While this place lacks in decor and style, the food was amazing!! This was another 1st for me. I decided to treat my parents to Christmas dinner. We started w/ summer rolls & soup. Quite filling. The hòanh thánh had a sweetness to it that I honestly cannot describe. Soup Thái had so much going on that that could be a meal on its own- just needed a shot of sriracha. Our main dishes (WHAT A PORTION)!! To go box please... Tôm Chien Bôt sauce Thái was awesome. The broccoli so fresh. Pad Thai was great- just way too much. The only issues I have would be the cloud of smoke you have to walk thru upon entering the place & the service- AWFUL!! Not sure if it was this dude's 1st week on the job or what. I will definitely be back, but if I'm seated at one of his tables- I'm requesting another waiter. When I arrived, I was excited. By the time I asked for the check, I wanted his head on a platter.
(3)
Tomi G.
Food was OK but Nothing noteworthy. The menu is ridiculous as it something like 177 items on the menu. It really needs to be simplified massively. Clean and well kept with decent table separation. Decor is virtually non-existent. The entire wall is mirrored... Lovely if I want to see myself eat (I don't) or the people at the tables behind me. Oh, wear your sunglasses, it is lit up like a bar at closing time. Service was pretty good for how busy it was. Parking is pretty limited.... U will likely park on the neighborhood streets behind the restaurant.
(3)
Burj S.
Found this place on YELP and we returned here within the last month as we were up on a Religious retreat to the Orlando area! We find this place to be very good in the flavor of the foods and the authenticity of the dishes presented. We had the Pho, Chicken fried rice, panfried noodles and the appetizers which we found were excellent! We will definitely be back!
(4)
Tom A.
Pho 88 Noodle is a really good Vietnamese place with good food and great prices plus they have avocado milkshakes witch are not to bad. I tried there soup and a few bites of other things we shared and was happy. I can not wait to come back here again.
(4)
Jake P.
I was very impressed with the Pho here. There are so many places around this town that serve up a hot and steamy bowl of Pho, but many just don't hit the spot. This place is a must if you are in the downtown area and you have a hankering for some fresh vegetables.
(4)
Enit S.
I wasn't feeling so good so my friends say, "hey, let's go to pho 88!" and just the mention of it immediately put a smile on my face cause I've been wanting to go there for a while. Pho is like some kind of magic made delicious when infused with star anise, cinnamon, cloves, cilantro, fennel, just to name a few of the ingredients that go into this marvelous broth. The broth usually includes the rice noodles, and thinly sliced meats, and a side plate of herbs and sprouts; I opted for chicken since I wasn't feeling good. One of my friends had the Bun Thiet Nuong (grilled pork with rice noodles) and he loved it, said it was one of the best in the mills area. But.... back to the Pho. You know how when you're sick food doesn't really taste like anything? Not with this pho, just the combination of all those flavors in that bowl had me slurping so loudly, and working up a sweat where even the people working there were looking at me and smiling probably thinking: "look at that latina working the pho!" Hell yes, and I shall return!
(4)
Desi N.
Pho 88 is a nice sized restaurant with just enough servers. It's always busy which is good. The pho is always good. Some people say all pho is the same but I beg to differ. The quality and freshness makes all the difference. The banh mi was also tasty.
(4)
Holly S.
Must try the stir fry noodle dishes and crispy egg rolls with fish sauce. And the Pho!
(5)
Andy J.
Went to Pho88 for the first time today during lunch. We were seated quickly and the waiter promptly brought us 2 waters. I've never eaten pho before so I went the safe route and had the eye round steak & skirt steak pho. Although the skirt was a little too fatty for my liking, the dish was delicious. I tried the broth "as is" before adding any of the condiments. It was quite good but I love me some spice, so I added plenty of hot pepper sauce. overall the meal was tasty, affordable and filling.
(4)
Dan S.
A very diverse menu, but I almost always go with the pho. It's the name of the restaurant, and they do it very well. This is comfort food to me, and I enjoy the atmosphere there.
(4)
Mike U.
Not sure if I can really vouch for this place as much as others do. Don't get me wrong. The Pho is decent, but I can truly say that there are better options in the area. The service is hit or miss. It all depends who is waiting on you. Sometimes they're really good and as the last experience, the waiter was just in a hurry to walk away without even letting us complete our order. The food comes a out quickly. The veggie toppings are fresh and well cleaned. The broth is missing just a little bit more love. It just doesn't have that wow factor. Sufficient noodles in the Pho that satisfies the hungry man. The bahn mi are decent sized. But the toppings are just a bit shy. More bread than anything else. The Vietnamese iced coffee is on pint though. Nice, rich and dark! It has a good coffee taste.
(3)
Tiffany L.
The food is really good, but I had a bad experience tonight when I picked up my to-go order. The two ladies at the front desk were rude. Once I got to the counter no one greeted me. The younger girl grabbed me my food, and the other lady took my card from my hand without giving me a total. I normally like pho88 but I was unhappy by the way they treated me tonight. I am a frequent customer and normally have good run in with the waiters.
(4)
Erica H.
So good! Every time I'm in the area, I make it a point to come here for lunch! I love how they have a vegetarian section on their menu. I usually get a banh mi sandwich (tofu w/ cilantro and pickled vegetables) SO FRESH! And vegetarian noodle soup (I'm not the biggest fan of their vegetarian pho broth, the broth for the other noodle soup is more flavorful in my opinion. But my sister prefers the pho) And their honeydew boba slushes are amazing!! Way better than other boba places I've tried in Orlando! And I always have enough leftovers for 1-2 more meals as the portions are massive! yummy
(5)
Glenn V.
Scenario: Seated at 9:30 on Christmas night, placed order at 9:33 for fried egg rolls and couple of other dishes. 9:45: Table of loud 20-somethings seated at table next to us. 9:50: Appetizers, including fried egg rolls is delivered to freshly seated table :-O Where's our server? Flirting with some girl across the restaurant. At this point, got up and walked out in disgust, but at least the manager was apologetic, so raising our rating to 2 stars.
(2)
Irene N.
I grew up eating these foods, so when I go to restaurants if this this food too. But this is just too yummy! EVERYTHINGG is good! I was here on vacation with friends and after we tried it, we made sure to go again before we left, AND THEN WE GOT SOME TO GO for the ride! Can you tell I love it?
(5)
Chann K.
Typical pho joint, fast food and minimal service. I had the stir-fried vegetables with rice and it had a reddish tint to it which I'm not used to. It had a sweeter taste to it than the usual clear that I get at other restaurants - Will not order that again. Stick to the pho and combination rice plates.
(4)
Bill G.
There are many "noodle" houses near US 50. I have tries most of them over the last two years, and Pho 88 is the best. Clean and bright with a wall of glass to light up the place. Service is always fast and pleasant. The Pho (pronounced PhÄ) is the best noodle soup in existence. Avoid the Tripe and Tendons. Stick with the beef.
(5)
Lindsley A.
Pho 88 us one of my favorite go to places for pho, banh mi, and boba! The prices are pretty decent, the service is fast, clean environment, and the food good as always. I usually order the chicken pho which is yummy in my tummy. Of course, I always put the additional add ins to my soup such as Hoison, siracha, lime, and my ultimate favorite Asian basil! Yum!!!! I also love ordering their grilled beef rice vermicilli which is like a salad to me and my other favorite. There are others too such as the tofu garden roll, and the grilled beef platter with an egg. They have a lot of options as what to order and some pictures to help you decide on what to order. Only issue for me is the location. Parking can be limited but they do have additional,parking in the back.
(4)
Rachanee S.
I've been a disney tourist for 20 years. Twenty years!!!! I've been a slave to disney dining for twenty years! NO LONGER! I'm so glad we finally ventured off the grid and tried out this restaurant. It was a dark and stormy 35 minute drive from Disney, but so so worth it! Three of us ate like kings for $50. It was comfort food that was soul pleasing. The restaurant was very clean and our server was so kind and polite. We had beef pho, vegetable spring rolls, egg rolls, ice coffee....we wish we had room in our bellies to try more. Stop going to chain restaurants!!!! Get out of the mundane OVER PRICED touristy spots.
(5)
Susie K.
On the way to the airport, we went slightly out of our way to find a higher rated pho spot b/c I just couldn't wait to get home to eat it. Something about traveling to areas that lack ethnic food options just makes me crave them more than normal. So we drive up in the afternoon and I must admit, I was a little spooked. The area didn't look like skid row scary, but definitely sketchy to me, as an outsider. We had our luggage in the trunk of our rental car and I was nervous it would get broken into, but we plow forward. I see these hand painted signs pointing to Pho 88 parking so to be safe, I make my husband bypass the open spots next to the restaurant and park behind the place further away. When we get out, we see two questionable characters call out to us. Oy. But I really want pho. I order the pho tai chin and my husband orders the same. I also get the spring rolls. I order 2 rounds of those suckers bc they are so freaking delicious. I also KILL my pho. I have never finished my pho before. I love that they give you fresh basil and sprouts. The spots here, especially Ktown's spin on Pho, gives you wilted brown basil. The broth, meat, everything was so good. We also ordered a Vietnamese ice coffee and Thai tea (I know, Thai tea at a Vietnamese restaurant). The size of the coffee was so tiny that I was expecting something similar in size when I got my tea. I was wrong, it was much larger and they put something else in there that makes it tastes a million times better than the Thai teas I've had here. So regardless of my perception of the area (I'm a scaredy cat tourist sorry), it was totally worth our drive over and I would definitely frequent this place if I'm back in Orlando.
(5)
S T.
Ordered Banh Hoi with all the fixings. I don't remember the exact cost...it was around $9.50. Just look at my photo. My first thought was...damn I'm not gonna get full off this. The flavors of the proteins weren't very good. Pork and shrimp patties were tasteless ( not enough garlic), and the egg roll was greasy. Let's just say I was really disappointed. People, look at your forks before you use it. You may find a little surprise stuck between the prongs of the fork and it's not pleasant. The cleanliness of this place is a bit subpar. I don't recommend it. If you do decide to come here, don't order Banh Hoi, it's a total rip off. I was expecting a whole lot more for the price. Try Lac Viet. I enjoyed the food and atmosphere there better.
(1)
Olivier D.
A'MA'ZING. This certainly the best Pho Ga I have had in Orlando and joins some of the best in US. Very clear broth and not greasy. Didn't come with cilantro, my favorite herb, but that's ok. I will certainly be back here. Very friendly staff too. Like it a lot.
(5)
James V.
Currently on my summer vacation and we were craving pho. So I checked up on yelp to look for an awesome pho place and found pho 88. Their review were decent and had 4 stars. Little did we know, they're racist to their own race. The pho is nothing compared to what we know pho SHOULD taste like. Refilling water, we didn't get no refill even though they walked around 5 times and saw our glasses empty...everyone around us were white and we were the only vietnamese people in a vietnamese restaurant. We will never ever return to this restaurant.
(1)
Jennifer O.
My husband and I love this place. A friend of ours introduced us to this place a few years ago and every time we are in Orlando, we make it a point to stop in and enjoy everything this restaurant offers (which is a lot of options).. Lots of parking available in back lot. Affordable pricing.
(5)
Tiffany T.
Pho was okay.. smells like pho but the taste isn't really there. The tai (raw meat) was given a good amount Idk why there are so many reviews for this place.. it's okay. Their rice and noodles suck.. noodles had no taste. Rice was typical but little given.
(3)
Randolph Z.
You know you're gonna get pho. Might as well get it here. Tasted good (pho always does), and definitely seemed genuine. Actually a lot better than the pho I had in Vietnam, hate to say. The American way with way too much sauce appeals to the glutton in me. Also, pretty good prices. Two can usually eat for $20. If it was a buck cheaper they'd get 5 stars. It's the Vietnamese food equivalent of CHVRCHES. Really good server. I should've gotten his name. The fella knew just when to stop by, but wasn't everpresent. Knowing when not to come by is as important as knowing when to. I think I got that notion from Game of Thrones. On my way out, a well-dressed lady seemed intent on crashing into me on purpose, for no reason. Good end to any meal.
(4)
Christina V.
We were pleasantly surprised by how many vietnamese restaurants there are now in orlando. This restaurant was very clean, service was quick and friendly and best of all the pho was pretty darn good. Excellent broth, nice amount of meat. The pork chops were ok, not as good as philly's. Their hu tieu nam vang was very tasty as well. Highly recommend this place!
(4)
Laurie P.
This place is a mills staple.. We live in the area and go often and it never disappoints. The pho is so yum and the broth could be eaten on its own! The service is quick and polite.
(5)
Roberto H.
I thought that maybe after eating ramen at Ippudo, this place wouldn't compare. But it really didn't compare. Too brothy, meat is too fatty, and way too much cilantro (and I'm hispanic)
(2)
Jane D.
One of the best Vietnamese restaurants. I've been there only once but was very impressed with everything. Food was great. So was the service.
(4)
Carlos V.
I first came here about 10 years ago. I think I used to come alone for some reason. From then to now, I've probably come here about 1 to 2 times a year, just because there are so many other Vietnamese places in the area to try. Since this is my first, it has a special place in my heart that makes me feel bad whenever I do go someplace else. Over the years, I've noticed how the clientele has changed. At first, I remember being the only non-Asian in the place. In the last few years, I feel more and more non-Asian's are venturing here. I feel it has to do with how the area around Mills, and Orlando in general, has grown. There are more people who aren't afraid to try something different living here, which we can see with the diverse restaurants opening in the area. Back to Pho 88. I don't know how they fit in with the other Vietnamese noodle places, and who was the first to open up. There must be some interesting history behind it. I always feel like Pho 88 had to be one of the first, seeing how much people love the place. I don't have to say much about the food others haven't already mentioned. I'll mainly come here for the great soup and their huge selection of it. I thought the "88" meant that many soups, but there looks to be less than that, but almost 200 items on the menu to choose from. When I'm feeling under the weather, I'll opt for their white and dark meat chicken soup. On the rare occasion, I will try their BBQ chicken, which I will recommend too. Then if you're in the mood, add on a dessert drink, to stay or go, where it's an adventure trying the different exotic fruit flavors.
There's a few Vietnamese restaurants in Orlando, but Pho 88 is my favorite. The chicken noodle is delicious and I can't get enough of the spring rolls. The service is fast and friendly - not chatty, and it works for me! (Not that I don't like to chat with servers, but sometimes you just want your food!) I definitely get my pho cravings from Pho 88. Yum!
(4)
Carla L.
Believe it or not, I have never, ever tried Pho. There were extremely limited options in the city I lived in before and now I live by the Vietnamese District in Orlando so of course I was excited to finally try what so many people have been raving about. They have Vegetarian options and we ordered the Vegetarian Pho, now, the thing is that I adore soups.. just love them. A good soup will send me practically into spasms of happiness. Guys, this Pho did just that. We had to figure out how to eat the plate of extras because we were too embarrassed to ask but we did and let me tell you it was insane. We had a couple of Spring Rolls before the Pho, and they were good but too much because that soup was given to us in what looked like a serving bowl!! Oh, and a pot of hot tea is $1.50.. that's it! Now that the temperatures are dropping this is a great option! The service was dry, but it just seemed that it was the personality of our server.
(4)
Joan B.
Being new to the area from NY and my favorite place to eat being china town i definatley was on the search for a great authentic Vietnamese rest to indulge in. I got the review from a client of mine and raved about it. So of course i dragged myself to colonial and mills for what i was hoping would be a great new spot of mine. What she right ???? HELL YES ! If your surrounded by all Vietnamese family then you know the food will be up to par. I started off with a #2 . Cha Giò : Vietnamese Fried Egg Rolls with ground Pork, Shrimp, and Carrots $3.25 Took so much out of me to not order another one, especially with the dipping sauce. for my entree i had the #17 Soup Hòanh Thánh : Wontons (Pork and Shrimp), fried onions, and green onions $7.50 I was in heaven, yum yum give me some ! i cant wait to go back and try something else on the menu
(4)
Rob W.
My new favorite here is the #80, crab noodle soup. I just love it. Their shrimp fried rice is the best I have had, ever. I can't warm up to Chinese fried rice at all anymore, I'm spoiled.
(5)
Avery B.
This place is magical. I am alone taking pictures of my food. I always get the tofu summer rolls, white meat chicken pho and a Thai tea! Absolutely delicious. The first meal I had when I got back from being in Europe for a few months!
(5)
Stephen K.
Love this place, excellent Vietnamese, Cambodian, & Thai cuisine. Located on 17/92 in little Vietnam.
(4)
Jody W.
$16.95 for a small portion of their version of wonton soup & a beef and rice plate. Food was bland! Waiter seemed upset that I asked for a side of hot Chili oil and never refilled my empty glass of water. Not returning Pho sho!!
(1)
Chill W.
Now here's the thing, there was nothing WRONG with my meal at Pho 88. There was nothing WRONG with the service. There was nothing WRONG with the menu. Well maybe it was a little long - over 8 pages - but that seems to be a Vietnamese thing. Everything was average. It was OKAY. It may be because I'm crazy, but I was secretly hoping that a rat would start running around and offer some excitement. That is my review. Oh yeah and they had cheap prices. If you're lucky there will be mangoes outside the bathroom when you go. Very exciting stuff.
(3)
Shar C.
Whenever I'm in Orlando and I want a good all around Vietnamese meal, this is the place to go. They have their own parking, but it can be a tight squeeze. The restaurant itself is a good size and is pretty suitable for large groups. The staff is quick to serve you and take your order, as well as bringing your check. I like the fact there's so much variety to choose from: pho, bahn mi, rice, noodle, and vegetarian items. The prices are fairly cheap and the portions are sufficient. My personal favorite is their fried rice. I'm not big on fried rice normally but they use perfect seasoning that makes me want to order more than one plat. My personal choice is combination fried rice with an egg on top. As far as their pho, it's very good, but I feel like they could use more flavor. It tends to be on the lighter side, so use all the herbs they offer as it really brings out the broth flavor. Try this place out and you won't be disappointed :)
(4)
Chris O.
Some of the best Vietnamese food in Orlando. I've gotten the pho and it was better than the pho at the other places near by. Also good is their subs and other soup/pot dishes. The waiters were also extremely friendly and were kind enough to explain everything on the menu for us.
(5)
Sharon W.
This place is legit. The aromas just walking in grabs your nose and it's like, instant ants-in-your-pants to get to a table quickly. It's almost caroon-like howthe aromas stretch accross the restaurant to grab your nose and lure you to your seat for an experience of a lifetime each time I go. I swear I experience a eupohoric strance-like state everytime I walk in. Not only is the smell just wonderful, but the broth of their pho is deep with flavors and by far my favorite in orlando. The sides of bean sprouts, basil, cilantro and lime are plentiful, which is a big deal for me....gotta have my sprouts! This place is always busy, but never have I had to wait long, probably because it's so huge inside! Or maybe the mirrors make it seem huge? haha :) Either way, when I'm in the mood for pho, this is my go-to in a city full of options because it's just hands down the best. :)
(5)
Gretchen G.
The soup was huge, super fresh ingredients, and looked like the best soup I would ever in my life try...until I realized that there are cloves in the broth. The smell of cloves makes me sick to my stomach so needless to say I couldn't eat it. I did also get a pork pho and that was a little dry. Over all I think if you can stand the broth your going to love their pho.
(4)
Mychael J.
One of the best authentic comfort food places in Orlando
(4)
Wendy D.
Large varieties and lot of appetizers to choose from.
(5)
Amy D.
Authentic Vietnamese food. Right in the heart of Orlando, surrounded by Pho options. The food was the real deal. My family and I enjoyed egg rolls and spring rolls for appetizers. They were so good we had to order a second round. For my entree I enjoyed can chua (catfish soup) and it was almost as good as my mom's - perfect combination of sweet and sour. The downfall was the service, although I disclaim this with the fact that our party was over 20. It wasn't until my entree came did I receive my beverage and I reminded the server a couple times but again, my family comes in herds and we tend to be overwhelming.
(4)
Kai H.
What a nice discovery thanks to Yelp. :) No real ambiance but the food was great. Tried the Beef Stew with egg noodles, and wife had a pork dish - dont recall name. We really enjoyed the food and once you got service it was a great experience. As mentioned, the initial service took about 10, maybe 15, minutes but after that everything was spot on. Definitely coming back.
(4)
Steve A.
I like the bright, open, bustling feel of this place, lined with plate glass windows facing onto Mills Ave. The servers and many of the customers are Vietnamese, and I take that as a sign of the authenticity of the food. My favorites are the spring rolls, banh mi sandwiches, and the noodle dishes with mixed vegetables. The crispy noodles are good. They form a nest around the dish, and slowly soften as they sop up the gravy.
(4)
Simon M.
Pho Tai here is unbelievable. Needed to make a pit stop with work travel and this place was perfect. Soup and summer rolls here are incredible. Highly recommended and will definitely return when back in the area.
(5)
Priscylla C.
So delicious! Shrimp Spring Rolls are killer with the amazing taste of the peanut sauce! I usually order lemongrass chicken- it's spicy and so fragrant. Lots of onions and really wonderful flavor! My hubby gets the fried rice with only barbecued pork, it's so amazing! Big difference than Chinese take out pork fried rice where it's always smushy and gross- it's so flavorful and wonderful portion to share! Not that you'll want to ;)
(5)
Angie L.
after spending a cold rainy day at universal studios i was craving some pho! we found this place using yelp and it was good. not amazing pho, but it hit the spot. service was good and they even had the salted lemon drink (hard to find in utah).
(3)
Bunny N.
I've been to Pho 88 several times, and always had a great experience. The service is always great and the server always checks up on us to see if everything was good. The food is amazing.... just like the way Mom used to make pho! I always get Pho Dac Biet, with all sorts of different cuts of meat in it. Put tons of Siracha, Hoisin sauce and the veggies in and it's to die for. The Vietnamese subs are cheap, and pretty awesome too. Try to Vietnamese coffee too!! It's very tasty!
(5)
Thomas Z.
It was great! The place was quite busy on a Sunday evening, not a bad sign, and with a lot of Vietnamese, which is even better. The smells coming from the kitchen and from the dishes reminded me of my visits to Vietnam in particular and Asia in general. The shrimp and spicy octopus were very tasty indeed and we cleaned the plates to such an extent that the top layer may have been damaged. It is in a side street of E Col Drive and it is worth your time. If you are running from Little Saigon, ar least you do not have to run far. It was simply great! Go and see for yourself!
(5)
Noelle H.
I came here with a group of friends after shopping at the mall. We just happened to stumble into this one because it was the first one we saw an the majority of customers were Asian (always a good sign). I was craving bun rieu but unfortunately they were out, boo. So I had to settle on H Tiu hoc Mì Khô Tôm Cua. It was good for how simple it was! Most places don't use sauce in the noodles, so the flavoring was on point. Both of my friends were extremely happy with their dishes (, especially since it was their first time eating Vietnamese food. Service was attentive and quick. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Anibal O.
Been to this place well over 20 times... Service is good but not great, but its some of the best Pho I have had in Orlando and I love both their spring roll and the fried roll. as for the food I have had a few dishes and they been great... Only one time I didn't like a dish and I should of known better to order a Thai dish in a viet place. GET THE COCONUT WATER DRINK!!!!!! Food is fresh folks!!!
(4)
Cole S.
I call this place the Bill Clinton of Pho restaurants, because the food truly speaks for itself and well. My girlfriend and I make at least one weekly visit, either with take out or sitting in. When we have friends and family come into town Pho 88 is our spot to show off the local cuisine. Service is always great and the food... Ohhh the food. Get their Pad thai dishes!
(5)
Jessica T.
Anytime I am passing through the area I have to make a stop here to bring the Pho home with me. We have yet to try something we aren't fans do from here! My go to Pho is the white meat chicken pho...mmmm-mmm; the best I've had! If you've never tried the Boba Tea, I'd recommend giving it a try too...green tea is a good if you've never had it before. If pho is not your thing, try the Bhan Mi; great sandwich on a small baguette with everything to choose from...pork, chicken, beef and veggie. Always look forward to the pho from here, just wish they were closer.
(5)
Michelle L.
Ok pho here... Not like what everyone says 'the best pho'. The soup is bland. I've tried other dishes too, mi bo vien was not good either, bo vien was not good, soup was bland. Ga xao xa ot was all white onions & ot not much chicken. I think i have tried enough to finally say... Its an ok restaurant... Not the best in anything, but only ok, last resort restaurant for me.
(3)
Pamela M.
The spring rolls with peanut sauce is delicious. I only go there for the pho chicken soup and spring rolls. Yummmy!
(5)
Leo P.
I've eaten here twice in the past six months and both times the food was amazing. I'm a big fan of new food experiences and this was my first time eating authentic Vietnamese and I was not disappointed. The serving size is very good especially for the price. If I rated based only on the food this place would be a 5 star restaurant IMO but the wait staff is where it's lacking. I am pretty patient and understand the service industry but both visits our server took forever with refills and the bill even when the restaurant was half full. If the owners could get the staff a little more attentive this place would be stellar. Still I recommend for great Vietnamese food you won't regret trying this place.
(4)
Peter P.
Saw the reviews and took the fam there with high hopes. We must have gone to the wrong place because what we had was up there with the top 5 worst pho I can remember having. Granted I am a Pho snob so I do expect a lot. I'm Viet and I make my own Pho at home. I've had good and bad Pho everywhere from DC to Dallas to Cali. Our pho at Pho 88 was so bland even hoisin sauce couldn't save it. There was zero aroma (did anyone put at least some anise in?). I had the special with everything. The service was great but sadly we won't be back because of the terribad Pho. Life's too short to eat bad Pho. Another tip, need to do away with the disposable chopsticks and cup. This isn't some fast food self serve joint. At least give us real chopsticks and real coffee glasses instead of to go disposable. What next? Plastic spoon and bowl? Disappointed.
(2)
Andrea N.
Absolute favorite place to get PHO in the area hands down!! ALWAYS get a #1 and a #38. And there's nothing like having it fresh in the restaurant!
(5)
Jeffrey D.
I finally got around to having dinner here. We went on a Sunday night and it was fairly busy even though we were seated for a later dinner. My wife went for the Pho and I opted for a noodle dish. The menu is robust so just about anyone can find something they are looking for. Though they lack a kid's menu, my daughter was able to bite off of our plates. The Pho was packed with fresh goodies and can be spiced up if need be. Since we were seated after the rush the meals took a little bit of time to prepare but not so much it was uncomfortable. I enjoyed the noodle dish which was loaded with goodness as well. The food was flavorful which is good since I typically have had rather bland entrees in other places. The prices were decent and the servings were huge. Overall, good food for the price. It is a great place to go if you have a diverse group. You will not walk away hungry.
(4)
Stephy W.
No stars if possible. I love Pho. I never had been here bc I go to other ones in the area. 1. They sat me and took forever for someone to come. 2. I hate seeing the red raw meat. Therefore I told the waiter 3, yes THREE times "Well done, no pink please, I don't like when the meat is red and bloody" what do I get? RED BLOODY DISGUSTING RAW MEAT. If the broth was extremely hot like at other pho restaurants I would have just pushed it down, but it was warm. Therefore couldn't do that. I waited for about ten minutes no one came to the table so they could fix this for me. So I had to go up to the counter and tell them. I did taste the broth tho and it was really tasty and a lot of meat in the soup compared to PhoHoa that gives you a couples pieces. But I will not under any circumstances be back.
(1)
Steve M.
I have eaten here a few times now and always get their namesake Pho. I cannot speak for the other entrees or choices although there are quite a lot of them. The Pho is quite good (but I have had better) with a lot of choices from the traditional Beef to Chicken. There are many traditional Vietnamese drinks to choose from also. I have to say the wait staff is so-so and not always very attentive. On more than one occasion, I needed to go to the main counter to get our check.
(4)
Lynn F.
I love their food so much but cost little expensive and the customer service sometimes poorly. They need to improve on the way they serve customer. Otherwise, everything else were fine. You should give a try in here.
(4)
Melly M.
I got papaya salad with shrimp and it tasted fishy! I didn't like it much. Service was ok too, no cute sweet waitress today. But for a Vietnamese restaurant, their phad Thai was delicious!
(3)
Alyssa F.
Awesome! Beef pho was delicious and the sprouts, basil, and such to accompany were all unbelievably fresh. Beef and vegetables with rice for the boyfriend was also delish. Will be back. Oh, and did I mention prices aren't bad at all?
(4)
Yohan N.
Keeping this review short. Broth tasted plain - was not blended with the various flavors very well. Could tell it wasn't cooked for a long time Meat amount was decent. Overall, didn't taste "dirty" enough for me. Was too clean.
(3)
L L.
The shrimp summer roll was impeccable but the port chop over rice was just okay. Everyone around me ordered Pho and I should too. This place was perfect for a quick and value meal break. I enjoyed it and would come back for sure.
(4)
Kelli M.
While the restaurant lacks a stylish atmosphere, the food is what draws diners in. During our visit we often saw large groups enjoying a meal together along with college kids, grandparents and couples. This Vietnamese restaurant attracted an array of ethnic diners as well. This was the first time I had ever ordered Pho. Maybe a ninety degree day isn't so ideal, but I was craving some noodles. The menu at Pho 88 can be quite intimidating, with almost 150 items to choose from. I asked our friendly waiter for his recommendation, while my husband went right for a banh mi sandwich. Our food was delicious. The bowl of Pho was quite large and made for a filling dinner. We enjoyed our dinner so much that we went back a couple of days later for lunch. I decided to join my husband and get the banh mi this time. I've had a banh mi sandwich at another local restaurant, but the one at Pho 88 was much better. This is a great way to have an inexpensive but, delicious lunch. I look forward to coming back and trying other dishes on the menu. I couldn't help but gaze at all the plates making their way to the other customers; they looked quite scrumptious. Tasty food at great prices, along with friendly service makes for a nice spot to grab some lunch or dinner. While you're in the neighborhood take a stroll around and stop by some of the unique shops along Mills.
(4)
Onell L.
I love the food at Pho 88. I always get the spring rolls with the fish and sometimes the summer rolls. My favorite dish is the White Meat and Dark Meat chicken and I add shrimp to it (for an additional cost of course). The servers are foreign and speak little English but you have to expect that when visiting an authentic Vietnamese restaurant like this. Ive always wondering if this was the best Pho in town compared to Little Saigon but Im now comfortable saying Pho 88 is the best in town. Sidenote: My Debit card was declined here and closed due to funny stuff with their credit card processing system. Just a heads up.
(4)
Jeremy M.
Some of the best pho in Orlando! Their Vietnamese coffee is excellent as well. The restaurant is a little dirty, but it's worth it!
(4)
Melanie R.
I'm not even crazy about Vietnamese food but holy cow it's delicious!!! I had the pork chops soo good!! Their soups are no joke! Definitely a must try!
(5)
Carlos L.
No reviews required, come here for Vietnamese, period. No frills, yummy inexpensive food, great flavors and portions, authentic viet. I love this part of town for its condensed Vietnamese food alternatives, definitely coming back here.
(4)
Dave W.
This has slowly become our "go to" place in Orlando, for Pho and Vietnamese iced coffee. The service is always super fast and friendly, especially if you know what you want, immediately, without even looking at the menu. The interior is large, very clean, and includes a large TV to watch sports or random Vietnamese entertainment. Here are a few tips... If you want Pho Ga (chicken Pho), always go with dark meat as its tastier for sure. You'll be treated with more respect also, since only uninitiated tourists order white meat for their soup. Sriracha makes everything better. Don't hesitate. This stuff is *nectar of the gods*. Finally, make sure you squeeze a wedge of lime in to your Pho! They gave it to you for a reason. The crunch of the sprouts, the basil, the spicy warm broth, the noodles and meat, the slice or three of jalapeno, and the subtle bite of lime all combine to a heavenly and filling meal. Don't miss it! OK. If you have not tried Pho, you must. Take my word for it. You'll never look back
(5)
Tuan N.
Ok.. I am going to be fair in this one. I ordered Com Tam Suon Nuong... and specifically asked for the pork chop (Suon Nuong) to be broiled. What I got is the fried Pork Chop with excessive oil. The waiter seemed clueless about the order and what go on in the kitchen. It is ok to tell customer that you don't char-broil your meat but not knowing the difference between fried/char-broiled .. is way too far to be a waiter.
(2)
Joe K.
Solid place for vietnamese pho. It's been here since forever and has been a staple to the 50/Mills area aka Viet Town. To be honest I have never tried any other food aside from the various pho there. That just shows how good this place is when it comes to something like pho! Portions are ginormous and service is always quick and generous. I would definitely suggest to anyone who is in the area or is in the mood for a quick bite of Pho!! BTW Plenty of parking around the back side of the place so you're not stuck with parking off 17/92.
(4)
Sydney K.
I really enjoyed my banh mi and pho at Pho 88, and the service was alright, so overall I'm a fan and would give 3.5 stars. The broth was flavorful, not the best I've had but certainly not the worst. It was a good-sized bowl and I left feeling very full. The waiter seemed to be a bit cool towards us but then warmed up later, which was appreciated. I don't want to be friends, but feeling like a nuisance isn't great either. Overall the service was okay. I'll be back to visit, hence the 4 stars, and am hoping the pho continues to taste good since all I really want out of life is some delicious pho. Well, not really, but it does help.
(4)
Christy T.
Seeing that I cannot master how to make beef pho by myself, this is the second best thing next to homemade beef pho whenever I'm craving it. Yes I know there are a few people who eat pho with no additional sauces (such as hoisin) and garnishes, but after adding my normal amount of hoisin, siracha, lime, basil, and bean spouts, it tastes like home, and yes, my mom's homemade beef pho is that good. I normally get Pho Bo Tai Chinh. Although basic as it is (in my opinion), this is a way to tell whether the pho is good or not. What I like about the broth is that it isn't that oily compared to another pho place I tried in Tampa which was deemed as good. There are other dishes than pho in this place and I haven't tried them yet, but I know for sure I'm getting pho here.
(5)
Michael W.
I have been to this place like 8 time since i moved to Orlando for over 2 months. This is by far one of the most consistent place I have been to. 5 Food is very consistent and fresh. However, flavors does then to be a bit blend sometimes because maybe that how the dishes are supposed to be. Portion sizes are adequate and consistent. It earned a 4 because of its consistency. Great Kitchen management. 4/5 The service is okay but the wait for the food with the quality is sufficient for me. It does varies during downtime and busy time. they are faster during busy time than downtime, which is bizarre. Some of the staffs might need to be trained better in regards to be a waiter, such as refilling glass of water without being asked, picking up some empty plates, or noticing that the party is ready for the check. Just minor items that they can clean up. However, the staff is very super nice and friendly. they all always have a smile on their face. 3.5/5 Atmosphere - Your typical asian place. very open, Actually have a TV with sports in it. They seemed to be a big of football too. It is very homely and local. I like the feeling of that. However, most of the furniture and fixtures are pretty outdated, like back in the 80s. But it does not change the type of lively open atmosphere that they purpose aim for. 4/5 Overall , I will be back going to the place because it does have reasonable price for viet food and the great consistency of the food.
(4)
Tiffany N.
Food was ok. Service were terrible. I have to waited over 30 mins to get water and the people come after us already been served.
(2)
Mia P.
Great service and amazing pho. Very satisfying food! This place can get busy on the weekends at dinnertime. It's not upscale, but the food is excellent and I highly recommend this place when you need soup, noodles and comfort!
(5)
Tiffanie D.
YES YES YES! GO EAT PHO HERE NOW!!! DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE FULL! Yeah, I thought the pho here was amazing from what I've seen in Orlando (maybe not much yet). This review is probably just for the pho since it is called Pho 88, might as well get the star dish although the people I went with got rice and bun bo hue. I'm guessing everything this place has is good (and it has alloottttttt of options from vietnamese food-as the restaurant name suggests- to thai food--pad thai). One pho bowl size fits all?? No! They have an extra large options (+$2). Yes so if you're starved, you don't have to get two bowls... or do you? Pho was amazing. I recommend the pho tai (thin beef slices) since it's my usual. Also grabbed a banh bao on my way out and was one of the best decisions I've made that day!!!!!! I'll be back.
(5)
Jennifer M.
Wow! I have driven by this place so many times that I was excited to finally stop in and give them a try! Now keep in mind, this is a Vietnamese restaurant so if you don't like Asian style food (rice, noodles, stir fry, pho) then this isn't the place for you. But for the rice and noodle lover like myself, this place is like home! I found the place to be very spacious and well put together. The staff was friendly and courteous. But I absolutely loved the food! I was in heaven!!! The menu is filled with so many tempting options, that I can't wait to go back and see what else I can sample! This is an Orlando must try for the Asian cuisine lover!!!
(4)
Anna B.
We rolled into this restaurant with ~30+ people in our group. No big deal. They kindly accommodated us. And they were willing to split the bill, too! Pho 88 has a reputation of being one of the best pho restaurants in Orlando. I didn't try the pho, but it looked good. I opted for bun rieu, which is comprised of rice noodles and crab. I think the English translation was listed as crab noodles. You get some tomatoes in it, along with some tofu and a scrambled crab mixture. The broth was flavorful. I enjoyed it. This was my first time ordering the dish at a restaurant in the US. It did not disappoint. The spring rolls and fried egg rolls were delicious, too. You get a side of nuoc cham/nuoc mam to go with it. I was able to try their bun bo hue, or beef noodles. It wasn't as spicy as I had hoped it to be. The flavor and taste was still nice. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for a modest Vietnamese meal. It's clean and the workers are quite pleasant. Pretty atypical from my usual experiences with Viet restaurants!
(4)
Bao N.
We were visiting Orlando recently and on the way out I knew I HAD to stop to have viet food. We found this place on yelp and I was not disappointed! There are some mediocre places in Miami and I was so looking forward to some good viet food. I've been all over the country for viet food and So Florida just lacks viet food. But this place will satisfy my craving. The place is decent size with your standard decor. Reminds me of other viet places that i've been too in my hometown of MPLS. The menu had a lot to choose from that I wanted to eat everything. I was at a lost to choose what I wanted. I really really wanted a banh xeo (viet pancake) and the server said it would take too long to cook. I'm not sure why but he really was trying to convince me not to get it so I didn't. We ordered some an abundance of food and I was pretty happy. I wish it were closer but it is something that I look forward to when I visit Orlando. Needless to say, I had mad food como on the way back to Miami but I did'nt have to drive so I could have taken a nap!
(4)
Ashley J.
We ordered take out from here when we first moved to Winter Park in July 2013. Amazing pho, excellent rolls. And the prices are great. A really reasonable way to enjoy excellent Vietnamese food. We were unsure upon moving to Orlando if we would find the same selection of various world cuisines as we had in New York. We have been pleasantly surprised, and Pho 88 was one of those pleasant experiences!
(4)
Friend Of Your M.
This place has good pho, but not so good English. From the Vietnamese restaurants I've been to in the area I would rank them as so: (1) vietnam cuisine (2) pho vinh (3) little saigon (4) pho88 (5) pho hoa (6) toek5
(4)
Elissa W.
Love this place! Tried the pho with beef balls.. Not a fan of the beef balls but the soup itself is great! now the best tasting thing I have almost ever had was the shredded pork spring roll with peanut dipping sauce. Holy cow!!
(4)
Janel G.
