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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.
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!
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.
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]]
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!
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.
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 [[HIGHLIGHT]]The shop has tables inside and outside. Everything was pretty clean and tidy when I visited.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will return!
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!)
Review Insights
9 months ago
10 months ago
One of my favorite pho restaurants in the Bay Area! I love coming here for a comforting breakfast/brunch! I believe this place specializes in Northern-style pho, known for its minimalistic approach that emphasizes a clear and delicate broth. It's important to note that extravagant toppings such as tripe are not part of the usual offerings here. My go-to is always their #1, Pho Dac Biet. The broth carries a robust beef flavor and is always remarkable consistency every time I come here. I typically don't like raw beansprouts so I love that this place offers to have them steamed! Wide noodles are also a MUST! I've noticed that theirs are slightly slimmer, resulting in a bouncy and chewy texture that doesn't easily break apart. Their beef ball pho is another delightful option! The only downside is that if you want the beef ball, you'll have to order the complete bowl of pho. However, it's absolutely worth it for enthusiasts. A brief glance is all it takes to recognize that they don't play around - the beef balls are so big that they have to cut it in quarters. Service is nice and fast, you never have to wait more than 10 mins! read more
1 year ago
One of my favorite Pho spots in SJ. The extra order of beef ribs is a must! The meat is so tender that it falls off the bone. Broth is rich and flavorful, and they don't skimp out on how much meat they give you. Service has always been fast and efficient, and is super clean inside. It's a typical Vietnamese restaurant, so don't expect top notch service, they just take your order and brings it out, very minimal talking. Overall, a solid pho place , just wished they closed a bit later in the night ! read more
11 months ago
I had the Pho Dact Biet, and it was so delicious! They focus solely on pho, and it's amazing. The pickled onions added a tasty crunch. The place is clean, spacious, and easy to park near Target. Their broth is packed with a strong beef flavor and if you're only serving Pho, you have to make sure that is nailed down, which they did! It's a bit pricey, but it's totally worth it. The service was decent but I would definitely recommend this place if you are a big Pho fan read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Viets know this is one of the best Pho spots in SJ. It's very traditional southern style pho. Wait can be long on the weekends so come early. Located near Boiling Crab. Service is super fast. I love their fresh noodles and how they slice the green onions. read more
Solid 3 stars for a good (not great) pho spot (+) Solid pho - broth is good and they give you plentiful meat and without the crazy wait like pho Hanoi. (=) I got the large pho dac biet and it didnt come with meatballs or tripe. Not a minus but just saying for $16... (-) look at my coffee. It came out 1/6 full. Wth? And this coffee didnt sit well an hour later in my stomach. (-) my pho temperature was lukewarm. What is up with making the soup piping hot? i was sitting outside, it was misty and cold, can I get a truly HOT bowl of pho? Tldr; I still might get this place another shot :-) read more
One of my favorite pho place! I love that I can taste the beef flavor of the meat, you know they use good quality of meat. The place opens at 8am which is really an advantage for parents like me that after dropping off kids from school, I can get pho to start the day. They have different y Types of pho, coffee and fresh juices. Service is quick, place is decent its a fast pace reataurant and can get packed with customers quickly. You can choose where you want to seat, if you want outside or inside. So many patrona coming here. Highly recommend! read more
I liked the bright ambiance and big windows featured here, creating a nice atmosphere. My friend said this was her favorite pho place in the Bay and I would say it's definitely up there! The food was great and I didn't taste MSG in the same way I do other places. I had a great experience here and enjoyed my meal and the service. I would 100% go again! Pho Dac Biet 4.5/5 (Pictured) Great quality meat with a generous amount, and the broth was classic and delicious. I split the Large with my friend and it was the perfect amount for both of us. They provided sauces that added flavor when needed which also satisfied my spicy cravings. read more
3 years ago
