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    Pho Cow Cali Express

    4.3 (2.3k reviews)
    Open • 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Pho Cow Cali Express Photos

    Business Info

    PHO COW CALI EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Pho Cow Cali Express

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    Michael G.

    We tried their location at UCSD CAMPUS and liked the food there, so we are curious to try here. There was a long line outside when we arrived, but my wife still wanted to try this location, so we stayed. The guy in charge of the waiting list was nice to let us know that we were next in line but it's very close to the bathroom, and he doesn't recommend and asked us if we wanted to wait for a better spot so we waited a bit and got a good spot like in the middle of their restaurant. My wife ordered a lot as usual for us , some tasted good and some did not , mostly a few of the foods we ordered were a bit Salty for us on this location. So for us, we like the food better in their UCSD campus location. At both locations we tried , the service was really quick.

    Flank Pho
    Rosy C.

    We got pho, three color jelly, egg rolls and spring rolls. I loved it all! The pricing was amazing compared to most spots in SD. The dishes were each around $12-$14. The service was great, they sat us quickly, took our order right away and we didn't wait long at all to be served. The ambiance was nice. It was clean and they run a tight ship on making sure everyone has what they need.

    Vegetarian pho
    Nina H.

    Waited about 30-40 minutes for Friday night dinner at this restaurant, and seeing the number of people lined up outside definitely set my expectations for something exceptional. I ordered the vegetarian pho and liked that the vegetables seemed to be cooked before being added to the noodles. My waiter also mentioned that upgrading to the large would only be an extra dollar, so I said yes please thank you. The broth itself, though, wasn't as flavorful as I was expecting. To be honest, it came across as pretty bland. The tofu, on the other hand, absolutely fried me with how humongous the pieces were. It was as if the chef took the tofu straight from the container, cubed it into six enormous pieces, and tossed them into the bowl with a fervor that matched the dinner rush. A generous touch, nonetheless. The restaurant was completely packed, and it was pretty clear that the waiters were overwhelmed but doing their best to keep up. Given the Friday night rush, I can understand why more attentive service probably wasn't a priority. Overall, the experience wasn't bad, but the long wait and high expectations made the underwhelming broth stand out more than I would have liked. It really just closed out my work week with an "ok" stamp.

    Presh N.

    Even during this heat wave, I was still craving pho! I can't get enough of their broth. It's incredibly clean, flavorful, and tastes like homemade pho. Their shrimp spring rolls are also a must-order every time I visit. The service is always efficient. They move through the waitlist quickly, seat guests promptly, and the food comes out surprisingly fast. It's one of those places I can always count on for a satisfying bowl of pho.

    Been here for many years
    Jerry H.

    The food here is consistently very good for a casual neighborhood restaurant. The restaurant is spacious and has lots of tables. It's a popular place. We love their bbq meat dishes love the bbq filet mignon plate either rice and salad. Their spring rolls are bigger and very tasty. The egg rolls are crispy and made to perfection. The service is very fast and efficient. For a quick and gods lunch or dinner, come here.

    Appetizer menu
    Erina T.

    I really enjoyed food, they serve food really fast, tasted great although there always has line, but it worthy to wait. Must try.

    Medium pho with rare steak and brisket
    Alice C.

    Great pho, egg rolls, and Viet coffee! Very solid spot for your Vietnamese food fix. Came in the morning and lots of people already, but we didn't have to wait to be seated at all. Got our eggrolls first and then our pho, both came very quick and tasted amazing. Interior is very unique with painted walls as well almost giving like a ocean tropical ish vibe

    Nicole X.

    Surprised that I haven't yet reviewed this place since I feel like more often than not, if I'm in Mira Mesa, I am stopping by Pho Cow Cali. I often come during off-times for meals so there isn't really any wait, but most recently when I did come during peak lunch hour with what looked like a really long waitlist, they're honestly so efficient and ran through that list super fast. They're in a plaza with a large parking lot too so no need to worry about finding a spot. My go to orders are the large sizes of the special combo pho and then the well done version of that essentially. They are scarily fast with their pho orders yet it still tastes great every time. I probably should try more of their rice/noodle dishes which look really good as well, but I just always come here when craving soup. Sometimes if I'm craving boba but not trying to spend a lot, I will get a drink here too as well. It does come fairly sweet though as a warning.

    Rice plate
    Erica C.

    Casual vibe. Lots of parking. Food was solid and so so affordable. There were a lot of employees so service was fast. I got the phone mignon, pho dac biet, and a rice plate.

    Menu
    Cloe C.

    The service was good, although the overall atmosphere was just average. The prices are very reasonable, and we didn't have to wait for a table, which was a plus. The food tasted pretty good overall, but I felt the Vietnamese soup broth had quite a bit of MSG. One interesting thing about this place is that some of the Mexican staff can actually understand and speak a little Vietnamese, which was a nice surprise! Overall, it's a reasonably priced place with decent food and good service.

    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

    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.

    Beef brisket pho
    Maria H.

