Mouthwatering Soup in Irvine

Cô Ba Bún Bò

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (21)

"Living here in Westminster, it's surprisingly hard to find good bun bo hue. I've tried so many that are just watered down and lackluster. This was the first time I've had a good bowl of bun bo hue in the states. The picture I took was literally half-way through my meal because I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. I knew I had to leave a review later. The broth is super flavorful and clean. They give ample amounts of noodle and meat with a good variety of different meats as well including pork knuckle, pig's blood, fish ball, and beef. I will say that it's not very spicy but they leave sate for you to add to your liking. The lychee lemon does taste a bit like canned lychee juice but regardless is quite good! I would just ask for less sugar. It's a family run business and everybody was very courteous and the restaurant is clean! Stop by if you have a chance. I know I'll be coming back."

Siam Thai Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (413) • $$

"I have been here several times over 2-3 years. Always love the tom yum, pad see ew, and sa tor. Yellow curry is good too.The place is a nice place to eat. It is usually quiet with one or two other tables with customers.I guess service is slower than some restaurants. But I like the food and I think is worth waiting for. I haven't notice some of the things in the other poor reviews but a family can have their off days."

Mendocino Farms

★★★★☆ 3.9 (153) • $$

"Irritated because I ordered a large side of curry couscous and they ended up giving me 2 small containers. Definitely does not look as big as the large container that the cashier showed me. Also, since the cashier showed me the large container, I knew that they had them available, so why give me the small ones? The food is good but it's already on the pricy side for what you get, so getting screwed on quantity irks."

Wild Strawberry Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (17)

"A hidden gem for sure. A little cafe tucked in amongst the corporate buildings around fashion island. Service is always on point. Outdoor seating with a few indoor. The vibe and decor are farmhouse chic and love that they have blankets on each chair during the winter time.Breakfast or lunch are a sure bet here. I love the avocado toast on olive bread w a poached egg. All their pastries are made fresh and look delish. Their wraps and sandwiches are generous portions. I usually opt for the half wrap at lunch. Will definitely be back to try more items."

Suthathip Thai Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (362) • $$

"I have been a fan of Suthathip ever since they opened in Anaheim Hills about 7 years ago. Although it is a bit out of the way, I still come here on and off just because the food is so good. I assure you that it is definitely worth the extra driving distance to get there as you will find some of the most authentic and delicious Thai cuisines in the entire OC.Their lunch special is also one of the best bargains in town and each entrée includes soup or salad. Pictured above is a broccoli and chicken lunch special served with steamed rice and fried wontons. I also like their traditional pad thai (fried rice noodles) as well as their curry dishes. The restaurant's yellow curry is particularly on point, and I like it moderately spicy.For a hearty dinner, I recommend crying tiger - a tender and flavorful rib eye steak served with their signature sweet chili sauce. Seafood lovers have plenty of fish entrees to choose from. My personal favorite is deep fried tilapia with garlic pepper."

Sheung Shui - Fish & Rice Noodles

★★★★★ 4.5 (363) • $$

"Clean and good service is the first impression of this place. We order a take out , Jay is great to help us to place the order. Food is tasty, if you're hurry to get delicious food , must try here!!"

Hoa Binh Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (536) • $$

"This place has been here for decades and I feel bad that I never gave it a try until now! It shares a kitchen with the now-closed Banh Canh (vietnamese udon) place across the street and so they have 2 menus! There is so much to choose from! I got the wonton BBQ pork soup and my cousin got the recommended banh canh #15; both were solid. The BBQ pork in the soup was delish. Banh canh was actually very good too; you could get the broth more thickened or a thinner broth. My cousin ate the entire thing and said she's definitely coming back. The lady serving tables was so sweet too. She had recommended the banh beo but we had no stomach space. I presume the owner was the elderly gentleman who came by our table to ask how everything tasted. He was also very sweet and happy we enjoyed the food. Definitely coming back with a bigger party next time so we could try different things!"

Noodology

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"Food is good and the service is fast. Especially like the pig ears in chili oil. Would recommend"

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Costa Mesa

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"Review 6/365 My 1st time coming to Mitsawa Marketplace and trying Ramen here on Tuesday Sept 24, 2024.I love mee a good ramen bowl especially a scrumptious place along w spicy. What I ordered~ Toroniku Spicy Miso Ramen in Large $ 17.45 noodles are yummy, chewy and good. The broth is spicy but isn't as spicy as I'd like it to be. Broth was yummy and not oily. Loved it. The large size is good and can be shared, if not really hungry. The pork is tender. Definitely recommended.Service is fast & friendly. Just a bit hard w communication a bit w the associates. Located in the food court with so many food options eateries. Lots of tables available.Looks like a good legit Japanese Ramen restaurant.Menu is in Japanese writing. Cute booth in food court looking like a Japanese restaurant in Japan."

