Oc & Lau Restaurant

Solid Vietnamese seafood restaurant. It was so popular that we were there a weekend around 9pm still waited half hour to get seated and it was worth it. Service was fast and friendly. The razor calms and the snails were really fresh and full of south East Asian style seasoning. The fried quails were really amazing, they were perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. They also offer free desserts, so remember to save a bit room for it.

This is one of the better Vietnamese seafood restaurants. Clams w basil were very flavorful, the prawns w glass noodles was my favorite. We also ordered half dozen raw oysters. Those 6 tiny oysters were not worth 20 bucks phffft. The scallops were good. Service was lacking because the place was packed and they do not have enough employees.

If you’re craving authentic Vietnamese seafood, Oc & Lau is a must-visit. I had been waiting a long time to find a place in the U.S. that truly captures the flavor and vibe of Vietnamese seafood dishes, and this spot absolutely delivered. We came as a group of three for dinner, and as expected, the wait was quite long. People were standing outside the restaurant waiting to be called, which in my opinion is always a good sign. Once seated, the staff was attentive and responsive, making the experience enjoyable despite the initial wait. Now on to the food. The seafood is fresh, and the flavors are incredibly close to what I remember having in Vietnam. That alone impressed me, but what sealed the deal was how well everything sat after the meal. I usually worry about food safety with street-style seafood, especially when traveling, but I had no stomach issues here, which speaks to the quality and care in preparation. The dipping sauces are spot-on and completely authentic, elevating every dish. I also highly recommend the passion fruit drink. It’s refreshing and complements the seafood perfectly. The pricing is very reasonable considering the quality, portion size, and overall experience. If you’re looking to explore some of Vietnam’s best and most unique dishes, this restaurant is the real deal. I’ll definitely be coming back every time I visit California. Oc & Lau is now officially on my must-eat list.

This restaurant has always been one of our family's favorite spots to go during special occasions since the price is a bit higher than typical restaurants, but the food is definitely good! Seafood is very fresh. This time we wanted to try new stuff so we ordered Scallop grilled with quail eggs and Oyster grilled with cheese and I would not recommend them. My family do not like them at all as they are a bit fatty and the flavor was kind of plain. Service is good but since they are too crowded, sometimes it's hard to grab someone to help. This time the foods were not as good as usual. The fried rice was a bit salty. The waiting was a bit long too since it was the weekend and during lunch time. Parking spots can be tough to find during busy hours as well. Overall, still recommend trying if you are not from OC.

It’s always busy, but the quality and flavor have gone downhill a lot. I went for dinner on July 4th and ordered six dishes, none of them met expectations. One was too sweet, another had no flavor, and one was too dry. It’s really disappointing because I used to think this was the best place to get snails. But every time I come back, the flavors are inconsistent, and I leave less satisfied. Sad to see a place I liked decline like this.

Our mom's favorite restaurant! 🦪💗 The quality of every dish is amazing and they offer a variety of options to choose from! Everything is super tasty and delicious, but I recommend the Vietnamese salads, escargots, and rice dishes. * Ốc Hến Bánh Đa: 9/10 - nicely seasoned and comes with rice sesame crackers * Chem Chép Nướng Mỡ Hành: 8/10 - kind of difficult to chew and barely had any siracha * Gỏi Xoài Mực Một Nắng: 10/10 - tartness from the mangos balances out with the sauce and squid * Gỏi Ngó Sen Hải Sản: 7/10 - good for those that don't like tart * Cơm Chiên Tôm Cua: 10/10 - full of crab and shrimp * Bơ Dằm Sầu Riêng: 10/10 - yummy combination They remodeled ever since we first came and the place seems a lot more spacious. The workers were very attentive and we didn't have to wait too long for our food to arrive. The plaza can get crowded at dinnertime, but you should be fine during brunch hours. One thing to keep in mind about the place is that it's a bit pricier compared to other locations, but nothing too crazy. Considering the quality of the food and service, it's definitely worth it! Highly recommend stopping by!

This is my first time here in over 5 years, and I forgot how amazing this restaurant is. I love ocean snails and seafood and my gosh it’s just super fresh, tasty, and satisfying dining here. I came with a few coworkers and we shared everything from razor clams, snails, prawns, oysters, scallops, whole crab, crab fried rice, filet mignon egg noodles, squid, French fries, whole fried snapper - yeah, we got A LOT and tried everything a variety of things. The service was great and quick. Most of the customers here are Vietnamese, which is very telling of what a great Vietnamese restaurant this place is. I love how bright and clean the interior is and a great place for a big group to dine here. I need to bring my parents here next!

May 2025: visited again - scallops ($27 for four) were way overcooked, the tiny escargots not good value, very little rice in the pineapple fried rice, soft shell crabs were too saucy, spring rolls were okay, servers were super busy putting food on tables or clearing dishes, had to ask for refills three times and felt we were rushed out of there. The restaurant was too busy and noisy to enjoy the food. Probably won’t return. 2024: Food is excellent and great value. Atmosphere is not relaxing at all bc the restaurant is very busy so the servers are constantly on the move to keep tables turned over for next party so not much service. I saw a party of 7 got seated at a 4 person booth. There’s always a long wait for tables.