This was the first stop on our self-directed Asian Food Tour. That means, Honey and I took the kids to try vietnamese food for the first time haha... a little pho, some banh mi sandwiches, then boba to finish the day. We went for an early dinner. The restaurant was not crowded at all, but the service was incredibly slooooowwwwww.... Thankfully, the food made up for the awful wait. I had beef, he had chicken, the kids had chicken fried rice. Oops... let me clarify, the adults' food was great. the kids' food, not so much. I know... I'm still giving this place 4 stars because the adults were happy. I never would've ordered chicken fried rice for myself but I thought it was gonna be a kid friendly meal that couldn't be messed up. Wrong. The rice was really dry and clumpy. It was if the plate had been sitting out all night and we were trying to eat it the next day. yuck... no wonder they didn't like it :( But, as I said, the adults were happy. The pho was really good and I will definitely go back for that. I probably won't try anything else though. Oh yeah, we also had spring rolls and fried egg rolls. Both were satisfactory. Nothing special. Pho. All the way.
(4)
Melanie T.
It was extremely busy, which I understand and I can be patient. But there were other customers who came after us and we're served before us. After waiting about 15-20 min without any saying a word to us since we sat down, I then said something to the cashier (possible owner) and she wasn't even apologetic and said "that's because your server is different from those tables!" Even if it was, a greeting or "I'll be right with you." would have sufficed from our server. When he finally got to us, he was very rude taking our order (probably mad because I said something). Later on, I ordered the pho combination with steak on the side. And was charged extra for them to put something on the side that already comes in the soup?! Seriously? I feel like they were so busy and felt that they met their quota for the day and didn't really care about the rest of the customers. They must think that they have plenty of customers and don't care about 1 measly table, but you know what? There are plenty of pho restaurants around colonial. And I'm more than happy to take my business elsewhere.
(1)
Emily E.
Went here because all the other bubble tea places in the area were closed at the time. Service was very friendly and fast, but the tea was clearly made with powder rather than fresh ingredients. While that's not uncommon, I've definitely had better boba. I had mango and my friend tried the taro. The area of town it is in is not very safe, so if you're going at night, be aware of your surroundings.
(3)
Tairi P.
I honestly didn't expect the food to be as flavorful as it was. The inside was ok/cute (that's an actual measurement people), although the layout and decor struck me as more of a fancy cafeteria. The waiter was really nice and attentive, and any restaurant that plays episodes of Wipe Out is pretty rad in my book. I'm vegan with allergies and my boyfriend likes his animals dead on his plate with a side of scrambled potential-animal so it's not always easy finding a place where we both end up with a great meal. We were both very happy with our food (I had the stir-fry veggies and tofu with vermicelli noodles and the boy had chicken/beef/shrimp fried rice), although my vegetable spring roll literally only had lettuce and a few rice noodles (I had expected at least two different veggies). I also loved that I had enough food to have leftovers for later! ("later" = the min I got home)
(4)
Daniel D.
The gist: Great Pho. I think me and the wife have tried ever "pho" restaurant in Orlando aside from a few friends of ours that make their own from scratch and have recipes that have been handed down from different people in the family. We always go back. It's not much on the atmosphere but I really, really like the grub. It always amazes me the amount of people that are constantly in this joint and seem to be loving it. I believe that this was the very first place that me and my wife had the pleasure of enjoying pho noodle soup. This is partly because we asked everyone in town where they thought we should go and this is where we ended up. Normally we go with the Summer Rolls and a few beers to start. I like traditional pho, beef soup but the wife always goes for the more adventurous choices. Neither of us have ever been disappointed. It surprises me at times too because the wife normally gets a "squid beak pie" or a "shrimp and fish eyes soup" or some craziness and she always loves it. Mine is always perfect. Traditional pho beef noodle soup with sprouts, fresh jalapenos and herbs. I love the way that the hot broth soften-ups the sprouts and other small pieces of greenery. Throw a little sarachi in there and BOOM! Magic. Here's the best part; the price. Most of the time, even including beers, summer rolls and our soups we can get our of there for about 25 bucks! I think that's fantastic and if you've ever eaten an entire bowl of pho there you'll know what I mean. I think you've definitely got to give this place a shot.
(4)
Jason C.
There definitely isn't a shortage of Vietnamese restaurants in the area, the pho here seems to have the best quality and preparation of beef, but sadly the service is not the best. One guy in particular (dude with the mustache) just seems like he couldn't care less. Either way, the food is good so I will keep coming back. Only reason it is a 3 star and not a 2 or 1.
(3)
Aldo F.
One of my 3 favorite places for pho in Orlando. Prices are good and portions are generous. I have only tried pho here and it's always been good. Service is always good. I have to try the rice and noodle dishes to evaluate on that.
(4)
Elle H.
Maybe it was the fact I had a to-go order. Maybe it was the fact I am not Asian. Maybe it was the fact this place just serves the blander version of pho. I was SO disappointed when I got home with what I expected to be a great Vietnamese meal to share with my love on a rainy Florida evening. The to go version had the broth (practically clear and lacking in flavor) separated from everything else which came in a styrofoam box. I'm used to putting it all together but seeing it like this in a well lit area made be doubtful from the get go. The chicken was clearly boiled in water (not even in broth) and was almost grey - it tasted like it looked so it was removed from the soup after 2 bites. I don't think it was spoiled but it didn't taste good. I asked for, and was charged for, extra vegetables which turned out to be a few carrot shavings, a couple of broccoli florets, and a few blanched red and green pepper strips. Everything was just sad, bland, boring, and, well, disappointing. I'll stick with the other place just down the road. The food dollar is stretched thin in this part of town so I have no idea how this place is making it!
(1)
Joy J.
My sweety loves this place for Vietnamese eats. So we came here this past weekend and he ordered Pad Thai noodles and an order of shrimp rolls for us to share. I ordered a Beef Bun entree. His pad thai was a large order -- Ive tried it before and its not as authentic as what you get from a Thai eats place. However the portion is HUGE for the $9.75 price. He liked it and could not finish it all. My entree of Beef Bun -- I liked Pho Vinh's better. It came with strips of grilled beef - The beef didn't look like beef to me it actually looked like some type of meat protein however it was tasty - My sweety thought it looked good. The PHO here is def the go to and some of their stir fried noodles and rice platters. The vietnamese coffee I had before and it tasted like it came from those glass bottles one you get from the asian market.. (Orange label)...And they poured it onto a tall glass with some type of whip cream foam which was DELICIOUS! I would just want to order the white foam ITSELF! The service here is okay. This is our regular eats at times due to my sweety craves this place at times!
(4)
Melissa C.
Pho 88 was recommended to me after a discussion of the best spot for pho. We decided to give it a shot for Friday date night. One thing I liked was how well lit and clean the restaurant is. We were seated right away and a server quickly appeared. The menu was pretty beat up but had a lot of images to help me decide, and lessen my anxiety. I picked the grilled pork spring rolls for an appetizer and then pho with eye of round and brisket. My boyfriend ordered the special combination pho. The food arrived quickly, but I was kind of disappointed with spring rolls dipping sauce and the filling was not what I envisioned. It consisted of grilled pork that was chilled, rice vermicelli, and iceberg lettuce. The pho was hot and fresh, my beef cooked perfectly, but the broth lacked a depth I had experienced at other restaurants. Overall it was good, and it was clean and not as frightening as other viet restaurants. Our server was awesome and quick too boot. It's a safe bet if your just trying it for the first time. We'd eat there again, but maybe try something else.
(4)
Colleen B.
Went specifically for Pho. It was pretty good. I was not feeling the best so all I wanted was soup and I had a craving for noodles from the day before so this was a perfect stop for dinner. The service, eh. Wasn't amazing, wasn't anything to complain about. The layout of the place is very roomy and there is a huge TV in the middle which had the NBA game on so that was a win. I am not a sake fan but the gentleman I was with had never had it so we went with hot sake. I figured it would help with my throat anyway. It was just as I remembered, hot Robitussin =) so I guess it was as you would expect? ha. We started with the fresh spring rolls and they were delicious. The freshness was amazing and the dip was delicious. We also had quail and it was pretty good, not greasy as I would have expected. For my mail dish I had 2 meats, rib eye and skirt steak - I think it was #26. The noodles were amazing and I didn't add anything to my broth and it was yummy! Hit the spot for sure. The meat, was very fatty and I guess I have nothing to compare it to since it was my first Pho experience. Overall, I dug it though. The guys next to us looked like he had broccoli and chicken and it looked delicious, I will prob be back soon to try another dish!!
(3)
Roger C.
Came to Orlando for vacation and our friends were dying for some sort of Asian food. We drove around and yelped around looking for anything and everything. We found Pho 88... Since it's a Pho House, I went with the Pho. I wasn't super impressed. I know I am not vietnamese or anything BUT it wasn't all that. I don't mean to be rude, I come from the Bay Area, Cali...San Jose CA is like Vietnamese Central and even SJ doesn't have Pho that's good...it was pretty comparable in the broth taste...plus the noodles were kind of stuck together. Eh, service is the usual of any Pho restaurant too and service was alright. It was quick like most but I drink water like a fish and whats bad is when refills on H2O don't come around as often. Overall, I'd give this place a 2.5 stars to 3 stars.
(3)
Brittany C.
We ordered the pad thai and light and dark chicken soup bowl. Fresh herbs which was great. Nothing spectacular the pad thai was red not the normal brown color. Wouldn't rush back.
(2)
Tessa S.
Not too impressed. The amount of food was a good value for your money but the flavor was just okay. Ordered spring rolls, pho, fried rice and chicken curry. It was like ordering take-out chinese food. A good amount of food but nothing spectacular. The pho had a lot of meat but the broth was a bit bland. P.S. Don't waste your money ordering bubble tea. Not worth it. The boba's texture was like soggy, gummy cheeseballs and the milk tea was dense like protein shake.
(3)
Kristin C.
Off bat... This place has horrible service and so so dishes. We had to chase down a waiter. Our apps came out ten minutes apart, with no silverware or plates. The crunchy pig skin spring roll was... Soft and grainy;nothing crunchy about it at all. The quill was a saving grace. Our entrees were so so. I had a broken rice and my love had vermicelli pork. We've had better and will most likely will not be returning.
(2)
Jesus R.
Quite possibly the best pho I've had (in a restaurant that is). Awesome broth. My friend said her soul felt rejuvenated. How many pho bowls can lay claim to that?
(4)
Bitchadorespink S.
This place is legit! Unless you are a prime minister or president of Vietnam, you'd better not have anything negative to say about his place. It's that good.
(4)
Lucy X.
This is a great pho place in dt Orlando! Not to mention- one of the only restaurants that was open on Christmas night. The selection of pho and other Vietnamese noodle and rice dishes is plenty, the price is right, and the service is awesome. Their banh mi is one of the best I've ever had. Highly recommend!
(5)
Rebecca G.
I love this area for Vietnamese food! I mostly get the BBQ pork banh mi when I come here. They're delicious, decently-priced and personally satisfying because I have recently declared banh mi's as my favorite sandwich...ever. (Tough choice there, I know.) I will certainly be trying many other restaurants in the area who specialize in this sandwich, as I have researched several very promising locations! Otherwise, I tend to get the pad Thai here or a Vietnamese noodle dish (of which the name escapes me.) I know Pad Thai isn't Vietnamese, but it is yummy here. Sometimes, we buy tropical fruits from the fruit stand right outside, and trust me, they are amazing and definitely worth it!
(4)
Stacey G.
This is walking distance, right around the corner from my house. I have gotten food here twice, and here is what I've gotten: Banh Mi chicken sub (ask for white meat if that's what you want): Amazing! Fried egg Banh Mi: kinda plain but still great! Salt and pepper tofu appetizer: SOOO good. Big recommendation. The tofu is fried up crispy. Chicken Pho soup: Great! Good flavor! The prices are really reasonable and I have not yet been disappointed. Pho 88 gets my seal of approval.
(5)
Kenny Y.
After having Theme-Park food for 5 days straight and after a long and cold day at Universal Studios, this place really hit the spot! had the Bo Kho, meat was delicious and tender. They serve it with a huge whole banh mi on the side for dipping. Fantastic! I also ordered a sandwich... for 3 bucks or so... what a deal it is. It's fresh out of the oven, meat and veggies are fresh... can't beat it for the price! Others in my group ordered Pho and could not complain. They give you a generous amount of meat, especially compared to the restaurants we normally visit back in the Bay Area. Veggies were very fresh as well. Will definitely come back if I'm ever back in the area!
(4)
Virginia R.
I wanted pho after my finals. Monday was my last final. In general, many restos of the asian persuasion are closed on mondays. Pho 88 was an outlier. With many glowering recommendations, I decided it was time to give this place a whirl. The chicken noodle soup was good. Very good. The basil was fresh and flavorful and the sprouts firm and crisp. Thai Tea had whipped cream... cute. The service... not so much. I am not a big eater, but I really enjoy what I do eat. I always take stuff home. That took a decade, give or take a year. This is a place I will visit again, but I wasn't as wowed as I expected to be.
(3)
Trang T.
I use to like coming and eating here. The few times I went here there was always something in my food. One experience I had a bug in my food, we mentioned it to the server and he basically brushed us off like it was normal that bugs fly in the food all the time. Another bad experience I had was when I ordered eggrolls and there was a cherry stem in 1 of my rolls. They don't even apologize, they just try to justify themselves. Terrible
(1)
Brett G.
Service was terrible, as the Waiter seemed bothered if our glasses were empty. It is the food that makes this place earn 5 stars. Delicious!
(5)
Selene T.
The smell is intoxicating, I had to sit before opening my menu and take it all in. Sweet, spicy, lemony... Such delicious aromas! I came here to try a vegetarian pho. So I asked my server, who seemed to be in a hurry... And not very friendly, (this food better be good LOL). He said that vegetarian is at number 91. I decided on #92, clear noodle with tofu & vegetables. But I couldn't just try one thing... This is the problem with going to a restaurant by yourself, no one else's food to try?!?!? So I decided on ordering the fried egg bahn mi (a bahn mi is a Vietnamese sandwich, filled with your choice of meat, pickled daikon, pickled carrots and cilantro, all on French bread. I've had it twice before, at yummi sandwich only a couple of blocks north from here and at Boston Bakery a couple of blocks east on colonial. First, the Bahn Mi, a little disappointed... Everything was served separately, there were no pickled veggies :( ...my server said, this is how they serve the egg bahn mi. So next time I'll have to try a different one. Still I have to say, it was the best part of my meal. My pho was delicious, lots of crunchy vegetables, lots of tofu, and the deeper I digged the more veggies I found. I added sriracha to it because I love spicy food. The service is lacking, while my server did get a little nicer towards the middle of my meal, he totally forgot about me towards the end, I sat for 15 minutes will all if my plates moved a foot away from me, my water glass empty and he never made eye contact. He finally approached me, I requested more water and a to-go container for my pho. He returned with a quart plastic container but did not offer to place my soup in it :( I timed myself and it took me 7:14 to pack my soup without spilling any if it :) Over all the food was not so amazing that I'd be dying to come back, but I'll Definately revisit this place again, next time with friends so I can try more items.
(3)
Erin S.
Terrible service, decent food, amazing boba! I did not go to a FULL SERVICE restaurant to wait on my server. You are PAID to wait on me. Trust me, I am a server too. Our server wanted to take our drink and food order right as soon as he came to our table but I was only prepared to give him my drink order. I got an EAR FULL from him when I asked for a couple extra minutes before ordering. We wolfed down our food real quick because apparently they were "so busy." Yet, it took them a good 10-15mins after we were completely done eating to drop off our checks. Not ever coming back.
(1)
Michael L.
I was taken here by a friend who has tried at least 4-5 pho places locally, and has proclaimed this to be the best. I am not a local, and after reading the positive reviews, was eager to try some good ole pho. I ordered the XL pho dac biet (pho with everything). The bowl wasn't the biggest Ive eaten from, but was definitely ample. The broth was flavorful, and moderately heavy, not too heavy, not too light. The meats were of course served the right way (bright pink, and cooks in the soup after they serve you) Which of course makes a huge difference. Our group also ordered the banh mi (viet sandwiches) Ive had better viet sandwiches in the Northeast and in texas, but it was still acceptable. By the time my pho was done, i was yearning for more even though i was stuffed. Of course I am not local to the area, so i can not say if this is the best in the area, but from someone that knows their pho, its pretty darn good by my standards, although not the best ive had.
(4)
Dorinda K.
Soup lacked flavor. Very fresh but I did enjoy the mystery meat. Server was not very attentive. I don't think I will be back.
(3)
Vivian N.
I was not impressed with this restaurant during our only time visit. Goi Cuon Chao Tom ( Shrimp cake spring roll) was dried and the Shrimp cake was kinda tasteless. My lotus root salad was not the best, the lotus chunks were too big, sauce too sour and watery, pork was dried and overcooked. Mom was not a fan of her beef stew either. Anyway, service was fast and the place was spacious and clean.
(2)
Steve H.
Amazing to say the least, the pho is consistantly phenomenal. I bring everyone I know to pho 88. On the weekends they have a farmer selling fresh exotic fruits outside the place ; dragon fruit, long nhan, very interesting and delicious fruits. You will not be dissapointed get the 22 and prepare to think about it everyday of your life from then on.
(5)
Allan T.
The pho is just salty and lacks flavor. The beef was also over cooked. Very disappointed.
(2)
Patti M.
Mmmmmm.....Pho. I do not know a lot about Vietnamese food so I would love to come back with someone who is knowledgeable. The soup was perfectly tasty and light. The menu had plenty to try and the prices very reasonable but I had wanted to try the pho after having read the book The Beauty of Humanity Movement where pho played a rather prominent role. (I highly recommend the book BTW) My server was a doll.....super nice and was happy top explain what was on the menu and make a recommendation. I can't wait to eat here again.
(4)
Nicole W.
It's pho time :) delish skirt steak soup and veggie summer rolls
(5)
J R.
Food here is great. Service was slower then im use to out of a vietnamese noodle house but the taste is dead on.
(4)
Brian W.
Spring rolls were... odd. A little smaller than normal, but they tasted almost right? They were missing something in the meat... we had both the shrimp and the pork. The pho was pretty awful. It just lacked in flavor-- broth was just passable, the meat portions were okay, but the pho clearly had sat too long before being served as the rare flank steak was mostly cooked by the time it arrived, and the broth had cooled too much 'cause the bean sprouts I added and mixed in after being served never, ever cooked fully. Inside is typical Vietnamese pho place, almost nice but not quite. Very homey and familiar for pho to me, even the crowd had a bunch of local Vietnamese in it. We were hoping that would be a good sign as far as food goes. Sadly, it wasn't.
(2)
Jeff G.
Came here for dinner while I was in town. Ordered a bowl of Pho, some spring rolls, a vietnamese iced coffee, and a Bahn-mi for the next day's breakfast.. The Pho was good, as were the spring rolls. I had the Bahn-mi the next morning after reheating it the oven, it was decent but not really as good as the nearby bakeries. In all fairness, most sandwiches don't hold up as well after spending time in the fridge so don't let this review discourage you. The service was attentive, something I sometimes forget to mention unless it was downright bad.. Prices were excellent, especially when you compare to where I come from in Miami where a bowl of Pho can set you back at least $10. My whole bill came out to less than $20, and I left happier than a pig in fecal matter.
(4)
Matthew M.
If you're ever away from home (like in our situation) then this place will do the trick. Pho-wise it was good. Com Chien okay. Bun Xeo oh no dont go there. Great place to visit but I wouldn't wanna live here. Like I said, if you're out of town and find yourself here. Stick to the pho and don't deviate!
(3)
Carly J.
This place has the best pho in Orlando, which is saying a lot because there are a lot of places to get pho near here. My boyfriend and I are here about once a week. The staff is really friendly and the food is the best. We usually get the tofu pho, but everything I have tried is good and fresh. Not much more I can say about that. I definitely recommend it!
(5)
Mimi G.
This is the second time we have eaten here for Pho and we've enjoyed it both times. On our first visit my husband had #23 Pho Bo-Vien, the beef soup with meatballs and I had #24 Pho Chin the beef soup with well done brisket. The broth was very flavorful and both meats were quite tasty. If we had any complaint it would be that our server was a bit distracted and inattentive. It was difficult to flag him down for a drink refill. This time we each had #37 Pho Ga - Hon Hop Chicken noodle soup with white & dark meat. Again the soup was layered with flavor, filled with plenty of noodles and meat. The greens were fresh and crisp and our server was very attentive even though the restaurant was much busier then it had been on our first visit. The regular sized bowl is more than enough for a meal at a can't be beat price. This has become our go-to place for Pho. Yum!
(4)
J D.
Awesome food, reasonable prices, nice place!
(5)
David T.
Had the opportunity to visit once again and enjoy with a friend. As other reviews mention it is a no frills, basic atmosphere and still attracts, it is always packed with everyone from daytime business people to families and couples. Staff is friendly and courteous. Food was enough for two people so there were leftovers. The prices are great for the value of what you get.
(4)
Angel I.
Glad we went here! Huge menu with yummy food. Banh mi sandwiches were very good and so was the curry and pad thai. Very casual place with lots of seating. Will be going back.
(4)
Hollie M.
Can't believe I have never reviewed Pho 88. They are one of our favorite places and the only place we go for Pho. Very well priced we usually get out of their with two entrees and an appetizer under $20. Amazing soups, friend rice, and pad thai. Take out combination chicken noodle pho cures the common cold.
Pho 88 used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Orlando. Their Pho is tantalizingly delicious, with a flavourful broth, and plenty of tasty goodies hidden among the noodles. I used to eat here all the time! Until I got food poisoning. After spending 3 days in the hospital, I am not longer a fan Admittedly, no one else I ate with got sick, but I find myself unable to eat Pho now, and I'm pretty broken up about it.
(1)
Stacy V.
Food was good, but the service that we had was not as good as I expected. We ordered Vietnamese egg rolls for an appetizer, and they were the best thing I had. The grilled pork with rice came out quickly but was a little chewy to eat. We had to ask for water refills, which is not a big deal, but I tend to enjoy places that keep my drinks refilled without me asking. We still had a balance left on a gift card (we used it about a year ago), so we decided to use the rest of the card on dinner. The server came back and told us that there was no balance on the card and the gift card had probably expired. Nowhere on the card does it say that it expires, and no one told us that on our last visit. The server who gave us back the gift card at the last visit clearly wrote on the front of the gift card how much of a balance we had left. When I tried to explain all of this to the waiter (I was a little upset at the situation), he just said that there was nothing that he could do. I suggest that they disclaim on their gift cards that they expire within a certain amount of time because I feel like that is not really fair. It is a small place, so they may not have the whole gift card deal down to a science like some chains.
(2)
Prof J.
Good boba drinks, they even put whipped cream. The pho was good...The service was typical. i've been to so many pho places and this place doesn't really stick out of the ordinary. but they two have two sizes Large and Extra large, so off the bat they give you a big bowl. i dig.
(3)
Julie A.
OK. I went to the Bay Area, and my Mexican friend was asking me about Vietnamese sandwiches youtube.com/watch?v=jjEC… . Oh the shame on me for being a former Azn Pride supporter (::rolls eyes::) and not knowing what the heck a Vietnamese sandwich was about. So I set out to try this food. Yes, I am a dork. So sue me. Lol. Why is it called Pho 88 Noodle? I have no freaking clue. All I know is it reminds me of that song 999 Doa Hong youtube.com/watch?v=CZeO… Thing is, I think I'd rather have the 999 Roses than 88 Noodles. What am I going to do with all those noodles? I ordered the combination meat Banh Mi sandwich. Really good! Reminded me of a Cuban sandwich, except with pickled vegetables and not pressed flat. The herb leaves (was that cilantro?) were a nice touch. My son had the beef with rice dish Com Tam Thit Nuong. The beef was really good and the rice was very fresh. I also tried their Thai Tea. A bit too sweet, but still pretty good. Our server was great. Very attentive, very friendly, and very helpful. The prices are great. Banh Mi sandwich for $3.50 and my son's Com Tam Thit Nuong dish for $6.25. Their hours kick ass! Open SEVEN days a week from 10 am to 10 pm. Woot woot! Looks like I've got a new place to hit next time I'm in O-town.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Best pho I've ever had. Came here today for some pho as recommended by Yelp. Showed up only to go "Oh, we've been here before!" We came here two years ago with some local friend who said this was the best pho in the area. I'm not sure that this is true as I haven't tried the other pho in Colonialtown but it's certainly the best I've ever had. The broth is light but flavorful without all that MSG that they usually serve with my pho. Very clean taste. The regular size is $7.50 and is actually the large served in places like Northern Virginia. The "extra-large" is an additional $1.55. So all-in-all, prices are typical. Summer rolls are filled at a nice balance and the sauce is well-flavored and not watery or too thick. Papaya salad is a big portion that tasted fresh. Service was great from beginning to middle to end.
(5)
J. M.
Pho 88 serve the best pho anywhere, I had pho in many places all over Floria and in California, but this place out shine the rest. That is why I keep coming to this place for the past 9 years.
(5)
Licia L.
Thank you Yelp! I was in Orlando, craving pho and came to this spot. The grilled pork summer rolls were really good (rice paper wrapper was so fresh). My pho tai was good, although I personally like my meat a little more rare so i can cook it in the broth. My friend got the bun bo hue and it was really good. The noodles were fresh and the broth was nice and spicy. They also give a good amount of fixin's (fresh basil!) and a lot of jalapeno and lime. The iced coffee with condensed milk was also on point. A little more expensive than what I'm used to paying for pho (but again I live in LA and a bowl of pho is like $5 or $6) but I'm sure they're in line with Orlando prices.
(4)
A C.
We have been regulars for over 6 years. The soup was not hot! Couldn't find our server. He had tables all over the dining room. Then they tacked 18% tip on! We send people USED to send people here....no more!
(1)
Libby W.
Pho 88, with it's distinctive graffiti wall and open space seating is just the sort of place that makes you want to kidnap a tourist. I've had dreams about this. You just grab a few tourist from the Disney area, or the I-drive area, head over to Pho 88 and force them to eat their delicious Pho. Slurping down delicate delicious broth, noodles, and beef while jamming some real Orlando Culture down their throats. They won't only be thanking you in the end, they will want to pay you to kidnap them again on their next visit. Of course the idea of this would not be Utopian because a bunch of tourist packed in like sardines would do nothing good for the ambiance. To Say Pho 88 is a gem is a bit of an understatement to say that they have a large menu is also a bit of an understatement. The menu is huge and for new comers who have very little experience with Vietnamese food it can be a bit daunting. I've been here a few times now but have held back on the review until I had tried their Pho. I sat down and was handed a menu, even though I had came with the intention on getting the Pho my eyeballs were speaking for my stomach and wanted to order everything on the menu. It was quite hard to limit myself to a few items. We ordered the spring rolls with pork and shrimp, and the fried egg rolls with pork and carrots as our appetizers. The peanut sauce that accompanied the spring rolls was a wonderful consistency and had great flavor. The friend eggs rolls were equally good. Today I had the Thai tea which was not a surprise but was wonderful and rich. I've also had their Red Bean Shake which is a real treat and for $2.25 it's makes a nice dessert treat. Every time I come here I can't resist ordering a Banh Mi because the cost is 2.50-3.50 and it's delicious and I always have half left for a nice little snack later. My favorite one so far is the BBQ Pork Banh mi, it's tangy and spicy with pickled carrots, daikon and cilantro. On my previous visit I had the Cm Gà , Bò, hoc Tôm Xà o Cay , I chose the chicken as the meat and it's stir-fried with onion and jalapeno pepper in a sauce. It was delightful and spicy. I was expecting the run of the mill chicken and rice dish but this was elevated to another level with the sauce. So i finally sat down with the menu today and ordered the Pho regular size, which is actually very large, and the large is extra large. You are given a plate of Thai Basil, Lime, Bean Sprouts and Peppers that you add into your Pho bowl. I ordered the number 30 Ph Tái, Nm, Gu which consist of Rice Noodles and broth with eye round steak, well-done flank, and fat brisket. I could drown in the broth and die happy. It's so balanced and delicate. It's like going to one of those clear blue beaches and being able to see the bottom and identify the fish in the water. I could taste all of the ingredients as they swam and danced with each other. The Thai basil, the lime, the noodles, the beef, the scallion, the beefy broth with coriander and the peppers added a nice spice that was not overpowering or underwhelming. It was enlightening experience that will keep me coming back for more.
(5)
Alex A.
Last weekend I visited this place with my girlfriend and we had a great time. The food was fresh and delicious. There is plenty to choose from their menu. Meals are rich in flavor and the smell is just awesome. The portions of food are pretty big for the price you pay. Service is friendly and helpful, and the wait for food is not so terrible. The overall atmosphere of this place is fine.
(4)
JC W.
Go pho yourself at Pho 88! I swear, this place makes me wish Orlando had colder weather so that I could enjoy the hot n hearty Vietnamese offerings at Pho 88 without getting the sweats (I use a lot of chili n siracha in my pho). The prices here are fair and the servings are ample. Beware ordering soft drinks/soda/pop as they serve them from the can...In other words, no free re-fills. Th location itself always wigs me out as I pull into the parking lot because it is a tight turn off of a busy street and the lot itself is rather small. If it's your first time coming here please, slow down as your gps closes in...you'll thank me later. Location and soda aside Pho 88 is my favorite place in Orlando to go to for my pho craving. The broth is flavorful and light, the noodles...I don't know what they do to them but I love them and I'm not a big noodle fan. Every bowl of pho comes with a plate of bean sprouts, slices of lime, peppers, and what I believe to be basil leaves. The fried rice is awesome in whatever form you choose to have it (I like to add a fried egg on top). So if you haven't yet, give this joint a shot!...and then get the pho out cuz people need the parking space.
(4)
MyLinh H.
Two stars because I'm a nice person. I dined here with my family for the first AND last time. This is a "pho place" so one would assume they specialize in pho, but this was probably the worst pho I've had at a vietnamese restaurant. Pho Dac Biet: The noodles were extremely broken and slightly overcooked, the meat was overcooked as well and the broth was just plain awful. Besides the food, our server was extremely attentive because we had a big party so I really appreciated that. The restaurant looked pretty clean as well as the ladies room. They also have their own parking lot so that's a major plus.
(2)
Chris T.
Pho here is the best in Orlando - used to be Anh Hong a while back IMO; exquisite broth, an abundance of green onions, and generous portions of noodles. Rice dishes are OK - don't really like their pork because of their marinade. Banh Mi is ok but there are definitely better choices around i.e. Boston Bakery. Bun Rieu/Bo Kho are decent and any "egg roll" appetizer will titillate your appetite to order more. Endpoint: Prices and service are good. I come here for all my pho cravings above every other Vietnamese restaurant.
(5)
Lillian P.
The pho is super yummy. I went three days in a row with my fiancee and was very pleased. The only issue was I felt the shrimp egg rolls were reheated they were cold in the middle.
(4)
Lindsay L.
We both ordered traditional pho tai. It was pretty good, but we agreed that they didn't include enough beef. We also ordered the papaya and shrimp salad and spring rolls -- both were delicious. The only criticism we had was that our server was kind of a jerk. He wasn't friendly at all. The server harassed our friend once he ordered, because he assumed that he was going to use a credit card and they have a minimum charge. What the? No tip pho you...
(4)
Jenny L.
Very authentic food! I will definitely come back for the rest of their noodle dishes. 101 is delicious.
(5)
Jayson W.
My lady-wife-friend and I came here on a whim for lunch on Saturday. It was moderately full whilst we dined, but the service - as others have said - was lacking somewhat. The food, on the other hand was quite enjoyable. We got one of their crispy noodle dishes (usually good, and therefore a good litmus test) and the everything-Pho. The crispy noodles were good, saucy (but, not too much as it can be). The noodles were good as they stayed crispy the whole time but the right kind of soft where they'd been soaking in the sauce. Came out hot and very very tasty. The Pho, I'm actually realizing that we didn't get any tendon... but everything else about it was very, very tasty. None of the meat-pieces were chewy or stringy. Meatballs were tasty and none-too-small. Rare meat was very tender and flavorful. The three stars that I gave it could easily be a 3.5, but our waiter was less than attentive. It took me a few tries to catch him to get our check and we had to ask for more water. Overall, I'd come back and am somewhat looking forward to it; I'll just have to be louder in general.
(3)
Aliya J.
Went here for the pho, but kinda fell in love with the grilled beef banh mi. Not a great place for an intimate evening (not that this is what I was striving for, but just FYI) because of the bright lights and stoic tables and chairs. But, on the positive side, our server was very attentive and the portions were huge. The pho came in a serving size bowl and the broth was tasty, although I felt I had to add a decent amount of Sriracha sauce (provided at the table - WIN!). And on to the banh mi sandwich. These come on really great crusty french bread -- perfectly soft and chewy on the inside -- with tasty pickled carrots and fresh cilantro and your choice of meat. The balance of flavors was outstanding. Simple, but totally mouthwatering. I will come back for the banh mi and MAYBE the pho if I am in the mood for a trough of soup and vegetables. The items on the menu are super affordable, so that's always a plus. Yummy!
(3)
Hang T.
Finding pho in Orlando. Yelp led me to this place. Generally I would say it isn't as great as other places I have tried, but it's okay. The restaurant is pretty clean and huge I have to say. Prices are reasonable and they have two different sizes for the noodle dishes. First off, we ordered their spring rolls. MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT. It was basically shrimp and lettuce wrapped in a clear wrap. There was barely any noodles and they were super small. Sucky. I didn't like their pho very much. It tasted like there was too much star anise. It was a lot sweeter than pho should be. I threw in a lot of hot sauce to make it more savory. The only good thing for me was the rice dishes. The grilled beef was cooked perfectly and very well seasoned. Thinly sliced so it was easy to eat. The fish sauce was great. Not to salty and the perfect amount. The portion was good and I love broken rice! BOTTOM LINE: Go here for the rice plates and skip the pho.
(2)
Vinh L.
This place is not bad at all. In fact, it's probably better than lots of Pho shops out there. We tried this place a few years ago and wasn't impressed. But after reading all the recent reviews, we thought we would give it another try. We arrived to Orlando the other day around 6pm after driving 2 days from Texas to Orlando, and got stuck in traffic on 75. We thought about changing plan to eat American fast food and even Chinese food but we decided to still head down to Orlando to eat Pho. Nothing is better than a bowl of Pho after a long day of driving (wait make that 2). We were not disappointed at all. The Pho was great. Far better than what I remember. We ordered 2 Dac Biet Xe Lua (Extra large) and we glad we did. Our kids were enjoying the food as well. The spring rolls were not bad though I wished they should have used the normal lettuce and mint but that was OK because the peanut sauce was so good. We also ordered a Ca Phe Sua Da and Che Ba Mau but those were below average. Their service was great. I wasn't expecting it from a one $ Vietnamese restaurant at all. They even refill water and ask us if everything was ok (twice). One complaint though, we had to wait for a quite a while for the Pho to come out. I'm spoiled with Pho Bang in Dallas where Pho came out faster than fast food (most of the time).
(4)
Anita L.
Always always come here, very nice to see a variety of people eating here. Great pho and com! I typically get the Thai tea but sometimes it's a little hit or miss, I really suggest getting an avocado shake if you haven't tried it -- surprisingly good! Very creamy. Something I just tried which was amazing was their green papaya salad -- HOLY CRAP YOUR MOUTH WILL EXPLODE WITH AWESOMENESS. You can get it with shrimp or squid (we got both...), and it's sour and sweet at first.. and then the spice will build up on you and you will feel like you're dying but you can't resist eating more! I think it's a meal, but our table got it as an appetizer and shared it amongst everyone, which is probably better because I think it would be too intense as a whole meal.
(5)
Jenn N.
We came 5 minutes before closing, but they were nice enough to let us in & serve us. My bf & I both ordered pho. Service was GREAT-- our server was really attentive & came back to check on us a few times, which is not usual for Vietnamese restaurants! I'm not sure if it was because we came at the end of the day or if their broth is always like that, but it was a bit salty for my taste. However, everything else was good.. including our eggroll appetizer. I would probably come back here to try more of the selections on their menu if I'm ever in Orlando again :)
(3)
Sean N Dan M.
The food is great but the service is poor... Servers doesn't have good communication skills...
(2)
Joe C.
Easily the best pho I've had in probably 10 years. Ok, so it's the only pho I've had in about 10 years - but that still counts, right? Walking in, we were greeted almost immediately by a waiter who showed us to our table. Pho 88 felt a lot brighter and more open than most of the other restaurants I've visited in the Asian district of Orlando. Usually, when we go into one of the restaurants in the area, I'm the only Asian who doesn't speak the native language and everyone just stares at me. At least, that's what it feels like. There was a reasonably diverse crowd here though - with a healthy number of non-Asians in addition to the Vietnamese families. Our waiter was friendly and helped answer some of our questions, but didn't blow us away with his service like some people have experienced there. Based on Yelp recommendations, we ordered vegetable and spring rolls to start. The spring rolls were great, and my wife loved her vegetable rolls. The dipping sauce was delicious. For lunch, we both ordered bowls of soup. I couldn't tell you the names of them other than that I ordered #25 - Beef broth with eye round steak and meat ball. My wife ordered one with crab and shrimp. According to the check, we got the smaller bowls (the menu mentions two sizes, but the waiter did not ask which we wanted). The bowls are huge and can easily provide two meals. In fact, my wife took some home to eat later. Both of our soups were great. Plenty of flavor without being overbearing. The meats were all cooked perfectly. Often times, shrimp in soup comes out overcooked and rubbery - that was not the case here. We both still much prefer udon over pho, but for a good, cheap and huge fix of pho - this is the place.
(4)
Liz W.
I am starting to feel like a real scrooge, writing all these negative reviews. But honestly, sometimes the standards here in Orlando are way too low. I have to post a little truthiness. So, first let me say that I love good Vietnamese food. I first learned to love it in Louisville, at Vietnam Kitchen. I always hope to match that level of quality and service. Rarely have. Pho 88 came highly recommended when we first moved here and we tried it a couple of times. Meh. Not terrible, not good. Was forced to return tonight, not my choice, but since I wasn't paying, I thought, "Why not give it another try?" In a word: "No." I'm finished trying. There are 5 million Vietnamese restaurants along Colonial, and I plan to find one I love. This is not it. Let me sum up quickly: vegetarian spring rolls: blah. Vegetarian pho: was water with barely cooked veggies thrown in. One of my dining companions asked for water three times and then finally had to get up and go find someone to bring him water. After waiting 20 minutes for someone to clear our table, I had to get up from the table and find someone to bus it and bring us our check. Then we finally had to go pay since no one ever bothered to come back and take our payment. Really. I don't know what you all are eating, but this place is not great and on a night like tonight not even decent. Someone send me somewhere better, I beg you. Orlando, please give me excellent Mexican and excellent Vietnamese. Please.
(2)
Mina T.
I love this place the food is exceptionally delicious. The service however is terrible. Whether it's busy or slow. The waitstaff practically throws the chipped plates at you. I came today and while understandable it was busy. I was seated and waiting for about 5 mins 10 waiters walking around me and no one even acknowledge me to say I'll be right with you. Ok that's fine. It's was busy understandable. I finally kindly ask a waiter zooming by if he could please call someone to help me and he said rudely "not me" then bipolarly asks the table directly next to me super nice if he can get them anything else. ???? I was a party of one and they were party of four. That might explain why he didn't care about politeness towards me. I might as well have been invisible. If you come here avoid the waiter with the mustache. He is super rude. And unfortunately that's not the first time I've felt rudeness from this place.
(1)
Lana H.
very good pho though not the best I have had. The broth was full flavored however not clear which is fine... I'm now at pho hoa and will review which one is better. my all time favorite is still pho hoa in san diego. a lot of times these Viet pho places takes the same name but each restaurant cooks pho differently and each pho tastes vary. what I think owners do is get a reputable name of pho restaurants in Vietnam which many Viets associate with. This restaurant have one size bowl only ie no S, M or XL bowls.
