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    Joe's Pho Original

    3.9 (1.5k reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Joe's Pho Original Photos

    Business Info

    JOE'S PHO ORIGINAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Joe's Pho Original

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    Reviews With Photos

    Vermicelli Bowl with Shrimp and Pork
    Chassidy T.

    I went to Joe's Pho for a late lunch and was positively overwhelmed by all the delicious options and great service. Because it was so close to dinner time, I tried to go for something "light" and went with their pork, shrimp, and eggroll vermicelli with an egg cappuccino. Vermicelli was delicious and pretty large! And their egg cappuccino was really good. I was initially going to order their egg coffee, but the waitress recommended the egg cappuccino because it's sweet and not as bitter as the coffee -- I am so glad she recommended this because it was perfect. Strong and sweet (not too sweet, just how I like it). I'd love to come back and try their pho and the many other tasty-looking drinks on the menu. I also noticed that there's a complementary ice cream self-serve area, which is pretty awesome, especially when you have kiddos at the table. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lastly, the ambiance was great. The restaurant is quite spacious.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] As soon as I walked in, I was seated immediately, given sufficient time to review the menu, and received my meal within 15-20 mins.

    Dry microwaved chicken instead of freshly steamed.
    Ky V.

    Tried the Hoi An chicken rice plate. Didn't take a before picture but came out looking like something slapped on a plate and microwaved. Chicken was dry and tough to chew. Should have known better to order rice at pho place. Joe's should just stick to pho if they cannot meet the quality needed for other common Vietnamese dishes.

    BBH
    Melissa Y.

    Was expecting a bit more from this place. Ordered the banh beo and bun bo hue. Banh beo didn't have the typical chewy texture that I'm accustomed to, and the bun bo hue seemed watered down with meat that wasn't too tender. I did appreciate that your meal came with complimentary dessert such as a pandan waffle or soft serve ice cream. Also, came with a party of 10 and their customer service was great, so they get some love for that.

    Eric L.

    Pretty good pho in a pinch, but definitely not comparable to OC or LA. I ordered Pho Tai, which usually uses the Eye of Round cut for a lean and clean flavor. This place only has Filet Mignon as the meat option for this. I think that cut is better used as a steak since it's a bit minerally in flavor and can use a good sear to enhance the flavor.

    Grilled Chicken Sandwich
    Doris G.

    We got seated immediately. Orders came quickly and servers helpful and pleasant. Beef roll delicious and well flavored. White chicken breast roll very bland The bread is fresh with pickled vegetable and mayo. Very generous size. Báhn mi sandwiches are buy one get one free. We ordered grilled pork bánh mi sandwich and a grilled chicken. Both large and filling. Restaurant is in a shopping center, easy parking. They open till 9:30 at night. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is well lit.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Restrooms are clean and well stocked.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will be back.

    Short Rib BBH Soup
    Kim T.

    I've been here quite a few times and always enjoy. While I do appreciate a good pho I end up getting the BBH every time! I wish it had more of a lemongrass flavor but It's still very good. I've come to realize large just means more broth, not more noodles, so get the small and get extra noods if that's your thing. They have a free ice cream station, and che and waffles, don't sleep on that. I apparently missed the che and waffles so I'll need to go back for that. Last time service was friendly, they forgot about our BBH but she apologized and got it to us soon after, no worries we came with patience. All in all a good meal and I will be back

    S9. Vietnamese Sausage
    Maricar F.

    This place is great! Lots of options- all looks delicious on their colorful menu! Super fast service- place is simple yet clean- but good food and bid portions. We especially like the fresh egg rolls ( they have a variety of what you want inside the roll).

    Jeff D.

    I heard the pho here was really good. It was late night and decided to order from here. They did not disappoint. Food was good especially the bbq chicken bahn mi. One day we will make it to the restaurant for sure.

    Christine R.

