If you're a mixed Asian family like ours, you know the rule: we are extremely picky about pho. Add in two kids and a vegetarian--also very picky--and the bar is set high. Pho 79 still clears it when it comes to flavor. Every single one of us loved the broth, which honestly says a lot. Clean, rich, comforting, and clearly made with care. We ordered widely--appetizers, pho, bánh mì, and boba teas--and the food itself was consistently good. The bánh mì sandwiches are solid, and if you're a boba lover, this is one of the better spots around. The boba is made with half-and-half and crushed ice blended on a Vitamix, which (in my opinion) is exactly how it should be done. That said, this is where the fourth star comes in. The prices feel high for the portion sizes, especially for pho--and on top of that, there's an added charge for takeout containers, which makes the total sting a bit more than expected. Service has improved compared to past visits--we returned in December 2025 and the staff was noticeably friendlier--but the restaurant is clearly very understaffed. We saw multiple tables with finished food sitting for quite a while, and if you're not seated in the front section near the entrance, there's a real chance the staff may forget about you. Patience is definitely required. One small public service announcement: the payment screen calculates suggested gratuity on taxes and fees. As a former server, I personally don't love that practice (tipping on tax was never the norm for me). No stars off for that--just something to be aware of. Overall, Pho 79 still delivers where it matters most: flavor. Just go in knowing it may cost a bit more than expected, and service can be uneven depending on where you sit. read more

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I had the vegetarian pho with extra tofu, and it was a solid choice! The broth was amazing--rich, flavorful, and comforting. I added some siracha and oyster sauce to give it a little kick, and it really brought the whole dish together. The tofu was nicely crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, just how I like it. The Vietnamese coffee? Oh wow. Soooo good. It had that perfect balance of strong and sweet that makes it dangerously drinkable. As for the mango boba... it wasn't quite my jam. The flavor was fine, but I was expecting more of a tea-based drink. It turned out to be more of an icy slush, which didn't really hit the spot for me. The tapioca balls were small, which went well with the consistency, but a little chewy for my taste. read more

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Amazing food with different soups on menu, the best went there since I was a baby! Definitely worth the experience. The service is great as well we love it! The soup is hot on a rainy day. read more

I ordered pho, banh mi and a viet iced coffee. Spoiler; they all sucked. The pho broth was old and tasted spoiled I didn't finish it. The Banh mi is not a traditional banh mi, it isn't even a baguette. The meats inside were lacking and why did they put ham in it instead of viet cold cuts. the coffee was watered down with milk. Service was alright but food was straight up dog food. read more

Came here expecting to enjoy some Vietnamese food. Google says they close at 9pm, and the sign was still on when we arrived around 8:13pm. As soon as we walked up, the guy wearing a gray beanie turned off the open sign, looked right at us, and walked away without saying a word. If you're closing early, that's fine--but update your hours and at least acknowledge customers. The lack of communication and rudeness were disappointing. Recommendation to the owner: please keep your listed hours accurate or train staff to communicate properly. To customers: don't come here after 8pm. read more

Pho 79 Bistro - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Overpriced for the quality of the food. I definitely won't eat here again since there are much better and reasonably priced Vietnamese nearby. I ordered a small Chicken pho ga with beef broth instead of chicken broth. The noodles were overcooked and gummy, and it was mostly noodles and very little broth. The broth tasted pretty good. Not the best I've had but decent. I also got shrimp and pork summer rolls. The pork tasted like it sat uncovered in the refrigerator and had no flavor/seasoning. I guess I'm spoiled because most Vietnamese restaurants I've tried marinate their pork so it has a nice flavor. The shrimp were cut super thin, and there were no discernible herbs in the rolls, so that made them really bland. The sauce was super sweet and needed sambas but all they had was sriracha. My husband ordered a seafood soup and said it was okay. For drinks we only had water. The atmosphere is like a quick service place but they charge a sit-down restaurant price. For the two of us we spent $55ish without the tip. Totally overpriced for the experience and food. read more

