Pho Saigon Pearl - Irvine

I stopped by this restaurant for lunch and decided to try something other than their Pho. I opted for a rice dish and was pleasantly surprised by the grilled pork with lemongrass seasoning. My friend ordered the Pho and it was decent when I tried a bite. Despite the distance from the Spectrum, I would recommend this restaurant over others in the area for a meal. The owners were friendly and I regret not visiting sooner, as they recommended. Unfortunately, my business trip didn't allow me to stop by earlier, but I wanted to make sure to leave a positive review. I will definitely be back next time I am in town, even if it means traveling from Nebraska again.

The pho is delicious. The music playing inside and outside of the restaurant was different, which made it uncomfortable to listen to.

I highly suggest trying the vermicelli with shrimp, grilled pork, and egg rolls. The protein was well-seasoned and delicious.

Food is made quickly. Good portion size and flavor for the beef curry rice.

I had my first dine in experience the other night and was pretty satisfied overall. The things that really stood out to me were the cleanliness of the tables and seats and the friendliness of the front of house who promptly got me a table when I arrived. The interior decoration and lighting gives Pho Saigon Pearl an upscale yet modest family friendly ambiance. Onto food: Pricing seems average compared to most pho restaurants in OC. I ordered one of their signature bowls, which includes beef broth and my choice of up to 3 cuts of meat, only for $13 (regular) $14 (large). I only picked the rare steak and despite this the portions of steak were very generous and it was indeed rare. I'm not a broth afficianado but I did like it enough to finish my entire bowl. The utensils and condiments were clean. When I was served the bean sprouts and mint leaves they seemed fresh. Overall nothing negative about my first dine in experience and I really appreciate a good pho restaurant right there in Irvine Spectrum. Hoping to return more during the colder months.