ASAP Phorage

Parking’s a pain, but it’s same good phở as the original Phorage. Consider take out here, because seating is limited.

What an awesome surprise to discover a great phở place in playa. It’s in the back of the convenience store but has indoor seating for around 12 and outdoor seating for 10.
Ordered the phở ga for about $ 10. Really great chicken broth, nice flavor if just a little on the salty side. Noodles were fresh and cooked perfectly. Great cuts of chicken, which is above average for most LA phở. Fixings came with bean sprouts, jalapeño and lime. Will definitely be back to try their beef and bahn mi.

Went here again after nearly 7 months. There are now tables and seats enough to very, very snugly seat 16 – 18 people (you’ll end up bffs).
I got their Mary’s Chicken phở again. This time it was served in an actual bowl instead of a paper one. I think because of the upgrade to a real bowl the serving might be slightly more than before. There is only one serving size here, which is about the size of a small in a regular phở restaurant. This may be something for those larger appetites to make note of.
The phở broth tasted better from when I last had it over a year ago. There were good pieces of chicken in the bowl. The noodles were cooked perfectly and accompanied by the right side veggies. The only thing I find odd (also noticed this at the Phorage on Overland) is that they don’t have the small dipping plates for the sauces. Odd but no big deal.
Did you know ASAP stands for Asian Sandwiches And Phở? Cute.
I really like this place. People are nice and food has been consistently good. Nice prices for the westside too.

The Bahn Mi might be the best crafted and quality that I have had yet — Love the fact that this place reminds me of a tradition hawker stand in a market (even better that it is in a local bodega so you can get all you other supplies like good beer while you are there!).
I tried the ground beef red curry banh mi with extra fresh jalepnos — bread was crisp but not hard to chew and airy and tasty on the inside. the ingredients were very fresh and the flavors were on point.
I have had the Phở Ga (chicken soup) and the chicken meat tastes like your mom cooked high quality meat with a level of care not common in a take out spot.
They give you a metal tray and have small seats inside and on the sidewalk — this place is my go to for sandwiches may end up going again today !!!
WIsh the ASAP crew all the best and keep up the delicious grub!

I went to this place once and I didn’t like it. So I waited a while to try it again when a friend insisted I do so and I still don’t like it.
The noodles tasted gross — even for the fake kind — and my vegetarian imperial roll was ice cold. The seating arrangement is horrible and even after ordering and eating there they told me there wasn’t a bathroom. When oddly enough, the first time I was here — despite my horrible experience — they let me use it. It’s always nice to have greasy hands when it’s time to leave.
Speaking of leaving, on the way out the strange old lady at the front counter was bundled up in a winter coat, shivering and muttering, «cold, cold,» because they leave both doors open at night during the winter, so the whole store is at an extremely uncomfortable temperature.
Bad food and bad experience. I don’t know why people enjoyed it here but to each their own.

The food is delicious. We come here once or twice a week. I usually stick to the phở or banh mi which are equally excellent.
The service is usually great, however, when I called today for a take out order around 7pm, they put me on hold because their computers were down and could not take orders (although while I was on hold, I could hear them taking orders for the customer that were there). Anyway, after a couple of minutes, the lady came back on and said that I need to call back because they could not take orders on the computer. I said that I would be there in 10 min and if they can start the order for me. She just repeated that their computers were down and could not take the order.
Have we gotten to the point as a society of being so reliant on computers and tablets and lost the ability to think outside the box? I think the good old pen and paper would have been the logical route to take to avoid loss of business, which is exactly what happened, because I got my phở at Phở Show near by. I still will be a loyal customer at ASAP, but I think management should do some up training on backup processes when systems go down.

