Saigon Basil

The only thing I have ever ordered here is the Chicken Pad Thai, which is actually pretty good. I’ve been coming to this place for quite some time now but I think the owner has changed because the servings have become half of what they used to be, with bean sprouts taking up most of my plate space. Oh, and caution– do NOT use credit card here. Always get calls from bank of America saying there’s suspicious card activity after using my card here.

Within the Albertson’s plaza and next to Gina’s Pizza lies the only phở selling establishment for a few miles around conveniently placed next to a crowded college campus. Smart business plan.
Saigon Basil is a good place to get your quick phở fix in Irvine if you don’t feel like driving all the way to Westminster/​GG for the real thing. The cashiers here are suuuuper smiley whenever I go, with the generous phở fixings on the table for you and a pretty cheap price to boot.
A heads up, it’s not like a «real» restaurant, you order and then wait for your food where it’s made and then pick it up at the counter. Servings are also pretty generous, so whatever you order will definitely fill you up for a few hours.
But honesty, if you think this place is 5 stars… you’ve never had real phở.

I think I can make phở better than this place. The phở is cheap and nearby campus, but hey. You pay for what you get.
Also, I’ve tried other rice dishes here and they’re just as bad. Ive been here twice and I think that’s one too many. Haha.

So Jayne L., Michael Y. and I head over here for a quick lunch since it’s cold and almost rainy. Parking is ok, a little crowded but it’s in a pretty good sized shopping plaza so I don’t think there is any time that it would be impossible to park.
Inside, the place is pretty clean and the menu is fairly straightforward and basic. I got the Phở Tai Nam, which came out pretty fast. The lady at the counter wasn’t overly friendly but she didn’t try to scratch my eyes out either, or give me the evil eye too much, so whatever… in this kind of place you should just quit while you are ahead and accept meh treatment as par for the course.
The noodles were cooked well and the soup was good, but it seemed like there wasn’t a whole lot of meat. I was kind of starving so the serving size was kind of small too, maybe I should get a larger one next time. Also the only vegetables it came with were bean sprouts — kind of boring. So quality, good… quantity, meh… excitement, meh. Overall not bad considering how cheap it was, but next time I’ll definitely get more quantity, maybe a side dish.
I shall return for an update…

This place gets stars for location and cost. That’s really about it. It’s nowhere near the best phở I’ve had. Or any other food for that matter. Portions are decent I guess, but that’s hardly relevant when flavor isn’t up to par. When my friend and I went, we both had phở, and the meat in our broth looked and tasted old. And the egg rolls I had with it were bland. That was the most unsatisfying $ 10 I’ve spent on a meal. I think the only reason we give this place second chances is because it is in a convenient location.
FYI, at the end, you have to bus your own food. I don’t mind this part, but they should have a more convenient way to get rid of liquids and stuff, to avoid a mess.

more like a 2.5÷5 stars…
first of all, their credit card machine was broken when i first came in and the asian lady told me to wait for a few minutes since they were going to try and fix it. 5 minutes past, and i’m like fuck it, i’m going to take a nice stroll in albertsons and come back when they fix it…
15 mins past, and i come back because i was really craving asian food. and the fucking machine was still broken. i was about to walk out but she insists that they will fix it soon… 5 minutes later, they had it up and running. she profusely apologize and offers me a thai iced tea for free.
I ordered the combo for about 7 bucks, which consists of a drink, eggroll or salad, and entrée. she gave me both the eggroll and salad since she felt bad to make me wait for that long…
the entrée was not that tasty. it was extremely bland and i had to douse the whole plate with hot sauce to make it bearable. fuck me, i knew i should have gone with the phở instead…
I would not recommend coming here and getting a rice/​noodle dish. get phở, and add hoisen/​chili sauce to it instead.

