This place pho ok, but first they has small bowl of pho, no choice only one side.Second $19 for bowl of pho, they add all Roth water, little noodles few noodles and 2 slices of very thin beef, I feel like for children 5 years can eat not for adults, third budget of bowl of this pho $3 dollars, it’s cost $19, come on, who will come again lol.They think customers don’t know what’s worth what’s they pay for?.
Mr. Big
This place pho ok, but first they has small bowl of pho, no choice only one side.Second $19 for bowl of pho, they add all Roth water, little noodles few noodles and 2 slices of very thin beef, I feel like for children 5 years can eat not for adults, third budget of bowl of this pho $3 dollars, it’s cost $19, come on, who will come again lol.They think customers don’t know what’s worth what’s they pay for?.
Gino C.
Fast food and a do not expect more. Sane photos posted so nothing special really. They do serve and get orders out fast if you are in a hurry but it is the typical eatery for people on the go. Staff is hit n miss and they never smile but it did not bother us. School Kids buy stuff here too during breaks as it close by the campus. Parking is difficult unless you pay at the public bi level parking area a block away next to CVS Pharmacy. Do not park at CVS coz they will tow you.
Olivia C.
Quick and fairly inexpensive, pho nation express is the fast food of pho. I ordered through GrubHub, picked up and then took it home. The fresh shrimp rolls were underwhelming. I wish they had some tofu or something to offset how much vermicelli they had. Additionally, I felt like they had been premade at least a day before because the skin was hard and they stuck to one another. Peanut sauce was on point. The meatball pho was a good deal and I would go back and order that again if I was in the area and wanted cheap pho. A good amount of meatballs and noodles. Taking it home and reheating the soup, it still didn't seem hot enough to separate the noodles which actually started breaking in the soup.
Larry L.
The portions are pretty small but if you compare their price and portion ratio to other places, I guess you can say it's comparable. Flavor is fine and the quality of the ingredients are pretty good. However, the place doesn't make me want to eat in, so it's always been takeout. And Pho to-go loses a lot of the essence...maybe it's the way the noodles break loose, or the temperature of the soup is just a degree off, but the essence is lacking.
jojo s
2021: I wished I took photos of my food before I ate them, but they have some very good pho here! I usually get my boba at gongcha and I'll order a beef pho with beef balls for myself and chicken or combination pho for my husband and add some extra noodles. Pretty good pricing and very yummy. Staff is always friendly even when both sides of the store are super busy. 10/10!Update 2022: I got a Vietnamese Iced Coffee and fresh spring rolls. They were both delicious and amazing. Best Vietnamese iced coffee I've had so far, perfect blend of the dark roast coffee and the condensed milk. Springs rolls were very yummy, and it came with the peanut sauce and a side of Sriracha ?
Jeff C
I just ordered the house special vermicelli bowl. It came with pork, chicken and shrimp and the shrimp was the only meat that was edible. I suspect the pork and the chicken were cooked yesterday if not earlier in the week. They were gristly and over cooked. Also the sauce for the vermicelli noodles was watery and bland. For $12 I expect much better food.
Giovanni Orellana
Ufff. This is a rough review for me. I left it neutral because of a few reasons.1. It's just basicThe reality is that yes, it's pho, but iv had way better for less sadly.2. They don't even serve it in a real bowlThey gave me a small to go bowl when I was waiting for a bigger sized bowl(what you normally get from eating in)3. I actually had to wait.Not a crazy amount, but normally when you get pho at any restaurant, you get a lot in a super quick period of time. This place is like a tea shop and pho restaurant all in one. But if you get tea you pay separately than if you get soup or actual food. Which is kinda weird. Spent $30 and honestly don't feel like I'd go back knowing there are better places with more portion with a faster response than here. Don't get me wrong. Food was decent. And if I was working around alameda and had to get a bite to eat I'd probably go next door. looks like they have sushi.Thus place is definitely more for the younger generation because I had at least 10 kids in front of me all go in for teas and Boba. I guess I'm just a little more old school.
Von Chorsen
I just ordered the house special vermicelli bowl. It came with pork, chicken and shrimp and the shrimp was the only meat that was edible. I suspect the pork and the chicken were cooked yesterday if not earlier in the week. They were gristly and over cooked. Also the sauce for the vermicelli noodles was watery and bland. For $12 I expect much better food.
