decided why not give this place a shot since it is so close to us. I've gone here prior and only had some spring rolls (which I didn't like) but thought the place deserved another chance.We came here on Saturday evening to find an almost empty restaurant, which I'm assuming most people were going to Mokkoji Shabu Shabu next door. We got seated immediately. Once our server returned my girlfriend order #24 Pho Tai Nam Sach (Large), Goi Cuon (spring rolls), and I ordered the Com Bo Luc Lac. We also got a pot of hot tea.Our food came out very fast and I couldn't complain since we were hungry. My girlfriend said for her pho the broth tasted good, but she's had better. The spring rolls were OK. The hot tea was good.My food:- Com Bo Luc Lac: The meat was tender and tasty, as well as the onions. I wasn't a fan of the orange rice that came with it, which had the scent of coconut but tasted nothing like it. I would have preferred regular white rice. The salad that accompanied it was very dry, with a spritz of whatever dressing they put on it. Normally this dish at other restaurants would come with a soup on the side and a bowl of salt/pepper with a lemon, but this one didn't.Service was a little dry. No one came to check on us and the server just stared at us at times.Parking is plentiful, there are even charging spots super close. A motorcycle parking area is right by there as well, barricaded for safety.Good food is worth traveling far for, and I recommend making the trek to Westminster for better pho.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Ehhhhhh. My girlfriend was craving pho and spring rolls so I decided why not give this place a shot since it is so close to us. I've gone here prior and only had some spring rolls (which I didn't like) but thought the place deserved another chance. We came here on Saturday evening to find an almost empty restaurant, which I'm assuming most people were going to Mokkoji Shabu Shabu next door. We got seated immediately. Once our server returned my girlfriend order #24 Pho Tai Nam Sach (Large), Goi Cuon (spring rolls), and I ordered the Com Bo Luc Lac. We also got a pot of hot tea. Our food came out very fast and I couldn't complain since we were hungry. My girlfriend said for her pho the broth tasted good, but she's had better. The spring rolls were OK. The hot tea was good. My food: - Com Bo Luc Lac: The meat was tender and tasty, as well as the onions. I wasn't a fan of the orange rice that came with it, which had the scent of coconut but tasted nothing like it. I would have preferred regular white rice. The salad that accompanied it was very dry, with a spritz of whatever dressing they put on it. Normally this dish at other restaurants would come with a soup on the side and a bowl of salt/pepper with a lemon, but this one didn't. Service was a little dry. No one came to check on us and the server just stared at us at times. Parking is plentiful, there are even charging spots super close. A motorcycle parking area is right by there as well, barricaded for safety. Good food is worth traveling far for, and I recommend making the trek to Westminster for better pho.
Restaurantji Recommends
Server was super friendly. I sat down and ordered. All good until a minute later the server came back to tell me that the credit card machine was down and it was cash only. I don't carry cash anymore. It's dirty and inconvenient. When I said I didn't have cash and asked if it would be a problem...he chatted with the manager and then informed me that I couldn't order. (Not his fault- I get it-just the messenger here). So I left; it was weird. I've been coming here for years. I then read an oddly similar post from a month ago that seems way too coincidental. Either fix the machine or post a huge sign in the door that says "cash only". Out of curiosity I looked to see if they deliver. I found it odd that you can order online with a cc but not in the store? I don't really trust that I got the truth, I think the owner simply wants cash. But...it really doesn't matter....just weird. I probably wouldn't have posted at all if I hadn't read the other similar post that was fairly recent.
The pho was mid. Broth tasted a little watered down. Bahn mi was mid. The bread was stale. The lady at the front was also rude.
Really bad pho. Surprised they're still in business after so long. Can't wait for them to close their doors so another restaurant can open here.
Pretty good phoI also like their beef and pork spring
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pho Combo Large, Spring Roll
Pho Ha Noi is a decent Vietnamese spot to visit whenever you're craving a nice, warm bowl of pho. The spring rolls and rice dishes (I usually get the chicken) are also pretty good. Restaurant is quick to answer the phone for takeout orders, and service is pleasant for dine in as well. Plenty of seating inside and I've never had to wait long to get seated, but if there is a wait there are plenty of spots to grab a drink or shop around in the plaza (Starbucks and Kohl's for example).