Saigon Pho
943 E University,Ste 107, Tucson, AZ, 85719
Saigon Pho Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Tucson for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
943 E University,Ste 107
Tucson, AZ, 85719 - Phone (520) 624-0999
- Website https://www.saigonphotucsonaz.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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Siobhan N.
Such an amazing variety of foods to try! The Rare Beef Pho is really good, great price and a generous portion. It has all the right flavours. I also really like the Boba Smoothies, I think I had Mango last time and it was gooood. I haven't had a Banh Mi yet but they all look yum. The service is friendly and the food comes out at an acceptable speed. The best part, I mean BEST...the Shrimp & Pork Spring Rolls!!! They are fresh, large and just all round awesome. I have tried Shrimp Spring Rolls at about 7 or 8 other Vietnamese restaurants around the country and none have compared. I have basically given up try to find a good match because I am always disappointed when I compare them. The sauce is great too, perfect balance not too sweet, nutty creaminess. Some sauces are too tangy or watery, theirs is perfect. They have nailed it and I'm forever changed!
(5)José C.
I love Saigon. It's conveniently located in Main Gate Square across the street from the museum and behind the Urban Outfitters. I appreciate Miss Saigon because it accommodates vegetarians very well with its huge vegetarian menu (in fact, it's separate from the carnivore menu). And it's worth noting that it's one of two places in Tucson that serves vegetarian Pho with a vegetable broth. I'd recommend the #4 or the lemongrass tofu banh mi. And be sure to grab a drink with your order. They've got some incredible boba tea & smoothies (I recommend trying the Taro smoothie).
(5)Alex L.
I had the seafood pho (even though it had egg noodles instead of pho noodles). Overall it was ok until I got to the broth. Too salty! However, the service was excellent overall and the girl up front was really nice. Would I come back again? Sure thing I would! The Thai Iced Tea with boba spoke for itself. Something within walking distance from my hotel and had generally good food? I'd be back but definitely order something else instead.
(3)Michael R.
Love Pho, but this place missed the mark. Visiting from DC and saw this place across the street from the Marriott and decided to try. The broth was not strained well had grease visible and was not tasty. The portion was great, but the broth the key component just missed the mark for me. I did eat my Pho but was not happy with the experience
(2)Gabi M.
The chicken curry was a strange texture.... Like split pea soup. And the flavor wasn't that of typical curry. It wasn't bad... Just weird. I've eaten curry from a lot of Thai and Vietnamese restaurants and it's never tasted like this. My sister's egg rolls and fried tofu were good though.
(3)Stephanie B.
I gotta be honest with you -- I'm just not that impressed. Miss Saigon is bit of a walk away on Campbell so this place might be better distance-wise from campus, but if you have a car, go to Miss Saigon instead. The pho here has no depth of flavor. I've been here two or three times and got different bowls of pho, but they're just not that tasty. As simple as pho sounds, there needs to be a fine balance of delicious goodness that goes into the broth -- it's a basic Vietnamese dish with a lot of soul, and I feel like you can judge any Vietnamese restaurant off the quality of its pho. The pho here almost tastes watery with little flavor -- I find myself dumping in sriracha just to make it taste like something. The food here is just bland. The quality is not there. I feel like the menu is almost too large for such a small restaurant to execute well. I've had boba from here as well, and I always end up with icy chunks that the bottom. Really, go to Miss Saigon. They execute flawlessly and give you delicious Vietnamese cuisine for a better price.
(2)Brett T.
Service was absolutely horrendous. No one asked if I wanted anything to drink, no on checked in on me, and the people appeared grumpy. The food was also not that great. I ordered chicken curry expecting chicken in a thick curry. Instead I got an odd chicken noodle soup hold the noodles. The broth had somewhat of a curry flavor but not what I expected. I would avoid this place and go to pei Wei. Its also cheaper at Pei Wei.
(1)Daryn M.
Best Vegetarian Pho by far intown- most places just give you vegetable broth, noodles, bland tofu, etc. But, Saigon Pho's is so tasty! Not sure what it tastes like.. but it is good, not bland at all. I usually get it to go.
(5)Shijie F.
The restaurant has a distinct smell. Maybe it's the lemongrass, maybe it's the fish sauce, I don't know. I don't mind Asian restaurants carrying a smell if they are good; I just noticed it on a Thursday night when the business was slow and few customers ate in. I got the beef pho and fried spring rolls. The pho was pretty tasty, but the spring rolls were bland and greasy. Once in a blue moon I have a craving for Vietnamese food, and Saigon Pho will do.
(3)Ethan C.
Seriously guys. I used to love this place. Had lunch there today and the sriracha sauce was watered down and they added food coloring to hide it. I know because it turned my noodles pink and it wasn't spicy at all. That and the boba pearls were hard as a rock. Shame because it's close to work. I don't know why but you guys are losing your way.
(2)John E.
Don't get baguette sanwiches/Banh Mi here if you want actual banh mi. I got the BBQ pork. The meat was flavorless and vegetables were not pickled. The bread was stale, thick, and doughy - not a french baguette. I also got the pho. The broth was sweet - in a not good way.
(2)Jerry L.
Pretty mediocre pho. Big big portion but the broth has some sweet undertones which really doesn't work very well. The meat was rough and lacked flavor. Cheap to eat so I will probably come back when my standards are low. The three stars are for their big reasonably priced banh mi that has some flavor. I like how they stuff it with lots of fresh vegetables and the meat is always well cooked. Great to eat on the go. Some of their other dishes are okay, some are not. The stir fried noodles were really not very impressive. The fried rice is okay. The shaking beef is deliciously grilled and works very well with the lettuce wraps.
(3)Fringe O.