Boy, where to start... the flavor is alright. The soup itself was ok, not great by any stretch but fine. But man, it took us 20 minutes to get our food and when they called our number we were handed plastic bags. Check the second photo. 5 bowls resulted in a huge a full trashcan of waste. Just gross and needlessly wasteful. Every aspect of the meal arrives separate, all in their own disposable plastic containers. So you start your meal by handling raw meat, which comes in a loose wrap plastic bag. Then the broth... here's my main problem: it's all in cheap flimsy plastic, so the broth is barely hot enough to cook the meat, leaving you with a luke warm bowl of soup to work through. Noodles are obviously precooked and packed so they crumble, side are good, the classic hoisin, basil, jalapenos, basil and sprouts. This bowl of soup kinda sucks. Dropping it down to 2 stars, not recommended. Go to sidestreet pho, or just pick another cuisine from the main street.
Cole P.
Horrible and misleading are the two words I would use to describe this place. Horrible, as in the food was not fully cooked or from the freezer, and just flat out "bad". Misleading, as in we ordered Curly Fries and got plain fries with no crunch whatsoever. On the menu there is two types of fries, "Fries" and "Curly Fries". Curly Fries usually have a dark and closer to brown color than normal but ours were as white as a raw fry. They didn't taste like anything different from regular fries. Also the popcorn chicken was very soggy and with some messed up spices. Overall I give this place a two stars, because the service is usually good and this place has been consistent up to now. By the way I'm not criticizing the flavors because it's alright but not recommended.
Britney C.
Ordered the House Special Vermicelli for around $13 as take out and it came out pretty quickly. The taste of the dish was really good! Everyone was seasoned well. The proportion was the right amount for me and the staff was nice too.
Vi T.
Quick, simple, affordable Vietnamese food counter. Dishes range from $11 to $14 and appetizers average around $8. Though they always seem to be out of chicken wings whenever I've visited (supply issue I think). I've tried their beef pho, egg rolls, grilled pork vermicelli noodle salad bowl and combo rice plate at various times. Located inside the same shop space and right next to Gong Cha bubble tea with indoor tables to eat in. Today I had the Rice Combo: chicken, shrimp, and pork with side of chicken broth soup. The salad has pickled carrots and daikon strips on top. Dish is topped with fried shallots and green onions. Fish sauce (nuoc mam) dipping sauce has a nice flavor too. About $13 plus tax.
Kim D.
this is my go-to vietnamese take-out spot especially when i'm craving bun thit nuong. it's weird that there's no option to include eggrolls but you can always order eggrolls separately and then combine it at home. the pork is also thinner than other places and more like pan-fried pork belly slices (rather than the traditional grilled pork), but i still think it's good.
Very good
This place pho ok, but first they has small bowl of pho, no choice only one side.Second $19 for bowl of pho, they add all Roth water, little noodles few noodles and 2 slices of very thin beef, I feel like for children 5 years can eat not for adults, third budget of bowl of this pho $3 dollars, it’s cost $19, come on, who will come again lol.They think customers don’t know what’s worth what’s they pay for?.
This place pho ok, but first they has small bowl of pho, no choice only one side.Second $19 for bowl of pho, they add all Roth water, little noodles few noodles and 2 slices of very thin beef, I feel like for children 5 years can eat not for adults, third budget of bowl of this pho $3 dollars, it’s cost $19, come on, who will come again lol.They think customers don’t know what’s worth what’s they pay for?.
Fast food and a do not expect more. Sane photos posted so nothing special really. They do serve and get orders out fast if you are in a hurry but it is the typical eatery for people on the go. Staff is hit n miss and they never smile but it did not bother us. School Kids buy stuff here too during breaks as it close by the campus. Parking is difficult unless you pay at the public bi level parking area a block away next to CVS Pharmacy. Do not park at CVS coz they will tow you.
Quick and fairly inexpensive, pho nation express is the fast food of pho. I ordered through GrubHub, picked up and then took it home. The fresh shrimp rolls were underwhelming. I wish they had some tofu or something to offset how much vermicelli they had. Additionally, I felt like they had been premade at least a day before because the skin was hard and they stuck to one another. Peanut sauce was on point. The meatball pho was a good deal and I would go back and order that again if I was in the area and wanted cheap pho. A good amount of meatballs and noodles. Taking it home and reheating the soup, it still didn't seem hot enough to separate the noodles which actually started breaking in the soup.
The portions are pretty small but if you compare their price and portion ratio to other places, I guess you can say it's comparable. Flavor is fine and the quality of the ingredients are pretty good. However, the place doesn't make me want to eat in, so it's always been takeout. And Pho to-go loses a lot of the essence...maybe it's the way the noodles break loose, or the temperature of the soup is just a degree off, but the essence is lacking.