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okay, i really want to give this place 5 stars because we really do love the flavors so much, but i will say the price is higher than your other pho places in the area. but the food is always so legit! like seriously, so flavor packed and always on point. from the pho, to vermicelli, to the rice dishes, they are all so delicious! read more

I can get why this place is 3 stars. I'm kinda there as well. I want to give it more, but the thing that has hurt this place so much in each of my visits has been the service. The employees that have helped us have always been lacking in the desire to help. I'm not saying I need something astronomical, but visiting us when we're sitting down would be helpful. When you include the bad service on top of the decent food, it's just hard to get anywhere greater than 3 stars. Would we come back again? Yes because my daughter loves this stuff. However, in an area that's fairly competitive, if it wasn't for her, we'd definitely go elsewhere. Overall, if you just want the food, know what to expect and you won't be disappointed. Food Taste: 4 Overall Service: 2 Value of food to cost: 4 Facility: 3 Ambiance: Very open and pragmatic restaurant layout. It's tile, glass, a few booths, and that's it. Repeat customer: yes Dog Friendly: no read more

Sigghhh I didn't read the reviews!!! Smh! I was staying at the Tru next door for one night and decided to stop in. Ordered fried rice and a boba Thai tea. The guy was nice enough but the food was underwhelming price wise. Taste was ok not the best I have had but good in a pinch. They barely had any veggies or beef in it. Now, the price was $14.99 rice on their menu in the store but I got charged $15.25. Not sure why. While it's not a lot, I don't like switcharoos. Also, got charged.51 for takeout, I don't understand. Then 1.02 for extra tapioca... I didn't order any extras. Overall the prices in the total not worth the portion you get at all. Paid $23.47 for a tops $17 meal. read more

From Saigon. Don't dismiss this small Vietnamese restaurant. The food is authentically prepared, genuine. The bun (rice vermicelli) plate was on point. The cha goi (fried egg rolls) seemed very well hand made and excellent, and was served with chili sauce, not nuoc mam (fish sauce). The immediate area is awash with BBQ and pizza joints. It's important to support these unique businesses. There is plenty of nearby parking. Stop in for a taste of Vietnam. read more

Pho 79 Bistro - Bun thit nuong tom. - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I don't usually leave reviews, but the service at this restaurant was unacceptable. It took over an hour just to get the food. A few members in our table got the food after 30 mins wait and the rest of us waited for over an hour. It's even WORST when 3 tables ( group of 4) who came after us get their food first. We felt like we were a burden rather than paying customers. There are plenty of places that treat their guests better I won't be coming back here. read more

DON't COME HERE . I waited 1 hour and a half for pho special. I went with my family. There were elderly and children. They were all very hungry. People who came after me got their food before me. Not worth coming here again read more

My friend told me to give them another last last try because they had changed everyone in there all the nasty employees gone gone gone! So i went back they greet me with a great customer service, the table still needs to clean up a little bit more, but the customer service has improved a lot. The waitress had kept coming back, checking on us asking us How is everything do we need more water etc, the food is okay, love their spring rolls and the Pho number 1 noodle soup yummy ! The environment is nice with light music around. I'm so glad they got rid of the previous people who works there. Keep it up pho79! read more

We were in the area and wanted to grab dinner. The kids wanted pho so we decided to try this one out. Once we walked in we were seated immediately. Our server introduced himself and was super friendly. He took our orders and our food came out quick per usual at pho spots. The food was good and it definitely hit the spot in this cold night. The ambiance was nice. Not a lot of people. Huge space and the music playing in the background was on point. 90's slow jams were playing and had me singing like I was at a karaoke bar. Lol. After eating dinner the kids wanted bubble tea (of course) so I just ordered one with an extra cup so they can share because most of the time it doesn't get finished. Our server came out with a cup for both of them. The kiddos were excited and that definitely made their night. Thank you! We will come back again!! read more

