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Cafe Lotus
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
325 Old Newport BlvdNewport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 574-2479
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
139 reviews for Cafe Lotus
Review Highlights
-
"First, the beef pho is just unbeatable." In 17 reviews -
"It's run by a mother-son duel, the mother is so sweet." In 7 reviews -
"I eat Pho in Little Saigon mostly but live in Costa Mesa." In 9 reviews
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139 reviews in English
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Review from Fariyad F.
Irvine, CA
5/12/2012
everything is great here.
the old lady that runs the place is awesome and so friendly
the sandwiches are the best! the pho can't be beat!
i'm a regular .... can't help but to eat good food. -
Review from L C.
Westminster, CA
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Quaint restaurant tucked in a corner of Old Newport Blvd. The ambiance is quiet and bohemian, and unlike the phô restaurants in Little Saigon, the menu is limited, the wait staff is white, and the patrons are the boho, Newport locals.
3 types of pho: Chicken, Beef or Vegetarian. A handful of bun (vermicelli) dishes, and a few broken rice dishes. 2 quiche/crepe type dishes... the menu is truly simple. I ordered the ratatouille crepe thing (AMAZING) and beef pho.
The broth was simple, not greasy and flavorful. No scallions, green onions or cilantro floating in my bowl. The pho only comes in one size too. The pieces of filet mignon were perfectly cooked, not rubbery or chewy. Each slice measured about 3-4 inches, and there was 10 pieces floating in my bowl... The noodle/protien ration was a bit off, a little too much noodle for the meat, but too much soup for the noodles.
+:
The staff speaks English
The food is good, in a minimalist kinda way
The place is chill and not chaotic or loud
-:
Parking isn't so great
Small menu
Soda Chanh is not on the menu nor is Soda Xiu Mui
Not cheap $7.75 for pho? Really?
If I am in the area, I would most definitely come back. -
Review from Lezette M.
San Juan Capistrano, CA
4/29/2012
YUM Pho Sure!
The Yelp reviews for this place were amazing, so my husband and I had to try it. We were immediately greeted at the door and offered to order at the counter or be waited on in their dinning room.
We were in a rush but decided to be seated any way. Their service was prompt which put a good taste in my mouth before any food did. I started with the spring rolls and a Strawberry Smoothie.
We shared a bowl of Beef Pho and a plate of Fried Rice with Shrimp. Everything was wonderful!! All the dishes were beautifully seasoned and flavorful. The service was kind and attentive, prices were right on and this is now a favorite spot of mine. -
Review from Jason L.
Costa Mesa, CA
3/30/2012
First of all - family owned by incredibly nice, accommodating people. Friendly and happy to see you. Great service. More on that later.
Filet mignon pho. Incredible. I have not found any other Pho to come close, and I have tried a lot of them. I go with my girlfriend, who is vegetarian and the Veggie Pho is her favorite as well.
The other day we went there on a tight schedule before a yoga class. We order right when we sat down, but we noticed the food was taking a while. Other tables that sat after us were getting their food already. We asked the waiter and found out that our order had not been put in. At first, I was annoyed because of our time crunch, but they assured us they would get it out to us quickly.
They apologized several times and got our food out in enough time for us to finish our meal. When I went to pay, they told me there was no charge. They comped the entire meal.
Having worked in the restaurant industry, I understand that mistakes happen. How management handles those mistakes reveals a lot. I really appreciated how well they handled a simple delay. They were understanding, kind, and went above-and-beyond to accomodate.
We already love Cafe Lotus, but now we have even more respect for how they do business and how they treat their customers. Thank you for turning a potentially frustrating situation into a positive experience!!
Amazing food and top-notch customer care. 5 stars all the way!! -
Review from Ryan B.
Oceanside, CA
3/14/2012
On this day I was in the mood for a Vietnamese sandwich. Overall, I would put this place above Lee's but not quite as good as Le Diplomat. I know that Le Diplomat doesn't have pho, so this is strictly on sandwiches.
The place is on a weird side road near HOAG Newport. Parking is non existent so you may have to walk. The place itself is very small but homey feeling and clean. The sandwich itself is on warm, soft bread and all the ingredients taste fresh. It was very reasonable too, twice as much as Lee's but you can taste the quality. Smoothie was pretty good too. Next time I will try the pho. -
Review from Andrea K.
Glendale, CA
Fresh, fabulous and affordable!
THE ORDER:
Pork Spring Rolls: 4.5 stars...Delicious and perfect texture. They nailed it with the mint, pickled veggies, sausage and the added crunch! THe dipping sauce is a lighter peanut sauce...full flavor, just less thick than typical. WILL ORDER AGAIN!
