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First time at this restaurant and it's busy for Sunday lunch. We joined the waitlist and only took about 5 mins to get seated at 12:10. Upon arriving to our table, the booth was drenched and my mom pointed it out to the server. He ended up just sweeping underneath the table because there was tons of rice and noodles that were spilled by kids. They quickly told us to scan the QR code to order, it took a minute or two to load properly, which was a little annoying. Added our orders to the cart, heard the order go through in the back. I received my iced coffee rather quickly via robot. The servers delivered the veggies to our table for pho, but didn't bother mentioning they were out of cumin lead and saw leaf until we asked. Pho comes with a lot of soup, the meatballs are cut in half, 7 halves per order. The rare beef is portion is a little smaller compared to other restaurants. The small pho noodles seemed bouncy and chewy at first, however they started to taste like they were falling apart. The restaurant is really busy , from all the people lining up at the cash register to all the robots coming by our table. We sat closest to the register and had a view into the kitchen as well. The restaurant is well decorated with a nice atmosphere, but the foot traffic and rush makes it hard to keep clean and makes it feel hectic.
Came here on a Saturday for lunch with some friends. We were seated right away. You order through QR code for the table. The WiFi was pretty bad and the UI for ordering was bad. It was confusing whether our orders went through or not and we had to keep asking. Food was alright. Big portion but quality was not good. My friend found a hair in his Pho and I found a metal tie in my stir fry egg noodles. Unacceptable! The waiters didn't seem to care at all. Would not come here again
We ordered summer rolls with no pork and 2 orders of the #3 Pho Suon Bo, beef short rib pho, with a side of meatballs. We waited about 45 minutes for a table. When we finally sat down, the table was still wet with crumbs soaked in the water and puddles left on the table. The little sauce dishes were dirty too, and we had to ask for clean ones. They were extremely busy, but customer service was basically nonexistent. The whole vibe was almost like, "Hey, you're lucky you got a table." Not even the crack of a smile. Everyone just looked disgruntled. The summer rolls came almost immediately with peanut sauce, but unfortunately they were terrible. Both ends were left completely open, so everything fell out as soon as you picked them up. They were mostly filled with wilted and browning lettuce, vermicelli noodles, and a measly half shrimp. Bland with basically no flavor. The pho came pretty quickly after that. The broth tasted like water. Incredibly bland. My short rib was so chewy and tough that I couldn't even pull the meat off the bone with a fork. I didn't eat it. I actually showed them how tough it was and that the meat wouldn't even tear away from the bone. Their response was basically, "Well, next time will be better." No problem. There won't be a next time. I'm genuinely confused how this place is so busy with food and service like this. I guess being open until 2 AM is a selling point, but at that hour I'm not sure this was much of an upgrade over McDonald's. The one thing we actually liked was the cute robot that brings drinks and some of the food to the tables. Honestly, the robot is the reason this review gets 2 stars instead of 1. Major fail for us.
