Little Sister

Great food to begin with but the servers forgot one of our order which made us waited almost 30 minutes with nothing. We want to try more food but got no attention from any of the servers. One said he will come back but then never come back so we lost patience on this wait. Also, no dessert menu was shown at the beginning and only suggested before we asked for the bill. The light at our table was off in the middle of our dinner but no server care to change it.

Decided to grab dinner here before seeing Wicked: For Good the day after Thanksgiving. We came in early and were seated at the bar. Little Sister operates with two separate kitchens: one for hot dishes and one for cold preparations. The cold kitchen handles items like rice paper rolls, fresh rolls, papaya salad, and other lighter fare and this area is directly in front of the bar where we sat. This is where I unfortunately need to mention a concern. The two ladies working the cold prep line did not appear to follow consistent hygiene practices. They were talking over the food while prepping, not changing gloves between tasks, and touching different ingredients, including raw meats and vegetables without switching gloves. There was also a beef fresh roll that they were pre-making in batches and stacking into a container. So if you plan to order this item, just know it may not be made to order. I wish I could leave it at that, but I ended up getting very sick several times throughout the night, and it carried into the next day. Because of what I observed with cross-contamination risk, I would strongly caution vegetarians, anyone with food allergies, or anyone sensitive to food handling issues to be careful here. I truly don’t enjoy leaving negative reviews, but if you’re going to showcase an open-concept kitchen, it’s important that proper food-safety practices are followed at all times. Based on my experience, I unfortunately cannot recommend dining here.

We had a a great experience here sitting at the bar. Service was prompt and polite with lots of descriptions about the food and she guided us towards the best options for our party of two. Food was delicious and this is what stood out. You pay for the ambience, and food is family style so order with caution as portions are big and shareable.

My friend treated us to dinner tonight to welcome another girl who just arrived in town 💗 She said Little Sister is so good that she’s been here twice in a row—and it’s definitely worth the hype! (We also tried a few dishes randomly from the menu—everything turned out delicious!) ⸻ 🌿 Ambience & Vibes The interior has a warm, elegant vibe with wooden tones and golden lighting—perfect for dates or girls’ night out. The outdoor patio features white walls, lush plants, and striped umbrellas—totally Instagram-worthy 📸 Whether you come during the day or in the evening, it feels like a cozy Southeast Asian getaway~ 🍴 Recommended Dishes 🥗 Goi Du Du (Papaya Salad + Prawns) Refreshing and tangy! The papaya shreds are super crisp, and the prawns are juicy and flavorful. A perfect mix of sweet, sour, and a little spicy! 🍆 Sauteed Eggplant Mapo Pork Soft, flavorful eggplant with a touch of Sichuan-style spice. Fragrant and rich—amazing with rice! 🥩 Short Rib Tender and juicy short rib with a perfectly seared crust. The sauce has that unique fusion of Southeast Asian street flavor and fine dining presentation. 🥘 Black Rice Topped with plenty of seafood! The black rice has a chewy texture and a nutty aroma—healthier and more unique than regular white rice. 🍞 Milk Rolls Soft, buttery, and slightly sweet—can’t believe bread can taste this good! My son absolutely loved it. 💰 Around $50 per person, totally worth it! The service was friendly and attentive too. 💬 Overall: ✨ Diverse flavors with beautiful plating (though slightly on the sweet side) ✨ Gorgeous setting and perfect lighting—every corner is photo-worthy!

Having been to the one in Redondo Beach previously, I was curious how the Irvine location would be. It was an okay experience with good food. Parking at the Spectrum sometimes feel like a matter of luck. I opted to just park in one of the structures after circling the lot a few times. This was a Friday around lunch hours. The place is beautiful, lots of glass, indoor outdoor seating, high and low seating. Service was nice, our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful. Other staff members assisted us quickly, constantly topping off our waters. Food-wise, I opted for the black rice. It was good, wild/purple rice mixed with curry flavors. There could’ve been more seafood. Nice large shrimps and octopus. I was expecting bigger pieces of scallops but they were tiny. Portion is in that mix range of too small to share, too large for yourself A place like this, I’d like to share since there’s a good mix of different items, but their portions seem catered to individual portions Don’t get me wrong, the quality is there and the dishes pack a lot of flavor. But for the price and portions, I think I’d go elsewhere. It’s very difficult to choose this place over some other options.

Vietnamese peeps looking for solid Vietnamese food should not go here. Disappointed in the Viet dishes that we ordered. If they can’t get these right, I’m suspicious of the other dishes too. Amateurish. Their spring rolls are good though, but two for $18? C’mon. Overpriced because you’re paying for the nice atmosphere. Maybe the non-VN dishes are better. If you’re going to overcharge, at least delight us with the food.

I love their restaurant vibe and decorations. It’s like a high ends Vietnamese food with a little fusion in it. It’s located at Irvine Spectrum, Ca. After lunch or dinner can walk around and loose some calories lol. Love their drinks as well. Plenty of parking but since it’s summer time so it can get pack.

Made a reservation here for my friends’s birthday. I requested to place us on a good spot for her birthday, the server tried to place us on the corner. My friend suggested another place to sit. The food was outstanding. Until the end when the guy took our plates without even asking if we were done with them. Would like to take home some left overs but they took the plates right away. We were talking so we didn’t realize that he took our left overs and threw them away already. Also, they didn’t even do anything for my friend’s birthday. I wish they had some ice cream or a little dessert at least for her. This is not the place if you want to make someone special on their birthday.