Fresh veggies and lots of vegan options. The vegan banh mi selections are delicious. Be aware that even though the imitation meat is soy based, it does have whey in it, so stick with the tofu. Several different vegan noodle soups, all good. Excellent Tom Yum.
(4)Beraya L.
I've been to this place a couple times for there boba smoothie and teas which are pretty good. This time I had there #35 which was more of a different meats pho. The bowl was literally big enough for 2 people to share it included your sides that normally come with your pho such as a lime, mint leaf, cilantro and bean sprouts. It was not to bad but I felt the broth needed a bit more flavor tho normally it has this great aroma of spices in the broth but this one was a bit bland it wasn't worth the $8 honestly.
(3)Chester H.
Went to this place once and will not go back... Simply the food here is not great at all. I'd rather walk over to miss Saigon which is much better. Most of the stuff we ordered was flavorless, and arrive was terrible. Maybe it was just a bad day for them? Idk maybe I'll give them a second chance... Nah I'll go to miss Saigon instead
(2)Randi W.
Who cares about the service?!?!?!?!?! I have been there twice in the last few days and am craving again. The Pho is awesome, and you get a huge portion. I tried the BBQ baguette as well. While it is hard for me to rate it, as I was rather intoxicated at the time, I think I found it to be pretty good. Egg Rolls are pretty good, but it's odd that everything in them is ground up.
(4)Monica E.
Tucked away just northwest of the Park and University intersection is Saigon Pho, a lovely locally-owned restaurant. It seems to cater quite strictly to the UA crowd, though I believe this is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Tucson. Granted, this place is all about the pho. Yes, Saigon Pho sells delicious spring rolls, baguettes, rice and also rice noodle dishes, but it's all about the pho. But, seriously, try the bun at least once! Saigon Pho can get quite popular during the lunch hour. Depending on your arrival time, you might find yourself changing your order to go, or sitting outside in the strange little gravel area right in front of the parking lot. I know, I know -- this isn't the spot to take a new date if you are looking for some romance. But it is the place to take a date -- or a few friends -- if you want some casual good eats. In fact, it is quite common to see groups of folks eating here. And because the orientation of the space is somewhat weird -- the building cuts in, consuming much needed seating -- it is community style in some areas. Two large tables sit smack in the middle of the establishment, and strangers are not shy about sharing the table, which is just wonderful to see. I often get my order to go, but I do love the ambiance. As for the food, I tend to get the oxtail and rare beef pho or the bun with BBQ pork and vermicelli. I love, LOVE the oxtails here! They somehow manage to cut every single little piece of fat off the meat, cooking it until it yields its rich, earthy flavor. And the broth is so light and lovely with a tinge of sweetness from the fish sauce. And I appreciate that on those many days when I opt not to order the noodles or rice, the staff is quite accommodating offering cuts of vegetables instead. I also love that no seasoning is ever required. OK -- maybe some Sriracha on my fiery days. But the seasoning is on point! I don't even understand why salt and fish sauce or even hoisin are placed on the table. Other things to try: the lemongrass tofu baguette -- so refreshing and filling and perfect for Tucson's summer days; the curry fish -- don't be thrown off by the shape of the fish. Yes, it's weird, but the flavor is decadent. Also, the vegetarian menu is huge. And they have boba with a ton of flavors, like apple, mango, pineapple, passion fruit and papaya.
(5)Sara V.
This is my go-to place when I didn't bring lunch or dinner to campus and am in the mood for a large lunch or dinner. First of all, the service is fast; this isn't a typical sit-down restaurant, but more of what you'd expect at a "we don't cook it 'til you order it" fast food joint. It's certainly something I really appreciate when I'm in a hurry to meet a deadline and one of the reasons I come here so often during the school year. Also, it's one of the very few places where I can get a gluten- and dairy-free meal that is also vegetarian near campus. (I don't have to avoid any of these things completely, but I have to greatly limit my intake of certain amino acids due to a metabolic disorder.) The rice noodle dishes and the various soups always hit the spot, and the portions are large enough to get full and still have some to share with my lab mates. The food isn't phenomenal, but it's consistent and quick, which is exactly what I need on the days that I come here.
(4)Robert M.
I don't understand the hate, I love this place and always enjoy the food! I love the of tail soup as well as the silver noodle. My only complaint is that after 9pm, it's take only.....
(5)P C.
We had the #49, BBQ pork and egg rolls with vermicelli and BBQ pork baguette. Serving size was good with plenty of fresh veg and mint leaves, the egg rolls were re-fried and not so fresh. The banh mi or baguette was disappointing. It had barely any veg and was dry and bland. I've had much better ones than these. Our friends ordered a veggie udon and a stir fried egg noodles. The latter looks good but the udon noodles were not true udon noodles, being kind of translucent, and was mixed in with some flat pho noodles. Otherwise, our friends reported them being good and light, just right for lunch.
(3)Caroline C.
I went here with my boyfriend a couple of weeks ago. I ordered the chicken curry which was awful, as the sauce was mealy and tasted like it came directly from a can. We also felt the service was awful because my food came out right away and my boyfriend's order of bahn mi took upwards of 10 minutes, so by the time I was almost done with my food, his order was just coming out. It was pretty outrageous considering we were the only two customers in the restaurant at that time (we went early around 5 pm). The manager and the cashier at the front were just slacking off at which time my boyfriend asked what was taking so long on his order and then the employees became more attentive. We got our money back for my boyfriends order and will not return. There are definitely better places in Tucson to eat Vietnamese food. The boba drinks are also very overpriced.
(1)Tam G.
I've always had great pho and service. sometimes i just want to eat by myself and not be bothered. perfect place for that
(5)Tiffany B.