WHY WE WENT HERE: - dinner THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located in a plaza on S King Rd in between Burdette Ave and Flanigan Dr THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - POPPIN - Yelp waitlist check-in - QR code at tables to access menu to order through online or wait for a server to come to you to place your order THE MENU (yes, there are typos, but that's how it shows on their end): - most liked items from the menu - deserts & fresh juice - appertizers - beef pho - chicken / seafood pho - hu tieu / special soup - rice plate - fried dishes - veggies - side order - smoothies - coffee - fruit tea - milk tea - house special drink WHAT WE ORDERED: - #21. Spring Rolls | Gỏi Cuốn - #26. Garlic Chicken Wings | Canh Ga Toi - #1. Phở Đặc Biệt | Special Combination Pho - #3. Short Rib Pho | Pho Suon Bo - #51.Shaking Beef Pasta | Nui Bò Lúc Lắc - D1.Avocado Smoothie | Sinh Tố Bơ - B7. Mango Green Tea THE TASTE: - #21. Spring Rolls | Gỏi Cuốn - aunts loved this - #26. Garlic Chicken Wings | Canh Ga Toi - crispy outside, juicy inside, but plain - #1. Phở Đặc Biệt | Special Combination Pho - aunt liked this - #3. Short Rib Pho | Pho Suon Bo - I liked this - #51.Shaking Beef Pasta | Nui Bò Lúc Lắc - aunt liked this - D1.Avocado Smoothie | Sinh Tố Bơ - aunt liked this - B7. Mango Green Tea - I liked this CUSTOMER SERVICE: - aunts didn't submit the order from the online QR code, so we had a server manually take our order - service is quick
This restaurant is one of my family's favorite Vietnamese restaurants. It is crowded but spacious so we don't have to wait for a table. We have eaten here with extended family before so they are accommodating. We ordered the Shaking Beef Pasta (51) and the Stir-fried Seafood with Crispy Egg Noodles (55). The crispy noodles are fresh and crunchy, blending well with the seafood. The pasta is tasty and cooked to perfection, served nicely with beef bites. These are popular meals and they're delicious. Overall, this restaurant has quick service, good pricing, and large portions. I would recommend this spot for anyone looking for Vietnamese food in San Jose. This restaurant is one of my family's favorite Vietnamese restaurants. It is crowded but spacious so we don't have to wait for a table. We have eaten here with extended family before so they are accommodating. We ordered the Shaking Beef Pasta (51) and the Stir-fried Seafood with Crispy Egg Noodles (55). The crispy noodles are fresh and crunchy, blending well with the seafood. The pasta is tasty and cooked to perfection, served nicely with beef bites. These are popular meals and they're delicious. Overall, this restaurant has quick service, good pricing, and large portions. I would recommend this spot for anyone looking for Vietnamese food in San Jose.
This place always has a line to dine in. When we came, there was a 10-20 minute wait. When we left, there looked to be 30+ minute wait. The pho is really good here. 5/5 The last time I came, I tried the shaken beef rice plate. I didn't like it but didn't hate it. 3/5 Service is quick even though the restaurant and servers are extremely busy. They get a lot of phone and to go orders! We were in and out after eating, but plenty of families were there enjoying their meal and chatting.
Never disappoints 10/10 !! I got some delicious beef pho. The service was fast and super efficient. Location was also not too busy though I've heard on the weekends there's long wait times. Prices are reasonable and I love that they have booths.
Closed sign on the doors and windows today. Doesn't seem to be closing permanently, but no reopen estimate.
Date: Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 Party of: 2 Meal: Dinner Takeaway Time Ordered: around 9:15pm Picked Up: about 45 mins later Placed Order: BLogic Systems thru their website #1. Phở Đặc Biệt - Special Combination Pho ($17.50) - 3 Limes #21. Spring Rolls | Gỏi Cuốn ($9) #22. Egg Rolls | Chả Giò ($9) #31.Hủ Tiếu Nang Vang - Cambodian Pho ($17) - Nước | Soup, Hủ Tiếu Dai | Clear Noodle ($0.75), Giá Trụng | Cooked Bean Sprouts *Extra Limes - 3 Limes *Free Drink (Min $15 Order) - Flan Cake (Free) *Sales Tax - 9.375% ($4.99) On the way home to SJ, the hubby and I decided to grab some pho. After looking around, I picked Pho 21. When we arrived around 9:45pm, we noticed this was the old Lee Noodle House. Ah, memories! Vibe is def different - robots delivering some items, booth style seating, etc. When I arrived, our order wasn't ready yet, so I tried to find a spot to stand and wait. There were quite a few ppl waiting and no real area to get out of the way. I had to keep moving around so I wouldn't be an annoyance. One thing I noticed, before I got to the register to tell them I was here for my order, the girl in front of me, placed her order and got it before mine was even ready. Weird, cuz I placed mine about 30 mins before I arrived. Not sure how they prioritize making their orders. The pho was fine. As were the apps. They didn't give us any of the extra limes I asked for. I had lemon at home so made it work. The bean sprouts were also not cooked. I think they just give a generic side of sprouts, lime, jalapeno, etc, to everyone. So not sure why it's even an option to order that way on the site. The free flan was a nice sweet treat, tho it was slightly burnt. Might be more fun and an experience to eat in resto, but for takeout, be prepared to wait longer for your pickup order. REVIEW #3984
I've visited Pho 21 twice so far, and it's a solid pho spot. First time, my boyfriend and I came here for a late dinner. We both got pho and spring rolls along with some drinks. They were all very tasty and perfect for a cold day! I remember that I liked that they have a cool robot bringing us our drinks. Second time, I got takeout from here. Parking here is very touch and chaotic in their lot. I luckily parked in the next door plaza and just walked over. Food is still pretty delish! The place is clean with indoor and outdoor seating.