(4)
Gaby S.
So I decided to go to Pho 88 so I could try a Vietnamese restaurant other than Little Saigon. Having rolls & Pho Tai is our Sunday tradition so that is all I can rate. The restaurant could definitely use a makeover. The fairs were a bit old, the floor looked dirty (scratched and such), and it was a bit hot inside. The service was ok. We were sat right away and our server was friendly enough. I ordered the Pho Tai that had all the types of beef (#41): tripe, flank, eye round, beef balls, and tendon. The broth was good but not as flavorful as Little Saigon. They also don't add cilantro to the soup so I think that also reduces the flavor. The meats were good. If you like to try different things, then I suggest this type of pho soup. I personally didnt like the chewiness of the tendon. The spring rolls were much bigger than Little Saigon but the peanut sauce was heavier. Overall is good Vietnamese restaurant but I will still go to Little Saigon
(3)
Therese J.
I wish there is ZERO star rating! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband and I and another couple who lives in Daytona Florida went there for lunch today June 18th, 2013 , this is a WORST, WORST VIETNAMESE restaurant we ever ate.I ordered: Banh hoi, cha gio nem nuong chao tom ( fine noddle with spring rolls, grilled ground pork, and grilled shrimp paste) the food was badly/wrongly prepared, the spring rolls were soggy, no taste, the grilled pork was so salty, overcooked, dried, greasy, the shrimp paste was dried, deep fried and taste like a shrimp chips, the noddle was dried ...and to add to the injury, there are no veggies....no mints, no lettuce, no sweet and sour pickes etc... My husband ordered a "grilled chicken sandwich "banh mi ga"....the bread should be fresh but, it's staled and dried!. DO NOT GO THERE! YOU WILL BE SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We will make sure to let everybody knows about this restaurant to no / never go there. PHO 88 IS A WORST RESTAUTANT in the whole USA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)
Pp L.
i tried this place 2 weeks ago, i cant understand why this place are so popular. the taste of the pho is not bad. A simple pho noodle takes forever to cook, noodle bowl comes with little soup, when u ask for extra plain soup, they need to charge you, this is the first pho place i tried with such little soup for the noodle! i wont come again for their greedy charge for plain soup (just water)!
(2)
John E.
I honestly had flashback of Vietnam when I walked in to this place. From the smell when you walked in to the ambiance. This is not a bad thing. The food was honest, delicious and un- pretentious. The server was moody and smug, but that's not that unusual in that kind of restaurant. The food more than makes up for it. The Pho is amazing, the Summer rolls, the sandwhiches. All really honest to goodness real Vietnam in Orlando. Pretty cool!
(4)
Sarah Marie D.
My husband and I were in Orlando for vacation (WDW, Harry Potter World, etc), and we were tired of amusement park food.. sooo we ventured into downtown and found this place through YELP (of course!) :) The broth is amazing, the staff is awesome, and the restrooms are super clean!!! HOWEVER, I would have given 4 stars except my husband found a small hair in his soup :( Dang it! I mean, I'm sure it wasn't maliciously put in there...but.... what can you do? They were really apologetic though and got him a new batch of soup right away! Overall, it was A-OK.
(3)
Suzanne H.
My husband introduced this restaurant to me when we first got married. I had never had Vietnamese food before! I am a PHO ADDICT!! I love it! It's our favorite place to have soup and we go there at least twice a month!
(4)
Michael R.
While not the biggest fan of Vietnamese cuisine, my wife convinced me to try Pho 88 for lunch and I am glad that she did. Located on Mills, the restaurant has an open floor plan with large windows and plenty of light. While other reviews have complained about the service, I found the service to be great. Within the first five minutes of being seated we had drinks on the table, our order was taken and our Spring Rolls had been delivered (and mostly devoured). For lunch I orderd the Beef Stew Bowl (#48) and my wife had the Crab, Shrimp and Pork Bowl (#52). Both were fantastic. The Beef Stew had an amazing broth, that was rich and had a hint of clove. There were plenty of noodles, with large chuncks of carrot and a lot of beef. I liberally added the bean sprouts, basil and peppers that were brought to the table. My wife's bowl was amazing as well. The broth was a lighter brown, but still rich and flavorful and clean tasting.Plenty of crab and noodles were present, even the glass noodles that I am not a fan of. I found that I liked the challenge and variety of the noodle bowl experience. Each bite can and is different, depending on what you add. Need heat, add some Sirracha sauce. The challenge is to find a way to keep the broth and noodles off of your shirt and in your mouth. Overall a great experience. We will be back.
(4)
Dana F.
So lately the weather in Orlando has been less than pleasant. My husband discovered Pho 88 during one of these wet, cold and depressing evenings. We were definitely in the mood for something warm and comforting. Pho 88 serves a tremendous selection of the "Pho," which is basically a Vietnamese noodle soup. I've been there three times recently and ordered the same thing - H Tiu Mì (Clear & Egg Noodle Soup). The one I order isn't in the main part of the menu, you have to flip to the back where the specials are. It has pork dumplings, shaved pork, and shrimp. All this is floating in the most DELECTABLE broth that's loaded with egg noodles. I pile on some of that hot sauce and it is good! The soup is served with a heaping bowl of veggies to add - thai basil, cilantro, and bean sprouts. The place doesn't have much of an atmosphere but honestly who cares with food this good? It is the PERFECT dish for a cold winter's evening.
(4)
Carlos D.
This is my place to go when I'm in the mood for a bowl of pho. There's so many great places to eat at mills50, especially for Vietnamese food, but this is just my personal favorite. I've had everything from their pho, to their stir fried and rice plates. All are extremely delicious and affordable, although the pho stands out from any other choice on the menu. I encourage anyone that hasnt been to pho 88 to ignore everything on the menu and go straight to the pho page. You can't go here without getting a bowl your first time.. The place is huge but will fill up quickly at peak hours so keep that in mind.
(4)
Doug S.
I am a huge fan of Pho 88. I am a sucker for a good bowl of pho, but this place ups the ante with a really nice banh mi selection. If you have never tried a Vietnamese sub please do your soul a favor and stuff one of these in to your face. I have had a few different variations (I believe the one with the cold cuts is the standard, someone please correct me if I'm wrong about that) but this one had grilled beef and was REALLY good. The pho was as good or better than I've had in Orlando. For what it's worth my rating for Pho 88 only gets knocked down a peg because the inside is about as no frills as it gets. There are better places as far as atmosphere but you can't beat the food! Go enjoy with confidence...
(4)
Foodie O.
Best pho I've had in Florida. Haven't tried much else on the menu- but the place is always full of customers. Prompt service and reasonably priced wine to boot.
(4)
Rayni K.
As far as Pho goes, this place is very much one of the best. Their serving size is very generous and they give you plenty of vegetables to dip into your beef noodle soup. The soup itself is very pleasant and the noodles don't tangle up like other places I've been to. I honestly have never tried the other items they have on the menu since I tend to focus on the Pho, so I can't tell you about them. But for a restaurant that's called Pho 88, chances are their best dish would be the different varieties of Pho. Don't try their bubble tea, though. It was one of the worst I've ever tasted. The restaurant itself is very spacious, which can feel very "cold" but you'll soon be warmed up by the heat from the soup. And the service is relatively prompt as well. Overall a very pleasant dining experience when you're craving some awesome Pho.
(4)
Ryan B.
Pho, for me, is a bit of an addiction. I believe that it is the greatest comfort food on the planet, and Pho 88 not only has the best pho in Central Florida, but some of the best I have ever had. I rarely get anything else other than the pho at Pho 88. Occasionally I'll snag a bunch of banh mi sandwiches for football games or whatever. There are better banh mis out there sure (Banh Mi Nha Trang), but I stay loyal to Pho 88 because of their glorious, glorious pho. Dont change a thing guys.
(5)
Ken B.
We've tried several of the Pho places around Orlando since moving here...we seem to just keep coming back to this one. Service and portions vary slightly with the time of day you go but generally is consistent and on par with other big city Pho places we've enjoyed.
(4)
Taylor F.
Oh boy do I love this place. The seafood pho was amazing and the service was also a plus. I'll definitely return, and with such flavor and portions who wouldn't.
(4)
Morgan C.
I used to be a semi regular at Pho 88, but like many great things, I heard, and noticed this restaurant had gone down hill. The service was spotty and the food was not as fresh. In my regular days, a #2 (tofu spring rolls) and a #92 (vegetable Pho) did me so fine. Well, I am happy to say, Pho88 has once again captured my heart, this time with an amazingly flavorful crab, shrimp and tofu soup. The broth is tomatoey and delicious with sliced tomatoes, green onions, minced crab and shrimp, noodles and just the right amount of spice. It is served with fresh herbs and lime on the side. As to the other issues I noticed on my last visit, the dining room was clean and the server was great! I can't wait to be a regular again.
(4)
C N.
Coming from Southern CA, we wouldn't expect this place to be far below par with the dishes that we ordered. Pho's serving is huge but had no aroma and the soup is bland and luke warm, my wife ordered a dry rice vermicelli dish and the noodle is not fresh and not even boiled properly. My daughter got eggrolls without vegetables, just the rolls by themself. The only thing that saves this place from 1 star is the sandwiches, but then again the tofu sandwich is a lousy concoction. Definitely not coming back, ever!.
(2)
Jakki K.
Yummy in my tummy!!! Pho88 is soooo goood! The service is fast and friendly! They have really good pho too! I love their Crispy Noodles!! Definitely try their crispy noodles its yum yum!
(5)
Lady F.
This is a great restaurant, I come here whenever I am in the area. The tofu banh mi is my favorite, and the spring rolls are pretty good as well. Very quick service is a major plus at lunchtime.
(5)
Iris T.
i really like this place! after having so much american food at disney and universal, my friend and me decided to come to downtown orlando to catch up with some asian food. the server was really nice and attentive. and the food is very good, huge portion with a relatively cheap price!
(4)
Lauren H.
This is a story of how anything that can go wrong in a restaurant, goes wrong. We met a friend here upon his recommendation *cough*Jeff.O*cough*. The waiter seemed very stressed and rushed. We hadn't even received menus yet when he was asking us what we wanted. We ordered some 33s and hadn't even looked through the menu for about two minutes before he was asking us what we wanted again. Dudes placed their orders then I asked the server if he had any recommendations and he snapped at me. "FROM WHAT SECTION?" he said. I told him I didn't care, so he said #133 was good. It's like a combination meat, soft noodle dish. Jeff made me aware at that moment that they also have the same dish but on hard noodles instead of soft which was #135. I said I preferred the soft then the server clarified with me that I wanted #133. Yes, I said. 133. So you know how when you order Vietnamese soup they bring you a big plate of fresh herbs and whatnot? Well they brought it out and put it in front of my boyfriend. It was intended for Jeff. Then my bf loudly says "There's a bug on my food!" Sure enough, a big ol' bug crawling all over the plate of plants. THEN they brought my food and sure enough it was #135 instead of 133. Our server was m.i.a. so we grabbed another server as he was walking by. We pointed out the bug and do u know what this guy did? He grabbed the bug off the plate and KEPT ON WALKING! We're like um, excuse me?! What about the plate of food that the bug was crawling on?! He was like "oh yeah" and took it and walked away. No apologies or anything. Our server finally shows up and Jeff tells him about the bug. The server says "oh yeah that what happens in the wash." Um, what? You wash vegetables and bugs appear? I thought bugs and other things I don't want to eat disappear when veggies are washed. Hmmm. I must be mistaken. Then we pointed out that they brought out the wrong dish to me and not only did homeboy tell me I was wrong but then started to blame it on Jeff and tell us about twenty times that it was coming out of his pay. He took my incorrect meal, and when he came back I told him I didn't want anything. He said they already started making me the correct dish so I was like alright, whatever. The food was just ok. Don't worry, I ate the food with an open mind, trying to not let the already bad taste in my mouth alter my opinion. Our checks came and not only were we not comped for anything, but they tried to charge us for an extra beer. The extra beer was fixed, we paid our checks and got the eff out of there.
(1)
Angelina C.
The food is pretty good, but I prefer some of the other ones in the area. Since there are so many to choose from, I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Natalie D.
Great pho. The jalapenos are freakishly hot. Freakishly...
(4)
ChyAnn C.
The price was reasonable and the Pho had great flavor. Not the best I have ever had but certainly better than average.
(4)
Michael C.
After hearing about this place, I finally went with some friends who had been there before. It was really good, and also really cheap. I got a huge bowl of Pho and could barely finish it all. It definitely helps to go with someone who knows the menu a bit so that they can offer suggestions. I'll definitely be back here.
(5)
Sara P.
In from tx and a couple of friends and I stopped by here for some warm soup before heading back to the airport. We ordered their beef pho and bun Bo hue. The bun Bo hue was lacking the "hue" no porks blood not pigs feet and they substituted the pork meat for their flank brisket meat they put in their pho, mine wasn't at all spicy nor did it possess that red bun Bo hue taste it was ok. My bf had the pho and it was a little on the bland side but better than Anh hong's pho down the street. I did give it an extra star for service!
(2)
Oak L.
We sort of stumbled on this place going down East Colonial because we noticed the large number of Vietnamese establishments at that intersection. So we took a short drive up Mills and found a pho place when we just happened to be in the mood for something light (i.e. soup). So, the three of us ordered top of the line pho for $7.50 a bowl. It was supposed to have beef meatballs but there was only 1/4 of a piece in there -- yeah that's a relative shortcoming but it had a lot of the other meat. We were quite satisfied as we found the broth rich and the bowl loaded with what makes excellent pho. The basil and bean sprouts were as fresh as fresh could be. If tasty pho is what you want -- look no more, this place has it. Also, don't wear a burgundy sports shirt there like I did -- the wait staff wears that color and I kept getting the urge to clean the tables and take orders! We only had the pho but one day we shall return to try the other things on their menu. We went on a Saturday night and it got full after 7 pm!
(4)
Frances L.
Interior and exterior looks like old school Chinese restaurant. The pho was decent. It bothers me when they call their summer rolls, spring rolls. The summer rolls were a bit on the small size but at $2.95 for two, I just ordered another set. Same thing for the fried spring rolls, we had to ask for lettuce leaves for those. We also ordered the shrimp with jalapeño peppers with salt and garlic that tasted really good, but would have been better if they left the shells on instead of battering the shrimp. I come down to Orlando to golf about twice a year, I'll definitely return to eat here. The price is so great.Oh the pho was decent too.
(4)
Erik R.
Yummy yummy yummy I have soup in my tummy. I still have yet to move past the pho and go into the rest of the menu, but I have it on good authority of my foodie friends that the menu is good. Honestly, they give you a lot of bang for your little bucks. A regular soup is pretty huge. Take it from me, DO NOT order a large unless you want to be eating soup for a few days. I just love their broths, and the fresh jalapenos, cilantro, lime and kale they bring out for your soup to add in. Also, they give you a little bowl of the wonderful fish sauce that gives it that authentic zing. You want meat? They got lots of meat and are really generous with the add ins. I'm normally not a tripe fan, but I will get it here. It's clean and tastes great in the broth. The menu here is ginormous, and a little daunting. I'm honestly cheating myself by not trying the rest of they menu, but I can't help myself. The Pho is too damn good here.
(4)
Nina S.
I was reluctant to go back after my last experience with this establishment. Previously the service was lackluster even though the food was good. Apparently the restaurant has had an overhaul in decor AND service because I was pleasantly suprised and glad that my better half pushed to go here. Many, many years ago we asked some Vietnamese friends where to go for the best pho. Hands down, they said, Pho 88. Even though that recommendation is over 6 years old, it still stands. There are a bunch of Pho places in Orlando, but Pho 88 rules them all. The only thing we didn't like were the Milk Tea with Boba. Unfortunately, the boba were mushy and tasteless. But we didn't go for the milk tea & boba, we went for the Pho. If you're thinking of going anywhere *else* for pho, pho-geddaboudit.
(4)
Brandi B.
Breaking news.....Culantro is back!! Now, my Ph GÃ is complete. Perfection. Happiness is a bowl of pho. :)
(5)
Ying D.
Can't get enough of their beef stew!!!!! I've only tried a few other things (pho, beef salad, bahn mi) and I can safely say every single thing is excellent and off the charts. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Edward S.
Stopped by here at recommendation of a friend to get one of my favorites for dinner, shrimp vermicelli. Service was fast, although I was visiting on a weeknight after the dinner rush. Noodles and shrimp were great, a little heavy on the bean sprouts, but still good, everything just as expected! I would visit here again.
(4)
S.H. L.
I wish I live in Orlando so I can go back to Pho 88. The portions there in Orlando compared to NYC is gigantic! For an extra $1.50 more you can upgrade the size of the noodles and easily feeds two for lunch. The basil, lime and sprouts that comes with the Pho are very fresh and again very generous. Their ice tea and red bean drinks are very creamy and not too sweet, I love it. I took one star off because I didn't like the heavy food smell in the restaurant, and the waiter doesn't want us to order the Hot Pot since there are a line of people waiting for a table during Holiday seasons. He said the Hot Pot takes too long to make.
(4)
Nick J.
Pho below avg (for vimi district). Bun not good, dressing too sweet.
(3)
Bryan Y.
Best Vietnamese place in Orlando! I've eaten here more than 50 times! My personal favorite is the Mi Xao Don. Its basically a dry egg noodle. You can order with beef, chicken or combination seafood. Che Ba Mao(coconut fruit drink) is the best! And of course the pho is amazing. Great service and great price. I would eat here all day every day!
(5)
Chuong D.
For a restaurant with "pho" in its name, the pho wasn't all that great. My main complain is the broth for the pho was just bland. My second complain is the bowl, way too small for the portion. My third and final complain is the tripe, not enough tripe was given that day. I also ordered the green papaya salad with octopus...octopus?? I'm used to eating this dish with beef jerky but whatever, it wasn't that bad. Actually, it wasn't that bad. I love green papaya salad. The sauce for this sad was spicy enough make me sweat but my tongue could still taste the food. I love green papaya salad. But the pho was disappointing so I can't give this place more than 2 stars. :\
(2)
Tiffany C.
I love the Pho here, I would try to come here every time I get a chance to pass by Orlando! They give you a lot for a cheap price. The service is good. They have a big menu with lots of stuff to choose from. I usually order the combination meat pho, and the drink that has combination beans. For the combination bean drink I think this is the best I have ever had in a Vietnamese restaurant in Florida.
(5)
Stacy H.
This is my boyfriend and I's favorite Pho restaurant! We go at least every other week and it has become the only place we will get Pho! The service is always great and the food comes out so fast. The restaurant is clean and the food is so great! I haven't had a single bad experience here and I recommend this place to anyone who enjoys good food and awesome service!
(5)
Nicole F.
We wanted to try something new and finally came here to eat after driving by the place so often. For an appetizer we had the grilled beef spring rolls and shrimp spring rolls. Both were wrapped in rice paper. The side dish of peanut sauce was really good along with the rolls. For dinner we both had the round steak and beef balls Pho...#38. Ha! As a side we wanted to try the combination fried rice which consisted of shrimp, chicken and beef. YUM!! The 33 beer was pretty good too. We will definitely come back here to eat. Great food at a great price. You definitely get more for your money.
(4)
Scott H.
Pho. Is there a more perfect dish on earth? I think not. Soupy, crunchy, spicy, sweet...a mixture of textures and flavors that blend so perfectly that God himself must have created this dish. But seeing as he is probably busy with other things, a good backup plan is to leave it to the folks at Pho 88. I always get the same thing because I know a good thing when I see it. I start with the grilled pork spring rolls. MMMM, then I get a bowl of the Pho with brisket. So tender and flavorful. I wish I could thank the cow it came from. Since I can't, I'll just devour every last bite.
(4)
Kelley I.
Vietnamese is probably my FAVORITE type of Asian food, so needless to say I really liked this place. This place is right in the heart of Colonialtown/Little Saigon area. If you have never had Vietnamese food the menu will probably be a little intimidating because there is literally over 200 choices. The waiter was happy to recommend things. While it was cold when I went I wasn't in the mood for pho. I had stir fry. The dish was HUGE (the waiter had warned me) but was served beautifully with crunchy noodles. I will be adding Pho 88 in my rotation of Vietnamese restaurants. Score!
(4)
Basil A.
They say that a good sign of an "ethnic" restaurant is if the "natives" eat there as well. Well, Pho 88 falls directly into that category. The parking lot fills up with Toyota Camry's and Corolla's, and all the Vietnamese come and eat. My only problem with the restaurant is that the menu is so extensive that it is really hard to make a choice. I still haven't found that perfect dish, but I'll keep trying.
(4)
Kathy D.
If you have a craving for pho, this is the place to be! I brought my co-workers in for lunch since its the closest vietnamese restaurant to our workplace. It was their first time there and they all seem to enjoy it. The service was pretty quick with our food and everything is price just right.
(4)
Vivienne D.
I'm a devoted cookie to another Pho noodle restaurant, but I have to admit...Pho 88 fires (or should I say boils!) up a mean hearty bowl of Pho. Pho with everything (not sure what this is called..LOL) : The noodles are very loose and freely move within the bowl (:. Also, the broth has more savory notes inside it with a warming feeling. You know Pho has done you correctly when your stomach starts to feel warm and fuzzy..you know, that same feeling with Je t'amie action is going on! One of the best thing about Pho 88 is their generous serving of meat. I don't really eat meat, but if you LOVE meat in your Pho, you HAVE to come here!! It's like they go hunting every night or something! The meat is tasty and so delicious. I love that all their veggies are fresh and vibrant, like the bean sprouts. Thick Noodle shrimp: I LOVE this dish! If you're not much of a Pho lover like myself, try any of their Thick noodle bowls. Pho 88's noodles are super elastic and chewy (:.The broth is clear the way I like it and super mouth watering. Pho 88 also offers super low-priced Banh mi. (What you never heard of Banh mi??.....oooh..shame on you shame on you, go try it here!) For only 2.75 you get a huge sandwich, stuffed with the perfect filling. The bread is light and airy. Overall, Pho 88 is a great place to take someone out to eat or to make like a tomato and do some ketchuping! It's very lively and animated here.
(4)
Mariacristina R.
*shrug* What can I say? I'm not sure what the hubbub is all about but the pho was just OK. They offer great big portions and I couldn't finish it to save my life. I had the beef pho. Definitely not bad for the price. I never seem to find a place that does Summer Rolls quite like Miss Saigon over by UCF but I've developed a rapport with the owner so I guess I'm biased. The server wasn't even convinced Summer Rolls were even on the menu and gave me a weird look, he told me later it was because a new menu was printed out but I'm sure you'd be hard pressed to find a Viet menu without Summer Rolls.
(3)
Cicely S.
They changed the menu numbers, so look for the descriptions in the vegetarian section.
(4)
Scott C.
Great food and great service. The pho is very flavorful and there are plenty of delicious options if you're in the mood for something more solid. The interior space is very bright, open and clean.
(4)
Tom B.
I haven't tried them all, but Pho 88 is one of my very favorite Vietnamese places. A friend of mine originally from Vietnam lives in the Mills/50 area and she says that it is her favorite. Five of us dined there on a Friday evening. Three of the less-adventurous went with chicken and rice dishes, which they all enjoyed. I had a beef noodle pho. Maybe I've never noticed before, but I think this is the first time I've seen ngo gai (culantro) among the soup "fixings." One in my party swore they were dandelion leaves! The tastes all came together beautifully, and accompanied by spring rolls, the bill came to $10 before tip. A cheap and delicious experience. Service was efficient and knowledgeable.
(5)
Jan P.
Pho 88 is a bit of a personal addiction. I never get tired of the Bahn Mi-(my favorite is the grilled chicken with extra veggies and slathered with Sriracha, watch out for the jalapenos!), the chicken and shrimp fried rice are to die for and I really enjoy the Pad Thai, extra spicy please. The noodle bowls are fragrant, flavorful and satisfying. I have also tried various other dishes for pure adventure and have never been disappointed. Take note: Not recommended for the faint of heart, but your server will generously help you make decisions. The servers have always been top-notch to me and when I call in orders for take-out, I always get everything I order. Granted, it is not perfect , I would love it if they would wipe the salt and pepper shakers a bit more often and it's not as sparkly clean as I like my restaurants to be, but I go back again and again, I can't help it, I'm addicted.
(5)
Jeff O.
Time for an update! I'm a proud advocate of this Vietnamese restaurant. It has consistently impressed me since I started going here a few years ago. There is something charming about this particular dining room. It isn't cozy and it isn't dim. It's one spacious room with dozens of tables and a TV on the wall. Still, I find that it is very relaxing. The entire front of the building is all window, so you have a nice view of cars and bicycles zipping by on Mills Ave. To me it feels like a restaurant in a bigger, more metropolitan city. I also love the rotating graffiti on the South-facing wall. It indicates that the ownership is hip to art and culture. Big points! I like going here with Cicely. It's our unofficial spot. She gets # one hundred and something, and I go with Pho or a Vermicelli dish. We always get the garden rolls. I highly recommend these unfried rice paper rolls with pork, shrimp, basil and noodles inside. You can get a vegetarian version if you please. The peanut dipping sauce is to die for. I add a bit of Sriracha to mine too. Oh yes I do. Delicious banh mi subs for about $3! This has to be one of the cheapest, freshest options in town. Fresh French bread, crisp vegetables and more meat than a Subway sub. Cheaper and tastier! Grab one to go for a quick, economical bite. The staff is friendly and very attentive. They practically skate to your table, ensuring you don't have to stay longer than you wish. I'm probably going here tomorrow or Friday.
(5)
Ryan T.
Was fiending Vietnamese food after a week long without it on a Cruiseship.. The food here seemed okay but the Pho was lacking flavor but the soup was salty =/ All the Deserts "Che", were not good.. Taste like straight out of a can!
(2)
Albert O.
Awesome! Great comfort food.
(5)
Jia Y.
Best pho place in Orlando! nothing I ever had come close to it including NY. The place decor is very Vietnamese oriented along with the service being sub par( waiter is a little rough around the edges). Hey, I came here for the food and hands down number 1. The pho soup base is top notch, The beef tripe , brisket , tendon , round eye and ball is tasty and portion is very generous. The beef brisket has a very special touch, it includes the white chewing part which I love very much. There are the bean sprouts, parsley and hot pepper are fresh and adds to the authentic experience.
(5)
Dani B.
This has been the best pho I've had in a long time. It *was* a little sweet so I held back on the hoisin and added some extra leaves and sriracha sauce. The beef in it was sooo delicious, though, after having been deprived of anything resembling decent pho for so long! I also had vegetarian spring rolls. They were so fresh and delicious! The peanut sauce wasn't too heavy, wasn't too sweet, just perfect! They also have boba tea. Unfortunately I didn't get to try any because I ate about 3/4 of my pho as it was so good and simply was too full! I can't wait to come back to Orlando and try to save room for boba too, next time! The waiters were nice. They kept my water glass full. That and my food are all I really want from a waiter, so mission accomplished, pho 88.
(4)
Analyn C.
Been here couple of times...Very good food for affordable price! try chai tea and bubble milk tea are delicious!
(4)
Chris S.
The only place I'll eat at Pho at in Orlando. Relatively inexpensive and their menu is so extensive anyone can find something they will like. I had the Tom Yum soup prior to a Magic game for the first time the other day and it was really good. The Pho bowls are plenty regular size but you can also get a large bowl if you have a larger appetite. The place takes credit card which I have found to be rare for any Pho place regardless of the city I am in. Parking can be a pain and their parking lot is sometimes inadequate but check this place if you like Pho.
(4)
Eric V.
Simply put, this is the best Pho I have had any where and look at my other reviews, I've tried a few. I had the the small bowl of number 26 brisket and eye of round steak. The eye of round was sliced paper thin and oh so flavorful. The brisket was in 2 inch strips about 1/8 inch thick. Also very flavorful. The broth was excellent and the noodles were perfect, soft and delicious. The service was fast and attentive. The place is clean and bright. I will return for sure! They only take Visa and Mastercard.
(5)
Amy Y.
I always get the Pho Dac Biet, white rice beef noodle dish with everything in it. I love the soup and I get the spring rolls as an appetizer #1 and #2. After the soup I always chase it down with the cafe su da (Vietnamese iced coffee). They have the best iced coffee and it'll balance you out after the pho, but its really strong fyi.
(5)
Joshua B.
Great pho place. Was introduced to pho down in Miami. This place is great. I only get the pho and when I do I get the one with all the meats, tendons, and tripe. Rolls are good. If you want pho look no further. And I'm a pretty harsh food judge.
(5)
Ashley J.
Yes, the namesake pho is amazing. But the real standout is the banh mi. For $2.75 you get delicious sliced pork, liver pate, and a scattering of fresh and picked veggies on the best crispy, airy, French baguette you can imagine. They also have many unique drinks that are worth trying. I love the red bean milkshake but thought the "Thai ice tea" was a letdown (It does have a fun neon orange color to it though). Pho 88 is also great for parties. I recently hosted a get-together for the website reddit.com here and they were great about taking my reservation, calling a day ahead to confirm, and didn't mind splitting up the bill for all 15 of us.
(4)
Olivia K.
Great pho and clean location. This place was a great find.
(4)
Teresa T.
Always awesome - amazing food fabulous waitstaff and reasonable prices. Go and eat
(5)
Eran D.
I live an hour and 20 minutes away, so, anytime we're in Orlando, I make SURE we stop by for a bowl of pho. I admit, I've never ordered anything on the menu besides #41, the pho bo with all the cuts of meat in it, but I am perfectly complacent with sticking with my favorite dish. The service here is excellent and my family and I always seem to go in starving and come out with full bellies in less than an hour. Also, the speciality drinks are wonderful, try the bubble tea and the red bean drink for dessert!
(5)
Paul C.
Having number 36. Well done brisket pho. It's amazing. I met some family from out of town. My family has a baby. The servers and staff were super helpful in getting the little one accommodated. Everyone has been friendly and since I have never eaten anything like this I had a bunch of questions. I also have allergies so I had to make sure everything would be cool for me. The staff was really patient. I def recommend it.
(5)
April B.
We found Pho 88 as one of the best rated Vietnamese places on Yelp. From the photos and reviews here I immediately suspected that this is more of a place with Americanized food but I gave it the benefits of doubt anyway. We came here around 11on a Saturday morning and the place is already half filled, it is spacious and has its own parking lot. We ordered Bun Bo Hue (Hue beef vermicelli soup) and Pho Ap Chao (pan fried pho with seafood). This is my first time having Pho Ap Chao after many years in the US. And I was disappointed. It was not bad, it was just a bit oily and completely different from what it should be. I guess you have to go to Vietnam to find out how the authentic Pho Ap Chao should be. Bun Bo Hue was fine, it is similar to what you can find in most Vietnamese restaurants here.
(3)
Michael C.
I had a chance trying out this Vietnamese restaurant after visiting Universal. Although it was bit of drive from where we were the food definitely made the trip worthwhile. Upon arrival the parking lot was already pretty packed but luckily they have an additional lot connected in the back given the popularity of this place. Inside the restaurant is bigger than I expected easily can seat up 15-20 tables. The decorations and furnishings are quite minimal much like a typical Vietnamese restaurants I visited. As others have mentioned the prices are very attractive here and portion is pretty standard. I regretted not getting a pho with everything in it rather just had steaks. Pho is definitely pretty solid good amount of steaks and broth is not too salty or sweet. I also got to try a grilled pork rice plate. The pork portion could definitely be more but I liked the other assortments of eggs and veggies that comes with it. Although the pork skins were a bit bitter I thought. Summer rolls were pretty standard but the peanut sauce is certainly very well made. I remember the server came to check up on us multiple times to make sure we got everything we need so definitely weren't neglected. Overall I thought it was a solid 4 star experience just wished we had more time to visit again to try their other menu options. But if they were definitely up to par with the many awesome Vietnamese restaurants I've visited within US
(4)
Kalvin K.
I have to say that I have been to many pho/Vietnamese restaurants having grown up in Orlando. This pho restaurant has its merits, such as affordability, but the taste does not compare to their competition on Primrose. The summer rolls (they call them spring rolls) were bland and tasteless -- the texture was good and the peanut sauce was fresh. The banh mi we ordered had bread that was soft -- I don't think I've ever had a banh mi with soft french bread? The noodles were OK, but the soup was kind of bland. Probably will stick with the ones off Primrose from now on.
(2)
David R.
A friend and I stopped in one evening to try out one of the many Pho/Vietnamese restaurants on and around Mills Ave. We each started out with an appetizer. I chose the vegetable summer rolls and my friend got the roasted Quails. My summer rolls were very good! There was an Asian hot sauce at the table that paired nicely with the summer rolls. All around fresh & delicious! The roasted quails came out and they looked fairly good. I tried one of the little birds and what it was like eating a chicken. The flavor profile was okay, but I found myself using a lot of the hot sauce. Entree: I chose a Vermicelli with spicy vegetables and shrimp! Overall, it was amazing and I would absolutely get it again. The Vermicelli was cooked correctly and the dish flavoring was exactly what I was looking for. All in all, the service was pretty good and the venue had a mostly younger crowd. The food was what I was looking for and I intend to return again someday!
(4)
Mike P.
I have to say right off the bat that I was really surprised at how this visit went because three of my fellow Elites have been here and have NEVER let me astray... Well today would have been a complete and total fail EXCEPT for the Manager and the lady server that was there during our visit. They were the ONLY reason this review gets 2 stars and a second chance on Friday and their NEW location on East Colonial. The reason for that is the manager on duty, David, is the manager at that store and his professionalism made a difference BIG TIME! We came in and since I currently have a bad ankle, the manager seated us where I requested to be seated and I truly appreciated that. We sat right next to a really interesting fountain that I would not have minded having in my Florida room. There was one large group and a small group when we came in and other than that, they were slow. We assumed it was because of the holiday weekend but we soon learned the real reason. Our server came over after about 10 minutes and I let him know right away we had never been here before HOWEVER, I never let on I am quite familiar with Vietnamese food. He asked us if we were ready to order. I commented on how big their menu was and I might have some questions and he just walked away without saying a word. There was a lady wiping down the menus and she came over to see if we had any questions when she noticed that our server had not come back to our table after 15 minutes. She was kind enough to go over the appetizers and the soups and with her recommendation we ordered the Goi Cuon or Spring rolls with shrimp and pork. I asked about the soups and she recommended the Soup Thai which was what my wife ordered. After she described their Soup Hoanh Thanh, I ordered it. She really did a great job of selling the menu and I wish that she had been our server. We were brought our spring rolls and our server asked if we had made a decision. We let him know we already ordered the soup and we still had some questions. He just walked away so we started on the spring rolls. The peanut sauce was FANTASTIC but we had a difference of opinion on the spring rolls. I truly enjoyed them but my wife is not big on that style of spring rolls so I ate them right up. After about 5 minutes our soup arrived. And he asked if we had made a decision. My wife opted for the Ga Hoac Bo Xo Cay AKA beef stir-fried with onions, bell peppers, and jalapenos with chef's special sauce. I still was unsure and asked what he recommended and he just said number 142. I waited for him to elaborate and but that never happened. I asked him what it was and he just looked annoyed and said 142. I quickly scanned the menu and it was the Pho Ap Chao Hai San Hoac Thap AKA combination seafood or combination meat and shrimp stir-fried with mixed vegetables on crispy rice noodles. We tasted the soups and the soup my wife ordered was delicious but mine was a totally different story. The wontons were under cooked and the filling was lacking flavor and had an odd sweetness to it. After about 20 minutes our entrees arrived and the peppers were burned in places, some were cooked and some were under cooked. The meat had flavor but some was dry and some was fine but the burnt taste ruined it. On my entree, the carrots and shrimp were good BUT, the noodles were gummy and under cooked. The chicken had NO flavor and the beef was also flavorless. Our server NEVER came to check on us and the lady came to check on us when she saw we were not happy with our meals. She was kind enough to go get the manager. When he came over we were very candid about everything and he apologized for his staff and never once tried to make excuses. That was very impressive. He stepped up and said... "This meal is on me" and then informed us that he is the manager at the new store that is close to us. He invited us to come visit his location and to ask for him personally. I told him I would be there on Friday for lunch after he let me know what days he would be there since he was obviously helping out at this store as well. David and the woman that was helping us are the ONLY reasons we'd give them a second chance. To be blunt, the rest of the staff was more interested in what was on the TV and could seem to care less about the customers. I actually feel sorry for David because his staff was letting HIM down BIG TIME!
(2)
Regina K.
This place is good, but not the best I've ever tried as far as authentic Vietnamese goes. The pho and summer rolls were good. The pho is a great big portion loaded with veggies just the way I like it. Summer rolls were also yummy with shrimp. They have a lot of different soup options to choose from which was nice. The inside is your typical family owned Vietnamese cafeteria, no frills. It's a good place for a quick lunch, but with so many Asian restaurants on Mills and Colonial you could find better.
(3)
Chelsea B.
I'm surprised this place has such great reviews. The prices are great and the service was awesome (the day I went was super busy and the place was clearly understaffed, but our servers were so friendly and attentive), but the food wasn't anything special. The quality of the meat was especially disappointing (I ordered vegetarian, but my fiance ordered a beef dish).
(3)
The Anh N.
Nice staffs, a bit expensive, pho isn't their best. As a Vietnamese native and food critic, I am a bit disappointed. The meats need work, and the broth needed more salt. The most decent thing I see here is their lotus salad.
(2)
Chase C.
This place is really good. I highly recommend this place because of the taste, clean, quiet, inexpensive, and good service.
(5)
Huntting B.
Regrettably this just didn't live up to what I had hoped. The grilled pork rolls we got...had bone still in it =( If it weren't for that it would have been ok. The pho broth itself wasn't bad but it was rather uninteresting. Had very little flavor... The quail, however, was AWESOME...so, all in all it could have been better, but it probably seemed worse because of the initial bones I came across initially.
(2)
Anna S.
I haven't eaten anywhere recently that I was terribly excited about. Until work took me to Florida - boom! Good gracious, can we say, 4 to 5 star reviewed mom-and-pop paradise!? Of course I would land in sunny Florida, but still with the chill of Cincinnati in my bones. I wanted to hunt down a bowl of phó for dinner. A search on my trusty Yelp app turned up so many options, however, I really wanted to try Phó 88. Mind you, I have no sense of direction, no memory for giving directions, so all I can say is my GPS took me through a winding, cramped row of buildings, with not a national chain restaurant in sight. All of the signs were in Vietnamese, and I was quite excited about what I would find. A good thing about the restaurant as well, is that there was plenty of free parking in the back. And I was thrilled by the interior - it was so big, airy, clean and well lit. I even checked out the restroom, and it was spotless as well. I ordered a bowl of the phó tai and was promptly served a huge bowl of deliciousness loaded with as many noodles as my little heart would've desired, with plenty of tender, thinly sliced beef, and hearty garnishes. Everything was fresh, delicious - hot soup and crisp, cool garnishes, yum. The service was very fast and friendly, my food was so cheap (only $8), that I had unwittingly failed to spend the $10 minimum for credit card charges. The staff was very friendly and quick to understand, and there was not an issue at all. I will definitely be back here for a victory lap.
(5)
Julien G.
This place is absolutely amazing. The grilled beef summer rolls and peanut dipping sauce will bring you to tears. It's a simple relaxing dining experience. I've never encountered a wait, which is great! They clearly put a lot of time and effort into the broths they use in the pho. Also, also...they have Boba Tea!!!!! I've eaten twice this week and will probably have it a 3rd.