I've been here a few times and haven't left a review, but recently went back and it was the best bowl of pho I've had in a while! The broth is flavorful and not too forward in the star anise aroma. I love that that they give so many green onions in the broth. I believe you can choose from fresh noodles or the regular ones. I opted for the regular and it was cooked perfectly. They're also so generous with the vinegar marinated onions. Quick and nice service. You pay up at the counter which is convenient. There are tables inside that are quite small, but they have added tables outside as well. I would definitely come back to try to oxtail pho. read more
1 year ago
Đây là tiệm phở tệ nhất San Jose! Tôi mua 2 tô đặc biệt lớn togo về nhà mở ra nước phở đen thui. còn đen hơn nước lẩu dê thuốc bắc. Nếm thử thì mặn tê cả lưỡi với vị bột ngọt. Có lẽ là hàng còn lại từ ngày hôm trước. không dám ăn luôn . Đành phải bỏ . Tiền mất còn hơn bị bệnh. order # 33 on Feb 11th 2025 read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Pho Tai will always be my go-to! Simple and filling for breakfast after a party day. The small bowl is perfect for someone who only eats a little. Their beef is super tender and soft. This place is usually super busy, but wait time is usually super fast, read more
Pho Papa is my go to pho spot in the Eastside San Jose. I got the combination pho with the side of the beef rib, and it was all delicious. There was so much meat in the bowl that supplementing with the beef rib was not even needed. The beef rib was so tender and juicy. I could eat a couple of those beef ribs if I was trying to beef up (pun intended). The broth is very flavorful and light. If I was going on a broth diet to lose some weight, this would be the broth to do it with. This place can't get busy but the service is pretty fast. I will definitely recommend the spot and will definitely be back. read more
2 years ago
Disappointing experience. The broth in our pho was very bland. But the broth with the spare rib was much more flavorful, which made us wonder if the soup was watered down. The rib itself could've been more tender as it was a little difficult to get off the bone -- I'd skip this next time. The restaurant was also on the dirty side with old food splatter on the table and the wall. read more
3.5 stars at most. The food was okay. It came out piping hot, which I appreciate. Careful not to burn your tongue lol. They have a very minimal menu. Only specializing in pho. I got the number 1: pho dac biet (special). I like everything that came with the bowl. Broth was good. Bummed that #1 didn't have bò vien (meatballs). I just wish the noodles weren't so overcooked. I preferred long noodles that didn't break so easily. I liked how they asked about how we wanted our onions and bean sprouts. I got my bean sprouts cooked cause I like it soft. Staff were attentive when I came with a group of friends (7 ppl). Credit card accepted. 2 dining sections with the open kitchen in the middle. Staff were working efficiently. Lots of outdoor seating. Overall, not a bad place for some quick pho in the area! read more
I came here with my friends at opening on a cold Sunday in January. This is a ma and pa establishment that specializes in northern vietnamese cuisine. The servers were great, fast and provided a friendly atmosphere. The pho was great, they offer a variety of noodles and don't have cilantro in their broth. For all of those cilantro-intolerant folk, this is the place to come and try a great bowl of pho read more
2 years ago
I used to make fun of Tess and would often joke that she is not my daughter because she would often choose Asian cuisine whenever we go out to eat. I stopped making fun of her recently because even though I may not want or crave Asian cuisine all the time, but it is all I think about when I am away from home. Gavin and I went to Vegas recently and I kid you not - though we were surrounded by endless food of all sorts around the world; all I was craving for was pho. Even though it was 100 degrees. Been dying to try this place, but I have not been able to go until this past Friday. I took it off to hangout w/ Gavin. I can never carve enough time out for him, it seems. I'm off next Friday again just for him (well, and my daughter too since she turns 18 that day). Anyway. It is always packed whenever I drove by. My cats' vet is next door and I have always wondered if it is as good as the hype made it to be. The broth was fragrant, light. I just realized the Dac Biet did not come w/ any tripe. I did order a beef rib. I'll be honest, I came for the beef rib.. the beef rib was served in a shallow/narrow bowl, garnished w/ green onions. The beef fell off the bone, but you needed a knife to slice and chew. It wasn't tender enough to just eat right off the bone. The broth both savory and sweet, the beef brisket and flank steak thinly sliced and juicy. I was in heaven. The service was fast and I like that they accept cards. They do not offer Diet Cokes and their cups of iced water (tap) is small.. if you need a refill you will need to flag someone. Once our pho was served, we never saw our server again. We did not come for the ambience. We came for the food. Though Gavin wanted a burger for lunch, he chose to go w/ me to have lunch. I would have gone by myself because I have been craving pho for months. Nothing like Vietnamese food. read more