Located at Irvine spectrum. Came here with a larger group so I was able to try a lot of their dishes. Everything was very flavorful, but not traditional Vietnamese. The rice paper dishes, Chao, escargot poppers, shaky shaky beef, pork chop and spare rib rice dishes are all very good. I'm sure everything on the menu would be great choices to try. It's a beautiful Asian fusion restaurant. Great place for a special event or casual dine in.

Decided to grab dinner here before seeing Wicked: For Good the day after Thanksgiving. We came in early and were seated at the bar. Little Sister operates with two separate kitchens: one for hot dishes and one for cold preparations. The cold kitchen handles items like rice paper rolls, fresh rolls, papaya salad, and other lighter fare and this area is directly in front of the bar where we sat. This is where I unfortunately need to mention a concern. The two ladies working the cold prep line did not appear to follow consistent hygiene practices. They were talking over the food while prepping, not changing gloves between tasks, and touching different ingredients, including raw meats and vegetables without switching gloves. There was also a beef fresh roll that they were pre-making in batches and stacking into a container. So if you plan to order this item, just know it may not be made to order. I wish I could leave it at that, but I ended up getting very sick several times throughout the night, and it carried into the next day. Because of what I observed with cross-contamination risk, I would strongly caution vegetarians, anyone with food allergies, or anyone sensitive to food handling issues to be careful here. I truly don't enjoy leaving negative reviews, but if you're going to showcase an open-concept kitchen, it's important that proper food-safety practices are followed at all times. Based on my experience, I unfortunately cannot recommend dining here.

Visiting this restaurant was a complete disappointment. The food wasn't just bad -- it was so poorly prepared that after dinner I experienced stomach pain and ended up getting seriously sick. The next morning I couldn't get out of bed, I felt like my body was going numb, I was vomiting, I was nauseous for another 4 days. I ordered the salt and pepper lobster -- not a cheap dish in its category -- and it was absolutely not worth the money. The other dishes my friends ordered weren't any better; everything had strange and unpleasant flavor combinations. The service was another major issue. Even though the restaurant was almost empty, the servers came to our table very rarely and kept switching throughout the evening. It felt completely chaotic, with absolutely no attention given to the guests. Honestly, they definitely did not deserve their tips. In the end -- wasted money, a ruined evening, several days of feeling unwell, and absolutely no desire to ever return. I do not recommend this restaurant.

Came here for an early birthday celebration with my family, we had reservations on a Monday night even with all the rain the restaurant was packed. Got seated right when we checked in and we got our appetizers really fast. And then we got our main courses soon after. There's a good amount of seating and dining at the bar tops. Restaurants very clean, nice dim lighting but each table has a personal light. Our server was so kind and friendly. Helpful with suggestions on what to order. Everything tasted amazing expect the two kinds of fish we got were a little smaller portions compared to everything else and a little bland to be honest. But besides that I enjoyed and would come back. Food: Bread butter & honey is a MUST. The spring rolls were really good with all the different textures. Dumplings were good. Shaky shaky beef was amazing came with rice and salad. I got the braised beef she recommended to me and it did not disappoint. We got the pho and it was okay just like a regular pho nothing fancy. My sister got the sea bass which was a little dry. The salmon was bland. Saigon salad noodles was really tasty. Ended with a dessert for my birthday not sure what it was called but it was like a pecan something with vanilla ice cream like a healthy pazooki! 10/10

We stopped by Little Sister to have an early dinner roughly a week ago. We decided to have a chill afternoon at the Irvine Spectrum, and my lovely girlfriend loves Vietnamese food. We noticed Little Sister was located here (near the Apple Store) and decided to eat there. We went in and got a seat right away. Our server was a nice guy and suggested the Saigon salad with Lemongrass Beef for my lady, as she wanted a vermicelli dish. I ordered the Banh Xeo, as I wanted my lady to try it in the states; she previously tried it while in Phu Quoc, but it isn't quite the same in my opinion. The Banh Xeo at little sister wasn't bad, but was limited to just shrimps as the protein. I'm used to Banh Xeo with pork belly and squid/calamari included with the shrimp. I also never had it served with a side of vermicelli noodles, but it wasn't too off. The flavors were good and the crepe had a nice crunch outside and a doughy inside with bean sprouts. The veggies served on the side is what you will find with most Vietnamese dishes: basil, mints, lettuce, onions, pickled carrots, and fish sauce. The Saigon salad tasted like many Vietnamese vermicelli dishes. The Lemongrass beef wasn't our cup of tea, but I know it's popular with quite a few Vietnamese dishes. The flavors for the whole dish were as expected but the lemongrass beef was quite salty, and they should serve this salad with a larger helping of fish sauce. Overall, the experience was decent. The ambiance is modern and nice, the staff was friendly, the food was good but not spectacular (especially since you can pay less than half the price at an authentic Vietnamese restaurant in West Minister). I would likely come by here again if I was bringing someone who isn't of Vietnamese decent here as the would likely notice the differences that I did.