    We came here for my cousin's birthday, but if I'm being completely honest, this wouldn't be my go-to spot for pho. I have a very specific pho order--I always get a seafood combination--which Joe's Pho doesn't offer. That said, I'll review them based on what they do have and on their service. One thing I absolutely loved is that they give you shrimp chips at the table. Those are one of my favorite things and something I always look forward to. I also liked that their menu offers a wider variety of items to choose from. I originally wanted the bone marrow pho, but I ended up ordering the combination bánh mì instead. The bánh mì was good, but I only ate about half because we had also ordered the shrimp fresh spring rolls and a new item I hadn't tried before--the salmon fresh spring rolls. I really enjoyed the salmon ones. The shrimp rolls were also good, and I loved their peanut sauce. Honestly, I think I filled myself up on shrimp chips and spring rolls. It didn't help that they were also making pandan waffles as part of their complimentary dessert bar. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant didn't look very crowded since there were quite a few empty tables, but there were a lot of employees walking around.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I understand everyone has specific roles and sections, but it still took a very long time for our food to come out. I know hot items take longer to prepare, but they brought out the three bowls of pho first, and my cold bánh mì came a minute or two later. What really bothered me was the way the hot food was served. Servers reached over guests to hand off bowls of hot pho. As someone who has worked in a restaurant, I was always taught never to reach over anyone with hot food--you either go behind them or walk around to the front. They reached over me twice, and I helped because that's the server in me, but what if the bowl had slipped or been dropped? That could have ended badly. We also had to ask another server for water refills, and they said they would let our server know. There was no need to tell us that--just communicate with them. Every time we needed something, it was always "let me find your server." I understand sections, but the restaurant wasn't packed or overly busy. We came on a rainy Thursday. When we were ready for the check, our server was nowhere to be found again. However, there was one server from another section who was constantly walking around. We asked him to find our server because we were ready to leave. It was frustrating that this one server was visible and attentive while ours barely checked on us. We consistently had to flag someone down if we needed anything. It's unfortunate because the food itself was very good. My cousin loved the bone marrow pho. My uncle enjoyed that his pho had a slight spicy kick. The pork chop was very flavorful. The food was solid, but service is a key element of any restaurant experience, and that's where things fell short for us.

    Basil Popcorn Grilled Pork Chop, Fried Chicken and Egg Roll Rice Plate
    Holly S.

    The pho is the clear standout: a deeply aromatic broth with real depth, clean yet rich, clearly simmered with care rather than rushed. The chicken is tender, portions are generous, and the noodles hold their texture all the way through the bowl. Fresh herbs arrive crisp and plentiful, and the balance of flavors means you don't have to aggressively doctor the soup for it to shine. Beyond pho, the supporting menu items are solid and reliable. Service is functional but minimal. Orders are taken efficiently, food comes out promptly, and mistakes are rare--but warmth and attentiveness are hit or miss. Don't expect much check-in or engagement once your food arrives. It's not unfriendly, just transactional. If you're coming for a quick, satisfying meal, it gets the job done; if you're looking for hospitality-driven service, this isn't that kind of spot. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining room is clean, bright, and comfortable, with a relaxed, casual vibe that suits the menu well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It feels welcoming without trying too hard, making it equally appropriate for solo lunches, family meals, or casual meetups. Overall, Joe's Pho delivers where it matters most: the food. With excellent broth, dependable execution, and a comfortable setting, it's an easy recommendation for anyone craving quality Vietnamese cuisine in San Leandro. Slightly elevated service would push it into standout territory, but even as is, it remains a strong local favorite worth revisiting.

    p1
    Jasa M.

    YUM YUM YUM! great pho for rainy weather. i ended up getting the P1 and it was fresh and delicious. i usually never like the meatballs when I get them in pho, but I could not get enough of these ones. definitely will be back here when I'm on this side of town!

    Love online menus!
    Michelle C.

