My husband and I went to Pho Sam for the first time today. I immediately loved the quiet atmosphere. The background music, decor, artwork, flowers, and video screen with Koi were beautifully cohesive in this intimate Vietnamese cuisine restaurant. The service was friendly and professional. The crepe was so good as was the Pho with beef broth. The vegetables were fresh and tasty. The additional lime wedges and sauces for seasoning were perfect. Great location and plenty of free parking. Perfect for singles, couples or families.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Toni Baur
I was craving my favorite pho today, and, upon arrival, discovered that ownership had changed. We have been going to Pho Sam for more years than I can remember. From out first visit, our go to order has been the #21 (rare beef and beef ball pho) and the pork banh mi sandwich. We have raved about the broth to anyone who would listen. Unfortunately, the pho is not as good as before. The broth is oily, and has no depth of flavor. The quantity of meat is paltry, and the clumpy noodles were hard to eat. The banh mi was also a disappointment. More bread than filling. The service was good (hence the 3 star rating) so I hope the new owners can find their way, but until then we won't be back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Michael Chang
Used to be my go to. New ownership, small portion, less meat and pho noodle. The large size bowl is about medium elsewhere, maybe not even. The bowl is shallow resulting in a thin layer of soup, not hot enough to cook the veggies even.
Owner is super nice, talked about how she uses the bone broth etc. take it for what it’s worth. A lot of other options in the tri-valley area
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Mike Kirby
New ownership, broth is bland, portions are smaller. Not like when LD and his family ran the place. We tried twice to like this place but we're disappointed both times.
Food: 1
Alan Kwan
Been coming here for the last 12+. I'm not the most memorable person, but somehow they always remembered my order on the phone or in person. Anyways, not sure if it’s new owners or what, but at least it’s a different staff in the front and back. Some of the items were not available, like the banh xeo. Food is pretty bland. The pho soup based didn’t have much of flavor. Even the peanut sauce for the spring roll just tasted like water down peanut butter. We got a lot of noodles in the pho, not so much meat. The eggroll was surprisingly tasty.
Pricing is still good for the area, and we might come back to see if the flavor improves or not.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
David Allen
Unfortunately, the owners have changed. I used to frequent this place a lot with my wife and the man knew our order over the phone and would joke with us a lot. The broth isn't as rich.
It's fine, but from what I was used to, it's not the same. The tables used to have the menus under a glass panel, tables all have little holes where the glass was secured under.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Jordan Murray
Again, as others have said, new ownership. Really don’t like whatever they did. Food came out and the portions are way way smaller and more expensive. Also found the broth for the chicken soup to be a severe downgrade in depth of flavor. Hardly any chicken or noodles in the medium. I was a steadfast regular of the old shop, but time to try other places going forward.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jonathan Lucia
Absolutely hidden gem located in San Ramon ! After moving from San Jose with some of the best Pho restaurants Iv been dying to find a new restaurant to scratch that itch Pho Sam has definitely done that and more apparently they have gone under new ownership And they are killing it! The meat was fresh the broth was flavorful And the staff was so friendly! Would definitely come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laurel Ritter
So clean and friendly. All our food was so healthy and delicious. New owners with years of restaurant experience are adding to menu. Loved the spring rolls
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don Prehn
The chicken noodle soup is fantastic. Also, the spring roles are the best I've ever had. Very welcoming atmosphere.
Do not go! NEW OWNERSHIP! The pho is not good. There is no taste and lacked seasoning. I went with my gf and we both looked at each other and were questioning whether there was any beef broth or was it just boiled water. Also, the portions are now smaller at an increased price with a lack of napkins and cleanliness. I ordered my regular combination pho and I noticed there wasn’t any tendon in it too. They do not have a credit card system set up yet, so expect to pay via Venmo or Zelle or cash.
I was a regular under the previous ownership. The owners were always funny and the food was consistently good! I always felt like the pho was handcrafted and homemade. Sad to see them leave and happy retirement to them!
Regulars and new customers you have been warned! 😔
Food: 1
Stephanie Nishi
NEW OWNERSHIP: the pho is not good. My husband and I have loved coming here over the past year, but we were shocked to walk in and find that the restaurant is under new ownership and a completely new establishment.
The pho broth isn’t great and the portions are now smaller at an increased price. I got a pretty severe migraine shortly after eating, which means the new menu contains MSG. I never had this issue before with eating at Pho Sam under the original owners.
The new owner confirmed that the food is not from the same menu or Pho Sam’s original recipes. They do not have a credit card system set up yet, so expect to pay via Venmo or Zelle only.
We will really miss the original owners as they were always so kind and the pho delicious. Wishing them well, they truly were a local gem.
Food: 1
Elle Davis
Please do yourself a favor and AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. The waiter wreaked of alcohol and the place was dead…. I wouldn’t want anyone like that handling my food. I didn’t read to reviews prior to going but then as I ordered and sat there for a sec went through the reviews I had to make my way out. Don’t be that person try something else!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Mao N
Ordered Pho for lunch, XL size was decently priced. I think the broth might be a little bit more msg. Friendly staff though .