It's true that the service is meh. It doesn't actually bother me. They are just kids taking your order and then you get a number and it's brought to your table. I actually prefer the pho here than at Miss Saigon. The bubble smoothies haven't disappointed. I've been opting for take out lately and having it at home. Vegetarian pho with tofu. The one with the tofu and the fake meat tofu is weird. Make sure it's just tofu and veggies.
(4)Michael R.
I was surprised when I got such a huge bahn mi for such a good price...until I tasted it. It's what I imagine Jimmy John's take on a bahn mi would be. Which is disappointing, because the service was phenomenal.
(2)Felipe M.
This place brings shame to Vietnamese cuisine. The pho is average and all the other plates are also not that great. You're better off making the trek to Miss Saigon, as their food is a thousand times better than this place.
(2)Leah B.
The spring rolls were average- they let me order them without pork, so I was happy. The peanut sauce was good (and let's be honest, this is the primary reason I order spring rolls). I have yet to try the bahn mi, but I will be back!
(3)Kathy B.
Just returned from there. Will NEVER go again. Service was the usual indifferent snotty student variety - not really a big deal. But the food was inedible. Terrible udon noodle dish. Very unappealing: bland broth, strange rubbery mystery meat, noodles overcooked...just yuck. And that place always smells like they scrub the floors with fish sauce.
(1)Erik J.
This is a great place for Pho, hands down my favorite in Tucson. They have a nice selection of different dishes and lots of pictures to see what you're ordering. The atmosphere of the restaurant is cool too, always random Asian/Hispanic shows going on the tvs. It's usually pretty quite because it's off of the main stretch of University (which is nice).
(4)Bob S.
Food is cheap. And I like their no server style. Save money on tip. Great for college students. Food has a big portion, But the food taste really is not the best.
(2)K. W.
This place is very vegetarian/vegan friendly. I ordered the veggie pho which came with a generous serving of veggies and tofu, which is nice because I normally have to order extra veggies. I am from Seattle and eat a lot of pho and was pleasantly surprised by how good the pho was here in Tucson.
(5)May P.
Not bad. I like the Banh Mi (viet sandwich) with eggs and marinated pork along with an avocado boba. I also had the pho ga (chicken noodles soup) and it was not bad either. However, on the last visit, I had the vegetarian veggie rice stick noodles...#20 I believe...and I did not like it. Half the rice stick noodles were cold and were sticking to each other so they probably just quickly heated up those noodles. I guess they did not bother to even separate the noodles so that is a downer. However, the fake chicken was not bad (didn't taste like chicken...more like tofu). The price was slightly high but I guess everyone is raising their prices now.
(3)Los Angelin O.
Ass food with ass service. Every single table had some sort of trash or spill on it, but servers didn't seem to give a rat's ass whenever they mosied by (and mosy they did). Server spilled my water cup and halfassedly wiped it down, left my cup on its side, mosied away. Pork bun was warm, if not downright hot. Pork looked questionable, as in, "Why the hell am I eating this?" You can tell just by stepping foot inside that at no point in time did anyone ever give a crap about this craphole.
(1)Kate M.
Love the pho, as do my brother and dad who are obsessed with it. I decided to try the wild berry boba smoothie on a whim, and while the actual boba was great, the smoothie was pretty bad. If It was a normal smoothie I never would've shelled out $4 for something that was overly icy and without a lot of flavor, although pleasant I guess. Maybe their plain milk teas are better? I think the service is fine though, totally satisfactory.
(4)Aishan S.
Oh pho. It's pretty yummy here, but just doesn't beat Miss Saigon. My default order is the chicken pho. I love the sweet onions in the broth. It usually fills me up, but depending on who is the kitchen that day, sometimes there is a nice heaping amount of rice noodles, or (and this is rare) just enough to make me full for the time being, but still leaves me hungry an hour later. The baguettes here are delicious and cheap for such an enormous sandwich. Go for the ham and egg if you are really hungry. My favourites are the ham or the turkey and the tofu is great for vegetarians. I think they also offer vegetarian meats here. Unfortunately, the texture is just not the same, and in my opinion, tofu is better for both the pho and the baguettes. As for the drinks, I love the smoothies here. I often go for a taro smoothie simply because I love the richness of it, but other fruit flavours are yummy too. One of friends always orders the durian smoothie because it's made from fresh fruit (the other flavours are made from mixes I believe). I can never stomach the smell or taste of durain, but he loves it. Unfortunately, I would not recommend ordering their drinks with boba. In the smoothies, they tend to freeze up and become icy; in the teas, they are usually too hard and take forever to chew.
(4)Mike P.
First off, they have an entire vegetarian menu, so that's great. I got one of the noodle dishes, and it was awesome. Lots of veggies, noodles, the sauce was just salty enough and had a great savory flavor, and it had pieces of fried spring rolls in it, which was delightful. My dining partner got a banh mi, which was not as good, but I liked that they had so many vegetarian variations of it instead of just the tofu one that most Vietnamese restaurants have.
(4)Ming-Min L.
