I've been here a couple times in the past and I don't remember this place being this bad. It was way better before they merged with Jazen Tea. I came here in hope of being warmed up with a delicious bowl of pho. Unfortunately, my pho was watery and very very cold. I'm the type of person that lets the food sit and cool for a while before eating because my tongue burns easily. Hot to me is warm to most people. So when I say my food was cold, I mean it seemed like my pho was sitting out for an hour before they gave it to me. All I can say is thank goodness the chicken was pre-cooked, otherwise I would be extremely sick right now. I also ordered a Pork Bahn Mi to go and I was disappointed with the lack of (fatty) meat and the abundance of mayo. Not worth the money if you ask me. Service was alright, except the food runners couldn't really speak English. We asked for sauce dishes, but we got a container of fish sauce instead. We asked a different person for sauce dishes and he said they didn't have any, even though our spring rolls came with peanut sauce in a sauce dish. This place isn't terrible, but there are better pho places around.
(3)
Kat R.
Short review: remodel is awesome, love the bubble tea, pho broth seems better, tvs on the walls, husband thinks there may be less meat in the beef stew. Long review: Prior to the remodel, I wasn't feeling Pho Hoa. I thought the broth was inconsistent and their customer service was about the same. After the remodel, however, they seem to be trying to turn the quality around. The broth of the pho was better, they give abundant side veggies, and lots of noodles. My favorite change was the addition of Jantzen. The bubble tea is so big it doesn't fit into my cup holder in the car, but I love it. My favorite is the lychee explosion. Yummy! I removed a star because my husband thinks their beef stew has less meat and the quality of it has gone down a bit. I can't speak to this as I don't really eat it I always order the pho, but I noticed less meat. The service is still a little inconsistent, but it may have been because they were quite busy. The Jantzen bubble tea makers are awesome. For the price (cheap) and the type of restaurant, my expectations were met. If you're craving bubble tea and pho at 8 or so, Pho Hoa is an option. If you're looking to watch the Seahawks game with bubble tea and pho, this is also a good choice, but it may be a little busy.
(4)
Earnie G.
First time here since back when they were basically the only pho restaurant in this area and pho was the new "all the rage" food. I see they've remodeled. Pho is still good, average pho. Service had never been this place's strong suite, and that continues--employees eating, drinking, stocking, chatting with each other, cleaning; pretty much anything other than helping customers. It's been like that since the day the opened. Still, for a quick and average bowl of pho, it's convenient.
(3)
Eneri S.
Went there for their grand reopening, everything was half off and certain tea drinks were free to promote their line of Jazten tea. We ordered the Bahn Mi, Vietnamese tacos and pho noodle soup. All were excellent except the pho broth was just a little bland.
(4)
Kevin W.
I've been a loyal customer to this restaurant for about as long as they've been around. That must be around ten years ago now, and they were also one of the first restaurants I reviewed nearly three years ago. Recently, they closed the store down temporarily to remodel the place and merge with Jazen Tea. So after all this time, how have they changed? Well, the answer is... not much! Pho Hoa is about the same as it always has been. The merger has two very obvious features: the restaurant is now teaming up with a bubble tea store, and of course the place is brand new and even cleaner than it had been. The two businesses function together and might as well be a single entity because my orders from both places were combined on a single receipt. The bubble tea is okay, but I'm here to talk about the noodles in this review. Honestly, I don't notice any difference. The pho is the same as it always has been. I always get the number 45 because it has the most stuff in it, but even this bowl feels kind of plain. Maybe it's just because I've been eating it so much, probably almost a hundred times in my life by now. Their vermicelli dishes are okay as well; they come in very flat bowls that might as well be plates which I find interesting. Their banh mi has way too much mayonnaise and thus tastes very fattening, but I always go to Yeh Yeh's for Vietnamese sandwiches anyway. I still like this restaurant, but it doesn't impress me nearly as much as it did when I was a kid.
(4)
Steve M.
Worst Pho on the Eastside. Ordered Chicken Pho and fatty chicken that I would not feed my cat. Also there was hardly any chicken in the soup. We will not be back.
(1)
Tonya P.
Three stars because I really like Jazen Tea, their summer rolls & the sandwiches. The summer roll was filled with noodles & that is what I actually look forward to. The pho however wasn't as good as I hoped it would be compared to the location over in Chinatown. They didn't even have black chili oil to offer :( I would have given this place more stars if they had better service. It was a little busy when my bf and I got there so we sat ourselves down like we were told to. When we ordered, I had to repeatedly ask for my Jazen tea as it had not come out even after I had gotten my pho. Apparently it was sitting at the hand-off by the register. Tables weren't cleaned (as expected) but two of the servers were just on their phones behind the counter...so I felt like it was easy enough to clean the tables first then be unprofessional. My bf didn't get another water refill either. Not even after we had gotten our check and both glasses were visibly empty. I'll come back for to go orders and their tea. Definitely get the chicken sandwich, for only $4 it's worth it.
(3)
Arries R.
Didn't know jazen tea was connected to a pho place since we weren't from Redmond and was the first time we went here. Originally came for jazen tea but since there was Vietnamese food, it was pretty convenient. We got some appetizers like the popcorn chicken and egg rolls. Also got a grilled chicken banh mi. It was nice to nibble on some food while drinking our tea. Customer service was alright. They weren't as fast on serving the customers but it was alright for us since we really came to drink bubble tea.
(4)
Alfredo S.
Best PHO ever! I totally recommend PHO HOA to everybody !!
(5)
Jennifer S.
Food is always great here. However, coming here a few times after it was renovated to include "Jazen Tea", we have been increasingly disappointed with the service. Food remains great but the women who work here appear to be no more than giggling teenagers who are not interested in helping you. We came in on a Monday around 4pm. The place was empty except for the two of us. I remember this place was always so busy before. Odd. Anyways, the waitress sat us and took our order and we haven't seen her since. We are still waiting for the bill actually. The two or three employees are not paying attention to us at all. You would think that with the place empty, we would have great service. Apparently not. If it wasn't for the food runner working in the kitchen we probably still won't have our food. Like I said, the food is what you can expect from the Pho Hao chain but I will do some thinking before returning to this specific location again. Well since we haven't gotten any service since I began writing this, I will have to " interrupt" their conversation to get the bill paid and get the f outta here.
(3)
Julie N.
I got #15 with a lychee explosion. Great lunch deal for about $11. Fast and friendly service. The pho was mediocre, they gave me a generous amount of broth and meat. The lychee explosion tea was amazing!!! Pieces of real lychee filled my giant sized drink that couldn't fit in a normal car cup holder.
(3)
Maryneth K.
A pretty specious Pho restaurant with a built in Jazen Tea shop. The environment is pretty nice. Spacious for a Pho shop and they have an amazing Combo-Deal. Any pho and a bubble tea for about $10. This may not seem like much but their tea drinks are HUGE. They also have a special for "kids eat free" during certain times. Of course, you have to buy a regular meal but hey, free meal for the kids! The nice thing about their teas are that they are all natural and don't come from powder. They make fresh smoothies from real fruit so it's a nice healthy option. Their teas are huge and come in a size that I don't normally see from most bubble tea places. It's like a baby bucket! The service is pretty good and quick. We come here all the time for noodles and because this is a large franchise that is everywhere in the world, the quality and tastes is consistent. My boyfriend doesn't like Pho so he gets the cold noodles and now they are his favorite.
(5)
Rohan K.
This place had decent Pho. Both the veggie and beef broths were pretty good albeit a little salty(MSG I guess). The quality of the meat was really good in the #45 which has the biggest bang for the buck. They have multiple portion sizes for all appetites. It looks like the remodel has really worked for them. I would definitely go back here again for good Pho on the Eastside.
(4)
Gabriel C.
Despite being a decent price/quantity, I think that I'd have to give this place 3/5. Ordered their beef stew (bo kho), but I felt that the meat was lacking in flavor. Although meaty, slightly fatty and chewy, it didn't have the same flavor profile of the beef stews I've had in the past.
(3)
Tue A.
Probably one of the best place to have Pho around Redmond/Bellevue area. I would suggest to have the combo together with the milk tea from Jazen Tea. Good service :)
(5)
Amy N.
First and foremost, the pho was actually pretty good. I just had trouble with the other aspects of the restaurant. It's a cross between a boba shop and a pho restaurant which I thought was very weird. You have people sitting down for a meal while others are hanging out in a seemingly disjoint area of the restaurant. They're quite busy on the boba shop side and that can split focus of the waiters in the restaurant area of the establishment. When we got there it took a long time for the waiter to come and even acknowledge us. I got the combo that comes with a bowl of pho and a milk tea ($10). I asked for the milk tea to be given to me after my meal/before I left, since I don't really think milk tea and pho go together that well, but the waiter had it sent to my table while I was eating my meal. Overall the food was good, but the service could use some work. I'd definitely go here again if I had more time to kill, since the combo is pretty worth it.
(3)
Mark L.
First time here. Had the pork bahn mi and hot tea. Was outstanding. Clean. Great service. Wife had a Jazen tea. Very tasty. Went back again with the family a second time and not so good. Food was okay. Tables needed busing. Dirty dishes all over the place. Make sure you read the fine print about the "kids eat for free" during a certain time. They make you order a non combo meal (more expensive) for you to get the deal. So you really don't save anything. They are "bait and switching" you to get you in the door. Totally unnecessary. I won't be back with my family until they stop and realize that their customers are not stupid. Too many better options on the Eastside.
(2)
AlyssaLashell D.
My cousin and I love pho and tea so we were really excited to eat here, but it was so disappointing. To start the place had dirty dishes everywhere and when we were seating we had to ask 3 separate times for menus. Finally our waitress came back with another employee and she took over. Our original waitress didn't speak English. We ordered beef pho and when we got it the beef was draped across the side and dripping blood all over the table, it was disgusting. The broth also wasn't warm enough to cook the beef and the tea wasn't so great either. The service was terrible and this was the worst pho place I have been to, and we won't be coming back.
(1)
Catherine Z.
It was ok. The type of place that makes for a good lunch, but wouldn't recommend it for dinner. Service was minimal, prices are low, and I loved my tofu roll!
(3)
Bam B.
Taking my 4th star back today tofu was not fresh. Almost sour tasting. Not cool. Only 4 dice sized tofu squares but having it not fresh just makes it worst.
(3)
Oscar M.
Just got here I order a meal and they are out of rice, my brother wanted a smoothie and they are out too !! They should close at 10:30 instead 11:30 disappointed !!!
(1)
Heidi T.
I only order To Go here and it is always very quick. Food is fresh. I've tried the vegetarian pho and spring rolls and both are consistently delish.
(4)
Danny P.
Went in on my lunch break and was not impressed. I did get a seat right away, but it took about 10 minutes for anyone to come to the table. The server had no personality at all, and only asked "ready to order?" The pho came out quick, but had no flavor, and they did not even bring out any sauces. I had to flag down another waitress so that I could at least get some hoisin. I'm usually not a complainer, as I used to be a server, but I know bad service when I see it, and this was bad service.
(2)
Yuyin V.
Bad customer service. Pho is too watery. Always have to ask for water. This used to be the place that my husband and I go to at least once a week. However ever since the remodel, I gave this place three chances but it failed. All three times that we were there, we had to wait at least 5 minutes before being seated although there was no one in front of us as if the workers did not see us. When we were seated and had our menu, it took them 10 minutes (once) and 15 min (once) to come take our order. One time though I had to go place the order up front because no one came! When the food came we had to ask for water(all three times). Guess if you want water than you have to ask now. The pho was not as good as before.The broth does not have the flavor and aromas that we loved anymore. I feel like they don't have enough workers because they had merged with jazen tea and most of their focus is on the tea instead of pho. Anyway, its to bad that we have to find a new place to eat pho now. This place used to be our favorite. My husband have been eating here since he was a boy!
(1)
Mel N.
Specifically for this Redmond Location only: Terrible service! Ate here a few days ago and got a table quick but had to wait a little while for a server which was fine. When I ordered and asked a clarifying question, the server (or order taker or something, since she never came back to our table) was very rude in the way she responded asking me "well, why not?". A few minutes later, another lady came up with menu's asking us if there was just the two of us today and I had to clarify with her that we had already ordered. The pho took about 10-15mn or so to get to us, my boyfriends water was empty and no one ever refilled it for us for the whole 45mn we were there. Many staff members kept dropping platters and things as well the whole time, ruining the ambience. I've had the Pho Hoa in the international district for a long time and haven't ever had problem with it but for some reason the broth at this place tastes a lot different, in a bad way. It smells strong of anisette but the taste isn't there at all. I had to add lots of sriracha and hoisin sauce, but still tasted borderline inedible. Probably won't ever be coming back to this place, I'd much rather make the drive to Seattle. I had absolutely no service and the food was below mediocre.
(1)
Mridula P.
Can't wait for you to re-open!
(5)
j b.
The pho here is pretty overpriced despite their regular size being the size of a large at another restaurant. The broth is bland but they do give you plenty of meat. I might come back. I would say this is slightly below average pho but still very edible. Service is fast but ambiance is kinda weak.
(3)
Monica L.
I suggest not going to this Pho Hoa in Redmond! I repeat DO NOT GO unless you don't mind the employees talking sh** about you. I went a few weeks ago on a weekday night, it was around 9pm or later (almost closing time for them) and my boyfriend and I went in and got some soup. No big deal, another customer came in and our server told him it was closing and they were no longer taking orders...they probably had another half an hour left so I understood why he shook his head as he left... Towards the end, I was trying to finish up, and our server comes over and proceeds to tell me to pay her because they're closing and basically tries to kick us out. The one thing those employees didn't realize was that I'm fluent in Vietnamese and understood everything they were saying to one another. As we got up to leave, I remember hearing the busboy in the background (& in vietnamese), saying "Oh she only gave us like a dollar and swore." I wish I knocked that guy out jk. Anyways I, like anyone else can tip however much we want. If you deliver poor service, then we'll tip based on that poor service. DUH! Anyways service stinks and food is mediocre. You can go to any other pho place and get better service and food! SO why go here? I do suggest Pho Tai Bellevue which is right by!!!
(1)
Katie B.
Cheap authentic Vietnamese food that doesn't need all the gimmicks that upscale restaurants need to sell their dishes. The next door bubble tea place makes it a great place to have dinner because you have your food on one side and your drinks on another. Will definitely go back
(5)
Stan S.
Used to be awesome. Poor service, had to ask for my own menu and water on separate occasions. Changed the prices and barely had any noodles in my regular bowl. Finished the meal in 5 minutes; went home and ate a sandwich. First time here after the remodel. They need to hire more staff and not change the quantity of their dishes if they want to increase the price.
(1)
Bryan S.
Inexcusable poor service. At every other pho restaurant I've ever been to, you get your food so fast your seat isn't even warm yet. At Pho Hoa, we were still waiting 30 minutes after we ordered. I asked the waitress why we were still waiting, and she said "we're just really busy today". Really? People around us that came in 15 minutes after we did are being served, why not us? Finally we left without ever getting our food. Come here on your lunch hour at your own peril.
(1)
Tanya C.