Got to try it again and the menu has changed quite a bit. It is more expensive, but you pay for the ambiance and aesthetic. They do deliver on the ambiance w/ high ceilings, small artistful touches like matchbooks, big tables, and lighting fit for food photos. They have cocktails and a small dessert menu, it does close rather early. Shaking beef- rice is okay, wish more flavor. Nice vinegrette, tender beef Papaya salad- favorite of the night. But no need to add prawns as these are just shrimp and you dont get the hit factor/grilled flavor. The papaya was nicely julienne and coated well in dressing. Has some hard crunchy seafood. Banh cuon- interesting concept and does taste like pho, however instead of being soft and holding everything together it kind of fell apart. Good dressing, tender enough meat and really does have all the pho toppings. The service was fast and smooth with adequately paced enough check ins. Overall, recommend the papaya salad and come here for a date night or company meal.

Wait staff is very kind and we're very attentive, the inside and outside ambiance and decor was very cute and clean. It created such a wonderful vibe to enjoy the food in! We tried three items, first was the shaky shaky beef which had great reviews on yelp already, and it definitely lived up to the hype. It was so tender and came with a lemon juice salt sauce. We also tried a chicken salad to add some freshness and it was very refreshing with all of the herbs that was included, and finally we got the pork spring rolls which were decent. Not any crazy but they were good none the less, I would probably try some other item from their menu instead of them next time.

I'd been wanting to try this place for a long time, and found it to have some ups and downs. The good: Beautiful decor and delicious food. My husband and I were so impressed with the flavorful sticky rice side dish and our entrees were excellent too. Creative, elevated. The ehhh: Our server seemed a bit inexperienced, maybe? Also, we had an allergy issue. My husband has a shellfish allergy, so we avoided anything on the menu that could be a trigger. We are very familiar with Vietnamese food, so he figured he could navigate the menu safely. I guess he should've disclosed the allergy specifically, though, because there must have been some unexpected shellfish in his dish. He had a reaction after the meal (fairly mild, thankfully!). It would be helpful if the menu had a guide to potential allergens. I might try this place again. It's lovely to have the opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese fine dining.

Very nice restaurant located near Apple Store in Irvine spectrum. There many patio seatings. Tropical decors. High ceiling dining room with a nice bar in the middle. Service is fast. Nice food presentation. I ordered shaky shaky beef with rice & fried sea bass. Food is very tasty & portion is big enough to share. Sea bass skin is crunchy & plenty of veggie. Filet mignon is very tender. I would totally come back & try other dishes.

First walking in very welcoming and open floor plan restaurant. The service was Excellent. Im very impressed that the server was acknowledged about Allergies. The food was Delicious But a little on the Expensive side. But i do recommend to try out this Little Sister restaurant.

The food, was exceptional! I came here for the first time with a girlfriend to celebrate her birthday. We enjoyed the xoi, super flavorful and had great texture, the spring rolls (very similar to brodard), and the papaya salad. Everything, food wise, was fantastic. That said, the service was lacking. The host was very pleasant. I liked him. Our server, who was very nice, was pretty slow. I suspect the restaurant was understaffed. The food was good, so I'd come back again and give it another shot.

Went to grab a late lunch/early dinner the other night and had a really nice time. The restaurant itself is so pretty. We love the lights and the little lamps on the tables. I ordered the Vietnamese iced coffee espresso martini which was pretty good. My boyfriend really liked it, but I was just okay with it. I asked for a taster side of the Vietnamese coffee alone on the side just for try. I personally don't like theirs, but I do think it tasted better in the espresso martini than it does alone. For dinner, The only complaint I have is that we didn't know they had happy hour as no one told us or even asked if we were there for dinner or happy hour (we arrived around 4-4:30). We found it they only offer it at the bar or patio after I saw it on their website and asked our waitress. She was very nice though and let us add a couple of happy hour drinks to our table since we had already been there and finished dinner. We had the papaya salad, the xoi (crispy sticky rice), and bo Khoi (short rib). The food is presented so beautifully. I hated the papaya salad tbh. And I love papaya salad. We asked them for their spicy fish oil and some limes to add to it and it tasted much better. The xoi was delicious. Perfectly crispy and the pork with it was so juicy and flavorful. The Bo kho was also so delicious. The baguette that comes with it is perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. We loved it! We had a lot of food leftover too. The portions are pretty large. We definitely want to go back and try other items!

The preschool moms and I met for a casual lunch to get out and enjoy some time together. They recommended this restaurant and I really liked it. Parking was near Target and then you walk into the mall area and go right. The restaurant is very pretty. Our waiter was brand new and still learning the menu but he tried very hard to make good recommendations. Portions are massive here! We had the shrimp appetizer, which was good. The ladies also had a shrimp and pork spring roll they liked. I had the garlic noodles, which were very tasty. The other ladies had pho, a Vietnamese pancake with pork and another pork and beef dish. They liked them a lot. They have a full bar and clean bathrooms, which is a plus! I think I need to come again to try it again.

Amazing flavor explosion! The ambiance, the service & especially the food... just everything is wonderful. The dumplings are presented beautifully, were delicious & yummy sauce. The bowl of chicken pho is huge. Fed 3 of us with leftover. The coconut chicken curry was a tiny bit too spicy for my liking, but the chicken was very tender, sauce is very rich. Probably my least favorite dish but still very good. Can't say enough about how amazing the sticky rice is! Simple delicious. Our server was so sweet in explaining each dish to us. The servings are rather large and family style. Food comes out as it is made so things are brought out at different times. I can't wait to go back!

