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    Joe's Pho Original

    3.9 (1.5k reviews)
    Open 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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    Le Soleil Vietnamese Noodles and Grill

    Le Soleil Vietnamese Noodles and Grill

    3.8
    (569 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Tomorrow is Le Soleil's last day in business. Unfortunately, I think many of us saw this coming. It…read morestarted when they reduced the number of days they were open for business, citing staffing issues. Then, as much as we loved the banh mi, the banner and the sidewalk sign advertising them as a new lunch option last year seemed almost like they were really, really trying to pull in more people any way they could. Every time I walked past this place, it was either empty or there were one to two tables with guests at a time. So when the word finally broke a few days ago that the owners have sold the place and are closing, I felt really sad, but wasn't surprised. It's definitely the end of an era, and is one of those longtime San Leandro restaurants in this strip of E 14th that has a comforting, early 2000s vibe -- and is now gone, like so many before them. It's frustrating, especially because the likelihood of them possibly getting replaced by a chain or yet another taqueria or Chinese place is high (though they apparently don't know what will be moving in after them). Dropped by yesterday with my husband for a final lunch. He got the bun bo hue and I got the yellow curry stir fry and fried rice. Everything was hot, fresh, and delicious, and the restaurant was nearly entirely full with people having their own last meals and saying their goodbyes to the owners. While the owner was incredibly nice, service was terrible. She was overworked, working the counter, packing up to-go orders, taking table orders, bringing out food, AND bussing tables alone. The party next to us was a little frustrated that she still hadn't come by to take their order and went to the counter to flag her down. I don't know how much longer Le Soleil would've remained viable if service has been like this for months. It's a sad situation, but I wish nothing but the best for the owners, especially if they decide to open another restaurant in the future.

    Joined friends for lunch and the food that I ordered was delicious, chicken in lemongrass sauce…read more Server was friendly, and place was nice and orderly. However, we ordered it to go spring roll and the shrimp is so thin like a Spanish ham. Clearly the intent is to deceive.

    Photos
    Chicken Pho
    Chicken Pho
    5 spice chicken
    5 spice chicken
    Crawfish fried rice

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    Crawfish fried rice
    Pho An Hoa

    Pho An Hoa

    3.7
    (665 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Pho An Hoa is a solid choice if you're looking for authentic Vietnamese food at a great price. The…read morefood is tasty, portions are generous, and the overall value is hard to beat. You really get a satisfying meal without spending a lot. The service is efficient and the food comes out quickly, which is a big plus if you're looking for a casual meal. The staff's demeanor is just okay--not particularly warm or attentive, but perfectly adequate for getting you in and out. The ambiance is exactly what you'd expect from a family-run Vietnamese restaurant: simple, no-frills, and comfortable. It's not a place you go for the atmosphere, but rather for consistently good food at a reasonable price. If you're after a delicious, affordable Vietnamese meal, Pho An Hoa definitely delivers.

    If I was able to give zero stars, I would have. This was our go-to spot for Pho. However, we will…read morenot be patronizing this business anymore. Our food had just arrived, when a couple with two large dogs came into the restaurant. The dogs were NOT service dogs. The waiter proceeded to seat the couple with their dogs behind my husband and I. I was appalled!! The waiter never asked if we were OK if the couple sat near us. I want to point out that my husband and I are dog lovers and have had dogs for 20 years. I understand what it feels like to love them like family, but at the end of the day they are dogs. The law clearly states: "Under California Health and Safety Code § 114259.5, live animals are strictly prohibited inside the indoor dining or food preparation areas of a restaurant. The only legal exceptions are for official law enforcement dogs and individually trained service dogs. Emotional support animals (ESAs) or companion pets do not qualify under California law or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are not allowed indoors." So unless you are comfortable with dog hair possibly flying into your food, because you never know when a dog is going to shake, I would advise you NOT to eat here.