Elephant Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (798) • $$

"On this cold evening warm Thai food sounded perfect! One of our favorite local places is Elephant Cafe in Lake Forest. This small restaurant is on a busy corner intersection so if you aren't paying attention, you can miss the driveway to enter and then you have a long block before you can turn around. Elephant Cafe is a charming place with super friendly staff and amazingly authentic food. There are plenty of options for everyone. They even customize the level of heat on many of their dishes. Tonight the place was hopping! Booths full of customers chatting away and a constant flow of take out orders. I got take out as well and only had to wait about 10 minutes or so for our food. Tonight's menu was fried wonton, Thai Basil Fried Rice with veggies and Mild heat and Pad Kee Mao noodles with Chicken and Mild heat. We are so happy eating our yummy Thai food and watching college basketball at home! Prices are excellent too and I highly recommend Elephant Cafe!"

Haveli - The Cuisine Of India

★★★★☆ 4.2 (26)

"Atmosphere: 5 starsI recently dined at Haveli Cuisine in Laguna Beach, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience! The atmosphere was lovely with soft, pleasant music that set the perfect ambiance. The restaurant was also spotless, which immediately made me feel comfortable and welcomed.Quality: 5 Star.I started with the white rice, which had a subtle hint of cinnamon--such a unique and delightful touch. Their Naan bread was fresh and warm, a perfect complement to the meal. The highlight for me was the chicken curry*. It was bold, rich, and packed with fresh, vibrant flavors that made each bite flavorful. I also tried lamb for the first time, and while the taste didn't quite align with my personal preferences, I could tell it was well-prepared and seasoned just right for those who enjoy lamb.Service 5 Stars.What truly set Haveli Cuisine apart was the outstanding service. The staff was incredibly friendly and polite, making me feel like I was their most important guest from the moment I walked in. Their warmth and attentiveness really enhanced the dining experience. I will definitely be returning to Haveli for another flavorful meal!Value: 5 Stars. Like Suchi, there is no cheap Indian food. For Laguna Beach, however, their price feel fair for the experience."

Saigon Vegan

★★★★★ 4.7 (314) • $$

"Daymnnnnnnnnn finger lickin good Portobello tenders!!! Seriously!! You need these mushrooms in your life right now lol I dunno bout the other foods here, but the portobello tender is a MUST GET! 10/10!!GOLDEN! CRUNChY! FAT & JuiCy! FRESHHHH! Owner was asking me if I needed some extra dips. I refused, but if you're a saucy person then you will need extras. BUY IT! The little sauce container was pretty small. About $9!! I don't even like fried foods much...No REgREtz!!"

Tsuruhashi - Fountain Valley

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$$

"2 AND A HALF HOUR WAIT. The meats are high quality here. It's not some subpar AYCE meat. The best part was definitely the two sauces they give. It pairs so well with all the meats!! My review is 5 stars for just the food itself, not taking into account of the wait time. I wouldn't wait 2 hours again. Maybe 1 hour max."

Gam Ja Tang House

★★★★☆ 4.1 (120) • $$

"Meatiest Gamjatang I've ever had. Usually have to pick at bones to get the meat, but more meat than bones here. Lunch special at 16.99 ain't too bad for what we got. One could easily share between two people."

Kaju Soft Tofu

★★★★☆ 3.5 (651) • $$

"Absolutely love this place. The servers are sweet and kind. The prices are reasonable (in my opinion) for what you get. I usually order the spicy tofu soup that comes with the panchan. The little crispy fried fish are also a favorite. Recently, I shared the steamed egg dish and it's so fluffy and delicious. I can't wait to try the ginseng chicken."

Thuan Kieu Noodle & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (399) • $$

"Hidden gem in my opinion. They're definitely known for their broken rice dishes but I decided to try their Goi Ga (Chicken Salad) which was super flavorful and my friend got one of their rice dishes. The salad had fish sauce on the side too but the salad itself was salty enough for my tastebuds. They have a deal for certain dishes like the Chicken Salad so you can order 2 entrees and get 1 free or order 1 entree and get 1 free select drink. I got the dessert drink Che Ba Mau which was sweet and perfect after the meal. Inside was pretty busy and spacious. Many dishes to choose from so worth the try!"

