This place basically does only one thing, and it does it amazingly well: Pho. Great for late breakfast, hangover lunch, or cold days. The restaurant has about sixteen variations of their concoction on the menu but I usually opt for the small (the place also sells large and x-large variations - I wouldn't think of going x-large, but on rare days when I want to put down a lot of broth, I'll go for the large) #15 and a vietnamese coffee. I've seen other patrons get an extra side of raw beef to add in, and I will definitely be trying this in the future. I was mostly inspired to write this short review, because the University Ave area is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate due to construction. This is disappointing because there are a lot of great spots along the three-mile stretch. I highly suggest visiting this place before construction moves to the other side of the street, because once it does, you may be less likely to visit this hole-in-the-wall unless you've already tasted the best pho in St. Paul. read more

Tonight I revisited PCD after a 3 or 4 month break. I've had Pho at a ton of places in the metro area and today I was really craving so I merely said "Pho?" to the gf n' we were out the door. I'm sure you've heard of the auto-car being developed these days, well, I think google ninja'd in last night and swapped my mazda 3 for an autocar 3 because that thing drove itself right up to PCD!! Anyway, the Pho there is awesome. I was a little worried that maybe something had changed since I was last there because there was literally no customers when we got there. Once the Pho arrived though, my fears proved unfounded. And peeps started pouring in once we started eating, musta just been a lull. The other reviews have covered the place pretty well. If you're going for the first time, be prepared. It is the absolute definition of a hole-in-the-wall dive. It is dingy. They only take cash. They add a service fee to your bill. Unless you forcefully ask, they won't give you a receipt so you can check if you were properly charged. Its worth it though, the service fee is minimal, I've only been wrongly charged once out of probably 50 trips there the last few years and I believe the server made an honest mistake. The Pho is kick ass. They aren't chincy with garnishments. They even had a new product, bubble tea, for 3 bucks or so that my gf gave thumbs up to (she got mango). I know there are a million places that serve Pho in the TC now. This place is top tier. If you don't try it you are missing out. read more

The pho is OK, I've had better - the broth has good flavor, lots of noodles, good amount of basil, jalapenos, and bean sprouts. I had the XL traditional pho (steak, flank, tripe) ... I highly highly suggest staying away from the flank - I couldn't/wouldn't eat any of it and had to pick it all out because all the pieces were so entrenched with fat. However, the steak was good. I also had my first experience with bubble tea (mango) and it was fairly tasty, good size. We also had the egg rolls and they came out very hot and fresh. The service was decent - took our order quickly, received food quickly, but they tend to forget about you. Prices were good for the amount of food you get (we had XL traditional pho, S steak pho, an order of the egg rolls, and a bubble tea) all for about $19. The restaurant wasn't as filthy as I was expecting after reading all of the previous comments, it was pretty acceptable but definitely a hole in the wall. Good experience, but I don't need to go back. read more

I live in Brooklyn Park and every time I crave Pho, this is the only place I would go to. The owner and the chef are very friendly so is the service. They give you so much food at a cheap price compare to most other restaurants. It's a good thing I live far away, otherwise I'll go broke from eating here everyday! read more

Out of all the places down University, this place has the best tasting authentic Pho! The Eggroll isn't too shabby either! 4/5 rating for the waiters not knowing how to refill water - EVER and getting orders wrong, when their menu is so limited... read more

Phó Ca Dao has beeny favorite high school Phó joint. Haven't been here in awhile. The menu has changed a little but their main staple is Phó. The broth is still great!!! Only negative, cash only. I guess that's how they have been keeping their prices about $1 cheaper than other Phó joints on University Avenue. read more

Pho Ca Dao - Traditional bowl of pho. - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Phó Ca Dao | St. Paul, MN | $7 for a small bowl of build your own phó. You get to pick up to 3 proteins & the phó comes with Thai basil, limes, bean sprouts, jalapeños & some other veges. I added tripe, fatty flank & something else I can't recall. I never eat phó outside of making my own (if you guys follow me on IG you'll see I stew my ox tails for hours all day long & do it right whereas most restaurants pop in a bouillon cube). My small bowl of phó was actually really good. From my recollection of when Quang in Minneapolis, when their phó used to be good, I'd say Phó Ca Dao's tastes like any other restaurant made phó-however, something seemed more genuine than everyone else's bouillon cubes. for flavor & price. I'd come here again for the phó. Oh, & this is all they have on the menu. Hole in the wall type place, wouldn't think to pop in at all if it weren't for my friends wanting to go there. Cons : our server was a real butt. Sure we came in an hour before closing (& trust me I hate being that person, I've worked at restaurants before), but she made it very clear with her attitude & body language she didn't wanna be there. Also, this place takes cash only, we didn't know this, fortunately my friend had enough cash on him. A star taken away for service. But five given for flavor & price as stated above. read more

