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    Pho Papa

    3.8 (792 reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese, Soup, Noodles
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Pho Papa Photos

    Business Info

    PHO PAPA ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Pho Papa

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    Reviews With Photos

    Dac biet special. Barely any meat and broth is really dark not traditional northern style more southern style.
    Matt V.

    Pho Papa gets a lot of hype, but my experience didn't fully live up to it. On the plus side, the outdoor seating is a nice touch, especially if you want a more relaxed, casual vibe. Service was quick and efficient, which I appreciated. The meat itself was tender and clearly good quality, so they're doing something right there. That said, the broth was a letdown for me. It leaned too sweet and had a darker profile than I prefer, which took away from that clean, balanced pho flavor you expect. The bigger issue though was the portioning. I ordered a special and it came with no meatballs which was odd for a "special dac biet", and the amount of meat was surprisingly small. It honestly felt like there was barely any protein in the bowl. You could clearly see a lot of noodles, which is not what you want with pho. At most other spots, the meat is layered generously on top to the point where the noodles are almost hidden. That wasn't the case here. Overall, it's a decent spot with good service and tender meat, but the broth and portion size need work. I'd come back if they fix the balance and start being more generous with the meat.

    Kevin D.

    The pho had a rich broth. They didn't have the fat noodles when I went. The pho was good but it's pretty average compared to other pho restaurant.

    Pho with side of beef rib
    Hylan V.

    This place is the GOAT when it comes to pho. All the Viet aunties and uncs who know their pho come here! Pho Papa is a completely hidden gem I always recommend to friends. I'm Vietnamese and San Jose native and I've tried pho all over San Jose and the Bay Area. Their quality is incredibly consistent and they are not stingy on the meat! Such a rare find! I have been consistently going here several times a month since 2020!

    Beef Rib Special ($8)
    Alisa B.

    It's a decent spot to get some pho in San Jose! Seating is pretty cramped and there can be a long waitlist on the weekends, but it's worth a visit! The broth can be on the oily side, but the flavor is good! Light and not too salty. They are really generous with the portion of beef! Almost more beef than noodles!! The beef rib special is yummy and high quality! The two of us shared this and it was FALL OFF THE BONE tender!

    Sarah C.

    Pho Papa is good! But..... I got the #1 and wanted to sub the tendon with the meatballs, and didn't know I was going to be charged a sub fee. I know you could add it for additional price but damn! I should just said no tendon. It would've been nice for the server to ask. They also charge a 3% fee for card so cash is preferred for this place. I got an order of the hanh dam which I like putting sriracha over it. Super good. Besides the substitution issue, everything was fine. Didn't realize pho got super expensive over the past couple years. After paying card for 2 small bowls of pho (1 with substitution) with the hanh dam, the total after tax was $43.24! Without tip! Wow. I tipped $8, but but no pho is ever worth paying over $50.

    2 Phở Đặc Biệt (1) & Phở Chin (9)
    emily d.

    My and my parent's favorite pho spot in the bay and SJ. Always go to 1. Phở Đặc Biệt for them and 9. Phở Chin for me. Best broth with easy service and nice interior and exterior seating. Also large servings for the price point and never disappoints, I always look forward to this coming home.

    Grace N.

    Finally got to try Pho Papa in January. When my dad was still alive he raved about this place whenever he went up to SJ to visit. My partner and I finally got to try it and it was very good. Broth and meat were good and the fresh noodles were yummy! Store was clean and staff was fast and efficient! Simple, delicious and yummy! Highly recommend!

    Amanda M.

    I came here on weekend since I wanted some pho. It was a good sign when I saw on the menu they only serve pho. I got the small Phở Đặc Biệt which came with thinly sliced beef, brisket, flank, tendon, fat brisket and fresh noodles. I also got a side of their beef rib. The food came out pretty quickly after ordering. The broth itself is a little sweet for me on its own, but they have fish sauce and lime to help balance it out. The meat quality was good and a big portion for a size small. The beef rib was much bigger than anticipated but it was also delicious. Overall, this is good pho. Will come back here again.

    Anh P.

    A favorite place for people who love northern pho (me) The broth here was so clear and flavorful, and the restaurant is also very clear! Highly recommended

    Reina C.

    I decided to try this place only because pho #Y across the street is closed on Tuesday. Pho Y is my usual go to. I would rank this a 3.5 stars but there's no half star so I'll round up. They only have beef here and I'm really a chicken pho person. The beef broth was good and flavorful but not the best I've had. Would I be back? I'm glad I tried this place but I'll stick to my go to place across the street. This place does seem cleaner than Pho Y but I'm nostalgic for the classics.

    Cynthia W.

    5*! Food was great! I got the small size #1 and there was generous amount of toppings. The portion was more than enough. It was flavorful and soup was very warm. Perfect for cold weather. I love the tendon a lot. They only serve pho and not a lot to choose from. But I think their pho is really good and that's all we need :p Service: fast and casual. Typical pho place. The food came pretty fast after ordering The shop has tables inside and outside. Everything was pretty clean and tidy when I visited. Will return!

    Alliza Anne K.