I hadn't been here since they remodeled and now I know why I shouldn't come here again unless nothing else is open. I got the Brisket Pho and the meat came out already overcooked and everything else was blah... My 8 year old son went to the bathroom and tried to tell me how dirty it was but I didn't wanna hear since I was eating. He refused to use it and that was a first for any place we have been! Also the wait staff was yelling back and forth in their language by the front desk and it was very annoying trying to eat and hearing it all in the dining area.
(1)
Christina K.
Excuse my Vietnamese--this place is pho-king morbid. I ordered pho for the first time here in years because I was in the mood for some good filling soup. Today, I regret making that decision as their meatball and brisket pho not only gave me indigestion but it was completely tasteless! I couldn't even finish my soup because it was so bland. I would rather go elsewhere or eat my own instant ramen on a day like this--at least it would somewhat stimulate my taste buds and I would be cost efficient. I do like their deep fried egg rolls though but if that was the culprit of my indigestion today, you will never hear the end of it... Lastly, I eat by myself from time to time and I'm not afraid to stand alone but seriously, acknowledge your customers when they walk through the door so we don't stand there like lost puppies. Service was terrible as I was not even given water to wash down the pho--oh wait, I practically already souping water with what I ordered today. Dishes ordered: Deep fried egg roll, beef and brisket pho (that will give you indigestion)
(2)
Jim F.
This is our favorite Pho restaurant. It's one of the few places around where you can feel comfortable as a solo diner, or go with family or friends. The Pho is consistently good, and the service consistently brusque and no-nonsense. The prices are good, and a regular bowl fills me up. A good dining option for not a lot of money on a chilly day.
(4)
Andrew K.
Here's the thing with Pho Hoa - it used to be a fantastic deal because the regular bowl had a giant bowl of noodles and meat, and was $5.45. Broth isn't as rich and flavorful as you like? It's $5.45. Tastes like bleach water? Put some more Sriracha and plum sauce in there, because it's $5.45. I went in there yesterday and it's now $7.50 for regular and $8.45 for large. Extra Sriracha isn't cutting it any more when I have to pay an extra $2 for a bland bowl of pho with a bunch of fatty meat. At lunch, $2 is material, damnit, especially when the service is as mediocre as Pho Hoa's. So why go back? Personally, I won't. But why would somebody else go back? If you're looking to bang out a 30 minute lunch, this is the place to do it. You'll have restaurant staff at your table asking for your order before you see a menu and the food comes up in less than 5 minutes. Plus, it's gone from being one of the most crowded lunch places in Redmond to half-full at any given point, so there's no wait. Turns out, there's a lot of people that are just as cheap as I am...
(2)
Simba C.
No, i was not a fan i have had better.
(1)
Michael G.
Much like most other negative comments, I share the experience of decent food, but poor service. One I got my meal it was as if I didn't exist anymore.
(2)
Tony P.
This place just keeps getting better and better. They expanded now and sell mini tubs of bubble tea on the cheap.
(5)
Allan E.
**This review is for the Vietnamese sandwich banh mi only** I found my new go-to place for banh mi on the Eastside. I did not know that Pho Hoa is a franchise restaurant. I always go to the one in Renton and that place is always solid. I decided to stop in and grab something quick to go. I ordered the grilled pork banh mi. First of all, its huge! The bread was toasted to perfection, just enough to get a crunch when you bit into it. They had the grilled pork which was perfectly marinated and still juicy. Along with the ususal ingredients, pickled onion, carrots, jalapeno, and cilantro. But this place uses a mayo based sauce instead of the pate that other places use. I think that was the major difference. I'll think of this place next time I'm craving a Vietnamese sammich.
(4)
Stuart G.
Really good food. My favorite is the #32 and even my picky daughter likes the kids' special. The service is good and fast but the servers don't always speak the best English so don't ask a lot of questions, lol. Deducting 1 star because the won't customize the menu for picky daughters.
(4)
Cynthia V.
These people are very consistent. The food always tastes the same. I would say the flavor is ok. Nothing spectacular. If you are tired of pho, I would suggest the rice plates. I really like the lemon grass pork chop with fried egg. They are delicious. Too bad the pork chops have gotten thinner over time and they've gotten lazy over time. It is not good if they give you a popped egg..... This rice plate gets a 3 star. The flavor is yummy, but it was and could be better. The service is more like a 1-2 stars. They don't care to say hello and don't care to look like they care. It's gotten better over the years but they still have some work to do. One person says hello now. But that's not consistent enough. Come here if you are in a hurry.
(2)
Jill B.
I should note that I have definitely experienced better service. Walk in to place an order to go. No place to stand/sit except at a table, so I sit at a table, play games on my phone while I wait for a couple orders of pho. Hostess comes over and says "you need to move, tables are for customers". I looked at her with the stink eye and said - what am I then? She then asked me to move again, I did, customer that wanted to sit there made a snarky comment and I asked for my receipt and cancelled the $2 tip. No tip needs to be given for something they don't deserve.
(2)
Alice C.
They changed owners many times in the last ten years. The restaurant looks clean and new. Vegetarian pho is consistent. Too much MSG though. A reliable cheap restaurant.
(4)
Diana C.
I used to come here a lot, but I feel like it's gone downhill over the past few years. They updated the interior, but the food isn't as good as it used to be. I usually get the regular 44 and it's always a giant bowl with enough meat to keep just about anyone happy. The fried egg rolls definitely used to be better. Overall, I'd say it's an okay place to get a quick bite to eat if you're cold and in a rush.
(3)
Tony L.
Stick with the reg...the lrg is too much food. Clean tasting pho but the broth was not hot enough to fully cook my rare steak. I had a few pieces that were still red in the center when I was near finished. Just left the raw pieces in the soup. Overall, tastes good though.
(3)
Lara L.
I've been going to this Pho Hoa for YEARS. There was a time when I'd go there at least once a week for lunch because the pho was delish, the service was great, and they had these coconut-y bean drinks that were fantastic. That was about 13 years ago. Maybe 5 or so years ago, I started noticing an off taste to their broth that was a bit reminiscent of bleachy mop water. Most people would probably say, "eeew!" and never come back, but I'm a creature of habit, so I would squeeze in a few more limes, throw in a few more jalapeno slices, and call it good. I think it was around this time that they also stopped serving the bean drinks, so that, with the bleachy taste dramatically impacted my patronage. Still, if I needed a pho fix, I'd head on over there. Fast forward to last week. I went there with my family at about 7pm on Memorial Day. There were maybe one or two other tables filled, so basically the place was empty. Our server was a young Asian guy who didn't greet us, didn't smile, and just exuded indifference with a touch of hostility. I thought it was just me, but everyone else at our table caught it, too. The food came quickly. The broth had the same weird flavor. I always get the #3 with steak and meatballs, and while they load on the steak, they only put 1 meatball, cut in half. Three of us ordered pho, but they brought out just 2 lime wedges, and 1 puny stalk of basil. I asked for extra limes and jalapenos, and was given only limes, which came with a dirty look from the older man who brought them out. Nobody came to ask us if we needed anything (remember, the place was practically empty), our water glasses were never refilled, and 15 minutes after we were done eating, all of our plates and bowls were still in front of us. We were sitting right next to the register, not in some far off corner of the restaurant. I piled the plates/bowls up on one side of the table so that we'd have some space, and saw our server break away from playing on his cell phone long enough to glance up at us. But he made no move to, you know, WORK, so I actually had to ask him to clear our table. That was the last straw for me. ATTN Pho Hoa: If your food sucks, your employees act like they hate their jobs, and your customers leave thinking, "Wow, I'll never go back there again!", then it's time to do some soul-searching. Somewhere along the way, you lost it, and that's a shame. Yours truly, A Former Customer
(1)
Karen L.
I'm honestly not too picky about my pho, but I really do like this place. Prices are good (about 7 bucks for a regular sized bowl) and the portions are enough to fill me up. I always order my pho with brisket, flank, and tripe, though the tripe here is kind of tough (I guess they don't pre-cook it?) so I never order tripe here. But, the flank is yummy (mmm, fatty meat) and the broth is really good. What justifies the 4 star review I'm giving is their avocado smoothie! It's so good. Tastes like they actually blend real avocados (if they're actually using powder, I could easily be fooled). And I love that you can order a regular size bowl of pho + a smoothie for just a couple bucks more!
(4)
Carolyn T.
Delicious as always!
(4)
Suie C.
Eh, stopped in here b/c it was near work and I was craving pho. Nothing remarkable about the pho here, seemed to be lacking in flavor, maybe they didn't let the soup simmer long enough or something. Price wise- it's bellevue and it's inflated. Probably won't be back here for pho, will look elsewhere.
(2)
Ashley C.
I have yet to try the soups but I have been enjoying the chicken sandwiches. They are super cheap. if you come at the right time the bread for the sandwich is baked fresh. its a really big sandwich and you will definitely be full after eating it. my husband really likes the pork one. inside the restaurant is kind of dirty and the bathrooms are downright gross.
(3)
Huntting B.
So a couple things up front. Pho Hoa is a chain, the first place that I had Pho as an adult was a Pho Hoa in Atlanta. So more than anything I'm comparing it to them. Secondly, I haven't been to this place in a while and realized just a couple days ago that I hadn't reviewed it...so things may have changed. The highlights that I remember are as follows: The pho tai was decent enough, nothing special, nothing bad. What knocks the review for this place down is their fish sauce. It was awful! Like not just without flavor but also too pungent. Yick!
(2)
Michael L.
I use to love this place, I would always order the 15 or 42 as my order, they were filled with tripe, fatty flank and other goodies. The downside of this place is they changed their soup recipe and I haven't been back since. The soup now is bland and feels watered down. I understand that cutting costs is great way to save money but loyal customers who come in for your product, they are going to notice. The restaurant itself hasn't changed much over the years and the service has been about the same I love how every order of pho comes with fresh Thai Basil, bean sprouts, slices of jalapeno and lime. If you're in a rush they pump out all orders of food super fast, that's always a plus. I'm willing to give this place another try in a couple months to see if they have resolved their soup problem.
(3)
Heidi P.
My experience with Pho Hoa was extremely positive. First off, the service was lightning fast. We started out with fresh spring rolls, and they came to our table right away. They were very affordable for $4, and I appreciated that they brought two separate dishes of peanut sauce. I hate when places skimp on that! I went with a small vegetable pho. It was blazing hot, and very flavorful. I ordered a small and it was chock full of tofu, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots. My fiance got a round eye steak and brisket and it was definitely not skimpy on the portion of meat. I agree with the other yelper that commented on the soy sauce on the table. I believe they refill the bottles with the cheap fake soy sauce made with hydrolized soy protein-it's gross and does not taste like naturally brewed soy sauce made from real soy beans. The broth was flavorful, but wasn't the best I've ever had. I was surprised how oily it was for being a veggie pho. Also, my size small pho was 6.50, which is a little high in my opinion, however the veggies were super fresh. I'd like to end on a small but positive note: the owner made sure to say thank you when we left, which always goes far in my book. Overall, I'm down for Pho Hoa, and will for sure return!
(4)
Brittany L.
Was in desperate need of a quick lunch fast -- I was hungry and I needed to return to Kirkland before my lunch break ended. I was trying to maneuver through Overlake's frustrating lunch traffic when I spotted pho hoa and thought they might have banh mi as most pho places do. When I walked in, one of the girls by the counter seemed friendly enough as she tried to get me to sit down, but when I stopped her to say "actually, I just wanted to know if you had banh mi --" I don't even think I got my thought fully out before the girl at the register interrupted. "THE SANDWICHES? NO. WE DON'T HAVE THEM." rather snappily and soaked in attitude. Okay then! I walked out, and probably won't return. From the other reviews it seems as though I could find better pho elsewhere anyway.
(1)
Shinichi O.
price/portion ratio: Their prices are on par with other Pho restaurants but their portions are a bit more generous. Even more generous then their other locations and I'm not talking about the size of the bowl or the amount of broth and noodles. I'm talking about what matters the most; the meat! Four stars on my Budget Bites scale. Although, I tend to order both a large Pho and a rice plate.. location/parking: They are fairly conveniently located. 2 minutes off of Hwy 520 off of the 148th st. south exit. In addition to this they have their own parking lot. selection/presentation: They have a big selection of dishes as well as soups. The presentation is of course what's expected of a soup, but hey who's there for the presentation right? flavor/quality: They have a really good broth and like I mentioned before, they are generous with the portions. Their other dishes are also generously portioned and tasty. The other thing I really like about this location is that everything always seems fresh and clean! environment/ambiance: Again the emphasis here is they are really clean! You will still leave smelling like Pho though. The service, like most Pho restaurants, is incredibly fast. You can pretty much order and go wash your hands and by the time you come back your food will be waiting for you. Plus the servers at this location seem to be friendlier than other locations as well- perhaps a Bellevue Redmond thing? Overall, if smelling of Pho isn't really a concern of yours then this is a great location to dive into a hot bowl on an icy day! They have good prices for good portions on good food and are conveniently located with easy parking. On top of all of that, you'll get friendly quick service in a clean environment. My Budget Bites scale: 5 stars $6 or less 4 stars $8 or less 3 stars $10 or less 2 stars $12 or less 1 star $12 or more
(4)
Dennis D.
Mediocre pho. Chicken cuts were sub par (too much dark meat and ...chewy tendons?). Take out was impressively packages though, but even still, I don't order for the packaging. I've had better. :-\
(2)
JT T.
Pho Hoa anywhere is great! I visit this location quite often as I live in the neighborhood and I Love Pho. I am Vietnamese, I have to love pho.lol =). Geat Pho for sure! Not as good as mom's home made Pho of couse but really close to it.
(5)
Tom T.
If you're ordering Pho, it's mediocre. I've had better Pho elsewhere, even at different Pho Hoa locations. Don't even think of ordering the rice dishes, the beef stew, or the chicken Pho. They are all americanized. The broken rice dishes do not come with broken rice. The beef stew is essentially brisket with some Pho broth and uncooked carrots. The chicken Pho comes with very little meat. I would give it two stars if it weren't for the terrible service. We asked for the rare beef to be put on the side, and asked them to blanch the bean sprouts (all common requests in Pho restaurants). Our waitress did not write down our orders, and guess what? ALL of our requests did not come through. In addition, she was on her cell phone the entire time we were in the restaurant. When we asked the guy who brought us the food for some extra scallions, he didn't acknowledge us with a yes or no, he just brought it out a few minutes later. One of the worst experiences ever. Is it that difficult to get a bowl of Pho with a smile and some customer service?
(1)
Wilson U.
Hungry, looking for a quick and filling meal, late night on east side on Friday. Well, I find Pho Hoa is open until 11PM. It is a chain restaurant but the pho at this location has always been consistent and service quick and friendly. It has been a while since I was at this location but they did a remodel since then and the inside is much trendier and cleaner. I've stuck with #44 or #45 and they have an average amount of meat and noodles have not been overcooked. The broth was always hot. With all the good pho places in the Seattle area, this is basically average but a convenient place. Plenty of parking.
(3)
Anson H.
