Honestly, a personal favorite of mine whenever I'm in the area these days - especially with the surprisingly good fried options. Their fried chicken tends to be tender and very crispy, while still maintaining its juices. Plus, I feel that their fried goods tend to be on the lighter side - not overly greasy or too heavy for what it is. Aside from that, their pho is pretty comforting - esp after a long cold day with how New England weather can be. Nice staff, good vibes, plenty of parking, good portions for what you're paying for. Definitely coming back for more! read more

This is my go-to place for a quick meal in Waltham, for dine in or takeout. I love that their pho prices have barely gone up over the years - a giant bowl of pho for $12 is amazing! I also love their fried chicken bites and the side of fries (super crispy). read more

Pho 1 Waltham - 12 piece chicken bites (no sauce) with fries - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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Pho 1 Waltham used to be one of our go-to take out restaurants for years. Tasty food, good portion. But good things did not last. When I ordered dinner tonight, I saw increased prices (about 20%), and on top of that, *every* dish was at least 1/3 smaller in portion. This will be our last time ordering food from this restaurant. Buyer beware! read more

Pho 1 Waltham - Pad See Yew -- extremely small portion - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

This pho spot had a great, authentic vibe from the moment we walked in. It was filled with older locals, which always feels like a good sign that the food is legit and consistent. The broth was rich and flavorful, and the noodles were cooked just right. Service was quick and no-nonsense, which added to the charm of the place. It's not fancy, but that's part of what makes it special. You can tell they focus on doing one thing well. I gave it a 4 overall because while it was really good, I've had slightly better. Still, definitely worth a visit. read more

I enjoyed my seafood pho and a half order of tofu fresh rolls. Hubby said the spice in his vegetarian dish was perfect. Service was pleasant. read more

Pho 1 Waltham - Seafood pho and a vegetarian dish. - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

When I was in college, this was the go-to place for me and my friends! The food is very decently priced and pretty tasty overall. Although it's called Pho 1, I wouldn't say this place specializes in Vietnamese food. It's decent enough to be satisfied if you're craving some Vietnamese food though! Ironically, when I'm here I rarely get Vietnamese food because I think it's just okay. I have tried their pho dac biet and bun thit nuong and it's pretty solid for what it is but not the best in the world. Usually, when I'm here, I actually get their double-fried chicken wings with radish! It's always very crispy and flavorful. There have been one or two times when my friend has gotten a piece of chicken that is a little undercooked though. However, I would still definitely recommend getting their fried chicken! I also like their pad thai with crispy chicken and the sweet and sour sauce that comes with it. The Thai iced tea is also tasty, a bit on the sweeter end but very good. The restaurant can get a bit busy and they usually only have two or three wait staff who handle everything (from online orders, delivery, and the people in the restaurant). However, they are always attentive, and friendly, and provide excellent customer service. Since they are busy though, food sometimes takes a while to get out. It's a good place to get a quick bite for a decent price. It's clean and there's usually some music that plays on the TV. There's also plenty of parking nearby in the Waltham lots or even on Moody Street itself. If you're nearby and considering coming here, definitely do it! read more

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Horrible The scallion pancake was hard as a rock The pad see u was inedible- the tofu was tasteless- barely any noodles. Tonight I ordered from coconut Thai in Wellesley- delish read more

in a large group. I order Cai Ro Xao which supposed to feature Chinese broccoli as well as onion, red bell pepper in brown sauce. Get my plate 20 minutes after body else at my table and it has NO Chinese broccoli and instead is full of carrots which are not on the menu. If you don't have the main ingredient of a dish, why not send the server back out to check if a customer might want to order something else? Plate arrived so late, it was too late to send it back. Won't choose this restaurant again. read more

I've been here lots of time. It's delicious and not very expensive! They give large amounts of food. Love the fried chicken --it's a must-order! The Pho Biet is the best. Though I don't think it's the best Vietnamese restaurant I've ever tried, but it's a good choice if you want a comfortable and affordable and good meal. read more