I have a feeling I'm betraying my beloved Miss Saigon every time I eat here, but it's just so much closer to work for me! Back when they first opened, they were much less busy and their food was cheaper (in order to attract eaters?)--I ate here 2-3 times a week! There was a brief period when they bumped their prices and skimped on the baguette meat (seriously, like 4-5 small pieces per sandwich) so I avoided them for a year or so. I went back recently and they've had an explosion of patrons! Lunch time here is very crowded and you'll likely be sharing a table or pushing aside meal dishes so you can capitalize on empty spots as people leave...it really doesn't bother me as it does some other reviewers, those dishes are usually cleared shortly after I sit. A good selection of condiments are available on the table and each menu item is helpfully photographed and posted on the wall for reference. Written detail is available on a printed menu. I've really been into the pho combo #9 my past few visits and, although it's more expensive than the equivalent large size on the Miss Saigon menu, it's HUGE(!) and they load it with LOTS of tasty tendon bits...totally worth it if you're able to eat it all. the broth is only slightly less fragrant than my usual joint, but the noodle soup bowls are all individually lidded and you get your own portion of side herbs/greens so you can avoid an awkward sharing moment with your meal companions (who wants all the basil? me!). There's no tip line on the receipt if you pay by card so drop your bills in the counter bucket if you feel like it. Dueling cultural programming on each of the flat screen TVs. If you're lucky you'll catch Vietnamese, Mexican and American programming simultaneously!
(4)Susan E.
I haven't experienced the service that other reviews refer to but I've never been treated poorly here. I usually just get take out and it's quick and easy. I like all the options they have and look forward to being more adventurous in the future.
(5)Kayta A.
I'm thinking this place has cleaned up it's act since some of these bad reviews.. hopefully. I recently went because it was close to my house - for the first time, with a friend in from back east who wanted pho. The food was ready quickly, it was super cheap (two meals and veg. egg rolls for $22?!) and the service was really good. The tables were clean, fully stocked, vegetarian menu was extensive, and the portions are enormous. My boyfriend got the vegetarian pho and did say it was a bit too sweet. I got a tofu/egg noodle/veg dish and it was totally delicious, AND it fed me lunch the next day.
(4)Kate D.
Meh is right. The service is apathetic at best, the rare beef is medium-well, the coconut boba smoothie is nothing more than vanilla. All i can say is that it's "not bad" and "close to work,." After eating here at least 2 times a week for 6 months I see no sighs of improvement, and I've finally given up. Can't wait for the streetcar to take me downtown to the new Miss Saigon.
(2)Samantha K.
I've eaten here a total of three times. The first two, I ordered take out, so I never got to experience the horrible service until two days ago. I ordered the vegetarian pho and a green boba tea, only to receive "vegetable soup." I (nicely) said that I ordered the vegetarian pho, and he came back with the vegetable soup for the second time. I told him for the third time, and he said, "Honestly, I'm at my wit's end. I don't know what to do." I told him not to worry about it and that I could go talk to the manager. I waited in line, only to hear the manager badmouthing "the girl that has already ordered the same thing twice!" I came over, said blatantly, "I can hear you," and it was clear she had no idea it was me in line. I explained that I wanted the vegetarian pho, not the vegetable soup, and the original cashier who had taken my order proceeded to argue with me until the manager said "fine" and made it correctly. After eating the meal there, I realized I still didn't have my boba tea. One of my girlfriends went up to ask about it because I was already so disappointed, only to have the cashier girl go, "We're making it right now" (and then START making it). Needless to say: never again.
(1)Gregor O.
I guess when you're a freshman from a place where you never had Pho or if you're hungover this is good, but Miss Saigon on the other side of campus is much better if you've tasted Pho before. MSG. Ew.
(2)Ashley E.
I love this place! Fast service and great pho. The only drawback is the water dispenser.
(5)Alexandria H.
I've been eating at Saigon Pho since I was a freshman at the U of A. Three years later, and the food is still good. I almost always get #35, the Pho Tai Nam. The broth is a yummy blend of sweet and savory, and the portions are big enough to leave me stuffed. The Taro Boba here is pretty good too --sadly they were out of Taro when I went to visit today. Although the food isn't as great as Miss Saigon's, its definitely convenient for students who live on campus. The cashiers/servers are all college students and are friendly and courteous. However, when I visited today, my boba order took almost half an hour to get to me...and it never really got to me, per se. I came in during the beginning of the dinner rush period and I ordered a Passion Fruit smoothie and a #35. About fifteen minutes into my pho, I ask one of the cashiers where my drink is. He says they're swamped with orders and it'll take a couple of minutes to make. Fair enough. I finished my pho and sat waiting for another ten minutes or so and I see the same cashier drop off the drink at a different table and walk away. I walked up to said table and let them know about the mistake. They sheepishly handed me the drink and I left. Normally this doesn't happen, but it isn't the first time my drink order was forgotten. I give Saigon Pho a solid three stars for their food, ambience, and service (when my drink isn't missing!).
(3)Rich Y.
I came here for the banh mi and also got a bowl of pho - yeah, I eat a lot. Both were pretty good; the pho broth was not as flavorful as Miss Saigon's. I'd come back to try some of the other items on the menu.
(4)Pierre D.
Went here last night for some pho with friends. I ordered the beef pho with meatballs. I'm beginning to learn that no matter where you go pho is all pretty similar. Saigon Pho was good, I didn't care for the meatballs and the beef was kinda fatty but overall it was good. They I have a large menu to choose from. I also had a fantastic mango smoothie there! That I would have to say was the best part of my meal!
(4)Jessica L.
Only place by campus for Banh Mi (I wish Lee's Sandwiches had a location in Tucson!). Used to be $3.50 but has increased to $4.50 but has also gotten bigger. Large selection and always tasty; the bread is especially delicious. Pho is alright, not the first place I would go--I get #26 and sometimes, the chicken tastes sweet. Not as consistent as Miss Saigon. Also, never get boba, it sucks end of story. Drinks are decent but always ask for them without boba. The owner is an incredibly nice old man who always wears a newsboy hat and a smile. In short: I recommend the Banh Mi (BBQ Pork). Filling and great for the price.
(3)Kimmy N.
I love this place. The food is cheap comparing with size. I love Pho, Banh Mi, Fishballs Egg Noodles, Egg rolls, fried rice with bbq pork, and boba smoothies (i love all of the smoothies)
(5)E. A.