Beef Pho: The meat was pho-cking good! Tender, meaty, flavorful and a good amount! THe broth was great, too. I just wish they offered white pepper on the table instead of traditional (white people) black pepper. Also, I could have used a bit more thai basil.
THE SERVICE:
3.5 stars. The guys who took our order was charming, but the bus boy was a little bus-happy. I understand pre-bussing. but he took my veggie plate from the table without even asking it I was still using it. I also heard him say to the table next to us, "Ur done with this, right?" The woman replied, "No." Tone it down, Bus Boy!
OVERALL:
The value, the quality and the quaintness make this place a spot I will go to again! I cannot wait to try the bahn mi!
NOTE:
THey only offer filet mignon and chicken pho. So, if you like it on the wild side (tendon, tripe, meatballs), your fucked.
I DEF RECOMMEND TO YELPERS!
enjoy!
xo-
andreaListed in: Asian Persuasion
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Review from Sarah F.
Newport Beach, CA
2/25/2012 9 Check-ins Here
This restaurant is a true gem. I have never had pho that matches the quality of Cafe Lotus! I always get the chicken pho...I love the fact that you don't have to specify that you want "all-white meat" like you do at other restaurants....it's always high-quality all-white meat, period. The egg rolls are some of the greatest and the spring rolls are super fresh. I had my first smoothie today (strawberry) and it was one of the best I have ever had! The Thai tea is amazing if you're looking for a sweet treat.
The other thing I love about this place is the service. The owner, Thuy, pretty much knows every guest by name and/or face. She makes a point of going from table to table to talk to the customers. If she hasn't met you before she will make sure that all of your needs are met and will even bring out random items from the kitchen for you to try. It's obvious that she just loves food and people and having people enjoy her food! The rest of the staff is equally as friendly. It's a true testament of a great place by the amount of regulars that are in there every day....and let me tell you, that's pretty much the majority of the clientele. -
Review from Grace C.
2/15/2012
Ambiance: Cute cafe. Tables seat 2-4 people. Order your food at the register during lunch hour. There is 1 table available for outside seating. Has private parking lot, but ended up parking on street.
Ordered:
1. Beef Pho- Only 1 choice which is the Filet Mignon. One of the best beef cuts I've had for pho. The soup base and quantity of noodles and vegetables were comparable to most other pho places. Price (~$8.50) is good considering the meat.
2. Pork Vietnamese Sandwich (~$5)- Good meat. Good crunchy airy bread. Some may prefer a stronger flavor with the pork, but I liked the sandwich because they added mayo.
3. Mango/Strawberry Smoothie- Good, though made with frozen fruit. You can ask them if any of fruits are fresh depending on season.
4. Thai Iced Tea ($3.25)- Similar to others I've had. Good size. -
Review from Ikka S.
Jackson Township, NJ
3/15/2012
Service was great and prices were right.
We tried the Pho of course and it was great as expected.
We were starving so we both ordered Bánh bao (dumpling stuffed with good stuff) which was very good.
The owners son was very nice and even gave us some suggestions of places to go in the area since we were visiting.
Next time we are out here we will swing by for a snack. -
Review from Alain T.
Orange County, CA
4/5/2012
I came here for lunch and ordered a BBQ pork sandwich to go. This place is very small and parking is very hard to find. Nevertheless, the sandwich was very good. The meat was moist the condiments were also quite tasty. This is my new place to go on my lunch break. Will definitely come back on a weekend and bring my wife.
-
Review from Viv M.
Costa Mesa, CA
I give Cafe Lotus 5 stars for so many reasons, but I'll just give you 5. One for each star.
1. Thuy! The owner immediately mades you feel at home as she greets you upon entry. Best, most genuine smile. Great hugs.
2. The menu. It offers a simplistic best of the best Vietnamese fare prepared, guarenteed, with love! Too, Thuy has offered to substitute or prepare certain dishes to suit your special needs or requests.
3. The service! You could almost mistake the wait staff for family. Everyone is especially kind, prompt and happy.
4. The ambiance or as I prefer, the energy. Again, the 'feeling' that flows through this cafe is so uplifting between Thuy's smile & friendly nature, the freshly prepared food, service from 'cousins, and the energy, you have #5
5. The patrons. Even the people who come to Cafe Lotus MAKE it that much better!
HUGE fan!
Be sure to request the macaroons.....hot! -
Review from Luke W.