This review is kind of a tough one.
On one hand, the broken rice here is definitely way worse than any broken rice in Little Saigon (as would be expected).
On the other hand, it’s broken rice and it’s on campus.
On one hand, the flavors are a mere shell of what they should be, the fish sauce is all sweet and no ferment, the grilled pork is half gristle and the other half overcooked, and the rice is clumpy and chewy.
Oh the other hand, it’s broken rice. And it’s on campus.
I just like broken rice — I like it better than sandwiches, or pizza, or noodles, or hot dogs — so I this clumsy approximation and I will probably meet again even though there’s no two ways about it being pretty bad.

Back in college I’d come here for their $ 3 phở. Sure it was served in a plastic bowl, and probably on the lower end of the spectrum as far as quality goes, but it was $ 3. And I’ve had worse. Now that it’s regular price for their phở, I don’t see any reason to return for the phở, but I’ll always have fond memories of this place. It was very close to school, cheap, and the people who work there/​owners were very friendly.
The only reason I might return is for their curry. It’s pretty good, maybe better than Thai Spice. I haven’t tried anything else other than their phở and Thai curry.
Other than that, it’s just a local Asian food spot close to UCI. But there are plenty of those now.

It seem like most of the reviews here are for the phở. I haven’t tried their phở yet, I’ve only come here for their rice dishes… which I’m a fan of. It hits the spot and I can take it to go if I’m just craving something meaty close by. I enjoyed their thai bbq chicken plate, the portions are pretty large and fulfilling.
I didn’t like how they kicked my friend and I out when it closed at 10. Even though this is a tiny place, at most restaurants they let you finish your food if you order before the closing time, but we were forced to take ours to-​go and eat outside.

White washed and generally overpriced. If you want real phở, go to Westminster, if you want cheap phở within walking distance to UCI and the UTC come here. The chicken phở is a steal.

I WILL NOW WRITE A REVIEW ON ALL THE PHO PLACES or ALMOST ALL OF THE PHO PLACES IN IRVINE… THESE ARE MY OPINIONS ON ALL OF THEM… now lets begin…
–Phở Bac
This place is exactly the same as Phở Tasia… EXACTLY THE SAME… before the name changed (Phở Bac Ky to Phở Tasia), this place was unheard of to me… WHY? cuz I assumed this place would be exactly like the other place (Phở Bac Ky). To me, both of these restaurants aren’t that great… prices are about average… the soup is MSGED outa the world… WHY? I crash the hardest from eating here. HOWEVER… even though this location is small… AT LEAST THIS PLACE HAS A HAPPY HOUR! HOORAY! Just because of that… this place is considered as one of my «GO TO» spots for Phở.
–Phở Bac Ky/​Phở-​Tasia
^^^
Read the above post… this place is average… eh…its simply EH
–Saigon Basil
Now this place is slowly creeping up on me… and slowly climbing the ladders of my «GO TO» spots. When this restaurant first started off… it was pretty bad… they served in plastic bowls and gave out plastic utensils… according to the manager… its the Fast Food of Phở. The only GUUD thing they had going was that they had the 50% deals… I literally took advantage of this… I had coupon stacks in my wallets: D After the 50% went away, I started to come less. At that point, they just had 50% for the Chicken Phở…& NOW… theres no 50%. So Why do I like this place? It is very convenient for UCI students… VERY CONVENIENT… they have UPGRADED THEIR UTENSILS! No more plastic stuff… now they have the real bowls and utensils! The food is pretty guud, and they added the BEEFBALLS… which is awesome. The price is about average… cheaper than PHO BAC from what I remember.
–BB PHO/​Jamboree Kitchen
This place is my FAVORITE spot in irvine… or its in the top 2. The bowls are large, the noodles are guud, the soup is VERY PURE. My favorite thing about this place would have to be the broth… this place simply has the best broth from the other places… in my opinion of course. The price is about the same. The ONE NEGATIVE that they have is that the basil leaves are always mushy… never fresh and crisp. On another note… another bad thing about this place is that its in a food court! Other than that… this is my one of my faves!
–PHO FACTORY
Phở Factory? Does that mean this place has GUUD Phở? NOOOO. This place is crap… I guess Ill give it one star for the name of the restaurant
–PHO COMPANY
This place is my second favorite restaurant. The soup is guud. This place is as CLOSE as you can get to Westmister/​Garden Grove status. Only downside to this place… THEY BARELY GIVE YOU ANY FOOD!
–THANH RESTAURANT
I WILL NEVER COME HERE AGAIN. Let me describe you this place… this place is considered as a GOURTMET/​FANCY PHO place… not really sure why they need to make one… but ok. This place sells PHO for about $ 9-​$ 10…EXPENSIVE…this place took SUCH A LONG TIME FOR MY FOOD TO COME OUT…& WE WERE THE ONLY ONES SITING THERE! Cool water wall… WHY GO TO A RESTAURANT WHERE ITS EXPENSIVE AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THE FOOD TO COME OUT???
In conclusion…
My «GO TO» spots in irvine are:
–BB PHO/​Jamboree Kitchen
–PHO COMPANY
–SAIGON BASIL
–PHO BAC (make sure you go to the HAPPY HOUR one)
My opinion to you guys…
IF YOU WANT PHO… just go to Westmister/​Garden Grove: D
UNTIL THEN! ^-^

