They only have a few selections on their menu. They specialize in the beef rib bone Cambodian noodle soup and they have huge spring rolls. The meat on the bones was so tender, it fell right off of the bone. Their broth is so delicious. Don't forget to taste that before you put in that bomb ass house chili oil. And to all the Cambodians from a Cambodian, it tastes better than most of your momas house, j/k, but I'm not, lol. The chili oil sauce is spicy, but that's how I like it. And oh, that sugar cane drink completed the whole meal. It was good and not too sweet, just the way I like it. The owners were great. They were so sweet and welcoming. Don't forget to order some of their Chili oil house sauce for the house. I would definitely come back again if I am in the San Diego area. I highly recommend this place. Disclaimer: No one got hurt making the opening the can video, j/k, lol. https://fb.watch/HUlvHgClrw/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://fb.watch/HUmb-tAb9h/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://fb.watch/HUmfFqBVpF/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://fb.watch/HUmih3PsDJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr read more

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One of the best pho I've had at a restaurant. The broth was flavorful, the ingredients were fresh, and everything tasted great. I also ordered the cococane (coconut and sugarcane) drink, and it was delicious. My wife loved her meal too, which always makes the experience even better. Happy wife, happy life! Our food came out quickly, and the staff checked on us throughout the meal without being overbearing. The balance was perfect. Modern, clean, and comfortable. A great place to relax and enjoy a good meal. We'll be back, San Diego. And we'll be ordering that pho again. read more

PHOnomenal - 2 - Pho special and 2 - cococane - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

Even with the long wait, the disorganized waitlist, tables not being cleared quickly, and what seemed like only 1 server handling a full restaurant, the Pho itself was absolutely worth talking & bragging about. The broth was clean, smooth, and beautifully balanced with no greasiness at all. The beef ribs were incredibly tender and full of flavor, and the noodles had that perfect chewy texture that makes a great bowl of Pho so satisfying! The sugar cane drink was sugar cane did go well with the meal as it was sweet, refreshing, and cold. I was a little disappointed that they were already out of both the shrimp and pork spring rolls, especially since I arrived around 10 a.m. 'ish. They were also out of the fresh coconut mixed with sugar cane, which I was really looking forward to trying. That said, the Pho was amazing. The beef ribs were super delicious, and the sugar cane was, well... sugar caney in the best possible way. LOL :-) I do think they would really benefit from hiring extra staff and tightening/organizing up the flow. I understand they only prep around 200 bowls of Pho per day, but with food this good, the experience could be so much better if the waitlist, seating, service, and availability of menu items were more organized, and ordered ahead so that there is enough for a busy day. I'll definitely be back, because the food was that good. Next time, I'll just try to come when it's not quite so busy. read more

PHOnomenal - sugar cane - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

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Really love their sugar cane and pho. YOU HAVE TO COME EARLY BECAUSE THEY SELL OUT BEFORE THEY EVEN CLOSE. Sometimes lines start forming before they open on any random day of the week. This is my go to for pho. The owners really connect with the customers and genuinely remember many of their customers. I love how both the drinks and food are both top of the top. There's a reason why they sell out on food.. I would put these guys in national television if I could lol read more

PHOnomenal - Pho - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

10/10! This place has been on my bucket list since they opened. They close when food is sold out so calling ahead of time is THE best move for you if you're aiming to eat here. My husband and I got lucky and were able to score a parking spot and a table right before they stopped serving food. Their menu is small but so good! Everything is made fresh! Their ribs are so tender and fall right off the bone. Broth is amazing. It was our first time here and we both agreed that we would definitely come back. Seating is limited so call ahead of time or come right when they open! Service is quick, staff are friendly! We'll be back forsure! read more

PHOnomenal - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

Best Pho I've had, hands down!!! Super delicious, super fresh! Amazing staff. I will definitely be back. read more

PHOnomenal - Pho - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

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. read more

PHOnomenal - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

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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 read more

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Arguably the best pho in San Diego. Soup had the depth in flavor I been longing for. I loved it without the lime. As matter of fact, I loved the soup without the lime flavor. Once I tasted the soup with lime, I missed the soup without the lime. read more

You got to be real hungry coming here We order three ribs before she was five people and still have leftover to go read more

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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. read more

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The absolute real deal! Huge shout outs to Sam the Boss and Chef Sinatra. Incredible hospitality and vibes. The noodle soup is an absolute banger - we savored every drop. The flavor is so clean and delicious. Definitely the best I've had at a restaurant. Generous amount of herbs and beansprouts. The chili oil is flavorful and top tier. Felt great after the experience. Absolutely cannot wait to retime with more friends. Thanks again gentlemen!! read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

PHOnomenal - Spring Shrimp Rolls - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