I was in the neighborhood and stopped at Little Sister for Happy Hour . All the food on the happy hour menu is $10 so I had to try almost everything Started with coconut-crusted Balinese meatballs. I have to admit those were my favorite then had the little sticky rice which was good but not great. The crispy pork rolls were good and the presentation was amazing. Then I had the sesame shrimp toast. That was probably my least favorite. But it was $10 happy hour I had to try it. And free cucumber appetizers at the bar. We sat at the bar and got to watch the servers preparing the vegetables onto the plates. I was totally entertained. They did such a great job The $6 house wine was actually very good and you can't beat the price $$ The bathrooms are clean and the servers are all very helpful. If you haven't been you need to stop by. Happy hour is till 6:00pm. This place gets super busy so I would recommend making reservations. Enjoy!

Little Sister at Irvine Spectrum was soo good!! Cozy ambiance, perfect for catching up with friends, and honestly one of the best restaurants at the Spectrum. We ordered the shaky shaky beef, chicken garlic noodles, and the pho banh cuon. The pho banh cuon was the highlight, super refreshing with soft rice rolls, fresh herbs, and that light sauce that just ties it all together. Comforting but still bright and fresh, I'd come back for this alone! The shaky shaky beef had amazing flavor with that savory-slightly-sweet glaze, and it paired so well with rice. The beef was just a tad on the dry side, but the seasoning made up for it. The chicken garlic noodles were good, but honestly didn't stand out too much for me, I was hoping for a bolder garlic kick. Definitely worth a visit if you want something more special than the usual chain spots.

This is a beautiful and cozy spot for fresh Vietnamese food after walking around the Irvine Spectrum, It's become a little tradition of ours. We usually enjoy the beef pho, which comes with a delicious variety of brisket and meatballs. The fresh spring rolls are our go-to appetizer, and the peanut sauce is perfectly creamy and flavorful. I always ask for chili paste on the side, and they bring out a nice selection of spicy sauces. Everything tastes fresh and homemade. The hosts and servers are always friendly and attentive, which makes the experience even better. It's consistently great food, great service, and a relaxing place to unwind after a day out.

I like authentic Vietnamese food but I love the ambiance here. Beautiful restaurant. We were seated on the patio. Food here is ordered family style which means you share all the dishes. Love this concept. For drinks, we ordered an XO and the Bee's Sting. The Bee's Sting was delish! It had a sting to it... Haha pun intended. It was a spicy drink which I love! I love love anything spicy because you know I'm spicy... Hahaha! For food, we ordered the crispy shrimp & pork rolls, shaky shaky beef, and garlic noodles. The rolls were egg rolls and came with the sweet/spicy dipping sauce, vermicelli, and pickled carrots and onions with jalapenos, and lettuce with herbs for wrapping. Super good! Very crispy. Very tasty. Veggies and herbs all fresh! Shaky Shaky beef was beef cut in cubes and sauteed. A little too salty for me. It came with tomato fried rice and a salad. Rice was delish and salad had tons of cherry tomatoes which I love! Garlic noodles were very flavorful. You can taste the garlic which I love! Just enough garlic without it being overpowering. Our waitress Ruby was super attentive and explained everything. I will definitely be back to try the other dishes. I know it's not authentic Viet food but I love a good fancy Viet restaurant. I love the vibe and the full bar. I also love people watching from the patio but I want to sit inside next time because it's just beautiful inside.

Having been to the one in Redondo Beach previously, I was curious how the Irvine location would be. It was an okay experience with good food. Parking at the Spectrum sometimes feel like a matter of luck. I opted to just park in one of the structures after circling the lot a few times. This was a Friday around lunch hours. The place is beautiful, lots of glass, indoor outdoor seating, high and low seating. Service was nice, our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful. Other staff members assisted us quickly, constantly topping off our waters. Food-wise, I opted for the black rice. It was good, wild/purple rice mixed with curry flavors. There could've been more seafood. Nice large shrimps and octopus. I was expecting bigger pieces of scallops but they were tiny. Portion is in that mix range of too small to share, too large for yourself A place like this, I'd like to share since there's a good mix of different items, but their portions seem catered to individual portions Don't get me wrong, the quality is there and the dishes pack a lot of flavor. But for the price and portions, I think I'd go elsewhere. It's very difficult to choose this place over some other options.

Wanted to try this place since I had were heard and seen great things about it. We decided to give it a try for late lunch/early dinner. Restaurant was pretty empty at around 2 pm. Greeted within a few minutes. We were offered water, and was a little confused about who was going to be our server because the server who took our drink order was different from our drink order. I believe during this time of the day, there is only 1-2 servers for the entire restaurant. This means they are running around different areas taking care of tables. There should be manager present to help the servers who are spread thin all over the place. We ordered the mushroom/chicken dumplings, the papaya sale, and the chicken salad. We also ordered a mocktail and black oolong tea. $15 for two nonalcoholic drinks, yikes! Food came out fairly quickly and the food presentation was great. Although the presentation was great, the salads fell short from the price of each plate. The papaya salad, is actually a nice size servicing, highly recommend sharing, BUT it's nothing special. Dressing was a little on the lighter side, there were strips of jerky that didn't add anything to the salad in terms of flavor. You can shrimp and I would imagine would add a little more the salad, not it's totally not worth the $20. The chicken salad, once again, nothing special, the chicken is "poached", which just means flavorless boiled shredded chicken, no seasoning and flavor. Once again, portion was big enough for 2 to share, but it's literally mostly red cabbage with nothing else to make it worth ordering. Very underwhelming, I really wanted like this place, but definitely not it. The mushrooms/chicken dumplings were decent, but that's about it. Maybe we just ordered the wrong thing. Our bill was $78, for two people. If I'm going to pay that kind of money, I want it to be amazingly delicious. It's going to be really tough to return, when they are more options that are worth the time and money at the Irvine spectrum.