Pho Ca Dao - Yummmmmmmmm - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Best pho on University ave in my opinion broth is perfect noodles is perfect food comes out fast because it's only pho there

Best Pho in the twin cities! Fresh, perfectly balanced flavors. I love the amount of cilantro they add. Beef is thin and good. Noodles perfectly cooked. Their egg rolls are great too. Wish they weren't cash only /: but oh well. read more

Pho Ca Dao - The. Best. Pho. Ever. Cilantro mmmm :) Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

My first time up in the Twin Cities during the winter. Usually only come up in the summers, but for some reason I ended up on the coldest weekends there was in MN. My cousin decided to take me to his favorite pho joint. This guy kept calling it in and out pho. I'm thinking burgers, he's saying pho. Didn't know what to expect. Instead of taking University, homey decides to use backstreets to avoid traffic. We missed our block, so had to reroute. When we finally got there, it looked just like I imagined. A hole in the wall. Soon as I walked in, I thought it was super small, couldn't get over the fact that I could keep seeing myself in the walls, then the lady takes us to our seats, in ANOTHER ROOM. Like wow, I didn't expect there to be another room. Now this is where it gets good.... Before we are even seated, I see glasses of water and a plate of herbs, sprouts, limes, and jalepenos come out. We hit the table simultaneously. She hands us our menus, wow there's like literally three things on the menu. Pho, spring rolls, and a weak looking papaya salad. We order the middle bowl with the works. 5 minutes later it comes out steaming hot. Lady sets the bowl down and all I can see is sea full of cilantro. To me, thats a bit too much cilantro, but to each their own. The broth did not dissappoint. Light, with small hints of anise and a bit on the sweet side. Subtle, but definitely a good bowl. Didn't need to add anything else as I slurped away. Definitely quick, and definitely good. Probably one of the better pho joints in the twin cities thats for sure. read more

Serves mostly all PHO. I was never a huge pho fan so it was pretty good, overall. I especially liked the broth. It wasn't thee best pho I've ever had, however. They have basically "traditional" and "house special" with the only difference being without meatballs or with. I got a traditional small which was just perfect for me. If you like more noodles, get the next size up. My husband usually eats a lot more so he got the XL. The owner was very friendly and wanted to accommodate our large party with anything we needed. We had 2 friends pre-order but showed up late. He offered to give them new broth so it's warm. Very sweet! The reason I gave it a 3-star is because the egg rolls came out burnt and the overall feeling of the restaurant seemed outdated and grungy. I felt like washing my hands multiple times. Right next to our table were shelves full of things that seem like they belong in the back kitchen. If you do not mind these things and love their pho, it's not that bad. If you are picky about the environment, then order to go or go elsewhere. read more

Today, I was craving pho so I decided to order from a familiar place that used to eat at which was known for their pho. I remembered when pho ca dao opened. Their pho was the best back then. Today, when I ordered I was a bit disappointed because the pho broth was not as tasty nor flavorful as I remembered. The take out packaging was perfectly packaged. I have no complaints there but I wished broth was more favorful as before. read more

This place is okay. I went with a friend and thought that it could be better. They only take cash so that was somewhat of a hassle since I never carry cash. read more

Some say that this is the best pho in town and I agree wholeheartedly. I've never been disappointed here with the food. However, I'm amazed the decor and cleanliness hasn't changed over the years; they could invest in these areas. Service-wise, I have always received great service regardless if I was getting takeout or dining in. The lady behind the counter treats her guest well. Of all the pho restaurants on University Avenue, they're the most hospitable. I used to frequent the restaurant but barely go here now. It is after all, cash only. read more

Where I live in California, I am in short driving distance from "Little Saigon," where thousands of Vietnamese have settled and opened lots of restaurants. So I have quite a bit of experience with Vietnamese cuisine. Pho Ca Dao is the best Pho I have tasted in Minnesota so far, and it is every bit as tasty as the Pho in Little Saigon. This is my favorite Pho place in Minnesota! I look forward to returning. read more