Great Pho place. Their broth is tastier, in my opinion, than other Pho restaurants in the area. In terms of the menu, nothing stands out apart from other Pho places. Its nice, quick, cheap and healthy!
(3)
Boom C.
Default place for Pho. Good price serving, quality. Fast service.
(4)
Nessa E.
Great soup, great prices, great sandwiches, not so great customer service. The broth is delicious! Fragrant, savory and lush. Good amount of noodles and meat. Fast service. This is my go-to pho. I wish the hostesses were friendlier. They just seat you and take your order as succinctly as possible with a minimum of conversation or even eye contact. They rarely ask if you want a drink. Pho Hoa would get 5 stars if they ever bothered to be pleasant.
(3)
Denise L.
I love Pho Hoa! It's one of my favorite Pho places. Soup or dry (vermicelli), the noodles are so good! You definitely get more than what you pay for. Way better than I Love Pho in Bellevue/Factoria (they give you little for an expensive price!). Highly recommended. The spring rolls at I Love Pho are really good too. Be prepared to smell like pho after you leave though!
(4)
Jian L.
my go-to place if I need to dine out myself. super fast service. The spring roll is the best among all the pho places around IMO. noodle soup is decent. quite Asian style. Comes with large quantity (meat and noodle), even "regular" size is quite a lot. my only minor complaint is not all of their waiters/waitresses understand English quite well so if you have some customized request, you need to explain a bit.
(4)
Kenix T.
I go to this particular Pho Hoa location for years. Their Pho was usually decent. Today, I went there for lunch with my family and had a bowl of Pho that I would never forget. Their broth tasted like water (literally), the noodle was over cooked, the meat was chewy, and the bowl was not properly cleaned. The restaurant was more than half filled, but there where only 2 severs on the floor for Sunday Lunch. It was terrible!!! I still have a diluted after taste Pho!!!! Pho Hoa, you've just lost a customer!!!! My family and I will not come back again!!!!
(1)
Krystin T.
I love pho. I have been known to say that I could eat pho twelve times a day, especially during the cold, rainy, disgusting winters. Pho Hoa is close to my work, so I decided to follow a coworker's lead and try it out the other day. I was sort of confused when I got there, because there are no signs saying either "please seat yourself" or "please wait to be seated" and no one ackowledged me for awhile, so I just stood their awkwardly. I was eventually seated and given a menu... which is a whole story in itself. I am a semi-vegetarian, not because of any animal-rights issues but because I am super picky about my meat and usually just don't like it. Picky eater FTW. I'm used to pho places having veggie pho or pho tofu very high up on the menu, but this place didn't seem to have it AT ALL. I was kind of sad and had resigned myself to trying the chicken (white meat was listed as an option, thank goodness) when I finally found "pho without meat" hidden toward the bottom of the menu. I ordered it, I got it, and I realized that "without meat" just means... without meat. No veggies, no tofu. It was extremely hot, just how I like it, and the regular size was only about $4.75. The broth wasn't as flavorful as some other places but it was fine. Overall, not great, not terrible.
(3)
Joao C.
I like their broth the best in this location. I ordered their meatball and steak noodles once a while ago and I only got 2 meatballs so I just stick with their steak noodles nowadays. The service varies depending on the day of the week.
(3)
Thuan T.
One of the best places to get Pho in the Bellevue area. And I think I'm pretty picky when it comes to Pho.
(4)
Peter S.
Although the service could be better, I love their Pho! They give you plenty of meat, and the broth is tasty. It's in a great location as well!
(4)
Kristen F.
Small (quite large) bowl of pho with tofu. Under $5. Better than the others I've tried so far. My mom liked her seafood bowl. I don't really eat crawlies so I'll take her word for it. Did I mention mine was under $5?
(4)
Sirio B.
Pho Hoa is pretty run of the mill..Quick service, large portions. It's ok, nothing special. I've had the #1 a few times(Everything basically) and the chicken pho quite a few times. They're not bad but you have to douse it with plum sauce to give it some flavor as the broth doesn't have alot of flavor. Its reasonably priced as well. The things that have prevented me from returning is that its quite a dirty joint, and it doesn't seem to be well maintained. I also have to wash my clothes every time I leave because the air is filled with the scent of onions and the smell gets infused into every single fiber that I'm wearing. Makes for quite an unpleasant drive home. There are way better places out there for pho. This one has left a bad impression on me.
(2)
Vinh N.
First off , I'm Vietnamese. I've had pho from my mom, from Houston, from all parts of Seattle, and even from the motherland, Vietnam. Pho Hao (this location) has the best pho bowl in Seattle. It is CHEAP, the portions are generous (a small bowl fills me up), and the broth is good. I come here once a week for lunch. Forget Pho Thanh Brothers. This is the place to go!
(5)
Jeffrey C.
3 dead flies in our food all on the same day!!! This pho has major problems. Service sucks and food is..meh. Don't eat here. Try Saigon city on bell-red. It's become my new favorite pho
(1)
Kelly T.
I have been going to Pho Hoa for quite some time now but this was my first time at this particular location. When I first arrived, I didn't realize I just opened the door to a sauna. It was so unbearably warm inside the restaurant and I was about to eat hot soup. I was with a few friends and we got greeted and sat right away. I ordered my usual soup with rare beef. In the meantime while waiting for our food, my friend spilled his water on the table. The waiter saw what happened but didn't even bother to come over with a towel or napkins to help clean up. After trying to wave him down, we had to walk to the counter to ask for something to clean the water up. He gave me the tiniest and thinnest napkins that the world has ever invented. Our soups arrived quickly. I was ready to eat what I usually expect pho to taste like from other Pho Hoa locations. This time, I was so terribly wrong. The broth was bland, completely clear and not even hot. The small amount of beef that I DID receive was a mysterious shade of grey and flavorless. My friend ordered the chicken pho and she counted four pieces of chicken in her soup and they were all fatty pieces. To make things even worse, my spoon still tasted like bleach from their washer. Awesome. I was mainly disappointed in my visit here because I've had such better experiences at different locations. All I witnessed here was bad service, a hot dirty room and disgusting soup.
(1)
HK J.
The soy sauce was full of flies after complaining the manager squished one in his fingers and said, "Its soy sauce residue!" He argued with us so we left and never went back. I noticed someone else said their food had dead flies in it too!!
(1)
Brian P.
Not much Vietnamese food out on east side. Tacoma and Seattle are the places to go for real Viet food, but if you are out here this is the best option because What The Pho is probably the worst.
(3)
Adrian W.
4 stars for sure, just to open late. always love their pho. but not so much with the non-soup version. I always get meatball + steak. their ice-cream is ok too. try them out.
(4)
Derek L.
This place is the best Pho in town. I've been going here since day one when they opened. I love to come here when I'm in Redmond. They're fast service and quick on bring out your bowl of Pho'. When you ordered the Dac Biet the bowl is loaded with meat and the broth are always hot. Don't come here around noon or you won't find a seat. Hanh Tran va Hanh dam available here.
(4)
Patrick L.
Pho Hoa is a franchise, so regardless of which one you go to, you pretty much know what you're getting, no surprises. It's a good place to grab a quick cheap bowl of pho. However, I haven't been back to this particular location in a few years after the last time. I went to eat with a buddy and they seated us at a small table in the aisle. I thought it was weird that they didn't seat us by the wall, since the restaurant was pretty empty and I usually prefer not to sit smack-dab in the center of a restaurant. As we waited for our food, I had to swat a few flies away, but didn't think too much of it since it was a hot summer day and the door was propped open. Then I looked to my right at the white painted wall, and to my horror, saw that there were thousands of tiny flies swarming about on the walls. Suddenly I knew why we weren't seated over there! What I had thought was just a couple random flies that had lazily flown in the door, was in fact a huge colony just hanging out all over the restaurant. My friend had noticed that area before I did, but up until I vocally recoiled in horror, he thought it was just a really dirty wall. Just then we slurped down our pho as quickly as humanly possible, threw our cash on the table, and ran out of there.
(2)
Charissa F.
I don't like Asian food, but I will always come to this place!! What stands out for me is that Pho Hoa has very friendly employees -- I am a dorko and I always forget what my "usual" is called. I ask a bunch of questions, and sound like an idiot, and the guy just keeps smiling and helps me figure it out lol. The food is delicious and inexpensive! They are very quick with service and cooking. They are very attentive, and you can tell they are making a big effort to make it a pleasant experience for you :) We will be back! Most definitely...
(5)
Nancy C.
Really good pho and a good price. Fresh flavorful broth and you can pick your own meats (they never have the combo I like - steak, brisket, fatty flank and meatball). It was really good and enough for 2 meals. Also, got the spring rolls - they were probably the best I've had (large shrimp and great dipping sauce). Definitely, a place I will be eating at alot this fall and winter.........................Plus they were super fast and the pho was still piping hot when I got back to work.
(4)
Larry B.
What I wanted to be able to say: "prepare yourself for a authentic third world experience, be sure to get vaccinated before you go and for adventure use the toilet without a paper ass-gasket, or better yet perch on top of the seat and simulate a "squat" toilet. I am disappointed to say that some of negative reviews I read didn't live up to my expectation and I unfortunately went in when the hoards of fruit flies had gone on break and the bathroom was clean. Dang it! I even had my passport with me for authenticity. This was my first PHO (in the U.S, I had something like it in Japan) and I really don't know if it was good or bad PHO compared to someone else's maybe good or maybe bad PHO. I am not sure if this is "authentic" or even if PHO is authentic Vietnamese food. So am left to ask... did it taste good? Yeah it was good, the chicken tasted like chicken and the broth as flavor full. They put the sprouts (also known as Satan's "hair down there") on the side. Man sprouts are gross.... Cilantro however is good. To get all Biblical on you... Sprouts are the "wide gate" of vegitables. I would however stay away from the "fruit" (flavored powder) smoothies. By the way it did inspire me to come up with some PHO restraunt names which can be more fun the hair places (a cut above, shear panic..etc) Yuso PHO nee PHO Q I can't really say any more.
(3)
Rita L.
Considering this IS the Eastside, and not anywhere near a college campus (ie U-District), it's unsurprising to see that the pho here is a bit more expensive than what I'm used to paying for in the U-District. I've been here a few times, and I commend them for good customer service and swiftness in bringing the food out . Their broth is delicious and give tons of meat; but not enough noodles. The ultimate downside is the fact that they don't have a tofu/veggie pho. I mean, I love meat and all, but sometimes I just wanna go slightly healthy, and get some 'fu instead of flank. It's so simple, just have veggie pho or tofu pho; and it's probably less hassle for them to prepare. I'll prob keep coming here till I find a good veggie/tofu pho restaurant on the Eastside *crosses fingers*
(3)
Amy S.
Food: Good tasty broth, generous amount of noodles and broth, and a wide selection of different pho combos as well as other Vietnamese dishes. My husband and I each had a bowl of pho with various meats. The regular size that I ordered was really quite large and the large that my husband ordered was even bigger of course. I couldn't even finish mine! Service: Quick, but perhaps because they were about to close up shop. Value: Very affordable, as pho usually is, plus the portions were very generous! Ambiance: Very dull and drab looking restaurant located in a small strip mall.
(4)
Greg E.
Best Pho in Bellevue/Redmond Area!
(4)
Wing C.
Tasty food, clean restaurant and fast service!
(4)
George T.
Service and attitude were horrible. All the employees look like they hate their job and don't even look at you when you order. Tables are greasy, and theres literally no customer service. No matter how good your food is, you need service as the finishing touch. Food was okay, but just really disappointed at the level of service.
(2)
Eric Y.
Too much MSG I was ther for lunch today, Noodle was nice and tangy but their broth was warm, not hot as it should be. Hard to find traditional flavor. If it wasn't for MSG I would give 3 stars but they get 2 stars for using too much MSG in their broth. I exprienced better broth elsewhere.
(2)
Tina G.
Ewwww.... Last time I came to this place I tried to erase my experience from my mind. I thought I was in a horror fly movie. My sister and I had been here before but this time... Wooooow... I was like "OMG did I just see that?" We sat ourselves like usual, then our table seemed to be moving.... weird.... Then looking closely I realized that there were about 20 fruit flies all over our table!!! Ewwwww!!! Then to my horror I looked onto my right which I should have NEVER done, it was the WALL!!!! HUNDREDS of fruit flies were walking allllllll over the wall.... OMG!!!! M I seeing this? I was like ummmmm.... let's get the hell out of here... Everyone around us looked like zombies not aware of the moving wall.... Ewwwww.... Are you serious? Come on!!!! Never again........ NEVER again!!!! The staff are not too friendly, the food does taste good, the price not cheap cheap..... Annnnnd after seeing the wall I'm sooooooooo done! Oh, and it was summer time....
(1)
Scott O.
I am a fan of this place, it's our favorite for Pho. The beefy broth is unmatched by anywhere else I've been, and I think that's why this place has such a loyal following. That and the large-ish portions of meat in the soup. Regarding the criticism this place gets, I find several of the staff are stand-outs, while others are just so-so. I've been coming here for a few years and am familiar with most of the regulars. Service does suffer at lunchtime when it's packed, but this place really does get slammed at lunch. I also agree the prices of their salad rolls and fried rolls are high, enough so that I usually avoid getting them. That is a shame, 'cause they're good, just not *that* good. If you're looking for ambiance there are better choices, but I'm not sure I'd call this place a hole. More like "cheap-and-cheerful." They make a great tasting and filling Pho for not much bucks and they're dedicated; for both reasons they get my vote.
(4)
Rob B.
Horror... the horror... For starters, no meat on the side. For seconds, getting 'extra meat' or 'extra noodles' is twice that of the Than Brothers. Thirdly, the stock dishes are close to DOUBLE Than Brothers. Fourthly, their soy has a weird fucked up stale flavor. Fifth, ...fish sauce... on the tables... Are you serious? This dive would smell even worse if on hungover SOB knocked a bottle of that shit over. They get a star for the credit-card thing, I like that, and the fact that they serve bubble tea (though it is grossly overpriced).
(2)
Pepper J.
Been going here at least once a week for years. If the place was a tad cleaner and the staff a little more friendly/attentive, I would give it 5 stars. But other than that, its great pho for decent price. I've been to many other pho places and always feels Pho Hoa's brisket and noodles are better quality. The broth is great tasting. I've never experienced any issues with fly's or anything and like I've said, I've been going there weekly for years. Although, I have noticed there are Orkin stickers on some of the ceiling tiles, so maybe I just wasn't there at the right time?? :)
(4)
Chris H.
Probably one of the better places to get pho in the seattle area. I was introduced by a vietnamese friend who claimed that I would be impressed. It definately has an authentic feel as the wait staff barely spoke english but were very helpful and friendly. Service was quick and the selection and combonations made my head spin there were so many. As for the pho itself, it rocked, way better than the processed crap they try and serve you at What the Pho, don't buy into that crap go for the good stuff.
(4)
Michelle L.