Huntington Beach, CA
4/20/2012
I am in love with the beef pho! This is one of the only places that uses filet Minot as the standard in their pho. You will not find an ounce of fat on their high-end beef, guaranteed.
The manager is so sweet, and even brought us some extra food to try. You can tell that she is passionate about both food and people.
You have to give this place a try! Just keep your eye out as it is a little hard to find. -
Review from B Z.
Newport Beach, CA
2/3/2012
Super great Pho!!! I mean DE-LI-SHUS!!!!!
Springs rolls are super tasty too. -
Review from Jon B.
Newport Beach, CA
2/11/2012
Only had the Pho Bo. Small portion but good quality.
Wish they had a super size Pho Dac Biet xe lua. Now that, would hit the spot! -
Review from Rob W.
Costa Mesa, CA
12/19/2011
I had been wanting a good pho spot to open up around my area. My offerings to the Buddha have paid off. The prayers have been answered.
It's kind of hard to go wrong with Pho - really the only thing that varies is the flavor of the broth. The broth is quite good. Not amazing - but good. Try the filet! It's top notch.
What's great is their other offerings. The sticky bun is a meal in itself! The house fried rice is one of the more unique versions I've ever had.
They serve breakfast too! Ultimate hangover spot!
Family owned and excellent customer service. Very happy this place exists. -
Review from Melissa N.
San Diego, CA
11/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Best veggie broth, ever!
Super nice chef lady.
Polite cashier/waiter guy.
And the broth.... wowwww I'm so used to having bland veggie broth so I wasn't really expecting anything, but this broth is amazinggggg I had it again the next day... lol.Listed in: Favorite Vegan Places
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Review from Carolyn S.
Costa Mesa, CA
12/17/2011
Ordered the chicken pho & shrimp spring rolls. Food is adequate, but not amazing. Nice presentation. I found the the broth to be too salty. Peanut sauce was watery and kind of bland. Overall, I thought that it was kinda expensive for what you get. Small portion of sprouts/mint that accompanies the pho.
Service was excellent though. Very attentive & pleasant waitstaff. Cute casual interior. I guess if you are in this area, craving pho and don't want to venture far, Cafe Lotus an ok choice. Parking is easy - they have a lot right next to the restaurant. They accept credit cards.
However, if you are interested in authentic food, you are better off going to the myriad of Vietnamese restaurants in Garden Grove. -
Review from Nancy O.
Costa Mesa, CA
Cafe Lotus is a hidden jewel. I have ridden my bike past this place many times and always thought about grabbing a bite to eat there -but never did until the rare rainy OC day came along and I Yelp'd for Pho -Vegetarian Pho to be specific... This place is much closer to me than any other Pho places and in addition, they cater to vegetarians. Don't worry, flesh eaters, they have plenty for you to eat too. The Pho was VERY delicious and it is made in a veggie-based broth. I also got a pair of veggie spring rolls that were warm -freshly made with tofu, basil and other good things in them. My boyfriend, who does eat meat got the Beef Pho and said it was delicious, too.
I was very happy to see how accommodating the lady owner was to my vegetarian diet. She said when I come back to let her know, because they can make almost any of their plates vegetarian/vegan -including their sandwiches. She also shared her knowledge of how some places use chicken broth or other animal products in their sauces and that they don't -good to know!!!
I will definitely be returning -rain or shine! -
Review from Andy H.
11/19/2011
It's very rare that I come to a place that serves filet minion with my pho. FILET MINON!! I only know of one other place that serves filet minion with their pho and that's at my mom's house! SCORE
For their decent prices of 7 ish dollars for a bowl + quality protein.... it's enough to sell me on this place. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Corona del Mar, CA
11/12/2011
This place was really good. My only complaint is that the beef in our pho was not easy to cook up. We also got our order to go, so I will have to try the pho again when we actually have time to sit down in the restaurant. I have a feeling that that'll change my rating....cuz even with that one little detail the food was still delicious. I'm happy to have found another place to go to for pho!! And this place is really a gem. I've noticed it passing by on Newport blvd countless times, but i've never been able to remember it when I'm craving pho. Tonight we yelped places to get Vietnamese food and this was the first one to pop up. So glad that we tried it out! I am eager to go back.
One tip: it's kinda hard to find at night (and in the rain...) it's off the side street that runs parallel to Newport blvd and it's directly across from Hoag hospital...just down the street from A's market. -
Review from Yanira C.