Pho 1 Waltham - Small Fried Chicken wing - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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Was super disappointed - used to come here a lot but won't anymore! ordered online - they missed our order, barley said sorry, didn't give us anything for making us wait almost 20 minutes, AND the portions have gotten much smaller and prices have gone up a lot! Don't bother! read more

I had the Spicy Pho Soup with Meat, plenty spicy, lots of noodles, tasty meat. Quite good, will be back to try more items. Pleasant interior, decent service. read more

Pho1 is a go-to spot for chicken wings. Their twice-fried wings are insanely crispy and delicious. I love both their crazy (spicy) sauce and soy garlic sauce. It's a great deal if you come with a lot of people and get the XL size. It also comes with sides. Definitely try the onion rings and fries. The fries are SO crispy. The onion rings are also super delicious. read more

I have been here many times. Wrote great reviews because I liked the place. When I come to town, it's close to my hotel. I tip generously. I love their pho! But today I asked for extra beef and extra noodles as I always do. I always ask for the phone to be SUPER HOT! The pho came LUKE WARM. Not even hot enough to cook the beef so it was raw beef floating around in the shit! Then when I pointed it out, they didn't give me a new bowl! They REBOILED THE BOWL THEY GAVE ME, BROUGHT IT BACK SO EVERYTHING WAS OVER FUCKING COOKED! Never again. I was so mad I cried! Because as much as I have spent and as much as I have patronized this business, y'all do that to ME????! Fuck this place! read more

Food is amazing service is amazing ambiance is amazing plus the tv is also amazing get dad bite and read more

Pho 1 Waltham - Good - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

I have been on the hunt to find good Vietnamese food in the burbs, and sadly, I still am on the hunt. I walked in here with hopes that this would be "the one" but after ordering the summer roll with shrimp, I realized that I shouldn't set myself up for disappointment. The summer roll arrived and there were 2 tiny little pieces of shrimp that were hidden by the bed of chopped lettuce. The pho was actually ok, the broth was sweet, but not enough pho noodles but also not enough types of meat to be considered dac biet. Finally the bun thit nuong cha gio is vermicelli with grilled pork and egg rolls. There was one tiny little spring roll the size of my pinky that was cut up further into 3 tiny little pieces. Again, the only reason that I gave 2 stars was because the pho actually wasn't that bad. The other 2 dishes that I got are usually Vietnamese staples so if you can't get those right, then I'm not sure what could even be right? This was a miss for me. The hunt for decent Vietnamese in the burbs continues. read more

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I got the pho tai and it was good, especially after I added some chili oil, I enjoyed the condiments provided, the meat was bit bouncy though. The server was very nice and attentive while serving many tables. The vibe was welcoming which was, even though I had an old man with white hair from another table staring at me for listening to a book on my airpods, like it's 2025 grandpa, get over it! read more

5 Stars: A definite recommendation and a personal favorite! You HAVE to try this place! 4 Stars: Great experience. Strongly Recommend you stop by. A place I plan to frequent. Just shy of being a favorite. 3 Stars: Average experience. Great to try once but not a place I plan to frequent. 2 Stars: Poor experience. There were mistakes with the meal or it may have just been a bad day for the establishment. 1 Star: Terrible experience. Avoid at all cost. Comments: Although the service is great and the staff is friendly, the food has a few shortcomings that resulted in the two stars. The crispy roll was probably the best part of the meal. The roll itself is flavorful but the sauce is not. For my tastes, it is too watered down and lacking that punch from the fish sauce. The pho was underwhelming. Overall the flavor was bland. I could see it being a good match for some, especially if the usual flavor of pho is too strong for them. Personally, I like a richer broth, so this was not the right bowl of pho for me. Nothing in particular stood out and it did not satisfy my craving for pho. Thus, two stars. read more

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The food here is excellent! I've eaten at a lot of Vietnamese restaurants in several different cities. This restaurant holds up with some of the best. The Sour soup is incredible. So is the pho. I definitely recommend this restaurant. The decor is a bit dated, but the food is fantastic. read more