(5)
Mike W.
Pho 88 is a traditional Viet restaurant not only in the sense that it serves traditional Viet cuisine (which it certainly does) but it also has the trappings--for better or worse--in terms of service and atmosphere of an old-skool Viet restaurant. Central location in a "little Vietnam"? Check. Bright lights, attempts at poshness that are a bit worn on the edges, and floor-to-ceiling mirrors? Check. Inattentive waiters? Check. Vong co* music on the stereo? Check. All of this conspires to provide a beautiful, almost overwhelming, feeling of . . . if not quite going back in time, at least truly entering an enclave of an ethnic community. Aside from the slow and sometimes-indifferent service, it's a wonderful thing. What about the food? I had pho bo vien (pho noodle soup with beef meatballs) and my friend had pho ga (pho noodle soup with chicken). We both had spring rolls with grilled pork. Everything was very flavorful and the pho was served with ample accompanying sides including very fresh lime slices to flavor it to our tastes. The food came out promptly, however, once the pho was on the table the waiter disappeared. My friend said he "must have dissolved" because he seriously just vanished. I finally flagged down another waiter and implored his help because we had a show to catch over at Backbooth shortly. Finally, we got out of there. Don't come here if you're in a hurry, kids, just don't do it. Come for great food, but not if you're in a rush. *A word on vong co, the traditional Viet music I mentioned above: I'm a huge vong co fanboy and find it a shame it's not known like J-pop or K-pop are. Vong co is Viet-pop songs that combine traditional instruments and melodic progressions with somewhat-contemporary themes and lyrics but what really is awesome about it is, it comes from a theatrical tradition and is seriously, amazingly, over-the-top--not in a faux-dramatic Mexican soap opera sense, but in the level of musicianship and the long, six-minute-plus stemwinders of songs. Phi Nhung is a vocalist, songwriter, actress, and director who really has thrust vong co into what it is today. Vong co is worth checking out--at least pay attention if you hear wistful love songs while you're eating your pho.
(4)
Melissa V.
This pho place is pretty good. I wish their portion was better but it was good broth. The server was nice and the wait time wasn't bad either for our food. I'm glad we chose this place rather than the other pho places in an almost Viet town. It was a good experience. Definitely coming back here in our next Orlando trip!
(4)
SteveErics S.
The BEST pho place in all of Orlando. Trust me!! Try it for yourself - after all you'll believe it once you taste it. Like usual the service lacks however it's the cleanest place.
(4)
Cuc L.
Chose this place upon the recommendation of a friend who has lived in the downtown Orlando area. Hands-down, the best pho broth I've had in a very long time! Flavorful and delicious! The bowl is very satisfying! Lots of meat! We also tried their homemade banh bao...stuffed with pork, egg, mushroom and Chinese sausage...yummmmy! Would definitely pass this recommendation along to others!
(5)
J B.
I stopped this restaurant today cuz it has lots of good review on Yelp. We ordered 4 different meals and dessert, the food came out so bad. Mine was Bun Bo Hue and it was so smeellng.....don't stop if you are Vietnamese.
(1)
Mark N.
This place had the smell of old shoes mixed with the smell of peppermint. However, I didn't care that much because I was there for the food. I tried the "thit nuong cuon", "bun bo hue", and "com dac biet". The "thit nuong cuon" 3/5 stars: The meat inside the roll didn't have a bold flavor. All I could taste was the rice noodle, the veggies inside and the peanut sauce. Also the sauce was very light in flavor, it tasted like they've diluted the hoisin sauce with a lot of water. The "bun bo hue" 5/5 stars: The beef was tender. The soup was spicy and also tender. The noodles were cooked properly. Together with the bean sprouts and basil leaves, this dish is a perfect 5. The "com dac biet" 3/5 stars: The fried egg was over-cooked, tough and dry. The rice tasted old and dry. Everything else was good for the price. The service 4/5 stars: Waiter didn't hear me and ran off twice before I could ask him for a drink or order extra food.
(3)
Ryan F.
Good pho. Was only my second time having pho and although different than the other one I had, this one was tasty too. I had tofu and veggies along with a shrimp spring roll. The peanut sauce was very tasty but the spring roll (soft rice paper, what I know of as a summer roll) which comes with shrimp/pork and I got with only shrimp was underwhelming as it was only lettuce, rice noodles, and shrimp. There wasn't anything wrong with it, it just wasn't amazing. The pho was good - with chunks of tofu, carrots, broccoli, onions, cabbage, peppers, snow peas, green onions, mushrooms, rice noodles, and baby corn in a delicious (but SUPER burn your tongue) broth, it was really satisfying. My boyfriend had grilled pork with egg rolls on rice noodles and he enjoyed his as well. I didn't get my side plate of bean sprouts, lime, onions, etc but I wasn't torn up about it and could have asked if I wanted it. I came here again today - sick - to pick up takeout, just the pho this time. I was told to come in 15 minutes and when I got there I waited 18 minutes for my food. They were really busy so I was trying to be patient but when I finally got my food home it was lukewarm which means it was sitting in the back quite a while (thinking of how hot it was when I got it the other day, I feel like it had to have been there almost since when I called). It was pretty annoying but the quality of the food was good (and I got my side items this time). Overall I'd say that aside from the crowdedness of dining in, this is a better option. If you get take out, just plan to wait as I've read this complaint from others as well.
(4)
Melinda P.
This review was from a visit on 5/25/15: I've visited here 5 times total now and am never dissapointed. This time was great as well. I ordered the pork/seafood and tofu pho (Crab Noodle Soup) with a Taro Boba smoothie. I usually save some to take home (if you do ask them to seperate the broth from everything else, I learned that the hard way) but this time this pho didnt stand a chance. As always pho is served with fresh greens and sprouts and a lime on the side just missing jalopenos this time but their sauces including siracha always help substitute. The smoothie was my favorite! I'd go back to get one of those bad boys to go.
(4)
Kendy W.
I've been here a couple of times before and it's pretty reliable in terms of taste. It's tasty and the portions are pretty big depending on which one of the soup noodles you order. I noticed they give you a lot more noodles than other places but a bit less meat. I have no problems with this because I like the noodles. The only thing that I didn't expect was that it took quite a bit longer than I thought for the soup noodle to come out. If you're in a rush, you might miss your appointment. The Vietnamese coffee I got was so delicious. I swear I think they are adding Hershey's fudge into it, but I'm not sure. Whatever the secret ingredient is, I suggest they keep it a secret because it's going to make me come back to drink some more. I also ordered the summer roll because other other reviews. Overall it was light and the sauce was really the highlight of it. It went so well with it with a nice crunch.
(4)
Lori C.
Amazing pho! We had very little expectations of Asian food in a state that wasn't California, and this place met our standards. The portion is very big and the meat quality is great. We got the Pho Dac Biet, which had six different meats, and it was actually way too much for one person. The ambiance is very comfortable and family oriented, although we saw tourists, students, couples, etc. dining here. We felt very welcome here and would love to make a stop here again the next time we visit. :D
(5)
Matt A.
I recently went to Mills 50 to find some good Pho and Pho 88 has been recommended to me multiple times so I figured it was time to give it a shot. When I walked in the place smelled like old shoes but you know what, I didn't really care because it screamed authentic to me. The decor was horrible and I got even more excited that the food was the only reason people came here and therefore was excited for the meal only to be underwhelmed by the Pho. The broth had little flavor and really set the tone for a bowl of flavorless noodles, veggies and meat. The sauces they have added some flavor but at the end of the day I left disappointed. The service was attentive so I do want to point that out, but I came for the Pho and left wanting more. If anyone has suggestions on where to get good Pho let me know.
(2)
Luis V.
in town for a week, from Los Angeles. This place has a great selection of food, with authentic taste and a welcoming atmosphere. The boba taro is very good as well. If your in the mood for good pho, this is the place. Thank you.
(5)
Dee T.
Horribly slow service. But it was pretty busy so maybe that was why... But there were many bus boys just not waiters? Prices are cheap. Food was good Drinks were great!
(4)
Krstfr H.
I've lived in Orlando for 4 years now. Since living here I've celebrated every family birthday with a family Pho outing. Outside of family Pho I've found myself returning to Pho 88 for quick dinners and lunches with other friends. I've even started exploring new menu items when I visit. Originally we chose Pho 88 to accommodate our vegan friends. As a flexitarian I've enjoyed both herbivorous and carnivorous dishes, but I always come back to our standing order of numbers 96 and 04--vegetable pho with tofu, and tofu spring rolls with peanut sauce. The food is consistently satisfying, as is the service. As can be expected with a lot of restaurants in this genre, the interior and ambiance are absolutely nothing to write home about. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that this place effortlessly facilitates fantastic family experiences.
(4)
Lome K.
The grilled pork with rice is flavorless and dry. The vermicelli grilled pork and shrimp sucks too . The shrimp is spongy and undercooked while the grilled pork is flavorless and has a hard texture. I think I was better off eating the plate of bean sprout. Those bean sprouts probably had more flavor than the sad pork and shrimp. The server was decent. He brought the food out in a timely manner and the price is pretty reasonable for three people in our party, however this will be my last time here . Not a fan of loud raucous and smelly restaurants with mediocre food ! Bye!
(2)
Brian H.
Was not impressed at all. I had the 54 with heart liver and shrimp meat pho. Had it to go #1 mistake. #2 was ordering that. #3 was semi hot broth that couldn't bring the flavors together at all. #4 broth lacked flavor. Not by alittle but by alot. Don't know if I will ever rebound to go again with all the options available nearby.
(2)
Kaley C.
Pho 88 is my favorite Orlando bowl of noodles. They have a very authentic environment and great food. Their pho broth is one of my favorites and their white meat chicken is soft and flavorful. I love their summer wraps with peanut sauce too.
(4)
Alex C.
Do not go anytime after 9pm because they are more concerned with closing than serving. We ordered xl pho and it had barely any green onion. Barely any limes. They got my takeout order wrong. I asked for bbq pork and I got dac biet (special). I opened it next day and I was upset. If your workers want to leave at 10.. The. Put your closing time at 9 and stop half-serving your customers. I will give them a three because the cleanliness and tables weren't sticky like every other pho restaurant. I wish I had gone at an earlier time but o well...
(3)
Christine F.
Delicious Pho for an OK price. I usually get the white chicken pho.
(4)
Greg C.
I'll begin by saying that the pho here is almost always savory and enjoyable (and a good portion) - as well as the stir-fried noodle dishes. But, the compliments basically end there. With such a competitive Vietnamese market in Orlando, I'm surprised to see how far Pho 88 has fallen from what once was, from what I hear, the go-to Vietnamese joint. We should all at least acknowledge that it's hard to enjoy pho or any food in an environment that smells like an 80's nursing home. But the real concern here should be the lack of service. The service staff here seem to despise the presence of customers! This is one of those restaurants where the staff treat you like you are a nuisance to their job, rather than the reason their job exists. No personality, no niceties, no smiles. It's painfully obvious that most everyone is complacent, hates their job, just going through the motions, and could care less whether you enjoy the food or their service. Because, after all, they already know you're going to leave them a crappy tip. It's your fault they suck. Beyond that, I have no faith in their sanitation practices either. I've seen servers leave the restaurant, walk across the street to 7-11, only to return and go right back to work without washing their hands. I've seen servers chewing on toothpicks, taking them in and out of their mouth - and then handle food and drinks. Usually the soup spoons are dirty (look for the orange dots of grease that you have to rub off yourself). Oh, did I mention the place smells like a nursing home? The pho is good (although, the broth is usually cloudy) , as is the stir-fried curry vermicelli dish. But, so is the pho at many other places. I was really unimpressed with the coffee here as well - I'm pretty sure it was from when they opened at 10am. For a 6 oz cup, it was over-priced and there was no thought to presentation: no Vietnamese filter, just any old coffee with condensed milk with about 25% of it all over the saucer and not in the cup. Cool (not). I think they just need to clean house (literally, as well) and rediscover their passion, as it seems the past praise and years of "Best in Orlando" allowed the management to coast along. While a 3-star review isn't that bad, for me this place is "one bad meal and a dirty look from an employee" away from 2 stars...
(3)
Sandy M.
My first experience at Vietnamese food. It was really good. I had the Pho soup. Vey tasty and filing. I went with a couple of co-workers from work. It was not busy. Service was good and fast. They have a full menu to choose from. Pricing was average.
(4)
Äăng T.
The food is okay, but service is horrible! I ordered and waited so long for the food! The waiter did not care when I ask why it took so long! Then he brought the check after I just finished half of my portion! Food came late and check was thrown at our faces!!!! But I left tips at the end! And the waiter came to take it and also ask out loud how much we put for tips??? I was like speechless since he is so rude and unprofessional! Never come back here! Feel so uncomfortable
(2)
Hang N.
Ate here the other day. They have a bigger variety compared to the ones in south Florida, I like that. For appetizer, we ordered the salt & pepper tofu which was great! It had just the right amount of crunch to it and was topped with a load of sauteed red and green peppers and onions. The banh mi was cheap too...2.50 for the cheapest. I ordered the goi with shrimp and it was okay since I'm not a big fan of goi. I forgot what my friend ordered but it was the fried noodle dish with vegetable, chicken and shrimp. It was pretty good too. The dishes were pretty big, we left before we could even finish any of the dishes halfway.
(4)
John S.
Probably one of the best Noodle shops in Little Vietnam. Massive seating that could out pace the parking lot. Mills Ave is long so have no fear. Staff is friendly and the great food is always consistent.
(5)
Jenn D.
In my opinion, Pho 88 is one of the better Viet restaurants in Orlando. They have a wide variety to choose from and everything always comes out fresh. You can always expect your food to come out in about 10 ten minutes or less and the service here is always super friendly. The prices here are decent and you get a good quantity of food. They also have ample table space for large parties so it's a great place to bring your friends for a good lunch and not feel like you have to spend a lot. They can get pretty busy during lunch times on the weekend, but they have a quick turnaround time. I never find myself waiting more than 3 minutes for a table, even when it's busy. I usually get the spring rolls with pho dac biet (the house special noodle soup) or bun bo hue (spicy beef and pork noodle soup). And if I have room, I'll also get che dac biet (the combination dean dessert with coconut milk). You'll definitely leave here feeling satisfied and not like you just made a huge hole in your pocket.
(4)
Mike C.
Oh Pho 88....how I have come to enjoy the vietnamese bowl of yummy goodness that is Pho...I first came to this place when I was back in high school and my Chinese and Filipino friend told me we were gonna get some real vietnamese food. Ive since eaten at 2 other vietnamese places and continue to come back to this one. The building is kind of dated, but id argue that most of the buildings downtown are the same way. Parking lot is kind of small, which is strange because the interior is quite large in comparison. The staff are generally friendly and aren't of too many words. There is a huge t.v. to watch sports or select events on, depending on the night. But the real reason you want to come here is the food...The Spring rolls with the peanut sauce= delicious appetizer (who wouldve thought the blend of shrimp n sprouts with peanut sauce would be so good?).I keep the Pho Simple. I am not too much a fan of the tripe and all the goodies that make Pho so wholesome. Ill stick with the noodles,beef,sprouts and sriracha sauce. Don't make the mistake of putting too much in or you won't be able to enjoy your soup!(Took me a couple times to learn my lesson). You will definitely find all types of visitors here...wether it be from young to old or white to black Pho 88 has a little something for everyone in need of some vietnamese love!
(4)
Surai J.
Hmmmm.... Good food for Orlando, just ok for pho overall. Stopped here during a visit from Cali (little saigon to some :-) and the food satistfied our craving for asian cuisine. Sauces for the rice dish was on the sweet side, so is the pho broth. BUT the surprise, broth was on the fatty side, with droplets floating around. Me likes but if you cringe at the sight of fat in your pho, go elsewhere.
(3)
Mary S.
There's several Vietnamese restaurants to chose from in our area. However, I always gravitate to Pho 88! I love how their restaurant is very open. Bright, natural lighting & lots of tables. I always order their Spring Rolls with shrimp. Some fresh Basil inside of the roll would be a nice addition but still, the rolls always taste fresh & I love their peanut sauce. I usually order their Pad Thai for my entree mainly because it tastes divine! I have ordered other items to eat here, but that Pad Thai....! I agree, they have wonderful drinks that they call their "dessert" drinks. Some have beans, some have vermicelli in them. Fun colors too! I've never had a bad meal here & will keep coming back again & again!
(4)
Paul H.
The food was great, but service was even better. We lucked out with a server that spoke perfect English and actually liked his job! I usually don't expect a lot when I go to Asian restaurants in terms of service which made our waiter even more of a pleasant surprise!
(4)
Christina F.
So Bahn Mi, is like one of my absolute all time favorite foods. And I found a great one here. The bread was super fresh, the meat was sparing but well cooked, LOTS of cilantro, and just enough heat from the Jalepeno. We also had spring rolls, which were good, but not the best ever. Also had a bowl of pho broth (no noodles or meat) which was great, really herby with lots of onions. Service leaves a little something to be desired, though the server DID hook me up with free ice tea. All in all you don't come to a place like this for the atmosphere, you come to eat. I will be back soon.
(5)
Kevin D.
Food and service horrible! I thought that I would finally try one of the Little Saigon restaurants-BAD MOVE! Spring rolls, fried rolls, fried pork rind rolls. coconut milk drink AND the famous Pho soup VERY POOR! I think that it took 45 minutes for the Pho because they were too embarassed to serve it to humans instead of pigs! I asked the waiter nicely every 15 minutes if my soup was ready. What a disaster! The waiter was pleasant but useless. EVERY FOOD ITEM WAS TASTELESS OR TASTES BAD! Beer and wine list worse than mundane. Is it too hard to find a food wine pairing on line? DUH- Reislings and gewurztraminers with asian food. Not one of either. Just plain do not eat there!
(1)
Tommy N.
I have to say one of my favorite joints in Orlando for pho, I highly recommend for people who say there's no good pho in Florida. I'd only come here to have pho, nothing else because the rest of the area can top Pho 88 on, everything expect the pho of course. I have my usual Dac Biet with a order of steamed bean sprouts, deliciously sinister. Eat in the morning because it can get pack, also don't expect service to be great, approach them as if you know how to eat and have standards, or expect a screw up on something, trust me, other then that good noodles n broth, best in town
(4)
Clara S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!!! I have been here many many many times,... such wonderfully fragrant food. I love the pho and that is really what I come for,... that and the summer rolls,... why don't more places offer summer rolls other than B.J.s and Pei Wei (which really can't compete with vietnamese town in Orlando)? This place rocks. Clean place efficient staff always fulfilling. Did I say I love it already???
(5)
Michael J.
We were VERY impressed. The pho was outstanding. The portions were large and the prices were low.
(4)
Brit M.
Best broth ever! And very generous wine pours :)
(5)
Jeff G.
Real deal and bahn mi to boot!
(5)
Roobitty L.
Yes, good well-priced pho.. Good service as well. I'll definitely recommend it.
(4)
Kitty S.
Two stars off because the beef in the pho seemed substandard and the leaves were not washed quite clean. The food was very authentic, the price was right, and the service was good and fast.
(3)
Cellsaver C.
Having spent all week eating boring chain restaurant food, I was hoping to have some Vietnamese food. I yelped this restaurant and I was delightfully happy I did. There was ample parking. Once inside I ordered the Pho with beef and meatballs. The food came out quick, It tasted great. Service was also just as prompt. Visit this restaurant, you wont be disappointed.
(4)
Adam P.
Maybe my favorite food establishment in the city. Phenomenal food, awesome atmosphere, fantastic service, and amazing prices considering all the variety they have. Massive menu. They have one television that will put on whatever big sports event is on.
(5)
Mark K.
Incredible food, made rethink Asia cuisine
(5)
Bob M.
Definitely the best overall vietnamese in Orlando. My favorite is the spicy beef noodle soup, but everything I've had here is good. Service at some of the local Vietnamese places can seem a bit aloof at times, but I've never had a problem here.
(5)
Ari W.
Luv this place. I think this place is authentic. The serving portions are gianormous, the prices are fair, and staffs are attentive.
(4)
Matti J.
After hearing everyone talking about how great this place was, finally went and tried it and it was just ok, clean, nice people but the food, while tasty, wasn't anything earth shattering and was actually pretty over priced compared to other places. I'll go back but I refuse to type in all caps how some soup broth changed my life.
This wonderful place makes delightful "pho".. quite possibly the best yummy chicken Vietnamese noodle soup in Orlando. It just warms up my heart and the coconut milk boba gets extra cool points. The servers are very nice and attentative...one saw me struggling to break the chop sticks apart after breaking one already...he came in to save the day yay! This is a great place to go to for a comforting meal just remember to park around the side entrance (eyes must concentrate)..it can be tricky but once found you will enter "pho" heaven. Totally worth giving a try indeed...
(4)
Ashley M.
Great place. Wonderful Pho. Love their spring rolls, especially. The best Pho in downtown Orlando, and I've tried them all:)
(5)
Scott R.
Food is mediocre and overpriced. Service passable but taste the same as other competing places (i.e. Little Saigon, which is a better price point.) however, Pei Wei is a much better price.
(2)
Antonio M.
The food was good and hardy but be aware, know what you want before you go In there.
(3)
Tedd S.
I was encouraged to catch the Pho 88 (pronounced like it's FUH). I arrived just after lunchtime on a Sunday and quickly ordered the #23 Beef Brisket Pho ($6.95) and the spring rolls ($2.95) and a sweet tea. The drink came first, as it should but it tasted like lemonade instead of tea? The spring rolls came with a small bowl of peanut dipping sauce...WOW, the spring rolls were freshly made with 3 big shrimp buried inside and a healthy dose of cilantro...best spring roll I've ever had, the sauce, meh...it needed something. Within 3 minutes the Pho came out with an accompanying dinner plate heaped with Thai basil, bean sprouts (they looked a little old) lime wedges and maybe 1/2 a jalapeno sliced thinly. Having never eaten Pho before I just whipped some of the extras into the bowl and dug in...Eh, it was good, the extras I added certainly made it better! Service never returned to refill my drink and after the jalapeno's I was a tad thirsty! Pho's OK...just not crazy-good.
(3)
Mike D.
I've come here several times, and I really like the place. It's a pretty large dining room, but the atmosphere is pleasant. The menu numbers into the hundreds of items, but there are helpful pictures to get you through :) As mentioned before, the pho (Vietnamese beef stew with noodles) is not to be missed. The pad thai was fresh but uninspired. I was a little surprised the first time I ordered spring rolls, to find them not fried, but wrapped in a jiggly rice-paper coating. Quite tasty, though--just a note of warning :) The service here is friendly and quick, but they don't rush you out the door. The reasonable prices ($7-12) and great food keep me coming back here again and again.
(4)
Sara L.
Loved the spring rolls and Pho Ga-Chicken noodle soup. Quick service and very friendly staff.
(5)
AM D.
We just ate here after reading several reviews. One word to sum everything up Amazing! The food and service was great. This was my third time trying Vietnamese food the first two times i was not very thrilled, but this place got it right. To start off we had cold jasmine tea and spring rolls. Then we split Pho Thai soup (with steak), and a #121. Then to end the night i had an iced coffee with condensed milk, and the boyfriend had a red bean shake with coconut milk. Everything we had was outstanding, and that is not something which is easy to find at a restaurant.
(5)
Yeni H.
I love this place- the variety of authentic Vietnamese food + it's spicy sauce are just awesome. Was brought here by my Vietnamese co-worker. Regardless of the big bowl of vermicilli noodle, I still managed to finished everything. price was fairly reasonable. Sandwich was ok- would prefer a toasted bread.
(4)
Tasha D.
Loved it loved it loved it, went here cuz I love me some Pho, and yelp reviews were promising, ended up getting an XL pho and some crazy spicy chicken and jalepeno ... zomg. Delicious.
(4)
Peter C.
I LOVE PHO!!!! This place ROCKED!!!! I travel all over for business...always looking for good Vietnamese Restaurants. I went for lunch and had Pho Thai and Fresh Spring Rolls...OUTSTANDING. Much better than Little Saigon (had same thing yesterday). Spring rolls were larger, fresher, tastier and Pho kicked serious butt. Going back again for dinner:-)
(4)
Melissa G.
one of my fave places to get pho and banh mi. very good prices and big portions.
(5)
Jay U.
I can only say two things: 1) the bun tum nuong (vermicelli with shrimp) is not as good as at Anh Hong, a block away. 2) the decor is unoffensive, but not much of anything; it seems sort of lost ; is it trying to be authentic, or modern, or classic, who knows? 3) the waitstaff may be no more or less bored than the waitstaff at other viet places, but they stand around where you can see them, sometimes watching the TV over your head. Not a great vibe.
(2)
Sydnye A.
Delicious! My friend and I were in town for a concert, and were utterly disenchanted with the chains and steakhouses. I had a tingly feeling from head to toe after eating my pho. It could have been the potent and tasty iced coffee! Go to Pho 88! It will make you want to return to Orlando. Tasty and inexpensive. I prefer low-key dining. If you don't want frill and you do want delicious pho, this is the place!
(5)
Good E.
This is the best place for Viet food as the locals will attest. Clean, comfortable and the food is real and tasty. This should be the #1 place for anyone looking for a good deal and good food.
(5)
Ginger X.
I like the noodle soup very much. It is cheap. You can fill your big stomach with no more than 10 bucks
(4)
Hani B.
Amazing Vietnamese food, one of my buddy's is addicted to this place. Love the Shrimp Spring rolls with a little bit of cock sauce mixed in with the peanut sauce. Try the plum soda if you are adventurous.
(4)
lars h.
The pho is better than most places in Orlando. The broth is not that tasty, but the condiments make up for it.
(3)
Justin K.
Nice service, lots of options, not my kind of ph. I've had plenty, including some in Vietnam, and this just didn't smell right. Bánh mì could be better, too. Pretty uninspired.
(3)
Dee Dee R.
I'm from NYC and eat a lot of pho soup and summer shrimp rolls in NYC Chinatown. Pho 88 in Orlando, FL, was excellent, the summer rolls where better than what I've had in NYC in long time. Good value and a great break from chain/touristy restaurants in the Orlando area.
(5)
Ellen B.
I always get the Phad Thai which is delicious. The beef noodle soup is perfect for rainy, cold days or when you are sick. At lunch I get subs for $2.50...great food at a great price makes me love Pho 88!
(3)
Graham W.
I liked it a lot. Fresh tasting broth and a nice big pile of veggies. Good spring rolls too.
(3)
Soetjahjo S.
We came here yesterday, and I tried Pho, and the soup is greasier than any I have ever eaten, it should be good, it's just the grease really bothering me, the meat is okay, I could taste the spices and the soup is good also, it's just the grease and for some reason I need to put a lot of salt in it, maybe because of once again the grease. I came from Colorado where we have some good Pho's. Not sure why people gave 4 for their reviews. We tried also chicken fried rice but it's not really that good, I don't know maybe we did not come at the right time.
(3)
Kristine F.
Came to Orlando to see the mouse with family and was wonderfully surprised when we realized there were so many places to get Vietnamese. Good service, great food. I had the chicken salad bowl, fried tofu spring rolls and Vietnamese coffee.... all wonderful. We picked this place because of the yelp reviews and photos and we were very happy with our choice.
(4)
Andre N.
good pho. went here when visiting dads friend and its a good place. better than some places in san jose.
(3)
Liz M.
I could see why this place is packed (also a great sign coming in to a restaurant for the first time). We knew it was going to be good due to the heavy sunday night crowd and delicious smells around us. The only missing star accounts for service in my opinion. I feel like they were not so helpful and seemed to be rushing us out throughout the evening. I also think the server was annoyed at me trying to pronouce the Vietnamese dish...and I was not doing a bad job at all. I always try to use correct pronunciation with more exotic and ethnic dishes, it's part of the experience to me. And I am very good at picking up other languages...but he seemed offended that I didn't say "I'll have the number 22". Disappointing service aside, the food made up for the bumpy start. My husband and I ordered the quail appetizer to start. It is small, so can seem unwhelming when served to you- but it tasted fabulous! Really though, the Pho is where it is AT! Huge bowls of delicious soup comprised of fall off the bone meat choices, everything from beef to shrimp to tofu for the veggitarians, and a pile of tasty, fresh ingredients to add into your soup bowl: lime, fresh basil, bean sprouts, fresh jalapenos, etc. A little sriacha and you are good to go! I got beef pho with rice noodles. Fabulous! And my hubby got steak eye round pho, but we both agreed the ground chuck beef was better- perfect stew beef. So if you are ever craving soup & stew and don't know what way to go, getting pho will satisfy both those cravings. Plus, really good if you are trying to tackle a lingering cold like I am.
(4)
Megan A.
Of all of the Vietnamese restaurants in Orlando this is my favorite! They have a great variety of items on their menu. I tend to stick with my traditional beef pho and an order of spring rolls but I've taken orders of the bún home to satisfy my cravings in the past. Despite them always being busy, there is never a long wait for a table. The parking lot isn't very big but there is parking behind the building too along with ample amounts of street parking. This is in the heart of the Vietnamese part of Orlando so make sure to take some time visiting the local grocery stores after your meal.
(5)
Mike W.
Might have come on an off night but the pho was not as good as what I was expecting.
(3)
Jeff C.
Great food and a great bang for your buck! Food seemed to have some authentic options. Ambiance and decor is a bit dated but overall the food is solid.
(4)
M. P.
We came down to FL for vaca and thought we get some pho. Pho 88 came up in our yelp search and off we went. The pho was tasty but lacking a bit more meat. Especially since we ordered the xe lua/xl sized bowls. The 4 orders of nem cuon (summer or spring rolls whichever you call it) was alright. There was only two pieces of nem nuong per goi cuon which was measly. The com ba mau/pork chops with pork cake (rice plates) was similar and skimped on meat. I also order the banh mi with cha lua. It came in atypical bread. It was more of a sub roll versus the soft, airy rice-based baguettes. Ehh...we really wanted to like you Pho 88!
(3)
Chris C.
Consistent. Can't say that for the rest of the Vietnamese restaurants. On a good day, some are better, on. A Bad day, it can be bad not the best. Check out some local Thai places as well. Yes, I realize they aren't the same thing but both local genres mix cuisines.
(4)
Ruiza A.
Looking for some good Pho in Orlando and we were happy we found it! LOCATED in the same area near most of the other high rated Vietnamese restaurants near downtown Orlando, this place has its own parking area and has a clear Maroon sign of its name you can see on the street as you drive looking for it. We walked in to a well lit bright large room and we had to stand by the sign "wait to be seated" for a minute, until someone came by and sat us by a window. We got there around 5pm and they seem busy already which is always a good sign. SERVICE was different than most other Pho places. It seemed like the servers have their own "section" instead of everyone just taking care of all the tables. It usually works for any restaurant, IF everyone else helps out if your server is busy and cares about the whole restaurants experience---but over here was not the case. It's like, I'm not your server so I don't need to get the stuff you requested, but I will just tell your server who is actually very busy so you get your stuff 10yrs later after he was done doing whatever he was doing with all his other tables. So it felt like every time we asked anyone that walked by who wasn't our server (since our server seemed very busy and took a long time checking on our table) for something, it really felt like we were bothering them. So docked out points for that. FOOD was good. The stars are for that. The pho was one of the best I had no doubt. Unfortunately, even though the rice plate combo with the shrimp/pork/etc. was the most expensive one and tasted good---the amount of meat on there was a joke. I don't even eat much anymore, but man that place has the least amount of meat I have ever seen on a Viet rice plate. That was probably only 3 bites worth of meat (not counting the egg and pork/egg pie) I made a mistake not taking a pic of it uugghh. Was disappointed in that. Not worth the money. Overall--go for the Pho! It's a no fail! Don't order the full rice plate combo if you are hungry. There are a couple other great rated Viet restaurants in the area so I will try them out next time and see how they compare next time we visit Orlando.
(3)
Bianca W.
Went here tonight and was served bad chicken. I am currently sick. Also the worst service I've ever had. My server came up to the table and amused of we were ready. We said yes and he walked away. Then when he returned 20 minutes later he said he forgot. Never going back.
(1)
Leala V.
This is in my regular vietnamese restaurant rotation. The food and service is consistently good. We even went on Christmas day last year. Some of my favorites are the chicken noodle soup, beef stew, and grilled beef over rice vermicelli. As long as it is good, I will keep coming back.
(4)
Henry G.
Had the honey shrimp 125. Brown rice was prepared well, liked it better than the white. Sauce was tasty and not salty. Shrimp were a medium sized, perfectly lightly breaded. Our server was very accommodating. Had the pho with chicken stock instead of beef. Also able to substitute BBQ pork instead of regular pork. Great waiter. No problems with service speed. Did forget white rice but corrected immediately when brought to his attention. Would recommend to go again for same dish honey shrimp with onions, broccoli and bell peppers.
(4)
Sue M.
This place has been on my radar for a while. Boy am I glad I finally ate here!!! Over 100 types of pho, hot pots, stir fries, etc. So many different items to choose from that are very reasonably priced. I ordered the Crispy Roasted 1/2 Quail (Chim Cut Quay) as an appy and the Pork, Shrimp, Fake Crab, Liver, Heart and Quail Eggs Pho. The Quail was incredible! Crispy & juicy. It came w/a small bowl of seasoning (s & p?) w/a lime in it that I no idea what to do with. (someone help) The waiter, when taking my order, just stood there w/his arms crossed so I wasn't about to ask him. I just kept dipping my chop sticks into the bowl in between bites of Quail and that was fine w/me. It also came w/a bit of salad (see photo) which was a nice touch. The Pho was if anything, PLENTIFUL!!! Egg noodles and all those ingredients were extremely filling. The broth could of been flavored better but it certainly served it's purpose. I especially enjoyed how they had the sprouts on the side to add at will. There's so many more items I need to try so I will be back....hopefully soon. Current health inspection: 1-high priority, 2-intermediate, & 6-basic violations.
(4)
Lexi K.
The food we ordered, Vermicelli and spring rolls, were subpar, I've definitely experienced MUCH better Vietnamese fare. I would not get that again - but would be open to try their pho since that seems to have great reviews. Also, the service was exceptionally slow and the restaurant wasn't even full when I went on a Friday evening.
(2)
Alan V.
Decent Pho place. I usually get the Pho Dac Biet special and it does the job. Pho broth is hot enough with a decent ratio of noodles to meats. I don't eat here too often as I find its about mediocre at best. Not the best, but not horrible either. Where they do lack though is their customer service. Pretty much nonexistent and the guys just stand around trying to keep up with the soccer game on TV. That boss lady behind the counter that just stands there is pretty creepy too. It's like she's monitoring to make sure you finish all your food and enjoy doing so. The one concern I do have about this place though is seeing bugs and ants crawl on the floor near our table. Just recently read an inspection overview of this place and will no longer be eating here. 100 roaches? No thank you. Pho 88 at 730 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando was temporarily closed April 28 after inspectors found more than 100 live roaches at the restaurant. (April of 2015) Bon appetit! Source: m.bizjournals.com/orland…
(2)
Heidi S.
I simply adore this place. It's clean and no frills, like many pho joints. I like the white meat chicken pho (#46) and we'll sometimes order the combination fried rice if we're super hungry. The rice is yummy! I was surprised by how much I enjoy it. I guess my expectations were low. The stuff is great! All the ingredients in the soup are so fresh--the Thai basil, limes, bean sprouts, jalepenos, etc. I load up on the basil and lime. And there's no shortage of sauces to add to your soup. I usually go for a few squeezes if sriracha. They have inexpensive wines by the glass and beer which works just fine for me. Especially since this is usually my go-to place for a quick, reasonably priced meal out during the week. They also have a lot of parking which is a plus given its location on Mills near the intersection of Colonial. Check it out!
(5)
Cecille R.
I have soooo many friends and acquaintances that rave about this place. Surprisingly, my husband and I had never been here until recently. We have our own spots we like to go for Vietnamese cuisine. And honestly, we always steered clear because of the traffic to get into the parking lot along with how packed it always looks (through the windows). We had a decent experience overall . It's a big restaurant and great for large parties which was perfect since we dined with a party of 8. They have their own parking lot but if it's full, there is ample parking connected towards the back (behind Ginza and Chuan Lu Yuan) . I was content with my pho for the most part. I ordered the chicken pho with a combo of white and dark meat. There were a few random fatty, gristly pieces thrown in there which was a little wierd. I also had an order of the summer rolls with tofu. Those were pretty decent with the peanut sauce even though I got teased -- plus my hubby wouldn't touch them. I did wish they had a summer roll option with just shrimp. Everything that I saw on the menu had shrimp and pork. Next time, I'll ask if they can make that happen. If not, then that would tell me they are premade... The only awkward moment of dinner was when my friend inquired about the Orlando Weekly offer to check in on FB to get a free order of summer rolls. The waiter looked at her like she was speaking another language. Which made it even more awkward. She showed him the offer on her phone. So he TAKES her phone to the cash register area to find out about the offer....I swear they must've had her phone for 10 minutes or so. At that point, it was ridiculous. She ended up going up there to get her phone back. The deal ended up being more of a headache. No one should be made to feel awkward for inquiring about a deal they put out there. Anyways, to make a long story short, one of the younger employees came over to apologize and stated that it was the first time that someone had asked about the offer and that the older owners didn't know how to check FB for check ins so they were being shown. So apparently that's what was taking so long for my friend to get her phone back. They ended up bringing the summer rolls but I'm sure my friend was perturbed at that point. Aside from that fiasco, dinner was good . Our server did mention to those ordering items under $10 - "you're going to pay with cash right?" I thought that was a little rude but then saw the sign that they only take credit card purchases $10 and over. I guess he didn't want to be stiffed. Service was decent....just some awkward moments.... I wouldn't avoid this place but may not be the first place I come to when I have a craving for pho...
(3)
Mark P.
I don't see why this is one of Orlando's best Pho spots when there's so many very similar experiences nearby. I think they're very good but also very average, and you'll know this when you start shopping the other ones. My last few experiences have been off so I'm particularly an advocate of walking about the area and finding your own "Best of Orlando" Pho. .
(3)
Chris M.
I was debating on whether calling the service abysmal or non-existent was generous while sitting waiting to offer up my order for some noodles on a cold rainy day. I'm going with non-existent as we received no food as we were NEVER waited on or greeted after we were sat while the waiters stood around doing nothing. Only one other table was eating when we arrived. Two other tables were sat, greeted and orders taken before we decided to walk out. Their menu had a nice variety but was more expensive than other local offerings. We have been to ALL of the other phô places in town and will never consider returning to this dump. Phô k5 is relatively new and have great prices and the food is very good, we frequently go there. Their summer rolls are insanely good. Anh Hong has a slightly better phô broth but their service can be a little wacky sometimes but not horrible and it adds a little character to the experience at times. If you are looking for phô in OTown, walk away from this place to one of the previously mentioned alternatives, you won't be disappointed. Not to mention you will save money by going to them as well for what is more than likely the same product (I wouldn't know as there is no service).
(1)
Isabelle G.
I'm such a huge fan of this place. We always go for lunch because the Pho is served quickly. For less than $10 you have a huge bowl of Pho that is most likely the best your're going to get around here. Stick to the Pho and you will not be disappointed, we've tried other things in the menu and none compare to it.
(4)
Guoqiang W.
Ordered pho and pork chop rice. Both tasts very good. Glad to visit and recommend. Why i need to leave long comments? Good is good.
(5)
Joshua A.