    To preface- Joe's Pho used to be my favorite pho spot, but we stopped dining here after that scandal they were involved in a few years ago. Decided to come here recently after we found out that our current fave pho spot was closed that day. We ordered: Special combo pho, regular ($19) - solid; came with a good amount of meat. Could've been hotter. The regular size was pretty big, I couldn't finish all of it. Beef stew noodle soup ($18) - my partner enjoyed it. The large beef chunks were tender. Shrimp spring rolls ($12) - fresh, good. Jasmine milk tea w/ boba ($8) - too sweet; not enough tea flavor; skimped on the boba. Gold Dubai chocolate smoothie/ drink ($9) - not sure what we expected it to taste like but it was more of a chocolate milk w/ a sprinkle of kataifi and a crumb of pistachio. Our server was attentive and friendly. Our water cups stayed filled and at the end of our meal she mentioned free dessert toward the back (soft serve). We shared a small vanilla cone, but it was ok. Joe's Pho didn't really hit the spot for us, drinks were a miss, and we felt like things were on the pricier side. I wasn't sure how to feel about the receipt since it only provides four checkboxes for tipping (18%, 20%, 22%, & 25%) and purposely excludes the line to add your own tip/ total.

    Indoors
    Sarah Z.

    Overall it was okay. This restaurant has a lot more variety of Vietnamese to choose from, which was great! I like that I can try different things besides just pho. I ordered the Bun Bo Hue--it was not what I expected. It did not taste umami and hearty like it's supposed to be. The broth was also super watery...definitely threw me off. I'd give this dish a 2/5 in my opinion. My bf got the beef pho and same thing--it was so watery and lacked the rich umami flavor of the beef broth. On the side we ordered the Hue Style Dumplings which also didn't taste very flavorful. Overall food here was tolerable but not hitting the spot for me unfortunately. Besides that, plenty of seating available and pretty clean.

    Bahn mi -- assemble yourself, could use more meat and herbs

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    2 months ago

    Really good food! I love this place! It's a good plate for the amount of money you paid!

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    Joe's Pho Original Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Joe's Pho Original

    Is this place good for big groups?

    Yes! There’s a ton of seating inside!

    When are they opening the downtown San Leandro location?

    Open

    I got a side of shrimp chips with my chips, are they complimentary or do they charge you?

    Complimentary

    Does Joe give his employees the tips?

    Yes

    What kind of creamer do they use for their milk tea? Is it non dairy?

    Is indoor dining available now?

    Yes. Both indoor and outdoor dining is available now

    As of 1/25/21, the state has opened up outdoor dining. When will Joe's be reopening for outdoor dining?

    Yes. I believe they are open for outdoor dining. I saw some people are eating outdoor.

    Does this place use a lot of msg?

    No they do not use msg.

    Does anyone know if Joe's pho is offering outdoor dining right now?

    Yes they have a patio set up for outdoor dining check then out on Facebook pics are up.

    Are there any Vegan options?

    Yes

    View All 13 Questions

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    4.5
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    They're serving up smashed fruit teas and I'm into it…read more I have tried their milk tea and guava lime tea. Both had a strong tea flavor which is what i like when I'm ordering tea. You can only add toppings to the fruit teas, you must try the water chestnut boba! I would recommend 30-50% sweet if you don't want your drink too sweet. They had a little craft store in front, and lots of seats inside. The only sad thing is that the only store is in the east bay and that's 40min from San Jose :(

    I decided to give this a try while in Castro Valley since I've never been to Goolu before, and I do…read moretend to like lime. I ordered the pineapple lime tea, less sugar less ice. It was $8.50 before tip, which is very steep even with today's rising boba prices. They also have orchid oolong tea and a guava and peach flavor which I want to try next time, as well as selling hojicha and matcha. You can sign up for rewards at the ordering kiosk. It's sour and acidic but still sweet; I do wish in hindsight I'd asked for the lime to be removed, which is part of the drink customization settings, because the lime really overpowered it and it's harder to make out the pineapple. It had a rigid cup though, seems to be decent enough quality to reuse the cup. Overall, the drink was decent, but I took off a star because of how pricey it was. Still, I appreciate the premise of all the drinks containing lime and that they have some less common drink flavors.

    Photos
    Grand opening day bogo!  06/15/25
    Grand opening day bogo! 06/15/25
    Outside of Goolutea.
    Outside of Goolutea.
    Phoenix dancong tea with lime cream & Mochi donuts

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    Phoenix dancong tea with lime cream & Mochi donuts

    Joe's Pho Original - vietnamese - Updated July 2026

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