Is finding restaurant space difficult in the Playa? So much so too have a quality Vietnamese establishment in a crappy looking convenience store? That’s what you’ll find with Phorage ASAP. It’s the fast casual version of Culver City’s full-​service establishment in a low rent location.
When you first enter the store, you see a coffee machine up front with your basic blends of coffee. Pass by it as fast as you can. Until recently, I’d tell you to go bring in a drink from Tanner’s a block away but in the Phorage location, they’ve added an espresso machine with Intelligensia coffee. It’s part of their new breakfast menu, which I didn’t get to try, but I’m sure you can get a great latte any time of the day. An ice blended? No, you better stick with Tanner’s.
While the various Bahn Mi sandwiches looks intriguing, I had to come for the specialty and gave one of the Phở offerings. Even though the establishment might call for it, you are not served the soup in a sytrofoam bowl and a plastic spoon. Rather you’d get the same type of setup you’d probably see at the real full serve Phorage. Had the Mary’s free range chicken and it did not disappoint. Fine, clear broth. Lots of vermicelli noodles, sprouts and jalapeño peppers on the side to pour in at your discretion. It’s about as good as you’re going to get. The only minus? If you’re expecting to get it immediately due to the ASAP name, it’s more like ten minutes. But I’d rather wait ten minutes for great soup that one or two for lousy.
Still need to check out and receive the full experience in Culver Scotty, but if you can’t get there ASAP, this Playa offering will do just fine.

Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of Vietnamese options in the area. We’ve been driving out to Hawthorne for decent food (that isn’t priced at West LA hipster levels)…so I was giddy that ASAP opened up and was intrigued by the fact it’s located in the back of a water/​mini market.
Sooo with pregnancy cravings running strong my best friend and I drove out here — i got the jidori chicken broken rice plate and the jackfruit salad. Bestie got the chicken phở with extra veggies…
There’s a small table (can fit maybe 6−8ppl if you dint mind sitting shoulder to shoulder), no drinks or water (but hey! Its in a mini mart!)…wait was longer than expected considering we were the only ones there… and sadly, the food was OK. Portions were small and there was a lack of depth of flavors and textures I typically love about Viet food (fishy, salty, sweet, crunch, chew, bright herbs, etc…). And the phở broth (the magic of everythiggggg) was bland. Sadsiessss.
In a pinch ASAP Phorage would suffice but it doesn’t break my top picks for Viet food.

I’m not sure why the reviews are all so good. Maybe we had an off day but this is one of the worst phở I’ve ever had — even for West LA «Americanized» phở. The broth is so salty and has no herbal taste whatsoever. And the noodles are hard and chewy. I thought it tasted like those packaged phos you can buy at Trader Joes. The only redeeming quality was the beef — though not authentic in its cut it was pretty good nonetheless.
My hubby ordered the cheese steak and he said it wasn’t bad. I guess if you decide to come here get the banh mi instead.

Totally hit the spot. Highly recommend.
Located in the back of a convenience store so may be a bit hard to find for non-​locals.

IMPORTANT: this is a pick up place, not a sit down restaurant. Paper plates and plastic forks. No drinks. Not even water. Most people take food to go. Located in the convenience store with one table inside and a couple of outside. It was the closest phở place to LAX when we landed, and with good ratings, it’s just we didn’t expect just the take out option. The menu is really simple: 3 kinds of phở, some rice dishes, several types of sandwiches. My phở was ok, the rice & chicken was pretty standard. For not providing waiter service, drinks or real plates & utensils, their price was pretty high ($ 9 for a standard phở)… Maybe it is their sandwiches that makes this place stand out. Or maybe next time I need to pick up my food and eat it at the beach, and my whole experience will be made right.

I don’t usually like to review so soon after I ate at the place unless: I recommend that you pass on it or drop everything and hurry before they close!
ASAP Phorage actually falls in the middle.
First off, it was tough to find cause I had no clue that it was located in the back of a convenience store. I was looking for an actual restaurant. After creeping by slowly in my car… I noticed the signage. Mission accomplished.
I was craving the Phở Ga and thats what I got. The flavor was outstanding and the portions was perfect. The chicken broke apart perfectly as oppose to tough frozen chicken that other places use plus all the greens & sprouts are on the side. Its totally legit.
However, I don’t understand why the bowl of soup came with such a tiny spoon! I asked for a larger soup spoon and was told they had none. Really? I just trolled the pics of this place and sometimes big metal soup spoons are set along the side of the bowls of soup. And sometimes I saw the tiny ass spoons. I got lucky I guess?
I don’t like to slurp my soup off the bowl and especially in a public place but if I didn’t Id still be there trying to scoop the damn soup! Sorry ASAP, Im not a fan of your provided utensils.
Also if you want a beverage with your soup or sandwich, it needs to be purchased separately at the front of the store… then you can come back and place the food order or vice versa. Kinda confusing for a first timer.
Miscellaneous:
There is out door seating. As for the parking, good luck finding it on the street or make a spot in the lot behind the store. Just pay attention to the street signs.
OVERALL:
Ill pass on coming here again any time soon. Again, the soup tasted freakin’ amaze balls and the service was polite… but its just too much effort to try to finish a bowl of soup with the wrong utensil. Hope this policy changes. I would love for this place to flourish.