It's been quite some time since I've had to do a bad review. I've heard many reviews from friends both having good and bad experiences. For my personal own experience, yeahhh... it was bad. I did come in late at night to curb my craving and finally decided to give this place a shot. I semi regretted it after everything. Walked in, was quickly seated. However, while walking to my seat I almost slipped because the floor was wet and had water spills on the floor, I pointed it out but nothing was done about it. Secondly, order system was decent and quick but when it came to delivery and look of the food. It was sub par. My dish hardly any meat at all. It felt the proportions were 80% noodles and 20% protein. Like yea I get it, but not this. Additionally, the broth... I questioned where the flavor was. It lacked the depth and savory goodness at other Pho spots I've been to in San Jose. At this point, it was just a darker "flavor" water. That was it. I literally just ate what I could find of the protein in my bowl, paid and left. I hope to try this spot again in hopes of improvement, but not anytime soon.
It was solid. Only Pho spot that opens late. There's a yelp waitlist. It gets busy after 9 when other Pho spots close. Onsite parking, but lot isn't huge- it can get pretty packed. Left around 9:40p and several cars were pulling up. When I arrived I saw two homeless guys in the lot, but didn't see them bother anyone. One of them was talking to the air... Just be aware. Got here around 8:30p after Pilates and met up with my bf. I arrived first and was seated at a booth immediately and water came right after. Only other interaction with an employee was when the food came out and the check was given. Place looked clean, constant stream of customers, average noise level (Depending on who you're sitting next to anyway. A group of gen z came in and were sat across the aisle from me and one of them was very chatty. Can clearly hear her, but not the other patrons from other tables around me.) Ordering is from a QR code at the table on your phone. Check was brought to us when they saw that we were done with our meals. Employees are quick! What we ordered: #1 Special Combination Pho with wide noods #31 Hu Tieu Nang Vang (Cambodian Pho) with wide noods I love wide noods. I also tried to order the side of onions and add to order after submitting the first initial order, but it didn't add. I ended up just removing it. Couldn't bother with trying to figure it out at the time. The kitty robot server brought over the noodle garnishes/toppings after the order was submitted. So cute! Both bowls had a decent amount of noodles. The combination pho had a variety of meat, a good handful of it too! Almost just as much meat to noodle ratio. I appreciate that they didn't skimp on it. Standard beef broth. Beefy flavor, but not heavy. Hu tieu with soup. I find that wide noodles don't really work well with dry (broth on the side) version-- noodles break too easily. For those not familiar, the broth is pork based, tastes light and leans a liiiiiiiiiittle sweet rather than savory like beef pho. Broth is solid, but had better. Doesn't come with as much protein as the beef pho. 2x restrooms with code lock. I already forgot the code. Hand air dryer, no paper towels (if it matters).
Food: five stars Web app for ordering: negative ten million I don't know what blogicsystems is but they are costing this business real money, it is slow and barely works. For our group, it took 20 minutes to get the web app to load well enough to get out order in. Easily slower than ordering actual food.
