Pho Soup N’ Roll

Is it possible to give a place negative stars? I haven’t tried the food cuz it’s hasn’t even come out yet while my friends Phở came out 15 minutes ago and… we are leaving as food does not look like it’s even being prepared. Don’t establishments know that customer service is as important as the food???

This is my first time here and it was a horrible experience. It took at least 25 minutes to get the waiters attention. We wanted to order the chicken wing appetizer but the waiter informed us that the chicken wings would take long but we should order the egg rolls as a substitute because they still have left over from the batch of egg rolls they bought. We also ordered phở, iced coffee & water. First they brought our water for half the table and said they would bring more. They didn’t until we asked again. Egg rolls came out cold. The phở was mediocre. Then the waiter told us at that we weren’t going to get our ice coffee because the woman decided not to make it.
So bad… I’m Vietnamese and have gone to some pretty shady and/​or small places for phở. But this place is by far the worst experience and I give them 2 stars because I didn’t see a cockroaches on the floor but there where at least 6 tables that were still dirty and not cleaned up during my entire lunch. Don’t go here… trust me.

Best shrimp rolls and phở in south county! The filet phở is amazing, served rare which enhances the flavor! Shrimp rolls are simple and fresh. Prices are fair and service is generally smooth. Can get crowded on rainy days but worth the wait.

After a few years’ absence, I decided to come back again for lunch.
I wasn’t feeling well, had a ton of crap to do at work, and only a big bowl of chicken noodle soup would make me feel better.
Formerly Phở 99, they have remodeled inside and it looks more modern. Not that it was bad before, the new interior looks brighter. Staff is still friendly.
However, I remember now why I stopped coming for a while. Their broth is just bland. It’s good, but it needs flavor. The broth is lighter in color than most Phở places, which to me says it lacks the deep roasted flavor of the meat that makes Phở broth magical.
I ordered the fried chicken noodle soup. Instead of braised chicken, they used the house broth and shredded fried chicken in the soup. The chicken was definitely a day old, a bit dry and gamey. I had to mix the hoisin and sriracha to add flavor, which irritates me because I’d rather just eat than keep adjusting the flavor to my taste.
They do have other items on the menu, and other Unilocalers raved about the Banh Mi. Since I like the people, I’d most likely come back and try the other items on their menu.

Love this place, they have super delicious phở. I got the auntie Nina special beef phở.
This place is glistening clean! The owner is a very nice and kind lady!!! I definitely will return since I’m working near by:) GUI beefed phở is $ 4.99 from 4−9pm!!!

I’m rooting for SNR!!! We came on a Tuesday night and it was almost empty. Maybe lunchtime is busier for them.
At night, it’s just two people servicing the whole place. They were very accommodating when we wanted to watch a baseball game on their TV. Both were very kind and smiley people who took our orders and served our food with a few funny comments here and there.
We started with the pork and shrimp rolls which were tastier than most. In their version, they used grilled pork instead of the usual boiled sliced pork. They also put a crispy thingy in it a la Brodard. Sauce was a little curdle-​y but ok tasting.
I ordered a large oxtail phở (I love oxtail). The flavor of the broth was good and the phở was perfectly toothsome. The only thing I was disappointed about was the tenderness of the oxtail. The first piece I had was nice and tender. The subsequent pieces were tough and harder to eat. I imagine they threw more oxtail in to cook and didn’t cook it long enough before I ordered it.
Brother ordered their beef stew — he’s a connoisseur — and declared it pretty tasty. The beef in it was plentiful and very tender (unlike the oxtail) and I thought it paired perfectly with the phở that brother got with it. (You also have the option of baguette or rice.). It’s a bit soupier than other versions but definitely not lacking in flavor.
The drinks also deserve a mention. I got the super juice because I’m partial to fresh juice and brother ordered thai tea which he is a big fan of as well. We both enjoyed out drinks very much though brother said his was on the sweet side which he remedied by adding water.
SNR is definitely miles above their predecessor in that location and one of the best phở games in Lake-​town. Check it out!

Spring rolls were loose, prices were cheap and service was friendly… Kinda torn on this place… I would go back but with so many Viet places I the area the options are out there and this is not at the top of my list.

Wonderful dining experience. The service and personal care given to patrons is worth driving a little bit and being a loyal customer. The prices are excellent, the phở is good, and the rolls are great. The ingredients are very quality and the rolls are very fresh. The shrimp in the rolls is always top notch and the beef in the phở, very tasty and tender. The regular size bowl of phở is huge. All around great experience that I highly recommend.
**I make the best phở I’ve ever eaten at home and this is the only local phở shop I like. Sometimes a girl doesn’t have 4 hours to spare in the kitchen. Glad this place is within my reach.

Bland…
Despite that I still come here every so often. It’s one of those restaurants that it’s okay to eat at when you’re lunching alone because no one else is in there. Hmm… maybe that’s not a good thing.
Maybe I shouldn’t mind the stares and go eat elsewhere.

