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Come back after a long time, their food always hits just like the first time! This is one of the top pho spots in the Bay Area for sure! I always order pho dac biet, a very filling meal with huge beef portions (brisket, raw, tendons, rib etc). Their pho broth is a highlight, it's northern style with a clear broth and very flavorful. Unfortunately we arrive too late when the store is almost close, so they ran out of fresh rice noodles (which I highly recommend ordering if you have a chance - fresh noodles have a very smooth and silky texture). Still quick service & clean store! I always recommend this pho spot to all of my friends!
Parking: Large plaza with a lot of spots but quite packed. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Interior: very viet authentic vibes, moderately clean, not that spacious. Good up to medium size groups or splitting up bigger groups.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Wait Time: No wait mid afternoon weekend and food came in about 5-10min Items Order: 6/10 Dac Biet $17.35L - Some of the meats ran out but they're literally a pho shop?? Also it was during the day so dinner crowd did not even arrive yet. Noodles were very mid but there was no mention of fresh noodles options. It looks like they have it but you need to ask because not on menu. Meat was average but small portion. Broth was actually solid. Sriracha is knock off not standard. 2/10 Oxtail Soup $9.9- THEY FREEZE THEIR OXTAIL AND SERVE IT COLD!!! The broth from the oxtail soup was lukewarm when it arrived unlike the hot broth from pho! The meat inside was also cold. This means their oxtail was premade frozen and just defrosted with the broth. On top of that the oxtail portion is extremely small and tough meat. HORRIBLE QUALITY SO AVOID Card Fee $2.93 - no mention on menu either
Pho Papa gets a lot of hype, but my experience didn't fully live up to it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]On the plus side, the outdoor seating is a nice touch, especially if you want a more relaxed, casual vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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.
Finally tried this place an it's no for me. Menu is a one pager with a variety of drinks to choose from. I had the number 4 small with thin noodles. You can choose thick but there's no fresh option. Bowl was brought out super fast, piping hot. I don't mix anything into my broth at any pho place. I like to try the pureness of the broth origin. The number 4 with brisket and steak looked good but it missing everything. No love in the broth what so ever. No depth or flavor it was not good. It tasted bland and sad. I texted my husband and said I'm not bringing you here.
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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Best broth with easy service and nice interior and exterior seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Also large servings for the price point and never disappoints, I always look forward to this coming home.
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!
Growing up, I've usually had Pho Papa as take out but for this visit, I dined in with my friends. I ordered a small (#4) Pho Tai, Chin with flat noodles. The broth was good and clear, but nothing spectacular. I liked that they were generous with their meat though! The sizing was also the perfect portion for me. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is pretty small/cramped, I think I elbowed the people behind me a few times (sorry!).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There were a lot of little flies flying around and a few spiders/cobwebs in the window corners.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]
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.
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.
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! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Store was clean and staff was fast and efficient![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Simple, delicious and yummy! Highly recommend!
Review Insights
3 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
The pho here hits the spot but I've tasted better broth before. This broth, while good, didn't have as a strong of an umami flavor as other places I've been before! Regardless, it's still a good meal. I got the pho with meatballs and it was yummy with huge portion of giant meatballs. My mom got the tendon and flank steak and she said the tendon was really fresh! In addition they have a lot of drinks to choose from. I ended up getting a che, the herbal jelly one, which was delicious and refreshing with a bunch of toppings. The highlight of this place is def the interior and vibes. It's super modern and clean inside and they have plenty of seats for outdoor dining too. I used to come here as a kid when it was named pho #1 or something so it always bring back nostalgia. The workers are very kind and helpful as well, and service is super quick! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
It was My first time here at Pho Papa and I personally think this is one of the best Pho spots I've been to. I got the number 2 rare steak so Rick in flavor and delicious steak definitely recommend for first timers. To drink I got the Thai tea Best THAI TEA EVER so Rich in sweetness and great amount of Thai Thank you Pho Papa! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
I was super excited to finally try this place out since there always seems to be a huge line and crowd whenever I pass by to go on to the 101 northbound freeway. In my head I figured the food must be good since it's always busy...however, my experience wasn't what I expected. My mom and I shared and ordered a #10 (well done brisket and flank), oxtail soup only, and the beef rib special. Sadly, the beef rib wasn't as tender or meaty as other pho spots I've tried. However, I did enjoy the oxtail soup which was nicely prepared and very tender. read more
2 years ago
