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Pho Lover

3.9 (467 reviews)
Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
Updated 3 weeks ago

Order Pho Lover Takeout or Delivery

Pho Lover Photos

PHO LOVER ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Pho Lover

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Reviews With Photos

Super cute miniature to go bag for leftovers.
Melissa H.

Love this place!! It's adorable on the inside and such a great atmosphere. The food is incredible. The sushi taco was great and unique!

Amazing spicy beef and taro/brown sugar BOBA TEA

PHONOMENAL!!! PHO WAS HOT AND FRESH VEGGIES IN EVERYTHING ancan't help but get a brown sugar boba tea everytime! Sam the owner ! is one of the single greatest close to earth kind of boss who cares for his customers and employees Set up everything with music and soft pink cherry blossom trees that are perfect for photos

Silly brother of mine. So delicious!
Eun Jee J.

After my recent visit, it's clear things have gone downhill. Prices have rose, they no longer do the drink combo, and even the contents of the soups have changed. If you're going to raise prices, then don't lessen the soup.

Jumbo P1. Jumbo Pho Special
Neo N.

The spring roll and Pho is amazing. Will order again next time. Good service as well.

Pho with beef tendon
Lisa M.

So far, we've tried this place twice for carry-out, so I can't speak to what the atmosphere of the restaurant is like. What I can say is that they are very kind and do their best to provide good customer service. Of no fault of theirs, a Door Dash Delivery person took our order without confirming with them first. So they scrambled to remake our entire order. And while they were remaking ours, they were on the phone with the poor folks who received the wrong order because of their bad delivery person. So they had to rectify that issue as well. 3 losers in this episode, and only Door Dash made out. Also, that do-do of a Door Dasher took our Korean hot dog, which happened to be their last one. Our daughter was very disappointed. I feel like Door Dash owes us, the restaurant, and their customer some compensation. I digress! The food is so tasty. What we got: Bun Bo Hue - She's spicy! But it's rich and round, and if you like seafood and fermented shrimp paste, then this is for you! This is not a dish for vanilla tastebuds. Pho with beef tendon - I've had this twice now, and both times the tendon is just cooked so well. Tender but still some chew. And the portion is so generous. Our two kids share this with me and they wolf it down! The broth is perfect warm-your-soul but not weigh-your-belly. If you haven't had tendon, it's still beef but less heavy meat, and has the texture of maybe gnocchi but it's protein and not a carb. Try it once in your life! There really isn't any texture quite like it. Taro milk tea - This was a bit too sweet for our taste. But maybe someone else prefers it that way. Please give this place some love! The food is seriously so great. It doesn't seem right that Door Dash can make such a terrible mistake yet the business is the one that has to bear the consequences of a customer having a bad experience, as well as lose money on the order and ingredients.

No sir... I am not GrubHub... but I will take it if you ask again nicely.
Mina H.

Revisited this favorite spot after the "remodel" (sale), and it's okay... all they did was add some decor... don't get me wrong, the cherry blossom trees and ivy walls are nice, but the old furniture, desk, and meh bathroom walls and floor have not changed an iota... so lipstick on a pig. Divey vibes are acceptable when the food is good and cheap. Not so much when the food is not good and no longer cheap... and their servers need training on how to bring out Pho with more sprouts, and the utensils (spoons not just ladles) and flavoring (chili oil missing) in a "spicy" seafood pho. Need a real chef here if you're upping prices. There are much better options around, even if it's another 10m drive to get yummy vs. mediocre Pho. Legit Costco has better in microwave bowls. Dinner for 2 people, one app 2 Pho entrees with a $7 tip = $50... after all the corrections. p.s Cool robot, though it never came to our table.

P3. House Special Pho Matcha Milk Tea
Daisy U.

Amazing service with delicious pho. I ordered the pho dac biet and a matcha milk tea and enjoyed both very much! The environment is peaceful and not too loud with comforting quiet ambience. Highly recommend coming here if you're craving pho! Last time I got the sushi tacos and the spring rolls that were also amazing.

Ryan D.

Pho Lover is a great Vietnamese restaurants. This restaurant is relatively new and deserves to be visited if you enjoy Vietnamese food. The first thing that you will notice is how beautiful this restaurant is. A lot of attention went into the decor. There are two very very big trees in the middle of the restaurant near the entrance. The walls are also very gorgeously decorated. The food was just as fancy. We ordered the Jumbo Pho Dac Biet (with a braised bone in beef short rib, extra meat and noodle). The short rib was fall off the bone tender. The broth was fantastic. Add the fresh bean sprouts and basil and it is super flavorful. We also ordered the Bun Combo and Egg Roll (with beef, shrimp and lemongrass pork). This was also a hit. The fish oil dressing was great. The shrimp and pork were amazing. I highly recommend Pho Lover. I will be coming back to try more of their menu.

Spring rolls and steamed dumplings (pot stickers).
Peter T.

Formerly "To Pho" this restaurant now boasts new management and a new menu. I had hoped to order fried tofu, a dish I enjoyed often when I lived in China, but it's off the menu. I went with some fresh shrimp spring rolls, which were huge and excellent, and some steamed dumplings, also flavorful and well prepared. My tablemate had the chicken pho, and the serving is so large, she took more than half of it home to enjoy later. Service was top-notch, and the restaurant, including restrooms, was immaculate. Next time, I'll try a bahn mi, as I am a fan of this sandwich which fuses Vietnamese and French cuisines.

凱文

Nice place and great ambiance with friendly staff. Glad that we tried out this new place

P03
Oliver Y.

Restaurant had a couple of tables filled, noise level was low. On this visit, went with P03 Pho Dac Biet (Had all the meats, meat combo). The broth was good, your traditional Pho. Service was good, water was always filled with a smile. Would come back..

Binh L.

This place used to be To Pho. We were informed the restaurant was under new management. This is Pho Lover's second location. Their other location is in Galesburg, IL. As you walk in, you're greeted with a front host counter/pay area with a greenery background that was recently updated. The new owners thought it would be nice to stick a pink tree in the middle of dining area on the right. They also updated the walls on each side of the dining area with greenery as well. The bathroom is the same as previous owner (not so great). We ordered the following: Fresh Shrimp Spring Roll - $5.95 Crispy Veggie Egg Roll - $5.45 Com Dia Rice Plate - Marinate Grill Pork Chop - $13.55 Add Fried Egg - $2 Add Honey Sausage - $2 Banh Mi Sandwich (Grilled Chicken) - $8.95 P09 Pho Tai Nam, Bo Vien - $13.95 The presentation of the Fresh Shrimp Spring Roll could use some finesse. I've seen other restaurants roll spring rolls much better than this. I wish there were more herbs added to the Spring Roll to bring out the flavor. The peanut sauce was good, but not great. Crispy Veggie Egg Roll seemed they were factory made and purchased frozen. It was also good, but not great. The Com Dia Pork Rice Plate came with (2) pieces of pork, pickled daikon/carrots and cucumbers. The pork was good. The fact they charged $2 to add a fried egg and $2 for Honey Sausage seemed over the top. This plate ended up at an $18 plate, which was definitely worth it. We can order the same plate at a different restaurant and the price is much less. The Banh Mi Sandwich definitely was not worth $9. I've had Banh Mi sandwiches 100x better for $6.50. The bread was over toasted and hard. The chicken was good, but not great. It didn't hit the spot. Pho was a 3 on a scale of 5. The only great thing that about the pho was it came with a decent amount of steak beef slices and meat balls. I was hoping for the broth to hit the 'WOW' factor, but they missed their mark. When I walk into a Vietnamese restaurant, I expect the menu to be entirely dedicated to Vientamese food. Their menu included Korean Dog & Fries, Hibachi items, and other Japanese noodle/rice dishes. That is a major let down. Service: 5 stars (staff was nice) Food: 3 stars Price: 3 stars Dining area cleanliness: 3 stars Bathroom: 1 star Overall average: 3 stars Will I be back? 10% chance

a dining area with tables and booths
Elana K.

This place used to be To Pho, which was one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants. The service at To Pho was not always the warmest, and the interior resembled an old diner, but the food was varied, plentiful, and delicious. Moreover, To Pho's Taiwanese chef brought some unique offerings, like bao, to the menu. "Pho Lover" is not just a new name. This is basically a brand new restaurant, with a new chef, new owners, and a different menu - and no more bao. :( However, life giveth and it taketh, for where bao has gone missing, there are some new additions to the menu that may make for interesting substitutes. One thing to notice right away is that the presentation game of the restaurant has gone WAY up. From the garden-like decor, to the stylish chopsticks, custom-branded dishware, and even scenic bubble tea plastic toppers, the aesthetic is on a whole other level. This really hyped us up for our food. We each ordered a combo meal - pho tai for each of us, along with a bubble tea. Hubby got a taro smoothie (one of the best I've tried in a long time!), while I got a Thai milk tea. Both were really good, with the texture of the tapioca pearls being a particular highlight. Also, a pretty good value - about $17 bucks for a large bowl of pho and big cup of bubble tea. All that said, nothing else matters as much as the quality of the pho. When it arrived at our table, I was feeling a bit cautious - I hadn't really read the online reviews yet, but at a glance, they seemed guarded. I took a thoughtful sip of the broth with the giant spoon they give you. My first impression was: this broth is AMAZING. Complex. Flavorful. Multi-dimensional, with discernible components. But it didn't stay that way. After a few bites, for some reason, those bold flavors disappeared and coalesced into only one flavor - really salty. I am not sure why or how that came to be. The 1975 "Pepsi Challenge" came to my mind: during a blind taste test, participants overwhelmingly preferred Pepsi to Coke, due to Pepsi's higher sugar content. However, while all that sugar makes for an impressive first sip, it overwhelms an entire glass. Thus, more people prefer Coke overall. I wonder if it was something like that - if the saltiness of the broth was there all along, and built up over time until it became overpowering. Or else, maybe as the beef, et al. simmered, it just changed the flavor of the bowl? Salty broth wasn't the only problem. Something about the texture of my noodles just wasn't right. It's like they were too limp. My husband did not have that complaint, so maybe there was some inconsistency in how our bowls were made. I also noticed his beef was a bit more rare, and mine a bit more well-done, so more evidence to that point. Speaking of the beef, it was different than the cuts I usually get in pho tai. These were thicker, rounder, and leaner-looking. That said, they were still tender and tasty, so not really a problem (though I do prefer mine a bit rarer). I am sticking with 4 stars for now, because our meal was mostly a good one. I feel like I can get a better bowl of pho somewhere else right now, but am hopeful that the flavor and consistency will improve over time as this restaurant gains experience.

The #8 pho is amazing

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5 months ago

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11 months ago

Our server Michelle was amazing! She made great suggestions. I had the veggie pho and pineapple smoothie; both were excellent!

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9 months ago

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5 months ago

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1 year ago

Always our Go-To when it comes to good Vietnamese food. Besides good food they provide a great service.

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1 year ago

Love this place, the broth is so rich and huge、 The place is very clean and great service at all times!

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5 months ago

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7 months ago

Pretty decent. The robot running around was funny. I'll go back and try other things.

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1 year ago

I've been coming to this place for a while and the food is consistently amazing. service is fast and friendly.

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1 year ago

Foods are delicious. Amazing ambience. The service are . Definitely coming back to this restaurant.

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1 year ago

Friendly staff, tasty food, and best pho place in town. Great selections on the menu. 5 stats all day!!

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1 year ago

The food is amazing and service is great as well! Beautiful interior, definitely recommend!!

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Pho Lover Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Pho Lover

Are they doing curbside pickup?

Is the tofu/vegetable pho vegan/vegetarian?

Yes, you can place special order and I don't think there's any objection. Hope this help. Thanks

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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altThai

4.1(835 reviews)
4.0 mi
$$
Vegetarian friendly
Gluten-free friendly

This restaurant is on point with food and entertainment. I'm live in Las Vegas now and the Thai…read morefood in Vegas blows Chicago Thai food away. several restaurants I've been to here in the Chicagoland area. Their food has no flavor except for this little joint in Arlington Heights. I started with the papaya salad, which was good. Can't go wrong with that. Then I ordered my masaman curry with lamb. It was something I never had but for sure I will be having AGAIN. Also, had the pad Kee Mow (drunken noodles) these are typical Thai dishes that you should not f-up but several places here DO! This place was on point! Drunken noodle was delicious too. Although, the service was just ok but I guessed it worked out bc it kept us in the restaurant longer. What set the night apart was the LIVE JAZZ!!!! The trio was Amazing! Please if you are in the area & you looking for authentic Thai cuisine... check this place out ... you might like it! I know I did!!!

Stopped by AltThai in Arlington Heights and this is one of those places where it's very easy to…read moreover-order -- but you probably won't regret it. We tried a mix across the menu, and what stood out right away was how many dishes can be made vegan, which makes it a great option for vegetarians or mixed groups. A few must-tries for me: * The Thai wrap -- DIY style and easily one of the more fun dishes on the menu * Red curry * Curry fried rice * Basil dish The papaya salad was also really well done and worth ordering. Portions here are generous -- most mains are easily enough for two people, so it works really well if you're sharing across the table. For the amount of food you're getting, pricing felt very reasonable (around $20-30 per person when sharing), which makes it a strong value spot in the suburbs. It's also on Resy, so if you have an Amex Platinum or Gold card, you can use your dining credit here. Overall, a solid pick if you're looking for flavorful Thai food with good portions and plenty of vegetarian-friendly options in the Arlington Heights area.

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Chef Ping - Mongolian beef

Chef Ping

4.0(1.3k reviews)
3.2 mi
$$

Chef Ping continues to be a favorite for our family based in Chicago to gather. The food continues…read moreto be excellent and of great value. My wife, her mom, and I were in Chicago to remember my father-in-law's death anniversary, and my sister-in-law chose Chef Ping's, for our party of nine for a Wednesday lunch. Parking is plentiful and the dining area can seat a lot. We got seated at a large round table in the back room, with a large lazy susan (just need to remember to spin it very slowly). We ordered a lot, and the food came out slowly. There was plenty of leftovers for the local folks to have for future meal or two. 3 Shrimp Toast (6 pieces each) - $26.85 - greasy but good, with the shrimp paste being a little sweet (in a good way) Noodle in Black Bean Sauce ($12.50) - this is jja jang myeon, which two of us had the previous night. It was OK, not near the top of the best I've had. Ping's Noodle Soup ($15.50) - the other classic Chinese-Korean dish, this is jjampong, a dish I've had many times. I was the only one to eat it, so ended up being my main dish. It was good, with thick noodles...just wish it had more seafood. Salt & Pepper Smelt ($16.90) - not sure if always available, but this was excellent...my favorite dish and one that I finished once I realized that everybody had their fill. It really depends on the quality of the smelt, which was excellent in this case. It was lightly battered, and carefully deep fried. Other dishes enjoyed by others: 2 Salt & Pepper Prawns - $35.90 - large head-on shell-on prawns fire wokked. Salt & Pepper Tofu ($11.50) - for the vegetarians Chicken Skewers (4) - $8.75 - tender and shareable Walnut Shrimp ($19.90) - mayo with shrimp Young Chow Fried Rice ($12.50) - fried rice is a necessity for our group Mongolian Beef ($17.50) - a classic 2 Sesame Ball (4) - $7 - a great way to finish a meal. 18% tip was automatically added, and service was OK throughout. Our water was kept refilled, and I think hot water was as well. It was a good meal and opportunity to get back together