Pho 1 Waltham - Sour soup! - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Life is short. F.....it up! Family, Flavor, Friends A nice small family owned place right in the heart of Waltham on Moody st. Friendly stafff and clean. I got the Bun Tom Thit Cha Gio Nam Nuang - which vermicelli noodle w everything. Everything cooked very good and flavorful but always room for improvement. What was really surprising was the twice cooked Garlic wings. A must try if you go savory crispy and better than ........dare I say bonchon. read more

Pho 1 Waltham - Small Wing - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

This is a middle of the road Vietnamese place that I've ordered from a few times due to the convenience and general reliability (ok for when I'm too impatient to wait for Le's). My go-to is the grilled pork chops on broken rice, but this time I was looking for something super light. I got the vegetable pho (58 pho rau cai) with added fish balls. The chicken broth was blander than other places (you can make it vegan with veggie broth), but it came with a good amount of tofu and somewhat crunchy veggies. I had requested cooked bean sprouts and they happily honored that. The extra fish balls (5 in total) were a bit more artificial than my preference, but then again, fish balls are processed meat so it wasn't a big deal. The Tall Man opted for the spicy pho with flank steak (53 bun bo hue). He really liked the flavor and spice level (could have been even spicier), so he would order again. I wanted a blander meal and got what I wished for. But next time, I would definitely go back to regular beef pho or the grilled pork chops for flavor. read more

My go-to spot for Vietnamese food in Waltham! Food: I got the Bun Thit Nuong, which is vermicelli with grilled sliced pork. The bowl is actually pretty deep so it took me a while to finish the entire bowl. The pork is tender which goes well with the vermicelli. Pricing: It is relatively less expensive compared to other Viet restaurants in the Boston/Quincy area. The fact that it stays under $15 ($12.95 for this particular dish) is rare these days in my opinion. Service: We came here on a Saturday night around 7 pm and the place was quite busy. There were only two people serving customers and handling phone orders. However, they were quick and checked up on us periodically. Parking: You can find street parking along Moody Street. Also recommend the Embassy Public Parking Lot on Pine Street. read more

Pho 1 Waltham - Bun Thit Nuong - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Still a really good place. This time I tried the chicken wings [nicely crisped] and the tom yum noodle soup. The noodle soup could have used more flavoring but ultimately it was really flavorful and didn't seem to salty either. The squid was a tad overcooked but the mussels and scallops were nice. Could have used a but more bean sprouts. I could have used also a bit more noodle as well. Quite impressed! read more

The pho was very good. The broth was rich and very flavorful. The pork buns were a favorite of my kids. read more

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We came here for the Pho of course, which was fantastic. The #42, Beef Pho Traditional had not only a deep, sweet flavor but just the right mix of everything. They have the garlic/pepper oil, basil, lime and shoots. Everything came to the table very quickly and became a very satisfying destination after a very long and cold morning. We will be back and look forward to it. read more

Pho 1 in Waltham has some hidden gems on their menu. The name can be misleading you... to believe that their best dish is their pho bo, or beef pho. You can give that a try, but I'll let you in on a little secret-- the real best dish here is their Indo Fried Rice with Crispy Chicken. Received some special, secret intel & now I'm relaying it to you since you're reading my review. If you don't believe me, check out the image attached & judge for yourself if you wanna try it! Yum! read more

Pho 1 Waltham - 98. Indonesian Fried Rice Dinner - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

We waited too long for the order, first they sat us down and for 20 minutes no one came up and took the order. After 20 minutes they took it and then disappeared again for 30 minutes! This is too long, the hall was not full. But surprises waited further, We ordered Seafood Tom Yum and Mi Hai San/ Hu Tieu Hai San In Tom Yan were mussels and they are stones in the mussels themselves and you can not see them until you start chewing. I almost broke my teeth. Have been here more than once, this was the last time! It was not good, long and hair in the dishes. Terrible read more