There are a lot of great Vietnamese restaurants in the Mills 50 area but Pho 88 is with out a doubt my favorite Pho/Vietnamese restaurant in town! I am a vegetarian and I have had every vegetarian dish on the menu. The food is always fresh, served quickly, portions are large and prices are very reasonable. I recommend it to anyone in the area looking for a GREAT Pho dining experience. You've gotta try the Coconut Juice! It has delicious young coconut meat in it!
(5)
Yuyan C.
One of the best pho I had. I had beef fried rice as well for take-out but won't recommend it.
(5)
Stephanie M.
We take the drive to Pho 88 every time we are in Orlando. Whether we are in the vicinity or miles away, it doesn't matter.. we stop at Pho 88. I order No. 44 a delicious bowl of pho with tendon, tripe, and all the fixin's. Portions are huge and full of fresh ingredients. We have been returning to Pho 88 for the last several years and have never once left unhappy. The staff is friendly and quick, we never wait for a table, and our soup is always on point.
(5)
Beatriz L.
Love their Vietnamese noddle soup and the spring roll with the sauce so yummy. I ordered a milk tea there for me it was a little bit too sweet and the bubble was too soft I guess the bubbles were little bit over cook but over all the food is amazing.
(4)
Ches P.
Mills and Colonial aka Little Saigon has Viet places EVERYWHERE! And i mean everywhere! I've been looking for another place to go get pho, but can't find another place better! This is my go-to spot. The broth is rich and the meat is plentiful. The plate of basil, bamboo shoots, and lime is always fresh. The vermicelli is not sticky and has great consistency. Some people substitute egg noodles and it tastes delicious too! Once in a while I'll order their platter dishes. Their grilled meat and rice platters are pretty good along with the Bun... Grilled beef with vermicelli is my favorite. Nice and clean and doesn't make you feel too much of a fatty. I also enjoy the grilled beef banhmi. Just make sure you add sriracha sauce to all those things mentioned. As for drinks, I don't really drink alcohol at Viet places for the most part, cause usually i'm here the day after a heavy night of drinking... BUT they do have beer and plum wine. I personally like the avocado shakes and vietnamese coffee. The clientele is a good mix of Vietnamese and non-Viet people. I always consider it a good sign when people from the same place as where the food is native to. Overall, the platter dishes are good, although there are other places that are just a bit better. BUT... i come here for the healing powers of pho. Best hangover cure, best cold weather comfort, and best cold/flu remedy evaaaaar! :)
(4)
Simon S.
Always enjoy the Pho here (and also Ann Hong). Prefer the ambience here slight more than Ahn Hong. :)
(4)
Maria B.
This big hole in the wall is a hidden gem. The staff are friendly enough although struggle to communicate because of their language. The food was great. We had soup 54-which had quail egg, liver, heart and shrimp and 58 which had barbeque pork, shrimp and wonton. Flavor was great, no need to add salt. Fairly inexpensive and quick.
(4)
John N.
I hate to do this but I hope this message reaches the owners. I have been a patron of Pho 88 for nearly a decade and have loved its consistent food and service. While the food has remained delicious, the service and cleanliness has declined a great deal. More recently, my last 2 visits have been appalling due to the overwhelming mothball smell. Service aside I can deal, but I can not sit and eat with the smell of dirty mop buckets in sight and the strange odor in the air. Please fix the problem.
(2)
Trish T.
I love summer rolls. Hadn't been to this place before so when a friend suggested we go I agreed Ordered the summer rolls for my starter. The peanut sauce was good but the rolls tasted like they had been sitting in a "sour" refrigerator since the day before. I didn't order anything else. If you serve old product I am not paying for anything else. My friend said her food was just "ok." It gets two stars from me because the staff was nice and the place was clean. I will stick to "Viet Garden" just around the corner which has fresher summer rolls and much better parking.
(2)
Poet M.
I am here on Sunday, November 30, 2014 for the first time. The place is clean and big. I ordered the shrimp, chicken, tomato with mushroom soup (small). Very fresh and tasty.
(4)
Jennifer T.
My family has been coming here for years, and I will say, their food is usually great and quite authentic. However, the reason why I am giving them such a low rating is because of the recent experience I had here today. Both my mom and I ordered a dry noodle bowl and when we had gotten our food, we both discovered we had huge pieces of plastic in our bowls. The unidentified plastic wasn't the worst part. The part that upset and ruined my dining experience the most, was when we called over the management to show them what had happened. Not only did the first server we talked to just laugh and walked away without saying a word, when we called over the head cashier he was ridiculously rude. All we got from him was a lousy explanation for what the plastic supposedly was and a snark remark that he had "already taken it off the bill." No apologies whatsoever. When you work in the food industry (as I do) that deals with customer service, you should do everything that you can to keep the customer happy, especially when there is clearly something wrong with their food. You don't say things like "I know I already took it off the bill," and "It was an accident" or give the customer attitude. Don't get me wrong the food here is good, but the customer service is lacking and downright disappointing. I can get the same, if not better, Vietnamese food somewhere else with exceptional customer service here in FL. I should also note that they only took off ONE of the noodle bowls and charged us for the second one, even though both bowls had plastic in it.
(2)
Heather L.
Favorite place for pho! I used to stop by on the way home from work for take-out frequently a few years back. It was usually empty, but the person at the front counter is always hospitable and offered hot tea every time I needed to wait which was a nice touch (especially since I would forget to order ahead from time to time).
(5)
Larry F.
Best Pho in Orlando. Perfect mix of noodles and beef and flavorful broth. Plenty of paper thin beef and lots chopped scallions. One of these visits I need to try something else. But it's so hard to not to order #34 PHO. Shrimp roll with peanut sauce was great. Well worth the drive downtown for lunch or dinner. Place appeared clean as well.
(5)
brennan m.
Get the spicy noodle soooooooouuuuuup. It was awesome. I don't know if I could get anythjng else now
(5)
Jay Y.
Good place for a quick bowl of noodles. I could be biased since I'm not too crazy about soup, but I do enjoy their Pho. My wife loves it, but I always go for the fried tofu rice. The food comes out pretty fast considering how packed it can become. I've been told that it's on a tourist list somewhere so there are always quite a few people and you'll be lucky to find a parking spot. Odd that there are only men working there.
(4)
Marilyn T.
The pho noodle bowls at Pho 88 are some of the best in Orlando. The broth is savory and the vegetables (e.g., jalapeños, Thai basil, sprouts, limes etc.) are always fresh and crunchy. My absolutely favorite is the beef pho with everything; tendon, tripe, meatballs -- you name it, it's in there, and it's fabulous! Plus, do yourself a favor and don't leave without trying the salt and pepper roast quail appetizer with fresh limes. Believe me, you won't want to share.
(5)
Donna S.
Went in ready to order some Pho, thinking I'd try something new. We were immediately seated upon arrival, given menus and asked what we'd like to drink. We ordered our beverages and began browsing the menu. The menu provided limited pictures making it difficult as a first timer to make decisions. We ended up ordering the quail appetizer, which was very good, seasoned well and not too gamey in taste. We also ordered the shrimp spring roll app., which was good, however I was not too fond of the sauce (peanut), I used traditional soy sauce to add flavor. Instead of trying the pho, too many to choose from, and waiter didn't seem to interested in assisting us in making chooses, so I try the shrimp fried rice entree. Which I might add was ginormous in portion size, truly a platter for two. My son had the "everything" fried rice, again portion size was enough for two people. Taste was wonderful....nothing was needed to accompany the rice, no soy sauce, sweet and sour, nothing. I must say it was the best fried rice I've ever had, hands down... Experience was good, I look forward to returning to try the pho, and I will definitely return again for the shrimp fried rice
(4)
Ho L.
Easily my least favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Orlando. There are probably a dozen other Viet places (most within a few hundred yards) that I would rather eat at. Sometimes competition is fierce, such that a place isn't that bad, rather the other places are so much better. But that is not the case here. The food at Pho 88 is mediocre at best. I strongly base my Vietnamese restaurant reviews off of how well they do pho (after all, it's practically the national dish). The broth here is bland, with middling amounts of meat. And the overall size/price ratio is off...it is definitely not a good value. Do yourself a favor and try any other pho joint in town.
(2)
Meaghan S.
Definitely a good meal. Portion sizes are good, prices are affordable. The pho was delicious. I got -#37, which is beef balls and flank steak. Meat was perfect and soup and noodles were good too. Will definitely return for more :)
(4)
Travis F.
Checked this place out for lunch today. We started with spring rolls and iced Vietnamese coffee with cream. Then we had a bowl of Pho each. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Prices were good.
(5)
Nicole O.
This place was very good! Our first Vietnamese experience. Lots of sauce options on the table. The food was definitely good- not gourmet- but quality. The honey chicken had the perfect ratio of batter to meat (not all batter) it was crispy and flavorful. Any chicken dish that's listed as spicy provides good quality meat, and it good. We had the soup as well- nothing too adventurous- just the chicken, but it really hit the spot. The prices are reasonable and the staff is nice. Would definitely return!
(3)
Jennie B.
Beef Pho was delicious, spring rolls we're excellent. The service was great and the server was very knowledgeable
(5)
Tiffany L.
Been there many many times. Whenever my friends come in from out of town, we usually hit this place up since it is one of the most popular vietnamese restaurants in the area. I don't think this one is the best IMO but I do appreciate the portions we get. Their portions are very big compared to most restaurants. I used to love coming here for their Bun Bo Hue but I feel like it doesn't really taste the same anymore, still good though. I do enjoy the Pho here because the broth is good and their Bun bowls never disappoint. I like the summer rolls here but sometimes the peanut dipping sauce tastes a bit bland. Now the service. It's either bad or mediocre. A few times I've gone, I've noticed that the servers are not very attentive to the customers. One time, I only saw my server 3 times - when I ordered, when I got my food and when I paid. He did not once come to ask us how our food was and didn't refill our waters. Sometimes I see the servers sitting by the register on their phones while there are customers trying to get their attention. But I gotta give it to them on how fast the food comes out, they never disappoint there. Also, the parking lot looks a bit small but if you keep driving to the back, there is a whole empty lot back there! Overall, I'd give this place a 3.5.
(3)
Andi P.
I have been to Pho 88 a ton of times (it's in my hood), but felt like I needed to go one more time to give a review. This time I ordered takeout and I found the experience to be a little different than dine-in. I stood in front of the counter to pick up my food for a good 4 minutes (with servers behind the counter right in front of me) before anyone acknowledged/noticed me and I ended up thanking them multiple times rather than the other way around... It was a bit odd... It may have been a fluke because I've always had pretty good luck when dining in. Also, I was a little bummed that I only got one to-go cup of peanut sauce when I asked for extra. But, the food was dependable as always. Decent tofu summer rolls (not life-changing, but still good), great pho though. I look forward to returning and updating my review. Hopefully this was not indicative of all takeout experiences.
(3)
Carlos M.
I used to go to this place for the beef pho until one day I found in my soup a small bug. I called the server and he didn't know what to say. He certainly didn't apologized. Needless to say I never went back to this place. This restaurant was a little bit to authentic for me.
(1)
Tracey J.
Love this place! The best Pho by far in Orlando. I'm a strict vegan (no meat, eggs, fish/oyster sauces). #4-Veggie Spring Roll and #96 Veggie Pho Noodle Soup is the best!
(5)
Brittany S.
I can only speak for the carry out at Pho 88 but I will say it was mighty fast, delicious and dead-on with your average price point for a casual bowl of pho. As always, my order of chicken pho was accompanied by a an order of veggie spring rolls. Both were delicious. As a heads up, the neighborhood is on the weird side/somewhat sketchy for an out-of-towner in the evening hours.
(4)
Michelle S.
The only place I'll go for really perfect and authentic Vietnamese food! Get the Pho (of course) but also try the fish!
(4)
Sarah T.
Disclaimer: I am from out of town so this review does not compare the taste and environment of this place with other local pho places. Environment: The inside was very clean and well kept. I liked the bright lighting and the mirrors made it look more spacious. Service: Average for Pho places which means get your order taken and then get left alone except for occasional water refills. Food: Ice Coffee: I was very disappointed. The cup was very small and I felt like I was paying for a cup of ice rather than coffee. The coffee, water, condensed milk ratio was also very off even if you don't count the ice problem. I thought it was a fluke at first but my friend had the same problem of overpacked ice with her coffee order and another ordered a completely different drink also with the same problem. Bun Bo Hue-I was surprised at how clear the broth was in comparison to places I've been to in California, Virginia, and New York. I could still taste the flavor and I wouldn't call it bland but in comparison to other places the soup was not as rich or deep. But they did put the perfect amount of spice in the dish in terms of how hot they made it. Other places put either too much or too little for me. While the dish was not packed full of flavor it had a more refreshing taste to it. I feel that part of the reason was also due to the hot weather so a clearer broth suited the situation at least in my case. I did not feel that the dish was watered down because there is still a good amount of flavor but it could be better. Chicken Pho-My friend tried this dish and really seemed to enjoy it. I got to taste some of it. Against the broth was more clear and the taste less rich and deep than I am use to but still a decent amount of flavor. The broth isn't cloudy at all which makes me wonder if they strained the soup or if it's just watered down. Final Thoughts: I've only been here once but it looks like their customer base is pretty mixed so it could account for their more subtle flavoring. In addition I did enjoy both the Bun Bo Hue and the Chicken Pho even though I wasn't use to it. It was different but it wasn't as if it was bland, too watery, or tasteless. It had decent flavoring so I like it enough for the average 3 star rating even if the ice coffee disappointed me.
(3)
Brenda L.
Comfort food in Orlando! Stumbled across this joint based on yelp reviews and we were not disappointed!! A must try in Orlando. Steph, our server was awesome!!!
(4)
Gustavo A. L.
As a fan of Pho, this place is a must visit. If you are looking to acquaint yourself with Vietnamese culture and cuisine, Orlando offers a very rich and diverse restaurant scene and among them Pho 88 stands out as a good, go to place. For us it is convenient and ubiquitous, located well within the Mills 50 shopping district, you can take a trip down their culture right through the culinary creations here. As I mentioned before, we like coming here a lot, we still do, however, we are bit put off by their lackadaisical approach. Despite us coming here sometimes several times in a week, there is just no way for the staff to warm up to the patrons. They just go through the motions with an almost automatic attitude. This is not necessarily bad, it is just human nature to establish relationships, this is the main reason why we moved camp down the street to another establishment down the road... Sometimes a smile is all you need to make the experience a bit sweeter. Pho 88 will deliver good food, as long as you don't care to make human contact, you're all good.
(3)
Unique M.
Did you guys know that Pho is a breakfast food in most areas of Vietnam? I didn't know that until one of the servers told me; I googled it and found other sources claiming the same. Super cool! When I first came here a few years ago, I had NO idea how to eat pho and what all of the bean sprouts and basil was intended for. The same waiter took the time to explain how the components of the meal work; pho is actually the rice noodle and broths vary from place to place. The various garnishes act as flavor enhancers. What I love most about this place is the variety of pho and OTHER dishes. If you aren't in a pho mood, then have Banh Mi, another great joy of life; Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sub, so opt for that if you don't want Pho. Last but not least, you can taste the freshness in everything. I love this place and will continue to come here as long as I live in this beautiful city.
(5)
Kimberly K.
I came here after reading a bunch of rave reviews, and although this place was pretty yummy, it didn't rock my world like I thought it would. I got summer rolls to start and pho with well-done brisket for my entree. The rolls were made with pork and shrimp. They were fresh, but the accompanying peanut dipping sauce was a bit bland. My parents ordered fried spring rolls to start. They were decent, but I'd have to say my summer rolls were tastier due to the freshness of the ingredients. The pho I ordered was super delish. In fact, I gave this place gets 4-stars for the entree itself. The noodles were chewy and perfectly cooked, and the server brought a ton of thai basil leaves, jalapenos, and sprouts to add to my piping hot noodle dish. The brisket melted in my mouth and tasted sublime with my hoison/hot sauce mix. FYI: Food took forever to leave the kitchen so don't come if you're in a hurry or super hungry and need food in your belly STAT. If you're visiting and itching for good asian food, Pho 88 is definitely a great place to eat. Also, you get a lot of bang for your buck. My pho was only $8.
(4)
Quynh D.
Vietnamese cuisine should be easy right? This place got voted best pho in Orlando so I had expectations. My family and it visited Orlando on our Disney world trip and we were craving pho. All of us ordered Pho Dac Biet and all of us felt the same about the flavor. It was so bland!! The meatballs had a mothball taste to them, and they were very large. It was gross to get a giant taste of that. Although they offer a lot of different meats in the bowl, it lacked the broth! The broth was bland and they did not serve much. The bowl came out and I could barely see the water above the noodles. It wasn't too pricey so that was good. Their banh mi is good for that price. The pad Thai is not truly Thai food so don't get it. If you're truly desperate for pho, the come, but if you're not then don't. It wouldn't be worth it. Maybe this is the best Orlando could do. I guess southern Louisiana just does a better job.
(3)
Crystal R.
I love this place, especially on a rainy day. The service is ridiculously quick. I ordered the Pho Chicken Noodle Soup, along with an Avocado shake and both were very tasty. The portion sizes for soup are amazing. Every time I come here this place is jammed pack. Incredible food and Service!
(4)
Digital B.
When ever I visit Pho 88 I get their spring rolls and either a soup of a chicken and veggie dish. Of the spring rolls they come out hot and crispy with the right mixture of cabbage and meats. The flavors are brought out even more when I use a dish sauce to dip. The soups are always more than enough to fill you on a cold winter day but even during the summer they can serve to provide you with comfort as they fill your belly. The other dish I like is the chicken and broccoli, but I don't really like the rice so I skip it. The chicken is cooked tender and covered in spices. All priced fairly for those on a tight budget. Parking in plenty but during a lunch rush they can get really packed. I like going right after the rush crowd.
(5)
Lisa A.
I've been craving good Pho since moving from Vancouver Canada where you can get fantastic Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Korean or Chinese every second block, so we headed here based on the Yelp reviews! I was not disappointed. The place was busy and service was slow but the Pho was good, broth was flavorful and veggies were fresh! The waiter was friendly when he finally did take our order and although food was a little slow to come out it was tasty when it arrived. Hubby had sweet, sour and spicy chicken with veggies and rice, the sauce was super tasty with the perfect amount of heat! All the food coming out looked good! This place is definitely worth a try!!!
(4)
David R.
Pho 88 is a fine Vietnamese restaurant situated among many. Prices are very reasonable and the food is tasty. My favorite is the Tom Yum soup.
(4)
Darlene T.
I always order the Pho (with my beef on the side) when I come here and like always it is good. The soup has has a nice flavor profile, not too sweet and the portion is just right. As always, consistent, served fresh and fast.
(4)
Andra L.
The only place I'll go for pho. I travel from over half hour away just for a hot bowl of chicken pho. There's no place like pho 88. And of course the summer rolls with peanut sauce are always a must!
(5)
Nikki M.
Well, I can definitely tell you that the food is out of this world. I love love the brisket pho, quail, spring rolls and salt & pepper tofu. The only reason I knocked it down a peg is because it's kind of plain inside, which isn't THAT big of a deal, but I'm a little disappointed in their varieties of bubble teas (which are also delicious) and the staff could be a little bit friendlier. You have to wait quite awhile for a drink refill.
(4)
Juliet B.
Great Pho. Don't have to go anywhere else. Every variety of Pho & then regular meals as well.
(3)
Ricky L.
Pho 88, over the course of the past year or so, has become my favorite vietnamese restaurant. Whether heading out for a nice big bowl of pho or trying out some tasty grilled pork with rice, Pho 88 is the place my friends and I almost aways pick to go to. The nice thing about Pho 88 in addition to great food is the large space that they have which can accommodate large parties. Another positive is the lightning fast speed which the food comes out, maybe 10 minutes max after you order on average. Another favorite of mine is the banh mi (vietnamese sandwich) that they have here. Most of their dishes come around $8 or less, unless you get family portions. so yeah , drop by Pho 88, for some pho-nemonal good eats! pho 88 is the pho king
(5)
Tom D.
Loved this restaurant. Very energetic staff for sure. Opens late too. Food is great, service was super fast! This was my first time in Orlando and I'll be sure to come back for this restaurant in the future!
(4)
Kelly D.
I want to like Pho 88, I really do. I love the variety on the menu, I love that it has pictures of plates to help me order, but I just can't go there and it's not even because of the consistently bad service. It is because of the roach I found in my pho on one occasion and the hair I found in it the other. I will never walk in there again.
(1)
Henry W.
One of my default lunch spots in Orlando any day of the week! This place has the best Thai tea ever. You can't go wrong with any of their broken rice plates or banh mi sandwiches. On a cold, rainy day, you can find us in there slurping on the beef stew with egg noodles.....The Nuts!!! Definitely check this place out!!
(5)
Peter O.
Terrific ph, some of the best I've had -- plus, they have great salty lemonade and Vietnamese iced coffee too (natch)
(5)
Phila E.
Avg. Nothing special. Spring rolls are terrible.
(3)
Janice C.
It hurts my heart to finally review this place and have to do it this way because this was my FAVORITE restaurant. I always had great food and service and ate here weekly. Unfortunately, the last (and I mean final) visit I made the mistake of telling the waiter, politely, that they brought me the wrong meal. Now, normally I would have just eaten what they brought me because it looked good. Instead the waiter felt like he needed to prove me wrong and sent two different people from the kitchen to reconfirm what I asked for and each argued that I asked for the wrong item. The waiter tells me 'Whatever, I'll replace it and I'll pay for it.' Now at this point in order to avoid flipping a table at him I finally said 'I don't want this. Just take this off my check and bring me the bill.' Then the waiter decided to apologize and replace the food. I didn't want it but he insisted on 'correcting'. So of course, as everyone fears when sending food back, they brought me a plate with hair and metal shavings mixed in it. It looked like they dropped the food on the floor and swept it back on to the plate. Metal shavings I tell you. I can't even decipher what piece of kitchen equipement it came from. I will NEVER ever, ever eat here again.
(1)
Dan M.
Some of the fastest (but still friendly) service I've gotten in any of the mills/50 restaurants...but the mirror wall really threw me for a loop when we walked in...I sorta had to just stare at the ground while walking to our table. I'm guessing that happened just because I play too many video games and have turned my brain to mush, but I think my taste buds still function. The roast quails were the biggest individual birds I've seen at any of the area restaurants, which made them the easiest to eat and generally more moist and tender...unfortunately the flavor, while not bad, didn't reach the level as some other places around here. Stir fried squid with veggies was very good, but bun bo hue...not so good. I'd actually just been rather disappointed in another restaurants bun bo hue a few days earlier and hoped this place would do a better job...nope. Ah well, the search continues for a great version of that soup around here.
(3)
Kathy S.
The food was pretty tastey. I ordered some spring rolls for an appetizer and a krab And shrimp soup. Everything came out super fast and was full of flavor. Perfect soup for a rainy day. Definitely would recommend this place for some Vietnamese food!
(4)
Mariam D.
I do not recommend this place at all. The spring rolls everyone raves about were awful, like really awful, as was the service. The server rarely checked on us and barely spoke English and did not understand our requests. The chicken pho was good, but everything else was average or below average. I am a very easy to please person and not a tough critic at all, but believe me when I say this; even by my standards, this restaurant was not good and I would not go again.
(1)
Shaina V.
Favorite place for pho downtown! They also have great summer and spring rolls. Pad Thai is good too but not what people typically expect, it's sweeter than traditional pad Thai. Service is attentive and consistent.
(5)
Nicole E.
I'm so glad I went to Pho 88 with a friend who could help me navigate the monstrously huge menu, because on my own it was pretty overwhelming. I ended up getting tofu rolls (which came with this incredibly yum sauce that I wanted to take home and put on everything) and pho with tofu and veggies (#108). For a first pho experience it was pretty great! I love the tray of sauces - there's no need to worry about it being too spicy to order, because it is literally just a bowl of broth, noodles, and whatever protein you ordered. From there you can add sauces to make it spicy, sweet, salty, and possibly fishy (was that fish oil? It smelled like fish oil. All I know is, my friend took a whiff and promptly dumped a tablespoon into her bowl). I don't like being the type of person who always orders the same thing when she goes to a restaurant, but I could see that happening here - writing this review made me want to go back and get the same thing again. Yum!
(4)
Tom T.
The family and I was in Orlando for summer vacation. Dad had a craving for Pho so after looking things up in yelp, we went to Pho 88. Coming from Chicago, there are quite a few places serving up good pho noodles there. But Pho 88 did not disappoint! Their pho is delicious. The big bowl is BIG!!! I split it with my son bc I'm not that much of a pig. The broth is savory and very flavorful. Spring rolls are standard and pretty good too.
(4)
Ryan R.
I came here with a big group and everyone's meal looked good. I wanted to try a bit of each, especially one dish, the name of which I can't remember, that was served with an egg on top--always a plus. Our server was awesome. He was cocky in a good way, attune to our American ignorance but also quick to introduce us to the nuances of the menu. He wasn't afraid to tell you what you ordered was crap, but he would also suggest a few other items as a substitute for your poor choice. He also read my mind. I ordered a Tiger beer (Chinese) mistaking it for '33 Export (Vietnamese, the logo sports a tiger, hence the confusion) and he brought the latter, to my relief. The whole service experience was much less awkward than the half-attentive deferential servers at other Vietnamese restaurants in town. Lastly, you have to respect a Pho restaurant that doesn't rely on a silly pun for its name. I've seen a few, none in Orlando, the best of which (name-wise) was called Pho King. Keep it classy Pho 88.
(4)
Kelly F.
Huge menu! Great Vietnamese resturaunt in Orlando. It's pretty authentic, so you might need to have the menu explained!
(4)
Clarence E.
Good pho. Satisfying but missing the something that puts it over the top. It was the broth, good but noy great. Goi coun was good but cha gio was better. Overall better than our last try in the area at Saigon. Heard bahn mi were real good. Maybe next time.
(4)
Rob S.
What they do, they do well. The best Pho in Orlando. If ur in the mood for Pho, go here. Also, their combo fried rice and bún bò Hu is very good. bún bò Hu is a spicy version of Pho.
(4)
Sam B.
Next time I will have to write down exactly what we had, but it was ALL amazing. Try the Avocado shake, it was fantastic.
(5)
S C.
Food: Good pho! You get a choice of medium and large. There also seems to be a huge selection of rice dishes. The salty lemonade I got was good. We went on a holiday Monday afternoon and the place was packed. Parking is hard in their small lot when it is busy. No one greeted us at the door and we just kinda stood there with other parties until some tables started to leave. It seemed like the food took longer than it should have to come out because all they had to do was pour hot soup over some noodles. These are the only bad things I could think of about my experience.
(4)
Erin S.
This place is great. Every time that I go I am happy with the service and the food. I love all of their vermicelli dishes and of course their pad thai. I would give a miss to the veggie spring rolls because they are basically just lettuce and noodles in a rice wrap, but the shrimp or tofu ones are pretty good. They also have boba drinks there, which I can never resist!
(5)
Eric B.
Came for the pho! It was pretty good, but I'm not sure it's good enough to go very far out of your way. To be honest, I was expecting a little more detail out of the broth. The taste was great, though, it was served steaming hot, and there were plenty of noodles. On the surface, their prices are good, but they also adhere to what seems to be the "standard rate" for pho -- a regular size bowl is between $6.50 and $7.50, with the large size being $1.50 more. The large size at Pho 88 is more like the normal size at other establishments I've been to, but if you can see where I'm going with this, the prices tend to match up for what you get. This can save you a buck-fifty if you're like me, and don't need a massive bowl to fill you up. The service was friendly, casual, and fast. I liked it! They also seem to welcome graffiti on their premises to some degree. One side of the building is covered in pieces, with tags & bombs throughout. Just a nice little detail about the place. This shouldn't be interpreted the wrong way; you aren't walking into an abandoned warehouse of a restaurant or anything like that.
(4)
Jussi D.
This place was clean, friendly, and a great value. The "small" bowl of pho was actually very large. The server was very helpful and I ordered exactly what he recommended. Glad I did! I can't remember exactly the name anymore, but it was a beef pho. I also went specifically for Pho. I was at the awards store next door and saw the Pho 88 sign. I had lots of pho on my trip to Vietnam 10 years ago and wanted to see what it was like stateside.
(4)
Angela C.
Regular for many, many years....not anymore. Soup was warm. Pork chops were dry and tasteless. Rice wasn't even cooked right. Couldn't find our waiter. Then they tacked a 18% tip on for poor service. We USED to send people there.
(1)
Lauren H.
Out of all of the places in "Little Asia" (as I like to call it) on 50 near downtown Orlando Pho 88 is my favorite! My boyfriend and I dine here at least 3 times a month! It is great! Quick service, consistently yummy food, and fair pricing. I also love that you can come as you are - most time we come straight from working or or hot yoga to grab a quick bite and it is perfect!
(4)
J C.
The food here is great (and inexpensive, which is a bonus) but the service is HORRIBLE. I've given this place chance after chance because the food is so good, but I've gotten terrible service every. single. time. No water refills, waiting over 20 minutes just to order an appetizer, then waiting over 30 minutes for the food to arrive...the list goes on. I've even tried ordering takeout to bypass the bad service, and they even messed that up! I got the wrong meal twice (my fault for not checking the bag before I left) and the third time they forgot the peanut sauce for my summer rolls! Although the food is yummy, it's not worth the bad service. Especially with so many other options nearby. The three stars are for the food alone...
(3)
Dan J.
Pho 88 is located in the heart of Viet Town of Orlando. It is an unassuming restaurant with a rather plan looking dining room. While we were there the all of the other patrons were Vietnamese. The menu is huge there are 212 numbered items, including the Durian Shake # 205. I had # 107 Grilled Chicken on Rice Vermicelli (Bun Ga Nuong) $6.25. This is the standard dish I get in a Viet restaurant. It was prepared in the way I expected, julienned carrots, dakon, and cucumber. There was also sliced lettuce and bean sprouts. The dish was topped with a sprinkling of cilantro and scallions. The grilled chicken was a little fatty and not as smoky as I like. The over all experience was a nice one. Viet Garden is still my favorite Vietnamese restaurant.
(3)
David C.
Moderately priced, very large bowls, tons of meat. Enough noodles to fit the amount of meat added (lots). It was super busy though and loud, but I would go eat here anytime I was in the area.
(5)
Sandee P.
I LOVE Pho 88. Quality ingredients, fast service, low prices. Of course you can't expect the place to look trendy. This is as asian as it gets : huge room, lots of noise but awesome and affordable food. this is why Pho 88 is always busy, anytime of the day, and often crowded at night when other restaurants in the same neighborhood are empty.
(4)
David O.
This is my favorite place to get Vietnamese style noodle soup. There are definitely a lot of other places in the neighborhood that are very good too, but I like Pho 88 the best. They have a tremendous variety of menu choices, both Vietnamese and Thai. I've never been dissappointed by the service. I also like the open, airy atmosphere of the restaurant with the big windows overlooking Mills Ave. It's fun to get a window seat and watch the world go by as you eat your spring rolls, iced coffee, and noodle soup. When I'm driving around I also enjoy looking at the grafitti art on their south wall. That's kind of fun too.
(4)
JEWELe M.
I think iFound my new spot for Pho! Well I actually do not order pho....I usually get the soup w/ egg noodles, shrimp, pork, and wontons.... regardless, the broth was delicious here! And it was a perfect day for soup!
(4)
Bettina T.
I always go here for Pho or Pad Thai but today I was feeling adventurous and went for a Banh Mi Nem Nuong....YUM! =] I also had a Viet coffee which made me sleepy -_-
(4)
Nora H.
wow, lot's of places to sit and it still looks the same after 12 years. It's low key and great to visit on a cool rainy day. The pho (soup) is really good. I get menu No. 88 (soup entree) as I have gotten over my fear of fish balls and tripe. Everything else is tasty as well, although it's odd to find some thai food on the menu. I enjoy drinking the "thai tea" (in a viet-eatery, go figure) and the iced-coffee (Starbucks has nothing on this!) --go with friends and splurge on the appetizers and go pot-luck style so you can try everything all at once.
(4)
pete h.
In Orlando on vacation and we were craving some thing light as we had been eating lots of carb intensive friend southern food for the past few days. Decided to log onto Yelp and find a good Pho' place and this place came highly rated and recommended. Therefore we drove from our resort in the Seaworld area to this restaurant and ate, it was about a 15 minute drive from the Disney/Seaworld area. The food was ok, nothing to write home about. In fact, I think it's even a little worse than Pho Hoa', for some of you that have this Pho' chain in your neighborhood. It certainly wasn't up to San Jose, CA or even Seattle, WA Pho' but since this is the southeast, it was probably decent. Bottom line, when you've been eating days and days of friend, gressy, carb intensive southern food, this place is a nice change......
(3)
Patricia P.
Update: I ate at Pho88 the other night and noticed that they're bringing the check to the table now. Also, I'm not sure why the one reviewer said Pho 88 does not add cilantro to the soup?? Fresh cilantro is brought with your veggies to add to the soup.. maybe reviewer does not know what fresh cilantro looks like.
(5)
Janet H.
Pho 88 is my favorite vietnamese place to eat in Orlando. I loveeee the Bun Rieu here. All the other dishes are goood as well.
(5)
Mel N.
I am from Westminster, CA which has one of the largest Vietnamese population in the country. My husband and I currently live in JAX and came up to Orlando to do Disneyworld. We knew Orlando had its own little Saigon and were pretty excited about it since in JAX there isn't a great variety of Asian food. This was actually the second time we've come to this area, the first time we ate at a different Vietnamese Restaurant (can't remember the name at the moment), which was just as good. I've notice that reading some of these reviews, why do you go to a Pho restaurant and eat a sandwich? Its the same thing as going to a taco joint and eating pasta. If you want a sandwich actually go to a place that specializes in sandwiches. Okay with that said. My husband and I had almost lost hope that Florida didn't have some good Pho and this place proved us wrong. The Pho was just as good as it is in Little Saigon in Westminster, CA. There we equal amounts of meat and noodles, the broth was just to die for, and lots of veggies. Awesome! My husband is Vietnamese and he had to agree that this place was great. I hope they make a chain here in JAX, cause man... it is really good.
(5)
Kelly J.
Our professional/social group met there last night for dinner. All of us enjoyed our meals, with each plate served hot, promptly and together as a group. My Pho entre, an order of spring rolls and 2 glasses of wine came to $21 including tax. The service was excellent...and the waiter immediately offered to write individual tickets, which is wonderful when you have group events!
(4)
Big P.
Food was awesome. Pho was amazing, I've had it all over the country and this is in the top 3. Quail was great, lemon soda was awesome. More awesome was the service. 30 minutes to close and they treated us great without rushing us. The waiter was fabulous!! Go here and eat some good food instead of that tourist microwave junk.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kathy K.
While this place lacks in decor and style, the food was amazing!! This was another 1st for me. I decided to treat my parents to Christmas dinner. We started w/ summer rolls & soup. Quite filling. The hòanh thánh had a sweetness to it that I honestly cannot describe. Soup Thái had so much going on that that could be a meal on its own- just needed a shot of sriracha. Our main dishes (WHAT A PORTION)!! To go box please... Tôm Chien Bôt sauce Thái was awesome. The broccoli so fresh. Pad Thai was great- just way too much. The only issues I have would be the cloud of smoke you have to walk thru upon entering the place & the service- AWFUL!! Not sure if it was this dude's 1st week on the job or what. I will definitely be back, but if I'm seated at one of his tables- I'm requesting another waiter. When I arrived, I was excited. By the time I asked for the check, I wanted his head on a platter.
(3)Tomi G.
Food was OK but Nothing noteworthy. The menu is ridiculous as it something like 177 items on the menu. It really needs to be simplified massively. Clean and well kept with decent table separation. Decor is virtually non-existent. The entire wall is mirrored... Lovely if I want to see myself eat (I don't) or the people at the tables behind me. Oh, wear your sunglasses, it is lit up like a bar at closing time. Service was pretty good for how busy it was. Parking is pretty limited.... U will likely park on the neighborhood streets behind the restaurant.
(3)Burj S.
Found this place on YELP and we returned here within the last month as we were up on a Religious retreat to the Orlando area! We find this place to be very good in the flavor of the foods and the authenticity of the dishes presented. We had the Pho, Chicken fried rice, panfried noodles and the appetizers which we found were excellent! We will definitely be back!
(4)Tom A.
Pho 88 Noodle is a really good Vietnamese place with good food and great prices plus they have avocado milkshakes witch are not to bad. I tried there soup and a few bites of other things we shared and was happy. I can not wait to come back here again.
(4)Jake P.
I was very impressed with the Pho here. There are so many places around this town that serve up a hot and steamy bowl of Pho, but many just don't hit the spot. This place is a must if you are in the downtown area and you have a hankering for some fresh vegetables.
(4)Enit S.
I wasn't feeling so good so my friends say, "hey, let's go to pho 88!" and just the mention of it immediately put a smile on my face cause I've been wanting to go there for a while. Pho is like some kind of magic made delicious when infused with star anise, cinnamon, cloves, cilantro, fennel, just to name a few of the ingredients that go into this marvelous broth. The broth usually includes the rice noodles, and thinly sliced meats, and a side plate of herbs and sprouts; I opted for chicken since I wasn't feeling good. One of my friends had the Bun Thiet Nuong (grilled pork with rice noodles) and he loved it, said it was one of the best in the mills area. But.... back to the Pho. You know how when you're sick food doesn't really taste like anything? Not with this pho, just the combination of all those flavors in that bowl had me slurping so loudly, and working up a sweat where even the people working there were looking at me and smiling probably thinking: "look at that latina working the pho!" Hell yes, and I shall return!
(4)Desi N.
Pho 88 is a nice sized restaurant with just enough servers. It's always busy which is good. The pho is always good. Some people say all pho is the same but I beg to differ. The quality and freshness makes all the difference. The banh mi was also tasty.
(4)Holly S.
Must try the stir fry noodle dishes and crispy egg rolls with fish sauce. And the Pho!
(5)Andy J.
Went to Pho88 for the first time today during lunch. We were seated quickly and the waiter promptly brought us 2 waters. I've never eaten pho before so I went the safe route and had the eye round steak & skirt steak pho. Although the skirt was a little too fatty for my liking, the dish was delicious. I tried the broth "as is" before adding any of the condiments. It was quite good but I love me some spice, so I added plenty of hot pepper sauce. overall the meal was tasty, affordable and filling.
(4)Dan S.
A very diverse menu, but I almost always go with the pho. It's the name of the restaurant, and they do it very well. This is comfort food to me, and I enjoy the atmosphere there.
(4)Mike U.
Not sure if I can really vouch for this place as much as others do. Don't get me wrong. The Pho is decent, but I can truly say that there are better options in the area. The service is hit or miss. It all depends who is waiting on you. Sometimes they're really good and as the last experience, the waiter was just in a hurry to walk away without even letting us complete our order. The food comes a out quickly. The veggie toppings are fresh and well cleaned. The broth is missing just a little bit more love. It just doesn't have that wow factor. Sufficient noodles in the Pho that satisfies the hungry man. The bahn mi are decent sized. But the toppings are just a bit shy. More bread than anything else. The Vietnamese iced coffee is on pint though. Nice, rich and dark! It has a good coffee taste.
(3)Tiffany L.
The food is really good, but I had a bad experience tonight when I picked up my to-go order. The two ladies at the front desk were rude. Once I got to the counter no one greeted me. The younger girl grabbed me my food, and the other lady took my card from my hand without giving me a total. I normally like pho88 but I was unhappy by the way they treated me tonight. I am a frequent customer and normally have good run in with the waiters.
(4)Erica H.