8 months ago
"Comforting and delicious" I ordered the chicken soup and it was exactly what I needed. The broth was clear, flavorful, and comforting--not greasy at all. The chicken was tender, and the fresh green onions added the perfect touch. You can really tell it's made with care. Simple, light, and very satisfying. I'll definitely be coming back for this again read more
2 months ago
11 months ago
My fiance and I love coming here for a late night bite after work. The line can get significantly long because it's usually busy so we try to add our name on the wait list once we're off so we can head straight there and get seated quickly. If not the wait can get up to over an hour when it's late (After 9). There's a QR on the table to order your food and that's where most people know to order their food and drinks but if you need a server you will have to wave someone down for what you need. They're very quick about getting you anything you need for your meal (spoons, sauces, ramekins...etc.) The pho is always packed with flavor and HOT! We come here about once a week because the staff is very quickly at getting you in and out without rushing. There's little robots that help bring food and drinks to the tables to help things run smoothly. I highly recommend their red rice, beef pho and egg rolls read more
This place blew up on Instagram and decided to visit few months later. This is actually my first time to go to a restaurant where they use self-serving robots, where they hold drinks and food for customers to get. The place looks nice and elegant. They pretty much have pho, rice plates, coffee, boba, etc. Also, it opens until 2AM, which is very unusual considering that most restaurants close around 9PM. Really great for those who want to dine at midnight. I decided to go light today and have chicken pho. It's good that it contains only white chicken breast meat, which is very healthy. And of course the rice noodles are just sinking at the bottom of the bowl. Really good though! Probably should get appetizers the next time I come back. Overall, it's a good experience and looking forward to returning to this place. read more
6 months ago
Pho 21 always busy, fresh hot food, a nice selection of drinks and desserts and fast, friendly service. read more
I got the Com Do Ga Roti (red rice with fried chicken) and it was delicious! The white meat was cooked well, not dry at all, and the skin was nice without being greasy. The dark meat was juicy and flavorful. They served it with dark soy sauce for dipping, which felt a little odd and was super salty, so I didn't use much of it. The tomato rice was decent, not overly tomato-y, which actually worked out since it balanced the saltiness from the chicken and sauce. read more
1 year ago
2 months ago
Went here, enjoyed the food, may become our late night spot for good. The robots going around the restaurant were cute to watch. Place was crowded at noon, and staff were attentive. read more
1 year ago
The food was good, service was up to par, and speed was great when ordering (ask for menues if QR code doesnt work!). Portions were generous meat wise, although I do wish there was tripe and jalapeños. Broth was a bit mild with its flavor but not in a bad way. Definitely delicious, just not packing a rich punch. I really appreciated how quickly everything came out though! I noticed tables who ordered appetizers got them before their meals, always a plus since Ive had other spots do the opposite. One less star since its not the best Pho Ive had but overall an easy, tasty spot that I'd definitely come back to when I'm craving a warm bowl. read more
It was late and I needed to eat something. It was chilly and lightly raining so pho sounded so good! Text one of my friends, who use to live up here, and he gave me a list of places, but they all closed early. This was his last suggestion since they open late. Interesting space and location. It's so different since I grew up here. Put your name on the waiting list and you'll get a text. It was very crowded. When my name was called, I was given a large table. I felt bad but hey, I'm hungry. Ordered spring rolls and the #4 with filet mignon and flank steak. The rolls were good and came out with a nice peanut sauce. The pho was ok. The noodles didn't absorb the flavor of the broth, which was not as good as I hoped. If the broth is delicious, I'll finish it. Didn't on this one. The meats were good though. But again, for me, the broth is what makes a good pho. There were a lot of people waiting. Maybe some of the other food is the draw. It just didn't do it for me. read more
2 years ago
The best pho at late nights for sure! I went with a group of 5 at around 8 and it was pretty busy. I ordered the spring rolls and special pho combination. They have automated machines that roam around the area to give food, which was pretty cute. 5/5 - Spring rolls. Fresh and aromatic. I shared the appetizer with others and it was amazing. 5/5 - Combination Pho. They give a lot of meat and the flavor was balanced with the fresh herbs and savory broth. I know I went around dinner time but I know it would hit different at 1AM. read more