Review is based solely on the phở and spring rolls, I really like the phở at this place. They’re generous with their meat portions, but it could use a little more vermicelli. The soup is tasty, not too salty.
Spring rolls were good and has an egg roll crisp inside it. The peanut sauce is well made too. I’m surprised this place isn’t busier during lunch.

I am super picky with phở restaurants since I’m Vietnamese and my family cooks it at home every so often.
However, when the phở cravings hit spontaneously, it’s always good to have a Plan B and a good local phở restaurant.
We decided to give this new place a try and boy are we glad we did! I’m not going to even compare this place to Little Saigon… Lol. It’s better than that since it’s comparable to my uncle’s homemade phở! Now that’s saying something!
They had a little promotion where for new customers, our first bowl of phở was $ 5. (Not sure if they are doing that anymore) but it was a great deal!
I ordered the Phở Ga (chicken phở) — it was very tasty! I loved the rich deep broth and the chicken was cooked perfectly and moist. I wish I ordered a bigger bowl! This phở ga reminded me of my uncle’s homemade version, so it was definitely spot on. My compliments to the chef!

I absolutely adore this place. I sincerely hope they stay in business after running some Groupon specials — the times I’ve been in there (I keep going back it’s so good) there hasn’t been a ton of customers.
The prices are reasonable, portions huge, and the food is made with quality ingredients. I love the pork and shrimp spring roll that’s served with a peanut dipping sauce. I’m daydreaming about it now as I write this, it’s that’s good. I keep reordering the number 4 (I think) which is the Filet and Brisket Phở. Everything is so flavorful and the meat is tender.
The service is great (not just because they didn’t have a lot of customers). They are all super friendly and they go out of their way to ensure you’re having a great dining experience. The food comes out fast too since I’m sure there’s not much left to for some Phở and a spring roll.
The restaurant itself has beautiful décor and is clean. Each table has a wall outlet, convenient for a laptop or phone charger. It initially was meant for a hot plate that would go on the tables at some point.
As long as they stick around, I will be back with or without any special. Everything about this place is fantastic.

0 stars.
What a ripoff. Most pathetic $ 8 takeout I’ve ever received. And it’s not like vermicelli is expensive. I’ll make that extra drive to Irvine or Garden Grove and get the real deal with generous portions, not overpriced crap.

this place is clean, quick and friendly services! but the food is below average… it doesn’t taste authentic — the fact that they have a white manager (or owner) walking around helping out taking orders, etc just doesn’t help. and the name? it’s different and hip perhaps but just doesn’t really click…
came here to try because of the groupon deal, and don’t think i am coming back, there are other vietnamese restuarants nearby that’s better!

The people working here are pretty nice (slight language barrier but it’s okay) but the food is kind of like any other standard Phở place just an extra dollar or two.
I got the vermicelli beef bowl and it was good, the meat was super flavorful and tender! Also the portion was right on.
But I noticed that they don’t give you a lot of sprouts/​mint/​basil when you order Phở, the food didnt come out at the same time (my friend’s order came out first, I waited 5min for mine) and in general the service was kinda spotty.
All in all it isn’t a huge deal if you are from the area, but I’m from Irvine so I’d rather just stick to all the phở places there or drive to Westminster.
If you are unsure of whether to come here or not, I would come if you are okay with the prices.

I came here for lunch and only got to try a couple dishes. I tried their vegetarian phở– it was light but they give you lots of veggies and noodles to fill you up. I also tried their vegetarian egg rolls which were tasty and crispy ! My favorite was the super juice which was fresh with carrots and beets and orange juice ?
Overall friendly staff and great service, will to come back to try other dishes !!