    Photos
    Sauces & Utensils
    Sauces & Utensils
    Beef stew noodle soup - 6/2025
    Beef stew noodle soup - 6/2025
    Outside

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    Outside
    2Ơi

    2Ơi

    4.9
    (81 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    Grab-and-go
    Vegan friendly

    SO good! Reminder that this isn't a restaurant--you place an order via text, get an ETA for pickup…read moreand drive to the location. Once you arrive, follow up via text for instructions. Someone came out with our food and I sent our payment via Venmo. Husband and I got the sandwich, two iced coffees, corn, large salad and it was DELICIOUS. The portions are pretty substantial and I think a small salad would have sufficed. Will definitely be back!

    2Oi is an home kitchen that opened 2 years ago in Argyle Palms Apartments. Initially I didn't know…read morehow to order. Lately, I saw instructions posted on their website on Yelp. I called to place order. Got a recording. Got a return call confirming my order. Found it's better to text with C6 or F7 unless one can speak Vietnamese. Main associate lacks English proficiency. Much easier for her to get "code" Place was an easy find. Street parking slightly difficult. Unknown if parking in their lot is permissible. Went towards big building on the right . Found unit with "Taste of Asia" brochure on window. Just before the gate. Bingo! Stood in front of open door until Vietnamese lady came out with my order. $21 cash. Unknown if Zelle has tax added to it. Tipped a little. Lady hesitated to give change. Offerings (Vietnamese): street food, drinks, coffee. Sips: Cafe Muoi Bien (sea salt foam Vietnamese coffee, 7)-Viet coffee, sea salt foam, condensed milk. -coffee didn't look full. No doubt foam on top shrank/mixed into coffee. -bold coffee with alternating sweet & salty tastes depending on sipping foam or condensed milk. Bites: Banh Trang Cuon (Vietnamese Special roll, 14). There's also a salad version with same ingredients & no wrapping. -dipping sauce had sweet & savory notes. -rice roll had dominant theme of beef jerky. The surrounding nuanced taste was a symphonic medley of carrots, quarter sectioned boiled eggs, coriander, green mango, dried shrimp, fried onions, peanuts & green mangos, 5 stars Worthy! Quality: freshly premade. Quantiy: ample enough for a meal. Would repeat. *Taste of Asia "passport" given to win prizes from buying from food vendors in Oakland Chinatown & San Leandro Asian businesses. May is Asian American Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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    2Oi Vietnamese Menu
    2Oi Vietnamese Menu
    2Ơi
    NEW! NEW! NEW!

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    NEW! NEW! NEW!
    Pho Auntie 7

    Pho Auntie 7

    4.4
    (610 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    Can't believe I didn't do a review for them before the fire. The place and parking lot itself was…read morequite small. It was always packed with people dining. We came here to grab dinner. They were busy as usual so we ordered to go. We ordered a grilled pork banh mi, grilled chicken banh mi, banh cuon, and grilled pork rice plate. Everything was very tasty and delicious. A favorite for Vietnamese food in the area that's for sure. Can't wait til they open their new location soon. Even tho it won't be in CV..I don't mind driving to the Stack. I still need to try their other items including their pho.

    Was feeling under the weather after a week of traveling so I decided to take a trip to my favorite…read morepho spot, pho auntie 7. My bf and I came an hour before closing and it was packed, but were able to get a seat as soon as we walked in. They have plenty of seating for large groups or smaller parties. The food here never disappoints! Ordered the large rare beef pho with extra beef on the side, the shrimp spring rolls and the fried potstickers. The pho is the best I've ever had. The broth is flavorful and seasoned to perfection. The soup is packed with meat and noodles. The spring rolls are fresh, the ingredients they use really make a difference in quality of the food. The fried potstickers are crunchy and delicious and the sauce they paired it with was sweet and balanced the flavor of the potstickers. Even though it was busy, the kitchen was quick and we had our food within minutes of ordering. This place has so much more than pho, I'll be back to try more from their extensive menu!

    Photos
    Soup noodles
    Soup noodles
    Rice plates, dry noodles, vegetarian
    Rice plates, dry noodles, vegetarian
    Self explanatory

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    Self explanatory

    Joe's Pho Original - vietnamese - Updated July 2026

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