1 year ago
We came here on a weekday around 5:50 and beat the dinner time rush just by a little. The place is popular! The bowls are massive, a good portion, comes out piping hot. The only thing was the meat, the pho tai was still a little chewy. You can order through phone or with the person. On phone you can't ask for as many things. But overall it was pretty decent for $16 read more
2 months ago
The food is really good and my kids love it every time they really enjoy watching the self service robots lol read more
I remember growing up in ESSJ this was a Lee Noodle House or something. This along with Pho Hoa further down the street were the ones to avoid because there would always be crazy stuff happening like fights breaking out and whatnot. Apparently Raina (@rainaiscrazy) came here and did some marketing/pho challenge here. Ordered the Pho Dac Biet. Along with my scallions in oil (nuoc beo, or hanh tran which is what they called it here, same thing). It was pretty meh. Decent enough, but like could've been better. The thing about this place is it attracts a lot of homeless people. There was literally 3-4 just waiting outside the door, begging for change/cigarettes, and one of them came in and started harassing the customers already seated. The homeless person started walking around the restaurant too until one of the workers had to come and ask them to leave. The restaurant needs to hire security and/or do a better job of protecting the place, it does not feel safe. Speaking of which, few days later after my visit, they made it onto the local news where someone tried stealing their robot server. I mean not their fault, but like I'm telling you this place doesn't feel safe at times, it attracts all kinds of crazy for some odd reason. Also, they charged me for another table's bill, which was less, but it took another 5-10 minutes because they had to fidget with their PoS system. It turns out they couldn't refund me so I could pay my own bill in full, so they did a workaround by just making me pay the difference. In the fidgeting of their PoS system, they also doubled my tip amount. After all that crap? Hard pass. read more
My boyfriend and I were trying to find a late night pho spot at around 12am. There weren't many options available so we came here, but omg it was delicious!! Pho broth is so fragrant and herby and summer rolls were equally as delicious. I understand why it was so packed even late at night. Would definitely come back :) read more
Service is welcoming here and food came fast! I got the roasted chicken and red rice, and it was so good. Portions are big, flavorful rice and crispy chicken. It was quite busy on a wednesday at 8pm as well. It was funny to see the robots here working hard and serving the customers read more
11 months ago
Bright, busy location with indoor, bar or outdoor seating. Sign in & food ordering is via phone/ipad or at the counter for To Go. Staff is busily multitasking tables while the robotic waiters are bringing out appetizers or beverages. Enjoyed the Hot # 1, 3, 21,24 & 25.. #23 was a no, missing the crisp for me. Pho was plenty meats, noddles & comforting hot broth. Wings were crispy, nuggets were nuggets & spring rolls were a mouthful with the rich peanut sauce, yum. I plan to go back for a different round of Pho... maybe the Oxtail or a rice plate.. idk, change it up a bit. read more
2 years ago
My boyfriend and I love coming here when we're craving pho. There's something I really love about their brisket and how you can choose if you want it fatty or not. Broth is always piping hot (which I love) and they provide you with a lot of options and modifications. This place is open until super late so it's super convenient if you need something after a long night of drinking lol. The place is pretty clean. Like so clean that our table smelled like cleaning supplies the whole time LOL. The service is meh but it doesn't really bother me. The self service system they have via your phone is really efficient in my opinion. They also have the cat robot machines rolling around to help with service. I really love that they have the build your own pho option and that they have a little boba section to grab a little tea if you want. It's a cute little staple place I enjoy having for my pho cravings. read more
2 years ago
This is the best place to Go on eastside for a delicious bowl of pho! The service is always amazing, the food taste great, and the pho always comes out extra hot and yummy! The restaurant has a nice and clean atmosphere with booths and even outside tables with heaters! This place gets busy I definitely recommend putting your name on the yelp wait list! read more
The pho here is so flavorful and tasted so clean. The portions were extremely generous, I had a lot of chicken and noodles in my pho ga. I almost didn't finish my bowl with how large the portion was! There was a slight 10 minute wait, I joined the waitlist thru yelp. This place was busy, but rightfully so! Inside the restaurant was clean and modernized and had lots of room for each party. They even had the cat robots to serve your drinks and appetizers haha read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
