Phans55

I was introduced to Phans55 by a friend of mine from school. I had no idea of the existence of both Phans55 and the few other quaint businesses that are located in this area but now I feel as if I’ve been let into a secret world. I’ve driven by a zillion times but had no clue about this hidden gem. Phans55 is not visible to the street and is located nestled inside a residential area near condos and apartments.
The atmosphere is contemporary/​modern/​zen and a refreshing change from the usual places I’m used to eating Vietnamese food at. This was my first experience in an upscale Vietnamese restaurant and I quite liked it. The menu had its own flair and take on the cuisine. This is Vietnamese with a twist. For instance, the Spring Rolls had grilled shrimp inside of them as opposed to the way they are usually prepared.
If only I were still drinking… I would have loved to check out their Happy Hour sometime. It seems like this place would be a very cool atmosphere for that sort of thing based on the design of the place. Phans55 certainly has an interesting food and wine menu. I really enjoyed my Top Round Rare Steak Phở along with my experience dining here. They use high quality ingredients and I was thankful to know that they do not partake in any MSGing their customers ’round here. We were treated well by our servers and I’ll definitely be back. I’m looking forward to checking out Phans55 again soon to experience more of what their unique menu and ambiance has to offer.

Phans phở compared to other phở restaurants is like how homemade soups compare to canned soup; PHANS is SO MUCH BETTER. So much wholesome delicious goodness, it’s just better ingredients and makes you feel better. The atmosphere and the service is great too! Of course they get busy, because they’re worth the wait, so don’t be a shitty customer and get upset that they’re spending time to make your food with love! Susie, Ryan, Angie, the whole crew, you’re the best!

Today my best friend and I decided to try some new phở around Irvine and Phan 55 came up. Overall the food was great because I did not taste any msg. However, the service was not the best. We walked in and sat down with menus. When we were ready to order, the manager or boss passed us and decide to greet their special customers. Definitely, not professional.

I thought San Francisco’s Slanted door is good, but this place is at another level.
Pros: great food with fresh ingredients, great services, clean restaurant. My favorite dishes include sea bass clay pot, shaken beef, Royal fried rice, Ahin tuna spring rolls.
Cons: the price is higher, but if I could afford to eat here everyday, I would.

Food was amazing and service was just as good! I had the egg rolls to start and they were the best egg rolls I have ever had. I had the Wok Fried Flat Rice Noodles with chicken. The dish was cooked to perfection and the vegetables were all very fresh. The portion size was also perfect. Loved the overall experience and will be back!

Food was good, but service was extremely rushed.
We ordered the ahi tuna spring rolls which were extremely fresh and very tasty. We were halfway into our appetizer when our bowls of phở arrived, which was awkward and cramped on our small table.
Then less than ten minutes after the phở arrived, without asking if we wanted anything else, the server dropped our check — but made sure to say «No rush!»
They were open for another hour and a half and there were only a few tables occupied, I’m not sure why he was trying to push us out the door.
A woman came from the back of the restaurant and really greeted us and asked if we needed anything (including offering to reheat our phở if it had gotten too cold). I wish she had been our server because our experience actually seemed important to her.
I don’t think that we would return here — there are so many other options with better service.

Amazing! The first time I went here, I didn’t like it and that was before I started becoming a Unilocaler.
A few days ago, we decided to have dinner here and I already want more!
I got the rare steak with meatball phở. The broth was amazing. Normally I would be drinking lots of water while having phở because of the msg but I noticed there wasn’t much msg in this broth. I didn’t get that after taste lingering on my tongue.
We also ordered the chicken and beef skewer. The chicken was well done and absolutely tender, not dry at all. I loved their dipping sauce that came with the skewer. The beef reminded me of my moms thit xao sa which I think is amazing.
Can’t wait to come back!

This place is so good! First off, the atmosphere is really neat. Modern furniture and a giant T.V. screen, make for a nice eating environment. Second, the service was great. The lady serving us was very helpful in making recommendations, as well as very kind. Lastly, the food was so yummy! My favorite dish out of all of the ones we tried, was the Mint Basil Beef. So delicious! Location is great and would definitely consider going back!

I haven’t wanted to post about this hidden gem because I want it to be just that; a hidden gem.
Not only is the food incredibly amazing but let’s be real I come here to hang out with my friends.
I come here almost every day it’s close to my house, it’s close to my work.
I would compare this to cheers except there’s chandeliers and the food is fancy a f.
Except that’s it’s also not, you can get some amazing phở for 5 $ at happy hour or some steamed sea bass that will make you cry for 30 $
But most of all I come for the company, at almost 30 I have a hard time eating by myself at a nice restaurant alone, whatever.
I come here almost every day after work for a quick glass of wine or tea, if one of my neighbors aren’t here there’s always a server here that somehow remembers more details about my life than my mom can. I’ve been meaning to rain some praise for a while but haven’t anyways; duke, Angie, pierce thanks for always being legitimately the best end to my day for the past couple years love you guys and sorry for taking so long to review you and selfishly wanting to keep you to myself !!

We really like the food. I would have given it 5 stars but I feel there should be more noodles in their soup.