Introduced by my coworkers, this place is located in a busy shopping center with Target and other popular restaurants like Boiling Crab. There's outdoors seating as well. I came here for the broth because I've been incorrectly liking pho-places. Apparently, clearer broth means less MSG (did not know that), which makes it more authentic. They use mainly animal stock in their broth to make up the flavor, which makes sense that this is not a place for vegetarians. This place was almost perfect, or expected of a pho place, except that I barely had service: once taking order and another bringing our orders out - never saw them again. read more
2 years ago
Got the Pho rare steak and well done flank #3 large and my wife got the Pho well done brisket small. I didn't get anything else so it's hard to judge these overall ratings when the ratings can be about different stuff but that's why I stated what I got. Pros: 1. Bean sprouts can be cooked 2. The aesthetics are nice like the wooden tables and placeholders. Cons: 1. The small and large prices are different on the menu but at the register the small is the same price as the large.. might as well get the large. Big no-no. 2. The broth was just okay, it was rich but like... not like "tastes amazing" rich. More like it had a few things in the broth.. can't explain it but maybe like more quantity of flavors than quality. 3. I barely had any meat. My wife's small had more meat. Barely had any "rare steak". read more
3 years ago
first time trying pho papa! Ive heard about this place a lot and it has very solid pho :) one of the few viet restaurants ive eaten at with only pho on the menu. I usually will look out for mi dishes or hu tieu but i think having exclusively pho has been working. could use a bit more noodle/meat in the broth but it was good still! Good amount of green onions. read more
This place does Pho and just that. Their broth is amongst the best ever with a clean taste and not laden with too much msg. Their options for noodles are thick or thin which equate to linguine vs linguine for those who need an English translation. The beef can be ordered on the side for upgrade at $1.50 but worth it if you enjoy the ability to soak it for the term of doneness you prefer. The meat was cooked perfectly and garnish garden fresh on our visit. read more
5 years ago
I used to go to the place before Pho Papa opened, which was Pho #1. If you from East Side SJ, you know what I'm talking about. Pho #1 was the original spot and was the best pho place in San Jose back then. I still remember the bullet looking holes in the window that were never replaced. I forget the timeline, but it closed down relatively recently and Pho Papa took it over. Lots of renovations happened and not sure if it's the same staff since I was a kid but going to that location hits home. I remembered Pho #1 to be fire and didn't really think other places could compare that well. Ordered Pho Dac Biet and my friend ordered the Beef Rib in soup. Pho Dac Biet was pretty standard but a little bit pricey compared to back then. I still think Pho papa is better than most of the places around ESSJ (pho tau bay, pho 90, etc.). They started giving the option to choose between thin or thick noodles which was never there before but that's interesting as I've always eaten pho with thin noodles. The flavor was great, good portion size (wish they gave a little bit more meat), and fast service. The Dac Biet Suon Bo was extremely flavorful and tender. The meat pretty much fell off the bone. Probably the highlight of my meal. Service was fast, basically took our order when we sat down and foods out within 5 minutes. If you need something, you probably have to wave a worker down, otherwise, once you get you're food, don't expect anyone to help you. Until I find a better pho place around my area, this will be the spot. read more
This has become our go-to spot for beef pho. My boys like it so much they said they could have it every day and never get tired it it. LOL Even picky Baby Bear claims his own bowl and doesn't make me share with him like he usually does. We each get a Regular size bowl of the combination Pho (Pho Dac Biet), with the fresh/wider noodles (banh tuoi). And then we add on one or two sides of Beef Ribs. Yeah. We're pigs. LOL The meat:noodles are just right; I never end up with a bunch of noodles like other places. The broth has good flavor and it doesn't taste like it was doused in MSG. It's a great all-around bowl of pho! read more
Pretty good pho here. We had the pho dac biet. Noodles were fresh with the option of skinny or fat noodles. There is no egg noodle option available. This is a strictly pho only restaurant with no egg rolls, rice dishes, salads, spring rolls or vermicelli bowls. The broth is clean with a rich beef bone taste with a good amount of beef pieces. The food came out quick. It arrived before our ice water. LOL. read more
5 years ago
Pho was delicious, it was a bit sweet, but overall perfectly balanced. The service was quick which was greatly appreciated. The ambiance was a bit cramped, but it's ok, the pho makes up for it. Everything tasted fresh which was great, from the noodles to the meat, clean tasting. The broth was clean and not cloudy and fatty. I would go back here again. I hope they adjust the sweetness levels! read more
FRESH NOODLES!! Atmosphere: Plenty of parking space so don't worry about that! The inside looks really nice and clean compared to most other pho places in San Jose. Definitely would bring friends here who haven't had pho before! Staff: The staff get straight to the point lmao they're trying to get you in and out. I can tell this place gets crowded during peak hours so understandable. They might sound blunt but that's just how they talk! Food: It's been a while since I had a good store pho and this place delivered! I ordered pho #12 which had well done and fatty brisket, my favorite pho toppings. The broth was light and not extremely oily like other places. They're also well known for their OXTAIL PHO so I'll have to try it next time but I already know its going to be good. Oh and ask for FRESH NOODLES, they're thicker and add to the experience forsure! Price: The only thing I have to say is that the portions are smaller compared to other pho places. I finished my large bowl pretty fast and could've still ate a little more. It's around $15 including tax and tip. But I would come back because of the quality! Wait: We were in and out. No wait at all. They served us our pho within 10 minutes of sitting down! read more
