Soup Shop — Restaurant in Irvine

A couple of days ago, after a fun night of bowling, my husband and I were craving something warm and comforting pho or ramen, something soupy and cozy. Since many spots were already closed, we found this place on Yelp called Soup Shop Pho, and we’re so glad we did! When we arrived, the restaurant looked new and modern, and as we walked in, I noticed a good number of people dining inside a great sign! The space had a high-end yet cozy vibe, and it smelled amazing. We were greeted and seated right away, which I appreciated. The menu immediately caught my attention it’s beautifully designed with photos of each dish, which makes ordering so much easier. I went with the Veggie Pho, and my husband ordered the Filet Mignon Pho. They also have a section dedicated to drinks with equally gorgeous photos. Our server recommended the Passionfruit drink, and it did not disappoint! It was refreshing, perfectly sweet, and the little seeds gave it a fun, light crunch. My only note is that I’d ask for less ice next time since there was a bit more ice than drink but otherwise, it was delicious. I can’t wait to try their other drinks next time we visit. Now onto the pho the veggie pho was good and satisfying, but I do think the broth could use a bit more flavor depth. My husband’s beef broth, on the other hand, was rich, savory, and full of flavor. It was absolutely perfect. The filet mignon that came with it was cooked to perfection tender, flavorful, and honestly one of the best cuts I’ve tasted in pho. It was easily both of our favorite dish of the night. We also asked for something spicy and were told they had a house sauce. It wasn’t too spicy (and my spice tolerance is pretty low!), but it had a really nice flavor that complemented the pho well. Another big plus here is the portion size very generous for the price. Considering how upscale and elegant the interior looks, the pricing is extremely reasonable. It’s definitely a great date-night spot for couples or even a cozy meal with friends. That said, I do have a couple of small critiques. First, the utensil setup each table has its own utensil holder, which I personally didn’t love because it could easily lead to cross-contamination between guests. I’d prefer if they brought clean utensils directly with the meal instead. Second, about 25 minutes into eating, no one came by to check on us or refill water, which is something that could be improved. Overall though, everyone from the hostess to the servers was kind and welcoming. The food was delicious, the ambiance was lovely, and the prices were fair. We’ll definitely be back and highly recommend Soup Shop Pho to anyone local or...

We heard a lot of hype about Soup Shop so we had to check it out on a recent couples’ date night sans kids. FYI - this restaurant can be found in a busy plaza anchored by a Whole Foods and located at the corner of Irvine Center Drive and Research Drive, so parking may be scarce during peak hours. Servers were friendly in greeting us and efficient as they were able to seat us quickly without a reservation.

The meal started off on a good note with the Sautéed Scallion Corn and Golden Popcorn Chicken appetizers. There was even a hint of spice in the corn app which I appreciated. Between the four of us, we put both dishes away. I had a challenging time deciding on my entree, but I finally settled on the combination pho and added a side of rib bone. It’s been a minute since I had pho, so I really wanted to love it but IMO it was good not great. The meat was not fall off the bone tender and the noodles and broth were not memorable. I’ve had better pho in a few other restaurants nearby but outside of Irvine. Still, it’s always nice to get out and enjoy a nice meal with friends. Soup Shop has done well so far, so I hope they continue their success story in the thriving...

What the pho? You can get Little Saigon quality pho in south county? I initially thought that this place was just gonna be some trendy Vietnamese spot that does a thing that stands out from other places in the community and then just fades to the background. Here’s hoping that this doesn’t happen this place. What took me by surprise was there were lots of reviews that were glowing for this place from Vietnamese people, which is a great sign if people the culture frequent the restaurant! My friends and I came here on a weeknight on Friday and it was still fairly busy (not a bad sign if you’re looking for good fresh food)!! We all ordered the combination came out super fast. The service was quick and were able to get a refill of noodles, which is what soup shop is known for, along with extra orders of sliced white and green onions to just pep up the soup. The broth itself was super clean but also rich (if you know what I’m talking about in terms of pho quality. The cuts they had for the combo was what I would expect for a đặc biệt in Westminster, but not here in South County. I was sold! If you’re hesitant about it, give it a try, you won’t be let...