Pho lovers are bound to get horrible customer service. The waitress forgot to bring out one of our orders. Our cups were not filled with water. And the waitress had the nerve to tell my 2 and 1 year old niece's mother that her kids made a horrible mess and that they're going charge her for them to clean up the mess for future note. I am appalled at the kind of customer service your staff treated her and us. This is downright horrible. A toddler is not an going to be neat on eating. They're learning. A mess is bound to happen. Your customers are not going to have access to towels and cleaning products to assist the restaurant in cleaning. Not only that YOU HAD NO NAPKINS ON THE TABLE. It had to be requested and it took a while. Pho ca day staffs. You need to train your staffs to know customer service better. read more

Food was good. I had the house special, no disappointment at all and the price was right. It took them 20 mins to cook my eggrolls. Ive already finished my pho and was ready to pay. The waitress came stumbling out saying it was ready and she asked if I want it to go. I said sure. Ive never had a "to go" here before but it seems like she was in a rush and practically dumped all the eggrolls into a brown bag. Really?! Wow. There goes an oil stain in my car. read more

Pho Ca Dao - Egg rolls to go from pho ca dao - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Food is great. The waiters are quiet, polite, and on top of things. Restaurant small and comfy.

Cash only but they offer reasonable price. Fast serve Pho is favorable for single visitors. I didn't have any problem for parking.

This place was actually pretty disgusting on the inside. There was dust about a half inch thick in the foyer area when you walked in. The silverware was brought in a plastic bag with a napkin rolled up in it. But the pho was great. So if you have had your tetanus shot and if you're ready for an adventure check it out read more

One of the best authentic pho places in MN. The price is very good compared to where I live in WI. Downfall is that it's very limited menu if you want other foods besides pho. read more

THE best pho in the city. Sweet, delicious broth, plenty of meat and the noodles are fresh. Only pho though, wouldn't recommend anything else here. Definitely the holiest of the hole in the walls you can find. Fast service then they tend to forget about you until your bill comes. Make sure you keep an eye on what you ordered and the price--they have a habbit of accidently overcharging you for one reason or the other. read more

Pretty good pho the sizes are weird though: small, large and extra large. The egg rolls are terrible though, very hard and dense.

Was highly recommended by coworkers. Finally had the pho itch. Weekday at 4pm. Interior was plain old school. Definitely not a place to take a date. The menu consist of just pho and eggroll. That is all! Well, i ordered the large combo and eggrolls. Price is fair. Eggrolls was okay. The pho came out like 2 mins. Full of green onions. Too much. The broth is good. Portion is alot. I felt like I was in someones home eating the bowl of pho as all I heard was the workers speaking loudly in Vietnamese. Pho: 3.5 star Atmosphere: 2 Overall: Will try another spot read more

This is the place to have Pho! The pho is unlike any I've had before. The broth hits the spot every time we go. It is customizable and not over priced. it's a quaint little shop that has friendly service. It is a cash only place. No other location I know I comparable to those location. read more

My family is Vietnamese so I've had my fare share of Pho. This place has a pretty good broth and flavor. Price is good and I usually will go here because it's closer than trekking over to Quang in Minneapolis. Service is ok. Sometimes they forget about you. Overall a good place to stop for a warm bowl of soup in the winter time. read more

Cash only restaurant. Had a small parking in the back but it was packed, we parked on the street. We went in at 11:30am. The place only had 2 other customers. They have a very small menu selection. Pho was average but for the price, I'm not complaining. I had a large and there were a lot of noodles. We had the special pho but didn't see any tripe. My sister's bowl had a few small pieces only. We did get a lot of green onions and cilantro in our pho bowl. Their egg rolls are beef, pretty decent size. Customer services is below average, older lady who barely spoke. Wait for pho was quick but the egg rolls came after half our pho was eaten. Paid about $25 for 1 special large pho, 2 special small pho and 1 order of egg roll, not bad in my opinion. read more

I stopped by here for a quick lunch. I had the pho with rare steak and brisket. It came out in a matter of minutes and was served with all the fixings. Very good and they had plenty of peppers and sauces to kick it up a little. Also a great deal at $6 for the large bowl, but like all pho restaurants, cash only. read more

Hands down, some of the best noodles around the Twin Cities. I spent about 4 years abroad in Asia and I can honestly say that I have never found a better soup base anywhere. I can only to get to Vietnam someday but I'll have this place. read more

Always very good broth and plenty of fresh ingredients. A large order of Pho is plenty for two meals.

