In Vietnamese culture, sitting down and dining with family is essential, and the founders of Phans55, with locations in Irvine and Fullerton, want to bring the healthy, fresh, distinctive cuisine of Vietnam
and its traditions to youand yours.

Tucked inside a new retail center high-rise complex on Scholarship Drive off the northeast corner of Jamboree Road and Campus Drive, Phans55 has a stunning interior, with dark wood floors, custom
glass fixtures and a wall-size TV for watching special sporting events.

The menu combines traditional Vietnamese – which is, in itself, a fusion cuisine that integrates Asian with French influences – with more modern fare. For instance, Chef Specials range from braised pork belly (“thit kho nuoc dua”) to grilled marinated sea bass (“cha ca thang long”) to New Zealand rack of lamb.

Committed to using the highest-quality meats and locally grown produce, Phans55 features Naturewell certified all-natural Angus beef, White Marble Farms all-natural pork, and Sanderson Farms natural free-range poultry.

The mixers in the bar are also made from fresh, house-made ingredients.

Phans55’s house-specialty martini the night I visited was a refreshing blend of premium lychee vodka and fresh citrus with crushed ice – very tasty.

The hand-made rolls are a flavorful change from traditional Chinese and Japanese presentations. The veggies snapped with freshness, and the rice wraps were delicate yet slightly chewy.

Pho, a Vietnamese soup, comes with a variety of meat choices served in beef broth with rice noodles, onions, scallions and cilantro, and garnished with fresh basil, jalapeños and lime wedges.

The Shaken Beef is a pan-fried Cognac-rubbed filet mignon with mushrooms, garlic, onions and bell pepper, served with jasmine or brown rice. The filet is fork-tender, and the overall flavor is exceptional.

With its emphasis on premium, sustainable ingredients and inventive presentations, Phans55 is highly recommended to Vietnamese cuisine lovers and newbies alike.

Phans55 Vietnamese Bistro and Bar

“We noticed that people were getting more adventurous and willing to try more exotic foods,” says Ryan Phan, who operates the upscale-casual diners with his mother, Susie, and his father. “We wanted to take my mother’s traditional Vietnamese recipes and combine them with a modern flair.”

To nail the flair, the family visited with many of the top restaurateurs in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, including Wolfgang Puck.The result is Pho-nomenal.

During a visit to the Irvine location, Susie Phan was training our server. She started us with seared ahi tuna and crispy imperial rolls: shrimp, lump crab, pork and glass noodles served with a touch of nuoc mam sauce.

After the main dishes, we enjoyed some delicious House Special pho and debated what we liked best about the restaurant. As a testament to our experience, everybody gushed about something different.

The only thing we agreed on: We would be back. Soon.

Where: Irvine and Fullerton
Phone: 949.724.1236; 714.441.0714
Web: phans55.com