2021: I wished I took photos of my food before I ate them, but they have some very good pho here! I usually get my boba at gongcha and I'll order a beef pho with beef balls for myself and chicken or combination pho for my husband and add some extra noodles. Pretty good pricing and very yummy. Staff is always friendly even when both sides of the store are super busy. 10/10!Update 2022: I got a Vietnamese Iced Coffee and fresh spring rolls. They were both delicious and amazing. Best Vietnamese iced coffee I've had so far, perfect blend of the dark roast coffee and the condensed milk. Springs rolls were very yummy, and it came with the peanut sauce and a side of Sriracha ?
I just ordered the house special vermicelli bowl. It came with pork, chicken and shrimp and the shrimp was the only meat that was edible. I suspect the pork and the chicken were cooked yesterday if not earlier in the week. They were gristly and over cooked. Also the sauce for the vermicelli noodles was watery and bland. For $12 I expect much better food.
Ufff. This is a rough review for me. I left it neutral because of a few reasons.1. It's just basicThe reality is that yes, it's pho, but iv had way better for less sadly.2. They don't even serve it in a real bowlThey gave me a small to go bowl when I was waiting for a bigger sized bowl(what you normally get from eating in)3. I actually had to wait.Not a crazy amount, but normally when you get pho at any restaurant, you get a lot in a super quick period of time. This place is like a tea shop and pho restaurant all in one. But if you get tea you pay separately than if you get soup or actual food. Which is kinda weird. Spent $30 and honestly don't feel like I'd go back knowing there are better places with more portion with a faster response than here. Don't get me wrong. Food was decent. And if I was working around alameda and had to get a bite to eat I'd probably go next door. looks like they have sushi.Thus place is definitely more for the younger generation because I had at least 10 kids in front of me all go in for teas and Boba. I guess I'm just a little more old school.
I just ordered the house special vermicelli bowl. It came with pork, chicken and shrimp and the shrimp was the only meat that was edible. I suspect the pork and the chicken were cooked yesterday if not earlier in the week. They were gristly and over cooked. Also the sauce for the vermicelli noodles was watery and bland. For $12 I expect much better food.
Restaurantji Recommends
Boy, where to start... the flavor is alright. The soup itself was ok, not great by any stretch but fine. But man, it took us 20 minutes to get our food and when they called our number we were handed plastic bags. Check the second photo. 5 bowls resulted in a huge a full trashcan of waste. Just gross and needlessly wasteful. Every aspect of the meal arrives separate, all in their own disposable plastic containers. So you start your meal by handling raw meat, which comes in a loose wrap plastic bag. Then the broth... here's my main problem: it's all in cheap flimsy plastic, so the broth is barely hot enough to cook the meat, leaving you with a luke warm bowl of soup to work through. Noodles are obviously precooked and packed so they crumble, side are good, the classic hoisin, basil, jalapenos, basil and sprouts. This bowl of soup kinda sucks. Dropping it down to 2 stars, not recommended. Go to sidestreet pho, or just pick another cuisine from the main street.
Horrible and misleading are the two words I would use to describe this place. Horrible, as in the food was not fully cooked or from the freezer, and just flat out "bad". Misleading, as in we ordered Curly Fries and got plain fries with no crunch whatsoever. On the menu there is two types of fries, "Fries" and "Curly Fries". Curly Fries usually have a dark and closer to brown color than normal but ours were as white as a raw fry. They didn't taste like anything different from regular fries. Also the popcorn chicken was very soggy and with some messed up spices. Overall I give this place a two stars, because the service is usually good and this place has been consistent up to now. By the way I'm not criticizing the flavors because it's alright but not recommended.
Ordered the House Special Vermicelli for around $13 as take out and it came out pretty quickly. The taste of the dish was really good! Everyone was seasoned well. The proportion was the right amount for me and the staff was nice too.
Quick, simple, affordable Vietnamese food counter. Dishes range from $11 to $14 and appetizers average around $8. Though they always seem to be out of chicken wings whenever I've visited (supply issue I think). I've tried their beef pho, egg rolls, grilled pork vermicelli noodle salad bowl and combo rice plate at various times. Located inside the same shop space and right next to Gong Cha bubble tea with indoor tables to eat in. Today I had the Rice Combo: chicken, shrimp, and pork with side of chicken broth soup. The salad has pickled carrots and daikon strips on top. Dish is topped with fried shallots and green onions. Fish sauce (nuoc mam) dipping sauce has a nice flavor too. About $13 plus tax.
this is my go-to vietnamese take-out spot especially when i'm craving bun thit nuong. it's weird that there's no option to include eggrolls but you can always order eggrolls separately and then combine it at home. the pork is also thinner than other places and more like pan-fried pork belly slices (rather than the traditional grilled pork), but i still think it's good.