We were out late and looking for a place to eat. So we ventured by the UofA because something decent is always open. We park and I see this place. Some guy when i traveled to Phoenix was talking about some Pho he ate in San Diego. Quack, quack, quack .... Ok let's see what Pho be like. I coax my group in here, they were rather reluctant. They have a large menu and pictures to help the uninformed. After a bit the choices were beef Pho( Pho Dac Biet), meat pho( Pho tai Nam), grilled duck, chicken and noodles also fired rice. To drink boba smoothies and boba tea drinks. The cost 74.95. What? It's soup right? I ask if the order is right and she says yes. I look at the register receipt and one additional meal added. Ok then.. $65 for soup?!!!? The food arrives large bows of soup with veggies, extra veggies on the side, lemon basil, coriander, lime and some bean sprouts. Those were great additions to the soup. They were fresh and full of flavor. Plus I think lemon basil is amazing! The noodles were perfect and the meat was lacking flavor. All food was good. The Pho was very good. And usually the Pho got better as you got deeper in to the bowl. All the flavors seemed to fall to the bottom. The noodles came with lots of meat and veggies. And was well liked. The fried rice was.. Fried rice. Nothing groundbreaking. The duck was dry and just ok. The drinks were tasty. We did not get one of our drinks. Till after asking. Over all the Pho was great! Nothing else was memorable, just the high prices. Too expensive for a family meal.
(3)Tory H.
Wonderful, wonderful food. There are 25 vegetarian options. I always get the vegetarian pho. It is served in a huge bowl with delicious sprouts on the side. You can substitute veggies for the noodles if you want to keep it low carb. The decor is fun and traditional. You order at the counter and they bring it to you when it is ready. It's a little slow at times, but not that bad. They also have boba drinks (bubble tea) which is fun. They are a little too sugary but definitely a nice treat! I highly recommend trying it out.
(5)Lucky U.
My friend brought me here a few months back. He claimed that their Pho was better than Miss Saigon's and he wasnt completely wrong. I must say that the broth in their pho is a more bold than the broth at Miss Saigon, and I do enjoy that. The real hidden gem here are the Vietnamese Sandwiches he. I grew up on Vietnamese sandwiches and havent had them in forever. While these sandwiches arent quite how I remembered the ones from my childhood, they are quite tasty. The Boba Teas here are a bit hit or miss. They are good, but the boba always seems a bit hard. Service is at the counter, so besides your order being dropped off, dont expect anything. But everyone is friendly. So if you've tried Miss Saigon, I would say give them a try. Im sure Saigon Pho isnt going to start a huge Tucson Pho battle, but they make a good product worth checking out.
(4)Molly H.
It's really quite terrible now. Quality has slacked way off and yet, students still fill the place. I guess the owners figured out how to game the system.
(2)Tommy N.
Not bad. Soup it great and service is exceptional. Try the number 34!
(4)Miranda G.
I literally come here at least twice a week. The vegetable pho is my absolute favorite and I crave it on a daily basis. Service is quick too.
(5)Alysia W.
I was really excited to try this place out for lunch today but l left disappointed.. I ordered their bbq pork banh mi (no cilantro/jalapeno) with extra pickled veges.. This sandwich set me back $4.91 and that is easily the most I have ever paid for a banh mi.. Ridiculous price for something you could get at Lee's Sandwiches for $2.. I glanced over the rest of their menu and they're charging $7-10 for a bowl of pho.. Anyone who's willing to pay this price for less than mediocre food is insane! Their bread was probably the best part of the sandwich and it wasn't even all that great.. The bbq pork was so bland and flavorless and for some reason extra pickled veges to them means less than the standard amount.. I probably had 5 pieces of carrot and daikon in there and it didn't even mildly taste like it was pickled.. It was just a soggy vege with no element of vinegar or salt.. I will definitely not be returning here no matter how bad I'm craving banh mi because they do a terrible job.. Someone please tell Lee's in Chandler, AZ that they should open a location in Tucson!
(1)Andre G.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a PHO-natic (see what I did there? If you don't press the "Funny" button after that, I obviously just can't impress you) and it is my go-to choice for lunch, every day. Now, that being said, coupled with my low-sensitivity taste buds which are very welcoming to almost any sort of food, this place is o.k. at best. Any Pho place starts off at 5 stars in my head... just for serving this delicious treat. However, this place seems to get a little carried away with the pepper, I'll add that myself if I want it, thank you. They are also quite pricey for what it is... I will pay 20 bucks for lunch without much complaint... usually... but paying 20 bucks for a place with the menu on the wall behind the counter seems a little steep. (minus one star) Now, the worst part of all... parking, oh... my... nonexistent! This section of town, if you didn't know, is the "cool" section, the "hip" section, or, as I like to call it, the "Make Andre' feel 155 years old" part of town. However, I guess carpooling isn't "cool" any more... because it seems CRAZY to try and find a spot, and the available spots are all along the street, back-in only spots... which means for people like myself with big trucks, a little bit of tricky driving maneuvering, but it's ok with me, sorry college kids, I LIKE getting honked at! (preposition to end the sentence? eek.) (Minus one star) Well, kids, thats the skinny on Saigon Pho... mediocre, there's better options close by, in my humble opinion. Cheers- dRe'
(3)MM P.
Here on business and ordered take out. The noodles had no sauce, maybe I got the wrong thing. The baguette was ok but he meat had no flavor like it was missing something. The boba tea was watery and not what I was used to.
(2)Eve S.