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Came here for dinner for the first time with some friends. Ordered the seafood pho. Total came out to around $14 (not including tip). What's Hot - Menu variety. There's something for everyone, which is kind of nice. There's seafood, meat, tofu, veggie, noodles, rice, stir fries, etc... This place ventures into the Asian fusion territory, which I'm not a fan of, but it can be helpful to accommodate a variety of customer tastes. There's more than just Vietnamese food/pho. I noticed some Chinese and Thai dishes, as well. They're also vegetarian and vegan friendly, which I appreciate, because one of my friends is vegan and she had no problem finding dishes that accommodate her tastes. - Price. Pretty reasonable. I ordered a large bowl of pho, which is around $14. - Portions. A large bowl of pho is enough to get you full, not stuffed. A generous serving of broth, noodles, and condiments. My seafood pho came (and yes, I counted!) with 3 jumbo shrimp, some fish balls, a few pieces of squid, and shrimp balls. Definitely feel like I got my money's worth. - Quality. Pretty yummy. I've had better pho, but this is pretty good. Each bowl of pho comes with a small plate of bean sprouts and mint leaves. No fresh sliced jalapeños, which was disappointing, but oh well. Each table has condiments like sriracha, a bowl of chili sauce, soy sauce, etc... Pretty accommodating in their flavors, which helps. - Service. Pretty good. First good sign is they take reservations! I rarely come across pho restaurants that take reservations, but this place does, which is certainly helpful. Their service is quick and friendly. We didn't wait a very long time for our food to arrive. To be fair, we came at the end of their dinner service, so it wasn't very busy. It was dependable service- split our check without hesitation, we were able to order without waiting a long time, they refilled our water glasses, didn't have to wait to flag anyone down, etc.... - Location. Conveniently located in Waltham and easy to find. There are other shops and restaurants close by, which is helpful. There's a bubble tea cafe close by, an Indian grocery store, and other shops. - Health and safety. During this time of the pandemic, it appears like they're adhering to health and safety standards. All staff that we saw wore masks (and wore them properly, which is just as important!) and they're cleaning up pretty quickly after customers are finished. What's Not - Parking. Given it's location in Waltham, free and/or cheap parking is not the easiest to find. Almost all the parking nearby is metered and/or paid parking, so just be aware. - Quality. Not the best quality I've had. Even though my pho was good, the broth could've been more flavorful. This broth was somewhat on the lighter side. Final Answer Pretty good and definitely plan on coming back. read more

Pho 1 Waltham - Seafood pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Went the other night. Food was good. Tried the chicken pho, enjoyed it. Got xtra veggies. They could have been just a bit more cooked. Otherwise all good !!! Dumpling and scallion pancakes for apps. Place was lively and busy. Nice beer selection !! Staff were very nice ! read more

TLDR: solid spot Huge menu. Would take a lifetime to bust through all the various options including Vietnamese, Thai and Korean and American Chinese. We got the pho as it was what I was craving. Bonus points for letting my wife sub out for egg noodles. Broth was pretty meh. I think a little more salt to pull out the flavor would've been ideal. Otherwise standard meat portions and solid pricing. Not sure if I would go out of the way to eat here but was satisfied with the meal. read more

Good mix of Thai and Vietnamese food, and a nice ambience inside. Great portions and price for Waltham area.

Mediocre pho and vibes. The pho we received had the worse selection of meat in it. They gave big portions of the cheap meats and really cheap cuts of meat in the pho . Would not recommend. A good bowl of pho is hearty and hot. This pho was neither of those. It was skimpy and left you wanting more. Also there's no difference between the large and medium bowl of pho. We paid $18 for 2 medium bowls and I don't plan on going back. They do allow dine in. Where's the flavorrrreahhhh? read more

Pho 1 Waltham - Pho Bac Diet - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Surprised to see this isn't rated higher, Thai-owned with a great mix of pan-Asian classics, friendly staff, and a relaxed atmosphere. Great Thai iced tea and crazy wings but definitely ask for "Thai style extra spicy" if you don't want the bland American version of spicy dishes. read more

Despite the many places that offer Korean fried chicken in the area, Pho 1 is one of the originals and still has some of the best Korean fried chicken in the entire area! The glaze is not just spicy or sweet, but a burst of flavor that is very hard to get just right! read more