Com ga roti was excellent. The tomato rice was seasoned perfectly, chicken was juicy, veggies were fresh, dipping sauce enhanced the flavor, and the side soup was rich. The only downside is there were flies flying around and I received a lot of chicken bones. Plenty of parking. Indoor and outdoor seating available. You can order directly from your table via QR code, and a robot will deliver it to you! Clean establish and good customer service. read more
2 years ago
10 months ago
Today I tried Pho 21 because many of my friends recommended it, and it was honestly so good. The broth is very flavorful, clear, and has a natural sweetness. The meat is soft, fresh, and they give a good amount, so it feels really satisfying. The noodles are cooked perfectly, not too soft. The restaurant is clean, the service is fast, and the staff are super friendly. The price is also reasonable for the quality. If you love pho, you should definitely try this place. I will definitely come back! read more
Who here remembers Lee Noodle House? They close late (this was before Pho Mai opened) so this was the spot to go to after a night out. I don't drink nor do I go dancing but I worked at Pizza Hut (over 20 yrs ago) and had mainly closing shifts, so naturally we wanted pho after midnight. It's the ultimate comfort meal. Fast forward so many years later I found myself bookmarking this place because I wanted to see the robot server in action. I originally took off last Thursday and yesterday off (2 consecutive days) but I didn't want to waste it on nothing. Gavin is getting older, so all he wants is his dumb computer game. I worked Thursday but kept yesterday as PTO. I woke up w/ a cold and was feeling pretty exhausted. I decided to come here because I can get my pho fix and Gavin can order fried rice. We were seated right away. We saw the robot but it kept servicing table 19. I ordered the pho dac biet and Gavin ordered the chicken fried rice. Decent pho, not rich in flavor but it was a generous w/ everything. I wish they offered real chopsticks as opposed to the disposable wooden ones. We waited about 10 min. or so. Service was good. The thing cool is you can press a button to pay or call your server over. It's quite convenient! Only con is the parking. read more
Pho spot open till 2 am but came here for lunch. Was seated immediately and ordered via QR code. Had the robot bring out the food. The seafood fried noodles were huge and delicious. Noodles were fried crispy and a bit softer in the inside. The seafood gravy was good and had lots of seafood. The pho has good broth and tastes even better with fresh noodles. No complaints here and would keep this place in mind for something late. read more
6 months ago
Very good services and good pho! The price is fair and the quality is above and beyond my expect. The decor is clean and feel welcoming. Highly recommend! read more
1 year ago
Vietnamese food until 2AM!! THE BEST! I absolutely loved how late the restaurant opens, making it perfect for those late nights. I love how they have yelp waitlist, so whenever my party is hungry we waitlist ahead of time. The food is so yummy and it always hits the spots. Very clean as well read more
3 months ago
8 months ago
Came back here on a chilly night and the food hit as per usual, food came out quick, and the employees were very friendly! read more
8 months ago
1 month ago
8 months ago
Fav pho place all. I always eat here an take ppl. I like that theres the lil cute robot and all that read more
7 months ago
I come here all the time whenever I crave late night pho! Their summer rolls aren't just with shrimp it's also with beef too and they are packed really nicely and very large. Pho is not greasy or oily at all and the staff is always so friendly. read more
2 years ago
I think the main pro of this place is that it is opened up late which is very convenient! I came on a Saturday night and it was a bit busy so I recommend jumping on the Yelp Waitlist before coming. The wait is pretty quick though. Once you get seated, you are promoted to order via a QR code. They have a cute robot that helps bring your food. We ordered the spring rolls and com bo Luc lac. The spring rolls were decent. The Bo luc lac was good but they gave such LITTLE meat.. I was very disappointment. I don't think this is the best place to get Viet food around but good for a late night spot! read more
More info about Pho 21
2569 S King Rd
San Jose, CA 95122
East San Jose
Directions
(408) 724-9935
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Ask the Community - Pho 21
What are the egg rolls made off?
Our Egg Rolls made from pork, eggs, shrimp and vermicelli with fish sauce
What is the thin white noodle called, trying to place an order online don't know which one to choose?
Thin is more popular. I think its better for you
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
488 reviews that are not currently recommended
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