This is a go to phở spot in Irvine. When I was a student there I would go all the time and now for a special occasion I had to make my way to the OC and couldnt resist stopping by. It was phở weather… which I would describe as gloomy medium temp winter weather that we get here in SoCal. We go and me and my friend get seated immediately because this place is pretty huge and it wasnt a popular hour. We both ordered the tofu phở. We are not regular tofu eaters but the tofu here is sooo good. The customer service was phenomenal. Only bad part, we had difficulty eating the noodles. The chop sticks they provided literally made it a slippery mess. We didnt remember it being that difficult to eat in the past. We asked for wooden chopsticks but still had some difficulty. Other than that A-​OK! P. S. they bring canned Diet Coke, which is my favorite.

I came to Phans55 last Saturday for dinner with family members to conclude my honeymoon trip, and our last meal certainly did not disappoint!
Ambiance: As people have mentioned before, this is a classy, upscale Vietnamese restaurant. When I walked in, I was struck in awe with the light fixture at the entrance. I love the modern décor here! I think this would be the perfect date night location!!!
Food:
Crispy Imperial Roll: You can certainly taste the shrimp and lump crab in this dish! Crispy, yet light… this was a crowd favorite!
Seared Ahi Tuna Roll: I’ll admit, I’ve had this similar dish in several other California restaurants and I’m indifferent to this dish in general. That being said, the tuna tasted fresh.
Shaken Rib Eye: Very tender, very delicious. Highly recommend!
Chilean Seabass Claypot: Possibly my favorite dish. Reminds me of home except with a much better cut of fish! The seabass is cooked inside a claypot with yummy caramelized sauce. Delicious!
Prawn Garlic Noodle: This was a surprise for me! Not a Vietnamese dish at all but the prawn were a nice large size. The sauce on the noodles was smoky but in a very good way!
Prawn Fried Rice: Not much to say. it’s fried rice!
Salmon on bed on super crispy rice: My husband’s favorite dish! I forget the the flavor profile here but the seasoning and sauce was yummy!
Beef phở: The broth is aromatic, light, and very clean tasting. I personally thought it had a depth of flavor that I have not experienced in any other place except home. And it’s MSG free!
Service: We were treated very warmly by everyone we encountered. No complaints here!
Price: As this was part of my honeymoon, my family graciously footed the bill! Taking a look at the prices listed on the menu, I would say the prices are reasonable for a nice upscale restaurant. Certainly you can get similar dishes for less at other Vietnamese restaurants but at Phans55, you are paying for higher quality ingredients, friendly service, and a much nicer ambiance.
Overall: Phans55 is an upscale Vietnamese restaurant offering quality food that is perfect for date night!

Authentic and fresh!
The staff was very friendly, the food was prepared quickly and tasted fantastic. I had visited previously and ordered to-​go, but I highly recommend eating there. The beer is cold and it makes for a quick work lunch. Will be returning.
Ordered the imperial spring roll & top-​round phở. Would definitely consider the brisket phở next time.

Great food however the service was a bit slow for my liking. But because the food was so good and the wine
Lost is awesome I still give it 5 stars. Had the traditional spring rolls (super fresh) and the beef Phở! Yum!!! Killer bottle of Merlot as well. Great price too for a Napa Vally wine and it went very well with the food.

This was my second time here and I had to write about my awesome experience since it’s not your typical traditional Phở spot! Second time seems to always be the best fit for me for some reason!
We were greeted by our waiter, who we never got a name from, with menus and an order of waters. We had an order of the Veggie spring rolls which were delicious with some Hoison and Siracha sauced mixed in.
I ordered the Vegetarian Phở, with veggie broth and fried tofu, they call it «Crunchy Tofu.» Nactaly was another waitress who came to our table to ask if I wanted it on the side or in the Phở due to the soggy consistency it gets when it’s inside. My friend ordered the normal Phở with the norms– beef broth and beef.
The food had a pleasant presentation and was just the right temperature for Phở! The waiter brought out the basil, bean sprouts, limes and jalopeno slices and we dug in!
Veggie Phở seemed to be lacking Tofu and veggies so I asked Nactaly if she could bring an additional amount. She gladly brought some broccoli and Crunchy Tofu without hesitation. I enjoyed my delishhious Phở with the extra limes and Siracha that I cannot live without. My friend enjoyed her traditional Phở and can’t stop ranting about how much she loves Phan 55. Nactaly was definitely more accommodating than our normal waiter, so she is a favorite!
Overall, I love this spot because they use «little-​to-​no MSG» in their Phở which makes it healthier on a number of levels that I can rant about for hours. The atmosphere doesn’t compare to your traditional Phở restaurant; very trendy and intimate with a nice bar at the entrance which makes it a fun spot for happy hour after work. It’s not as cheap as your traditional spot, but definitely worth a taste!