I have been to Pho Hoa several times, many of which have been late at night. I just love this place. They have great Pho- I have tried several varieties. Their fresh rolls are large and delicious; the best part is that you can order them individually so you are not forced to pay 5-6 bucks for 2 rolls when you just want one. Their portions are large, however they seem to be larger when you eat at the restaurant vs. taking the Pho to-go. They just recently added the Banh Mi to their menu so I will have to give that a try. Lunch time can get a little busy, but still only 5-7 min wait for a to-go order is really quick. In addition they separate there to-go items so you get to "make it yourself" which is wonderful because the noodles and meat come in their own bowl (so you don't have to find one to eat the Pho in) the broth comes in its own Styrofoam container and the bean sprouts/lime/mint are in a bag so they don't get soggy. I recommend this place day or night.
(4)
Ivan M.
not the best and not the cheapest but consistant. they only have sriracha hot sauce, not the other chili sauce (with the seeds) for some reason and they give you lemon instead of lime. make sure you order some nuoc beo to add a lil more flavor to your broth. i'll come here to break up the monotony of going to pho tai all the time. still better than than brothers, in my opinion.
(3)
Kimberly P.
I love this pho place!!! Broth is definitely addicting, and the overall noodle soup is consistently good. Noodles not too hard or chewy, broth is dark and rich w/ flavor...I miss being able to visit this spot. Yes, bathrooms are gross (do u expect a Nordstrom's bathroom in a vietnamese restaurant?) Service isn't the best, but the food makes up for it.
(4)
Kris T.
If they'd quit remodeling and closing shop once a year this place would be my consistent favorite. I've since stopped being a patron of this establishment in favor of other better Pho places that don't need to raise prices to cover the cost of annual remodeling. No longer worth the price for just an average taste of Pho.
(1)
Val R.
Pros: Cheap. Cons: Everything else. Food. Bathrooms you'd find at the Chevron. Pho Hoa is overrated and their soup tastes like sweat socks. Because they were one of the orignal shops to open, they have made a name for themselves. There bathroom is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen. You can smell the aroma of Pho mixed in with toilet when you walk in there. Go to Papaya at Xroads for better Vietnamese fare.
(1)
Katie M.
What?! Me at a pho place?! Yes, yes it is true. The food I am obsessed with -- see other pho reviews... Close to work and the hotel, I come here quite often. Not too bad for a chain restaurant. I have been to two other locations in two other states (Charlotte, NC and Berkeley, CA -- uh yeah, random!) and this one has been the best -- not really sure why the pho would be all that different. Being the pho connoisseur I am (a.k.a., I eat a lot of pho), the broth is pretty good and they give you plenty of meat. The accoutrements seem pretty fresh, too. not too shabby a meal for the price! Service can be a little spotty at times and you can sit there trying to flag someone to take your order. But, once the order is made the food comes out pronto. I haven't checked out the bathrooms, but based on the reviews i will be steering clear of them...
(3)
Karen R.
Ok, so it's a dive... service isn't excellent and this one is even less friendly then the one we usually go in the International District. Possible?! :D But when it's raining outside, cold and you want a hot hot bowl of pho and this is the closest thing around, you can't go wrong! It's fast (well this one isn't as fast 'coz it takes awhile for them to get to your table to get your order for some reason), you get what you ask for and you leave full, contented and well, not cold anymore. Ok, this is more like a 2 1/2 star review but lord knows why they wouldn't let us review in fractions in here! :D
(3)
Mary M.
Out of all of the Pho Hoa locations I've been to, this is definitely the worst. The only reason why I'm giving this place 2 stars is because they're the quickest at bringing out my soup. I usually order the 46 (hot and sour seafood) at other locations. At other locations, the hot and sour broth taste completely different. At this one, its just the plain pho broth with a little hot sauce in it. My noodles were over cooked and they put onions even though I requested no onions.
(2)
Sheila L.
I love pho.. and of all the pho places I go to, I like coming here. They're fast service and quick on bring out your pho is great! And a plus is that they stay open very late night so sometimes there's a crowd even around midnight. :)
(5)
Craig W.
I wonder how this place is still in business with their bathroom looking like that. Where are the health inspectors? What's even more puzzling is how people flock to this place despite the uncleanliness and rude staff. I will not pay a dime or a penny to keep this hole afloat.
(1)
Rosey J.
Cheap eats, decent pho but do not expect great server service. You'll have to flag your waiter down from time to time for anything you need or anything you are missing from your order.
(3)
Inder S.
It's cheap and it's filling (huge portions). I usually have the Chicken Pho, and unlike some other Vietnamese places, the broth is chicken broth (instead of beef broth). The service has gone downhill of late; I've had to-go orders where the spring rolls were missing, or it's taken longer than before.
(3)
Trebor Y.
After a co-worker raved about this place, I had to try it. I think I know good pho and this was horrible. The "waiter" said nothing and there was no satay. The beauty about pho is being able to add satay to your meal without experiencing the burn of saracha sauce. There was a lot if meat in it, but the broth was extremely greasy with mediocre originality. I also had fried spring rolls; although, I felt like I was eating a fish stick. Craving pho? Go to Than Bros on Aurora- straight from the streets of Hanoi, the cook and wait staff will bring you an appropriate and much cheaper bowl of pho... And a nice creampuff too.
(2)
Irene L.
if i'm looking for the familiar taste and ambience of pho (like when growing up in the bay area), this is the perfect place... because it's the same restaurant! i didn't realize the reach of the pho hoa chain! i always get 44 small which give you a taste of various meats (but no steak because it requires too much jaw exercise - chewing). anyhow, this is your average pho restuarant. it's cheap, rather tasty on a rainy day, and super fast if you're in a hurry!
(3)
cat b.
Great pho, terrible ambiance and service. We are HOOKED on this pho, I think the broth is laced with meth or something. Seriously, it's addictive. The broth is dark and rich, I don't know if it's MSG or what, but I LOVE IT. I usually order a #1, which is flank steak, I believe...it's just the easiest thing to order. This place is QUICK, although it's usually packed and you end up sitting a bit closer to strangers than you might like. The tables are small and a little sticky (who knows how much time they have for things like basic cleaning in this busy joint). I wish the condiments and tables SEEMED cleaner. The servers scowl and they're never friendly, but I must admit, they are efficient and I'm usually not left waiting to place my order. It would be perfect if the space were larger, cleaner, and more pleasant. But then, their regulars (like me) might never leave. I see the problem.
(3)
Christian L.
Good pho. Great pork chops. Decent pricing. Nice waiters.
(4)
Tiffany W.
i used to enjoy this place every much. but the last time i went, the portions got significantly smaller. they are barely any meat in the pho noodle soups. the broth itself wasn't even hot enough. this was my place to eat after a gym workout or snowboarding. especially in the winter. but to my disappointment, the changes were less satisfying. wonder if they changed management?
(2)
Buk D.
i loved this place used to go and eat here all the time for lunch and dinner. i normally try other pho places just to compare and see who's the best. so many of them but they're good., last i checked at least. haha
(4)
doug k.
Ahhh...that hot steamy broth on a cold rainy day. I am a bit biased because I was first turned on to Pho at the Pho Hoa in the ID, where a was assured by several Vietnamese friends that I was having the best Pho around. Indeed the store in the ID is a little better than the Redmond location, but I am no longer working downtown so this is a close as I can get. It is a chain and as such they probably use the same beef base for the broth and the same noodles. I did have one better Pho experience at Pho Cyclo across the street from the Starbucks HQ, but I have not been back so I can't say for sure if it is better.
(4)
Ka T.
I really want to give Pho Hoa a great rating because of their spot on service, but the broth is okay - but I've had better. I have to put sauces in it, otherwise it taste weird to me. The fact that they don't serve Jalapeño with their pho is a WTF to me. The temperature is just how I like it, hot. The noodle is pretty inconsistent at times. Sometimes you'll get a soggier version; sometimes you'll get the al dente version. If you're looking for a quick lunch, this is one of the better choices of pho around the Bel-Kirk area. I go here from time to time, depending on how my mood swings me. 3.5/5
(3)
Jay L.
Would we ever grow out of this MSG intoxication?
(3)
Janet T.
Ugh..they use vietnamese bologne in the spring rolls and they charge $2.00 per roll ! OH GAWD the horror...I'm sorry but I refuse to pay that much for a spring roll with meat that tastes like spam - this is the cheaper route and they reap the huge benefits and you got it cha ching! REAL SPRING ROLLS have pork meat and shrimp in it. Also, this place has horrible service and the food is mediocre.
(2)
Katie C.
So this place is a total hole, and I so don't care. The pho is freaking awesome. We get pho all over the place because we're obsessed with it, and I'm sorry but Pho Hoa is still our pho of choice. Even though it's a hole :D
(4)
Erin C.
I love this Pho Hoa. They just remodeled and it's really nice inside now; and they got BANH MI!! The BEST. I've had banh mi from a few other area (greater Redmond) and this is the best by far. I also love their fresh salad rolls, I crave them every day!
(5)
kham m.
great day for Pho!
(3)
Travis S.
Great late dinner pho stop!
(5)
Heather H.
Great authentic pho with patient and attentive customer service. Smoothies from their "jazen" side were super tasty, and full of chunks of huge fruit. Will make this a regular stop. Haley, Lin, and Dau were not intimidated with our large order, and personalized our experience. Will make this a regular stop.
I get the vegetarian pho with a bbt and love it. Only issues are: - Vegetarian pho doesn't come with a bbt combo - some staff have trouble with english so my bbt order doesn't come out correctly but I keep coming back, so clearly it doesn't bother me enough :)
(5)
Joan L.
Honestly, it taste like any other pho place I've been to. The soup lacks that deep savory beef flavor and I kept slurping on it trying to get more taste. Didn't work. It was alright tho. Not bad enough to complain about but not good enough to be a loyal customer. Noodles were cooked in advanced and placed in a bowl, awaiting for the hot broth. They were soft but not chewy. They kept breaking apart. Meat was good. Plenty of it. Not memorable. Not bad. But not good.
(3)
Vivian S.
Yes I'm back. Got a tea this time and a free appetizer thanks to 5 star. Check this thing out ! Tastes very unusual and good!
(5)
Winifred X.
I ordered their $4 grilled pork Banh Mi again, in an attempt to compare them with Yeh Yeh's at $4.50. The bread is pretty good at Pho Hoa/Jazen's, though YY's a bit more toasted I think. The only lacking here is they don't put nearly enough veggies /marinated pickles into the sandwich. Otherwise the grilled pork tastes fine. I also tried their $2.20 spring roll appetizer, this is a disappointment though. It has a lot of rice noodles and not much of anything else, little veggies and 3 small shrimp. The peanut sauce was good so made up for the lack of ingredients a bit.
(3)
Rochelle N.
This place has pretty good pho - nothing special. I like that there is a Jazen tea place inside. I would recommend their pho + Jazen tea combo for 10.95. The regular sized Jazen tea that comes with it is quite large -- the cup is short and wide. We got the Lychee Explosion with aloe and we loved it! Very refreshing and not too sweet. Service was average. You go up to the register to pay. Decor was clean. Overall, this is your average pho place, but with the added bonus of having a fruit/milk tea place built in!
(3)
Shivesh S.
They say they close at 1030 but I showed up at nine o clock and they told me to leave they are closed very bad service worst service I've experienced in my life can I give a zero star rating?
(1)
Linda T.
Pho Hoa is a nice pho option in the Bellevue/Redmond area. They have the classic selection of pho and banh mi choices, and also a nice selection of bubble teas. I dined here for Sunday lunch with a group of 20. We were seated right away in the front section where the Jazen tea counter is located. It was nice to be by the bright windows, and you still order off the pho menu here. I ordered the combo pho with Jazen tea, selecting the regular #3 pho tai bo vien (Vietnamese beef noodle soup with rare beef and meatballs) and the jasmine milk tea with tapioca, light amount of sugar. The food came out after 5-10 minutes. It was a good portion of meat and noodles. The flavor of the broth had a balanced taste of rich pork and spices, a good classic pho flavor. The meat was tender and well prepared. The milk tea was okay, the flavor was still a little on the sweet side for me even though I ordered light. The jasmine taste was strong. I wasn't a big fan of it, and will probably just try regular milk tea next time. The service was quick and attentive. They did a good job accommodating our large group and got our food and drinks ordered and made quickly. When the pho and drinks came out, they forgot my milk tea order. I had to remind them of my drink, which they went to make right away. Overall a good pho and okay bubble tea option. Prices are a little expensive for pho.
(4)
Barbie M.
We have gone to the Pho restaurant at this location for years. Tonight was the last. Aside from our drinks not arriving before our meal and having to ask 3 different people to get them, our Chicken Pho had very little chicken in it. This turned out to be the best part because we had to remove all the chicken and grizzle anyways. It was gross! We told them and paid and will NEVER go back!
(1)
Joy H.
I actually stopped by for some Jazen tea and decided last minute to get food too at the connecting Pho Hoa while I was here. I walked in and there were two lone customers at 11am and an older man at the register who paid me no attention. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to seat myself so I wandered over to the old man. A younger woman came up to me and told me that I could grab a seat anywhere and upon looking at the menu noticed that this place was a little pricier than most. I decided to just do takeout and ordered the pork banh mi sandwich which took its sweet time coming out. Another man ordered the same thing as me but ordered after me and got his sammie before I did! At least the bread was crusty and warm and there were a good amount of pork (although some of which were a little fatty). The "pickled" carrots & cucumbers could stand more pickling too. Overall it's a tasty and large sandwich though at $3.99 is more expensive than the ID district.
(3)
Jeannine N.
Honestly the pho here is mediocre and not anything to write home about. My parents owned a Vietnamese restaurant and growing up eating my mom's cooking I know what good VN food should taste. I think it's a bit high in price for what you get and the amount of thit tai (rare done beef) they give you with your pho is ridiculous. I won't be coming back here due to the lack of value, service and quality.
(2)
Mai S.
The Pho used to be really good here, I started eating there back in 1999, and it's been awhile sinced I've ate there maybe 3 years?? Last time I was there Pho was really bad, the broth was really oily. When the waiter comes around to clean up the table around you he just dumps the bowls into the cart and it just doesn't look clean. I recommend not using their bathroom. (It's really dirty)
(2)
Aline P.
Service is kinda "blah". The pho is good though, and the price is decent. It will leave your stomach and wallet satisfied but that is about it.
(3)
Takahisa S.
I came here because I had 50% off coupon. First of all I couldn't enjoy the food because the floor was dirty/oily, tables were sticky, chairs were wet, poor service, bugs flying... I had one tendon in my bowl and they claim that I had extra. My noodle was too soft I couldn't pick up at all. It could just be a coincident that I had to deal with all that... but i don't want to go back there again.
(1)
Lauren C.
yummmmy and cheap! Definitely great Pho
(4)
kristoph c.
The Pho Hoa Restaurant in Redmond is a quasi fast food Vietnamese restaurant specializing in Pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup, as well as a number of other dishes. Although, the atmosphere and overall presentation of Pho Hoa Restaurant is certainly nothing to write home about, it does serve probably the best Pho I have eaten outside of Asia. The other dishes I have tried have been less exemplary but nonetheless above average. The service is very efficient albeit somewhat dour. It is highly recommended for a quick but good and healthy meal. Probably not someplace you want to go on a date though.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Michele M.