Bummer, they took the 50% off phở weekday special. Without that special, I really have to compare it to all the other phở spots in OC and give it its fair ranking. The last time I came here, I ordered the veggie tofu phở without onions. What they gave me was a veggie tofu bowl with onions and bell peppers and some tofu. I have to say, it was creative. I’ve never had bell peppers in my phở before.
Service is still friendly; however, without that 50% special, I regrettably give them two stars. Sorry guys but the competition is pretty stiff out there.

When I first came to UCI, I was thrilled to discover their 50% off phở ga. Seriously, where else can you find a filling bowl of phở for only $ 3.25? Sometimes I came here almost every week. But as of Nov. 2010 I believe, they ended that promotion.
I was deeply distressed.
I can no longer get my cheap phở fix anymore. As a side note, the servers are friendly, but when I ask them questions, they seem to struggle with their English (for example when I sorrowfully asked why they no longer had the 50% off promotion.)
Phở wise, the chicken phở had clear and light soup. Some days it would be perfectly seasoned and some days it would be slightly bland. I always had a generous helping of noodles and shredded chicken. Chicken is also a hit-​and-​miss; some days it was juicy and tender, some days it would be dry, tasteless and chewy.
Once I had the brisket and raw beef phở, but the soup was incredibly cloudy with pools of fat floating on the top. Spring rolls, even at their discounted price of $ 1.99, seems pricey for just two fried spring rolls.
I’m not sure if I would come back again… as I lost my reason of coming. But if I am struck with phở cravings again, I would come back.

There is NO MORE 50% off chicken phở.
So sad. But the people who work there are still really nice.
Tried the grilled chicken fresh rolls and I was pleasantly surprised. Good stuff.
However now that the draw of the cheap chicken phở has faded, I’m rather disillusioned by Saigon Basil now.

review update:
long gone are the days of the $ 3 bowl of chicken phở (phở ga). guess i really dont have a reason to come here anymore.

For a merely $ 3.25, you can get a bowl of piping hot Phở Ga everyday. I’m definitely a fan. I’ve had the Phở Ga today and it was the healthiest and lightest phở I’ve had. The broth is flavorful but clear and well, the rest is typical of phở. The shredded chicken is sometimes a bit dry, but I’m not going to expect juicy, tender chicken for 3 bucks. It’s also not the most food you’ll get — bowl isn’t jammed with vermicelli and they don’t provide a lot of the fresh veggies, but I have to say, I was fulll after eating everything in my bowl and drinking some broth.
I had their combination phở one time during a quick lunch in between classes and although it wasn’t the same as your local Vietnamese restaurant, it wasn’t bad either. I just wouldn’t pay $ 6 – 7 here for a meal here when I can get a better quality bowl of noodles for the same price at the Vietnamese restaurant nearby, and especially because there isn’t any service here. You order at the counter, pay, then find your own seating. They’ll bring you your food on a tray and just leave it at the edge of your table. You also clean up your own table when your done. So I guess if you want a quick and cheap chicken phở fix, come here and you won’t even feel bad for not tipping.
Their everyday $ 3.25 deal is what gives them 4 stars. I’ve never tried anything else on their «fusion» menu, but at least what else is good is that they have a variety of different items that you can get fast for those hour lunch breaks.