Hu Tieu De Nhat

★★★★★ 4.5 (302) • $$

"Small mom and pop type cafe/ restaurant located in a strip mall in Garden Grove near the Westminster area specializing in hu tieu - a noodle dish that comes with soup or soup on the side ('dry'). This noodle dish is popular in South Vietnam with Chinese/Cambodian influence/origins. This is commonly eaten earlier in the day or for breakfast. Came here when family was in town and although the space is pretty small, they were very friendly and accommodating for our relatively large party. I ordered the 2. Hu Tieu Mi Nam Vang (dry - soup is served on the side). This came with a combination of rice and egg noodles with pork, ground pork, shrimp, and quail egg. Such a delicious combination of flavors and textures... the noodles were also chewy and very well done. Such a treat, because I rarely get this dish when I visit family or go out. I also got the corn milk, which I liked a lot. Never had it before and it definitely had a corn flavor. (I love almost all things corn - I mean...this drink is almost like a paleo bourbon, lol)Parking was easy at the time because there's a lot and street parking in the area. It was also relatively early so not a lot of people out yet. Big fan of this place."

Quan Hy Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 • $$

"The best way to experience any place, is with a local. Even better is when the local speaks the lingo! Fortunately, I was able to tour Little Saigon with a friend, and fellow foodie, the lovely & sweet @jazzfoodie! (Jazz N.) It had been a minute since I had some delicious Vietnamese food. Since we were in the area, I wanted something authentic and flavorful. After being provided with a few options, we quickly settled on Quan Hy. What to Order: We started with two orders of Mushroom Banh Beo or Rice Pot Stickers. More fish sauce please! These little treats were the perfect start to our meal. They were light, smooth, with a little bit of crunch. The mushrooms tasted like meat. My main dish was Rice Vermicelli with steak! Wow! The combination of everything inside the bowl was outstanding! Literally bursting with flavor! What to Drink: The Pineapple Mint Lemonade!!! It was the right amount of sweet. I could have sipped all in one gulp, but forced myself to drink it slowly. Tip: When you see lots of locals eating...head right in and grab a seat."

Asia Foodie Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (201) • $$

"Back at it again. The food is addicting. My mouth salivates before I even dig in. I love the orange chicken. It was my first time trying this dish. It was so crispy and juicy. The chicken surprisingly was not dry and very moist. It's not like the original orange chicken. It's way better! Will be coming back for more!"

PhoNatic

★★★★☆ 4.4 (63) • $$

"This is probably one of the best pho places that I've eaten at. Mainly because the ingredients are so fresh. The bean sprouts don't look Brown, the basil doesn't have any holes or any wilt to it, the jalapeno peppers are bright green and even the lime. The broth is also not too salty like most pho places. I drank most of the broth and I never do that. I think there could have been a little bit more meat, but I did only order a regular. I also ordered the Vietnamese iced coffee and that was perfect. The staff is very attentive. I was there for maybe 25 minutes and they stopped by my table twice to check in. They checked to see if I wanted more water. The interior is very modern. Very clean. Very family friendly. The pricing also is very reasonable. I think the regular size was $13.95 and the large was $15.95. The Vietnamese iced coffee was $5.All in all I had a great experience eating here. I came by myself right after lunch time so it wasn't that busy. I will definitely be coming back here again!"

The Deli Station

★★★★★ 4.9 (207) • $$

"Search the word "sandwiches" in Santa Ana, CA, and the first restaurant that populates is The Deli Station. The place is inside 4th Street Market, a food hall, and is one of many individually-owned small businesses. After seeing other restaurants that looked equally delicious, I stuck to my decisions and ordered from a Wrap, probably the BEST DECISION I made that day. What I ordered:SANTA FE CHICKEN SALAD WRAP with MACARONI SALAD (chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, corn, tortilla strips, cheddar cheese, side of chipotle ranch) - At first glance, I was amazed by the sandwich's size. The makers did not skimp on any of the ingredients, as I saw all of them in the cut. Not only was it satisfyingly filling, but the sandwich was also beautifully presented, especially in the mid-slice. Not only was it filling, but it was BEAUTIFULLY presented. After several bites, I knew this place deserved a PERFECT FIVE STARS. The Macaroni Salad side was complemented well with the sandwich was well. I came here with my manager, and she ordered the Italian Submarine, and the presentation looked dank as well. I highly recommend this restaurant as it was SUPER DELICIOUS!"

Vua Bun Bo

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (339) • $

"They have three different style Bun bo hue from the different regions of Vietnamese which I have never seen that in any Vietnamese restaurant. I went with the Bun Bo Hue and the beef bone. Unfortunately I was disappointed when it arrived. The broth was not spicy and it lacked a lot of ingredients that goes into the soup. The beef bone was full of fat and was not cooked long enough. It was hard to chew. The "large" bowl was not large. As much as I wanted to give this place two thumbs up, I was not thoroughly impress . Friendly service. Difficult parking because it in a busy plaza!"