So good! Every time I'm in the area, I make it a point to come here for lunch! I love how they have a vegetarian section on their menu. I usually get a banh mi sandwich (tofu w/ cilantro and pickled vegetables) SO FRESH! And vegetarian noodle soup (I'm not the biggest fan of their vegetarian pho broth, the broth for the other noodle soup is more flavorful in my opinion. But my sister prefers the pho) And their honeydew boba slushes are amazing!! Way better than other boba places I've tried in Orlando! And I always have enough leftovers for 1-2 more meals as the portions are massive! yummy
(5)Glenn V.
Scenario: Seated at 9:30 on Christmas night, placed order at 9:33 for fried egg rolls and couple of other dishes. 9:45: Table of loud 20-somethings seated at table next to us. 9:50: Appetizers, including fried egg rolls is delivered to freshly seated table :-O Where's our server? Flirting with some girl across the restaurant. At this point, got up and walked out in disgust, but at least the manager was apologetic, so raising our rating to 2 stars.
(2)Irene N.
I grew up eating these foods, so when I go to restaurants if this this food too. But this is just too yummy! EVERYTHINGG is good! I was here on vacation with friends and after we tried it, we made sure to go again before we left, AND THEN WE GOT SOME TO GO for the ride! Can you tell I love it?
(5)Chann K.
Typical pho joint, fast food and minimal service. I had the stir-fried vegetables with rice and it had a reddish tint to it which I'm not used to. It had a sweeter taste to it than the usual clear that I get at other restaurants - Will not order that again. Stick to the pho and combination rice plates.
(4)Bill G.
There are many "noodle" houses near US 50. I have tries most of them over the last two years, and Pho 88 is the best. Clean and bright with a wall of glass to light up the place. Service is always fast and pleasant. The Pho (pronounced PhÄ) is the best noodle soup in existence. Avoid the Tripe and Tendons. Stick with the beef.
(5)Lindsley A.
Pho 88 us one of my favorite go to places for pho, banh mi, and boba! The prices are pretty decent, the service is fast, clean environment, and the food good as always. I usually order the chicken pho which is yummy in my tummy. Of course, I always put the additional add ins to my soup such as Hoison, siracha, lime, and my ultimate favorite Asian basil! Yum!!!! I also love ordering their grilled beef rice vermicilli which is like a salad to me and my other favorite. There are others too such as the tofu garden roll, and the grilled beef platter with an egg. They have a lot of options as what to order and some pictures to help you decide on what to order. Only issue for me is the location. Parking can be limited but they do have additional,parking in the back.
(4)Rachanee S.
I've been a disney tourist for 20 years. Twenty years!!!! I've been a slave to disney dining for twenty years! NO LONGER! I'm so glad we finally ventured off the grid and tried out this restaurant. It was a dark and stormy 35 minute drive from Disney, but so so worth it! Three of us ate like kings for $50. It was comfort food that was soul pleasing. The restaurant was very clean and our server was so kind and polite. We had beef pho, vegetable spring rolls, egg rolls, ice coffee....we wish we had room in our bellies to try more. Stop going to chain restaurants!!!! Get out of the mundane OVER PRICED touristy spots.
(5)Susie K.
On the way to the airport, we went slightly out of our way to find a higher rated pho spot b/c I just couldn't wait to get home to eat it. Something about traveling to areas that lack ethnic food options just makes me crave them more than normal. So we drive up in the afternoon and I must admit, I was a little spooked. The area didn't look like skid row scary, but definitely sketchy to me, as an outsider. We had our luggage in the trunk of our rental car and I was nervous it would get broken into, but we plow forward. I see these hand painted signs pointing to Pho 88 parking so to be safe, I make my husband bypass the open spots next to the restaurant and park behind the place further away. When we get out, we see two questionable characters call out to us. Oy. But I really want pho. I order the pho tai chin and my husband orders the same. I also get the spring rolls. I order 2 rounds of those suckers bc they are so freaking delicious. I also KILL my pho. I have never finished my pho before. I love that they give you fresh basil and sprouts. The spots here, especially Ktown's spin on Pho, gives you wilted brown basil. The broth, meat, everything was so good. We also ordered a Vietnamese ice coffee and Thai tea (I know, Thai tea at a Vietnamese restaurant). The size of the coffee was so tiny that I was expecting something similar in size when I got my tea. I was wrong, it was much larger and they put something else in there that makes it tastes a million times better than the Thai teas I've had here. So regardless of my perception of the area (I'm a scaredy cat tourist sorry), it was totally worth our drive over and I would definitely frequent this place if I'm back in Orlando.
(5)S T.
Ordered Banh Hoi with all the fixings. I don't remember the exact cost...it was around $9.50. Just look at my photo. My first thought was...damn I'm not gonna get full off this. The flavors of the proteins weren't very good. Pork and shrimp patties were tasteless ( not enough garlic), and the egg roll was greasy. Let's just say I was really disappointed. People, look at your forks before you use it. You may find a little surprise stuck between the prongs of the fork and it's not pleasant. The cleanliness of this place is a bit subpar. I don't recommend it. If you do decide to come here, don't order Banh Hoi, it's a total rip off. I was expecting a whole lot more for the price. Try Lac Viet. I enjoyed the food and atmosphere there better.
(1)Olivier D.
A'MA'ZING. This certainly the best Pho Ga I have had in Orlando and joins some of the best in US. Very clear broth and not greasy. Didn't come with cilantro, my favorite herb, but that's ok. I will certainly be back here. Very friendly staff too. Like it a lot.
(5)James V.
Currently on my summer vacation and we were craving pho. So I checked up on yelp to look for an awesome pho place and found pho 88. Their review were decent and had 4 stars. Little did we know, they're racist to their own race. The pho is nothing compared to what we know pho SHOULD taste like. Refilling water, we didn't get no refill even though they walked around 5 times and saw our glasses empty...everyone around us were white and we were the only vietnamese people in a vietnamese restaurant. We will never ever return to this restaurant.
(1)Jennifer O.
My husband and I love this place. A friend of ours introduced us to this place a few years ago and every time we are in Orlando, we make it a point to stop in and enjoy everything this restaurant offers (which is a lot of options).. Lots of parking available in back lot. Affordable pricing.
(5)Tiffany T.
Pho was okay.. smells like pho but the taste isn't really there. The tai (raw meat) was given a good amount Idk why there are so many reviews for this place.. it's okay. Their rice and noodles suck.. noodles had no taste. Rice was typical but little given.
(3)Randolph Z.
You know you're gonna get pho. Might as well get it here. Tasted good (pho always does), and definitely seemed genuine. Actually a lot better than the pho I had in Vietnam, hate to say. The American way with way too much sauce appeals to the glutton in me. Also, pretty good prices. Two can usually eat for $20. If it was a buck cheaper they'd get 5 stars. It's the Vietnamese food equivalent of CHVRCHES. Really good server. I should've gotten his name. The fella knew just when to stop by, but wasn't everpresent. Knowing when not to come by is as important as knowing when to. I think I got that notion from Game of Thrones. On my way out, a well-dressed lady seemed intent on crashing into me on purpose, for no reason. Good end to any meal.
(4)Christina V.
We were pleasantly surprised by how many vietnamese restaurants there are now in orlando. This restaurant was very clean, service was quick and friendly and best of all the pho was pretty darn good. Excellent broth, nice amount of meat. The pork chops were ok, not as good as philly's. Their hu tieu nam vang was very tasty as well. Highly recommend this place!
(4)Laurie P.
This place is a mills staple.. We live in the area and go often and it never disappoints. The pho is so yum and the broth could be eaten on its own! The service is quick and polite.
(5)Roberto H.
I thought that maybe after eating ramen at Ippudo, this place wouldn't compare. But it really didn't compare. Too brothy, meat is too fatty, and way too much cilantro (and I'm hispanic)
(2)Jane D.
One of the best Vietnamese restaurants. I've been there only once but was very impressed with everything. Food was great. So was the service.
(4)Carlos V.
I first came here about 10 years ago. I think I used to come alone for some reason. From then to now, I've probably come here about 1 to 2 times a year, just because there are so many other Vietnamese places in the area to try. Since this is my first, it has a special place in my heart that makes me feel bad whenever I do go someplace else. Over the years, I've noticed how the clientele has changed. At first, I remember being the only non-Asian in the place. In the last few years, I feel more and more non-Asian's are venturing here. I feel it has to do with how the area around Mills, and Orlando in general, has grown. There are more people who aren't afraid to try something different living here, which we can see with the diverse restaurants opening in the area. Back to Pho 88. I don't know how they fit in with the other Vietnamese noodle places, and who was the first to open up. There must be some interesting history behind it. I always feel like Pho 88 had to be one of the first, seeing how much people love the place. I don't have to say much about the food others haven't already mentioned. I'll mainly come here for the great soup and their huge selection of it. I thought the "88" meant that many soups, but there looks to be less than that, but almost 200 items on the menu to choose from. When I'm feeling under the weather, I'll opt for their white and dark meat chicken soup. On the rare occasion, I will try their BBQ chicken, which I will recommend too. Then if you're in the mood, add on a dessert drink, to stay or go, where it's an adventure trying the different exotic fruit flavors.
(4)Jenna C.
Tried Pho 88 and had a great experience! The space is clean and open with big windows. I had never eaten here before, and the waiter offered plenty of suggestions for first timers. The peanut sauce for the spring rolls was delicious! The white chicken pho was delicious. The sprouts, limes, and jalepenos were fresh, and there were different sauces to use. I always go for the sirarcha! My fiancé ordered the stir fry (#138) which was delicious. We really enjoyed our first time, and would definitely go back!
(4)Paulene K.
There's a few Vietnamese restaurants in Orlando, but Pho 88 is my favorite. The chicken noodle is delicious and I can't get enough of the spring rolls. The service is fast and friendly - not chatty, and it works for me! (Not that I don't like to chat with servers, but sometimes you just want your food!) I definitely get my pho cravings from Pho 88. Yum!
(4)Carla L.
Believe it or not, I have never, ever tried Pho. There were extremely limited options in the city I lived in before and now I live by the Vietnamese District in Orlando so of course I was excited to finally try what so many people have been raving about. They have Vegetarian options and we ordered the Vegetarian Pho, now, the thing is that I adore soups.. just love them. A good soup will send me practically into spasms of happiness. Guys, this Pho did just that. We had to figure out how to eat the plate of extras because we were too embarrassed to ask but we did and let me tell you it was insane. We had a couple of Spring Rolls before the Pho, and they were good but too much because that soup was given to us in what looked like a serving bowl!! Oh, and a pot of hot tea is $1.50.. that's it! Now that the temperatures are dropping this is a great option! The service was dry, but it just seemed that it was the personality of our server.
(4)Joan B.
Being new to the area from NY and my favorite place to eat being china town i definatley was on the search for a great authentic Vietnamese rest to indulge in. I got the review from a client of mine and raved about it. So of course i dragged myself to colonial and mills for what i was hoping would be a great new spot of mine. What she right ???? HELL YES ! If your surrounded by all Vietnamese family then you know the food will be up to par. I started off with a #2 . Cha Giò : Vietnamese Fried Egg Rolls with ground Pork, Shrimp, and Carrots $3.25 Took so much out of me to not order another one, especially with the dipping sauce. for my entree i had the #17 Soup Hòanh Thánh : Wontons (Pork and Shrimp), fried onions, and green onions $7.50 I was in heaven, yum yum give me some ! i cant wait to go back and try something else on the menu
(4)Rob W.
My new favorite here is the #80, crab noodle soup. I just love it. Their shrimp fried rice is the best I have had, ever. I can't warm up to Chinese fried rice at all anymore, I'm spoiled.
(5)Avery B.
This place is magical. I am alone taking pictures of my food. I always get the tofu summer rolls, white meat chicken pho and a Thai tea! Absolutely delicious. The first meal I had when I got back from being in Europe for a few months!
(5)Stephen K.
Love this place, excellent Vietnamese, Cambodian, & Thai cuisine. Located on 17/92 in little Vietnam.
(4)Jody W.
$16.95 for a small portion of their version of wonton soup & a beef and rice plate. Food was bland! Waiter seemed upset that I asked for a side of hot Chili oil and never refilled my empty glass of water. Not returning Pho sho!!
(1)Chill W.
Now here's the thing, there was nothing WRONG with my meal at Pho 88. There was nothing WRONG with the service. There was nothing WRONG with the menu. Well maybe it was a little long - over 8 pages - but that seems to be a Vietnamese thing. Everything was average. It was OKAY. It may be because I'm crazy, but I was secretly hoping that a rat would start running around and offer some excitement. That is my review. Oh yeah and they had cheap prices. If you're lucky there will be mangoes outside the bathroom when you go. Very exciting stuff.
(3)Shar C.
Whenever I'm in Orlando and I want a good all around Vietnamese meal, this is the place to go. They have their own parking, but it can be a tight squeeze. The restaurant itself is a good size and is pretty suitable for large groups. The staff is quick to serve you and take your order, as well as bringing your check. I like the fact there's so much variety to choose from: pho, bahn mi, rice, noodle, and vegetarian items. The prices are fairly cheap and the portions are sufficient. My personal favorite is their fried rice. I'm not big on fried rice normally but they use perfect seasoning that makes me want to order more than one plat. My personal choice is combination fried rice with an egg on top. As far as their pho, it's very good, but I feel like they could use more flavor. It tends to be on the lighter side, so use all the herbs they offer as it really brings out the broth flavor. Try this place out and you won't be disappointed :)
(4)Chris O.
Some of the best Vietnamese food in Orlando. I've gotten the pho and it was better than the pho at the other places near by. Also good is their subs and other soup/pot dishes. The waiters were also extremely friendly and were kind enough to explain everything on the menu for us.
(5)Sharon W.
This place is legit. The aromas just walking in grabs your nose and it's like, instant ants-in-your-pants to get to a table quickly. It's almost caroon-like howthe aromas stretch accross the restaurant to grab your nose and lure you to your seat for an experience of a lifetime each time I go. I swear I experience a eupohoric strance-like state everytime I walk in. Not only is the smell just wonderful, but the broth of their pho is deep with flavors and by far my favorite in orlando. The sides of bean sprouts, basil, cilantro and lime are plentiful, which is a big deal for me....gotta have my sprouts! This place is always busy, but never have I had to wait long, probably because it's so huge inside! Or maybe the mirrors make it seem huge? haha :) Either way, when I'm in the mood for pho, this is my go-to in a city full of options because it's just hands down the best. :)
(5)Gretchen G.
The soup was huge, super fresh ingredients, and looked like the best soup I would ever in my life try...until I realized that there are cloves in the broth. The smell of cloves makes me sick to my stomach so needless to say I couldn't eat it. I did also get a pork pho and that was a little dry. Over all I think if you can stand the broth your going to love their pho.
(4)Mychael J.
One of the best authentic comfort food places in Orlando
(4)Wendy D.
Large varieties and lot of appetizers to choose from.
(5)Amy D.
Authentic Vietnamese food. Right in the heart of Orlando, surrounded by Pho options. The food was the real deal. My family and I enjoyed egg rolls and spring rolls for appetizers. They were so good we had to order a second round. For my entree I enjoyed can chua (catfish soup) and it was almost as good as my mom's - perfect combination of sweet and sour. The downfall was the service, although I disclaim this with the fact that our party was over 20. It wasn't until my entree came did I receive my beverage and I reminded the server a couple times but again, my family comes in herds and we tend to be overwhelming.
(4)Kai H.
What a nice discovery thanks to Yelp. :) No real ambiance but the food was great. Tried the Beef Stew with egg noodles, and wife had a pork dish - dont recall name. We really enjoyed the food and once you got service it was a great experience. As mentioned, the initial service took about 10, maybe 15, minutes but after that everything was spot on. Definitely coming back.
(4)Steve A.
I like the bright, open, bustling feel of this place, lined with plate glass windows facing onto Mills Ave. The servers and many of the customers are Vietnamese, and I take that as a sign of the authenticity of the food. My favorites are the spring rolls, banh mi sandwiches, and the noodle dishes with mixed vegetables. The crispy noodles are good. They form a nest around the dish, and slowly soften as they sop up the gravy.
(4)Simon M.
Pho Tai here is unbelievable. Needed to make a pit stop with work travel and this place was perfect. Soup and summer rolls here are incredible. Highly recommended and will definitely return when back in the area.
(5)Priscylla C.
So delicious! Shrimp Spring Rolls are killer with the amazing taste of the peanut sauce! I usually order lemongrass chicken- it's spicy and so fragrant. Lots of onions and really wonderful flavor! My hubby gets the fried rice with only barbecued pork, it's so amazing! Big difference than Chinese take out pork fried rice where it's always smushy and gross- it's so flavorful and wonderful portion to share! Not that you'll want to ;)
(5)Angie L.
after spending a cold rainy day at universal studios i was craving some pho! we found this place using yelp and it was good. not amazing pho, but it hit the spot. service was good and they even had the salted lemon drink (hard to find in utah).
(3)Bunny N.
I've been to Pho 88 several times, and always had a great experience. The service is always great and the server always checks up on us to see if everything was good. The food is amazing.... just like the way Mom used to make pho! I always get Pho Dac Biet, with all sorts of different cuts of meat in it. Put tons of Siracha, Hoisin sauce and the veggies in and it's to die for. The Vietnamese subs are cheap, and pretty awesome too. Try to Vietnamese coffee too!! It's very tasty!
(5)Thomas Z.
It was great! The place was quite busy on a Sunday evening, not a bad sign, and with a lot of Vietnamese, which is even better. The smells coming from the kitchen and from the dishes reminded me of my visits to Vietnam in particular and Asia in general. The shrimp and spicy octopus were very tasty indeed and we cleaned the plates to such an extent that the top layer may have been damaged. It is in a side street of E Col Drive and it is worth your time. If you are running from Little Saigon, ar least you do not have to run far. It was simply great! Go and see for yourself!
(5)Noelle H.
I came here with a group of friends after shopping at the mall. We just happened to stumble into this one because it was the first one we saw an the majority of customers were Asian (always a good sign). I was craving bun rieu but unfortunately they were out, boo. So I had to settle on H Tiu hoc Mì Khô Tôm Cua. It was good for how simple it was! Most places don't use sauce in the noodles, so the flavoring was on point. Both of my friends were extremely happy with their dishes (, especially since it was their first time eating Vietnamese food. Service was attentive and quick. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Anibal O.
Been to this place well over 20 times... Service is good but not great, but its some of the best Pho I have had in Orlando and I love both their spring roll and the fried roll. as for the food I have had a few dishes and they been great... Only one time I didn't like a dish and I should of known better to order a Thai dish in a viet place. GET THE COCONUT WATER DRINK!!!!!! Food is fresh folks!!!
(4)Cole S.
I call this place the Bill Clinton of Pho restaurants, because the food truly speaks for itself and well. My girlfriend and I make at least one weekly visit, either with take out or sitting in. When we have friends and family come into town Pho 88 is our spot to show off the local cuisine. Service is always great and the food... Ohhh the food. Get their Pad thai dishes!
(5)Jessica T.
Anytime I am passing through the area I have to make a stop here to bring the Pho home with me. We have yet to try something we aren't fans do from here! My go to Pho is the white meat chicken pho...mmmm-mmm; the best I've had! If you've never tried the Boba Tea, I'd recommend giving it a try too...green tea is a good if you've never had it before. If pho is not your thing, try the Bhan Mi; great sandwich on a small baguette with everything to choose from...pork, chicken, beef and veggie. Always look forward to the pho from here, just wish they were closer.
(5)Michelle L.
Ok pho here... Not like what everyone says 'the best pho'. The soup is bland. I've tried other dishes too, mi bo vien was not good either, bo vien was not good, soup was bland. Ga xao xa ot was all white onions & ot not much chicken. I think i have tried enough to finally say... Its an ok restaurant... Not the best in anything, but only ok, last resort restaurant for me.
(3)Pamela M.
The spring rolls with peanut sauce is delicious. I only go there for the pho chicken soup and spring rolls. Yummmy!
(5)Leo P.
I've eaten here twice in the past six months and both times the food was amazing. I'm a big fan of new food experiences and this was my first time eating authentic Vietnamese and I was not disappointed. The serving size is very good especially for the price. If I rated based only on the food this place would be a 5 star restaurant IMO but the wait staff is where it's lacking. I am pretty patient and understand the service industry but both visits our server took forever with refills and the bill even when the restaurant was half full. If the owners could get the staff a little more attentive this place would be stellar. Still I recommend for great Vietnamese food you won't regret trying this place.
(4)Peter P.
Saw the reviews and took the fam there with high hopes. We must have gone to the wrong place because what we had was up there with the top 5 worst pho I can remember having. Granted I am a Pho snob so I do expect a lot. I'm Viet and I make my own Pho at home. I've had good and bad Pho everywhere from DC to Dallas to Cali. Our pho at Pho 88 was so bland even hoisin sauce couldn't save it. There was zero aroma (did anyone put at least some anise in?). I had the special with everything. The service was great but sadly we won't be back because of the terribad Pho. Life's too short to eat bad Pho. Another tip, need to do away with the disposable chopsticks and cup. This isn't some fast food self serve joint. At least give us real chopsticks and real coffee glasses instead of to go disposable. What next? Plastic spoon and bowl? Disappointed.
(2)Andrea N.
Absolute favorite place to get PHO in the area hands down!! ALWAYS get a #1 and a #38. And there's nothing like having it fresh in the restaurant!
(5)Jeffrey D.
I finally got around to having dinner here. We went on a Sunday night and it was fairly busy even though we were seated for a later dinner. My wife went for the Pho and I opted for a noodle dish. The menu is robust so just about anyone can find something they are looking for. Though they lack a kid's menu, my daughter was able to bite off of our plates. The Pho was packed with fresh goodies and can be spiced up if need be. Since we were seated after the rush the meals took a little bit of time to prepare but not so much it was uncomfortable. I enjoyed the noodle dish which was loaded with goodness as well. The food was flavorful which is good since I typically have had rather bland entrees in other places. The prices were decent and the servings were huge. Overall, good food for the price. It is a great place to go if you have a diverse group. You will not walk away hungry.
(4)Stephy W.
No stars if possible. I love Pho. I never had been here bc I go to other ones in the area. 1. They sat me and took forever for someone to come. 2. I hate seeing the red raw meat. Therefore I told the waiter 3, yes THREE times "Well done, no pink please, I don't like when the meat is red and bloody" what do I get? RED BLOODY DISGUSTING RAW MEAT. If the broth was extremely hot like at other pho restaurants I would have just pushed it down, but it was warm. Therefore couldn't do that. I waited for about ten minutes no one came to the table so they could fix this for me. So I had to go up to the counter and tell them. I did taste the broth tho and it was really tasty and a lot of meat in the soup compared to PhoHoa that gives you a couples pieces. But I will not under any circumstances be back.
(1)Steve M.
I have eaten here a few times now and always get their namesake Pho. I cannot speak for the other entrees or choices although there are quite a lot of them. The Pho is quite good (but I have had better) with a lot of choices from the traditional Beef to Chicken. There are many traditional Vietnamese drinks to choose from also. I have to say the wait staff is so-so and not always very attentive. On more than one occasion, I needed to go to the main counter to get our check.
(4)Lynn F.
I love their food so much but cost little expensive and the customer service sometimes poorly. They need to improve on the way they serve customer. Otherwise, everything else were fine. You should give a try in here.
(4)Melly M.
I got papaya salad with shrimp and it tasted fishy! I didn't like it much. Service was ok too, no cute sweet waitress today. But for a Vietnamese restaurant, their phad Thai was delicious!
(3)Alyssa F.
Awesome! Beef pho was delicious and the sprouts, basil, and such to accompany were all unbelievably fresh. Beef and vegetables with rice for the boyfriend was also delish. Will be back. Oh, and did I mention prices aren't bad at all?
(4)Yohan N.
Keeping this review short. Broth tasted plain - was not blended with the various flavors very well. Could tell it wasn't cooked for a long time Meat amount was decent. Overall, didn't taste "dirty" enough for me. Was too clean.
(3)L L.
The shrimp summer roll was impeccable but the port chop over rice was just okay. Everyone around me ordered Pho and I should too. This place was perfect for a quick and value meal break. I enjoyed it and would come back for sure.
(4)Kelli M.
While the restaurant lacks a stylish atmosphere, the food is what draws diners in. During our visit we often saw large groups enjoying a meal together along with college kids, grandparents and couples. This Vietnamese restaurant attracted an array of ethnic diners as well. This was the first time I had ever ordered Pho. Maybe a ninety degree day isn't so ideal, but I was craving some noodles. The menu at Pho 88 can be quite intimidating, with almost 150 items to choose from. I asked our friendly waiter for his recommendation, while my husband went right for a banh mi sandwich. Our food was delicious. The bowl of Pho was quite large and made for a filling dinner. We enjoyed our dinner so much that we went back a couple of days later for lunch. I decided to join my husband and get the banh mi this time. I've had a banh mi sandwich at another local restaurant, but the one at Pho 88 was much better. This is a great way to have an inexpensive but, delicious lunch. I look forward to coming back and trying other dishes on the menu. I couldn't help but gaze at all the plates making their way to the other customers; they looked quite scrumptious. Tasty food at great prices, along with friendly service makes for a nice spot to grab some lunch or dinner. While you're in the neighborhood take a stroll around and stop by some of the unique shops along Mills.
(4)Onell L.
I love the food at Pho 88. I always get the spring rolls with the fish and sometimes the summer rolls. My favorite dish is the White Meat and Dark Meat chicken and I add shrimp to it (for an additional cost of course). The servers are foreign and speak little English but you have to expect that when visiting an authentic Vietnamese restaurant like this. Ive always wondering if this was the best Pho in town compared to Little Saigon but Im now comfortable saying Pho 88 is the best in town. Sidenote: My Debit card was declined here and closed due to funny stuff with their credit card processing system. Just a heads up.
(4)Jeremy M.
Some of the best pho in Orlando! Their Vietnamese coffee is excellent as well. The restaurant is a little dirty, but it's worth it!
(4)Melanie R.
I'm not even crazy about Vietnamese food but holy cow it's delicious!!! I had the pork chops soo good!! Their soups are no joke! Definitely a must try!
(5)Carlos L.
No reviews required, come here for Vietnamese, period. No frills, yummy inexpensive food, great flavors and portions, authentic viet. I love this part of town for its condensed Vietnamese food alternatives, definitely coming back here.
(4)Dave W.
This has slowly become our "go to" place in Orlando, for Pho and Vietnamese iced coffee. The service is always super fast and friendly, especially if you know what you want, immediately, without even looking at the menu. The interior is large, very clean, and includes a large TV to watch sports or random Vietnamese entertainment. Here are a few tips... If you want Pho Ga (chicken Pho), always go with dark meat as its tastier for sure. You'll be treated with more respect also, since only uninitiated tourists order white meat for their soup. Sriracha makes everything better. Don't hesitate. This stuff is *nectar of the gods*. Finally, make sure you squeeze a wedge of lime in to your Pho! They gave it to you for a reason. The crunch of the sprouts, the basil, the spicy warm broth, the noodles and meat, the slice or three of jalapeno, and the subtle bite of lime all combine to a heavenly and filling meal. Don't miss it! OK. If you have not tried Pho, you must. Take my word for it. You'll never look back
(5)Tuan N.
Ok.. I am going to be fair in this one. I ordered Com Tam Suon Nuong... and specifically asked for the pork chop (Suon Nuong) to be broiled. What I got is the fried Pork Chop with excessive oil. The waiter seemed clueless about the order and what go on in the kitchen. It is ok to tell customer that you don't char-broil your meat but not knowing the difference between fried/char-broiled .. is way too far to be a waiter.
(2)Joe K.
Solid place for vietnamese pho. It's been here since forever and has been a staple to the 50/Mills area aka Viet Town. To be honest I have never tried any other food aside from the various pho there. That just shows how good this place is when it comes to something like pho! Portions are ginormous and service is always quick and generous. I would definitely suggest to anyone who is in the area or is in the mood for a quick bite of Pho!! BTW Plenty of parking around the back side of the place so you're not stuck with parking off 17/92.
(4)Sydney K.
I really enjoyed my banh mi and pho at Pho 88, and the service was alright, so overall I'm a fan and would give 3.5 stars. The broth was flavorful, not the best I've had but certainly not the worst. It was a good-sized bowl and I left feeling very full. The waiter seemed to be a bit cool towards us but then warmed up later, which was appreciated. I don't want to be friends, but feeling like a nuisance isn't great either. Overall the service was okay. I'll be back to visit, hence the 4 stars, and am hoping the pho continues to taste good since all I really want out of life is some delicious pho. Well, not really, but it does help.
(4)Christy T.
Seeing that I cannot master how to make beef pho by myself, this is the second best thing next to homemade beef pho whenever I'm craving it. Yes I know there are a few people who eat pho with no additional sauces (such as hoisin) and garnishes, but after adding my normal amount of hoisin, siracha, lime, basil, and bean spouts, it tastes like home, and yes, my mom's homemade beef pho is that good. I normally get Pho Bo Tai Chinh. Although basic as it is (in my opinion), this is a way to tell whether the pho is good or not. What I like about the broth is that it isn't that oily compared to another pho place I tried in Tampa which was deemed as good. There are other dishes than pho in this place and I haven't tried them yet, but I know for sure I'm getting pho here.
(5)Michael W.
I have been to this place like 8 time since i moved to Orlando for over 2 months. This is by far one of the most consistent place I have been to. 5 Food is very consistent and fresh. However, flavors does then to be a bit blend sometimes because maybe that how the dishes are supposed to be. Portion sizes are adequate and consistent. It earned a 4 because of its consistency. Great Kitchen management. 4/5 The service is okay but the wait for the food with the quality is sufficient for me. It does varies during downtime and busy time. they are faster during busy time than downtime, which is bizarre. Some of the staffs might need to be trained better in regards to be a waiter, such as refilling glass of water without being asked, picking up some empty plates, or noticing that the party is ready for the check. Just minor items that they can clean up. However, the staff is very super nice and friendly. they all always have a smile on their face. 3.5/5 Atmosphere - Your typical asian place. very open, Actually have a TV with sports in it. They seemed to be a big of football too. It is very homely and local. I like the feeling of that. However, most of the furniture and fixtures are pretty outdated, like back in the 80s. But it does not change the type of lively open atmosphere that they purpose aim for. 4/5 Overall , I will be back going to the place because it does have reasonable price for viet food and the great consistency of the food.
(4)Tiffany N.
Food was ok. Service were terrible. I have to waited over 30 mins to get water and the people come after us already been served.
(2)Mia P.
Great service and amazing pho. Very satisfying food! This place can get busy on the weekends at dinnertime. It's not upscale, but the food is excellent and I highly recommend this place when you need soup, noodles and comfort!
(5)Tiffanie D.
YES YES YES! GO EAT PHO HERE NOW!!! DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE FULL! Yeah, I thought the pho here was amazing from what I've seen in Orlando (maybe not much yet). This review is probably just for the pho since it is called Pho 88, might as well get the star dish although the people I went with got rice and bun bo hue. I'm guessing everything this place has is good (and it has alloottttttt of options from vietnamese food-as the restaurant name suggests- to thai food--pad thai). One pho bowl size fits all?? No! They have an extra large options (+$2). Yes so if you're starved, you don't have to get two bowls... or do you? Pho was amazing. I recommend the pho tai (thin beef slices) since it's my usual. Also grabbed a banh bao on my way out and was one of the best decisions I've made that day!!!!!! I'll be back.
(5)Jennifer M.
Wow! I have driven by this place so many times that I was excited to finally stop in and give them a try! Now keep in mind, this is a Vietnamese restaurant so if you don't like Asian style food (rice, noodles, stir fry, pho) then this isn't the place for you. But for the rice and noodle lover like myself, this place is like home! I found the place to be very spacious and well put together. The staff was friendly and courteous. But I absolutely loved the food! I was in heaven!!! The menu is filled with so many tempting options, that I can't wait to go back and see what else I can sample! This is an Orlando must try for the Asian cuisine lover!!!
(4)Anna B.
We rolled into this restaurant with ~30+ people in our group. No big deal. They kindly accommodated us. And they were willing to split the bill, too! Pho 88 has a reputation of being one of the best pho restaurants in Orlando. I didn't try the pho, but it looked good. I opted for bun rieu, which is comprised of rice noodles and crab. I think the English translation was listed as crab noodles. You get some tomatoes in it, along with some tofu and a scrambled crab mixture. The broth was flavorful. I enjoyed it. This was my first time ordering the dish at a restaurant in the US. It did not disappoint. The spring rolls and fried egg rolls were delicious, too. You get a side of nuoc cham/nuoc mam to go with it. I was able to try their bun bo hue, or beef noodles. It wasn't as spicy as I had hoped it to be. The flavor and taste was still nice. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for a modest Vietnamese meal. It's clean and the workers are quite pleasant. Pretty atypical from my usual experiences with Viet restaurants!
(4)Bao N.
We were visiting Orlando recently and on the way out I knew I HAD to stop to have viet food. We found this place on yelp and I was not disappointed! There are some mediocre places in Miami and I was so looking forward to some good viet food. I've been all over the country for viet food and So Florida just lacks viet food. But this place will satisfy my craving. The place is decent size with your standard decor. Reminds me of other viet places that i've been too in my hometown of MPLS. The menu had a lot to choose from that I wanted to eat everything. I was at a lost to choose what I wanted. I really really wanted a banh xeo (viet pancake) and the server said it would take too long to cook. I'm not sure why but he really was trying to convince me not to get it so I didn't. We ordered some an abundance of food and I was pretty happy. I wish it were closer but it is something that I look forward to when I visit Orlando. Needless to say, I had mad food como on the way back to Miami but I did'nt have to drive so I could have taken a nap!
(4)Ashley J.
We ordered take out from here when we first moved to Winter Park in July 2013. Amazing pho, excellent rolls. And the prices are great. A really reasonable way to enjoy excellent Vietnamese food. We were unsure upon moving to Orlando if we would find the same selection of various world cuisines as we had in New York. We have been pleasantly surprised, and Pho 88 was one of those pleasant experiences!
(4)Friend Of Your M.
This place has good pho, but not so good English. From the Vietnamese restaurants I've been to in the area I would rank them as so: (1) vietnam cuisine (2) pho vinh (3) little saigon (4) pho88 (5) pho hoa (6) toek5
(4)Elissa W.
Love this place! Tried the pho with beef balls.. Not a fan of the beef balls but the soup itself is great! now the best tasting thing I have almost ever had was the shredded pork spring roll with peanut dipping sauce. Holy cow!!
(4)Janel G.
This was the first stop on our self-directed Asian Food Tour. That means, Honey and I took the kids to try vietnamese food for the first time haha... a little pho, some banh mi sandwiches, then boba to finish the day. We went for an early dinner. The restaurant was not crowded at all, but the service was incredibly slooooowwwwww.... Thankfully, the food made up for the awful wait. I had beef, he had chicken, the kids had chicken fried rice. Oops... let me clarify, the adults' food was great. the kids' food, not so much. I know... I'm still giving this place 4 stars because the adults were happy. I never would've ordered chicken fried rice for myself but I thought it was gonna be a kid friendly meal that couldn't be messed up. Wrong. The rice was really dry and clumpy. It was if the plate had been sitting out all night and we were trying to eat it the next day. yuck... no wonder they didn't like it :( But, as I said, the adults were happy. The pho was really good and I will definitely go back for that. I probably won't try anything else though. Oh yeah, we also had spring rolls and fried egg rolls. Both were satisfactory. Nothing special. Pho. All the way.
(4)Melanie T.
It was extremely busy, which I understand and I can be patient. But there were other customers who came after us and we're served before us. After waiting about 15-20 min without any saying a word to us since we sat down, I then said something to the cashier (possible owner) and she wasn't even apologetic and said "that's because your server is different from those tables!" Even if it was, a greeting or "I'll be right with you." would have sufficed from our server. When he finally got to us, he was very rude taking our order (probably mad because I said something). Later on, I ordered the pho combination with steak on the side. And was charged extra for them to put something on the side that already comes in the soup?! Seriously? I feel like they were so busy and felt that they met their quota for the day and didn't really care about the rest of the customers. They must think that they have plenty of customers and don't care about 1 measly table, but you know what? There are plenty of pho restaurants around colonial. And I'm more than happy to take my business elsewhere.
(1)Emily E.
Went here because all the other bubble tea places in the area were closed at the time. Service was very friendly and fast, but the tea was clearly made with powder rather than fresh ingredients. While that's not uncommon, I've definitely had better boba. I had mango and my friend tried the taro. The area of town it is in is not very safe, so if you're going at night, be aware of your surroundings.
(3)Tairi P.
I honestly didn't expect the food to be as flavorful as it was. The inside was ok/cute (that's an actual measurement people), although the layout and decor struck me as more of a fancy cafeteria. The waiter was really nice and attentive, and any restaurant that plays episodes of Wipe Out is pretty rad in my book. I'm vegan with allergies and my boyfriend likes his animals dead on his plate with a side of scrambled potential-animal so it's not always easy finding a place where we both end up with a great meal. We were both very happy with our food (I had the stir-fry veggies and tofu with vermicelli noodles and the boy had chicken/beef/shrimp fried rice), although my vegetable spring roll literally only had lettuce and a few rice noodles (I had expected at least two different veggies). I also loved that I had enough food to have leftovers for later! ("later" = the min I got home)
(4)Daniel D.
The gist: Great Pho. I think me and the wife have tried ever "pho" restaurant in Orlando aside from a few friends of ours that make their own from scratch and have recipes that have been handed down from different people in the family. We always go back. It's not much on the atmosphere but I really, really like the grub. It always amazes me the amount of people that are constantly in this joint and seem to be loving it. I believe that this was the very first place that me and my wife had the pleasure of enjoying pho noodle soup. This is partly because we asked everyone in town where they thought we should go and this is where we ended up. Normally we go with the Summer Rolls and a few beers to start. I like traditional pho, beef soup but the wife always goes for the more adventurous choices. Neither of us have ever been disappointed. It surprises me at times too because the wife normally gets a "squid beak pie" or a "shrimp and fish eyes soup" or some craziness and she always loves it. Mine is always perfect. Traditional pho beef noodle soup with sprouts, fresh jalapenos and herbs. I love the way that the hot broth soften-ups the sprouts and other small pieces of greenery. Throw a little sarachi in there and BOOM! Magic. Here's the best part; the price. Most of the time, even including beers, summer rolls and our soups we can get our of there for about 25 bucks! I think that's fantastic and if you've ever eaten an entire bowl of pho there you'll know what I mean. I think you've definitely got to give this place a shot.
(4)Jason C.
There definitely isn't a shortage of Vietnamese restaurants in the area, the pho here seems to have the best quality and preparation of beef, but sadly the service is not the best. One guy in particular (dude with the mustache) just seems like he couldn't care less. Either way, the food is good so I will keep coming back. Only reason it is a 3 star and not a 2 or 1.
(3)Aldo F.
One of my 3 favorite places for pho in Orlando. Prices are good and portions are generous. I have only tried pho here and it's always been good. Service is always good. I have to try the rice and noodle dishes to evaluate on that.
(4)Elle H.