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This was not a good experience. The food was old and the portions were small. It was greasy. Our stomachs were hurting. We could tell that it was not cooked fresh. We may have had a wait time just for them to reheat the food. It was terrible. The fried spring rolls were oily, soggy and soft. The lettuce was visibly wilted and not crunchy. The meat felt reheated, the texture was not that of freshly cooked meat. They do not include lettuce/carrots or a separate fish sauce for the spring rolls. It was a huge disappointment. read more

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The noodle dishes are... fine, however the spring roll was incredibly disappointing. The spring roll was 80% lettuce, with just a few tiny shrimp in the roll. For 8 dollars I expected at least a decent spring roll. read more

Hostess ignored us and had an attitude the whole time. Complained to us about the tip at the end even though we tipped over 15%. Absolute failure of customer service. Sadly the only good thing about this place is the food. read more

Even though pho 1 has been walking distance from me for the past few years, I never gave it a chance until now. I typically don't love restaurants with large menus and a mix of different Asian cuisines but I was pleasantly shrouded with pho 1. I ordered a large sac biet (pho noodle soup) and a beef pad see ew. Both were great and very reasonably priced. I will definitely be back for my viet/Thai food cravings! read more

Pho 1 is Awesome! The food is delicious with large portions! The atmosphere is perfect, chill and colorful. The staff are friendly! Go here often with my husband to dine in and to take out. The menu is on point. The shrimp in the blanket (see pic below) is unique and fresh. The coconut soup with chicken (see pic below) is absolutely delicious and loaded. The drunken noodle dinner with chicken (see pic below) is the perfect hangover cure filled with meat, noodles, vegetables and medium spice. Love the Thai iced tea! Go here and leave satisfied and happy :~) read more

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I had one really good meal here. But, the second meal was so terrible in every respect that I will never step foot into this restaurant again. Sorry. I really wanted to like it. And, the Korean Fried Chicken was a health risk. The first time, I was thrilled. The service was fast and friendly. I tried Rice Paper Work (Banh Hoi), which is described as "A traditional Vietnamese style of eating where fresh mint, lettuce, watercress , cucumber, tomato, roasted peanut, scallion and steamed rice vermicelli are rolled by hand at the table into softened rice paper. Season it with homemade sauce "nuoc cham" on the side." I loved the idea. I didn't know what I was doing -- but had a lot of fun and it was delicious. (Word or warning -- you put the rice paper into the hot water before trying to eat it!) My wife had a tasty dish -- although she accidentally ate a hot pepper that lasted all day. Hey, these things happen. We were so happy, we went one week later. OMG -- what a mistake. We were seated promptly and then they totally forgot about us. No water. No server. Other people got things. We got annoyed. Eventually, we caught the eye of our server. Already, we were hungry. I wanted to try the Korean Fried Chicken -- which is talked about a lot. Well, it came hot on the outside and RAW on the inside. I do not know how they did it. But, it was red, raw chicken -- which I consider a health risk. Fortunately, I saw it right away as it is my tendency to cut my fried chicken drummies. But, it I just bit into it ......... My Bi Bim Bop was terribly overcooked. (So, on average, I guess things were cooked correctly.) The egg was totally hard and the meat way overcooked. My wife wanted a simple Pad Thai. This was boring and simple. When I go out to eat, I want to be sure of good food for the money. I guess that I cannot trust them, read more

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Been coming here for years and only got around to doing a review now. It's hands-down my favorite place for Vietnamese food. This place has gotten busier over the years, but the quality and experience is consistently great. First off, let's talk about the prices-- it really can't be beat. For a mere $6.95 you can get a small bowl of pho. It's a sizable portion. I order the small Dac Biet every time. Really hits the spot on a cold winter day. The rest of menu is just as delicious. I love ordering the Summer Rolls and Chicken Wings. I order the Garlic sauce wings because the Crazy Sauce is extremely spicy (i have a pretty decent spice tolerance too). Really cozy spot on Waltham's Moody Street. I always bring friends here, and they fall in love with the place as much as I do. It's my go-to place for comfort food and a must-try if you're in the area and searching for affordable, delicious food! read more

Pho 1 Waltham - 46. Dac Biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts