Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    PHOnomenal

    4.8 (495 reviews)
    ModerateNoodles, Soup, Cambodian
    Closed 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    PHOnomenal Photos

    Business Info

    PHONOMENAL ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - PHOnomenal

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Sunny C.

    Another great pho spot. Also great value. There is a lot of rib meat in the signature pho. The rolls are also one of the largest I've seen. The restaurant is kind of small so when they are short staffed the wait can take a bit longer. But even with that the service was really good and quick.

    Shrimp Rolls
    Ariadna S.

    I spontaneously found this spot while looking for a place to have a late breakfast at. Definitely a place I'd recommend to anyone. I have a soft spot for places with hyper-specific menu with small amount of items that they specialize in. The spring rolls were thicc with two "c" and the soup was so delicious. The meat was so tender it fell off the bone! 11/10 would recommend and come back myself. The staff is very welcoming and nice! The restaurant is small and fills in quick so you gotta get on a waitlist and pay attention hard when called. As an entertainment side story that is in no way regarding service here because guys nailed it well for how busy it was: We did have an "interaction" with another guest who was convinced we took her spot in line and were seated at "technically her table." While in reality they never even answered when were called (a person called them inside and came outside to call as well) and somebody else (a party of two) ended up being sat instead of them. When it was our turn, they didn't even call our party by name, the person running the shift just pointed at us and called us up because he knew we also were waiting for an hour and we had a friendly conversation earlier. But yeah, for some reason girly-pop really felt a need to not only tell us they were skipped "because of us" but go on nagging about it lol

    Sue D.

    We enjoyed our experience and the food: * The House Special ($18.95) 5/5 -- The pho had good texture and was perfectly cooked. * Shrimp & Pork Rolls ($9.95) 4/5 -- Fresh veggies and flavorful sauce. Service: 3/5 Pleasant, however, we weren't given menus when we were seated. A few minutes later, the waiter came by and asked, "Are you ready to order?!" Lol. Also, we ordered one bowl of Pho, but they brought us two. No problem though; they took it back with no fuss.

    Pho
    Tami N.

    Agree that this is definitely the best pho in San Diego! I can see why this place sells out quickly so recommend you call ahead to see if they're already sold out for the day. The owner and staff are very nice and attentive! The pho portion itself is hefty and comes with all the usual toppings and a rich yet clean broth. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE CHILI OIL, it's spicy and a wonderful pairing. Go easy on it though if you can't handle spice. We also enjoyed the THICKEST shrimp and pork roll if you're not still satisfied with your pho!

    Spring Shrimp Rolls
    Thuy Dan T.

    This spot lived up to the hype for me. The pho was delicious and the service amazing. The ultimate comfort in a bowl. We were there on a Thursday at 10am in case they was a line. Luckily there was not but by 11am folks were waiting and by 1pm, they were sold out for the day. The Pho broth has a really nice beef flavor and the beef rib is definitely fall off the bone, but may need scissors to cut bite through some of the tendon. The noodles were bouncy even in the broth too. I ordered the vinegar white onions on the side and 100% worth it. We ordered ordered the spring rolls for a starter and they are densely packed with a good peanut/hoisin sauce. A lot of vermicelli noodles, but the lettuce was crispy and the shrimp are full pieces, not like cut in half like some other spots. Also their homemade chili oil is one of the best I've tasted. It really has the kick, has some texture/crunch, and just really good flavor. We bought one to take home too - just delish. The staff was incredible and super accommodating. We had some children in our party and were on toddler time so half of our group arrived very early. They allowed us to order for the first half and when the second half arrived, we ordered even more.

    Menu
    Suzette E.

    Back here again and this place never disappoints! It just gets better each time. Utterly obsessed!

    Nicole S.

    You know a place is good when they only have one main item on the menu. By the time our family got there, the spring rolls sold out. The broth is clean and tasty. I enjoyed the fall off the bone ribs. Service: they are busy and I wouldn't say they are speedy. It took a bit to seat us but that's ok. Ambiance: cool high ceilings. Nice large tables. Condiments and utensils all on the table. Parking: it's tight. Make sure you aren't taking resident parking!

    House special
    Mirei K.

    They only have 2 items on the menu, the pho and the spring rolls, and it did not disappoint! The meat fell off the bone and the broth is one of the best broths in San Diego! I accidentally added too much chili oil in mine but the store owner offered to give me extra broth and made sure we were enjoying the food, which was great! The store was clean and parking wasn't too bad, the vibes were awesome!

    Pho (with and without meatball)
    Jessica S.

    At last, I finally made my way to this popular pho restaurant after failing twice! I was super excited to try their Cambodian styled pho as I heard AH-MAZING things about it and the beef ribs. Finally! It's located in the corner of a residential building on K Ave and E 8th St. There's a small designated parking area for customers in the back with, I believe, 4-5 stalls. If not, there is ample free street parking around the area. The menu was simple, with only two main items: beef rib pho (with the option to add extra ribs or meatballs) and spring rolls (shrimp and pork combo or individual protein). They also offered drinks and a la carte pho broth and noodles. Small menu, huge flavors! We all ordered a bowl of pho and a serving of the pork spring rolls. The spring rolls arrived first, and they were HUGE! What a great price for the portion size though they were mostly vegetables. They were cut in half and came with individual "peanut" sauces, which had a sweeter flavor than traditional Vietnamese peanut sauce. My cousin added quite a bit of their chili satay to his sauce, and it was incredibly spicy! The chili oil was very very very good, but extremely spicy. I almost made the mistake of adding too much to my pho. The star of the meal came out - the beef rib pho! The broth was very deeply rich and aromaticc, and I enjoyed it without any added sauces. But definitely had to add little drops of chili oil to make it spicier (but not too much!!). There were two beef ribs cooked perfectly - one where the meat fell right off the bone, and another with more cartilage, which made the meat stick on a bit more. Both were very delicious and tender! This meal really hit the spot. I can see why this restaurant is so highly rated. The broth and beef ribs were incredible! I will definitely be back, arriving early to make sure I don't miss out like the previous two times. P.S. It seems that they sell out within 2 hours of opening - be sure to arrive early!

    Beef Bone In Spare Ribs Pho
    Patrick P.

    PHOnomenal specialises in spare ribs pho. Their menu is very simple and small. Just spare ribs pho, spring rolls, and some drinks. I've been here several times and tried both spare ribs pho and spring rolls. Their pho is very rich in flavour and the spare ribs are very tender. The spring rolls are very fresh and delicious. The portion is huge. They have a good space inside and it's very neat. All the staff are very friendly and welcoming. The spare ribs pho sells out fast so you should go as early as you can. Even if it says it's closed early due to their pho sold out, you can still go in and check with staff. There are few parking spots reserved for the restaurant or you can park on the street. I'd highly recommend PHOnomenal if you love pho.

    Menu
    Norma D.

    It's pouring down rain so a great day for pho! Broth always makes the difference my pho had so much meat. So tender it fell off the bone. Bad day to drive but a great day for pho! It gets super busy here and they serve till they run out.

    Pho
    Melissa L.

    I understand the hype. It definitely deserves its spot on the Yelp list and it's for sure best pho in San Diego. The ribs definitely had tendernism! And the servers were so kind and helpful! We came right at open and got seated right away but at the end of the meal it got really busy. The restaurant is pretty small maybe 10 tables total so come early. Not a lot of parking either. Only street parking

    House Special Pho Bowl! W/ hands down best ribs!
    Phillipjan C.

    Thursday November 6th, 2025, Around 1130AM I came here hearing about it being in the Yelp Top 100! The FOOD. The spring rolls are springs rolls. Nothing too special about them. But the House Special Pho.. was absolutely PHOnomenal! (Pun intended!) The two big ol ribs were fall off the bone, super juicy, and tender! Sided with a refreshing "Fresh Sugar Cane" juice was top notch! The SERVICE. Thank you SAM!I loved the homefelt HOSPITALITY! We came in, put our name down, and was seated within minutes! Everything was just amazing. The server mentioned putting some of the chili oil into the side of peanut sauce and it did not disappoint, it was such a great recommendation! The AMBIANCE. It was very modern and hip, yet simplified! I loved it. Not too flashy, not too much. I liked the high windows! The CONS: there is no designated parking, so street parking it is. The parking lot directly behind the establishment is private property to the apartments. The bathroom is a single person unisex. I wouldn't say it's Top 100, mainly because that's an understatement. After eating at many other PHO restaurants, this is definitely in my TOP5, maybe even my No. 1!!!!!!!! OVERALL RATING: 9.5 of 10!

    Spring Shrimp Rolls

    See all

    Photo of frank n.
    60
    53
    72

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John C.
    870
    2125
    19785

    13 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Thuy Dan T.
    4999
    1521
    14978

    4 months ago

    Helpful 24
    Thanks 11
    Love this 22
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Should be phenomenal. Pho broth and meat combo, perhaps the best ever - including pho I ate in Vietnam

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ele S.
    0
    16
    7

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 4
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 63
    Thanks 16
    Love this 53
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Roger P.
    754
    1049
    2914

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 3
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sil T.
    0
    23
    10

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - PHOnomenal

    What if I only want the ribs not the meatballs can I do that & is it the same price as the house special even tho I don't want meatballs or do I just get more beef ribs?

    Yes, and the price is a few $$ less.

    Do I need to make reservations?

    Reservations are not required.