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Jason
Cozy little place great food and surprisingly cheap
My husband and I went to Pho Sam for the first time today. I immediately loved the quiet atmosphere. The background music, decor, artwork, flowers, and video screen with Koi were beautifully cohesive in this intimate Vietnamese cuisine restaurant. The service was friendly and professional. The crepe was so good as was the Pho with beef broth. The vegetables were fresh and tasty. The additional lime wedges and sauces for seasoning were perfect. Great location and plenty of free parking. Perfect for singles, couples or families.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was craving my favorite pho today, and, upon arrival, discovered that ownership had changed. We have been going to Pho Sam for more years than I can remember. From out first visit, our go to order has been the #21 (rare beef and beef ball pho) and the pork banh mi sandwich. We have raved about the broth to anyone who would listen. Unfortunately, the pho is not as good as before. The broth is oily, and has no depth of flavor. The quantity of meat is paltry, and the clumpy noodles were hard to eat. The banh mi was also a disappointment. More bread than filling. The service was good (hence the 3 star rating) so I hope the new owners can find their way, but until then we won't be back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Used to be my go to. New ownership, small portion, less meat and pho noodle. The large size bowl is about medium elsewhere, maybe not even. The bowl is shallow resulting in a thin layer of soup, not hot enough to cook the veggies even.
Owner is super nice, talked about how she uses the bone broth etc. take it for what it’s worth. A lot of other options in the tri-valley area
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
New ownership, broth is bland, portions are smaller. Not like when LD and his family ran the place. We tried twice to like this place but we're disappointed both times.
Food: 1
Been coming here for the last 12+. I'm not the most memorable person, but somehow they always remembered my order on the phone or in person.
Anyways, not sure if it’s new owners or what, but at least it’s a different staff in the front and back. Some of the items were not available, like the banh xeo. Food is pretty bland. The pho soup based didn’t have much of flavor. Even the peanut sauce for the spring roll just tasted like water down peanut butter. We got a lot of noodles in the pho, not so much meat. The eggroll was surprisingly tasty.
Pricing is still good for the area, and we might come back to see if the flavor improves or not.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Unfortunately, the owners have changed. I used to frequent this place a lot with my wife and the man knew our order over the phone and would joke with us a lot. The broth isn't as rich.
It's fine, but from what I was used to, it's not the same. The tables used to have the menus under a glass panel, tables all have little holes where the glass was secured under.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Again, as others have said, new ownership. Really don’t like whatever they did. Food came out and the portions are way way smaller and more expensive. Also found the broth for the chicken soup to be a severe downgrade in depth of flavor. Hardly any chicken or noodles in the medium. I was a steadfast regular of the old shop, but time to try other places going forward.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Absolutely hidden gem located in San Ramon !
After moving from San Jose with some of the best Pho restaurants Iv been dying to find a new restaurant to scratch that itch
Pho Sam has definitely done that and more apparently they have gone under new ownership
And they are killing it!
The meat was fresh the broth was flavorful And the staff was so friendly!
Would definitely come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So clean and friendly. All our food was so healthy and delicious. New owners with years of restaurant experience are adding to menu. Loved the spring rolls
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The chicken noodle soup is fantastic. Also, the spring roles are the best I've ever had. Very welcoming atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Do not go! NEW OWNERSHIP!
The pho is not good. There is no taste and lacked seasoning. I went with my gf and we both looked at each other and were questioning whether there was any beef broth or was it just boiled water. Also, the portions are now smaller at an increased price with a lack of napkins and cleanliness. I ordered my regular combination pho and I noticed there wasn’t any tendon in it too. They do not have a credit card system set up yet, so expect to pay via Venmo or Zelle or cash.
I was a regular under the previous ownership. The owners were always funny and the food was consistently good! I always felt like the pho was handcrafted and homemade. Sad to see them leave and happy retirement to them!
Regulars and new customers you have been warned! 😔
Food: 1
NEW OWNERSHIP: the pho is not good. My husband and I have loved coming here over the past year, but we were shocked to walk in and find that the restaurant is under new ownership and a completely new establishment.
The pho broth isn’t great and the portions are now smaller at an increased price. I got a pretty severe migraine shortly after eating, which means the new menu contains MSG. I never had this issue before with eating at Pho Sam under the original owners.
The new owner confirmed that the food is not from the same menu or Pho Sam’s original recipes. They do not have a credit card system set up yet, so expect to pay via Venmo or Zelle only.
We will really miss the original owners as they were always so kind and the pho delicious. Wishing them well, they truly were a local gem.
Food: 1
Please do yourself a favor and AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. The waiter wreaked of alcohol and the place was dead…. I wouldn’t want anyone like that handling my food. I didn’t read to reviews prior to going but then as I ordered and sat there for a sec went through the reviews I had to make my way out. Don’t be that person try something else!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ordered Pho for lunch, XL size was decently priced. I think the broth might be a little bit more msg. Friendly staff though .
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Cozy little place great food and surprisingly cheap
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soup, Sandwich, Chicken Pho
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