Soup N’ Roll is a Vietnamese restaurant that features spotless clean facilities, employs non-​Asian servers that speak perfect English, and provides attentive service by checking up on customers regularly. It deserves the «safe» rating for picky people who are afraid to eat at Vietnamese restaurants (especially in Little Saigon), which typically do not meet the above criteria.
Although the service was excellent, I thought that the friendliness was a bit excessive, to the point where I had flashbacks of freshmen year of college, when everyone wanted to introduce themselves to me and said very positive things to make me feel good and comfortable. I just wanted to enjoy a simple meal during my lunch break and then go back to office. This didn’t affect my thoughts of the restaurant though. Anyways…
SNR specializes in soup (phở) and rolls (spring rolls and egg rolls) but also cooks simple Vietnamese rice dishes. The chef is Vietnamese from what I saw. The menu is simplified into terms that the mainstream crowd would understand. For example, a «bo luc lac» in Westminster is called a «Beef Shakey Shakey on Rice» at Soup N’ Roll and a «phở dac biet» is renamed «The Original Works».
I ordered the phở duoi bo (oxtail) during my first visit many months ago and was impressed with the soup base since it did not contain flavor enhancers in the form of MSG. An exceptional beef broth requires simmering various beef stock in water, adding of aromatics/​herbs, and straining impurities (which is important because oxtail stock generates a lot of impurities). The end product is a crystal clear beef consumme. While SNR’s broth was not quite the perfect consumme that completely extracts the rich flavors of the beef and herbs while remaining clear of impurities, the step towards omitting MSG in the broth is encouraging in setting a high standard for a bowl of phở in the south OC.
Today, I decided to order something else besides phở. I had an order of bo kho which is a Vietnamese beef stew. It is a versatile Vietnamese comfort dish that is typically accompanied with warm French baguettes or hu tieu rice noodles. Out of all the places that I’ve had this dish, it was most commonly served with baguettes (French influence) but never with rice. However, since the SNR server was passionate about the bo kho + rice combination at the time of ordering, I tried something new.
The bo kho stock that SNR used was light and hearty. A lot of lemongrass and ginger were used to highlight a citrus and tangy taste when mixed with tomato paste and spice powders. SNR’s product was a bit soupy so I thought that a warm baguette would be the much more appropriate medium to dunk into the stew. Meat was all brisket, moderately tender. Stew was mildly spiced compared to counterparts I had in Westminster, but presentation was performed with attention to detail and I appreciated the homemade taste.
Since I was hungry and the rice portion was small, I ordered an additional bowl of rice to wipe out the remaining stew. I regret not ordering a baguette at that time. When the check arrived, there was a surcharge of $ 1.99 for the extra serving of rice. Are you kidding me? Who charges $ 2 for a bowl of white rice? Doesn’t that sound excessive for something that is not Japanese rice, brown rice, or basmati rice?! I understand that every ingredient used in the restaurant is an expense, but white rice is extremely cheap and probably not worth charging a potential regular customer.
That wasn’t the only concern I had about the check. The menu indicated that an order of bo kho is $ 7.99 but the check recorded $ 8.49 (see photo). This discrepancy needs to be explained or else SNR & I won’t be crossing paths again in the near future. I am disappointed that I had just spent a whopping $ 13 for beef stew with rice when my meal should have been under $ 10.

We need to take a second here and remind ourselves, there is a lack of Vietnamese food out in this area, especially in Lake Forest. So, if you’re expecting quality phở with super cheap prices, go to little Saigon, as in Fountain Valley. Otherwise, shut your hole. Thought I get that out of the way first. :D
Now, to my review. Seeing that it’s in Lake Forest, I thought it was a great idea to have a phở restaurant out here. I did hear that this place (before it was soup n roll) was not the best to eat, but I can tell you first hand, the customer service here is great.
Upon entering, the server greeted us and led us to our seats. The interior design is very contemporary, Simple and clean. And when I say, it’s CLEAN! I also noticed that there is a plug at every (booth) table! Excellent for those who needs to work on their laptops, or charge your phone (and what not)
Onto the food. We had the phở, shaking beef, spring and summer rolls. I will say, it is all pretty decent. My favorite was the spring roll, but maybe that’s because i’m a health guru and I love spring rolls in general! Now, considering that this place is in lake forest, I would expect the prices be a bit more expensive, but HEY, they need to pay their dues too! How else can a restaurant stay in business?! So Unilocalers, please be a bit more considerate when writing reviews. It’s like taking a stroll down on skid roll and expecting the best service anywhere in the place. (sarcasm)
They also had this super juice that was really refreshing! It had carrots, cantaloupe, beets, honeydew, and all that yummy fruits that makes that stuff yummy and super healthy.
The staff is very friendly, and yes, the chefs/​cooks in the back can’t speak English very well. But they always bring the food out with a smile on their face. So cut them some slack. It’s also under new management, so I can safely say it’s a HUGE IMPROVEMENT from the past Unilocal reviews on here. Give it a second chance. :)
TIP: Oxtail Phở was savory and good for the soul. Try that out. :D

I went there for dinner and got to try several different dishes since my friends and I decided to share everything.
We ordered the spring rolls, Souper juice, filet mignon phở, ox tail phở, curry, and shaken beef. The Souper juice was delicious — it was a mix of fruit and vegetable juices and tasted very refreshing. The filet mignon in the phở was so tender and the shaken beef was nicely seasoned. The soup for the ox tail phở is a bit more flavorful than the soup for the filet mignon phở. Overall, both soups were delicious. The best part was the curry — totally unexpected, esp since I don’t usually like coconut-​based curry. It was light, but yet full of flavors. Fair warning: the curry is a bit spicy (which I love, but just giving fair warning to those who can’t handle the heat).
If you haven’t tried this place out in the past month, give it another shot.

Shrimp spring roll and bo bia are the only thing ive tried here. the rolls are expensive at $ 3.99 for two rolls. i was expecting more from the taste after paying $ 8 + tax to get one order of spring roll and one order of bo bia. the shrimp spring spring roll taste just ok with fatty pork meat inside. the bo bia, however, taste nothing like what bo bia should taste like. they only put shredded carrot, lettuce, and cabbage in the roll. not to mention that the shredded carrot was so hard to bite and it was the most disgusting bo bia ive ever had. the amount of peanut sauce that came with the spring roll is another thing i dont like about this place. they are so stingy. they only gave me a tiny bit of peanut sauce thats not even halfway filled. i wonder how costly this sauce is!
the variety of the food they have here is quite limited. they only have some basic vietnamese food (phở & rice with meat or something). definitely not the type of place i will crave or want to go back.