Pho Lovers
In Little Saigon and Huntington Beach, this small chain serves good Vietnamese beef noodle soup
In an region with hundreds of different restaurants serving Vietnamese pho – soup with a hearty beef broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meats of your choice – only a relatively small number appear to be actively competing for “best pho” recognition. Almost everyone in and around Little Saigon is serving good pho, or at least “good enough” pho, and few places stand out as fantastic or terrible.
Pho Lovers’ first location opened in 2015 in Westminster, followed by a second location at Garden Grove’s Mall of Fortune in 2019, and a third at Huntington Beach in 2020. Unsurprisingly, the core of the menu is pho – offered here in 23 versions, ranging from multiple beef variations to shrimp, chicken, vegetarian, and pork ribs. Highlights of the beef choices include filet mignon, brisket, oxtail, flank, and tendon, none particularly surprising these days.
While added proteins are important, the key to a great pho is the broth, and Pho Lovers’ broth is right up there, with strong beefy flavors and relatively reasonable levels of oil and fat. The default quantities of noodles and selected meats are totally reasonable, as well. Should you not want pho, there are standard Vietnamese picks, including chicken thigh and bo kho beef stew options, some rice plates, and a small collection of appetizers.
We enjoyed our meal at Pho Lovers, and by the standards of the Mall of Fortune plaza – which itself has at least four restaurants serving the soup – it’s the best choice for that item. But there are other places that are offering more obviously differentiated versions, if you’re willing to seek them out.
Stats
Price: $$
Service: Table
Open Since: 2015
Addresses
9325 Bolsa Ave.
Westminster, CA 92683
714.902.1666
Additional locations in Garden Grove + Huntington Beach
Instagram: #pholovers