My favorite pho place in MN. Ingredients and portions were generous, and I heard from some of my Vietnamese friends that this place is pretty authentic. They take only cash, but it is cheaper than other famous pho restaurants in the area. read more

Best pho broth I've ever had. Tasteful broth with perfectly cooked noodles. They weren't too hard or too soft. I would recommend this restaurant to friends and family. read more

overall good pho. There's only about 8-10 items on the menu, most of which are pho variations. And for good reason. Small, homey place, but aren't all the good pho places? fast service too! one of the better spots on Uni read more

Pho is the name, and Pho is their game. The Pho is awesome, service is always great, and though the restaurant itself isn't so hot aesthetically, the meatballs don't have that nasty cartilage in them which is basically like finding a unicorn. Perfect simple place for lunch! read more

Good pho, but I don't like to come here because I rarely carry cash. It's not hard these days to accept credit cards. You guys are from the cavemen era if you don't accept credit cards. You can even get a credit card reader plugged to your smart phone or iPad and accept credit cards. If you're so worried about CC expenses, then just charge a little more to cover for your credit card expenses. Customers are used to this now, and it'll be a "hidden" cost to them anyway. They won't know/care as long as the convenience of paying with a card is there. Oh wait, I forgot. Cash is easier to hide from the IRS. Well, can't help you there. read more

Is it a new owner? Tell me no, cause it don't taste the same, yeah it was a dirty hole in the wall, with a gross bathroom you never entered, but the noodles and the broth was always consistent and good, last 2 times it was new faces and a new taste and I've been going here for 10+ years, tell me where the old owners went please. read more

Delicious, authentic Pho. But, filthy! I wish they'd pull the tables out and scrub the floor. It's unbelievably filthy. I'm amazed the state food inspector hasn't made them clean the restaurant. Nonetheless, hands down the best Pho. Seriously, great fucking Pho. read more

Ive got to echo what others say. The best pho i've had in the twin cities... and thats about it. Staff is pleasant though service isn't much more than asking what you want and bringing it to you, well that describes most service but you know what i mean. Interior is bare bones, they only take cash, and the menu is small, basically pho, coffee, egg rolls, but the pho itself more than makes up for it. I've had pho just about everywhere in saint paul and i can honestly say this place has the best. I always get the pho dac biet any time i go to any vietnamese restaurant, and what sets this apart is the broth, which is the key to any good pho. Theirs is always rich and collagen-y in a way that you can only get from slow cooked beef bones, and their vegetables are always super fresh and crispy. The Pho Dac Biet (cant recall the number, possibly 1) consists of beef pho with rare beef, meatballs, tripe, tendon, brisket, and fatty brisket. The noodles are always perfect, unlike a few places where i've had overcooked noodles that fall apart when you try to pick them up. i also like that they serve culantro (different than cilantro) in addition to the standard sides of jalapeno slices, hmong bean sprouts, thai basil, and lemon. Order a vietnamese iced coffee (drip coffee with condensed milk) and put enough chillis and sriracha in the pho to make it hurt and you've got yourself the perfect meal. Downsides: Decor, cash only, atmosphere is lacking. I often go to Trieu Chau instead because their pho is nearly as good and they have cute waitresses, but when i'm really fiending for some really good pho, there's no question in my mind where I'm gonna end up. Pho ca Dao for the win. Love a place that does only one dish and does it exceptionally well. read more

Good size XL bowls, good amount of meat and greens, tastes great, and with a great price. Probably has MSG, even though they said it didn't, but I couldn't taste it. This is the best pho I've had in MPLS so far. If you're taking a date somewhere and she is a keeper, take her here; if she is a one-night-toss-away, stick to the more expensive places that look pretty, and have pho that isn't as good. read more

Pho is exactly what I needed after a chilly morning in October (it was snowing!) You're seated quickly and the pho comes out quickly. The service is good and the food tastes good. Being from Southern California, I've had better pho. The noodles were fresh, but not *as* fresh. Big portions of noodles and meat. Broth is sweet and dark. Also had the egg rolls. Not something to brag about. Definitely a hole in the wall. Standard pho, would visit again. Probably has MSG. read more