I love this place. It is beautiful and a bit pricey, but worth every dollar. This hidden gem is a bit tucked away but it is definitely a pretty popular spot. In my experience, Monday through Friday during lunch it can get super crowded due to the surrounding businesses. That hasn’t stopped me though.
My usual order (not all in the same visit) will consist of:
Crispy Imperial:
An eggroll with shrimp, lump crab, chicken, glass noodles, nuoc mam paired with an amazing sweet/​spicy sauce. It is fried so it is not as healthy, but it is worth the extra mile at the gym.
Spring Rolls:
I love their Traditional Spring Rolls. Comes with the usual shrimp, chicken, Vietnamese herbs, cucumber, peanut sauce. The Tofu Spring Rolls are delicious as well! Great choice for Vegetarians.
Chicken Claypot:
One of my absolute favorite items on their menu. It is chicken, celery, carrots, toasted rice inside an insanely hot and cute claypot. Ask for an extra plate so you can take what you can eat because it is very filling and due to the claypot keeping things hot good luck on being able to eat it. So good on a cold day.
Last but certainly not least — PHO!
I love Phở and I certainly don’t mind paying extra for this. The broth is perfect. Light and not oily. Comes with the vermicelli noodles or you can ask for egg noodles instead. Yummy onion and cilantro to top off with some bean sprouts and basil. Mix it up with some Sriracha and Hoisin and boom, most amazing phở ever.
The service here has been amazing each time. My current visit I was served by Nactaly. She was so attentive and always making sure we were okay. My glass never reached empty with her. Thank you for the great service, Nactaly!
Parking is a bit of a hassle. You have to go through a parking garage and get a ticket. It is free for the first hour or so. I have never gone over that so I’m not sure if you could get it validated or not.
Otherwise, this place is great. Always friendly and great service. Food is derrricioouuusss. :)

I LOVE spring rolls!
My boyfriend and I are here pretty frequently. Although the grilled pork spring rolls aren’t quite up to par as Brodard’s, they are pretty darn good here. Prices are a higher than your average bowl of phở but not terribly so. It’s probably most comparable to Phở Saigon Pearl in Diamond Jamboree plaza.
We’ve picked up both to go (you can order via Eat24 app) and ordered in many times and the restaurant is pretty, parking is convenient, and the food comes out fast, and service is pretty good.
My personal favorites: grilled pork spring rolls and vegetable and tofu phở in chicken broth
Also — bonus points for the fun people watching at the bar on weekends. It’s like an elephant watering hole.

We had another excellent meal here as we wanted some Vietnamese but in a more upscale setting. You see, many Vietnamese places are formica tables with not so much for care service. Suzie the owner here is very warm and makes you feel very welcome so we came back again!
I ordered some carbonated water and was very impressed they brought a bottle of what looked like in house done water. Very nice touch! Next we ordered the fried spring rolls and their calamari. Their spring rolls had a light garlic taste and their calamari came with peppers and onions with an aioli. Next I ordered the chefs special vermicelli as when I had it in the summer I thought it was excellent. It came out just as I had enjoyed it months earlier. Fresh crispy and with great flavour. The décor of the restaurant is more upscale being in the area and very warm and inviting. They have an open kitchen so if you sit nearby you can see the magic of how their create their dishes!
Thanks Suzie! Another great meal once again!

Came here for the first time for a quick work lunch break.
Upon walking in, I got a lounge feel for the place (it’s a bar/​restaurant). Very, very clean, and seemed like most of the people who were there were on their lunch break as well.
I ordered the brisket phở, and I thought it was only okay. For $ 10, the portion was pretty tiny, a few slices of meat, and not that many veggies provided. Soup was a only okay, but definitely lacking flavor. I also got to try the egg rolls and chicken wings — those were really good. Can’t go wrong with fried food!
Service was decent, the owner/​waitresses came out multiple times to refill our water or to ask if everything was okay.
The setting is great, but the food is below average at best — if the fried food is the only good part, I think it’s time to step it up!

Phans55 makes a great bowl of Phở in a gorgeous environment, but be prepared to pay for the upscale experience.
I am all but certain that the concept behind the restaurant is a «traditional Phở restaurant that will not scare the hell out of caucasian suburbanites», and if that is the case, they scored a home run. The open kitchen is clad in clean stainless steel and the interior is modern and opulent. Quite the opposite of what I am accustomed to in a Vietnamese diner. This is a great way to break in newbies of Vietnamese, even the table service is quite polished (although if you are going to smack talk patrons within earshot, try to be sure none of them speak fluent Viet… hint hint).
They offer a full menu but I usually come for the Phở soup on cold and overcast days (all 3 of them a year in OC). The Phở broth is a light and deeply fragrant chicken stock laced heavily with cilantro and onion. The vermicelli noodles are soft yet maintain rigidity while submerged, not an easy feat with rice noodles. I always add Hoisin for sapor, Sriracha for a blast of heat, and handful bean sprouts for the texture and of course a few Thai Basil leaves to perfect the concoction. This is a great soup!
Naturally my Vietnamese friends lose their minds when they see the associated costs to cover Irvine’s nefarious rent/​profit sharing and the high end digs. At $ 10.00, this is one expensive bowl of Phở and perhaps that alone will repel true Phở aficionados. I personally don’t mind paying a couple of extra dollars and figure it saves me a trip to Garden Grove or even East Irvine for the more traditional restaurants.