I can’t believe there’s a «take out» Vietnamese convenience store. Unreal.
My friend and I walked here from her apartment after waking up from a nap and feeling deliriously hungry. Ordered two bowls of their take out chicken phở and decided to eat outside at their picnic table benches.
Totally hit the spot.

Playa Del Rey’s hidden little treasure.
This place is hidden inside a liquor store. Thanks to Unilocal it led me here.
I wasn’t feeling well so I ordered to go. Yes, they do offer a seat only unfortunate part is they only have one table. They definitely need to organize the seating arrangement.
Tried calling but the line was busy.
I drove here and only waited a few minutes. Not that bad.
The papaya salad was fresh and delicious and I can highly recommend it.

I’m sorry Unilocal doesn’t allow negative ratings. My husband’s daily special came with spoiled lettuce and no condiments (as the pic I attached). My beef phở could best be described as bland and uninspiring. People who think their phở is delicious should go try the real one in Chinatown or Little Saigon. Sad to say this place is a great example of how high Unilocal ratings could be wrong.
The staff there were very nice. I hope they getting better.

Like the location of where this place is located, but definitely for like how I have to order my food… Inside a quick mart style store. I have had better phở, wasn’t great but wasn’t bad. In the middle for me. There are few chairs to sit at inside and outside, so that’s an inconvenience. Just wasn’t to happy about this place.

When you walk into a liquor store and in the back you see a stainless steel table covered with beef soup bones ready to go into a pot you must be thinking this will be awesome and it is!
I have tried a lot of Phở around the south land and have gotten — wait for it — phoked by bland consommé broth or tough beef. As I alluded to the broth and the marrowy beef bones that I saw on the prep table, this consommé is very rich, You get your mouth socked with it’s beefy goodness. I love that broth so much I wish I could marry it.
In addition phở-​king great phở, they have some pretty righteous bahn-​mi. I usually take one to go.
There is parking along the side and some tables with brellys out front. Nice lunchtime ocean breezes during the summer.

Given the lack of solid phở places around the area, this place will satisfy your phở and bahn mi craving. It’s located inside of a liquor store and isn’t too obvious so you may pass it as you are driving. You’ll have to look for street parking. The parking lot next door tows cars.
The workers are super friendly. I personally liked the bahn mi better than the phở. The phở was good, but definitely lacking some flavor. The meat and veggies were fresh, but the broth was a little bland. The bahn mi was pretty tasty — bread was good and the meat and veggies complimented each other well.
Overall, it will satisfy your phở craving and the people who work there are great. However, don’t go expecting it to change your life.

After calling to get directions on their exact location, I must say, I was a bit nervous and skeptical coming here when my colleagues and I walked in to a market/​alkaline water store. We walked to the back of the store, to find a young gentleman, kind as can be. But even with his kindness and inviting smile, we all looked at each other like this was not your «normal» phở place. Why the great reviews?
We ordered our lunch, and were told they did not serve drinks nor water. We then browsed around the store and grabbed our refreshments and sat back down on their lonely little picnic table nestled adjacent to the front counter. The table was just enough to sit 5 – 6 people. We were eager to try our food that had such great reviews.
Our meals came one by one. I ordered, Mary’s chicken and rice. Our meals came in paper bowls on individual trays. It was a great concept. All dishes biodegradable or recyclable.
When my dish came out, the aroma of the chicken blended with the pickled cucumbers and carrots forced me to devour my meal.
Despite the oddity and layout of this phở spot, I’d have to say, compliments to the chef. He cooks with love, hands down!

Discover LA said this place had one of the top ten cheese steaks in LA.
They were wrong! They have an incredibly good Bahn Mi sandwich loosely not related to a cheese steak.
The meat is thinly sliced high end like used for Phở, probably rib eye.
The bread, roll was crunchy and sturdy.
The veggies are crisp and nicely cut, julienne.
You can get a cheap beer in the liquor store it’s located in to wash it all down. At $ 9 very fair for such high end ingredients and construction. There are a couple tables outside as well as one indoors. A solid option when hanging in Playa del Rey