Fountain Valley, CA
10/29/2011
I recently discovered this place with a coworker, and boy am I glad that I did. The beef pho is delicious! It might not be as big of portion size as some pho restaurants, but it makes up for it in flavor. The steamed pork buns are to-die-for. I Love love loved them. The eggrolls are also exceptionally delicious. This is all that I've tried so far, but I plan to try a lot more.
I must say that the service there is excellent as well. The staff is very friendly! I have and will recommend this place to all my friends & family. -
Review from C L.
Pasadena, CA
10/12/2011
I'm so glad my husband and I tried this cafe while we were in Newport Beach. The mother and sons service was superb and their dishes are not only healthy, but good. It was a perfect place for lunch. They make it quick and easy. I wish we had a place like this in Pasadena.
We ordered beef pho, chicken bahn mi and vietnamese ice coffee. Everything was to our liking.And we enjoyed the vietnamese coffee so much we ordered 3 more to go. We're glad we know a vietnamese spot we can hit up whenever we're in OC. -
Review from Mike F.
Newport Beach, CA
10/19/2011 52 Check-ins Here
This place is just great food and incredibly friendly service. First, the beef pho is just unbeatable. The meat must be filet because it isn't fatty at all which is a nice touch. The flavor of the beef and the broth is remarkable.
I met the owner tonight and she just talked our ears off. She said to try the macaroons and they were the best I've had. I'm not really a macaroon guy but they were moist and delicious.
I probably eat here twice a week now but the people at the table next to us said they eat there every night during the week. WOW! -
Review from Stacy S.
Mission Viejo, CA
3/13/2012
The beef pho is so good! It has filet mignon and was really tender. My new favorite place for pho.
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Review from Jeni W.
Costa Mesa, CA
3/4/2012
These people not only make amazing food, especially the pho and thai beef salad, but they are also the nicest business owners. The mom will actually sit down with you and feed you extra little goodies as if your sitting in her own house. i love this place and will continue eating here every week!
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Review from Ron L.
Los Alamitos, CA
4/21/2012
Wonderful Beef Pho and the owner is a wonderful Vietnamese lady who is very friendly! Check this place out!
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Review from shauna s.
Newport Beach, CA
9/28/2011
They have veggie Pho here! Perfect for vegetarians or someone who doesn't want the extra calories of beef. Ask for chili paste & extra tofu & you're in business (I always call in my order, pick it up & make my Pho at home).
Like everyone says, the mom & son owners are amazing. Super friendly & will always give you free muffins, desserts, ext.
I also can't wait to try the Thai coffee, too! Sounds amazing. -
Review from Peter P.
Newport Beach, CA
10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food that my wife and I ordered was good.
But one thing we went for (the macaroons that everyone RAVES about here on Yelp were out). Also, my wife asked for another item on the menu that they were out of. So out of 4 items we ordered, they were out of 2 (50%). Kind of disappointing.
The guy was kinda rude to us when we walked in. He saw us and just grabbed to menus, walked to a table, dropped them and walked away. He didn't motion for us to sit. It was awkward. I even asked my wife "do you think that table is for us ? "
She wasn't sure, so we sat there without protest from the "host" so I guessed we were right.
Food was good but honestly haven't thought about this place since I've been there and I drive by about 4 times a week. -
Review from Christie D.
Newport Beach, CA
4/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is a little gem! I absolutely adore their filte mignon pho, best I've had! The service is impeccable, always right on top of filling waters and other beverages, without being intensive of your conversations with your dinner companions. The cafe is run by a mother son duo, and they are both so kind. One con, I wish they stayed open later! They close at 8pm and I seem to always cut it close and arrive at 7:30.
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Review from matt o.
Costa Mesa, CA
2/1/2012
Wife and I got takeout. I got Beef Pho and she got Vermicelli noodles. I've never felt so jipped getting Pho. The portion of noodles is ridiculously small, the beef portion was nice and the soup was mediocre. No sprouts, no mint leaves, no lime no coming back.
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Review from Nissan S.
Irvine, CA
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is awesome for what it is. If it wasn't for yelp, we wouldn't have found it in the 1st place. The mother and son duo are super nice and provide excellent customer service. The BBQ + garlic noodles were absolutely fantastic. I had the thai beef salad which was also delicious. The mom brought us complimentary crepe for dessert as well. This place is known for their Pho, so next
time we'll be sure to have some of that. -
Review from Fern R.
Costa Mesa, CA
12/30/2011
First time I came here, I tried the Beef Pho, egg rolls and the fried rice...everything was realy good and I've been wanting try more of the menu items but each time I go back, I find myself ordering the Pho...SO GOOD! The service is good and they are friendly. The mom, ike everyone says, is super friendly.