Maybe it was the fact I had a to-go order. Maybe it was the fact I am not Asian. Maybe it was the fact this place just serves the blander version of pho. I was SO disappointed when I got home with what I expected to be a great Vietnamese meal to share with my love on a rainy Florida evening. The to go version had the broth (practically clear and lacking in flavor) separated from everything else which came in a styrofoam box. I'm used to putting it all together but seeing it like this in a well lit area made be doubtful from the get go. The chicken was clearly boiled in water (not even in broth) and was almost grey - it tasted like it looked so it was removed from the soup after 2 bites. I don't think it was spoiled but it didn't taste good. I asked for, and was charged for, extra vegetables which turned out to be a few carrot shavings, a couple of broccoli florets, and a few blanched red and green pepper strips. Everything was just sad, bland, boring, and, well, disappointing. I'll stick with the other place just down the road. The food dollar is stretched thin in this part of town so I have no idea how this place is making it!
(1)Joy J.
My sweety loves this place for Vietnamese eats. So we came here this past weekend and he ordered Pad Thai noodles and an order of shrimp rolls for us to share. I ordered a Beef Bun entree. His pad thai was a large order -- Ive tried it before and its not as authentic as what you get from a Thai eats place. However the portion is HUGE for the $9.75 price. He liked it and could not finish it all. My entree of Beef Bun -- I liked Pho Vinh's better. It came with strips of grilled beef - The beef didn't look like beef to me it actually looked like some type of meat protein however it was tasty - My sweety thought it looked good. The PHO here is def the go to and some of their stir fried noodles and rice platters. The vietnamese coffee I had before and it tasted like it came from those glass bottles one you get from the asian market.. (Orange label)...And they poured it onto a tall glass with some type of whip cream foam which was DELICIOUS! I would just want to order the white foam ITSELF! The service here is okay. This is our regular eats at times due to my sweety craves this place at times!
(4)Melissa C.
Pho 88 was recommended to me after a discussion of the best spot for pho. We decided to give it a shot for Friday date night. One thing I liked was how well lit and clean the restaurant is. We were seated right away and a server quickly appeared. The menu was pretty beat up but had a lot of images to help me decide, and lessen my anxiety. I picked the grilled pork spring rolls for an appetizer and then pho with eye of round and brisket. My boyfriend ordered the special combination pho. The food arrived quickly, but I was kind of disappointed with spring rolls dipping sauce and the filling was not what I envisioned. It consisted of grilled pork that was chilled, rice vermicelli, and iceberg lettuce. The pho was hot and fresh, my beef cooked perfectly, but the broth lacked a depth I had experienced at other restaurants. Overall it was good, and it was clean and not as frightening as other viet restaurants. Our server was awesome and quick too boot. It's a safe bet if your just trying it for the first time. We'd eat there again, but maybe try something else.
(4)Colleen B.
Went specifically for Pho. It was pretty good. I was not feeling the best so all I wanted was soup and I had a craving for noodles from the day before so this was a perfect stop for dinner. The service, eh. Wasn't amazing, wasn't anything to complain about. The layout of the place is very roomy and there is a huge TV in the middle which had the NBA game on so that was a win. I am not a sake fan but the gentleman I was with had never had it so we went with hot sake. I figured it would help with my throat anyway. It was just as I remembered, hot Robitussin =) so I guess it was as you would expect? ha. We started with the fresh spring rolls and they were delicious. The freshness was amazing and the dip was delicious. We also had quail and it was pretty good, not greasy as I would have expected. For my mail dish I had 2 meats, rib eye and skirt steak - I think it was #26. The noodles were amazing and I didn't add anything to my broth and it was yummy! Hit the spot for sure. The meat, was very fatty and I guess I have nothing to compare it to since it was my first Pho experience. Overall, I dug it though. The guys next to us looked like he had broccoli and chicken and it looked delicious, I will prob be back soon to try another dish!!
(3)Roger C.
Came to Orlando for vacation and our friends were dying for some sort of Asian food. We drove around and yelped around looking for anything and everything. We found Pho 88... Since it's a Pho House, I went with the Pho. I wasn't super impressed. I know I am not vietnamese or anything BUT it wasn't all that. I don't mean to be rude, I come from the Bay Area, Cali...San Jose CA is like Vietnamese Central and even SJ doesn't have Pho that's good...it was pretty comparable in the broth taste...plus the noodles were kind of stuck together. Eh, service is the usual of any Pho restaurant too and service was alright. It was quick like most but I drink water like a fish and whats bad is when refills on H2O don't come around as often. Overall, I'd give this place a 2.5 stars to 3 stars.
(3)Brittany C.
We ordered the pad thai and light and dark chicken soup bowl. Fresh herbs which was great. Nothing spectacular the pad thai was red not the normal brown color. Wouldn't rush back.
(2)Tessa S.
Not too impressed. The amount of food was a good value for your money but the flavor was just okay. Ordered spring rolls, pho, fried rice and chicken curry. It was like ordering take-out chinese food. A good amount of food but nothing spectacular. The pho had a lot of meat but the broth was a bit bland. P.S. Don't waste your money ordering bubble tea. Not worth it. The boba's texture was like soggy, gummy cheeseballs and the milk tea was dense like protein shake.
(3)Kristin C.
Off bat... This place has horrible service and so so dishes. We had to chase down a waiter. Our apps came out ten minutes apart, with no silverware or plates. The crunchy pig skin spring roll was... Soft and grainy;nothing crunchy about it at all. The quill was a saving grace. Our entrees were so so. I had a broken rice and my love had vermicelli pork. We've had better and will most likely will not be returning.
(2)Jesus R.
Quite possibly the best pho I've had (in a restaurant that is). Awesome broth. My friend said her soul felt rejuvenated. How many pho bowls can lay claim to that?
(4)Bitchadorespink S.
This place is legit! Unless you are a prime minister or president of Vietnam, you'd better not have anything negative to say about his place. It's that good.
(4)Lucy X.
This is a great pho place in dt Orlando! Not to mention- one of the only restaurants that was open on Christmas night. The selection of pho and other Vietnamese noodle and rice dishes is plenty, the price is right, and the service is awesome. Their banh mi is one of the best I've ever had. Highly recommend!
(5)Rebecca G.
I love this area for Vietnamese food! I mostly get the BBQ pork banh mi when I come here. They're delicious, decently-priced and personally satisfying because I have recently declared banh mi's as my favorite sandwich...ever. (Tough choice there, I know.) I will certainly be trying many other restaurants in the area who specialize in this sandwich, as I have researched several very promising locations! Otherwise, I tend to get the pad Thai here or a Vietnamese noodle dish (of which the name escapes me.) I know Pad Thai isn't Vietnamese, but it is yummy here. Sometimes, we buy tropical fruits from the fruit stand right outside, and trust me, they are amazing and definitely worth it!
(4)Stacey G.
This is walking distance, right around the corner from my house. I have gotten food here twice, and here is what I've gotten: Banh Mi chicken sub (ask for white meat if that's what you want): Amazing! Fried egg Banh Mi: kinda plain but still great! Salt and pepper tofu appetizer: SOOO good. Big recommendation. The tofu is fried up crispy. Chicken Pho soup: Great! Good flavor! The prices are really reasonable and I have not yet been disappointed. Pho 88 gets my seal of approval.
(5)Kenny Y.
After having Theme-Park food for 5 days straight and after a long and cold day at Universal Studios, this place really hit the spot! had the Bo Kho, meat was delicious and tender. They serve it with a huge whole banh mi on the side for dipping. Fantastic! I also ordered a sandwich... for 3 bucks or so... what a deal it is. It's fresh out of the oven, meat and veggies are fresh... can't beat it for the price! Others in my group ordered Pho and could not complain. They give you a generous amount of meat, especially compared to the restaurants we normally visit back in the Bay Area. Veggies were very fresh as well. Will definitely come back if I'm ever back in the area!
(4)Virginia R.
I wanted pho after my finals. Monday was my last final. In general, many restos of the asian persuasion are closed on mondays. Pho 88 was an outlier. With many glowering recommendations, I decided it was time to give this place a whirl. The chicken noodle soup was good. Very good. The basil was fresh and flavorful and the sprouts firm and crisp. Thai Tea had whipped cream... cute. The service... not so much. I am not a big eater, but I really enjoy what I do eat. I always take stuff home. That took a decade, give or take a year. This is a place I will visit again, but I wasn't as wowed as I expected to be.
(3)Trang T.
I use to like coming and eating here. The few times I went here there was always something in my food. One experience I had a bug in my food, we mentioned it to the server and he basically brushed us off like it was normal that bugs fly in the food all the time. Another bad experience I had was when I ordered eggrolls and there was a cherry stem in 1 of my rolls. They don't even apologize, they just try to justify themselves. Terrible
(1)Brett G.
Service was terrible, as the Waiter seemed bothered if our glasses were empty. It is the food that makes this place earn 5 stars. Delicious!
(5)Selene T.
The smell is intoxicating, I had to sit before opening my menu and take it all in. Sweet, spicy, lemony... Such delicious aromas! I came here to try a vegetarian pho. So I asked my server, who seemed to be in a hurry... And not very friendly, (this food better be good LOL). He said that vegetarian is at number 91. I decided on #92, clear noodle with tofu & vegetables. But I couldn't just try one thing... This is the problem with going to a restaurant by yourself, no one else's food to try?!?!? So I decided on ordering the fried egg bahn mi (a bahn mi is a Vietnamese sandwich, filled with your choice of meat, pickled daikon, pickled carrots and cilantro, all on French bread. I've had it twice before, at yummi sandwich only a couple of blocks north from here and at Boston Bakery a couple of blocks east on colonial. First, the Bahn Mi, a little disappointed... Everything was served separately, there were no pickled veggies :( ...my server said, this is how they serve the egg bahn mi. So next time I'll have to try a different one. Still I have to say, it was the best part of my meal. My pho was delicious, lots of crunchy vegetables, lots of tofu, and the deeper I digged the more veggies I found. I added sriracha to it because I love spicy food. The service is lacking, while my server did get a little nicer towards the middle of my meal, he totally forgot about me towards the end, I sat for 15 minutes will all if my plates moved a foot away from me, my water glass empty and he never made eye contact. He finally approached me, I requested more water and a to-go container for my pho. He returned with a quart plastic container but did not offer to place my soup in it :( I timed myself and it took me 7:14 to pack my soup without spilling any if it :) Over all the food was not so amazing that I'd be dying to come back, but I'll Definately revisit this place again, next time with friends so I can try more items.
(3)Erin S.
Terrible service, decent food, amazing boba! I did not go to a FULL SERVICE restaurant to wait on my server. You are PAID to wait on me. Trust me, I am a server too. Our server wanted to take our drink and food order right as soon as he came to our table but I was only prepared to give him my drink order. I got an EAR FULL from him when I asked for a couple extra minutes before ordering. We wolfed down our food real quick because apparently they were "so busy." Yet, it took them a good 10-15mins after we were completely done eating to drop off our checks. Not ever coming back.
(1)Michael L.
I was taken here by a friend who has tried at least 4-5 pho places locally, and has proclaimed this to be the best. I am not a local, and after reading the positive reviews, was eager to try some good ole pho. I ordered the XL pho dac biet (pho with everything). The bowl wasn't the biggest Ive eaten from, but was definitely ample. The broth was flavorful, and moderately heavy, not too heavy, not too light. The meats were of course served the right way (bright pink, and cooks in the soup after they serve you) Which of course makes a huge difference. Our group also ordered the banh mi (viet sandwiches) Ive had better viet sandwiches in the Northeast and in texas, but it was still acceptable. By the time my pho was done, i was yearning for more even though i was stuffed. Of course I am not local to the area, so i can not say if this is the best in the area, but from someone that knows their pho, its pretty darn good by my standards, although not the best ive had.
(4)Dorinda K.
Soup lacked flavor. Very fresh but I did enjoy the mystery meat. Server was not very attentive. I don't think I will be back.
(3)Vivian N.
I was not impressed with this restaurant during our only time visit. Goi Cuon Chao Tom ( Shrimp cake spring roll) was dried and the Shrimp cake was kinda tasteless. My lotus root salad was not the best, the lotus chunks were too big, sauce too sour and watery, pork was dried and overcooked. Mom was not a fan of her beef stew either. Anyway, service was fast and the place was spacious and clean.
(2)Steve H.
Amazing to say the least, the pho is consistantly phenomenal. I bring everyone I know to pho 88. On the weekends they have a farmer selling fresh exotic fruits outside the place ; dragon fruit, long nhan, very interesting and delicious fruits. You will not be dissapointed get the 22 and prepare to think about it everyday of your life from then on.
(5)Allan T.
The pho is just salty and lacks flavor. The beef was also over cooked. Very disappointed.
(2)Patti M.
Mmmmmm.....Pho. I do not know a lot about Vietnamese food so I would love to come back with someone who is knowledgeable. The soup was perfectly tasty and light. The menu had plenty to try and the prices very reasonable but I had wanted to try the pho after having read the book The Beauty of Humanity Movement where pho played a rather prominent role. (I highly recommend the book BTW) My server was a doll.....super nice and was happy top explain what was on the menu and make a recommendation. I can't wait to eat here again.
(4)Nicole W.
It's pho time :) delish skirt steak soup and veggie summer rolls
(5)J R.
Food here is great. Service was slower then im use to out of a vietnamese noodle house but the taste is dead on.
(4)Brian W.
Spring rolls were... odd. A little smaller than normal, but they tasted almost right? They were missing something in the meat... we had both the shrimp and the pork. The pho was pretty awful. It just lacked in flavor-- broth was just passable, the meat portions were okay, but the pho clearly had sat too long before being served as the rare flank steak was mostly cooked by the time it arrived, and the broth had cooled too much 'cause the bean sprouts I added and mixed in after being served never, ever cooked fully. Inside is typical Vietnamese pho place, almost nice but not quite. Very homey and familiar for pho to me, even the crowd had a bunch of local Vietnamese in it. We were hoping that would be a good sign as far as food goes. Sadly, it wasn't.
(2)Jeff G.
Came here for dinner while I was in town. Ordered a bowl of Pho, some spring rolls, a vietnamese iced coffee, and a Bahn-mi for the next day's breakfast.. The Pho was good, as were the spring rolls. I had the Bahn-mi the next morning after reheating it the oven, it was decent but not really as good as the nearby bakeries. In all fairness, most sandwiches don't hold up as well after spending time in the fridge so don't let this review discourage you. The service was attentive, something I sometimes forget to mention unless it was downright bad.. Prices were excellent, especially when you compare to where I come from in Miami where a bowl of Pho can set you back at least $10. My whole bill came out to less than $20, and I left happier than a pig in fecal matter.
(4)Matthew M.
If you're ever away from home (like in our situation) then this place will do the trick. Pho-wise it was good. Com Chien okay. Bun Xeo oh no dont go there. Great place to visit but I wouldn't wanna live here. Like I said, if you're out of town and find yourself here. Stick to the pho and don't deviate!
(3)Carly J.
This place has the best pho in Orlando, which is saying a lot because there are a lot of places to get pho near here. My boyfriend and I are here about once a week. The staff is really friendly and the food is the best. We usually get the tofu pho, but everything I have tried is good and fresh. Not much more I can say about that. I definitely recommend it!
(5)Mimi G.
This is the second time we have eaten here for Pho and we've enjoyed it both times. On our first visit my husband had #23 Pho Bo-Vien, the beef soup with meatballs and I had #24 Pho Chin the beef soup with well done brisket. The broth was very flavorful and both meats were quite tasty. If we had any complaint it would be that our server was a bit distracted and inattentive. It was difficult to flag him down for a drink refill. This time we each had #37 Pho Ga - Hon Hop Chicken noodle soup with white & dark meat. Again the soup was layered with flavor, filled with plenty of noodles and meat. The greens were fresh and crisp and our server was very attentive even though the restaurant was much busier then it had been on our first visit. The regular sized bowl is more than enough for a meal at a can't be beat price. This has become our go-to place for Pho. Yum!
(4)J D.
Awesome food, reasonable prices, nice place!
(5)David T.
Had the opportunity to visit once again and enjoy with a friend. As other reviews mention it is a no frills, basic atmosphere and still attracts, it is always packed with everyone from daytime business people to families and couples. Staff is friendly and courteous. Food was enough for two people so there were leftovers. The prices are great for the value of what you get.
(4)Angel I.
Glad we went here! Huge menu with yummy food. Banh mi sandwiches were very good and so was the curry and pad thai. Very casual place with lots of seating. Will be going back.
(4)Hollie M.
Can't believe I have never reviewed Pho 88. They are one of our favorite places and the only place we go for Pho. Very well priced we usually get out of their with two entrees and an appetizer under $20. Amazing soups, friend rice, and pad thai. Take out combination chicken noodle pho cures the common cold.
(5)Jeff K.
I don't know what it is. Something about this place reminds me of some of the restaurants I visited in the Little Saigon area of southwestern California. I think it has something to do with age of the building, the layout of the dining area and the huge windows looking out onto the road. Can't quite put my finger on it. The spring rolls here (called summer rolls in most places locally, they are the non-fried rice paper variety) are fantastic, right up there with my other favorite place to get them, Little Saigon down the street. The peanut sauce is also just as good (high praise indeed). As an added bonus, Pho 88 has an additional vegetarian version using tofu instead of pork. Since my fiancée doesn't eat pork but certainly doesn't want to miss out on the rolls, this is an excellent option for us. I wasn't in the mood for pho this time around, so I opted for one of the rice noodle dishes, and it was delicious. I hardly looked up until it was gone. I ordered an unsweetened iced tea which I wasn't a fan of. Oh well, if something had to be subpar I'm glad it was the tea and not one of the other things! Great place, great service. I'll be back.
(4)Allison M.
Pho 88 used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Orlando. Their Pho is tantalizingly delicious, with a flavourful broth, and plenty of tasty goodies hidden among the noodles. I used to eat here all the time! Until I got food poisoning. After spending 3 days in the hospital, I am not longer a fan Admittedly, no one else I ate with got sick, but I find myself unable to eat Pho now, and I'm pretty broken up about it.
(1)Stacy V.
Food was good, but the service that we had was not as good as I expected. We ordered Vietnamese egg rolls for an appetizer, and they were the best thing I had. The grilled pork with rice came out quickly but was a little chewy to eat. We had to ask for water refills, which is not a big deal, but I tend to enjoy places that keep my drinks refilled without me asking. We still had a balance left on a gift card (we used it about a year ago), so we decided to use the rest of the card on dinner. The server came back and told us that there was no balance on the card and the gift card had probably expired. Nowhere on the card does it say that it expires, and no one told us that on our last visit. The server who gave us back the gift card at the last visit clearly wrote on the front of the gift card how much of a balance we had left. When I tried to explain all of this to the waiter (I was a little upset at the situation), he just said that there was nothing that he could do. I suggest that they disclaim on their gift cards that they expire within a certain amount of time because I feel like that is not really fair. It is a small place, so they may not have the whole gift card deal down to a science like some chains.
(2)Prof J.
Good boba drinks, they even put whipped cream. The pho was good...The service was typical. i've been to so many pho places and this place doesn't really stick out of the ordinary. but they two have two sizes Large and Extra large, so off the bat they give you a big bowl. i dig.
(3)Julie A.
OK. I went to the Bay Area, and my Mexican friend was asking me about Vietnamese sandwiches youtube.com/watch?v=jjEC… . Oh the shame on me for being a former Azn Pride supporter (::rolls eyes::) and not knowing what the heck a Vietnamese sandwich was about. So I set out to try this food. Yes, I am a dork. So sue me. Lol. Why is it called Pho 88 Noodle? I have no freaking clue. All I know is it reminds me of that song 999 Doa Hong youtube.com/watch?v=CZeO… Thing is, I think I'd rather have the 999 Roses than 88 Noodles. What am I going to do with all those noodles? I ordered the combination meat Banh Mi sandwich. Really good! Reminded me of a Cuban sandwich, except with pickled vegetables and not pressed flat. The herb leaves (was that cilantro?) were a nice touch. My son had the beef with rice dish Com Tam Thit Nuong. The beef was really good and the rice was very fresh. I also tried their Thai Tea. A bit too sweet, but still pretty good. Our server was great. Very attentive, very friendly, and very helpful. The prices are great. Banh Mi sandwich for $3.50 and my son's Com Tam Thit Nuong dish for $6.25. Their hours kick ass! Open SEVEN days a week from 10 am to 10 pm. Woot woot! Looks like I've got a new place to hit next time I'm in O-town.
(4)Jennifer M.
Best pho I've ever had. Came here today for some pho as recommended by Yelp. Showed up only to go "Oh, we've been here before!" We came here two years ago with some local friend who said this was the best pho in the area. I'm not sure that this is true as I haven't tried the other pho in Colonialtown but it's certainly the best I've ever had. The broth is light but flavorful without all that MSG that they usually serve with my pho. Very clean taste. The regular size is $7.50 and is actually the large served in places like Northern Virginia. The "extra-large" is an additional $1.55. So all-in-all, prices are typical. Summer rolls are filled at a nice balance and the sauce is well-flavored and not watery or too thick. Papaya salad is a big portion that tasted fresh. Service was great from beginning to middle to end.
(5)J. M.
Pho 88 serve the best pho anywhere, I had pho in many places all over Floria and in California, but this place out shine the rest. That is why I keep coming to this place for the past 9 years.
(5)Licia L.
Thank you Yelp! I was in Orlando, craving pho and came to this spot. The grilled pork summer rolls were really good (rice paper wrapper was so fresh). My pho tai was good, although I personally like my meat a little more rare so i can cook it in the broth. My friend got the bun bo hue and it was really good. The noodles were fresh and the broth was nice and spicy. They also give a good amount of fixin's (fresh basil!) and a lot of jalapeno and lime. The iced coffee with condensed milk was also on point. A little more expensive than what I'm used to paying for pho (but again I live in LA and a bowl of pho is like $5 or $6) but I'm sure they're in line with Orlando prices.
(4)A C.
We have been regulars for over 6 years. The soup was not hot! Couldn't find our server. He had tables all over the dining room. Then they tacked 18% tip on! We send people USED to send people here....no more!
(1)Libby W.
Pho 88, with it's distinctive graffiti wall and open space seating is just the sort of place that makes you want to kidnap a tourist. I've had dreams about this. You just grab a few tourist from the Disney area, or the I-drive area, head over to Pho 88 and force them to eat their delicious Pho. Slurping down delicate delicious broth, noodles, and beef while jamming some real Orlando Culture down their throats. They won't only be thanking you in the end, they will want to pay you to kidnap them again on their next visit. Of course the idea of this would not be Utopian because a bunch of tourist packed in like sardines would do nothing good for the ambiance. To Say Pho 88 is a gem is a bit of an understatement to say that they have a large menu is also a bit of an understatement. The menu is huge and for new comers who have very little experience with Vietnamese food it can be a bit daunting. I've been here a few times now but have held back on the review until I had tried their Pho. I sat down and was handed a menu, even though I had came with the intention on getting the Pho my eyeballs were speaking for my stomach and wanted to order everything on the menu. It was quite hard to limit myself to a few items. We ordered the spring rolls with pork and shrimp, and the fried egg rolls with pork and carrots as our appetizers. The peanut sauce that accompanied the spring rolls was a wonderful consistency and had great flavor. The friend eggs rolls were equally good. Today I had the Thai tea which was not a surprise but was wonderful and rich. I've also had their Red Bean Shake which is a real treat and for $2.25 it's makes a nice dessert treat. Every time I come here I can't resist ordering a Banh Mi because the cost is 2.50-3.50 and it's delicious and I always have half left for a nice little snack later. My favorite one so far is the BBQ Pork Banh mi, it's tangy and spicy with pickled carrots, daikon and cilantro. On my previous visit I had the Cm Gà , Bò, hoc Tôm Xà o Cay , I chose the chicken as the meat and it's stir-fried with onion and jalapeno pepper in a sauce. It was delightful and spicy. I was expecting the run of the mill chicken and rice dish but this was elevated to another level with the sauce. So i finally sat down with the menu today and ordered the Pho regular size, which is actually very large, and the large is extra large. You are given a plate of Thai Basil, Lime, Bean Sprouts and Peppers that you add into your Pho bowl. I ordered the number 30 Ph Tái, Nm, Gu which consist of Rice Noodles and broth with eye round steak, well-done flank, and fat brisket. I could drown in the broth and die happy. It's so balanced and delicate. It's like going to one of those clear blue beaches and being able to see the bottom and identify the fish in the water. I could taste all of the ingredients as they swam and danced with each other. The Thai basil, the lime, the noodles, the beef, the scallion, the beefy broth with coriander and the peppers added a nice spice that was not overpowering or underwhelming. It was enlightening experience that will keep me coming back for more.
(5)Alex A.
Last weekend I visited this place with my girlfriend and we had a great time. The food was fresh and delicious. There is plenty to choose from their menu. Meals are rich in flavor and the smell is just awesome. The portions of food are pretty big for the price you pay. Service is friendly and helpful, and the wait for food is not so terrible. The overall atmosphere of this place is fine.
(4)JC W.
Go pho yourself at Pho 88! I swear, this place makes me wish Orlando had colder weather so that I could enjoy the hot n hearty Vietnamese offerings at Pho 88 without getting the sweats (I use a lot of chili n siracha in my pho). The prices here are fair and the servings are ample. Beware ordering soft drinks/soda/pop as they serve them from the can...In other words, no free re-fills. Th location itself always wigs me out as I pull into the parking lot because it is a tight turn off of a busy street and the lot itself is rather small. If it's your first time coming here please, slow down as your gps closes in...you'll thank me later. Location and soda aside Pho 88 is my favorite place in Orlando to go to for my pho craving. The broth is flavorful and light, the noodles...I don't know what they do to them but I love them and I'm not a big noodle fan. Every bowl of pho comes with a plate of bean sprouts, slices of lime, peppers, and what I believe to be basil leaves. The fried rice is awesome in whatever form you choose to have it (I like to add a fried egg on top). So if you haven't yet, give this joint a shot!...and then get the pho out cuz people need the parking space.
(4)MyLinh H.
Two stars because I'm a nice person. I dined here with my family for the first AND last time. This is a "pho place" so one would assume they specialize in pho, but this was probably the worst pho I've had at a vietnamese restaurant. Pho Dac Biet: The noodles were extremely broken and slightly overcooked, the meat was overcooked as well and the broth was just plain awful. Besides the food, our server was extremely attentive because we had a big party so I really appreciated that. The restaurant looked pretty clean as well as the ladies room. They also have their own parking lot so that's a major plus.
(2)Chris T.
Pho here is the best in Orlando - used to be Anh Hong a while back IMO; exquisite broth, an abundance of green onions, and generous portions of noodles. Rice dishes are OK - don't really like their pork because of their marinade. Banh Mi is ok but there are definitely better choices around i.e. Boston Bakery. Bun Rieu/Bo Kho are decent and any "egg roll" appetizer will titillate your appetite to order more. Endpoint: Prices and service are good. I come here for all my pho cravings above every other Vietnamese restaurant.
(5)Lillian P.
The pho is super yummy. I went three days in a row with my fiancee and was very pleased. The only issue was I felt the shrimp egg rolls were reheated they were cold in the middle.
(4)Lindsay L.
We both ordered traditional pho tai. It was pretty good, but we agreed that they didn't include enough beef. We also ordered the papaya and shrimp salad and spring rolls -- both were delicious. The only criticism we had was that our server was kind of a jerk. He wasn't friendly at all. The server harassed our friend once he ordered, because he assumed that he was going to use a credit card and they have a minimum charge. What the? No tip pho you...
(4)Jenny L.
Very authentic food! I will definitely come back for the rest of their noodle dishes. 101 is delicious.
(5)Jayson W.
My lady-wife-friend and I came here on a whim for lunch on Saturday. It was moderately full whilst we dined, but the service - as others have said - was lacking somewhat. The food, on the other hand was quite enjoyable. We got one of their crispy noodle dishes (usually good, and therefore a good litmus test) and the everything-Pho. The crispy noodles were good, saucy (but, not too much as it can be). The noodles were good as they stayed crispy the whole time but the right kind of soft where they'd been soaking in the sauce. Came out hot and very very tasty. The Pho, I'm actually realizing that we didn't get any tendon... but everything else about it was very, very tasty. None of the meat-pieces were chewy or stringy. Meatballs were tasty and none-too-small. Rare meat was very tender and flavorful. The three stars that I gave it could easily be a 3.5, but our waiter was less than attentive. It took me a few tries to catch him to get our check and we had to ask for more water. Overall, I'd come back and am somewhat looking forward to it; I'll just have to be louder in general.
(3)Aliya J.
Went here for the pho, but kinda fell in love with the grilled beef banh mi. Not a great place for an intimate evening (not that this is what I was striving for, but just FYI) because of the bright lights and stoic tables and chairs. But, on the positive side, our server was very attentive and the portions were huge. The pho came in a serving size bowl and the broth was tasty, although I felt I had to add a decent amount of Sriracha sauce (provided at the table - WIN!). And on to the banh mi sandwich. These come on really great crusty french bread -- perfectly soft and chewy on the inside -- with tasty pickled carrots and fresh cilantro and your choice of meat. The balance of flavors was outstanding. Simple, but totally mouthwatering. I will come back for the banh mi and MAYBE the pho if I am in the mood for a trough of soup and vegetables. The items on the menu are super affordable, so that's always a plus. Yummy!
(3)Hang T.
Finding pho in Orlando. Yelp led me to this place. Generally I would say it isn't as great as other places I have tried, but it's okay. The restaurant is pretty clean and huge I have to say. Prices are reasonable and they have two different sizes for the noodle dishes. First off, we ordered their spring rolls. MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT. It was basically shrimp and lettuce wrapped in a clear wrap. There was barely any noodles and they were super small. Sucky. I didn't like their pho very much. It tasted like there was too much star anise. It was a lot sweeter than pho should be. I threw in a lot of hot sauce to make it more savory. The only good thing for me was the rice dishes. The grilled beef was cooked perfectly and very well seasoned. Thinly sliced so it was easy to eat. The fish sauce was great. Not to salty and the perfect amount. The portion was good and I love broken rice! BOTTOM LINE: Go here for the rice plates and skip the pho.
(2)Vinh L.
This place is not bad at all. In fact, it's probably better than lots of Pho shops out there. We tried this place a few years ago and wasn't impressed. But after reading all the recent reviews, we thought we would give it another try. We arrived to Orlando the other day around 6pm after driving 2 days from Texas to Orlando, and got stuck in traffic on 75. We thought about changing plan to eat American fast food and even Chinese food but we decided to still head down to Orlando to eat Pho. Nothing is better than a bowl of Pho after a long day of driving (wait make that 2). We were not disappointed at all. The Pho was great. Far better than what I remember. We ordered 2 Dac Biet Xe Lua (Extra large) and we glad we did. Our kids were enjoying the food as well. The spring rolls were not bad though I wished they should have used the normal lettuce and mint but that was OK because the peanut sauce was so good. We also ordered a Ca Phe Sua Da and Che Ba Mau but those were below average. Their service was great. I wasn't expecting it from a one $ Vietnamese restaurant at all. They even refill water and ask us if everything was ok (twice). One complaint though, we had to wait for a quite a while for the Pho to come out. I'm spoiled with Pho Bang in Dallas where Pho came out faster than fast food (most of the time).
(4)Anita L.
Always always come here, very nice to see a variety of people eating here. Great pho and com! I typically get the Thai tea but sometimes it's a little hit or miss, I really suggest getting an avocado shake if you haven't tried it -- surprisingly good! Very creamy. Something I just tried which was amazing was their green papaya salad -- HOLY CRAP YOUR MOUTH WILL EXPLODE WITH AWESOMENESS. You can get it with shrimp or squid (we got both...), and it's sour and sweet at first.. and then the spice will build up on you and you will feel like you're dying but you can't resist eating more! I think it's a meal, but our table got it as an appetizer and shared it amongst everyone, which is probably better because I think it would be too intense as a whole meal.
(5)Jenn N.
We came 5 minutes before closing, but they were nice enough to let us in & serve us. My bf & I both ordered pho. Service was GREAT-- our server was really attentive & came back to check on us a few times, which is not usual for Vietnamese restaurants! I'm not sure if it was because we came at the end of the day or if their broth is always like that, but it was a bit salty for my taste. However, everything else was good.. including our eggroll appetizer. I would probably come back here to try more of the selections on their menu if I'm ever in Orlando again :)
(3)Sean N Dan M.
The food is great but the service is poor... Servers doesn't have good communication skills...
(2)Joe C.
Easily the best pho I've had in probably 10 years. Ok, so it's the only pho I've had in about 10 years - but that still counts, right? Walking in, we were greeted almost immediately by a waiter who showed us to our table. Pho 88 felt a lot brighter and more open than most of the other restaurants I've visited in the Asian district of Orlando. Usually, when we go into one of the restaurants in the area, I'm the only Asian who doesn't speak the native language and everyone just stares at me. At least, that's what it feels like. There was a reasonably diverse crowd here though - with a healthy number of non-Asians in addition to the Vietnamese families. Our waiter was friendly and helped answer some of our questions, but didn't blow us away with his service like some people have experienced there. Based on Yelp recommendations, we ordered vegetable and spring rolls to start. The spring rolls were great, and my wife loved her vegetable rolls. The dipping sauce was delicious. For lunch, we both ordered bowls of soup. I couldn't tell you the names of them other than that I ordered #25 - Beef broth with eye round steak and meat ball. My wife ordered one with crab and shrimp. According to the check, we got the smaller bowls (the menu mentions two sizes, but the waiter did not ask which we wanted). The bowls are huge and can easily provide two meals. In fact, my wife took some home to eat later. Both of our soups were great. Plenty of flavor without being overbearing. The meats were all cooked perfectly. Often times, shrimp in soup comes out overcooked and rubbery - that was not the case here. We both still much prefer udon over pho, but for a good, cheap and huge fix of pho - this is the place.
(4)Liz W.
I am starting to feel like a real scrooge, writing all these negative reviews. But honestly, sometimes the standards here in Orlando are way too low. I have to post a little truthiness. So, first let me say that I love good Vietnamese food. I first learned to love it in Louisville, at Vietnam Kitchen. I always hope to match that level of quality and service. Rarely have. Pho 88 came highly recommended when we first moved here and we tried it a couple of times. Meh. Not terrible, not good. Was forced to return tonight, not my choice, but since I wasn't paying, I thought, "Why not give it another try?" In a word: "No." I'm finished trying. There are 5 million Vietnamese restaurants along Colonial, and I plan to find one I love. This is not it. Let me sum up quickly: vegetarian spring rolls: blah. Vegetarian pho: was water with barely cooked veggies thrown in. One of my dining companions asked for water three times and then finally had to get up and go find someone to bring him water. After waiting 20 minutes for someone to clear our table, I had to get up from the table and find someone to bus it and bring us our check. Then we finally had to go pay since no one ever bothered to come back and take our payment. Really. I don't know what you all are eating, but this place is not great and on a night like tonight not even decent. Someone send me somewhere better, I beg you. Orlando, please give me excellent Mexican and excellent Vietnamese. Please.
(2)Mina T.
I love this place the food is exceptionally delicious. The service however is terrible. Whether it's busy or slow. The waitstaff practically throws the chipped plates at you. I came today and while understandable it was busy. I was seated and waiting for about 5 mins 10 waiters walking around me and no one even acknowledge me to say I'll be right with you. Ok that's fine. It's was busy understandable. I finally kindly ask a waiter zooming by if he could please call someone to help me and he said rudely "not me" then bipolarly asks the table directly next to me super nice if he can get them anything else. ???? I was a party of one and they were party of four. That might explain why he didn't care about politeness towards me. I might as well have been invisible. If you come here avoid the waiter with the mustache. He is super rude. And unfortunately that's not the first time I've felt rudeness from this place.
(1)Lana H.
very good pho though not the best I have had. The broth was full flavored however not clear which is fine... I'm now at pho hoa and will review which one is better. my all time favorite is still pho hoa in san diego. a lot of times these Viet pho places takes the same name but each restaurant cooks pho differently and each pho tastes vary. what I think owners do is get a reputable name of pho restaurants in Vietnam which many Viets associate with. This restaurant have one size bowl only ie no S, M or XL bowls.
(4)Gaby S.
So I decided to go to Pho 88 so I could try a Vietnamese restaurant other than Little Saigon. Having rolls & Pho Tai is our Sunday tradition so that is all I can rate. The restaurant could definitely use a makeover. The fairs were a bit old, the floor looked dirty (scratched and such), and it was a bit hot inside. The service was ok. We were sat right away and our server was friendly enough. I ordered the Pho Tai that had all the types of beef (#41): tripe, flank, eye round, beef balls, and tendon. The broth was good but not as flavorful as Little Saigon. They also don't add cilantro to the soup so I think that also reduces the flavor. The meats were good. If you like to try different things, then I suggest this type of pho soup. I personally didnt like the chewiness of the tendon. The spring rolls were much bigger than Little Saigon but the peanut sauce was heavier. Overall is good Vietnamese restaurant but I will still go to Little Saigon
(3)Therese J.
I wish there is ZERO star rating! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband and I and another couple who lives in Daytona Florida went there for lunch today June 18th, 2013 , this is a WORST, WORST VIETNAMESE restaurant we ever ate.I ordered: Banh hoi, cha gio nem nuong chao tom ( fine noddle with spring rolls, grilled ground pork, and grilled shrimp paste) the food was badly/wrongly prepared, the spring rolls were soggy, no taste, the grilled pork was so salty, overcooked, dried, greasy, the shrimp paste was dried, deep fried and taste like a shrimp chips, the noddle was dried ...and to add to the injury, there are no veggies....no mints, no lettuce, no sweet and sour pickes etc... My husband ordered a "grilled chicken sandwich "banh mi ga"....the bread should be fresh but, it's staled and dried!. DO NOT GO THERE! YOU WILL BE SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We will make sure to let everybody knows about this restaurant to no / never go there. PHO 88 IS A WORST RESTAUTANT in the whole USA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)Pp L.
i tried this place 2 weeks ago, i cant understand why this place are so popular. the taste of the pho is not bad. A simple pho noodle takes forever to cook, noodle bowl comes with little soup, when u ask for extra plain soup, they need to charge you, this is the first pho place i tried with such little soup for the noodle! i wont come again for their greedy charge for plain soup (just water)!
(2)John E.
I honestly had flashback of Vietnam when I walked in to this place. From the smell when you walked in to the ambiance. This is not a bad thing. The food was honest, delicious and un- pretentious. The server was moody and smug, but that's not that unusual in that kind of restaurant. The food more than makes up for it. The Pho is amazing, the Summer rolls, the sandwhiches. All really honest to goodness real Vietnam in Orlando. Pretty cool!
(4)Sarah Marie D.
My husband and I were in Orlando for vacation (WDW, Harry Potter World, etc), and we were tired of amusement park food.. sooo we ventured into downtown and found this place through YELP (of course!) :) The broth is amazing, the staff is awesome, and the restrooms are super clean!!! HOWEVER, I would have given 4 stars except my husband found a small hair in his soup :( Dang it! I mean, I'm sure it wasn't maliciously put in there...but.... what can you do? They were really apologetic though and got him a new batch of soup right away! Overall, it was A-OK.
(3)Suzanne H.
My husband introduced this restaurant to me when we first got married. I had never had Vietnamese food before! I am a PHO ADDICT!! I love it! It's our favorite place to have soup and we go there at least twice a month!
(4)Michael R.