    WOW. We were craving pho and a friend recommended this spot. We didn't really know what to expect but once we tried the first sip of the broth - WOW! There was so much flavor and we loved that there were soooo many green onions! Since we went on a Saturday - it was busy. We waited for about 30 minutes for a table for 2 but it was definitely worth the wait! Once you're seated - the menu is simple (which makes it so much easier to decide for those indecisive like me!)

    Yucy J.

    pho probably better than the other ones ive tried in the area. i love the noodles in particular... HOWEVER, the seats are incredibly uncomfortable because theyre high and the tables r low

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    25 days ago

    This is one of my favorite Pho restaurant,i loved their ramen,their noodles is so good too for me.We always go their with my hubby.

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    Page 1 of 20

    Pho Papa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pho Papa

    Do they take card or only cash?

    Both.

    Do you have any vegetarian pho and vegetarian options?

    No. This place is not vegetarian friendly.

    Is the business open for dine in now?

    Outdoor seating is now open

    What's the best soup I am sick so that's why I am asking?oh sorry to be pacific for cold and fewer?

    they put so much MSG not good for your health ok

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    4.7(778 reviews)
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    I've been eyeing this spot for a long time and finally got a chance to grab dinner last night. It's…read morebeen high on my list because every time I came to the movie theater next door, I'd see a long line of folks waiting to get in. The service was truly excellent. Jeff, the chef (rhymes!), was kind and welcoming. He could tell it was our first time and went out of his way to check in, give advice on what to order, and how to enjoy it. The wagyu and chicken soup were both outstanding -- flavorful, hearty, and healthy. Here's the part that took it over the top for me: they had accidentally forgotten our fried tofu. I happened to be nearby this morning and stopped in, fully expecting them to ask for proof of purchase or be resistant. Instead, they just handed it to me. No questions. That's top-notch customer service. I'm now a promoter and will definitely keep coming back. Highly recommend!

    Had 575 bookmarked for so long and was super excited to finally try yesterday! Came for dinner and…read morewas seated right away at 6pm. Staff are friendly, spot is pretty small but kid-friendly and self-serve utensil tables. The Wagyu Soup Noodle bowl was super bland. So much so that my partner had to add a ton of chili sauce, and I had to add other seasoning toppings. Would be open to trying the beef noodle soup next time but the Waygu soup bowl wasn't it. Pig ears were pretty good but sliced super thin.. thinner than the onions..

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    Paik's Noodle - Stir-fried Noodle ($14)

    Paik's Noodle

    4.3(1.8k reviews)
    9.6 mi
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    I always come here whenever i am craving meat jajangmyeon and it never disappoints! I also order…read morethe tangsuyuk and stir fried noodles and it's so good and filling. I have put all my friends on this place and they love it every time i mention coming here. The meat jajangmyeon and the stir fried noodles is so flavorful and the tangsuyuk is so crunchy! For the price and the portion is heavenly sent too, so perfect. The only unfortunate thing is the parking lot outside is pretty small and limited, so keep that in mind. Sometimes i park across the street from the other plaza since the parking lot is bigger. Tungtungtungsahur rates 5/5

    FOOD: 4 SERVICE: 4…read moreAMBIANCE: 3 VALUE: 4 We were looking for something different for lunch and we came across Paik's. A no thrills Korean restaurant specializing in their black bean sauce rice/noodles. We ordered: Fried Dumplings - minced pork and vegetables dumplings deep fried to perfection. Crunchy, meaty and just need a dousing of vinegar. Jajang Rice - rice covered in shrimp egg omelette with the black bean jajang sauce on the side. The omelette was done right, not dry, but the black bean jajang sauce was really what made the dish. Beef Jjamppong - noodle soup with beef slices and mixed vegetables. Comforting bowel of needles with thinly sliced beef and cabbage. Jajangmyeon - their signature noodles with black bean sauce. Very umami and the noodles were done just right. Cheap (for nowadays) and good food, what else can you ask for?

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    Udon Mugizo - San Jose

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    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    9.1 miWest San Jose
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    Kid friendly
    Locally owned & operated

    We went on a Saturday around 6:30 pm and got seated within 5 minutes of arrival. Servers are…read morefriendly and food arrived quickly! We ordered the tempura curry udon and the salmon spinach cream sauce udon (which I highly recommend). The salmon spinach cream sauce udon has an amazing flavor profile if you are a fan of similar pasta flavors. The udon noodles are cooked just right.

    This hit the spot!…read more There was a long wait to enter. We just stopped by because we were in the area and were craving something warm. We've never heard of the place before but it was clearly very popular. We were just 2 so we were seated in 10mins, but others that were a party of 4+ that were in line before us had to wait for 45min+. So I would not wait here for more than 20min for the food, but 10min is fine enough. We got the beef donburi with a mini udon, as well as a curry udon with a side of shrimp and veggies tempura. The beef donburi was very good and hit the spot, as well the curry udon. You just can't go wrong with those orders imo. I wish we didn't get the sides because that was just too much food. Service wasn't the best but that's to be expected since it was so packed. We had to catch our waiters attention everytime we wanted to order, get more water, or get the check. And that was pretty hard to do, to get them to look at us because they were just running around. We were seated on a counter top with other people and we didn't mind but it's something to note if that's not your favorite type of seating.

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    Pho Papa - vietnamese - Updated June 2026

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