Pho Hoa

I almost scratched my car six separate times in the Pho Hoa parking lot but I would (and will) brave that lot again for more pho from here! As with many places in little Saigon, Pho Hoa is a test of bravery. Not the food, but the parking. Cars were lined up in the dinky lot like my teeth pre-braces. As in, completely misaligned. After wedging my car (and it's not even a big car!) tenuously in the ambiguous triangle of space bordered by a Toyota van, a yellow bollard, and what might have been the handicap parking, I marched through the restaurant doors into a spacious, bustling dining area. I came very early in the morning after some errands, and there was already a constant flow of customers. When i saw that a majority of the clientele (and servers) were older Vietnamese men, I knew I was in for a glorious bowl of pho. I also knew this from the fact that they ONLY served drinks and beef pho. There might have been one or two items that did not fall into the category of thin rice noodles with various cuts of beef in a spiced soup, but even those were hot soup/noodle adjacent. I had looked at the menu beforehand so I ordered quickly. And when I say quickly, I mean that from sitting down to getting my order took maybe 7 minutes if I round up. I got the #6 pho (medium) and a iced Vietnamese coffee. The coffee was very strong, sweet, and smooth with a satisfyingly thick mouthfeel. The pho was HUGE with large portions of both noodle and beef. I am kind of scared to see how big the large size is. Their fresh veggies were clean and not mottled or wilted, and they had real sriracha. The broth is the heart of pho to me, and Pho Hoa nailed it!! Not so overly spiced as to become pungent, but instead the perfect beefy, complex base for all of the different toppings and seasonings found at the table. Their broth was not too salty, so I could add more and more different flavors as I made my way through the bowl. A squeeze of lime was absolutely refreshing with the rich soup. Paired with their perfectly cooked rice noodle and I was in heaven. Sometimes pho gets kind of cloying to me the longer I eat it, as the noodles start breaking down into the soup, but that wasn't the case here. The noodles were firm and I could add many flavors to keep things fresh and interesting. If I had to pick a word to describe the soup I would say homey. Not as bold as many other places I've tried, but with so much goodness steeped in to each sip! I was stuffed and I still persisted in finishing my bowl, that's how good it was. And for the price I paid, this was totally worth it. I realize I haven't even talked about the meats yet! The tripe was clean and crunchy, the tendon was soft, and the brisket was the perfect level of fatty. The steak was cooked quickly in the hot soup and thus very tender. All of their meat was cooked appropriately according to their characteristics, and there was a lot of each type. On all levels this was such a strong bowl of pho. At the end I heaved myself out of my chair and dragged my waterlogged (souplogged?) body to the counter to pay. Do note that they charge quite a steep processing fee ($1.25) for credit card use. Once you've paid with debit or cash, be sure to nab one of their nice vinyl stickers for free, made for their anniversary I believe. As a water bottle sticker person, this was the cherry on top of this delectable meal! Did I have to do 4D chess to extract my car from my parking triangle? Yes. Would I risk my paint job again in this lot? Absolutely!!

Wow, this place serves really delicious pho in the Little Saigon area. I deducted one star only because they didn't have any vegetarian options, and as a vegetarian/vegan, that was disappointing. From the moment you enter, the service is incredibly quick and attentive. They seat you promptly, provide menus, and are very responsive to your cues, taking your order as soon as you're ready and bringing out the food almost instantaneously.The portions are generous--I ordered a medium bowl of noodles, and it was more than enough. Everything was fresh, and the pho broth was one of the best I've ever tasted. The noodles were of pristine quality. Even though it was summer and eating hot soup made me sweat, the meal was so satisfying.Overall, it was delicious and made me feel great afterward. I'd love to return, but I do wish they had vegetarian options. For meat lovers, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommend for its excellent quality and super affordable prices--definitely the best deal I've had for dinner in a long time

Pho Hoa, used to be my "go-to" spot! In fact, when I travelled (even to Vietnam) this is the place I always went to go eat at. I could not wait to get back and eat there again. Well, I guess after 30 year removed, things have changed a bit.The Pho is still good. But I thought the broth had become darker, and tasted less beef like, and more salty. I ordered Pho Dac Biet.The portion sizes were good, and prices were on Par for 2024.I just felt like the Pho quality was not as I remembered. The brother used to be very clear and light color, yet had a strong beef flavor. I guess that is very difficult to accomplish unless you are a master soup maker.Anyway, still a solid bowl of Pho, and you cannot go wrong with Pho Hoa.

I come to this place pretty often. It's my go-to place everytime I'm not feeling too well or I just need some good soup! I first found this place because I used to eat at the Pho Hoas back in the bay area and wanted something similar here. I heard this was the original one so I had to come and try!Service is typical asian restaurant service. Their style is taking your order, serving you food, and you walk up to the counter to pay. I usually get the Rare Steak and Tripe and then add the Beef Balls! Soup is always so good and I will continue to come back :)

I really didnt know what to expect from SD pho but this place was really good! Got the number one and all the different beer pieces were so tender. The server was quick to bring us food and drinks and made sure we were good. The interior felt very spacious which was good because we had a big group of people during our visit. A must try if you want some good pho in SD.

This is definitely your typical Pho place in regard to ambiance, but the food quality here is phenomenal. You can't go wrong with their #1 which has everything, but there are lots of options for their Pho if you are more particular.Note that it's just a PHO place so no appetizers and that everything is beef related.Service is fast.

Pho Hoa was pretty damn good!The parking here is tight, so you might have to park on the streets.Inside, we were just waved down to sit family style with others at long tables.So if you're thinking of a table for two private types, then this spot isn't for you.They guide everyone to an opening at tables that are occupied with other people.Service is very to the point: sit, order, eat, and get your a$$ out. Lol :)They have a well-oiled machine type of service.Everyone has a job, and they are just going through the motions.So if you're looking for " HI, how are you doing service?" Then again, this spot isn't for you!If you're looking for a good bowl of pho and delicious Thai tea, then this is the perfect place for you:)The broth is super tasty and very beef forward.Not like typical pho with the star anise flavor.I like both, but this broth was clean and super beefy.Noodles, beef, brisket, and tripe were delicious.I'd definitely come back!Overall, it's a great place for pho!

One of the best pho places in San Diego! I ordered the #5 without tripe and it was amazing. The broth was flavorful and they give you a good amount of meat too. I was pretty full off of one bowl! The service here is pretty good. They're attentive to their customers and we got our food pretty quickly after placing it. The inside has a lot of seats for dining and they also have a small outdoor dining area as well.

My family and I love and support this establishment for over a decade and there's a reason why! With their speciality being pho, they only have that on their menu. We love their classic Dac Biet pho bowl with all of the goods- rare steak slices, well-done brisket & flank, tendons, and tripe. Flavorful broth, generous portions (of toppings too!), and quality ingredients! Please do yourself a favor and order their thai tea. Never have my sibs and I had a better thai tea! (talking abt the tea itself, the tapioca balls are subpar) So potent, subtly creamy, and the perfect sweet beverage pairing. Though small & tight parking lot, we're always able to find a spot. Plenty of seating, attentive & accommodating staff, and food comes out QUICK after ordering.If I'm ever craving pho in SD, this is the spot that comes to mind! Highly recommend!

I love the phõ here!They don't have any egg rolls or spring rolls which I love, however their service is very fast and efficient!Barely speak english but if you give them the number order you want and size..they will be out in less than 7 minutes literally!I usually come for lunch really quick and I am always in and out!Place is clean,no bugs or loud conversation so I give it a 9/10!