I've been here a couple times in the past and I don't remember this place being this bad. It was way better before they merged with Jazen Tea. I came here in hope of being warmed up with a delicious bowl of pho. Unfortunately, my pho was watery and very very cold. I'm the type of person that lets the food sit and cool for a while before eating because my tongue burns easily. Hot to me is warm to most people. So when I say my food was cold, I mean it seemed like my pho was sitting out for an hour before they gave it to me. All I can say is thank goodness the chicken was pre-cooked, otherwise I would be extremely sick right now. I also ordered a Pork Bahn Mi to go and I was disappointed with the lack of (fatty) meat and the abundance of mayo. Not worth the money if you ask me. Service was alright, except the food runners couldn't really speak English. We asked for sauce dishes, but we got a container of fish sauce instead. We asked a different person for sauce dishes and he said they didn't have any, even though our spring rolls came with peanut sauce in a sauce dish. This place isn't terrible, but there are better pho places around.
(3)Kat R.
Short review: remodel is awesome, love the bubble tea, pho broth seems better, tvs on the walls, husband thinks there may be less meat in the beef stew. Long review: Prior to the remodel, I wasn't feeling Pho Hoa. I thought the broth was inconsistent and their customer service was about the same. After the remodel, however, they seem to be trying to turn the quality around. The broth of the pho was better, they give abundant side veggies, and lots of noodles. My favorite change was the addition of Jantzen. The bubble tea is so big it doesn't fit into my cup holder in the car, but I love it. My favorite is the lychee explosion. Yummy! I removed a star because my husband thinks their beef stew has less meat and the quality of it has gone down a bit. I can't speak to this as I don't really eat it I always order the pho, but I noticed less meat. The service is still a little inconsistent, but it may have been because they were quite busy. The Jantzen bubble tea makers are awesome. For the price (cheap) and the type of restaurant, my expectations were met. If you're craving bubble tea and pho at 8 or so, Pho Hoa is an option. If you're looking to watch the Seahawks game with bubble tea and pho, this is also a good choice, but it may be a little busy.
(4)Earnie G.
First time here since back when they were basically the only pho restaurant in this area and pho was the new "all the rage" food. I see they've remodeled. Pho is still good, average pho. Service had never been this place's strong suite, and that continues--employees eating, drinking, stocking, chatting with each other, cleaning; pretty much anything other than helping customers. It's been like that since the day the opened. Still, for a quick and average bowl of pho, it's convenient.
(3)Eneri S.
Went there for their grand reopening, everything was half off and certain tea drinks were free to promote their line of Jazten tea. We ordered the Bahn Mi, Vietnamese tacos and pho noodle soup. All were excellent except the pho broth was just a little bland.
(4)Kevin W.
I've been a loyal customer to this restaurant for about as long as they've been around. That must be around ten years ago now, and they were also one of the first restaurants I reviewed nearly three years ago. Recently, they closed the store down temporarily to remodel the place and merge with Jazen Tea. So after all this time, how have they changed? Well, the answer is... not much! Pho Hoa is about the same as it always has been. The merger has two very obvious features: the restaurant is now teaming up with a bubble tea store, and of course the place is brand new and even cleaner than it had been. The two businesses function together and might as well be a single entity because my orders from both places were combined on a single receipt. The bubble tea is okay, but I'm here to talk about the noodles in this review. Honestly, I don't notice any difference. The pho is the same as it always has been. I always get the number 45 because it has the most stuff in it, but even this bowl feels kind of plain. Maybe it's just because I've been eating it so much, probably almost a hundred times in my life by now. Their vermicelli dishes are okay as well; they come in very flat bowls that might as well be plates which I find interesting. Their banh mi has way too much mayonnaise and thus tastes very fattening, but I always go to Yeh Yeh's for Vietnamese sandwiches anyway. I still like this restaurant, but it doesn't impress me nearly as much as it did when I was a kid.
(4)Steve M.
Worst Pho on the Eastside. Ordered Chicken Pho and fatty chicken that I would not feed my cat. Also there was hardly any chicken in the soup. We will not be back.
(1)Tonya P.
Three stars because I really like Jazen Tea, their summer rolls & the sandwiches. The summer roll was filled with noodles & that is what I actually look forward to. The pho however wasn't as good as I hoped it would be compared to the location over in Chinatown. They didn't even have black chili oil to offer :( I would have given this place more stars if they had better service. It was a little busy when my bf and I got there so we sat ourselves down like we were told to. When we ordered, I had to repeatedly ask for my Jazen tea as it had not come out even after I had gotten my pho. Apparently it was sitting at the hand-off by the register. Tables weren't cleaned (as expected) but two of the servers were just on their phones behind the counter...so I felt like it was easy enough to clean the tables first then be unprofessional. My bf didn't get another water refill either. Not even after we had gotten our check and both glasses were visibly empty. I'll come back for to go orders and their tea. Definitely get the chicken sandwich, for only $4 it's worth it.
(3)Arries R.
Didn't know jazen tea was connected to a pho place since we weren't from Redmond and was the first time we went here. Originally came for jazen tea but since there was Vietnamese food, it was pretty convenient. We got some appetizers like the popcorn chicken and egg rolls. Also got a grilled chicken banh mi. It was nice to nibble on some food while drinking our tea. Customer service was alright. They weren't as fast on serving the customers but it was alright for us since we really came to drink bubble tea.
(4)Alfredo S.
Best PHO ever! I totally recommend PHO HOA to everybody !!
(5)Jennifer S.
Food is always great here. However, coming here a few times after it was renovated to include "Jazen Tea", we have been increasingly disappointed with the service. Food remains great but the women who work here appear to be no more than giggling teenagers who are not interested in helping you. We came in on a Monday around 4pm. The place was empty except for the two of us. I remember this place was always so busy before. Odd. Anyways, the waitress sat us and took our order and we haven't seen her since. We are still waiting for the bill actually. The two or three employees are not paying attention to us at all. You would think that with the place empty, we would have great service. Apparently not. If it wasn't for the food runner working in the kitchen we probably still won't have our food. Like I said, the food is what you can expect from the Pho Hao chain but I will do some thinking before returning to this specific location again. Well since we haven't gotten any service since I began writing this, I will have to " interrupt" their conversation to get the bill paid and get the f outta here.
(3)Julie N.
I got #15 with a lychee explosion. Great lunch deal for about $11. Fast and friendly service. The pho was mediocre, they gave me a generous amount of broth and meat. The lychee explosion tea was amazing!!! Pieces of real lychee filled my giant sized drink that couldn't fit in a normal car cup holder.
(3)Maryneth K.
A pretty specious Pho restaurant with a built in Jazen Tea shop. The environment is pretty nice. Spacious for a Pho shop and they have an amazing Combo-Deal. Any pho and a bubble tea for about $10. This may not seem like much but their tea drinks are HUGE. They also have a special for "kids eat free" during certain times. Of course, you have to buy a regular meal but hey, free meal for the kids! The nice thing about their teas are that they are all natural and don't come from powder. They make fresh smoothies from real fruit so it's a nice healthy option. Their teas are huge and come in a size that I don't normally see from most bubble tea places. It's like a baby bucket! The service is pretty good and quick. We come here all the time for noodles and because this is a large franchise that is everywhere in the world, the quality and tastes is consistent. My boyfriend doesn't like Pho so he gets the cold noodles and now they are his favorite.
(5)Rohan K.
This place had decent Pho. Both the veggie and beef broths were pretty good albeit a little salty(MSG I guess). The quality of the meat was really good in the #45 which has the biggest bang for the buck. They have multiple portion sizes for all appetites. It looks like the remodel has really worked for them. I would definitely go back here again for good Pho on the Eastside.
(4)Gabriel C.
Despite being a decent price/quantity, I think that I'd have to give this place 3/5. Ordered their beef stew (bo kho), but I felt that the meat was lacking in flavor. Although meaty, slightly fatty and chewy, it didn't have the same flavor profile of the beef stews I've had in the past.
(3)Tue A.
Probably one of the best place to have Pho around Redmond/Bellevue area. I would suggest to have the combo together with the milk tea from Jazen Tea. Good service :)
(5)Amy N.
First and foremost, the pho was actually pretty good. I just had trouble with the other aspects of the restaurant. It's a cross between a boba shop and a pho restaurant which I thought was very weird. You have people sitting down for a meal while others are hanging out in a seemingly disjoint area of the restaurant. They're quite busy on the boba shop side and that can split focus of the waiters in the restaurant area of the establishment. When we got there it took a long time for the waiter to come and even acknowledge us. I got the combo that comes with a bowl of pho and a milk tea ($10). I asked for the milk tea to be given to me after my meal/before I left, since I don't really think milk tea and pho go together that well, but the waiter had it sent to my table while I was eating my meal. Overall the food was good, but the service could use some work. I'd definitely go here again if I had more time to kill, since the combo is pretty worth it.
(3)Mark L.
First time here. Had the pork bahn mi and hot tea. Was outstanding. Clean. Great service. Wife had a Jazen tea. Very tasty. Went back again with the family a second time and not so good. Food was okay. Tables needed busing. Dirty dishes all over the place. Make sure you read the fine print about the "kids eat for free" during a certain time. They make you order a non combo meal (more expensive) for you to get the deal. So you really don't save anything. They are "bait and switching" you to get you in the door. Totally unnecessary. I won't be back with my family until they stop and realize that their customers are not stupid. Too many better options on the Eastside.
(2)AlyssaLashell D.
My cousin and I love pho and tea so we were really excited to eat here, but it was so disappointing. To start the place had dirty dishes everywhere and when we were seating we had to ask 3 separate times for menus. Finally our waitress came back with another employee and she took over. Our original waitress didn't speak English. We ordered beef pho and when we got it the beef was draped across the side and dripping blood all over the table, it was disgusting. The broth also wasn't warm enough to cook the beef and the tea wasn't so great either. The service was terrible and this was the worst pho place I have been to, and we won't be coming back.
(1)Catherine Z.
It was ok. The type of place that makes for a good lunch, but wouldn't recommend it for dinner. Service was minimal, prices are low, and I loved my tofu roll!
(3)Bam B.
Taking my 4th star back today tofu was not fresh. Almost sour tasting. Not cool. Only 4 dice sized tofu squares but having it not fresh just makes it worst.
(3)Oscar M.
Just got here I order a meal and they are out of rice, my brother wanted a smoothie and they are out too !! They should close at 10:30 instead 11:30 disappointed !!!
(1)Heidi T.
I only order To Go here and it is always very quick. Food is fresh. I've tried the vegetarian pho and spring rolls and both are consistently delish.
(4)Danny P.
Went in on my lunch break and was not impressed. I did get a seat right away, but it took about 10 minutes for anyone to come to the table. The server had no personality at all, and only asked "ready to order?" The pho came out quick, but had no flavor, and they did not even bring out any sauces. I had to flag down another waitress so that I could at least get some hoisin. I'm usually not a complainer, as I used to be a server, but I know bad service when I see it, and this was bad service.
(2)Yuyin V.
Bad customer service. Pho is too watery. Always have to ask for water. This used to be the place that my husband and I go to at least once a week. However ever since the remodel, I gave this place three chances but it failed. All three times that we were there, we had to wait at least 5 minutes before being seated although there was no one in front of us as if the workers did not see us. When we were seated and had our menu, it took them 10 minutes (once) and 15 min (once) to come take our order. One time though I had to go place the order up front because no one came! When the food came we had to ask for water(all three times). Guess if you want water than you have to ask now. The pho was not as good as before.The broth does not have the flavor and aromas that we loved anymore. I feel like they don't have enough workers because they had merged with jazen tea and most of their focus is on the tea instead of pho. Anyway, its to bad that we have to find a new place to eat pho now. This place used to be our favorite. My husband have been eating here since he was a boy!
(1)Mel N.
Specifically for this Redmond Location only: Terrible service! Ate here a few days ago and got a table quick but had to wait a little while for a server which was fine. When I ordered and asked a clarifying question, the server (or order taker or something, since she never came back to our table) was very rude in the way she responded asking me "well, why not?". A few minutes later, another lady came up with menu's asking us if there was just the two of us today and I had to clarify with her that we had already ordered. The pho took about 10-15mn or so to get to us, my boyfriends water was empty and no one ever refilled it for us for the whole 45mn we were there. Many staff members kept dropping platters and things as well the whole time, ruining the ambience. I've had the Pho Hoa in the international district for a long time and haven't ever had problem with it but for some reason the broth at this place tastes a lot different, in a bad way. It smells strong of anisette but the taste isn't there at all. I had to add lots of sriracha and hoisin sauce, but still tasted borderline inedible. Probably won't ever be coming back to this place, I'd much rather make the drive to Seattle. I had absolutely no service and the food was below mediocre.
(1)Mridula P.
Can't wait for you to re-open!
(5)j b.
The pho here is pretty overpriced despite their regular size being the size of a large at another restaurant. The broth is bland but they do give you plenty of meat. I might come back. I would say this is slightly below average pho but still very edible. Service is fast but ambiance is kinda weak.
(3)Monica L.
I suggest not going to this Pho Hoa in Redmond! I repeat DO NOT GO unless you don't mind the employees talking sh** about you. I went a few weeks ago on a weekday night, it was around 9pm or later (almost closing time for them) and my boyfriend and I went in and got some soup. No big deal, another customer came in and our server told him it was closing and they were no longer taking orders...they probably had another half an hour left so I understood why he shook his head as he left... Towards the end, I was trying to finish up, and our server comes over and proceeds to tell me to pay her because they're closing and basically tries to kick us out. The one thing those employees didn't realize was that I'm fluent in Vietnamese and understood everything they were saying to one another. As we got up to leave, I remember hearing the busboy in the background (& in vietnamese), saying "Oh she only gave us like a dollar and swore." I wish I knocked that guy out jk. Anyways I, like anyone else can tip however much we want. If you deliver poor service, then we'll tip based on that poor service. DUH! Anyways service stinks and food is mediocre. You can go to any other pho place and get better service and food! SO why go here? I do suggest Pho Tai Bellevue which is right by!!!
(1)Katie B.
Cheap authentic Vietnamese food that doesn't need all the gimmicks that upscale restaurants need to sell their dishes. The next door bubble tea place makes it a great place to have dinner because you have your food on one side and your drinks on another. Will definitely go back
(5)Stan S.
Used to be awesome. Poor service, had to ask for my own menu and water on separate occasions. Changed the prices and barely had any noodles in my regular bowl. Finished the meal in 5 minutes; went home and ate a sandwich. First time here after the remodel. They need to hire more staff and not change the quantity of their dishes if they want to increase the price.
(1)Bryan S.
Inexcusable poor service. At every other pho restaurant I've ever been to, you get your food so fast your seat isn't even warm yet. At Pho Hoa, we were still waiting 30 minutes after we ordered. I asked the waitress why we were still waiting, and she said "we're just really busy today". Really? People around us that came in 15 minutes after we did are being served, why not us? Finally we left without ever getting our food. Come here on your lunch hour at your own peril.
(1)Tanya C.