My friend treated us to dinner to welcome another girlfriend back, and she insisted on taking us to Little Sister -- she's already been there twice in a row because it's that good! (We tried some "blind picks" too -- all delicious! Menu attached) Ambiance: The indoor space features warm wooden tones and soft metallic lighting -- elegant, cozy, and perfect for date nights or girls' gatherings. The outdoor area is all white walls, lush greenery, and striped umbrellas -- totally photo-worthy! Whether it's daytime or sunset, it gives off those relaxed Southeast Asian vacation vibes~ Recommended Dishes: Goi Du Du (Papaya Salad with Prawns) Crisp green papaya and juicy prawns with a tangy-spicy kick -- bright, refreshing, and addictively good! Sautéed Eggplant Mapo Pork Soft, flavorful eggplant with a hint of Sichuan-style spice -- aromatic and perfect with rice. Short Rib Incredibly tender and juicy with a slightly charred edge -- the sauce is amazing, like a mix of Southeast Asian street flavor and fine dining elegance. Black Rice Topped generously with seafood -- the rice is slightly sticky, nutty, and so fragrant. A healthier, more flavorful twist on white rice! Milk Rolls Soft, buttery, and slightly sweet -- can't believe bread could be this good! My son absolutely loved it. Average: under $50 per person -- great value, and the service was very attentive. Summary: Bold, diverse flavors -- slightly on the sweet side, but beautifully plated. Ambiance is a 10/10 -- every corner is photo-ready!

Hidden gem at the Irvine Spectrum! It's tucked next to the Apple Store, but once you step inside, you're surrounded by all the deliciousness!!!! The food is amazing, I'm obsessed with their rice rolls, noodles, rice... honestly, everything! This has quickly become my favorite Vietnamese spot. The service is always on point, and the vibe inside is fantastic with beautiful decor and friendly staff. Love it!

We came here today for lunch. It wasn't very busy, so we're seated promptly. However things seemed to go downhill from there. My wife ordered the Pho Bo and I ordered the Broken Rice dish. The food came out fairly quickly, but they gave my wife the Pho Ga instead. I told the food runner that we ordered the Pho Bo and not that one, so he took it back. The waitress then came by later and said we ordered the Pho Ga, but said she'd go ahead and put in the order for the Pho Bo. I wasn't trying to argue with her, but don't understand why she needed to insist we ordered something that I know we didn't (we've never order Pho Ga anywhere we go). I brushed it off as whatever. Then about halfway through the broken rice dish, I found a fly in my bowl! We both instantly lost our appetite, and I waived the hostess down and told her what happened. She took my bowl, but wasn't very apologetic, nor did she or anyone else offer any apologies or anything for what in my perspective is a pretty big deal! After feeling disappointed by the whole experience, I just asked for the check. Neither the waitress or anyone in management came to apologize or offer any recompense. I'm not expecting a free meal or anything, but this whole experience was frustrating and disappointing. Especially at what I would believe was a high end establishment (prices are very high for Vietnamese food!). I used to come here often with my coworkers (we work down the street) and I've even bought gift cards from them, but I don't think I'll be bringing any business here any longer.

We love coming here but this was our first time coming for happy hour. There were several different food options, all priced at $10 and great portion sizes for sharing. Our favorite items on HH were the Coconut Crusted Balinese Meatballs and the Crispy Pork Rolls. The Sesame Shrimp Toast had good flavor but was kind of odd and likely wouldn't order again. It seemed almost as if it was ground up shrimp that was fried on top of toast. The Little Sticky was cubes of rice that were fried with some various sauces and vegetables. The bar area is a nice set up and had a tv with sports on. I'd definitely come again for happy hour!

Main review of this place: Upscale Vietnamese food. Indoor and outdoor seating which gives you more options to choose from when it comes to vibes. I brought my dog so it was pet friendly for sure. The waiter and waitress offered water to my dog at least on a hot day. Quick and responsive when we needed something which was a plus. The food overall was decent. Nothing too fancy but worth trying. We ordered these dishes all to share for 4 people and we were stuffed and still had a bit extra. Everything was seasoned correctly but just pricey for Vietnamese food.