    View All 4 Questions

    You might also consider

    Pho Mai Cali & Grill

    Pho Mai Cali & Grill

    4.2
    (529 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    "If you're going to get Vietnamese food, go to the one on Sweetwater" - my Elderly Aunt…read more Now, my elderly aunt (in her 80's) hardly ever voices her opinion. She was raised to be soft-spoken. So, if she insists on going to a specific restaurant for Vietnamese food, then you know that the place is good. Spoiler alert: she was right. As an out-of-towner, nothing makes me happier than trying a family-owned business, especially when it's recommended by someone (bonus points, when it's someone who's culinary POV I respect). I was meeting up with my Godson & his family. When my aunt overheard that we would be going to meet at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant in National City (which will remain unnamed), she insisted that we go to the one on "Sweetwater" (Pho Mai Cali & Grill) instead. FOOD: Eggrolls - 8.5 / 10 Warm, crispy. Just how I like them. I always appreciate when they are served alongside their signature Vietnamese sweet + sour sauce. The fish sauce is especially pronounced & very welcome. #8 (Pho with Rare Steak + Meatball) - 8.9 / 10 Rich, beefy, umami broth. The steak is tender. The meatballs have an interesting spongy texture. Plenty of long, chewy rice noodles. I don't always get pho when I go to a Vietnamese restaurant (I know, I know, I'm weird). So, when I get pho, it is a big compliment & a vote of confidence. I liked it & would gladly come back. Huge shout-out to the entire team. Service was phenomenal. We were a group of 7 waiting on 2 (coming from work). Our female server was beyond gracious with the numerous times she check-in on us. Especially with not saying a word that we went quite a bit over their closing time (I hate doing that, but it was others in my party that arrived later, & I was overly generous with gratuity in cash). Please support family-owned businesses like Pho Mai Cali & Grill. I would happily come back any day of the week.

    I've stopped here plenty of times for a quick Vietnamese coffee run before my tee time next door…read more Since the shop is still fairly new, the interior isn't the most visually appealing and definitely has more of a mom-and-pop, hole-in-the-wall vibe. That said, the food always looks amazing, and there's usually a steady stream of customers whenever I stop by. One thing that surprised me was the coffee. It's noticeably lighter in color, almost as if cream or milk has already been added, compared to the traditional dark, strong Vietnamese coffee made with espresso and condensed milk. It's a different style than what I'm used to, but still worth trying if you're curious. The place is small, with fewer than six tables, so it's more of a quick spot to grab pho or satisfy a Vietnamese food craving rather than somewhere to hang out for a long meal. Again, it's definitely smaller than most pho restaurants, but sometimes those are the places that surprise you the most.

    Photos
    A wide angle view of the interior seating - fair amount of space here.
    A wide angle view of the interior seating - fair amount of space here.
    Egg Rolls
    Egg Rolls
    D2. Vietnamese Coffee $4.99

    See all

    D2. Vietnamese Coffee $4.99
    Royal Mandarin Restaurant

    Royal Mandarin Restaurant

    3.9
    (2k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    These are definitely the best salt and pepper wings we've had so far. Better than Golden…read moreChopsticks. We liked that the batter is lighter but still crispy. The seasoning is a bit different, less peppers and less chunky, more like just seasoning straight on the wings. It was super flavorful, perfectly fried, and so delicious. We called for a pick up order and it was ready in 10 minutes. They have the ordering and pick up system down. Super efficient, tons of orders. We were in and out and enjoyed them freshly fried in the car.

    Everybody goes to Royal Mandarin for one thing, and that's the salt and pepper chicken. As…read moreexpected, they did not disappoint. The chicken was crispy, fried to perfection, and a solid 10 out of 10. The service is always quick, which is one thing you can consistently count on at Royal Mandarin. The prices are also reasonable, so no complaints there. Unfortunately, everything else was a letdown. The rice tasted old. I don't know if it's being reused or sitting out too long, but it definitely did not taste fresh. The lumpia were ridiculously small. I wouldn't even say they were the size of my pinky. They were probably smaller than that. I've never had lumpia that looked more like a toothpick or a straw, and there was barely anything inside. The egg roll that came with the lunch special wasn't much better. The inside was mushy and soggy, almost like it had been frozen and then reheated. I actually had a similar experience the last time I came home. Some of the food just tasted old. While I thoroughly enjoyed the salt and pepper chicken, everything else on the plate was disappointing and not worth ordering again. If you're coming here, stick to the salt and pepper chicken. That's still the star of the show.

    Photos
    Royal Mandarin Restaurant
    Shrimp fried rice
    Shrimp fried rice
    Salted Pepper Chicken (take out)

    See all

    Salted Pepper Chicken (take out)

    PHOnomenal - noodles - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...