I hadn't been here since they remodeled and now I know why I shouldn't come here again unless nothing else is open. I got the Brisket Pho and the meat came out already overcooked and everything else was blah... My 8 year old son went to the bathroom and tried to tell me how dirty it was but I didn't wanna hear since I was eating. He refused to use it and that was a first for any place we have been! Also the wait staff was yelling back and forth in their language by the front desk and it was very annoying trying to eat and hearing it all in the dining area.
(1)Christina K.
Excuse my Vietnamese--this place is pho-king morbid. I ordered pho for the first time here in years because I was in the mood for some good filling soup. Today, I regret making that decision as their meatball and brisket pho not only gave me indigestion but it was completely tasteless! I couldn't even finish my soup because it was so bland. I would rather go elsewhere or eat my own instant ramen on a day like this--at least it would somewhat stimulate my taste buds and I would be cost efficient. I do like their deep fried egg rolls though but if that was the culprit of my indigestion today, you will never hear the end of it... Lastly, I eat by myself from time to time and I'm not afraid to stand alone but seriously, acknowledge your customers when they walk through the door so we don't stand there like lost puppies. Service was terrible as I was not even given water to wash down the pho--oh wait, I practically already souping water with what I ordered today. Dishes ordered: Deep fried egg roll, beef and brisket pho (that will give you indigestion)
(2)Jim F.
This is our favorite Pho restaurant. It's one of the few places around where you can feel comfortable as a solo diner, or go with family or friends. The Pho is consistently good, and the service consistently brusque and no-nonsense. The prices are good, and a regular bowl fills me up. A good dining option for not a lot of money on a chilly day.
(4)Andrew K.
Here's the thing with Pho Hoa - it used to be a fantastic deal because the regular bowl had a giant bowl of noodles and meat, and was $5.45. Broth isn't as rich and flavorful as you like? It's $5.45. Tastes like bleach water? Put some more Sriracha and plum sauce in there, because it's $5.45. I went in there yesterday and it's now $7.50 for regular and $8.45 for large. Extra Sriracha isn't cutting it any more when I have to pay an extra $2 for a bland bowl of pho with a bunch of fatty meat. At lunch, $2 is material, damnit, especially when the service is as mediocre as Pho Hoa's. So why go back? Personally, I won't. But why would somebody else go back? If you're looking to bang out a 30 minute lunch, this is the place to do it. You'll have restaurant staff at your table asking for your order before you see a menu and the food comes up in less than 5 minutes. Plus, it's gone from being one of the most crowded lunch places in Redmond to half-full at any given point, so there's no wait. Turns out, there's a lot of people that are just as cheap as I am...
(2)Simba C.
No, i was not a fan i have had better.
(1)Michael G.
Much like most other negative comments, I share the experience of decent food, but poor service. One I got my meal it was as if I didn't exist anymore.
(2)Tony P.
This place just keeps getting better and better. They expanded now and sell mini tubs of bubble tea on the cheap.
(5)Allan E.
**This review is for the Vietnamese sandwich banh mi only** I found my new go-to place for banh mi on the Eastside. I did not know that Pho Hoa is a franchise restaurant. I always go to the one in Renton and that place is always solid. I decided to stop in and grab something quick to go. I ordered the grilled pork banh mi. First of all, its huge! The bread was toasted to perfection, just enough to get a crunch when you bit into it. They had the grilled pork which was perfectly marinated and still juicy. Along with the ususal ingredients, pickled onion, carrots, jalapeno, and cilantro. But this place uses a mayo based sauce instead of the pate that other places use. I think that was the major difference. I'll think of this place next time I'm craving a Vietnamese sammich.
(4)Stuart G.
Really good food. My favorite is the #32 and even my picky daughter likes the kids' special. The service is good and fast but the servers don't always speak the best English so don't ask a lot of questions, lol. Deducting 1 star because the won't customize the menu for picky daughters.
(4)Cynthia V.
These people are very consistent. The food always tastes the same. I would say the flavor is ok. Nothing spectacular. If you are tired of pho, I would suggest the rice plates. I really like the lemon grass pork chop with fried egg. They are delicious. Too bad the pork chops have gotten thinner over time and they've gotten lazy over time. It is not good if they give you a popped egg..... This rice plate gets a 3 star. The flavor is yummy, but it was and could be better. The service is more like a 1-2 stars. They don't care to say hello and don't care to look like they care. It's gotten better over the years but they still have some work to do. One person says hello now. But that's not consistent enough. Come here if you are in a hurry.
(2)Jill B.
I should note that I have definitely experienced better service. Walk in to place an order to go. No place to stand/sit except at a table, so I sit at a table, play games on my phone while I wait for a couple orders of pho. Hostess comes over and says "you need to move, tables are for customers". I looked at her with the stink eye and said - what am I then? She then asked me to move again, I did, customer that wanted to sit there made a snarky comment and I asked for my receipt and cancelled the $2 tip. No tip needs to be given for something they don't deserve.
(2)Alice C.
They changed owners many times in the last ten years. The restaurant looks clean and new. Vegetarian pho is consistent. Too much MSG though. A reliable cheap restaurant.
(4)Diana C.
I used to come here a lot, but I feel like it's gone downhill over the past few years. They updated the interior, but the food isn't as good as it used to be. I usually get the regular 44 and it's always a giant bowl with enough meat to keep just about anyone happy. The fried egg rolls definitely used to be better. Overall, I'd say it's an okay place to get a quick bite to eat if you're cold and in a rush.
(3)Tony L.
Stick with the reg...the lrg is too much food. Clean tasting pho but the broth was not hot enough to fully cook my rare steak. I had a few pieces that were still red in the center when I was near finished. Just left the raw pieces in the soup. Overall, tastes good though.
(3)Lara L.
I've been going to this Pho Hoa for YEARS. There was a time when I'd go there at least once a week for lunch because the pho was delish, the service was great, and they had these coconut-y bean drinks that were fantastic. That was about 13 years ago. Maybe 5 or so years ago, I started noticing an off taste to their broth that was a bit reminiscent of bleachy mop water. Most people would probably say, "eeew!" and never come back, but I'm a creature of habit, so I would squeeze in a few more limes, throw in a few more jalapeno slices, and call it good. I think it was around this time that they also stopped serving the bean drinks, so that, with the bleachy taste dramatically impacted my patronage. Still, if I needed a pho fix, I'd head on over there. Fast forward to last week. I went there with my family at about 7pm on Memorial Day. There were maybe one or two other tables filled, so basically the place was empty. Our server was a young Asian guy who didn't greet us, didn't smile, and just exuded indifference with a touch of hostility. I thought it was just me, but everyone else at our table caught it, too. The food came quickly. The broth had the same weird flavor. I always get the #3 with steak and meatballs, and while they load on the steak, they only put 1 meatball, cut in half. Three of us ordered pho, but they brought out just 2 lime wedges, and 1 puny stalk of basil. I asked for extra limes and jalapenos, and was given only limes, which came with a dirty look from the older man who brought them out. Nobody came to ask us if we needed anything (remember, the place was practically empty), our water glasses were never refilled, and 15 minutes after we were done eating, all of our plates and bowls were still in front of us. We were sitting right next to the register, not in some far off corner of the restaurant. I piled the plates/bowls up on one side of the table so that we'd have some space, and saw our server break away from playing on his cell phone long enough to glance up at us. But he made no move to, you know, WORK, so I actually had to ask him to clear our table. That was the last straw for me. ATTN Pho Hoa: If your food sucks, your employees act like they hate their jobs, and your customers leave thinking, "Wow, I'll never go back there again!", then it's time to do some soul-searching. Somewhere along the way, you lost it, and that's a shame. Yours truly, A Former Customer
(1)Karen L.
I'm honestly not too picky about my pho, but I really do like this place. Prices are good (about 7 bucks for a regular sized bowl) and the portions are enough to fill me up. I always order my pho with brisket, flank, and tripe, though the tripe here is kind of tough (I guess they don't pre-cook it?) so I never order tripe here. But, the flank is yummy (mmm, fatty meat) and the broth is really good. What justifies the 4 star review I'm giving is their avocado smoothie! It's so good. Tastes like they actually blend real avocados (if they're actually using powder, I could easily be fooled). And I love that you can order a regular size bowl of pho + a smoothie for just a couple bucks more!
(4)Carolyn T.
Delicious as always!
(4)Suie C.
Eh, stopped in here b/c it was near work and I was craving pho. Nothing remarkable about the pho here, seemed to be lacking in flavor, maybe they didn't let the soup simmer long enough or something. Price wise- it's bellevue and it's inflated. Probably won't be back here for pho, will look elsewhere.
(2)Ashley C.
I have yet to try the soups but I have been enjoying the chicken sandwiches. They are super cheap. if you come at the right time the bread for the sandwich is baked fresh. its a really big sandwich and you will definitely be full after eating it. my husband really likes the pork one. inside the restaurant is kind of dirty and the bathrooms are downright gross.
(3)Huntting B.
So a couple things up front. Pho Hoa is a chain, the first place that I had Pho as an adult was a Pho Hoa in Atlanta. So more than anything I'm comparing it to them. Secondly, I haven't been to this place in a while and realized just a couple days ago that I hadn't reviewed it...so things may have changed. The highlights that I remember are as follows: The pho tai was decent enough, nothing special, nothing bad. What knocks the review for this place down is their fish sauce. It was awful! Like not just without flavor but also too pungent. Yick!
(2)Michael L.
I use to love this place, I would always order the 15 or 42 as my order, they were filled with tripe, fatty flank and other goodies. The downside of this place is they changed their soup recipe and I haven't been back since. The soup now is bland and feels watered down. I understand that cutting costs is great way to save money but loyal customers who come in for your product, they are going to notice. The restaurant itself hasn't changed much over the years and the service has been about the same I love how every order of pho comes with fresh Thai Basil, bean sprouts, slices of jalapeno and lime. If you're in a rush they pump out all orders of food super fast, that's always a plus. I'm willing to give this place another try in a couple months to see if they have resolved their soup problem.
(3)Heidi P.
My experience with Pho Hoa was extremely positive. First off, the service was lightning fast. We started out with fresh spring rolls, and they came to our table right away. They were very affordable for $4, and I appreciated that they brought two separate dishes of peanut sauce. I hate when places skimp on that! I went with a small vegetable pho. It was blazing hot, and very flavorful. I ordered a small and it was chock full of tofu, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots. My fiance got a round eye steak and brisket and it was definitely not skimpy on the portion of meat. I agree with the other yelper that commented on the soy sauce on the table. I believe they refill the bottles with the cheap fake soy sauce made with hydrolized soy protein-it's gross and does not taste like naturally brewed soy sauce made from real soy beans. The broth was flavorful, but wasn't the best I've ever had. I was surprised how oily it was for being a veggie pho. Also, my size small pho was 6.50, which is a little high in my opinion, however the veggies were super fresh. I'd like to end on a small but positive note: the owner made sure to say thank you when we left, which always goes far in my book. Overall, I'm down for Pho Hoa, and will for sure return!
(4)Brittany L.
Was in desperate need of a quick lunch fast -- I was hungry and I needed to return to Kirkland before my lunch break ended. I was trying to maneuver through Overlake's frustrating lunch traffic when I spotted pho hoa and thought they might have banh mi as most pho places do. When I walked in, one of the girls by the counter seemed friendly enough as she tried to get me to sit down, but when I stopped her to say "actually, I just wanted to know if you had banh mi --" I don't even think I got my thought fully out before the girl at the register interrupted. "THE SANDWICHES? NO. WE DON'T HAVE THEM." rather snappily and soaked in attitude. Okay then! I walked out, and probably won't return. From the other reviews it seems as though I could find better pho elsewhere anyway.
(1)Shinichi O.
price/portion ratio: Their prices are on par with other Pho restaurants but their portions are a bit more generous. Even more generous then their other locations and I'm not talking about the size of the bowl or the amount of broth and noodles. I'm talking about what matters the most; the meat! Four stars on my Budget Bites scale. Although, I tend to order both a large Pho and a rice plate.. location/parking: They are fairly conveniently located. 2 minutes off of Hwy 520 off of the 148th st. south exit. In addition to this they have their own parking lot. selection/presentation: They have a big selection of dishes as well as soups. The presentation is of course what's expected of a soup, but hey who's there for the presentation right? flavor/quality: They have a really good broth and like I mentioned before, they are generous with the portions. Their other dishes are also generously portioned and tasty. The other thing I really like about this location is that everything always seems fresh and clean! environment/ambiance: Again the emphasis here is they are really clean! You will still leave smelling like Pho though. The service, like most Pho restaurants, is incredibly fast. You can pretty much order and go wash your hands and by the time you come back your food will be waiting for you. Plus the servers at this location seem to be friendlier than other locations as well- perhaps a Bellevue Redmond thing? Overall, if smelling of Pho isn't really a concern of yours then this is a great location to dive into a hot bowl on an icy day! They have good prices for good portions on good food and are conveniently located with easy parking. On top of all of that, you'll get friendly quick service in a clean environment. My Budget Bites scale: 5 stars $6 or less 4 stars $8 or less 3 stars $10 or less 2 stars $12 or less 1 star $12 or more
(4)Dennis D.
Mediocre pho. Chicken cuts were sub par (too much dark meat and ...chewy tendons?). Take out was impressively packages though, but even still, I don't order for the packaging. I've had better. :-\
(2)JT T.
Pho Hoa anywhere is great! I visit this location quite often as I live in the neighborhood and I Love Pho. I am Vietnamese, I have to love pho.lol =). Geat Pho for sure! Not as good as mom's home made Pho of couse but really close to it.
(5)Tom T.
If you're ordering Pho, it's mediocre. I've had better Pho elsewhere, even at different Pho Hoa locations. Don't even think of ordering the rice dishes, the beef stew, or the chicken Pho. They are all americanized. The broken rice dishes do not come with broken rice. The beef stew is essentially brisket with some Pho broth and uncooked carrots. The chicken Pho comes with very little meat. I would give it two stars if it weren't for the terrible service. We asked for the rare beef to be put on the side, and asked them to blanch the bean sprouts (all common requests in Pho restaurants). Our waitress did not write down our orders, and guess what? ALL of our requests did not come through. In addition, she was on her cell phone the entire time we were in the restaurant. When we asked the guy who brought us the food for some extra scallions, he didn't acknowledge us with a yes or no, he just brought it out a few minutes later. One of the worst experiences ever. Is it that difficult to get a bowl of Pho with a smile and some customer service?
(1)Wilson U.
Hungry, looking for a quick and filling meal, late night on east side on Friday. Well, I find Pho Hoa is open until 11PM. It is a chain restaurant but the pho at this location has always been consistent and service quick and friendly. It has been a while since I was at this location but they did a remodel since then and the inside is much trendier and cleaner. I've stuck with #44 or #45 and they have an average amount of meat and noodles have not been overcooked. The broth was always hot. With all the good pho places in the Seattle area, this is basically average but a convenient place. Plenty of parking.
(3)Anson H.
Great Pho place. Their broth is tastier, in my opinion, than other Pho restaurants in the area. In terms of the menu, nothing stands out apart from other Pho places. Its nice, quick, cheap and healthy!
(3)Boom C.
Default place for Pho. Good price serving, quality. Fast service.
(4)Nessa E.