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

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Food 10/10 Service 10/10 If I lived in the area I would be a regular. The guys running this place are EXTREMELY nice. Read that this place fills up fast so we got here right when it opened and 20 mins later there was a line. Don't be one of those people complaining that they run out of food, plan to get here early now that you know they get busy and can't serve all day. One tip, the owner warned us that the chili oil was spicy... believe him. So good though! If I ever come back to the San Diego area, this is one of the places I won't forget to come visit. read more

PHOnomenal - House Special - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

The food was amazing there is only their signature pho (in terms of pho options), but the quality was great and good portions. The ambiance was nice and the service was as well. I went with a group of friends and we all rated it a 10/10. I love pho and I would definitely come back. :) read more

PHOnomenal - House special pho - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

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! read more

PHOnomenal - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

We felt like something fresh for lunch so we grabbed some spring rolls from our neighbor PHOnomenal. The shrimp & pork roll always hit. They have the most delicious peanut sauce for it..... Limited menu items. BUT don't be fooled. They specialize on what they do have. We know this because they're always busy.... Luckily we live across the street so we can see when it's safe to visit. Always great service & vibes. Their Pho is AMAZING.... #DiningWithTheAndersons #Phonomenal #SpringRolls #CambodianGoodness read more

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! read more

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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. read more

PHOnomenal - Beef Bone In Spare Ribs Pho - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

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! read more

PHOnomenal - House special - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

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. read more

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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! read more

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We've been wanting to try this place for a long time! They make enough for each day so when it's gone it's gone! There are only two items on the menu: spring rolls and pho. We had both. Shrimp spring rolls were filled with lots of veggies & less noodles which I liked. The peanut sauce was amazing. The star is the Pho. The broth was tasty and full of flavor which matters the most. And what makes their pho stand out is the 2 beef ribs that are placed meat still on bone. But don't let that fool you. The meat just slid off the bone. Service was fast and friendly. We were greeted right when we came in and for us the wait was atypical. I think we just got lucky waiting 15minutes. There are lots of tables for people to have their own space to talk. I get a sense they do not rush people out rather stay and enjoy good conversations and great pho! Highly recommend! If you want to increase your chances of getting your hands on this special pho, head over at opening during a weekday. read more

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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 read more

PHOnomenal - Pho - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

Go now! Stop reading this. Meat, great. Broth, great. Noodles, great. Pho Hoa has a competitor now. Service is attentive, Ambiance is modern. read more

PHOnomenal - House Special Pho - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

Phonomenal has been voted as a top 5 restaurant in all of America! I have been wanting to try their famous Cambodian style pho and I am glad I finally got the chance to stop by. This spot is located in National City on the bottom level of an apartment complex. They have a smaller parking lot and street parking all around the area. Keep in mind that they are only from Thursdays-Sundays from 10am-3pm. They do tend to sell out of a lot of their stuff towards the end of the day so plan accordingly. Wifey and I stopped by around 10:30am and there was a 20 minute wait. For their menu, they keep it simple with their pho and spring rolls. We ended up getting the Shrimp & Pork Spring Rolls and The House Special Pho. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here. The broth of the pho was rich and flavorful while the rib meat was completely fall off the bone! All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. The hype and recognition they are getting is well-deserved. Come stop by to support an awesome AAPI-owned business and enjoy a bowl for yourself! read more

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Their beef rib pho is literally some of the best pho I've ever had. The chili oil is a must try (be careful since it is spicy, still a little adds so much flavor). Everything was very fresh and just exactly what you're looking for in a pho spot read more

Grabbed some lunch here on my day off and it was pretty amazing. The staff were so super welcoming and helpful, and I ended up ordering the pho plus the spring rolls which were huge. Pho was crazy delicious with the broth, noodles and the meat. Finished that but couldn't finish the spring rolls cause I got so full so they offered to wrap them to-go which was cool. Nice little spot which felt bigger than I expected based from the outside. Was able to get seated and my food right away cause it wasn't busy, so it must've been the right time to go. Thanks so much! read more

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Their soup broth is amazing!! Not only is the broth flavorful, but they give you a BIG portion of meat- two spare ribs along with a hefty amount of noodles. Come early to grab their pho since they close their restaurant once they sell out! Great customer service and their speediness of serving the food is great! read more

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Coming from out of town and this place was definitely saved on my collections to try during my vacation. I made a point to my family to wake up early so we could make it just before they opened lol Party of 6 adults and 3kids on Saturday we arrived 5mins before 10am and saw they were already open. As we entered we were greeted and thankfully there was no wait/line. As the rest of our party entered they sat us down at separate tables. We ordered a few The House Specials and shrimp and pork spring rolls and a kids bowl of plain noodles and meat ball. Service here is lightening fast!! All within 10mins after ordering our food was all infront of us. The broth speaks for itself it was delicious, clean and literally PHOnomenal! I only normally put bean sprouts, a lot of lime and sriracha in my pho, but here I didn't feel I needed too lol the broth was so flavorful and the beef was so tender and falling off the bone. The spring rolls were ginormous and fresh. The staff were so friendly and they worked fast. They started getting busy and the lines were forming outside and not once did we feel rushed. It was a great experience. Definitely a place to check out when you're in town or in the area. Parking is limited they have 6 reserved spots and limited street parking on a busy day. The resturant is clean and modern. I would return. read more

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Open for a little over two years now, PHOnomenal in National City has ascended to #4 in the 2025 edition of Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in the US. I finally had an opportunity to visit recently after learning that they frequently close early because all 200 bowls of pho for the day have sold out. This place operates only from Thursday to Sunday beginning at 10:00 am. On weekends, customers line up as early as an hour ahead of the opening time. Four dedicated parking spaces were located behind the building along with some visitor spots. The inside of the suite had nine tables and could seat less than 40 customers. There's something to be said about simplicity as the kitchen only served two food items... The House Special and Spring Rolls. The first was a bowl of pho containing two large beef bone-in spare ribs that have been simmered for hours. Not only was the meat tender, but the broth was light and sweet that's typical of Cambodian style pho versus Vietnamese. I added meatballs to my bowl which cost $3.50 more, however in hindsight they weren't worth the cost. The second was two shrimp and pork rolls wrapped in rice paper with baby greens and shredded carrots. Fish or peanut sauce was available for dipping, and I chose the latter. As others have noted, the rolls were as large as any in town. Even after splitting them in half, I was unable to finish both rolls and took some home for leftovers. Their size justified the $9.95 price tag. For beverages, soda and Cococane were available. The latter was a combination of fresh young coconut juice and fresh squeezed sugar cane juice. You could opt for just coconut or just sugar cane, but I selected the combo without ice which cost $1 more. The liquid tasted pure and refreshing. A crew of four workers delivered the orders from the kitchen, bussed the dirty tables, and closed out the tabs. They were pleasant and easy to deal with. I gave my lunch at PHOnomenal a 4.5 star rating as it's one of the better pho shops in SD County. read more

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Pictured below is the best bowl of pho I've ever had. We got lucky- we arrived at 1pm just to order the last 5 bowls of pho that they had for the entire day. Now let me tell you about this bowl of pho...after so many years of eating pho at well over a dozen spots across Southern California I thought that I had tried it all. I thought that I wouldn't like having beef rib pho. I mean I tried a beef rib in pho at another place, and I didn't enjoy it. But here... it was phenomenal. I was wrong to be skeptical. I enjoyed my pho with some of the added sugar and their house chili oil. Unreal. One of the major downsides are the hours. The hours are hard to make. I know, because that's why it took me so long to come here. Despite that, I think it is well worth making a trip out of it. It's that good. We also met the owner, who let us know that this pho was probably a little different than others we'd tried before because it's Cambodian style. It's also his family recipe. Whatever the reason for this pho being so good, I recommend it to anyone who's thinking about visiting. read more

PHOnomenal - Pho - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

Beef rib pho was flavorful and hearty. The broth was savory, noodles were bouncy and the beef ribs were so tender it fell off the bone! The spring rolls were delicious with the peanut dipping sauce. The only cons are parking and if you don't come early there's a line. Other than that the food came out fast and very friendly service. read more

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One of the best pho places ever!!! You know it's good when they basically only got one thing on the menu!! Their pho comes with two fall off the bone ribs which are superrr tender. It also comes with a lot of cilantro so if you don't like it be sure to say you don't want any. They also gave us a plate of the lime and bean sprouts. The service was super quick as well. This place opens at 10 and will close if they sell out so come early! read more

PHOnomenal - Pho - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

There's only one main on the menu and this shop definitely deserves to be a yelp top 100. The broth was super beefy and the ribs were tenderism. The only problem is that big ribs are a bit difficult to eat compared to the usual sliced meat that comes in pho. read more

PHOnomenal - Shrimp and Pork Roll - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

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"The Kuy Teav (Ka'thiew) was absolutely delicious. Our host, Sam, was incredibly hospitable and shared the fascinating history behind the dish, explaining how it uniquely differs from traditional pho. It was a wonderful dining experience." read more

PHOnomenal - Noodles Near Me - National City, California

Everything from the owner to the food is like the name Phonomenal. Highly recommend this place. Very popular and call ahead for pickup or walk in. Be expected to have a wait list started. Best advice come early. read more

I can't say enough good things about Phonomenal. My first time going there, I was too late. The owner (I think) informed me that they only sell a certain number of units per day, and to come back again soon. He was very kind, and gave us a few jars of their housemade crispy chili oil. When I came back, I felt very well taken care of by the staff. They showed that they were very knowledgeable and passionate about their food. The pho broth was very flavorful and refined. Their noodles were the perfect texture and did not stick together at all. The staff also checked in with us a few times to make sure everything was good. They also have the crispy chili oil at the table, which I of course added to the pho for a nice added kick. read more

PHOnomenal - Noodles Near Me - National City, California