Not only was this my first time to Iowa, but it was my first time to a Vietnamese restaurant. I grew up a military brat overseas in the 1970s and 1980s, and this food was reminiscent of the food I used to eat at Vietnamese friends' houses. What I especially enjoyed (I do not remember the name) was these unfried eggrolls in which were wrapped shrimp and greens. And the dipping sauces were tantalizing. Thank you to our dear friend, Ying Sa, for sharing this place with us :) One more thing: the basil on my salad was the best fresh basil I've had in a long time: I was told that all the ingredients were local and fresh.
senick57
Did try anything else on the menu, but the steak and brisket pho was very good, with a broth that included all the right tastes. I like mine a bit spicier, with a touch of sweet, so adding the sweet chili sauce that came with their pot stickers was a hit!
Brad Dwyer
Trivia tuesdays
CSTEVENPAK
Pho 888 has the best Pho and other Vietnamese dishes in Iowa. I have traveled with my friends to Vietnam for mission work, so I know how real good Vietnamese food should taste like. And, I can tell you that Pho 888 might cook and service better dishes than the restaurants in Saigon, Vietnam.
Leslie McCarthy
Very entertaining!
Sarah P.
Three different people claiming to be the owner carded me. After I provided them my ID some idiot bartender said "no no sorry you're not 21" and I was like "uhhhhhhh definitely 24 lets do some math' Moral of the story- buncha rookie owners who never seen a California ID before
Eric Mohlis
Very fun place! Drinks are pricey.
Tana Goertz
Fish bowl drinks are yummy
Bill L.
Well I've been to the past 2 restaurants that have been in this location, and they have all been Vietnamese restaurants and ended up closed down. Now, there is another Vietnamese restaurant here to take it's spot, called Pho House. It is less a restaurant and more like a Pho cafe. There is plenty of parking in the front and the side of the restaurant. Upon entering, you are greeted with partially designed Asian-inspired interior, followed by the dining area just plain tables with no decor. The staff members all seem to be younger here. When shown the menu, my first reaction was "Is this all?" There were a few appetizer items, Pho dishes, and a few Vietnamese/Chinese dishes, that's all; it is a very small menu. We had the eggrolls and the Pho House Special. The eggrolls and Pho were okay, there was nothing exciting about them, they tasted fine. There were not any other customers here while we ate during lunch. There were plenty of younger kids there who appeared to be friends of the staff members who just hung out at a table with the staff. There was a bar area that appeared to be still a work-in-progress as well as large speakers. I'm not sure if they have a different scene at night with a bar-atmosphere, but lunch was a bit disappointing.
Erik Rowley
This place is hit or miss, maybe I keep coming on slow nights, but I've never seen a good crowd here. Some of the musicians are awful and some are decent. Fun to go with friends, not if solo.
The pork wings, fish bowl, & music were great! Service was a little slow initially, but it got better as the night progressed. I will definitely be returning!
Bruce Bennett
Not planning on returning to this bar.
Alicia Faulconer
Fun for groups of people!
Julia Winkel
Reservation made 4 moths ago: Didn't have our table for 30 min, 40 more min to get my coors light, and and 1.5 hours for our food. Maybe our table of 25 needs more than one slow a** server?
Not only was this my first time to Iowa, but it was my first time to a Vietnamese restaurant. I grew up a military brat overseas in the 1970s and 1980s, and this food was reminiscent of the food I used to eat at Vietnamese friends' houses. What I especially enjoyed (I do not remember the name) was these unfried eggrolls in which were wrapped shrimp and greens. And the dipping sauces were tantalizing. Thank you to our dear friend, Ying Sa, for sharing this place with us :) One more thing: the basil on my salad was the best fresh basil I've had in a long time: I was told that all the ingredients were local and fresh.
Did try anything else on the menu, but the steak and brisket pho was very good, with a broth that included all the right tastes. I like mine a bit spicier, with a touch of sweet, so adding the sweet chili sauce that came with their pot stickers was a hit!
Trivia tuesdays
Pho 888 has the best Pho and other Vietnamese dishes in Iowa. I have traveled with my friends to Vietnam for mission work, so I know how real good Vietnamese food should taste like. And, I can tell you that Pho 888 might cook and service better dishes than the restaurants in Saigon, Vietnam.
Very entertaining!
Three different people claiming to be the owner carded me. After I provided them my ID some idiot bartender said "no no sorry you're not 21" and I was like "uhhhhhhh definitely 24 lets do some math' Moral of the story- buncha rookie owners who never seen a California ID before
Very fun place! Drinks are pricey.
Fish bowl drinks are yummy
Well I've been to the past 2 restaurants that have been in this location, and they have all been Vietnamese restaurants and ended up closed down. Now, there is another Vietnamese restaurant here to take it's spot, called Pho House. It is less a restaurant and more like a Pho cafe. There is plenty of parking in the front and the side of the restaurant. Upon entering, you are greeted with partially designed Asian-inspired interior, followed by the dining area just plain tables with no decor. The staff members all seem to be younger here. When shown the menu, my first reaction was "Is this all?" There were a few appetizer items, Pho dishes, and a few Vietnamese/Chinese dishes, that's all; it is a very small menu. We had the eggrolls and the Pho House Special. The eggrolls and Pho were okay, there was nothing exciting about them, they tasted fine. There were not any other customers here while we ate during lunch. There were plenty of younger kids there who appeared to be friends of the staff members who just hung out at a table with the staff. There was a bar area that appeared to be still a work-in-progress as well as large speakers. I'm not sure if they have a different scene at night with a bar-atmosphere, but lunch was a bit disappointing.
This place is hit or miss, maybe I keep coming on slow nights, but I've never seen a good crowd here. Some of the musicians are awful and some are decent. Fun to go with friends, not if solo.
Restaurantji Recommends
Fish bowls and fun!!!!
The pork wings, fish bowl, & music were great! Service was a little slow initially, but it got better as the night progressed. I will definitely be returning!
Not planning on returning to this bar.
Fun for groups of people!
Reservation made 4 moths ago: Didn't have our table for 30 min, 40 more min to get my coors light, and and 1.5 hours for our food. Maybe our table of 25 needs more than one slow a** server?