Great soup, great prices, great sandwiches, not so great customer service. The broth is delicious! Fragrant, savory and lush. Good amount of noodles and meat. Fast service. This is my go-to pho. I wish the hostesses were friendlier. They just seat you and take your order as succinctly as possible with a minimum of conversation or even eye contact. They rarely ask if you want a drink. Pho Hoa would get 5 stars if they ever bothered to be pleasant.
(3)Denise L.
I love Pho Hoa! It's one of my favorite Pho places. Soup or dry (vermicelli), the noodles are so good! You definitely get more than what you pay for. Way better than I Love Pho in Bellevue/Factoria (they give you little for an expensive price!). Highly recommended. The spring rolls at I Love Pho are really good too. Be prepared to smell like pho after you leave though!
(4)Jian L.
my go-to place if I need to dine out myself. super fast service. The spring roll is the best among all the pho places around IMO. noodle soup is decent. quite Asian style. Comes with large quantity (meat and noodle), even "regular" size is quite a lot. my only minor complaint is not all of their waiters/waitresses understand English quite well so if you have some customized request, you need to explain a bit.
(4)Kenix T.
I go to this particular Pho Hoa location for years. Their Pho was usually decent. Today, I went there for lunch with my family and had a bowl of Pho that I would never forget. Their broth tasted like water (literally), the noodle was over cooked, the meat was chewy, and the bowl was not properly cleaned. The restaurant was more than half filled, but there where only 2 severs on the floor for Sunday Lunch. It was terrible!!! I still have a diluted after taste Pho!!!! Pho Hoa, you've just lost a customer!!!! My family and I will not come back again!!!!
(1)Krystin T.
I love pho. I have been known to say that I could eat pho twelve times a day, especially during the cold, rainy, disgusting winters. Pho Hoa is close to my work, so I decided to follow a coworker's lead and try it out the other day. I was sort of confused when I got there, because there are no signs saying either "please seat yourself" or "please wait to be seated" and no one ackowledged me for awhile, so I just stood their awkwardly. I was eventually seated and given a menu... which is a whole story in itself. I am a semi-vegetarian, not because of any animal-rights issues but because I am super picky about my meat and usually just don't like it. Picky eater FTW. I'm used to pho places having veggie pho or pho tofu very high up on the menu, but this place didn't seem to have it AT ALL. I was kind of sad and had resigned myself to trying the chicken (white meat was listed as an option, thank goodness) when I finally found "pho without meat" hidden toward the bottom of the menu. I ordered it, I got it, and I realized that "without meat" just means... without meat. No veggies, no tofu. It was extremely hot, just how I like it, and the regular size was only about $4.75. The broth wasn't as flavorful as some other places but it was fine. Overall, not great, not terrible.
(3)Joao C.
I like their broth the best in this location. I ordered their meatball and steak noodles once a while ago and I only got 2 meatballs so I just stick with their steak noodles nowadays. The service varies depending on the day of the week.
(3)Thuan T.
One of the best places to get Pho in the Bellevue area. And I think I'm pretty picky when it comes to Pho.
(4)Peter S.
Although the service could be better, I love their Pho! They give you plenty of meat, and the broth is tasty. It's in a great location as well!
(4)Kristen F.
Small (quite large) bowl of pho with tofu. Under $5. Better than the others I've tried so far. My mom liked her seafood bowl. I don't really eat crawlies so I'll take her word for it. Did I mention mine was under $5?
(4)Sirio B.
Pho Hoa is pretty run of the mill..Quick service, large portions. It's ok, nothing special. I've had the #1 a few times(Everything basically) and the chicken pho quite a few times. They're not bad but you have to douse it with plum sauce to give it some flavor as the broth doesn't have alot of flavor. Its reasonably priced as well. The things that have prevented me from returning is that its quite a dirty joint, and it doesn't seem to be well maintained. I also have to wash my clothes every time I leave because the air is filled with the scent of onions and the smell gets infused into every single fiber that I'm wearing. Makes for quite an unpleasant drive home. There are way better places out there for pho. This one has left a bad impression on me.
(2)Vinh N.
First off , I'm Vietnamese. I've had pho from my mom, from Houston, from all parts of Seattle, and even from the motherland, Vietnam. Pho Hao (this location) has the best pho bowl in Seattle. It is CHEAP, the portions are generous (a small bowl fills me up), and the broth is good. I come here once a week for lunch. Forget Pho Thanh Brothers. This is the place to go!
(5)Jeffrey C.
3 dead flies in our food all on the same day!!! This pho has major problems. Service sucks and food is..meh. Don't eat here. Try Saigon city on bell-red. It's become my new favorite pho
(1)Kelly T.
I have been going to Pho Hoa for quite some time now but this was my first time at this particular location. When I first arrived, I didn't realize I just opened the door to a sauna. It was so unbearably warm inside the restaurant and I was about to eat hot soup. I was with a few friends and we got greeted and sat right away. I ordered my usual soup with rare beef. In the meantime while waiting for our food, my friend spilled his water on the table. The waiter saw what happened but didn't even bother to come over with a towel or napkins to help clean up. After trying to wave him down, we had to walk to the counter to ask for something to clean the water up. He gave me the tiniest and thinnest napkins that the world has ever invented. Our soups arrived quickly. I was ready to eat what I usually expect pho to taste like from other Pho Hoa locations. This time, I was so terribly wrong. The broth was bland, completely clear and not even hot. The small amount of beef that I DID receive was a mysterious shade of grey and flavorless. My friend ordered the chicken pho and she counted four pieces of chicken in her soup and they were all fatty pieces. To make things even worse, my spoon still tasted like bleach from their washer. Awesome. I was mainly disappointed in my visit here because I've had such better experiences at different locations. All I witnessed here was bad service, a hot dirty room and disgusting soup.
(1)HK J.
The soy sauce was full of flies after complaining the manager squished one in his fingers and said, "Its soy sauce residue!" He argued with us so we left and never went back. I noticed someone else said their food had dead flies in it too!!
(1)Brian P.
Not much Vietnamese food out on east side. Tacoma and Seattle are the places to go for real Viet food, but if you are out here this is the best option because What The Pho is probably the worst.
(3)Adrian W.
4 stars for sure, just to open late. always love their pho. but not so much with the non-soup version. I always get meatball + steak. their ice-cream is ok too. try them out.
(4)Derek L.
This place is the best Pho in town. I've been going here since day one when they opened. I love to come here when I'm in Redmond. They're fast service and quick on bring out your bowl of Pho'. When you ordered the Dac Biet the bowl is loaded with meat and the broth are always hot. Don't come here around noon or you won't find a seat. Hanh Tran va Hanh dam available here.
(4)Patrick L.
Pho Hoa is a franchise, so regardless of which one you go to, you pretty much know what you're getting, no surprises. It's a good place to grab a quick cheap bowl of pho. However, I haven't been back to this particular location in a few years after the last time. I went to eat with a buddy and they seated us at a small table in the aisle. I thought it was weird that they didn't seat us by the wall, since the restaurant was pretty empty and I usually prefer not to sit smack-dab in the center of a restaurant. As we waited for our food, I had to swat a few flies away, but didn't think too much of it since it was a hot summer day and the door was propped open. Then I looked to my right at the white painted wall, and to my horror, saw that there were thousands of tiny flies swarming about on the walls. Suddenly I knew why we weren't seated over there! What I had thought was just a couple random flies that had lazily flown in the door, was in fact a huge colony just hanging out all over the restaurant. My friend had noticed that area before I did, but up until I vocally recoiled in horror, he thought it was just a really dirty wall. Just then we slurped down our pho as quickly as humanly possible, threw our cash on the table, and ran out of there.
(2)Charissa F.
I don't like Asian food, but I will always come to this place!! What stands out for me is that Pho Hoa has very friendly employees -- I am a dorko and I always forget what my "usual" is called. I ask a bunch of questions, and sound like an idiot, and the guy just keeps smiling and helps me figure it out lol. The food is delicious and inexpensive! They are very quick with service and cooking. They are very attentive, and you can tell they are making a big effort to make it a pleasant experience for you :) We will be back! Most definitely...
(5)Nancy C.
Really good pho and a good price. Fresh flavorful broth and you can pick your own meats (they never have the combo I like - steak, brisket, fatty flank and meatball). It was really good and enough for 2 meals. Also, got the spring rolls - they were probably the best I've had (large shrimp and great dipping sauce). Definitely, a place I will be eating at alot this fall and winter.........................Plus they were super fast and the pho was still piping hot when I got back to work.
(4)Larry B.
What I wanted to be able to say: "prepare yourself for a authentic third world experience, be sure to get vaccinated before you go and for adventure use the toilet without a paper ass-gasket, or better yet perch on top of the seat and simulate a "squat" toilet. I am disappointed to say that some of negative reviews I read didn't live up to my expectation and I unfortunately went in when the hoards of fruit flies had gone on break and the bathroom was clean. Dang it! I even had my passport with me for authenticity. This was my first PHO (in the U.S, I had something like it in Japan) and I really don't know if it was good or bad PHO compared to someone else's maybe good or maybe bad PHO. I am not sure if this is "authentic" or even if PHO is authentic Vietnamese food. So am left to ask... did it taste good? Yeah it was good, the chicken tasted like chicken and the broth as flavor full. They put the sprouts (also known as Satan's "hair down there") on the side. Man sprouts are gross.... Cilantro however is good. To get all Biblical on you... Sprouts are the "wide gate" of vegitables. I would however stay away from the "fruit" (flavored powder) smoothies. By the way it did inspire me to come up with some PHO restraunt names which can be more fun the hair places (a cut above, shear panic..etc) Yuso PHO nee PHO Q I can't really say any more.
(3)Rita L.
Considering this IS the Eastside, and not anywhere near a college campus (ie U-District), it's unsurprising to see that the pho here is a bit more expensive than what I'm used to paying for in the U-District. I've been here a few times, and I commend them for good customer service and swiftness in bringing the food out . Their broth is delicious and give tons of meat; but not enough noodles. The ultimate downside is the fact that they don't have a tofu/veggie pho. I mean, I love meat and all, but sometimes I just wanna go slightly healthy, and get some 'fu instead of flank. It's so simple, just have veggie pho or tofu pho; and it's probably less hassle for them to prepare. I'll prob keep coming here till I find a good veggie/tofu pho restaurant on the Eastside *crosses fingers*
(3)Amy S.
Food: Good tasty broth, generous amount of noodles and broth, and a wide selection of different pho combos as well as other Vietnamese dishes. My husband and I each had a bowl of pho with various meats. The regular size that I ordered was really quite large and the large that my husband ordered was even bigger of course. I couldn't even finish mine! Service: Quick, but perhaps because they were about to close up shop. Value: Very affordable, as pho usually is, plus the portions were very generous! Ambiance: Very dull and drab looking restaurant located in a small strip mall.
(4)Greg E.
Best Pho in Bellevue/Redmond Area!
(4)Wing C.
Tasty food, clean restaurant and fast service!
(4)George T.
Service and attitude were horrible. All the employees look like they hate their job and don't even look at you when you order. Tables are greasy, and theres literally no customer service. No matter how good your food is, you need service as the finishing touch. Food was okay, but just really disappointed at the level of service.
(2)Eric Y.
Too much MSG I was ther for lunch today, Noodle was nice and tangy but their broth was warm, not hot as it should be. Hard to find traditional flavor. If it wasn't for MSG I would give 3 stars but they get 2 stars for using too much MSG in their broth. I exprienced better broth elsewhere.
(2)Tina G.
Ewwww.... Last time I came to this place I tried to erase my experience from my mind. I thought I was in a horror fly movie. My sister and I had been here before but this time... Wooooow... I was like "OMG did I just see that?" We sat ourselves like usual, then our table seemed to be moving.... weird.... Then looking closely I realized that there were about 20 fruit flies all over our table!!! Ewwwww!!! Then to my horror I looked onto my right which I should have NEVER done, it was the WALL!!!! HUNDREDS of fruit flies were walking allllllll over the wall.... OMG!!!! M I seeing this? I was like ummmmm.... let's get the hell out of here... Everyone around us looked like zombies not aware of the moving wall.... Ewwwww.... Are you serious? Come on!!!! Never again........ NEVER again!!!! The staff are not too friendly, the food does taste good, the price not cheap cheap..... Annnnnd after seeing the wall I'm sooooooooo done! Oh, and it was summer time....
(1)Scott O.
I am a fan of this place, it's our favorite for Pho. The beefy broth is unmatched by anywhere else I've been, and I think that's why this place has such a loyal following. That and the large-ish portions of meat in the soup. Regarding the criticism this place gets, I find several of the staff are stand-outs, while others are just so-so. I've been coming here for a few years and am familiar with most of the regulars. Service does suffer at lunchtime when it's packed, but this place really does get slammed at lunch. I also agree the prices of their salad rolls and fried rolls are high, enough so that I usually avoid getting them. That is a shame, 'cause they're good, just not *that* good. If you're looking for ambiance there are better choices, but I'm not sure I'd call this place a hole. More like "cheap-and-cheerful." They make a great tasting and filling Pho for not much bucks and they're dedicated; for both reasons they get my vote.
(4)Rob B.
Horror... the horror... For starters, no meat on the side. For seconds, getting 'extra meat' or 'extra noodles' is twice that of the Than Brothers. Thirdly, the stock dishes are close to DOUBLE Than Brothers. Fourthly, their soy has a weird fucked up stale flavor. Fifth, ...fish sauce... on the tables... Are you serious? This dive would smell even worse if on hungover SOB knocked a bottle of that shit over. They get a star for the credit-card thing, I like that, and the fact that they serve bubble tea (though it is grossly overpriced).
(2)Pepper J.
Been going here at least once a week for years. If the place was a tad cleaner and the staff a little more friendly/attentive, I would give it 5 stars. But other than that, its great pho for decent price. I've been to many other pho places and always feels Pho Hoa's brisket and noodles are better quality. The broth is great tasting. I've never experienced any issues with fly's or anything and like I've said, I've been going there weekly for years. Although, I have noticed there are Orkin stickers on some of the ceiling tiles, so maybe I just wasn't there at the right time?? :)
(4)Chris H.
Probably one of the better places to get pho in the seattle area. I was introduced by a vietnamese friend who claimed that I would be impressed. It definately has an authentic feel as the wait staff barely spoke english but were very helpful and friendly. Service was quick and the selection and combonations made my head spin there were so many. As for the pho itself, it rocked, way better than the processed crap they try and serve you at What the Pho, don't buy into that crap go for the good stuff.
(4)Michelle L.
I have been to Pho Hoa several times, many of which have been late at night. I just love this place. They have great Pho- I have tried several varieties. Their fresh rolls are large and delicious; the best part is that you can order them individually so you are not forced to pay 5-6 bucks for 2 rolls when you just want one. Their portions are large, however they seem to be larger when you eat at the restaurant vs. taking the Pho to-go. They just recently added the Banh Mi to their menu so I will have to give that a try. Lunch time can get a little busy, but still only 5-7 min wait for a to-go order is really quick. In addition they separate there to-go items so you get to "make it yourself" which is wonderful because the noodles and meat come in their own bowl (so you don't have to find one to eat the Pho in) the broth comes in its own Styrofoam container and the bean sprouts/lime/mint are in a bag so they don't get soggy. I recommend this place day or night.