My first time eating here ever last night with my bf. He was feeling a little under the weather so we decided to get pho. Usually this place is packed and we don't bother going, but for some reason, we didn't see too many people so we decided to give it a shot. These are the items we ordered: Large #1 Small #8 Special beef rib Avocado smoothie The pho we both ordered were okay. I liked that I was actually able to finish my small portion and eat some of the special beef rib. My bf enjoyed his pho and loved the broth of the beef rib. The beef rib we got had a ton of meat on it and it just slides right off the bone! Avocado smoothie was just okay, not as sweet and I think there must have been a bitter avocado in my smoothie because something tasted odd. Service is typical when you go to a pho restaurant. I knocked off a star for cleanliness. I noticed some of the spoons at are table were kinda dirty so I had to wipe it down myself. Would I come back? Maybe, but def not a bad experience. read more
Most people tell me that this spot is hit or miss but I can confidently say I have yet to have a bad bowl of pho here. My most recent visit was awesome. I was meeting my friend for breakfast and I arrived early. There was a line so I added myself to the waitlist and it moved pretty quickly -- I was able to get a table within 10 minutes. There are outdoor and indoor seating options but since it was a bit chilly -- I decided we should sit inside. My friend and I both ordered their Phö Dàc Biêt which comes standard with Rare Steak, Well Done Brisket, Flank, Tendon, Fat Brisket, Well Done Flank ($13.55 for a small and $14.50 for a large bowl). The broth was so hearty and rich with beef bone flavor -- not sweet or oily like most places can be. I opted for the fresh thick noodles which were so satisfying. All of the meat in the bowl was so tender and had so much flavor. Of course, I ordered a side of white raw onions with vinegar and topped it off with an abundance of sriracha. Super fire. If you're looking for some good pho, check this place out. Bonus: these guys open earlier than surrounding pho restaurants so early birds can get their fix before the crowds get crazy. read more
3 years ago
Still my favorite beef pho restaurant in the Bay Area! Now that pho prices have gone up overall, the prices here are not as steep as other places. I like that they offer both thin and wide noodles. The broth is clean, flavorful- and the meat is still good quality. The tai (rare steak) is very tender, but my favorites would be the nam, gau, and gan. The best! Please open a second location in the east bay! read more
Very nice restaurant with courteous and prompt staff. We were seated immediately and our orders were taken very quickly. Our food came out hot and fresh. I ordered the oxtail pho. The restaurant was very clean and homely. read more
3 years ago
They said only 1 size for to go. But they charge extra for large one, utensils... When we took home, only half bowl , no hoisin sauce, no utensils... $15.75 for half bowl of noodles, no meat at all read more
I'm not too picky with my pho, but once I've tried Pho Papa, I can't seem to like any other pho restaurants. I always get the special pho here. The broth is clear, very well-balanced with a touch of sweetness. There is no need for hoisin sauce to adjust the flavor. You can choose from 2 kinds of pho, the thin and thick one (which is fresh and silky) and I always go with the fresh one if it is not sold out. The meat is tender and cooked perfectly in the broth. I also like to get a side of the vinegar onion, but the onion here is not sour enough for my taste. Lunch and dinner time is always packed, but the line moves quickly. read more
This place came highly recommended by family and friends.. The phở here is SO GOOD, it did not disappoint! Went for lunch on a Sunday and it was busy but we were fine sitting outside since we had our dog with us. I'm also glad I tried the beef ribs special, totally worth it. Can't wait to dine here again next time we're in SJ! read more
Rating - 4.5 Stars Very aromatic broth where you can definitely taste the spices! The broth also has a touch of sweetness, but still very well balanced and quite flavorful despite being on the lighter side. Ordered everything to-go, but meats were still tender, especially the beef rib, and fresh noodles were still silky. Heads up that they require a $20 minimum to pay with card and to-go orders cost an extra $0.50. When that's not an inconvenience, Pho Papa will probably be my go-to if I'm around East SJ! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
9 months 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 July 2026
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