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Great experience. This is an easy visit right off the interstate with traffic lights in and out and a larger strip mall parking lot. Plus, it's just down the street from the Premium Outlets so what's not to love?! Inside is so much larger than expected with almost an L-shape layout with tons of natural light and windows and seating. Two full-size bathrooms in the back were clean and well-kept. I chose the Vermicelli bowl with three large lemongrass chicken skewers atop it.It was loaded with fresh veggies like bean sprouts, fresh carrots and cucumber and was served with a sweet sauce. It was 100% delicious. I was here for a work luncheon so we ordered a ton of stuff and most people chose Pho which looked delicious as well and, as expected, huge portion sizes. Easily enough for two people to share. I saw tons of the appetizers including the egg rolls and wontons and all looked delish. Spoke to the owner for a bit while paying and he was so friendly. I'll be back for sure. It was great! read more

Pho 79 Bistro - Vermicelli bowl with lemongrass chicken. Delicious!!! - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Found this place close to my childhood home. Even though the place was preparing to close, the Staff were courteous and provided great customer service. My food (appetizer and main course) were brought out in reasonable time and they were both delicious. Lots of seating in the dining room. I highly recommend. I will return to this place I am back in town and want to get my "Pho on." read more

Pho 79 Bistro - First time here... - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Pho 79 Bistro is located near the Norfolk Outlet. We've been to their other locations, such as Suffolk, VA Beach Town Center, and Battlefield locations. With that in mind, we already know that we will have a good experience, and we are so wrong. Ambiance: The restaurant is clean, and they are disinfected after the customer leaves. You can tell right away because the tables and chairs are still wet. We noticed that it is empty during the holiday season and weekends, and we should've taken that as a sign. Price: Since this is located near a shopping center, except that it's a little pricier than their other locations. However, I wasn't a fan of the $3 additional charge for the fried rice, and I thought it would be a little fancier to add veggies or something, but all they did was stir fry the rice in butter. Food: We ordered 2 pork skewer dishes with fried rice and 1 chicken skewer dish with fried rice. We also ordered a side of fried eggs. All the meats were undercooked, especially the pork skewers. We had to ask them to cook it a little longer. At first, they didn't believe us. Even the server told us that it was supposed to be a "little raw." We were like, "if it's beef, sure. but not on pork." Honestly, it was disgusting. The pork was still red. It definitely needs to be cooked for additional 5-10 minutes. My chicken skewers were not as bad as the pork. Towards the end of the meal, that's when I realized that some parts of my skewers were still pale. I was so worried that we were about to get salmonella or food poisoning after eating here. Service: Our server was friendly and sweet. She told us she was new, so we were a little lenient even if she said that the pork should be a little raw. SMH. My issue was that the other staff members were also surprised that we complained about the raw meats. I can tell that they were working there a little longer, so they should be more aware of adequately cooking. This is the first time we have experienced eating an undercooked meal, so we really do not know how to respond. We're definitely not coming back. read more

Pho 79 Bistro - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Seated right away. Always clean, always good service and the food always hits the spot. I get the same dish every time... My go to! read more

Pho 79 Bistro - B6. Bun Cha Gio / Cha Gio Chay Vermicelli bowl w/ egg rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Great menu. Great food. No clue what folks are talking about re service. Very nice people.

It was so so bad, the service sucked only two people serving us. Another thing is they forgot about our food and we had to wait over an hour and left. They gave the food to the other people who came after us. Don't recommend this restaurant at all. Also they didn't know what they were doing read more

Fantastic Pho Ga and spring rolls. Very clean and nice staff! Thai tea was perfect too.

Very disappointing experience. We waited a long time for our food, which arrived cold. Strangely, other tables who came after us were served before us. To make things worse, a server came by to ask if there was anything they could clean up--before we had even received our food. The customer service felt inattentive and disorganized. Probably won't come back read more

The spring rolls are a good size and very good. Pho' was delicious. The service was great. The atmosphere was nice. The only complaint is the tables. You can see they wiped them but dried leaving streaks. I would suggest using windex on them. The appearance of the table can make a difference as to whether a customer would want to come back or not. I will go back. read more