Never in my life would I expect to be waiting in line to eat some pho. Really crazy to actually have done that. What's the hype on this pho spot? Does Papa know a thing or two about pho? Came here on a rainy Sunday and there's a line out the door! My party of 5 waited for probably a solid 30 minutes. Man! At Pho Papa, they're a little different from the rest of the pho restaurants. The decor is modern, they have an open kitchen where all the magic happens. Kinda reminds me of a ramen spot. The moment we were seated by the server and given our menus, not a second later he asked if we were ready to order. If they passed out menus to folks waiting outside to see what they want, they can speed up the ordering process for sure. Our server was very haste-y that he misheard one of our drink orders. The food was pretty good. You can for sure tell the meat quality difference compared to most pho restaurants. Broth was flavorful and the Vietnamese coffee wasn't too sweet for my taste. I'd recommend coming to this place any day except for the weekends to avoid the long wait for pho. read more
I found this King of Pho place right around the corner from target. The first time I came here I was under the weather like achy sick (yikes) I had to order togo and miss out on the fun but I told myself (and cashier lady who was nice to me I'd be back) The Broth has healing capabilities with out a doubt THE BROTH helped me recover from that cold. That day was today ! This place caters only to Pho and thats why there King the staff knows there broth is something to rave about ! Thats why theres even a sign-in sheet outside the door it gets pretty busy. I had the pleasure of returning (healthy this time and with friends lol) to dine in and capture the beautiful scenery and savor the aromas of perfectly seasoned and weighed out meat portions. We got seated at table #11 which was right near the second exit it also had a pretty sweet view of the chefs busy in the kitchen the reflective mirrors showed them all diligently working.( Thank you Pho Kings lol) Today I took some friends for lunch here and they both loved the broth too ! Initially it was hard for them to chose an item off the tiny cute booklet menus because there's no pictures but thats were Yelp comes in handy ! I showed them my mobile picture menu and they knew right away they wanted the small #2 Pho Tai w/ a coke and the other with a mango smoothie. The both times I've ordered the * #1 Pho Dac Biet: it has ALL the meats Rare steak,Well done brisket,Flank,Tendon, Fat Brisket, Well done Flank* and got another Thai iced tea. Hands down thee Pho spot to go to ! :) read more
5 years ago
this pho place saved me when I was at the brink of death. okay...it was a hangover. it was a rainy day and pho papa warmed me up. it took quite a bit of time to get seated. they do have outdoor seating. once we ordered, the food didnt take long to come out. my only gripe is that at 1, they had already ran out of the fresh noodles. perhaps it was too busy so they didnt have time but it just doesnt taste the same as the thin noodles imo ): a little pricier than other places but the small bowl is definitely a decent size that always fills me up and more read more
1 year ago
Not as good as I remembered. The prices went up a tremendous amount and they charge for every little thing. Even take out boxes for your meal. I ordered a Thai iced tea, side of onions, and a small pho. My totaled came out $23 after tip for 1 Person. That's high for pho. When I checked my receipt, they double charged me for the onions. They forgot to bring it out for me, so I guess they thought it was my 2nd order. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Stellar pho, loved the broth in the pho dac biet, not too salty and all the meats were super fresh and tender. Wasn't a fan of the coffee but might come back to try it again. Had to be my go to spot for pho now. Really loved it here and the fresh noodles were excellent. read more
6 years ago
This place was hoppin when we got here around 1130 am for a weekday lunch. Menu is straight up simple- they specialize in beef noodle soup! I ordered the small #4 rare steak/well done brisket with flat noodle. Very impressed with my pho- flavorful broth, not skimpy with the beef at all, perfectly cooked noodles, and plenty of condiments( basil, jalapeños, bean sprouts, limes, hot sauce, hoisin). The small pho was more than enough! Can't imagine what the large looks like. Service was ok- they didn't check on us after we received our pho, we had to flag the server down for water refills. When ready to pay, take your ticket on the table to the cashier up front. FYI, minimum amount to charge is $25 and they do not split the bill into individual checks for a group. I would definitely come back just for the pho, but took off one star for service. read more
Best pho w/side of stewed rib, in all of SJ! So good, they can afford to close shop on Mondays...that's saying something, in the Vietnamese community. I also love their Chinese herbal drink with their shaven ice. Quick & friendly service. Open window to kitchen, for transparency. You can tell how good they are because of how busy they are...wish they had more locations throughout SJ. read more
2 years ago
Now that the hype has died down, it's not too hard to get a table here during the weekdays but weekends are still busy. Pho papa has grown on me. It's actually one of my favorite pho restaurants now. I love that they give you lots of meat and the soup is always full of green onions. I usually order the beef ball pho. read more
3 years ago
What makes a good bowl of pho? I like my soup to be piping hot. Piping hot soup is how Pho Papa serves it. A little pricier for a bowl of pho but the bowl of pho is definitely worth it because it is full of flavor and ingredients. It is a complete bowl of noodle, meat, flavor and ingredients. Id recommend to have the beef rib bone added to your bowl. read more
3 years ago
Quick order pick up..associate was kind friendly and clearly spoken. Order was quickly made. read more
2 years ago
More info about Pho Papa
1611 E Capitol Expy
Ste 206
San Jose, CA 95121
Evergreen
Directions
(408) 270-0600
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Ask the Community - Pho Papa
Do you have any vegetarian pho and vegetarian options?
No. This place is not vegetarian friendly.
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
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Pho Papa - vietnamese - Updated August 2026
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