    We came in on a Saturday afternoon and it was not busy at all. The staff is always nice here and they are prompt to welcome you and seat you. We ordered the: 1 large spicy beef noodle soup (vn1) bun bo hue and it was not spicy at all. The broth had a fishy taste so maybe too much fish sauce?, not sure, it was also very fatty and not our favorite. So definitely stick with the pho when you come here. The broth was also served luke-warm and I prefer my soup to be hot. The good thing about this soup is that it had a lot of various meat (beef shank, meatballs, and pork) 1 large pch (n3) pho. This one had rare steak, flank, fatty brisket, tendon and tripe. The broth to this one was served hot and it tasted much better than my bun bo hue.

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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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    Came on a Saturday afternoon and added myself to the waitlist. It was busy but I didn't have to…read morewait long for a table. They do QR code and in person ordering (whatever you prefer). I opted to order by QR code to get my order in faster. My boyfriend and I both got biang biang mian but he got the version with cumin lamb. The portions are large and super filling. I honestly think one bowl is two meals worth of food at least. The noodles were chewy and bouncy. I love the flavor just make sure to properly mix the noodles - all of the good stuff sits at the bottom of the bowl! The chili oil is fantastic as well and I loved the spice level of these dishes. Service was pretty quick which was nice. I am excited to come again to try the other dishes! Highly recommend and was authentic - it can be hard to find authentic and delicious Chinese food in SD County.

    I had heard a lot of good things about this place. My group was seated not too long after we…read morearrived. You place your order online through a QR code at the table. The service was really poor, and I had to keep hunting down the servers and asking for things like refills on water, utensils, sauce bowls. I got to try quite a bit since I was in a group of five. The lamb biangbiang was extremely spicy for me, although I know I have a low heat tolerance. You aren't able to specify how much spice you want on your dishes and when you're ordering on the QR code and the menu doesn't tell you how spicy dishes are. I can't remember the name of the dumplings we got but honestly they were my favorite dish. My friends really enjoyed the tomato and egg noodles, I just felt that they didn't have much flavor.

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    Oodles By The Noodbar - Garlic Butter Noodles

    Oodles By The Noodbar

    4.5(284 reviews)
    12.2 mi
    •$$

    I came in person recently with 9 friends. They were able to accommodate us even though we were just…read morewalking in. The woman was super friendly even though it was a little chaotic. At first, she said the order only could be done on 1 bill. And then later she compromised with 2 bills, 5 people per table. That was nice of her! I just had 2 coffees before entering so I decided to skip ordering Thai tea. But they had a large drink menu, of fruit teas and more. My friend had the lychee tea which was very large and looked super refreshing! They also came by often to top off our waters which was nice. To eat, I ordered the $16.99~, Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with White Rice. It came with onion, green onion, carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, and cashews. The carrots were beautifully cut, but a little too crunchy for me to properly enjoy in the stir fry. Everything else was delicious! I think this could definitely be shared between 2-3 people. It was a lot for me, even after a large hike. The sauce was flavorful and not overly salty. I didn't ask for any spice level, but I think I'd choose mild or medium next time. My friends ordered-- - $12.99, Dirty Fried Chicken: This had a blitz coating of lime, mint, and spices. And it was decorated with thinly sliced green onions with a side of sweet chili sauce. The chicken was hot and plump, not dry, and very much mouthwatering! Would recommend. - $14.99, Thai Grilled Chicken Salad: Grilled Chicken Breast on a bed of mixed green salad, carrots, and cucumbers with peanut dressing. It reminded me a little of chicken satay~ it smelled and looked incredible. I think I might order it next time, when I want something light and fulfilling after a hike. - $11.99, Cream Cheese Avocado Wontons (6PC): These came out piping hot and when you took a bite they were oozing. It was very creamy and when you dip into the plum sauce it's a delectable bite. A nice appetizer to share with the table. - $16.99-$19.99 (depends on what protein you get), Pad Thai: This proportion was manageable for one person. The restaurant used thin rice noodles, but it didn't clump excessively compared to other restaurants. The prices are what you'd typically see at a Pan-Asian restaurant, a few dollars more than what you'd want to spend. But these kinds of restaurants, in my opinion, are for enjoying with others. So, if you're sharing food and all that-- the price is worth it (esp with the quantity that is given). Next time, I would probably order one of their noodle dishes rather than rice. Oodles by the Noodbar has such a large and diverse menu so I would highly recommend coming in to try them out.