Pho 79 Bistro's Banh Mi Sandwiches are DELICIOUS! This has become my "Go To" spot for Banh Mi Sandwiches. I've had the fortunate experience of tasting Banh Mi sandwiches in areas known for awesome Vietnamese Cuisine. Places such as Falls Church, Va. Bellaire, Tx. and all over Southern Ca. Pho 79 Bistro's Banh Mi Sandwiches fits in with some of the best. Truly delicious. Ps. Make sure to order around lunchtime as I've noticed the bread is fresh(er). Pho review coming soon... read more

Pho 79 Bistro - S1. Banh Mi Dac Biet S6. Grilled Pork Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Did a pick up order, went to put my food in a bowl. Found a baby roach in my food. Never going here again. read more

Pho 79 Bistro - 6. Pho Tai, Nam, Gan with a baby roach. - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Ate here on a Saturday night in February 2025. We were seated in some booth and the first thing I noticed was the wall was dirty with other previous food so asked to move. Yes, I am a pain. We then moved to a table which was better. Ordered tea, Vietnamese coffee and spring rolls. Spring rolls were 6.50 for two and they were good. Pho was brought to our table and our other dish was bun. At first, service was fairly good but the pho was just okay. The broth didn't seem as flavorful as other pho in the area. And then we were finished. And we waited and waited for our check. Our server had never come back to check on us. My daughter got up to get containers to take our leftovers home, and that is when she saw the one sign in the whole restaurant that tells you to pay when you're finished eating - it is taped to the cash register. I had eaten at this same location last summer and got some fresh spring rolls that tasted like they'd been sitting there for a while. read more

This place is new!! You walk in and wait a few minutes for someone to acknowledge you. Most of the people working here were wearing masks. I ordered the co'm chay (stir fried tofu with rice and vegetables.) The food was good, wish the dish had more tofu In it (only had four small pieces.) Service could have been better but I think because of the pandemic and because they are just opening that it might be a little wonky until they can get the hang of it. I would return! read more

Pho 79 Bistro - Com chay - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The restaurant is nice and clean, and spacious. Chopsticks, spoons, hoisin, and sriracha sauce are readily available on the table. The staff is friendly and the food is so good! Get the spring rolls, the sauce is yum! The food came out quick. So Pho-king good! Clean bathrooms! read more

Pho 79 Bistro - 1. Pho Tai 4. Pho Tai, Nam, Gau - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Amazing service and foods. Very affordable and good atmosphere. Clean all around, and very nice employees. This is very good if your looking for some good Viet food. read more

Was craving some pho and have been going to the 21st St location for years. Ordered quickly, and food was brought out just as quickly. Always been a fan of their pho. Flavorful, just wish they had hot chili oil instead of sriracha. I also prefer a different sauce to dip the spring rolls in. I also got a Vietnamese iced coffee which was strong and sweet with the sweetened condensed milk. read more

Pho 79 Bistro - 2. Pho Tai, Bo Vien & A1. Vietnamese Spring Rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I should've have known by the unlit Open sign that they were going to be horrible. It was like 10:40AM when we got there. They've been open since 10AM. There were some ppl already waiting for food. Staff were still setting sauces on tables but never even finished by the time we left. Mind you this place was not packed. It was over 30 mins when we got our pho. The utensils were dirty! The service sucked. The staff (only 2 of them) were loud. One smelled like BO. My bun bo hue did NOT taste like it. My large was supposed to be a small. There were like no noodles but hella broth. My hubby had toooo much noodles no broth. He said the broth tasted weird and he couldn't even finish it. First and last time I would ever set food here. Run.. far away. read more

Pho 79 Bistro - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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On Saturday 14th, I went to Pho 79 Bistro and I will honest say I was not impressed. I was looking forward to Pho all day and it was right next to my hotel. The Tru by Hilton on Northampton BLVD and premium outlet. The service was not attended. Inside the location was clean. read more