A classmate walked into my night class this evening brandishing a boba smoothie and I was jealous and inquired about it. I never realized there was a place to get them on campus, so now I feel stupid. But at least I got my mango boba smoothie and a cheap ($4.50) cajun shrimp sandwich on a fresh baguette. So cheap, so yummy. The cucumber on my sandwich is insanely bitter...is that how it's supposed to be?
(4)Danny S.
As a grad student at the U of A, I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am for this place. Given the lack of tasty, healthy, and reasonably priced food options around campus, Saigon Pho stands out as a beacon of hope. The menu features a number of highlights: $4.50+tax will get you a banh mi sandwich with one of a wide variety of toppings. The lemongrass tofu sandwich is delicious and a great choice for vegetarians; I also enjoy the barbecued pork, and the express special (a combination of two kinds of pork) is pretty good as well. To be honest, I don't think I've had a bad sandwich here, and they're far more interesting and cost-effective than the other sandwich offerings on University. A note on the sandwiches: you used to be able to get a sandwich here for less than $4, and veteran customers may experience a bit of sticker shock at the new higher prices. I agree that it's no fun having to pay more, but the sandwiches are bigger now and admit it: you weren't full after the old ones and you know it! $5.99+tax will get you some decent chicken curry and a choice of rice or a baguette. The curry sauce is a yellow coconut milk curry, and it's pretty darned good. Less impressive is the chicken itself, though I'm not sure I can articulate what's wrong with it. They give you dark meat chicken, which I actually prefer, but the texture is not the best. An office mate once described it as "actually kind of nasty," but I disagree -- I would prefer to say "less than great, but not a deal-breaker." The more important point here, I think, is this: for $6 and change you can eat real food that tastes pretty good without going far from campus. Not a bad deal if you ask me. They also do a pretty good pho, which is a noodle soup in a rich beef broth with a bunch of different ingredients depending on which option you choose. If you've never had Vietnamese food, then you owe it to yourself to go get yourself some pho, and if you want to discharge this obligation close to campus (or if you just want some pho and don't want to go very far), then this is a fine place to get it. In my opinion, though, Miss Saigon (at the corner of Campbell and Speedway) is quite a bit better for pho -- go there instead if that's a viable option. And actually, let me make that a more general point: Miss Saigon is a better Vietnamese restaurant overall than this one, and so if you're not a U of A student trying to get a quick bite to eat between classes, then go there instead. But if you're sick of the rest of the garbage on University and need a place to get some real food without breaking the bank, this place should be a regular in your rotation.
(3)Charles H.
This is a good, cheap, pho place. Definitely does not hold a candle to Miss Saigon, but Saigon Pho holds its own niche in university. Faster service, no tip, no nonsense. I only eat pho so this is where my opinions are coming from. The weaker aspects of the pho here are definitely are its rather unflavorly broth and mediocre meat. Noodles are decent.
(4)Skylee E.
One night around nine I was dying for some boba and after realizing Miss Saigon closes at nine I found this place. Theyre open till 930 so, I raced over there and ordered a large extra boba green tea with milk. I was so disappointed. The boba was crunchy and/or gummy. I understand it was late but I would have rather them told me they were out when I called or when I got there than to serve me nasty old boba. I know boba gets harder the longer it sits so I can only imagine how old this boba was. I have never eaten here but I wont return for the boba.
(2)Laura M.
My first experience with Vietnamese food...and I regret it. The Pho was decent, ordered Chicken. However veggies were very sparse. The worst part of this trip was by far the Pork BBQ Sandwich. there were very few pieces of meat in the bread, and my first bite was actually into a piece of bone. At least 50% of it was fatty gristle. Yuck. Also very little veggies on this sandwich too.....isn't that the cheapest part to fill a sandwich with? I won't be back.
(2)Roger T.
I've always had mixed reviews about this place. From it being good to it being not the best. So I finally had to say "Ok, I'll check it out and put my taste buds to the test" So I came here after riding around on my motorcycle with a few friends on a cold cold day. It was literally 30 degrees out and we were riding for at least 2 hours. So as you can see where this story is going, I needed some PHO to warm me up! So I always hear from other's that the PHO here is watered down, so I gave it a shot. I ordered PHO with OX TAIL!! Oh my you do not realize how hard it is to find a PHO place that has this offered in Tucson, usually they offer the ox tail in CA but not in Tucson. I thought the only place I would find ox tail with my PHO would be at my parents house, who make their pho with it. However this was the first place in Tucson, that right there gave me a up 1! So I'm here cold and excited to waiting for my bowl of PHO, it finally came and overall it was pretty darn good, I'd have to say it is up there with my good ratings of PHO places. The broth tasted flavorful and the ox tail was simply amazing and tender. I was really shocked, I tasted no water'd down whatsoever and it really hit the spot! It even warmed me up from my bike ride journey home! I like this place and the price wasn't too bad either! I would definitely come back here to enjoy my PHO with ox tail again and possible some other different dishes from the menu!
(4)Ray L.
Saigon Pho is deeply underwhelming. Aside from smoothies, there is virtually nothing with flavor on their menu. Salad rolls? Flaccid tubes of damp vermicelli and iceberg lettuce. Banh mi? A baguette drier than the Gobi desert topped with a few isolated pieces of dessicated meat or tofu. Where is the Vietnamese mayo? Where is the delicious mix of pickled carrots and daikons? Why is there only one slice of jalapeño and a single sprig of cilantro? Their pho broth is uneven and, while they don't skimp on the noodles, you will find yourself wishing for something more substantial than a fishbowl of cheap starch. If this was purely a food review, they would be closer to a three, but their prices seriously exceed their quality level. $8.00 is fair for a delicious, meaty bowl of pho, but they will charge you that for a vegetable soup that lacks both vegetables and flavor. $4.50 is high for banh mi, especially when it lacks toppings and goes down like sandpaper. The service is hit or miss--most of the staff seem to be glazed undergrads who don't care whether the restaurant succeeds or fails. Both Miss Saigon and Pho #1 hammer this place in flavor and service.