We've eaten here many times in the past and had a good experience. This visit was poor at best!…read morePlease note: (ALL PICTURES ARE FROM MY PREVIOUS VISITS NOT TO THIS VISIT) Unfortunately this visit is going to be the last time. Both the service and quality of food has gone way down from what they were famous for. The waitress spilled my tea, also dipped her finger in my tea, had no apology or offer to exchange it with a fresh cup. I had to ask her for a fresh cup of tea. Then the other server that brought our entrees spilled my husbands tea and again no offering to getting a fresh cup. We had to ask AGAIN for a fresh cup! While the portions were generous, the quality of all the food has gone way down. The special family recipe of thier shrimp dish Gan Pong is nothing but fried shrimp with dried chili peppers and no flavor. The Hunan spicy beef and chicken appeared to be all globs and sticky because of excessive and over use of corn starch used during the cooking process. This dish didn't have any unique flavor that one would expect. Previously we had experienced a difference in the food, taste and quality and that's what kept us returning. Sadly, after this experience I wouldn't recommend it to anyone or come back! I'd rather stick with Yu's Mandarin than drive to this place! Quality always wins over quantity in my books!

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MAAX Asian BBQ & Hot Pots

MAAX Asian BBQ & Hot Pots

3.8(69 reviews)
4.6 mi
All you can eat
Outdoor seating

Wow... this place is pretty amazing. Hotpot and Korean BBQ with super huge variety of just gorgeous…read morefresh and lovely ingredients!!! The sushi isnt impressive but no one cares... theres a tub of sesame oil and just so many fun things you cant explore in one visit... the earlier you get there for lunch (11am) the more pretty the buffet looks. We left at 1pm and it looked pretty disheveled by then... after the crowds ran thru. The hotpot dishes come out in small batches so double up on the proteins you like because service is slower when its busy. Might be 10m before you get that second plate of brisket or 2oz salmon sliver or filet and 2x galbis... save room for dessert... everyone was stuffed by the 2 hour table limit. Decor is pretty nice and a massive upgrade from Rack House... the courtyard should be great when the weather gets nice. So pretty... cant wait to see how youre gonna KBBQ out there on the patio though... Servers were super helpful and enthusiastic. They're happy to be there which is nice to see!

Good selection of vegetables, tripe, fishballs, tofu, shelled seafood, radishes, corn, king…read moremushrooms, enoki mushrooms, sushi rolls, dumplings, noodles, dipping sauces, the works! The meat selection was good. The grill and personal heating hot plates for individual soups was a love hate relationship. I loved that everyone had their personal hotspot, but because there was both the grill and all the individual pots, the table space was very cramped. Also, the space between tables was so tight that every time a person from the next table over would get up, we would get shoved in our seat. I loved that there were so many soup bases to choose from. I was not happy with some of the staff. Particularly staff that were refilling the buffet of vegetables and ingredients. There was one in particular that would literally push her way to the trays without saying excuse me or anything. She threw metal tongs across the trays. Multiple times, she would physically push people out of the way and barreling her way in between people in line. The layout of the buffet of veggies and ingredients doesn't allow for good flow, so it felt very cramped which made her behavior was very off putting.

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TTOWA

TTOWA

4.5(820 reviews)
3.8 mi
$$

I have been eating TTOWA for over a decade(?) since I came across Terry's stand at a festival in…read moreDTAH. The food is consistently delicious, the service wonderful, and it always makes me feel special when Terry greets me at the restaurant! There are tables accessible at the time I eat dinner, haha, but they fill up later! The restaurant is dark and quiet and the bathroom is clean. We're a bibimbap family--chicken and pork, respectfully. Sometimes in a hot stone bowl, sometimes not. The buns, japchae, and assorted bonchon are all delicious, too. I prefer the aioli sauce over the traditional sauce on my bibimbap. I still remember how during COVID Terry had the ability to donate meals to thank the frontline workers. Also, one time, something was missing from my delivery order and Terry himself drove it to my house to apologize! Those are the offerings and moments that make a giant difference. Overall, I am always happy with the food, service, and love supporting a small, local business!

The only words you need to know: Dak buns, hot stone bowl, pork belly, craft beer. Or simply order…read morewhatever you want... it won't matter because it's all spectacular. This is not Korean BBQ where you get a plate of raw meat and cook it at the table; if you want that kind of "interactive dining experience," head up to Vernon Hills, Ttowa has the experts in the kitchen to do the work for you (not to mention, better than most of us ever could). Did I mention the dak buns? Just to be sure: Dak Buns!!!

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