One reviewer commented that they give you a small portion of sprouts & mint...uhhh, just ask for more, they'll give it to you. I myself like extra lime and cilantro, they gladly give it to me everytime.
Can't wait to go back...this place has that winning combination that makes me a repeat customer and on my list of favorites. -
Review from Jenn K.
Santa Barbara, CA
6/30/2011
Cafe Lotus is the perfect off-the-beaten-path dining experience. On a work trip by myself I had a hankering for some Vietnamese food but didn't want to spend a fortune and didn't feel like anything super fancy. Cafe Lotus was just the ticket. At 6:30p on a Tuesday I wasn't the first one there but was seated immediately and ordered water (I'm so boring) and debated between the grilled pork sandwich and the vermicelli with barbequed pork. Eventually I had to ask the waiter his opinion and he freely offered that both were excellent (and I believed him) and that often times he would actually order both because he liked them so much.
I ended up with the deliciously flavored and super fresh vermicelli with pork and it was chock full of sweet and spicy pork, sliced and diced cucumbers, carrots, mint, sprouts, cilantro, chopped peanuts and of course noodles! It was just what I wanted and there were good amounts of everything. Now I have to go back to try the sandwiches and everything else on the menu because I'm sure they're just as good.
The decor is nice, cozy and basic, they seat maybe 30 and have takeout. -
Review from Bacchus F.
Venice, CA
8/10/2011
Cafe Lotus is worthy of four stars yet they could easily be a five star with a little tweaks to the menu.
The Pho was delicious. Broth was one of the richest and most delicious I have had. My biggest complaint is the lack of variety. I do like tendon, tripe and meatballs in by Pho. Only choice here was meat... only. I do also like the options of veggies like baby bok choy and carrots.
Aside from the "one meat" option was chicken Pho. I would like a seafood option.
Aside from the two Pho option the rest of the menu was broad. -
Review from Kimberly M.
Santa Ana, CA
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow can I just say this place is wonderful! Went for the first time with my parents and was warmly welcomed by the mother and son staff in front. We told Thuy (mother) it was our first time there and she picked our meal for us. She gave us free banana cake (very tasty) while we waited and chatted us up, very friendly.
The food was delicious! We got chicken pho, shrimp vermicelli, and cubed steak. Try all three. The egg rolls were really yummy, nice and crunchy and not stringy how some can be.
Anyway, the service alone would bring me back. I love it when restaurants treat us very well. To me it makes all the difference.
Fun fact: Kobe Bryant comes here, all you Laker fans :) -
Review from Nora N.
Costa Mesa, CA
10/21/2011
Best Pho ever. Every sip is glorious. The owner lets you taste stuff so you don't have to worry about deciding on things you're not sure of. The macaroons everyone mentions were like what biting into heaven must feel like. The pricing is good. I can't wait to go back. They have a FB fan page that's pretty cute too with a menu in the photos as well. :) This place has been here a whole year and I never knew. Lots of parking. Nice Ambiance and great service. The server scared me with how good his manners were. GO GO GO!
My only problem is.. they close at 8! -
Review from Ian B.
New York, NY
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great food, great people. Seriously delicious Pho and spring rolls. Worth the drive, and the bit of a wait. Can't say enough good things about the food.
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Review from Rob D.
Costa Mesa, CA
7/15/2011
This place is great, and I really excited that we finally got a chance to grab lunch at Cafe Lotus.
We had the pho, steamed buns and veggie egg rolls - all quite good and with friendly service. Excellent prices and an interesting menu. 4 stars for now, as I have not yet tried the banh mi or french options, though I'm thinking it may be a 5 star spot based on the steamed buns - totally legit and just plain excellent.
This is by far the most legit Vietnamese spot in the area - go there and see for yourself!! -
Review from Adam G.
Bellaire, TX
1/1/2012
This is the only real place in Newport for real Vietnamese unless you want to drive to Westminster. The spring rolls are really fresh and loaded up with lettuce and fresh herbs. The pho tai is very solid with very good lean beef, and the broth is homemade, not the salty kind with MSG. There are also the Vietnamese sandwiches and vermicelli dishes that you would expect. Definitely a repeat
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Review from CJ M.
Irvine, CA
1/31/2012
One of the few Vietnamese restaurants NOT in Westminster that has authentic tasting food. They don't try to cater to a "milder taste" crowd here.
Beef Pho is good even though the amount of beef was lacking compared to the Pho restaurants in Westminster.
Customer service is good....better than most asian food restaurants.