I had a great experience at Little Sister! Stepped in and immediately noticed how beautiful the interior was! Modern but classy, and I loved all the greenery and butterfly accents they had going on. We went for an early lunch, so it was pretty empty when we arrived, but the space definitely filled up as we sat and ate. My favorite thing ordered was the pho banh cuon which is basically the fillings and sauce you would find in pho, but in a dim sum type rice roll. Super unique and packed with flavor, though it was a little hard to eat I have to admit. The sticky rice appetizer we ordered was also amazing. I will say I'm not sure if it was exactly sticky rice in a traditional sense, but more of a bowl of the crispy rice you would find at a sushi restaurant like spicy tuna crispy rice. Nevertheless, I didn't mind the surprise and the toppings definitely made the dish- especially the runny egg and pork floss. Super packed with flavor, almost too much if that's possible- and not to mention it was a huge portion and we had to take most of it to-go. The saigon salad was also a very generous portion. We kept eating but we never seemed to make a dent in it. Lots of chicken, veg, and rice noodles. So overall, loved Little Sister! It's not quite traditional Vietnamese cuisine, but they don't market it as that and everything was still flavorful and delicious. Not to mention our server was very kind and attentive. Will definitely be back!

The space feels warm and inviting--an ideal spot for a relaxed dinner or catching up with friends. They have indoor and patio seating. It is located next to the H&M. The wait was rather long on a Saturday night. We ordered a few dishes. The shaky shaky beef and fries was delicious. The shaky shaky beef had bold, well-balanced flavors with a glaze that hit the sweet and savory notes perfectly.

I really enjoyed Little Sister! The food, the atmosphere, the service, all of it was enjoyable. This location is located right on the edge of the spectrum, so it was pretty easy to get to and park. There's the lot right next to target as well as the parking structure. Both are free. If those are full there's plenty of other parking options around as well. The place itself is super clean, plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. Bonus they're dog friendly indoors and outdoors! The atmosphere of this place was super nice as well. Service was really good! Our server was super kind, friendly and always checking in on us. I forgot his name but I knew it began with a J. He also brought out water for a dog. But genuinely a kind man and was really good at his job. The food was very yummy! Our fresh and fried spring rolls were yummy and flavorful! I really liked the fresh one the best! The vermicelli salad with chicken was yummy, the chicken was really good. The shaky shaky beef was super tender and had lots of flavor. The coco pork reminded me of adobo, but I enjoyed it. The pork was super tender and broke apart easily. The salt and pepper was our favorite. The crabs were so flavorful and the curry rice paired well with it. I really enjoyed my experience at Little Sister! I definitely wouldn't mind coming back either for a date night or girls day! I will say it's a little on the pricier end, but you're definitely getting what you pay for. I highly recommend, give this place a try!

Second time here and the experience was so much better. Probably picked the wrong dish the first time around. Came with a few friends and we were all just super impressed with the sea bass and banh mi pate. Both were a 5 star. 1. Fried sea bass: pan fried sea bass served with side of condiments to wrap and serve. Of course lettuce is standard along with side of basil, mint, carrot/radish strips, sliced jalepeno, white noodle, and fish sauce. Make a taco and serve...delicious!!! 2. Banh Mi Pate: rice paper wrap with pork slices, white noodles, lettuce, carrot, and garnished with cilantro and a vinegarette sauce that is just phenomenal. Looks like a colorful spring roll but so much better tasting. We also enjoyed some drinks but can't remember the names. Nevertheless delicious. Would definitely go again.

EVERYTHING. WAS. DELICIOUS. Yes, we over ordered. But no regrets. We were not expecting that the portions were so big. There was no clear winner because they're all amazing and equally delicious (see photos). The pho was perhaps something we would skip next time not because it wasn't good but because it was simply a bit standard. Service was better than great. Servers checked on us periodically and we got everything we requested. The wait can get a bit long since this is a pretty popular spot. I suggest putting your name on the waitlist and then do some shopping. At around 6 pm on a Saturday, the wait for us was about 45 minutes.

Every now and then I get the urge to write a review when my experience either sucks majorly or it was incredible. In this case I can't sing enough praises for this gem of a spot. I've been coming to Irvine spectrum for over a decade and have tried most of the restaurants here. They range from OK to pretty good. Little sister, however I feel is in a class of its own. The vibe feels elevated, perfect for a date night or a nice evening out. Our server, who was also the bartender, crafted some incredible cocktails. I ordered the Me Love Oo-Long Time and my guest had The Kennedy. Both were delicious, balanced, and strong enough that one drink gave us a nice buzz. Top-tier mixology skills. Then came the food, we shared the pork and shrimp, rice paper spring rolls, which were the best spring rolls I've had anywhere. The peanut sauce was perfect and they included pickled relish and peanuts that paired with the spring rolls in the most delicious way. We shared the pork chop for the main dish which came with jasmine rice that was incredibly light, fluffy and delicious, and when we broke the egg yolk over it... oh lordy, lord. The pork chop itself was juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Honestly, I'd come back for this dish alone. Our server was warm, knowledgeable, and attentive, exactly what great service should be. She knew the menu and answered any questions we threw at her. Overall To say I recommend this place is an understatement. Come for the ambience, stay for the food--but really, the food is the star here. I loved every bit of it and will absolutely be back.

We may cry the next time we eat here because we were told some of the dishes we LOVED may not be on the new menu coming out a few days later. It's a beautiful restaurant with a fancy-ish Asian and water front-type vibe. We may have over ordered but lucky us because we enjoyed the leftovers the next few days. Hands down our favorite dish was a seafood curry. Loaded with fish, mussels, clams, scallops and shrimp. It was slightly spicy but rich curry flavor. This is the dish that caused both of us to pause and then rave nonstop. If we could've purchased a quart of just the sauce/broth, we would have. The papaya salad was refreshing and the little dried shrimps added a nice texture. The lemongrass beef vermicelli salad was a huge portion, savory, fresh veggies. The beef was tender and the noodles had just the right "bite." We enjoyed the food so much I cant recall the names of the drinks we got, but my mocktail was tangy and my partner's drink was good too. Service was attentive, thorough, and friendly. Great recommendations.