(2)Barnabas L.
Firs time i went to this place (when they first opened) they were okay. Not that many choices (still not a great variety of choices), BUT each time i go they keep getting better. They definitly have worked out the kinks they had when first opening and not only is service better but the food is as well. The Pho is always good, like i said before not a great variety, seems to always get better as i eat there. (It is close by my work thats why i go often). The viet. sandwiches are really good here, for the small amount i have tried in tucson, this place takes the ticket here. Their boba is probably in the top 2 places in tucson. I still wont get boba in AZ though. If Saigon Pho keeps up their improvements i think they have great potential to be a hot spot on University.
(3)Clarence B.
I dig this place. Really good prices on the sandwiches and lots of veg selections. The #15 veggie pho is really damn good. I'm a fan for sure. I can't speak on the total veganism of the place though cuz, while you can ask for no mayo on the sandwich, the rolls seem awfully buttery. I guess I should ask, but am too afraid of the answer. The boba tea is killer. If you want it vegan though you gotta stay away from the best flavors (taro, coconut) and choose one of these four which don't have a creamer base: strawberry pineapple lychee kiwi Very friendly, very clean, and pretty quick. Now, can we talk about those styrofoam cups for water? In 2010 who the hell uses styrofoam?
(4)Ran T.
This is a really good place to get Vietnamese food. Affordable, good ambient environment (I wish they didn't have flat screen TVs through). Food is very fresh and delicious, big portion too. All the dishes are numbered. For those who don't speak Vietnamese or afraid to pronounce foreign words, just tell the waitress what number you want. My boyfriend and I shared #31, Bun Thit Nuong (BBQ pork and vermicelli, with fresh cucumbers, bean sprouts, egg rolls, and crushed peanuts). It was large enough for both of us and for $8 for two, it was not a bad deal at all. We also got fresh homemade soy milk. It was delicious as well. They have Boba tea, smoothies, and Mexican Coca Cola. They don't deliver, which is too bad. I would definitely go back.
(4)Joseph F.
Had the shredded pork banh mi, and I have to say I was thouroughly impressed! As with most regional sandwiches like the po' boy, cuban sandwich, philly cheesesteak, and the banh mi (to name a few) the filling is only half of the equasion. You need to have good bread, and not just any old bread, the type of bread that made that specific sandwich famous. And the french baguette at Saigon Pho hit it right on the nose. RidAKulousness! Also had the #23 Pho with brisket and meatballs. The broth was too beefy and not floral enough, and was waaaaay too peppery. More flavor than the broth at Miss Saigon on my last visit though. Substantial amount of condiments too. Portion was HUGE! Not too hot about the $1.00 can of coke either.
(4)His T.
Nice ambiance (I agree that the TV's could go). The place has a warm vibe to it and I love the big oak table. I got some dish that was pictured in one of the articles about the restaurant. It had some pork and cucumbers and noodles and crushed peanuts and came with a sort of fish sauce. It was not that great - a little bland. My girlfriend got the pho and it was delicious. I regretted not having gotten it myself. Also she's a big fan of their avocado smoothie with boba (which I like to think is a euphemism for something sexual). Given the demise of Asian Sandwich Deli on Speedway, I'll have to come back here and try a sandwich. Hopefully that'll inspire an extra star given the other reviews.
(3)Rikki L.
I don't especially like dealing with University, but I was going for Pho with a vegan friend, and Pho Thu didn't seem to have any Vegan options. So we went to Saigon Pho. They inexplicably replaced the rice noodles in my Pho GA with something else, the soup was bland, and there was no Sri Racha sauce. And they forgot my egg rolls. However, the coffee was decent, and the place was clean. I don't think I'd go out of my way to return, but I'm not boycotting either.
(2)Alex H.
Saigon Pho is mediocre at best. Their Pho is bland, their prices are too high, and their boba is terrible. I have been there numerous times, just for the BBQ Pork sandwich, in my opinion the only item on the menu that is actually any good. However, this past weekend I experienced terrible sanitation by one of the employees. The woman waiting tables came up to the table next to mine to ask if they were going to need to-go boxes. They had a lot of food left and gave her a nod. She returned, opened a to-go box, and scooped up their 5 leftover eggrolls with her bare hands and placed them in the box. She proceeded to do this with all of their food. They were perplexed. Bottom line, the only time I'm ever going back is to take a sandwich to go. Even these are overpriced though. Go to Miss Saigon, it's 100 times better.
(2)Steven G.
Currently I am battling a really strong cold and decided that I needed some pho for my through. I was expecting really bad food based on what my friends have said and the reviews here but that actually wasn't the case. I ordered their pho dac biet and for the price I thought I would get something similar to Miss Saigon but while the taste is average the quantity almost justifies the price. You definitely get about a third more pho than you do at surrounding pho restaurants. Due to its great location I will visit Saigon Pho again in the near future.
(3)Ann G.
The food is really good, but the service is awful. The food takes forever to get to you and there are not enough tables to seat everybody.
(2)Jackie T.