(4)Ivan M.
not the best and not the cheapest but consistant. they only have sriracha hot sauce, not the other chili sauce (with the seeds) for some reason and they give you lemon instead of lime. make sure you order some nuoc beo to add a lil more flavor to your broth. i'll come here to break up the monotony of going to pho tai all the time. still better than than brothers, in my opinion.
(3)Kimberly P.
I love this pho place!!! Broth is definitely addicting, and the overall noodle soup is consistently good. Noodles not too hard or chewy, broth is dark and rich w/ flavor...I miss being able to visit this spot. Yes, bathrooms are gross (do u expect a Nordstrom's bathroom in a vietnamese restaurant?) Service isn't the best, but the food makes up for it.
(4)Kris T.
If they'd quit remodeling and closing shop once a year this place would be my consistent favorite. I've since stopped being a patron of this establishment in favor of other better Pho places that don't need to raise prices to cover the cost of annual remodeling. No longer worth the price for just an average taste of Pho.
(1)Val R.
Pros: Cheap. Cons: Everything else. Food. Bathrooms you'd find at the Chevron. Pho Hoa is overrated and their soup tastes like sweat socks. Because they were one of the orignal shops to open, they have made a name for themselves. There bathroom is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen. You can smell the aroma of Pho mixed in with toilet when you walk in there. Go to Papaya at Xroads for better Vietnamese fare.
(1)Katie M.
What?! Me at a pho place?! Yes, yes it is true. The food I am obsessed with -- see other pho reviews... Close to work and the hotel, I come here quite often. Not too bad for a chain restaurant. I have been to two other locations in two other states (Charlotte, NC and Berkeley, CA -- uh yeah, random!) and this one has been the best -- not really sure why the pho would be all that different. Being the pho connoisseur I am (a.k.a., I eat a lot of pho), the broth is pretty good and they give you plenty of meat. The accoutrements seem pretty fresh, too. not too shabby a meal for the price! Service can be a little spotty at times and you can sit there trying to flag someone to take your order. But, once the order is made the food comes out pronto. I haven't checked out the bathrooms, but based on the reviews i will be steering clear of them...
(3)Karen R.
Ok, so it's a dive... service isn't excellent and this one is even less friendly then the one we usually go in the International District. Possible?! :D But when it's raining outside, cold and you want a hot hot bowl of pho and this is the closest thing around, you can't go wrong! It's fast (well this one isn't as fast 'coz it takes awhile for them to get to your table to get your order for some reason), you get what you ask for and you leave full, contented and well, not cold anymore. Ok, this is more like a 2 1/2 star review but lord knows why they wouldn't let us review in fractions in here! :D
(3)Mary M.
Out of all of the Pho Hoa locations I've been to, this is definitely the worst. The only reason why I'm giving this place 2 stars is because they're the quickest at bringing out my soup. I usually order the 46 (hot and sour seafood) at other locations. At other locations, the hot and sour broth taste completely different. At this one, its just the plain pho broth with a little hot sauce in it. My noodles were over cooked and they put onions even though I requested no onions.
(2)Sheila L.
I love pho.. and of all the pho places I go to, I like coming here. They're fast service and quick on bring out your pho is great! And a plus is that they stay open very late night so sometimes there's a crowd even around midnight. :)
(5)Craig W.
I wonder how this place is still in business with their bathroom looking like that. Where are the health inspectors? What's even more puzzling is how people flock to this place despite the uncleanliness and rude staff. I will not pay a dime or a penny to keep this hole afloat.
(1)Rosey J.
Cheap eats, decent pho but do not expect great server service. You'll have to flag your waiter down from time to time for anything you need or anything you are missing from your order.
(3)Inder S.
It's cheap and it's filling (huge portions). I usually have the Chicken Pho, and unlike some other Vietnamese places, the broth is chicken broth (instead of beef broth). The service has gone downhill of late; I've had to-go orders where the spring rolls were missing, or it's taken longer than before.
(3)Trebor Y.
After a co-worker raved about this place, I had to try it. I think I know good pho and this was horrible. The "waiter" said nothing and there was no satay. The beauty about pho is being able to add satay to your meal without experiencing the burn of saracha sauce. There was a lot if meat in it, but the broth was extremely greasy with mediocre originality. I also had fried spring rolls; although, I felt like I was eating a fish stick. Craving pho? Go to Than Bros on Aurora- straight from the streets of Hanoi, the cook and wait staff will bring you an appropriate and much cheaper bowl of pho... And a nice creampuff too.
(2)Irene L.
if i'm looking for the familiar taste and ambience of pho (like when growing up in the bay area), this is the perfect place... because it's the same restaurant! i didn't realize the reach of the pho hoa chain! i always get 44 small which give you a taste of various meats (but no steak because it requires too much jaw exercise - chewing). anyhow, this is your average pho restuarant. it's cheap, rather tasty on a rainy day, and super fast if you're in a hurry!
(3)cat b.
Great pho, terrible ambiance and service. We are HOOKED on this pho, I think the broth is laced with meth or something. Seriously, it's addictive. The broth is dark and rich, I don't know if it's MSG or what, but I LOVE IT. I usually order a #1, which is flank steak, I believe...it's just the easiest thing to order. This place is QUICK, although it's usually packed and you end up sitting a bit closer to strangers than you might like. The tables are small and a little sticky (who knows how much time they have for things like basic cleaning in this busy joint). I wish the condiments and tables SEEMED cleaner. The servers scowl and they're never friendly, but I must admit, they are efficient and I'm usually not left waiting to place my order. It would be perfect if the space were larger, cleaner, and more pleasant. But then, their regulars (like me) might never leave. I see the problem.
(3)Christian L.
Good pho. Great pork chops. Decent pricing. Nice waiters.
(4)Tiffany W.
i used to enjoy this place every much. but the last time i went, the portions got significantly smaller. they are barely any meat in the pho noodle soups. the broth itself wasn't even hot enough. this was my place to eat after a gym workout or snowboarding. especially in the winter. but to my disappointment, the changes were less satisfying. wonder if they changed management?
(2)Buk D.
i loved this place used to go and eat here all the time for lunch and dinner. i normally try other pho places just to compare and see who's the best. so many of them but they're good., last i checked at least. haha
(4)doug k.
Ahhh...that hot steamy broth on a cold rainy day. I am a bit biased because I was first turned on to Pho at the Pho Hoa in the ID, where a was assured by several Vietnamese friends that I was having the best Pho around. Indeed the store in the ID is a little better than the Redmond location, but I am no longer working downtown so this is a close as I can get. It is a chain and as such they probably use the same beef base for the broth and the same noodles. I did have one better Pho experience at Pho Cyclo across the street from the Starbucks HQ, but I have not been back so I can't say for sure if it is better.
(4)Ka T.
I really want to give Pho Hoa a great rating because of their spot on service, but the broth is okay - but I've had better. I have to put sauces in it, otherwise it taste weird to me. The fact that they don't serve Jalapeño with their pho is a WTF to me. The temperature is just how I like it, hot. The noodle is pretty inconsistent at times. Sometimes you'll get a soggier version; sometimes you'll get the al dente version. If you're looking for a quick lunch, this is one of the better choices of pho around the Bel-Kirk area. I go here from time to time, depending on how my mood swings me. 3.5/5
(3)Jay L.
Would we ever grow out of this MSG intoxication?
(3)Janet T.
Ugh..they use vietnamese bologne in the spring rolls and they charge $2.00 per roll ! OH GAWD the horror...I'm sorry but I refuse to pay that much for a spring roll with meat that tastes like spam - this is the cheaper route and they reap the huge benefits and you got it cha ching! REAL SPRING ROLLS have pork meat and shrimp in it. Also, this place has horrible service and the food is mediocre.
(2)Katie C.
So this place is a total hole, and I so don't care. The pho is freaking awesome. We get pho all over the place because we're obsessed with it, and I'm sorry but Pho Hoa is still our pho of choice. Even though it's a hole :D
(4)Erin C.
I love this Pho Hoa. They just remodeled and it's really nice inside now; and they got BANH MI!! The BEST. I've had banh mi from a few other area (greater Redmond) and this is the best by far. I also love their fresh salad rolls, I crave them every day!
(5)kham m.
great day for Pho!
(3)Travis S.
Great late dinner pho stop!
(5)Heather H.
Great authentic pho with patient and attentive customer service. Smoothies from their "jazen" side were super tasty, and full of chunks of huge fruit. Will make this a regular stop. Haley, Lin, and Dau were not intimidated with our large order, and personalized our experience. Will make this a regular stop.
(5)Carlos P.
Went here with friends since they wanted to Pho. I didn't really, but I had a Banh Mi (sandwich) instead with pork. The meat was tasty but I think I've had a better one at other places, also it was a lot of bread but that may be their style. It was still good. Restaurant was clean and had nice décor, TV and decent service. This Pho Hoa was shared with an Asian tea shop that also had food. To pay the bill you go to the shared cashier counter. It's an okay place. I'll probably go back and try the Pho if we go there again.
(3)Dorothy C.
I get the vegetarian pho with a bbt and love it. Only issues are: - Vegetarian pho doesn't come with a bbt combo - some staff have trouble with english so my bbt order doesn't come out correctly but I keep coming back, so clearly it doesn't bother me enough :)
(5)Joan L.
Honestly, it taste like any other pho place I've been to. The soup lacks that deep savory beef flavor and I kept slurping on it trying to get more taste. Didn't work. It was alright tho. Not bad enough to complain about but not good enough to be a loyal customer. Noodles were cooked in advanced and placed in a bowl, awaiting for the hot broth. They were soft but not chewy. They kept breaking apart. Meat was good. Plenty of it. Not memorable. Not bad. But not good.
(3)Vivian S.
Yes I'm back. Got a tea this time and a free appetizer thanks to 5 star. Check this thing out ! Tastes very unusual and good!
(5)Winifred X.
I ordered their $4 grilled pork Banh Mi again, in an attempt to compare them with Yeh Yeh's at $4.50. The bread is pretty good at Pho Hoa/Jazen's, though YY's a bit more toasted I think. The only lacking here is they don't put nearly enough veggies /marinated pickles into the sandwich. Otherwise the grilled pork tastes fine. I also tried their $2.20 spring roll appetizer, this is a disappointment though. It has a lot of rice noodles and not much of anything else, little veggies and 3 small shrimp. The peanut sauce was good so made up for the lack of ingredients a bit.
(3)Rochelle N.
This place has pretty good pho - nothing special. I like that there is a Jazen tea place inside. I would recommend their pho + Jazen tea combo for 10.95. The regular sized Jazen tea that comes with it is quite large -- the cup is short and wide. We got the Lychee Explosion with aloe and we loved it! Very refreshing and not too sweet. Service was average. You go up to the register to pay. Decor was clean. Overall, this is your average pho place, but with the added bonus of having a fruit/milk tea place built in!
(3)Shivesh S.
They say they close at 1030 but I showed up at nine o clock and they told me to leave they are closed very bad service worst service I've experienced in my life can I give a zero star rating?
(1)Linda T.
Pho Hoa is a nice pho option in the Bellevue/Redmond area. They have the classic selection of pho and banh mi choices, and also a nice selection of bubble teas. I dined here for Sunday lunch with a group of 20. We were seated right away in the front section where the Jazen tea counter is located. It was nice to be by the bright windows, and you still order off the pho menu here. I ordered the combo pho with Jazen tea, selecting the regular #3 pho tai bo vien (Vietnamese beef noodle soup with rare beef and meatballs) and the jasmine milk tea with tapioca, light amount of sugar. The food came out after 5-10 minutes. It was a good portion of meat and noodles. The flavor of the broth had a balanced taste of rich pork and spices, a good classic pho flavor. The meat was tender and well prepared. The milk tea was okay, the flavor was still a little on the sweet side for me even though I ordered light. The jasmine taste was strong. I wasn't a big fan of it, and will probably just try regular milk tea next time. The service was quick and attentive. They did a good job accommodating our large group and got our food and drinks ordered and made quickly. When the pho and drinks came out, they forgot my milk tea order. I had to remind them of my drink, which they went to make right away. Overall a good pho and okay bubble tea option. Prices are a little expensive for pho.
(4)Barbie M.
We have gone to the Pho restaurant at this location for years. Tonight was the last. Aside from our drinks not arriving before our meal and having to ask 3 different people to get them, our Chicken Pho had very little chicken in it. This turned out to be the best part because we had to remove all the chicken and grizzle anyways. It was gross! We told them and paid and will NEVER go back!
(1)Joy H.
I actually stopped by for some Jazen tea and decided last minute to get food too at the connecting Pho Hoa while I was here. I walked in and there were two lone customers at 11am and an older man at the register who paid me no attention. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to seat myself so I wandered over to the old man. A younger woman came up to me and told me that I could grab a seat anywhere and upon looking at the menu noticed that this place was a little pricier than most. I decided to just do takeout and ordered the pork banh mi sandwich which took its sweet time coming out. Another man ordered the same thing as me but ordered after me and got his sammie before I did! At least the bread was crusty and warm and there were a good amount of pork (although some of which were a little fatty). The "pickled" carrots & cucumbers could stand more pickling too. Overall it's a tasty and large sandwich though at $3.99 is more expensive than the ID district.
(3)Jeannine N.
Honestly the pho here is mediocre and not anything to write home about. My parents owned a Vietnamese restaurant and growing up eating my mom's cooking I know what good VN food should taste. I think it's a bit high in price for what you get and the amount of thit tai (rare done beef) they give you with your pho is ridiculous. I won't be coming back here due to the lack of value, service and quality.
(2)Mai S.
The Pho used to be really good here, I started eating there back in 1999, and it's been awhile sinced I've ate there maybe 3 years?? Last time I was there Pho was really bad, the broth was really oily. When the waiter comes around to clean up the table around you he just dumps the bowls into the cart and it just doesn't look clean. I recommend not using their bathroom. (It's really dirty)
(2)Aline P.
Service is kinda "blah". The pho is good though, and the price is decent. It will leave your stomach and wallet satisfied but that is about it.
(3)Takahisa S.
I came here because I had 50% off coupon. First of all I couldn't enjoy the food because the floor was dirty/oily, tables were sticky, chairs were wet, poor service, bugs flying... I had one tendon in my bowl and they claim that I had extra. My noodle was too soft I couldn't pick up at all. It could just be a coincident that I had to deal with all that... but i don't want to go back there again.
(1)Lauren C.
yummmmy and cheap! Definitely great Pho
(4)kristoph c.
The Pho Hoa Restaurant in Redmond is a quasi fast food Vietnamese restaurant specializing in Pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup, as well as a number of other dishes. Although, the atmosphere and overall presentation of Pho Hoa Restaurant is certainly nothing to write home about, it does serve probably the best Pho I have eaten outside of Asia. The other dishes I have tried have been less exemplary but nonetheless above average. The service is very efficient albeit somewhat dour. It is highly recommended for a quick but good and healthy meal. Probably not someplace you want to go on a date though.
(4)