Look Who's Popping Up

Early Bird Presents Frank DeLoach’s ‘Friend or Pho’ Pop-Up, Tonight Through Saturday

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“Friend or Pho” Photo: Early Bird

Early Bird, the Fullerton restaurant owned and operated by former Bastide chef Joseph Mahon with partner Marcelo Caraveo, is set to start dinner service in early March. In the next three days, the restaurant will play home to a new pop-up concept from chef de cuisine Frank DeLoach, exploring his obsessions with Vietnamese pho and Chinese recipes. Adding the name “Friend or Pho” to the city’s long list of pho-based puns, DeLoach will serve small plates and family-style dishes revolving around his love of “citrus, chilies, and fish sauce,” from tonight through this Saturday from 5:30 to 10:00 P.M. What’s on the menu?

Among the nine dishes are steamed bao with duck confit skin and liver mousse, wok-fried noodles with Chinese sausage, caramel pork belly with Chinese hot mustard, green papaya salad, and the chef’s own “gringo pho.” On Friday, Redlands chef Ryan Berk will bring made-to-order nitro ice cream to the party, while this pop-up will be followed by several more temporary concepts planned through February. See the full menu below and get reservations at 714-529-4100.

Friend Or Pho Menu
Inspired By The Love Of Citrus, Chiles, & Fish Sauce

GREEN PAPAYA 6
Peanut, Lime, Thai Chile, Lotus Root

ROASTED ROOTS 6
Fish Sauce, Lime, Perilla

CARAMEL PORK BELLY 11
Chinese Mustard, Maitake, Radish

GRINGO PHO 11
My Version Of This Classic Soup

SAIGON WINGS 8
Fucking Delicious

WOK FRIED NOODLE 8
Chinese Sausage, Pickled Chiles, Scallions

WOK ROASTED MUSHROOMS 8
Smoked Eggs, Toasted Garlic Vin, Charred Onions

SALT & PEPPER PRAWN 11
Avocado Mousse, Chile Vinaigrette, Water Cress

CHINESE STEAM BUNS 6
Duck Confit, Crispy Skin, Liver Mousse

Early Bird Presents Frank DeLoach’s ‘Friend or Pho’ Pop-Up, Tonight