Pho 79 Bistro - H3. Hủ Tiếu Đồ Biến (sman $13.99| Lorge $14.99) Glass noodle soup with shrimp, squid and fish ball - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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I had a nice visit here! I see from reviews it's hit or miss. The restaurant was slow on Saturday afternoon when I got there. A little confusion whether I was eating in or to go, but I eventually got a menu and ordered. Staff was fine, if a little busy. I got extra fish sauce and everything taken care of that I needed. The restaurant was clean and open; they have hand sanitizer at the front if you want it. I am a hot gal, and I felt the air conditioning was a little cool in here. My food was great. The rice was fine and the fish sauce was excellent. I got the grilled chicken and it comes on skewers. I was happy they took time to pre-treat the wooden skewer, so the chicken slid off easily. It was seasoned/marinated well and paired with the flavors in the fish sauce. There was a family who came in after me, with three screaming, uncontrolled kids. Sometimes you gotta seat them where they won't be as heard, instead of inviting them to sit anywhere. Cause they choose the middle and we all gotta hear it. read more

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The food? Always phenomenal however, the poor customer service is the reason I'll never come back ever again. Consider the 1 star for the food. Worst service ever, server never checked in on us after dropping off the food, brought the appetizer at the same time as the entrees, didnt offer refills and didn't even bring the bill over -- had to ask. The ambiance? It's nothing appealing, open spaced and empty feeling, music blared loudly in spite of the place being empty. read more

I have been to 3 of the Pho 79 brand restaurants in the Tidewater area, the last being the Pho 79 Bistro in the Premium Outlet Mall. PROS: Clean, visually pleasing, spacious. Take Out Menu available on counter. Ordered Shrimp Pho (pronounced "fuah" NOT "fo" with beef broth and extra cilantro and green onions. Overall, soup was tasty. CONS: It took a while for the cashier to come to the front. To be honest, he looked scruffy. His beard was growing wildly on his face and his clothes were a bit wrinkled. I can only pray that the same hands that handled money were NOT packing food as I didn't see him wash his hands nor did I hear any water running Prices at this location are higher than what has been my experience at other locales. The owner is having the customer PAY for the styrofoam and plastic in which the food is packed!! Ummm....did you want me to bring my own plate?? Or should I just cup my hands?? And then he/she will turn around and write this off under Business Supplies! Understand me....it's not the amount that is at issue....it's the fact that we are being charged for a business necessity! If you advertised to bring your own utensils and plastic ware, I would bring my own! And then there's a tax increase, too? I had to go back and request the extra cilantro and green onions as the sparse amount given was the normal amount. Restaurants have gotten so cheap that they chop up a bunch of onions, leave out the green stem and put so little cilantro that you need a DNA test to find it! The location in Greenbrier is the best for the beef broth which is my favorite for ANY Pho. It may not look as fancy but the food tastes so much richer and I haven't been hit with any business expenses being passed on to the customer. read more

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Hello everyone, This is easy 5star restaurant but not! Service slow, broth is great, meat or pho is child's order... Plastic cups, common now owner ... Step it up, 25 min for pho and rice dish when 2 tables and 1 to go order....sad Step it up, a beautiful restaurant...make it work read more

Belle accueil Personnel très gentil Restaurant propre Nourriture fraîche A essayer ! (Essayer surtout le Bubble tea a la fraise !!) read more

Pho 79 Bistro - Boba tea à la fraise - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Got here at 10:05, they open at 10:00 so it was perfect to go grab a quick bite to eat before the outlets opened at 11:00. 99% sure we were the first customers of the day. We sat down, ordered the food then for 45 minutes, nothing. No appetizer, waiter didn't come to ask if we were okay or to let us know what the hold up was. 6 people came in sat for 5 minutes and got their appetizer already. When I asked the waiter about it he said that there was a language barrier between him and the cook. That the cook thought it was to go. What ever the reason of the delay was, why should I have to bring it up to the waiter? It was his job to inform us customers. Needs better service, food was mediocre. read more

The chicken rice plate and beef pho #4 always hits the spot. It is located in the premium outlet mall, so it was busy on the weekend. The interior looks modern and is well kept. As busy as the restaurant was, the waiters are still attentive and friendly read more

Spring rolls are HUGE and the chicken/beef/pork kebabs are always top notch! Very flavorful and filling. I call before pick-up and within 15 minutes, my food is always made perfectly. read more

Pho 79 Bistro - A1. Vietnamese Spring Rolls C2. Com Dac Biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia