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    Pho Cow Cali Express

    4.3 (2.3k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Pho Cow Cali Express Photos

    Business Info

    PHO COW CALI EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Pho Cow Cali Express

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    Thuy C.

    Wanted to try this pho spot because of its amazing reviews. Went during lunch time (1:25) and there was a wait/ line there was 7 people ahead of the line and it took about 15 minutes to get inside. The food was a total miss. I ordered the specialty pho, egg rolls and 2 color dessert. Everything was bland and didn't have the flavors I was hoping for since this place was rated so well. Overall the wait for this spot is not at all worth it. What I will say though is their customer service is amazing the best out of all the pho spots. They are clean, quick service and there are people actively making sure condiments are stocked, perhaps this is why they rated it high. Service, 5 stars, food, 1 stars = 3 stars total

    Jenny V.

    My pho was delicious. My first time coming to Pho Cow. I have heard good things about this restaurant and I finally had the opportunity to try it out. I love pho and this place hit the spot. Service was fast and easy. Most importantly my food was very tasty. If you want some authentic pho this is the place to come.

    ~ With a side of shrimp, steamed rice and meatballs ~
    Shane R.

    As an Italian, Im genetically obligated to believe my mothers Sunday marinara sauce (aka gravy) is the pinnacle! But this pho is giving her a run for her money. I have become addicted to Pho ~ as a breakfast, lunch or dinner. The broth has a depth of flavor combined with the noodles, cooked to perfection, not soggy, meets this pasta connoisseurs picky pallet. Get here an hour before that normal "crowd times" as it can get busy. The staff are well trained and deliver, well before you expect. Every time! While there may be other Pho places to discover, if you haven't yet, check out Pho Cow Cali Express. And if, by doing so, you notice an Italian guy blissfully face-planted into a large bowl of noodles, you know your in the right spot! ;)~ Grazie ~

    Canary H.

    A decent pho place for when you're craving your mom's noodle and rice dishes, but you're too far to get some. But if I had the choice, I'd make the drive to Orange County just for some good pho. This was my first time visiting this place, and I had to put my name on the waitlist. There were 8 parties ahead of me and it only took 20 minutes in order to get seated. We all ordered pho, and the server was quick to bring out the food. He also brought nước béo for me when I had requested some, which i thought was unique because not many restaurants offer it, even though it's for pho connoisseurs. If you're reading my review, I'd suggest you try it with your pho (it's beef fat with scallions in oil to enhance your soup). I thought the soup was lacking in comparison to the pho places in OC. The meat wasn't as tender or flavorful, but the aroma was great and powerful. Again, not bad for a random location in San Diego. The inside was bigger than you'd expect; it seated numerous tables. The floor is sticky to walk on( but they serve customers constantly. I don't think I'd be back, but it's not a bad place to go to.

    Wendy L.

    Pho Cow Cali Express is located in Mira Mesa just a few blocks west of the 15 freeway on Mira Mesa Blvd. I've been here numerous times purely for nostalgia and because my family likes it here. Sometimes you'll see a line out the door so you'll need to sign in. The wait time is typically quick unless you have a huge party. My order usually consists of their Grilled BBQ Pork Vermicelli (Bun Thit Nuong) and their Egg Rolls (Cha Gio). This restaurant has plenty of seats and the ambiance is very casual. There are TVs around and it's mid-noisy inside. The service is pretty quick given that the menu isn't as large as other Vietnamese restaurants. There's prices are also decent and competitive for the area. The servers are really just there to take orders, bring out orders, etc. - very casual dining. One thing to note: The aroma will stick to your skin, hair, and clothing! And it's pretty intense. It should definitely be your last stop of the day. Don't say I didn't warn you. Overall, Pho Cow Cali dishes out simple Vietnamese food, where the service is quick and dining is casual.

    Rare and Well Done Pho
    Jenny T.

    I heard that this place was pretty popular and since I was craving Vietnamese food, I decided to give this a try. When we arrived a little bit before noon there was already a waiting list and a line outside. We probably waited for about 15-20 minutes before our group of 4 was called. I ordered the regular size Rare and Well Done Pho ($12.50), and I also tried out the egg rolls. The food came out pretty quickly, and the pho was piping hot. Everything tasted fresh, and the broth would taste so good on a cold day. The herbs and sides that comes with the pho were all fresh and didn't seem old at all. Service is quick and they try to stay efficient. Since there is a line outside, they try to get people in an out as quickly as possible. They take your orders, drop off your food, and drop off the check pretty quickly, however if you need something in between, and are trying to call them over, it feels like they glaze right over you and pass you without looking. My water was also left empty and it was hard getting someone's attention for a refill. Overall the food itself was pretty good. Service is okay since they really focus on just moving parties in and out as quickly as possible.

    #1 special pho and grilled bbq pork + egg roll vermicelli bowl
    Jennifer O.

    We were initially a little deterred by the line, but the wait ended up being painless and the food came out quickly once we sat down. We got the #1 pho special and the grilled BBQ pork and egg roll vermicelli bowl. Both were generous portions and really tasty. The egg rolls were super crispy and the grilled pork had great flavor and char. Definitely becoming one of our go-to spots for Vietnamese food when we're in SD!

    special combo pho
    Presh N.

    Pho Cow Cali is such a solid pho spot that also offers a wide variety of appetizers, pho, rice and vermicelli dishes, plus drinks. Even when there's a long line, the wait usually ends up being only about 10-15 minutes max. Service is fast and friendly, and restaurant is always clean. #26 Spring Rolls (10/10): Filled with pork slices and shrimp. They're made fresh, and rice paper was soft, not hard or dry at all. #1 Special Combo Pho (10/10): Huge portion with tons of different meats. Broth is rich and flavorful, meats were cooked well, and noodle portion is generous. #29 Pork Rind & Grilled Pork with Broken Rice (9/10): Very nostalgic dish served with fish sauce and a small side of pho broth. Only thing is I wished grilled pork portion was a bit bigger since ratio felt slightly off this time. Thai Tea with Boba (10/10): Delicious and perfectly chewy boba. Definitely a reliable spot when you're craving pho and classic Vietnamese dishes.

    Delicious
    Arnel D.

    Still an excellent value after all these years. Service is quick. Food is delicious and an absolute value. The dining area is relaxing and comfy. I love how they still have the Philip Rivers and Ladanian Tomlinson memorbelia on the walls. When you're craving Vietnamese Cuisine, visit here and get that fix. Thank me later. Remember to tip well.

    Pho tai nam
    Anastasia V.

    Every time I have a craving for pho in SD, I head to Pho Cow Cali. AND Every time I go here, it's packed or the waiting list is long. Understandably so, since their pho is reliably good. The other day I came in with a big group and thankfully the wait for a table was less than 15 minutes. There's a good amount of seating inside, and the restaurant itself was very clean. We were sat at one of the tables in the middle of the restaurant so there was a bit of foot traffic but nothing too disruptive. I ordered the pho tai nam which came out piping hot! So delicious. My aunt was able to split a bowl of pho for her two kids, and the server mentioned that she could order a side of noodles so both of the kids had a good soup to noodle ratio. Our server was very nice and super attentive.

    Shrimp spring rolls
    Alex E.

    Haven't been here in a while but still one of my favorite restaurants in the area, and have never had a bad meal here. Arrived to a group of people waiting outside to be called, as is usual, but was seated quickly. Ordered #52, Grilled Chicken with Egg Rolls and Vermicelli, and it was on point. Ordered spring rolls as well, and they were delicious. Pleased that my order came out in about 5 minutes. I love that some of the entrees come with egg rolls. Service was solid and parking is usually pretty easy. Will return.

    Bun Bo Hue
    Ann H.

    Over a decade since I've been visiting this establishment and I still stand by my words that they have the best pho in all of San Diego. Regardless of what pho or noodle you order, the broth is on point and pack with flavor. The service is fast and despite and long like out the door, their staff always makes sure you are taken care of and quick. The ambiance is nothing to write home about but then again what pho place does anyone visit for ambiance? They've got an ample amount of seating to fit the huge crowds so the waitlist moves faster than expected.

    Lisa L.

    Just adding to the many rave reviews of Pho Cow Cali. Pho here is bomb. The portions are perfect, broth is clean and packed full of flavor, and the prices are hard to beat. The spicy dipping sauce that comes with the pho ga is delicious. We also like to order extra onions on the side and add sriracha on it - mmmm. Been there on a weekdays (no wait at all) and also on the weekend. Even if it seems like there is a long line outside, always ask to see how long the wait is. Was surprised the line moved so quickly. This is a solid pho spot that I'd easily recommend to others!

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    Pho Cow Cali Express Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pho Cow Cali Express

    Do they do delivery?

    Nope. To go orders are pick up only.

    Do they accept apple pay?

    They bring out your check and you’re expected to give them your card.

    Do they still have outside dining?

    Just inside dining.

    Is the pho gluten free? Sometimes they put gluten in the broth and sometimes they put gluten in the rice noodles (esp in America).

    I think it is! My previous partner was gluten free (otherwise she could get super sick) and we ate here all the time!

    Is there a min credit card charge?

    There is no minimum for CC

    View All 7 Questions

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