Kaju Soft Tofu - Garden Grove

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$

"Food: 5 out of 5Hot stone rice and side dishes are good along with soon tofu. Service: 2 out of 5It is always packed and the place always lack of servers. They are too busy to check on you and plus most of them are not nice. Ambiance: nah... the place is old and loud. Nothing to complain though. Recommend to get your name on yelp wait list before you head out."

Thai Way

★★★★☆ 4.2 (350) • $

"Came here to have dinner with a friend. It's a very small restaurant but the food is good and the prices are inexpensive. The service is very nice. Definitely coming back when I'm around the area."

Bánh Cuốn Hoa Hồng Hương

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (79) • $$

"I ordered the large size, and it was huge!!! Surprisingly I finished it all, but you can definitely share the plate with someone and order a small app at the side. I love that they have so many toppings as opposed to just cha when you have banh cuon at home. The Chinese sausage is a great touch :) my family loves this place."

Mo Ran Gak Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.5 • $$

"Always a lengthy wait, but well worth the delectable savories from grilled pork, chicken, and mouth-watering soft beef pieces, cooked to perfection by the friendly yet attentive staff chefs.Ensure to be on-site to add your party's name to the guestlist and don't wander too far!The interior is cozy and well-ventilated and you don't leave feeling smoky like at typical AYCE places. Pricey menu items can feel expensive but trust; it's worth it all.Can't wait to return here again soon!"

Kaju Soft Tofu

★★★★☆ 4 (705) • $$

"Great place for when you're just craving tofu soup. It's currently $17.99 for their soondubu and comes with a hot bowl of rice and refillable banchan. The servers, along with the cat robots, are pretty attentive and stop by to refill your drinks/banchan regularly. Note: there are 7 spice level options on the menu I got a medium spice level which ran on the milder side, so I recommend getting spicy if you have moderate spice tolerance!"

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Costa Mesa

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$

"My absolute favorite ramen spot in the area. Their Tsukemen just always hits the spot. There's generally a line on the weekends so I get there 30 minutes before opening.Parking can be tough sometimes because it's a small plaza. Service is generally friendly and quick. Not sure I would recommend this place for large parties (6+) since it can be a bit crowded."

Lao Tang Jia

★★★★☆ 4.1 (28)

"The food taste good, but it's very cheap and very expensive. The soups are all water with high prices.So yes, it is good but the business needs to do a better job of providing quality for the price they charge"

Saigon Beach

★★★★★ 4.6 (945) • $$

"Great Vietnamese food in Newport! It's a nice little spot in the popular area of Newport Beach. There isn't much seating but it's the perfect grab n go. The service was good and quick. The food was even better. Grilled Turmeric Chicken Vermicelli Noodle was a 10/10! The chicken was seasoned and perfectly cooked. The noodles were great. It was filling and the sauce was perfect. The shrimp spring rolls 10/10. They taste like authentic spring rolls. The peanut sauce was untraditional, but still good peanut sauce."

Myung Dong Tofu House

★★★★☆ 4.1 (423) • $$

"It was a chilly evening so my boyfriend and I were looking for something soupy for dinner. We decided to get tofu soup at Myung Dong Tofu House. It was really busy the time we came in, and there were a lot of Korean friend groups and families dining here, so it's probably authentic. One funny thing about this menu, is that it calls out a limit of a maximum of 2 side dish refills. We were actually neglected the whole time and didn't get anyyyy side dish refills. If you love side dishes, this isn't a spot for you. My boyfriend and I shared a BBQ Beef Short Rib (Galbi) + Tofu Soup Combination ($32.99) and a BBQ Sliced Beef Rib Eye (Bulgogi) + Tofu Soup Combination ($28.99). My boyfriend got the Clam Tofu Soup and I got the Beef Tofu Soup as part of the combos. The side dishes and fried fish came out first. The side dishes were average. The fried fish was on the soft side, lacking crispiness. Surprisingly the meats and rice came out before the tofu soups. They left our rice in the metal pot and warned us it was hot and to move it around with the wood thing it was sitting on. I saw other tables where staff scooped out the rice for them, but not with us. My tofu soup had good flavor, but not much beef bits inside the soup. The meats were well marinated. There was too much fillers like onions in the bulgogi for my liking. The galbi had good taste but the meat was a little tough. The perfect balance of a meal for a cold evening. We both felt full, and I had a little leftover for the next day. We had to waive down staff for boxes and the check. We got boxes first, a wrong size box and then a new box... thennnn still no check after a while. So we waived down a different staff member for the check. Still a nice meal for the most part, but I don't live close enough to be in a hurry to come back."