The pho is not pho-nominal (sorry) and the food is not very Saigon. The sandwiches are a great snack though. The pho comes in a big bowl and comes with cilantro, lime, jalapenos, and bean sprouts. I ordered the pho dac biet. The steak looks like it was cut from a perfect cylinder of beef on a deli slicer. It was tender, but its unusual shape made it difficult for me to tell what cut of beef it was. For being the 'variety bowl' of the menu, it was lacking a variety and quantity of meats in comparison to other pho restaurants. No fatty flank but tripe and meatballs were present. The broth is more subtle than most I have had so it was easier to slurp when you finish everything else in the bowl. The sandwiches are a great value. I would choose a freshly baked baguette over a five-dollar-footlong any day. Again, there was a lack of protein. However, I won't complain at $3.50 for a sandwich. The bread had a crusty exterior with a warm fluffy interior. The carrots and jicama (I think it was jicama) were pickled with just enough tang and crunch. The express special is the way to go. The BBQ pork was a little dry. The ham and egg only comes with a single egg, and they served it to me with no egg so I had to send it back. I don't know how the server missed it considering it's a single fried egg smack dab on top when she gave it to me. It would be an interesting 'fusion' of Vietnamese/French/American for a breakfast sandwich with two eggs. Everything aside from the sandwiches are overpriced, but I'll give some of them a try since the location is convenient.
(3)Mike M.
I've been here twice now. The first time I went, I was sick and wanted some kind of soup, so I got the Pho. I wasn't impressed, but I suspect it had to do more with me feeling miserable than it not being good. The second time I went, I got the shredded pork Banh Mi sandwich. It was awesome and a stellar deal at only $3.50 a pop. If you go, I suggest you try one of their sandwiches they are great.
(4)Nick W.
I'm a vegan who honestly adds a star just because the menu makes it clear what is vegan, or how to make it so. I usually get their sandwiches (sans mayo) for $4.50 and leave a $1 tip and am happy. I look forward to trying more expensive options for some special occasion.
(5)Tony B.
I ordered the Beef Pho #23 that has everything for $8 and my friend got the bun with beef which I sampled, and my conclusion is you can do better elsewhere. The broth is very artificial tasting, I suspect Saigon Pho uses a powder/paste for the broth. The quality of the meat was fine, but there's something not quite right with the pho noodles. The banh mi sandwiches do look tasty, but I haven't had the chance to try them yet. If you're in the mood for some good authentic pho, you're better off waiting the extra 15 minutes at Miss Saigon. I would not eat here again for the pho, but I'll go back to try the banh mi sandwich and spring rolls.
(2)Noel A.
Love this place for their vegetable pho and close proximity to campus.
(4)Soo H.
Awful awful place to eat Pho and fried rice. I've been to many Pho places before in Philadelphia and Boston and yet this was the WORST place ever. I didn't expect to be clean or decent as other usual Vietnamese pho restaurants BUT didn't expect to see small tiny little bugs or something floating in our soup!! My husband and I found them after eating more than half of it. (yes, we were too hungry to inspect the soup covering with bunch of cilantro and bean sprouts) And the taste was Full of MSG (both Pho and fried rice).. Again, I usually expect to taste some of MSG when you eat pho, but the Pho at this place was overloaded with MSG I can swear. Even worse, the soup was too sweet. ( yuk!!! ) The meat (eye round) was already fully cooked in the soup when served and absolutely flavorless. My hubby complained about those little bugs we found but they were just listening and didn't apologize or do anything about it. Since we already ate most of them and paid them up front, we just walked away with nauseous feeling in our stomach.
(1)Brian C.
Went here for lunch and everything looked good. Ordered the chicken Pho, friend ordered the seafood Pho. Also placed an order for the spring rolls and pork rolls. Both orders of rolls had a good flavor and were fresh. The soups however, were another story. The soup stock was a little bland, but the lime, cilantro and soy sauced fixed this a little. The noodles appeared to have been pre-cook then thrown into the soup. Texture was lifeless and a bit off-putting. I could not finish them because of the taste and texture. Would I go here again, no. If you stick with the appetizers you might be ok. Don't hope for too much. Just my take.
(2)Emily L.
i liked this place, maybe because it was my first pho experience or maybe because they give you a banana with your meal; no one will truly ever know. pretty delicious and spicy (why can't i master the proper hot sauce balance, why god why?!). quick and pleasant dinning experience, but i would probably opt for miss saigon if i were to ever get the pho craving and needed drive since we all know parking is freaking atrocious on university.
(4)Emily K.
Agree w/ Eva N. -- the pho is not where it's at at this place. However, I was pretty pleased with the Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich) I had there. I'd go back for that.
(2)A S.
Delicious sandwiches. I had the BBQ pork and would get it again. But the selection of other baguette sandwiches all sound good. I wished that the tables were bussed more promptly.
(4)Bill W.
I've had their pho twice and really enjoyed it both times. The bun isn't bad either, not the very best I've ever had but certainly the best I've had in Tucson. They also offer a wide variety of Vietnamese sandwiches, so something for everyone here. Check it out it's tasty.
(4)Eva N.
Decor decent, food horrible. Group of friends and coworkers went here for lunch seeing as they just opened and we wanted to try it out. Being an admittedly very Americanized Vietnamese person, I still know how it should taste. This is one of the worst experiences at a Vietnamese restaurant in Tucson that I've had. I found lint in my #6 (noodles and egg rolls). My coworkers said the pho is okay, but for $7? It should have been a xe lua bowl (train size). They sell boba, but they should just call it ice and nasty tasting syrup. My male coworker went to exchange his strawberry boba for something else because it tasted so bad. The girl at the register said no. I had a peach boba, and it tasted like straight up artificial sweetener and the boba was too soft on the outside and really hard on the inside. Apparently they have no idea what they're doing. I was hoping to find a decent place to go during lunch for a quick fix of Viet food when I'm craving for it, but I guess Nam Son and Miss Saigon will have to do for now. Terrible, terrible experience. I hope they learn their lessons and if other reviewers say they've improved later on, I would love to try again.
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