I highly recommend calling to make reservations! The wait times can be long especially on the weekends. I recommend parking at the parking structure near target. The place has a nice calm atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. The staff members were all friendly and attentive. The food was good but didn't think it was amazing. It's a bit overpriced but if you're looking for authentic Vietnamese food, head over to the city of Westminster.

Great hidden gem that accommodated our large group and separate checks. Shaky shaky beef and chicken rice were our top picks!

A huge shoutout to Jason our server! He checked in with us and made sure we were well taken care of. Even when we were busy getting through the food, he accommodated us so well. Thank you so much Jason. As soon as we entered into Little Sister, my sister and I could not help but take pictures of the interior. Incredibly well designed. We were seated within 10 minutes of waiting since we came in a less busy hours of around 2 pm. We got the following dishes *Goi Cuon - these spring rolls were accompanied by a peanut sauce that was so tangy. There were also candied nuts they had on the side that has been the "sprinkles on the icecream" of food for us. *Goi Du Du (Papaya Salad) - incredibly fresh. The best papaya salad I've ever had! *Shaky Shaky Beef - if you like steak, this is the dish to go. Incredibly supple meat accompanied by a fusion of rice and a nice salad *Sea Bass - the skin of the sea bass is crunchy while the inside is soft, the contrast is telling in the first bite! *Pho Ga - my mom commented on how the broth is unlike the pho you would get at the prior pho places we've been in! You can't taste the msg! *Triple Garlic Noodle - grateful that there's a lot of noodles because it had to be shared among five of us hungry family members. The garlic noodle sauce is not heavy at all *Brisket Banh Mi - generous portions. may as well be the most worth the price! We got this one to go since we noticed so many people grabbing it. We got a free Vietnamese coffee because of a coupon we found for purchases over $50. All the vegetables are incredible fresh! Flavorful, colorful, enhanced by the high ceiling. The portions for each dish is meant for one person, but my family went for attempting a family-style by sharing all our plates with each other still. It's do-able for a fancy, celebratory family meal, and well worth it! God bless you all.

We've been coming to Little Sister and recommending this place to lots of people since we appreciate the Viet inspiration. However, this would be my last visit. Service: it looks like there's only 2 servers and they were doing the best. But, it's very hard for them on a busy Saturday. Kudos to the man. He really tried his best to cover all tables and remained calm. They need more people for sure. Food: the menu changed drastically. Appetizers are always ON POINT. But the mains are dissappointing, considering the price as well. Yes, there is more Viet fusion food. But the flavors of main arent even close to viet food anymore. -The banh mi is just now a baguette or a sandwich, that comes with some questioning cucumber pickles. - Bo Kho is very missing a lot of flavors, and why is there radish in it? - garlic noodles is wayyy to dry. Portion is big, quality is decent. And the price is definitely not it. I miss the old Little Sister. And probably only order appetizers if I were to come back.

Delicious Vietnamese/Asian- American cuisine in a fun, warm and welcoming vibe! Most Asian restaurants completely lack in aesthetic and ambiance. However, Little Sister had that total Date Night or GNO vibe. Full cocktail bar with signature cocktails as well. There's a mix of Vietnamese classics like Pho and Spring Rolls but they also offer Green Papaya Salad and Bun Mi's come with a side of seasoned fries (both items i HIGHLY recommend). The Pho was fine but lacked that umami broth you would find at Vietnamese restaurants where you order by the number. Spring rolls were good but nothing spectacular. However the chicken bun mi was delicious, flavorful and the fries were perfection. Same thing with the papaya salad; crisp, refreshing, fishy, sweet, spicy - covered all the basis. Service was pleasant and kind. We had multiple people checking back in with us throughout our time there. If you're looking for a nice place that serves Vietnamese and Asian American fare then look no further because Little Sister is it!

Vietnamese food but in a more high-end style. I appreciate that the restaurant has put efforts in elevating these casual-Vietnamese dishes. Very clean, fresh ingredients. I assume they use filet mignon here for their Shaken beef. Perfect for special occasion. However, a little on a pricier end. ( You can still find these flavor in a casual Viet food place, but if I want to introduce Vietnamese cusines in a more formal gathering , Little Sister is a great options). Their desserts are very creative, drinks are good as well. Not-to-sweet is my compliment for their sweet-treat menu. Parking might be a hassle during weekends. Service: professional and attentive. If you dont want to wait, they have tables outdoors. Cons: some dishes are overpriced in opinion ( claypot fish, chicken stirred fried with singer)

Loved the food and service! Went during Restaurant Week and enjoyed the experience. Even though it was raining and it was a weeknight, the restaurant was still busy. The entrance/receiving area in front of the host stand is a bit tight, you constantly have to move out of the way because the servers are in and out of the area a lot to get supplies from the little corner area. The servings are big, it can easily be shared. Loved the veggies and salads, they are so refreshing. My favorite was the spring roll and shaky beef! A must try!