Long Hai Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (414) • $$

"Tucked away in the corner of the plaza, I have been nearby for Cream Pan and Bardot so many times and never noticed Long Hai. Plenty of roomy parking in this plaza. I was specifically searching for Sup Mang Cua, when Long Hai came up. I was excited that they were in Tustin so I didn't have to make the trek to the Little Saigon area.When I arrived in the evening time after work the restaurant was empty. I was able to pick any seat I wanted so I decided to sit by the window to enjoy some day light. Their menu has a lot of options to pick from. Pricing is on the affordable side in this economy. I ordered a Hot Tea ($?), the Sup Mang Cua ($8/regular) I came here for and a starred signature Ca Chien Don ($14). I was disappointed the hot tea came in a small styrofoam cup and not a big pot. I am also not a fan of styrofoam so that was a turn off but the tea actually tasted really good. The Sup Mang Cua is a Vietnamese Asparagus and Crab soup. It also has egg whisked into the soup base. The portion was decent. However visually I was surprised they used the green asparagus and not the white asparagus I see used for this soup. Unfortunately the crab did not taste fresh. Before ordering I was wondering if I should get the large and after tasting the dish I was glad I got the regular size. The Ca Chien Don ($14) is a Fried Tamarind Sole Fish. When ordering the lady warned me that this fish is very boney. I told her I was aware and I am magnificent at deboning fish. This was such a huge portion. Definitely enough for two people. The batter on it was tasty and it was fried to a perfect execution. However there was that fishiness essence that lingered. Even the dipping sauces could not save it from its' unfresh taste. While paying for my check, an older gentleman came to the front. We had a great conversation about the latest gas rate increases. I think the service here is really nice, so that's my reason for rounding up. My overall assessment is that they have a menu with a lot of variety, prices are fair, friendly service but the downfall for me is the subpar quality. If you have basic taste buds, you might like this place for pricing and portion."

Social Aroma

★★★★★ 4.5 (79) • $$

"My first thought walking up was "hmm" (not bad just interesting lol) as i was not sure what i was expecting walking up but the restaurant was different than i assumed. The restaurant is inside a Comfort Inn hotel and basically consists of a handful of tables (from what i could see there may have been another seating area but unsure) attached via stairs to the "continental breakfast" room of the hotel and has outdoor seating couches as shown in images on Yelp! It was not what we were expecting in the slightest lol - the employees were very kind and helpful and explained that the majority of the menu is gluten free so if you see a "(G)" it actually meant it had gluten (we completely had that backwards before asking). We tried the fried Cauliflower (Desi Gobi Manchurian) as an appetizer which was really good however could have used slightly more crispy (8/10); we also got the chicken Tikka Masala which was delicious (9/10) however could have used more chicken and the chicken Biryani - this was our first time trying this and the spices were very good we just weren't a fan of a seed that's in the recipe that has a strong bitter like flavor when you bite into it. Avoiding whatever the seed was - another good item!! Lots of people think "hotel in a comfort inn??" But it's worth a try absolutely!!"

Pho King Way

★★★★☆ 4.4 (60)

"Just a quicky. Consumer Alert - I'm not an expert on PhoI have met friends here on and off over the years. We did stop during Covid and now we went back for the first time in a long time.Spring rolls - cold, fresh, tasty shrimp. Sauce is great with it.Pho - I got the small bowl with fatty brisket. You can get up to two meats with the basic Pho bowl, but I just wanted the fatty brisket. The bowls came out to our tables in minutes. The small bowl is very good size and the Pho is served with a side of Thai basil, jalapeños, bean sprouts, sriracha and another sauce I am not sure of. Dumped it all into the bowl and waited a bit for the broth to cool down. It was delicious. I scooped it all up to the last drop. The broth was tasty and the brisket was excellent. I will be back.Only funny things about the place was one of the servers was very concerned we were not ordering while waiting for our last buddy to show up. The place was not full, but he came many times to take our order. I ordered the spring rolls and a drink to calm him down. Ended up ordering as the last buddy was stuck in SoCal traffic.Go. Eat Well. ignore the order pressure, HAVE FUN!"

Pho 45

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"I have been craving pho for months! Food: They were generous with meat portion (rare steak and well done brisket). The broth was lacking the homemade taste which it was on the blander side but the hot chili helped. Great mint, bean sprouts and fresh jalapeños to spice it up with flavor. I loved they offer hot tea on the house Service: we went right before dinner rush and the employees were ready. So quick the food was at our table in no wait. All were friendly Ambiance: clean and simple. Eat your pho and go :)"