Phở 79 - Garden Grove, California

Derick F.

I have no bad comments about this place on the contrary, food is great, very authentic flavors. I'm a Pho lover and have tasted a good number of restaurants in the area but this is my favorite, the portions are reasonable for the price, enough protein on each plate and very fast service. My reasons to give a 3 on atmosphere is because you are too tight between tables, they need to expand and have more space. Overall is a very good option if you are down to have Vietnamese food, the ox tail on the side is unique from this restaurant and one of my favorites.

H V.

This place is overrated, the pho broth is sweet not too oily but it is just warm to eat. Not hot like a soup should be. Also the noodle is not soft but kindly of hard as it was just soaking in cold water. The service is fast but expect to sign in for a table because it will be very busy. There carry out is very busy. Parking is small and hard to find if it’s busy.

Susie L.

Overall, a mixed experience. The egg rolls were fantastic—flavorful and served with plenty of fresh vegetables for dipping, which was a great touch. The spring rolls, however, were disappointing. While the filling had good flavor, the rice paper wrappers seemed old—dry, tough, and difficult to bite into, which really threw off the texture.

The pho broth was the real highlight—rich, aromatic, and full of depth with star anise and other warm spices. It was served with a great assortment of fresh greens, jalapeños, limes, and bean sprouts, which added to the experience. Unfortunately, the meat quality didn’t match up. It was chewy and tough, which took away from an otherwise great bowl of pho.

The pork vermicelli was another standout—flavorful, well-seasoned, and cooked perfectly. Definitely worth ordering.

A few things to keep in mind before visiting:
• Parking is difficult. The lot is small, and finding a spot can be a challenge.
• Be prepared for a long wait. This place is extremely popular, so expect a crowd.
• Cash only! Make sure to bring cash, as they don’t accept cards.

Still a solid spot, but definitely some inconsistencies.

Alex Y.

Fantastic, and institution for a reason. Bring cash, it's a cash only place.

There was a bit of a wait but not too long, as the space is massive. Service was prompt and food came out so quickly. We got the combination pho along with spring rolls and everything was so good. Easily the best broth I've had in LA and everything was so fresh and flavorful.

Michelle

A solid pho place in the area! The broth is flavorful and the ratio between broth-noodles-meat is done very well. The wait queue is done with a list on a clip board at the door. You would write your name on it yourself. My brother enjoyed his rice platter a lot, and rated it an 8/10.

Tabatha

Our Vietnamese friends brought us here calling it the “OG of Pho”. This place took my taste buds to new heights. I have had Pho before, but not like this. The broth had otherworldly flavor and I loved every bite. We also got a dish with meat, noodles and fish sauce and it was outstanding. Loved the fresh lemonade with soda. Long line, but it went by quickly. Highly recommend!!!

Brianna P.

What can I say! It is THE best pho in OC (maybe in SoCal but I haven’t been to that many in other metro areas). It is definitely worth the wait! Their noodles are even different.

Marc R.

Pho 79 is the best pho restaurant that I've tried in Westminster. It is a James Beard Foundation Award winner for its pho, and it's well-deserved.

Here's what I recommend getting:

* Pho tai chin - rare steak and brisket pho ($12.75 for Small / $14.25 for Medium / $17.50 for Large). 5 of 5 stars. I added beef meatball for additional $5. The broth is absolutely delicious and what makes this pho. They serve ample amounts of good quality meat in the pho as well. It was such a large order that I had to get a to-go container to bring the rest home.

* Cha gio - crispy fried egg rolls ($9.25). 5 of 5 stars. We ordered a couple of these for our group of 5. They were delicious. It was served with the lettuce, mint, pickled veggies, and fish sauce. Highly recommend.

I really want to try the oxtail pho next time I visit. They were out of it when we went for dinner on a Sunday night.

The wait can get a little long at Pho 79, so try to go during off-hours. Also, this is a cash-only restaurant, so be sure to bring some money with you. Parking can be a little tough as the parking lot gets full very quickly. You may need to park around the corner in the commercial strip mall lot.