Tried Little Sister in Irvine and left feeling underwhelmed. The food was okay, probably a 7/10. But definitely felt overpriced for what it was. Some dishes had good flavor, but overall nothing really stood out or felt memorable. What brought the experience down more was the service. The host at the front wasn't very welcoming, which set the tone right away. Our server seemed disinterested and didn't offer much explanation about the menu, which would've been helpful since it was our first time. Whenever I asked a question or made a small request, I got the feeling I was catching him off guard. I really wanted to like this place, but between the pricing and the lack of hospitality, I don't think I'll be rushing back anytime soon. Cheers!

When I realized the Irvine Spectrum had a Little Sister, I hit the pedal in my car and raced over here! The lemongrass beef is seriously that good, and it's impossible to resist. This location doesn't disappoint, either--it has an incredible outdoor space and a large interior dining area with a stylish bar that's center stage. My server, Eric, greeted me immediately, got me my water with lemon (just as I asked), and took my order without delay since I already knew what I wanted. He was super pleasant and even suggested an appetizer, but I had to turn it down because I was on a lunch break and needed to get to LAX. He totally understood and shared that the lemongrass beef is his favorite too. The vibe in here is urban and cool, with music from NWA and Rihanna playing--definitely some 80s and 2000s hits to set the mood. It feels hip but elevated, especially with the beautiful interior, from the seating to the immaculate bathrooms (which, let's be real, are a big deal when reviewing a place!). To top it all off, I learned that their happy hour runs from 3 to 6 PM, and the $29 vermicelli lemongrass beef bowl is only $15! I'll definitely be back for that deal. If you're in the area, run, don't walk to Little Sister! Hands down, the best Vietnamese food in SoCal

Absolutely loved the food, we were beyond impressed with the food, vibe and staff. We decided to go on an impromptu date night and my husband picks this restaurant. I was a little hesitant at first since I had never tried Vietnamese food, but I changed my mind so quick and made my head spin! The portions are absolutely perfect, we ended up, loving the items that we got so much that we ordered more and more. We ended up with a lot to take home, but it was absolutely worth trying the additional dishes. Excuse the photo we had already dug in when I remember to take a picture

Stopped in for a team happy hour which ended up turning in to an early dinner. We were planning on having a few drinks and some small bites but got carried away when we saw the menu! Was hard to limit ourselves to just a few items with the many items offered at Little Sister. Some of the dishes ordered were: - Shaky Shaky Beef -- our favorite item, must order! - Crispy Prawns - Chicken and Shiitake Dumplings - Papaya Salad -- stronger seafood taste which I didn't mind but others in my group weren't a fan of - Bo Kho (Short ribs, bone marrows, baguette) - Banh Xeo -- very tasty but hard to split with our group. I ordered this as I mixed it up with banh khot and thought it would be easier to share - Spring Rolls - Crispy Tofu - Garlic Noodles -- the one item I was a bit disappointed in. I thought it was a bit bland and needed a stronger garlic taste. That being said, it was still a good filler and an easy dish for picky eaters This spot is pricier than what you'd pay for the same dishes in North OC but you're also paying for the ambiance and Spectrum prices. Although pricey in general, still comparable to the other Spectrum restaurants! We went in a little before 5pm on a Tuesday so it was still quiet. There was a good amount of people dining but it was quieter than what we were expecting. We did go during off hours so the restaurant is probably louder and more lively closer to dinner time or on the weekend. Little Sister is a good spot for special occasions or a pre-dinner happy hour with your team!

Staff: We were helped by Gabriela who was nice but not memorably nice. She was friendly but didn't feel like a top waitress experience. Quality/Quantity: The food here is absolutely delicious. We had the beef, 2 types of spring rolls, a Vietnamese crepe, and a super delicious alcoholic drink called the Hanoi Heatwave. Beef - my absolute favorite item. The meat is tender, perfectly cooked, and when dipped in the seasoning with lemon, put a tear in my eyes for being so delicious! Spring Rolls - Tasty Vietnamese Crepe - this was tasty and crunchy with huge shrimps and veggies inside. The egg outside was crunchy and the whole dish tasty. Hanoi Heatwave - this was very tasty. Basically it is a blood orange margarita but with pepper inside that adds a small spice or heat to it. The thought of pepper in a drink seems unusual but it actually made it taste really good. Value: The pricing is fair considering the nice ambiance, good service, and very very good food. $270 pre tip which left 7 people very full along with the 2 alcoholic drinks. Overall: If be back for sure as the food was really good.

This place is great.. especially the food quality and service. Many of the items are out of my price range but we did order a salad to share and the Banh Mi's, which were amazing and reasonably priced. I would go back for sure!!

This place has the best papaya salad ever--refreshing and light, and it comes with mini shrimp and sweet dried pork pieces. Their spring rolls are also amazing and I love the sugared peanuts that they serve with them on the side. It also gets pretty busy so reservations are a must. Every dish on their menu is very flavorful and worth it.

Plenty of parking being its at the mall. Ok for groups. Ok for kids. Noise level was ok. Service was ok. Food was great. Second time visiting restaurant, lots of items to pick from on the menu. They have something for everyone. Additionally they offer a full bar. Must try spot

Ruby is the BEST waitress EVER and she deserves 5 stars!! We sat outside and had a delicious lunch today and I loved my gluten free tofu dish with eggplant!!

Still the place I always go to whenever I'm at Irvine Spectrum! I never skip the black rice. It's my must-have! The other dishes are also really good!