Gotta say it was better than going to the Del Taco that sits in the same parking lot, but I’ve had better phở. There was something a bit odd. I think the chicken fat/​skin was waaaaaay too thick and «aromatic».
Regardless, I ate my entire dish and wasn’t totally bummed that I went there. The service was nice.
Don’t half step. This parking lot is a nightmare during lunch hours, so plan accordingly.

2.5 stars? Phở Real?
A lot of people have valid opinions about this place. I can’t say I’m a huge fan, but I’m definitely a repeat customer. I’m sure there are way better places in Garden Grove, but honestly, who wants to drive all the way there for Phở? This place is conveniently located within walking distance from UCI, clean/​safe area, and ample parking. The food itself isn’t bad and for the price, there’s really not much to complain about. Maybe it’s not as «authentic» as places that only speak Vietnamese, but it’s also kind of hard to mess up Phở. I think I’ve tried the rice dishes before, but I wasn’t too impressed. Pad Thai didn’t stand out either. Just stick with Phở. Getting it to-​go isn’t too bad. You can call in advance to pick up your order. They also separate the soup/​noodles so the noodles don’t get soggy.
If it wasn’t for the price, I would give this place 3 stars. But since it’s super cheap, it gets 4.
A little about my credentials:
I first got into cooking & food when I was in college. After being rejected by numerous girls and getting zero action, I decided it was time for a change. I needed a new makeover to boost my geeky, engineering image. I applied for a cooking position at a Mediterranean-​Italian Restaurant near my home and learned to cook all sorts of pastas and dishes. I never became a professional chef, but I continue to enjoy & love food. 8 years later and 55 lbs heavier, I am now an engineer that travels all over the world trying new foods and learning about different cultures.

After not eating here for two years Lewis and I decided to come back here for a quick bite. A quick bite became a long wait, then disappointing service and bad food.
The cashier thought it would be a good idea to bend my card back and forth to see if it’ll swipe better. Not cool. Ordered food and sat down. The food was served hastily and just as carelessly. The Vietnamese rice plates were a poor attempt at authentic cuisine. I have never seen a hot pinker piece of pork before. And no lemon fish sauce? What is that? I was really disappointed, plus the food seemed to be microwaved ’cause the food got chewy and cold really quickly.
Lewis ordered the phở and he said it hasn’t improved, 2 years should have been a long enough time to change something!
Not worth your wallet.

Oh Saigon Basil how I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Thankfully you weren’t as a bad as I thought you would turn out to be. I came here with Minja and Kanako considering our appetites needed to be filled on a Thursday afternoon. I was browsing through the menu and we made our choices with these fine dishes:
–1 order of Chicken Padthai
–1 order of Thai Salad (I think)
–2 orders of Cha Gio (Shrimp and Pork Egg Roll)
–1 order of Thai Ice Tea
–1 combination order of Pad Thai and Thai Chicken BBQ
I believe all in all our orders came out to be about near $ 27.00 dollars in total. Kanako enjoyed the Pad Thai, she thought it was better than the one offered at Thai Space at Jeffrey in Irvine. While the Chicken BBQ was alright but the portions were a bit much for her. For myself, the Pad Thai was decent but not to my liking. Also the Cha Gio wasn’t too bad either but it was reminiscent of Lee’s Sandiwiches version, which gets pretty stale the day after. Min said her salad wasn’t too bad but she didn’t finish it either, so I have no clue on her sentiments of it.
Usually after eating at several establishments especially associated with The Irvine Company, I don’t have very much expectation. But with places like Aomatsu and Saigon Basil making an honest effort perhaps there’s more to look forward to in the future in terms of food places especially in Irvine.