    It had been a while since I'd been back, so I stopped in recently with a friend and our kids. We…read morewent during a pretty quiet part of the day, about an hour and a half before they close between lunch and dinner service. Normally I've seen this place get pretty busy later in the day, but there were only a couple of other tables when we arrived and eventually we were the only table there. We started with the Dirty Fried Chicken Wings and Cream Cheese Avocado Wontons. Both came out pretty quickly, hot and fresh. I've had the wings before and they're still good--the sweet chili sauce gives them a nice little kick. The cream cheese avocado wontons were something different for me and I really liked them! They're more dense and packed than your typical cream cheese wonton, and the avocado adds a nice change in flavor. The plum sauce paired well with them too. I normally get the fresh salad rolls when I'm here (they're a good size and the peanut sauce is delicious), but decided to switch it up this time. For my entrée, I ordered the Golden Crunch Curry Udon, which has been one of their specials for a while now. I've had it before and enjoyed it, so I wanted to try it again. The crispy chicken katsu was a really good portion and cooked well. The curry itself seemed a little less flavorful than I remembered, though. I know yellow curry isn't necessarily supposed to be super spicy, but I felt like it could've used a little more of a kick. There were also only a few pieces of potato and carrot, so I would've liked a little more of those mixed in with the udon. Still good overall, and definitely no shortage of chicken! We also ordered the Garlic Butter Noodles with grilled lemongrass pork shoulder for the kids to split. This has been one of our go-to dishes for years and is a great option for little ones who don't eat spicy food. When these noodles are on point, they're REALLY good--the garlic butter/oil has tons of flavor without being overpowering. I've noticed over multiple visits, though, that they can be a little hit or miss in that department. This batch was on the lighter side flavor-wise. I may ask for a little extra garlic oil next time because when they're flavorful, they're easily one of my favorite things here. The pork shoulder still had great flavor, although a couple of pieces were a little chewy this time. The sweet sauce they serve alongside it is SO good with the pork. My friend ordered the Mi Goreng, level 5, and requested it without shrimp. Unfortunately, it still came out with shrimp, which was disappointing since she'd specifically asked for it to be left out. Aside from that, she really enjoyed the dish and said it had tons of flavor. As far as service, I'd say it can still be a little hit or miss. Everyone was kind and friendly, and our food came out fairly quickly, hot and fresh. It appeared there was only one woman working the front, so they may have been lightly staffed. That said, considering we eventually became the only table in the restaurant, I would've expected a little more checking in/refills, especially with the mistake on my friend's order. The restaurant itself is generally clean. The bathroom could use a little more attention at times, including on this visit, but nothing that would stop me from coming back. Overall, Oodles is still one of our favorites in La Mesa. There really aren't a ton of solid, good-quality Asian spots in the immediate area, so I'm glad they're here. There were a few inconsistencies this visit, but the food was still fresh, portions were good, and there are enough things on the menu that we genuinely enjoy to keep us coming back.

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    Tim Ky Noodle - Seafood crispy noodle (mi xao)

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    4.0(769 reviews)
    0.2 mi•Mira Mesa, Torrey Hills
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    Stopped by Tim Ky Noodle and ordered the seafood noodle soup. Overall, a pretty solid bowl of…read morenoodles that hit the spot, although at $16, it felt like the portion was a little modest for the price. The broth was probably my favorite part- clear, savory, and nicely aromatic with plenty of flavor. They were incredibly generous with the leeks, though. Like, "did the leek supplier have a quota to meet today?" generous. The shrimp were also nice and juicy, which is always a plus. The spring rolls and accompanying sauce were just okay for me and didn't really stand out. Service was probably the weakest part of the experience. It was pretty hands off, and unless you specifically flag someone down, don't expect much checking in. Even then, the response can sometimes feel like you're interrupting them from an extremely important meeting with absolutely nothing on the agenda. To be fair, there were only one or two other parties there during peak dinner time, so it wasn't exactly a packed house. That said, the food itself was tasty, filling, and satisfying enough that I'd happily come back when the noodle cravings inevitably strike again. Not quite a 5-star experience, but definitely a solid 4-star bowl.

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    4.1(4.5k reviews)
    13.4 mi•Ocean Beach
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    First time eating at this spot on cable street, and happy I was able to find parking as it seems it…read moremay be a bit tough on weekends/busy nights. 10/10 spicy garlic wings for me!!! I asked for the most spice possible and my server brought a side of the sauce, and it's indeed spicy in the perfect way :) the sauce is a bit cooked into the skin, so it's not a "saucy" wing, but I personally love that & it was cooked perfectly! The margarita fell a bit short but I didn't mind, the wings and dive-vibe this place gave me enough joy :)

    I haven't been here in a very long time. Almost a decade. So, I was excited to bring the hubby…read more Parking was horrendous. We went on a Thursday night and there was absolutely no parking. After circling several times, we finally found a spot about two blocks away. Once we arrived, we were immediately seated. Our server brought over waters and the menus, and I was a little overwhelmed by all the options but that's not necessarily a bad thing. We decided on the pan-seared crispy noodles with beef and egg rolls. I also ordered a Spritz to accompany my meal. I wasn't a big fan of the crispy noodles, but my husband loved them. The flavor itself was really good but there was something about the texture of the crispy noodle that wasn't my jam. The egg rolls, though, were fantastic. They were perfectly crunchy and flavorful. There are so many other dishes on the menu that caught my eye, so I will definitely come back to try some of their other options.

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    Pho Cow Cali Express - vietnamese - Updated September 2026

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