While not the biggest fan of Vietnamese cuisine, my wife convinced me to try Pho 88 for lunch and I am glad that she did. Located on Mills, the restaurant has an open floor plan with large windows and plenty of light. While other reviews have complained about the service, I found the service to be great. Within the first five minutes of being seated we had drinks on the table, our order was taken and our Spring Rolls had been delivered (and mostly devoured). For lunch I orderd the Beef Stew Bowl (#48) and my wife had the Crab, Shrimp and Pork Bowl (#52). Both were fantastic. The Beef Stew had an amazing broth, that was rich and had a hint of clove. There were plenty of noodles, with large chuncks of carrot and a lot of beef. I liberally added the bean sprouts, basil and peppers that were brought to the table. My wife's bowl was amazing as well. The broth was a lighter brown, but still rich and flavorful and clean tasting.Plenty of crab and noodles were present, even the glass noodles that I am not a fan of. I found that I liked the challenge and variety of the noodle bowl experience. Each bite can and is different, depending on what you add. Need heat, add some Sirracha sauce. The challenge is to find a way to keep the broth and noodles off of your shirt and in your mouth. Overall a great experience. We will be back.
(4)Dana F.
So lately the weather in Orlando has been less than pleasant. My husband discovered Pho 88 during one of these wet, cold and depressing evenings. We were definitely in the mood for something warm and comforting. Pho 88 serves a tremendous selection of the "Pho," which is basically a Vietnamese noodle soup. I've been there three times recently and ordered the same thing - H Tiu Mì (Clear & Egg Noodle Soup). The one I order isn't in the main part of the menu, you have to flip to the back where the specials are. It has pork dumplings, shaved pork, and shrimp. All this is floating in the most DELECTABLE broth that's loaded with egg noodles. I pile on some of that hot sauce and it is good! The soup is served with a heaping bowl of veggies to add - thai basil, cilantro, and bean sprouts. The place doesn't have much of an atmosphere but honestly who cares with food this good? It is the PERFECT dish for a cold winter's evening.
(4)Carlos D.
This is my place to go when I'm in the mood for a bowl of pho. There's so many great places to eat at mills50, especially for Vietnamese food, but this is just my personal favorite. I've had everything from their pho, to their stir fried and rice plates. All are extremely delicious and affordable, although the pho stands out from any other choice on the menu. I encourage anyone that hasnt been to pho 88 to ignore everything on the menu and go straight to the pho page. You can't go here without getting a bowl your first time.. The place is huge but will fill up quickly at peak hours so keep that in mind.
(4)Doug S.
I am a huge fan of Pho 88. I am a sucker for a good bowl of pho, but this place ups the ante with a really nice banh mi selection. If you have never tried a Vietnamese sub please do your soul a favor and stuff one of these in to your face. I have had a few different variations (I believe the one with the cold cuts is the standard, someone please correct me if I'm wrong about that) but this one had grilled beef and was REALLY good. The pho was as good or better than I've had in Orlando. For what it's worth my rating for Pho 88 only gets knocked down a peg because the inside is about as no frills as it gets. There are better places as far as atmosphere but you can't beat the food! Go enjoy with confidence...
(4)Foodie O.
Best pho I've had in Florida. Haven't tried much else on the menu- but the place is always full of customers. Prompt service and reasonably priced wine to boot.
(4)Rayni K.
As far as Pho goes, this place is very much one of the best. Their serving size is very generous and they give you plenty of vegetables to dip into your beef noodle soup. The soup itself is very pleasant and the noodles don't tangle up like other places I've been to. I honestly have never tried the other items they have on the menu since I tend to focus on the Pho, so I can't tell you about them. But for a restaurant that's called Pho 88, chances are their best dish would be the different varieties of Pho. Don't try their bubble tea, though. It was one of the worst I've ever tasted. The restaurant itself is very spacious, which can feel very "cold" but you'll soon be warmed up by the heat from the soup. And the service is relatively prompt as well. Overall a very pleasant dining experience when you're craving some awesome Pho.
(4)Ryan B.
Pho, for me, is a bit of an addiction. I believe that it is the greatest comfort food on the planet, and Pho 88 not only has the best pho in Central Florida, but some of the best I have ever had. I rarely get anything else other than the pho at Pho 88. Occasionally I'll snag a bunch of banh mi sandwiches for football games or whatever. There are better banh mis out there sure (Banh Mi Nha Trang), but I stay loyal to Pho 88 because of their glorious, glorious pho. Dont change a thing guys.
(5)Ken B.
We've tried several of the Pho places around Orlando since moving here...we seem to just keep coming back to this one. Service and portions vary slightly with the time of day you go but generally is consistent and on par with other big city Pho places we've enjoyed.
(4)Taylor F.
Oh boy do I love this place. The seafood pho was amazing and the service was also a plus. I'll definitely return, and with such flavor and portions who wouldn't.
(4)Morgan C.
I used to be a semi regular at Pho 88, but like many great things, I heard, and noticed this restaurant had gone down hill. The service was spotty and the food was not as fresh. In my regular days, a #2 (tofu spring rolls) and a #92 (vegetable Pho) did me so fine. Well, I am happy to say, Pho88 has once again captured my heart, this time with an amazingly flavorful crab, shrimp and tofu soup. The broth is tomatoey and delicious with sliced tomatoes, green onions, minced crab and shrimp, noodles and just the right amount of spice. It is served with fresh herbs and lime on the side. As to the other issues I noticed on my last visit, the dining room was clean and the server was great! I can't wait to be a regular again.
(4)C N.
Coming from Southern CA, we wouldn't expect this place to be far below par with the dishes that we ordered. Pho's serving is huge but had no aroma and the soup is bland and luke warm, my wife ordered a dry rice vermicelli dish and the noodle is not fresh and not even boiled properly. My daughter got eggrolls without vegetables, just the rolls by themself. The only thing that saves this place from 1 star is the sandwiches, but then again the tofu sandwich is a lousy concoction. Definitely not coming back, ever!.
(2)Jakki K.
Yummy in my tummy!!! Pho88 is soooo goood! The service is fast and friendly! They have really good pho too! I love their Crispy Noodles!! Definitely try their crispy noodles its yum yum!
(5)Lady F.
This is a great restaurant, I come here whenever I am in the area. The tofu banh mi is my favorite, and the spring rolls are pretty good as well. Very quick service is a major plus at lunchtime.
(5)Iris T.
i really like this place! after having so much american food at disney and universal, my friend and me decided to come to downtown orlando to catch up with some asian food. the server was really nice and attentive. and the food is very good, huge portion with a relatively cheap price!
(4)Lauren H.
This is a story of how anything that can go wrong in a restaurant, goes wrong. We met a friend here upon his recommendation *cough*Jeff.O*cough*. The waiter seemed very stressed and rushed. We hadn't even received menus yet when he was asking us what we wanted. We ordered some 33s and hadn't even looked through the menu for about two minutes before he was asking us what we wanted again. Dudes placed their orders then I asked the server if he had any recommendations and he snapped at me. "FROM WHAT SECTION?" he said. I told him I didn't care, so he said #133 was good. It's like a combination meat, soft noodle dish. Jeff made me aware at that moment that they also have the same dish but on hard noodles instead of soft which was #135. I said I preferred the soft then the server clarified with me that I wanted #133. Yes, I said. 133. So you know how when you order Vietnamese soup they bring you a big plate of fresh herbs and whatnot? Well they brought it out and put it in front of my boyfriend. It was intended for Jeff. Then my bf loudly says "There's a bug on my food!" Sure enough, a big ol' bug crawling all over the plate of plants. THEN they brought my food and sure enough it was #135 instead of 133. Our server was m.i.a. so we grabbed another server as he was walking by. We pointed out the bug and do u know what this guy did? He grabbed the bug off the plate and KEPT ON WALKING! We're like um, excuse me?! What about the plate of food that the bug was crawling on?! He was like "oh yeah" and took it and walked away. No apologies or anything. Our server finally shows up and Jeff tells him about the bug. The server says "oh yeah that what happens in the wash." Um, what? You wash vegetables and bugs appear? I thought bugs and other things I don't want to eat disappear when veggies are washed. Hmmm. I must be mistaken. Then we pointed out that they brought out the wrong dish to me and not only did homeboy tell me I was wrong but then started to blame it on Jeff and tell us about twenty times that it was coming out of his pay. He took my incorrect meal, and when he came back I told him I didn't want anything. He said they already started making me the correct dish so I was like alright, whatever. The food was just ok. Don't worry, I ate the food with an open mind, trying to not let the already bad taste in my mouth alter my opinion. Our checks came and not only were we not comped for anything, but they tried to charge us for an extra beer. The extra beer was fixed, we paid our checks and got the eff out of there.
(1)Angelina C.
The food is pretty good, but I prefer some of the other ones in the area. Since there are so many to choose from, I wouldn't go back.
(3)Natalie D.
Great pho. The jalapenos are freakishly hot. Freakishly...
(4)ChyAnn C.
The price was reasonable and the Pho had great flavor. Not the best I have ever had but certainly better than average.
(4)Michael C.
After hearing about this place, I finally went with some friends who had been there before. It was really good, and also really cheap. I got a huge bowl of Pho and could barely finish it all. It definitely helps to go with someone who knows the menu a bit so that they can offer suggestions. I'll definitely be back here.
(5)Sara P.
In from tx and a couple of friends and I stopped by here for some warm soup before heading back to the airport. We ordered their beef pho and bun Bo hue. The bun Bo hue was lacking the "hue" no porks blood not pigs feet and they substituted the pork meat for their flank brisket meat they put in their pho, mine wasn't at all spicy nor did it possess that red bun Bo hue taste it was ok. My bf had the pho and it was a little on the bland side but better than Anh hong's pho down the street. I did give it an extra star for service!
(2)Oak L.
We sort of stumbled on this place going down East Colonial because we noticed the large number of Vietnamese establishments at that intersection. So we took a short drive up Mills and found a pho place when we just happened to be in the mood for something light (i.e. soup). So, the three of us ordered top of the line pho for $7.50 a bowl. It was supposed to have beef meatballs but there was only 1/4 of a piece in there -- yeah that's a relative shortcoming but it had a lot of the other meat. We were quite satisfied as we found the broth rich and the bowl loaded with what makes excellent pho. The basil and bean sprouts were as fresh as fresh could be. If tasty pho is what you want -- look no more, this place has it. Also, don't wear a burgundy sports shirt there like I did -- the wait staff wears that color and I kept getting the urge to clean the tables and take orders! We only had the pho but one day we shall return to try the other things on their menu. We went on a Saturday night and it got full after 7 pm!
(4)Frances L.
Interior and exterior looks like old school Chinese restaurant. The pho was decent. It bothers me when they call their summer rolls, spring rolls. The summer rolls were a bit on the small size but at $2.95 for two, I just ordered another set. Same thing for the fried spring rolls, we had to ask for lettuce leaves for those. We also ordered the shrimp with jalapeño peppers with salt and garlic that tasted really good, but would have been better if they left the shells on instead of battering the shrimp. I come down to Orlando to golf about twice a year, I'll definitely return to eat here. The price is so great.Oh the pho was decent too.
(4)Erik R.
Yummy yummy yummy I have soup in my tummy. I still have yet to move past the pho and go into the rest of the menu, but I have it on good authority of my foodie friends that the menu is good. Honestly, they give you a lot of bang for your little bucks. A regular soup is pretty huge. Take it from me, DO NOT order a large unless you want to be eating soup for a few days. I just love their broths, and the fresh jalapenos, cilantro, lime and kale they bring out for your soup to add in. Also, they give you a little bowl of the wonderful fish sauce that gives it that authentic zing. You want meat? They got lots of meat and are really generous with the add ins. I'm normally not a tripe fan, but I will get it here. It's clean and tastes great in the broth. The menu here is ginormous, and a little daunting. I'm honestly cheating myself by not trying the rest of they menu, but I can't help myself. The Pho is too damn good here.
(4)Nina S.
I was reluctant to go back after my last experience with this establishment. Previously the service was lackluster even though the food was good. Apparently the restaurant has had an overhaul in decor AND service because I was pleasantly suprised and glad that my better half pushed to go here. Many, many years ago we asked some Vietnamese friends where to go for the best pho. Hands down, they said, Pho 88. Even though that recommendation is over 6 years old, it still stands. There are a bunch of Pho places in Orlando, but Pho 88 rules them all. The only thing we didn't like were the Milk Tea with Boba. Unfortunately, the boba were mushy and tasteless. But we didn't go for the milk tea & boba, we went for the Pho. If you're thinking of going anywhere *else* for pho, pho-geddaboudit.
(4)Brandi B.
Breaking news.....Culantro is back!! Now, my Ph GÃ is complete. Perfection. Happiness is a bowl of pho. :)
(5)Ying D.
Can't get enough of their beef stew!!!!! I've only tried a few other things (pho, beef salad, bahn mi) and I can safely say every single thing is excellent and off the charts. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Edward S.
Stopped by here at recommendation of a friend to get one of my favorites for dinner, shrimp vermicelli. Service was fast, although I was visiting on a weeknight after the dinner rush. Noodles and shrimp were great, a little heavy on the bean sprouts, but still good, everything just as expected! I would visit here again.
(4)S.H. L.
I wish I live in Orlando so I can go back to Pho 88. The portions there in Orlando compared to NYC is gigantic! For an extra $1.50 more you can upgrade the size of the noodles and easily feeds two for lunch. The basil, lime and sprouts that comes with the Pho are very fresh and again very generous. Their ice tea and red bean drinks are very creamy and not too sweet, I love it. I took one star off because I didn't like the heavy food smell in the restaurant, and the waiter doesn't want us to order the Hot Pot since there are a line of people waiting for a table during Holiday seasons. He said the Hot Pot takes too long to make.
(4)Nick J.
Pho below avg (for vimi district). Bun not good, dressing too sweet.
(3)Bryan Y.
Best Vietnamese place in Orlando! I've eaten here more than 50 times! My personal favorite is the Mi Xao Don. Its basically a dry egg noodle. You can order with beef, chicken or combination seafood. Che Ba Mao(coconut fruit drink) is the best! And of course the pho is amazing. Great service and great price. I would eat here all day every day!
(5)Chuong D.
For a restaurant with "pho" in its name, the pho wasn't all that great. My main complain is the broth for the pho was just bland. My second complain is the bowl, way too small for the portion. My third and final complain is the tripe, not enough tripe was given that day. I also ordered the green papaya salad with octopus...octopus?? I'm used to eating this dish with beef jerky but whatever, it wasn't that bad. Actually, it wasn't that bad. I love green papaya salad. The sauce for this sad was spicy enough make me sweat but my tongue could still taste the food. I love green papaya salad. But the pho was disappointing so I can't give this place more than 2 stars. :\
(2)Tiffany C.
I love the Pho here, I would try to come here every time I get a chance to pass by Orlando! They give you a lot for a cheap price. The service is good. They have a big menu with lots of stuff to choose from. I usually order the combination meat pho, and the drink that has combination beans. For the combination bean drink I think this is the best I have ever had in a Vietnamese restaurant in Florida.
(5)Stacy H.
This is my boyfriend and I's favorite Pho restaurant! We go at least every other week and it has become the only place we will get Pho! The service is always great and the food comes out so fast. The restaurant is clean and the food is so great! I haven't had a single bad experience here and I recommend this place to anyone who enjoys good food and awesome service!
(5)Nicole F.
We wanted to try something new and finally came here to eat after driving by the place so often. For an appetizer we had the grilled beef spring rolls and shrimp spring rolls. Both were wrapped in rice paper. The side dish of peanut sauce was really good along with the rolls. For dinner we both had the round steak and beef balls Pho...#38. Ha! As a side we wanted to try the combination fried rice which consisted of shrimp, chicken and beef. YUM!! The 33 beer was pretty good too. We will definitely come back here to eat. Great food at a great price. You definitely get more for your money.
(4)Scott H.
Pho. Is there a more perfect dish on earth? I think not. Soupy, crunchy, spicy, sweet...a mixture of textures and flavors that blend so perfectly that God himself must have created this dish. But seeing as he is probably busy with other things, a good backup plan is to leave it to the folks at Pho 88. I always get the same thing because I know a good thing when I see it. I start with the grilled pork spring rolls. MMMM, then I get a bowl of the Pho with brisket. So tender and flavorful. I wish I could thank the cow it came from. Since I can't, I'll just devour every last bite.
(4)Kelley I.
Vietnamese is probably my FAVORITE type of Asian food, so needless to say I really liked this place. This place is right in the heart of Colonialtown/Little Saigon area. If you have never had Vietnamese food the menu will probably be a little intimidating because there is literally over 200 choices. The waiter was happy to recommend things. While it was cold when I went I wasn't in the mood for pho. I had stir fry. The dish was HUGE (the waiter had warned me) but was served beautifully with crunchy noodles. I will be adding Pho 88 in my rotation of Vietnamese restaurants. Score!
(4)Basil A.
They say that a good sign of an "ethnic" restaurant is if the "natives" eat there as well. Well, Pho 88 falls directly into that category. The parking lot fills up with Toyota Camry's and Corolla's, and all the Vietnamese come and eat. My only problem with the restaurant is that the menu is so extensive that it is really hard to make a choice. I still haven't found that perfect dish, but I'll keep trying.
(4)Kathy D.
If you have a craving for pho, this is the place to be! I brought my co-workers in for lunch since its the closest vietnamese restaurant to our workplace. It was their first time there and they all seem to enjoy it. The service was pretty quick with our food and everything is price just right.
(4)Vivienne D.
I'm a devoted cookie to another Pho noodle restaurant, but I have to admit...Pho 88 fires (or should I say boils!) up a mean hearty bowl of Pho. Pho with everything (not sure what this is called..LOL) : The noodles are very loose and freely move within the bowl (:. Also, the broth has more savory notes inside it with a warming feeling. You know Pho has done you correctly when your stomach starts to feel warm and fuzzy..you know, that same feeling with Je t'amie action is going on! One of the best thing about Pho 88 is their generous serving of meat. I don't really eat meat, but if you LOVE meat in your Pho, you HAVE to come here!! It's like they go hunting every night or something! The meat is tasty and so delicious. I love that all their veggies are fresh and vibrant, like the bean sprouts. Thick Noodle shrimp: I LOVE this dish! If you're not much of a Pho lover like myself, try any of their Thick noodle bowls. Pho 88's noodles are super elastic and chewy (:.The broth is clear the way I like it and super mouth watering. Pho 88 also offers super low-priced Banh mi. (What you never heard of Banh mi??.....oooh..shame on you shame on you, go try it here!) For only 2.75 you get a huge sandwich, stuffed with the perfect filling. The bread is light and airy. Overall, Pho 88 is a great place to take someone out to eat or to make like a tomato and do some ketchuping! It's very lively and animated here.
(4)Mariacristina R.
*shrug* What can I say? I'm not sure what the hubbub is all about but the pho was just OK. They offer great big portions and I couldn't finish it to save my life. I had the beef pho. Definitely not bad for the price. I never seem to find a place that does Summer Rolls quite like Miss Saigon over by UCF but I've developed a rapport with the owner so I guess I'm biased. The server wasn't even convinced Summer Rolls were even on the menu and gave me a weird look, he told me later it was because a new menu was printed out but I'm sure you'd be hard pressed to find a Viet menu without Summer Rolls.
(3)Cicely S.
They changed the menu numbers, so look for the descriptions in the vegetarian section.
(4)Scott C.
Great food and great service. The pho is very flavorful and there are plenty of delicious options if you're in the mood for something more solid. The interior space is very bright, open and clean.
(4)Tom B.
I haven't tried them all, but Pho 88 is one of my very favorite Vietnamese places. A friend of mine originally from Vietnam lives in the Mills/50 area and she says that it is her favorite. Five of us dined there on a Friday evening. Three of the less-adventurous went with chicken and rice dishes, which they all enjoyed. I had a beef noodle pho. Maybe I've never noticed before, but I think this is the first time I've seen ngo gai (culantro) among the soup "fixings." One in my party swore they were dandelion leaves! The tastes all came together beautifully, and accompanied by spring rolls, the bill came to $10 before tip. A cheap and delicious experience. Service was efficient and knowledgeable.
(5)Jan P.
Pho 88 is a bit of a personal addiction. I never get tired of the Bahn Mi-(my favorite is the grilled chicken with extra veggies and slathered with Sriracha, watch out for the jalapenos!), the chicken and shrimp fried rice are to die for and I really enjoy the Pad Thai, extra spicy please. The noodle bowls are fragrant, flavorful and satisfying. I have also tried various other dishes for pure adventure and have never been disappointed. Take note: Not recommended for the faint of heart, but your server will generously help you make decisions. The servers have always been top-notch to me and when I call in orders for take-out, I always get everything I order. Granted, it is not perfect , I would love it if they would wipe the salt and pepper shakers a bit more often and it's not as sparkly clean as I like my restaurants to be, but I go back again and again, I can't help it, I'm addicted.
(5)Jeff O.
Time for an update! I'm a proud advocate of this Vietnamese restaurant. It has consistently impressed me since I started going here a few years ago. There is something charming about this particular dining room. It isn't cozy and it isn't dim. It's one spacious room with dozens of tables and a TV on the wall. Still, I find that it is very relaxing. The entire front of the building is all window, so you have a nice view of cars and bicycles zipping by on Mills Ave. To me it feels like a restaurant in a bigger, more metropolitan city. I also love the rotating graffiti on the South-facing wall. It indicates that the ownership is hip to art and culture. Big points! I like going here with Cicely. It's our unofficial spot. She gets # one hundred and something, and I go with Pho or a Vermicelli dish. We always get the garden rolls. I highly recommend these unfried rice paper rolls with pork, shrimp, basil and noodles inside. You can get a vegetarian version if you please. The peanut dipping sauce is to die for. I add a bit of Sriracha to mine too. Oh yes I do. Delicious banh mi subs for about $3! This has to be one of the cheapest, freshest options in town. Fresh French bread, crisp vegetables and more meat than a Subway sub. Cheaper and tastier! Grab one to go for a quick, economical bite. The staff is friendly and very attentive. They practically skate to your table, ensuring you don't have to stay longer than you wish. I'm probably going here tomorrow or Friday.
(5)Ryan T.
Was fiending Vietnamese food after a week long without it on a Cruiseship.. The food here seemed okay but the Pho was lacking flavor but the soup was salty =/ All the Deserts "Che", were not good.. Taste like straight out of a can!
(2)Albert O.
Awesome! Great comfort food.
(5)Jia Y.
Best pho place in Orlando! nothing I ever had come close to it including NY. The place decor is very Vietnamese oriented along with the service being sub par( waiter is a little rough around the edges). Hey, I came here for the food and hands down number 1. The pho soup base is top notch, The beef tripe , brisket , tendon , round eye and ball is tasty and portion is very generous. The beef brisket has a very special touch, it includes the white chewing part which I love very much. There are the bean sprouts, parsley and hot pepper are fresh and adds to the authentic experience.
(5)Dani B.
This has been the best pho I've had in a long time. It *was* a little sweet so I held back on the hoisin and added some extra leaves and sriracha sauce. The beef in it was sooo delicious, though, after having been deprived of anything resembling decent pho for so long! I also had vegetarian spring rolls. They were so fresh and delicious! The peanut sauce wasn't too heavy, wasn't too sweet, just perfect! They also have boba tea. Unfortunately I didn't get to try any because I ate about 3/4 of my pho as it was so good and simply was too full! I can't wait to come back to Orlando and try to save room for boba too, next time! The waiters were nice. They kept my water glass full. That and my food are all I really want from a waiter, so mission accomplished, pho 88.
(4)Analyn C.
Been here couple of times...Very good food for affordable price! try chai tea and bubble milk tea are delicious!
(4)Chris S.
The only place I'll eat at Pho at in Orlando. Relatively inexpensive and their menu is so extensive anyone can find something they will like. I had the Tom Yum soup prior to a Magic game for the first time the other day and it was really good. The Pho bowls are plenty regular size but you can also get a large bowl if you have a larger appetite. The place takes credit card which I have found to be rare for any Pho place regardless of the city I am in. Parking can be a pain and their parking lot is sometimes inadequate but check this place if you like Pho.
(4)Eric V.
Simply put, this is the best Pho I have had any where and look at my other reviews, I've tried a few. I had the the small bowl of number 26 brisket and eye of round steak. The eye of round was sliced paper thin and oh so flavorful. The brisket was in 2 inch strips about 1/8 inch thick. Also very flavorful. The broth was excellent and the noodles were perfect, soft and delicious. The service was fast and attentive. The place is clean and bright. I will return for sure! They only take Visa and Mastercard.
(5)Amy Y.
I always get the Pho Dac Biet, white rice beef noodle dish with everything in it. I love the soup and I get the spring rolls as an appetizer #1 and #2. After the soup I always chase it down with the cafe su da (Vietnamese iced coffee). They have the best iced coffee and it'll balance you out after the pho, but its really strong fyi.
(5)Joshua B.
Great pho place. Was introduced to pho down in Miami. This place is great. I only get the pho and when I do I get the one with all the meats, tendons, and tripe. Rolls are good. If you want pho look no further. And I'm a pretty harsh food judge.
(5)Ashley J.
Yes, the namesake pho is amazing. But the real standout is the banh mi. For $2.75 you get delicious sliced pork, liver pate, and a scattering of fresh and picked veggies on the best crispy, airy, French baguette you can imagine. They also have many unique drinks that are worth trying. I love the red bean milkshake but thought the "Thai ice tea" was a letdown (It does have a fun neon orange color to it though). Pho 88 is also great for parties. I recently hosted a get-together for the website reddit.com here and they were great about taking my reservation, calling a day ahead to confirm, and didn't mind splitting up the bill for all 15 of us.
(4)Olivia K.
Great pho and clean location. This place was a great find.
(4)Teresa T.
Always awesome - amazing food fabulous waitstaff and reasonable prices. Go and eat
(5)Eran D.
I live an hour and 20 minutes away, so, anytime we're in Orlando, I make SURE we stop by for a bowl of pho. I admit, I've never ordered anything on the menu besides #41, the pho bo with all the cuts of meat in it, but I am perfectly complacent with sticking with my favorite dish. The service here is excellent and my family and I always seem to go in starving and come out with full bellies in less than an hour. Also, the speciality drinks are wonderful, try the bubble tea and the red bean drink for dessert!
(5)Paul C.
Having number 36. Well done brisket pho. It's amazing. I met some family from out of town. My family has a baby. The servers and staff were super helpful in getting the little one accommodated. Everyone has been friendly and since I have never eaten anything like this I had a bunch of questions. I also have allergies so I had to make sure everything would be cool for me. The staff was really patient. I def recommend it.
(5)April B.
We found Pho 88 as one of the best rated Vietnamese places on Yelp. From the photos and reviews here I immediately suspected that this is more of a place with Americanized food but I gave it the benefits of doubt anyway. We came here around 11on a Saturday morning and the place is already half filled, it is spacious and has its own parking lot. We ordered Bun Bo Hue (Hue beef vermicelli soup) and Pho Ap Chao (pan fried pho with seafood). This is my first time having Pho Ap Chao after many years in the US. And I was disappointed. It was not bad, it was just a bit oily and completely different from what it should be. I guess you have to go to Vietnam to find out how the authentic Pho Ap Chao should be. Bun Bo Hue was fine, it is similar to what you can find in most Vietnamese restaurants here.
(3)Michael C.
I had a chance trying out this Vietnamese restaurant after visiting Universal. Although it was bit of drive from where we were the food definitely made the trip worthwhile. Upon arrival the parking lot was already pretty packed but luckily they have an additional lot connected in the back given the popularity of this place. Inside the restaurant is bigger than I expected easily can seat up 15-20 tables. The decorations and furnishings are quite minimal much like a typical Vietnamese restaurants I visited. As others have mentioned the prices are very attractive here and portion is pretty standard. I regretted not getting a pho with everything in it rather just had steaks. Pho is definitely pretty solid good amount of steaks and broth is not too salty or sweet. I also got to try a grilled pork rice plate. The pork portion could definitely be more but I liked the other assortments of eggs and veggies that comes with it. Although the pork skins were a bit bitter I thought. Summer rolls were pretty standard but the peanut sauce is certainly very well made. I remember the server came to check up on us multiple times to make sure we got everything we need so definitely weren't neglected. Overall I thought it was a solid 4 star experience just wished we had more time to visit again to try their other menu options. But if they were definitely up to par with the many awesome Vietnamese restaurants I've visited within US
(4)Kalvin K.
I have to say that I have been to many pho/Vietnamese restaurants having grown up in Orlando. This pho restaurant has its merits, such as affordability, but the taste does not compare to their competition on Primrose. The summer rolls (they call them spring rolls) were bland and tasteless -- the texture was good and the peanut sauce was fresh. The banh mi we ordered had bread that was soft -- I don't think I've ever had a banh mi with soft french bread? The noodles were OK, but the soup was kind of bland. Probably will stick with the ones off Primrose from now on.
(2)David R.
A friend and I stopped in one evening to try out one of the many Pho/Vietnamese restaurants on and around Mills Ave. We each started out with an appetizer. I chose the vegetable summer rolls and my friend got the roasted Quails. My summer rolls were very good! There was an Asian hot sauce at the table that paired nicely with the summer rolls. All around fresh & delicious! The roasted quails came out and they looked fairly good. I tried one of the little birds and what it was like eating a chicken. The flavor profile was okay, but I found myself using a lot of the hot sauce. Entree: I chose a Vermicelli with spicy vegetables and shrimp! Overall, it was amazing and I would absolutely get it again. The Vermicelli was cooked correctly and the dish flavoring was exactly what I was looking for. All in all, the service was pretty good and the venue had a mostly younger crowd. The food was what I was looking for and I intend to return again someday!
(4)Mike P.
I have to say right off the bat that I was really surprised at how this visit went because three of my fellow Elites have been here and have NEVER let me astray... Well today would have been a complete and total fail EXCEPT for the Manager and the lady server that was there during our visit. They were the ONLY reason this review gets 2 stars and a second chance on Friday and their NEW location on East Colonial. The reason for that is the manager on duty, David, is the manager at that store and his professionalism made a difference BIG TIME! We came in and since I currently have a bad ankle, the manager seated us where I requested to be seated and I truly appreciated that. We sat right next to a really interesting fountain that I would not have minded having in my Florida room. There was one large group and a small group when we came in and other than that, they were slow. We assumed it was because of the holiday weekend but we soon learned the real reason. Our server came over after about 10 minutes and I let him know right away we had never been here before HOWEVER, I never let on I am quite familiar with Vietnamese food. He asked us if we were ready to order. I commented on how big their menu was and I might have some questions and he just walked away without saying a word. There was a lady wiping down the menus and she came over to see if we had any questions when she noticed that our server had not come back to our table after 15 minutes. She was kind enough to go over the appetizers and the soups and with her recommendation we ordered the Goi Cuon or Spring rolls with shrimp and pork. I asked about the soups and she recommended the Soup Thai which was what my wife ordered. After she described their Soup Hoanh Thanh, I ordered it. She really did a great job of selling the menu and I wish that she had been our server. We were brought our spring rolls and our server asked if we had made a decision. We let him know we already ordered the soup and we still had some questions. He just walked away so we started on the spring rolls. The peanut sauce was FANTASTIC but we had a difference of opinion on the spring rolls. I truly enjoyed them but my wife is not big on that style of spring rolls so I ate them right up. After about 5 minutes our soup arrived. And he asked if we had made a decision. My wife opted for the Ga Hoac Bo Xo Cay AKA beef stir-fried with onions, bell peppers, and jalapenos with chef's special sauce. I still was unsure and asked what he recommended and he just said number 142. I waited for him to elaborate and but that never happened. I asked him what it was and he just looked annoyed and said 142. I quickly scanned the menu and it was the Pho Ap Chao Hai San Hoac Thap AKA combination seafood or combination meat and shrimp stir-fried with mixed vegetables on crispy rice noodles. We tasted the soups and the soup my wife ordered was delicious but mine was a totally different story. The wontons were under cooked and the filling was lacking flavor and had an odd sweetness to it. After about 20 minutes our entrees arrived and the peppers were burned in places, some were cooked and some were under cooked. The meat had flavor but some was dry and some was fine but the burnt taste ruined it. On my entree, the carrots and shrimp were good BUT, the noodles were gummy and under cooked. The chicken had NO flavor and the beef was also flavorless. Our server NEVER came to check on us and the lady came to check on us when she saw we were not happy with our meals. She was kind enough to go get the manager. When he came over we were very candid about everything and he apologized for his staff and never once tried to make excuses. That was very impressive. He stepped up and said... "This meal is on me" and then informed us that he is the manager at the new store that is close to us. He invited us to come visit his location and to ask for him personally. I told him I would be there on Friday for lunch after he let me know what days he would be there since he was obviously helping out at this store as well. David and the woman that was helping us are the ONLY reasons we'd give them a second chance. To be blunt, the rest of the staff was more interested in what was on the TV and could seem to care less about the customers. I actually feel sorry for David because his staff was letting HIM down BIG TIME!
(2)Regina K.
This place is good, but not the best I've ever tried as far as authentic Vietnamese goes. The pho and summer rolls were good. The pho is a great big portion loaded with veggies just the way I like it. Summer rolls were also yummy with shrimp. They have a lot of different soup options to choose from which was nice. The inside is your typical family owned Vietnamese cafeteria, no frills. It's a good place for a quick lunch, but with so many Asian restaurants on Mills and Colonial you could find better.
(3)Chelsea B.
I'm surprised this place has such great reviews. The prices are great and the service was awesome (the day I went was super busy and the place was clearly understaffed, but our servers were so friendly and attentive), but the food wasn't anything special. The quality of the meat was especially disappointing (I ordered vegetarian, but my fiance ordered a beef dish).
(3)The Anh N.
Nice staffs, a bit expensive, pho isn't their best. As a Vietnamese native and food critic, I am a bit disappointed. The meats need work, and the broth needed more salt. The most decent thing I see here is their lotus salad.
(2)Chase C.
This place is really good. I highly recommend this place because of the taste, clean, quiet, inexpensive, and good service.
(5)Huntting B.
Regrettably this just didn't live up to what I had hoped. The grilled pork rolls we got...had bone still in it =( If it weren't for that it would have been ok. The pho broth itself wasn't bad but it was rather uninteresting. Had very little flavor... The quail, however, was AWESOME...so, all in all it could have been better, but it probably seemed worse because of the initial bones I came across initially.
(2)Anna S.
I haven't eaten anywhere recently that I was terribly excited about. Until work took me to Florida - boom! Good gracious, can we say, 4 to 5 star reviewed mom-and-pop paradise!? Of course I would land in sunny Florida, but still with the chill of Cincinnati in my bones. I wanted to hunt down a bowl of phó for dinner. A search on my trusty Yelp app turned up so many options, however, I really wanted to try Phó 88. Mind you, I have no sense of direction, no memory for giving directions, so all I can say is my GPS took me through a winding, cramped row of buildings, with not a national chain restaurant in sight. All of the signs were in Vietnamese, and I was quite excited about what I would find. A good thing about the restaurant as well, is that there was plenty of free parking in the back. And I was thrilled by the interior - it was so big, airy, clean and well lit. I even checked out the restroom, and it was spotless as well. I ordered a bowl of the phó tai and was promptly served a huge bowl of deliciousness loaded with as many noodles as my little heart would've desired, with plenty of tender, thinly sliced beef, and hearty garnishes. Everything was fresh, delicious - hot soup and crisp, cool garnishes, yum. The service was very fast and friendly, my food was so cheap (only $8), that I had unwittingly failed to spend the $10 minimum for credit card charges. The staff was very friendly and quick to understand, and there was not an issue at all. I will definitely be back here for a victory lap.
(5)Julien G.
This place is absolutely amazing. The grilled beef summer rolls and peanut dipping sauce will bring you to tears. It's a simple relaxing dining experience. I've never encountered a wait, which is great! They clearly put a lot of time and effort into the broths they use in the pho. Also, also...they have Boba Tea!!!!! I've eaten twice this week and will probably have it a 3rd.
(5)Mike W.
Pho 88 is a traditional Viet restaurant not only in the sense that it serves traditional Viet cuisine (which it certainly does) but it also has the trappings--for better or worse--in terms of service and atmosphere of an old-skool Viet restaurant. Central location in a "little Vietnam"? Check. Bright lights, attempts at poshness that are a bit worn on the edges, and floor-to-ceiling mirrors? Check. Inattentive waiters? Check. Vong co* music on the stereo? Check. All of this conspires to provide a beautiful, almost overwhelming, feeling of . . . if not quite going back in time, at least truly entering an enclave of an ethnic community. Aside from the slow and sometimes-indifferent service, it's a wonderful thing. What about the food? I had pho bo vien (pho noodle soup with beef meatballs) and my friend had pho ga (pho noodle soup with chicken). We both had spring rolls with grilled pork. Everything was very flavorful and the pho was served with ample accompanying sides including very fresh lime slices to flavor it to our tastes. The food came out promptly, however, once the pho was on the table the waiter disappeared. My friend said he "must have dissolved" because he seriously just vanished. I finally flagged down another waiter and implored his help because we had a show to catch over at Backbooth shortly. Finally, we got out of there. Don't come here if you're in a hurry, kids, just don't do it. Come for great food, but not if you're in a rush. *A word on vong co, the traditional Viet music I mentioned above: I'm a huge vong co fanboy and find it a shame it's not known like J-pop or K-pop are. Vong co is Viet-pop songs that combine traditional instruments and melodic progressions with somewhat-contemporary themes and lyrics but what really is awesome about it is, it comes from a theatrical tradition and is seriously, amazingly, over-the-top--not in a faux-dramatic Mexican soap opera sense, but in the level of musicianship and the long, six-minute-plus stemwinders of songs. Phi Nhung is a vocalist, songwriter, actress, and director who really has thrust vong co into what it is today. Vong co is worth checking out--at least pay attention if you hear wistful love songs while you're eating your pho.
(4)Melissa V.
This pho place is pretty good. I wish their portion was better but it was good broth. The server was nice and the wait time wasn't bad either for our food. I'm glad we chose this place rather than the other pho places in an almost Viet town. It was a good experience. Definitely coming back here in our next Orlando trip!
(4)SteveErics S.
The BEST pho place in all of Orlando. Trust me!! Try it for yourself - after all you'll believe it once you taste it. Like usual the service lacks however it's the cleanest place.
(4)Cuc L.
Chose this place upon the recommendation of a friend who has lived in the downtown Orlando area. Hands-down, the best pho broth I've had in a very long time! Flavorful and delicious! The bowl is very satisfying! Lots of meat! We also tried their homemade banh bao...stuffed with pork, egg, mushroom and Chinese sausage...yummmmy! Would definitely pass this recommendation along to others!
(5)J B.
I stopped this restaurant today cuz it has lots of good review on Yelp. We ordered 4 different meals and dessert, the food came out so bad. Mine was Bun Bo Hue and it was so smeellng.....don't stop if you are Vietnamese.
(1)Mark N.
This place had the smell of old shoes mixed with the smell of peppermint. However, I didn't care that much because I was there for the food. I tried the "thit nuong cuon", "bun bo hue", and "com dac biet". The "thit nuong cuon" 3/5 stars: The meat inside the roll didn't have a bold flavor. All I could taste was the rice noodle, the veggies inside and the peanut sauce. Also the sauce was very light in flavor, it tasted like they've diluted the hoisin sauce with a lot of water. The "bun bo hue" 5/5 stars: The beef was tender. The soup was spicy and also tender. The noodles were cooked properly. Together with the bean sprouts and basil leaves, this dish is a perfect 5. The "com dac biet" 3/5 stars: The fried egg was over-cooked, tough and dry. The rice tasted old and dry. Everything else was good for the price. The service 4/5 stars: Waiter didn't hear me and ran off twice before I could ask him for a drink or order extra food.
(3)Ryan F.
Good pho. Was only my second time having pho and although different than the other one I had, this one was tasty too. I had tofu and veggies along with a shrimp spring roll. The peanut sauce was very tasty but the spring roll (soft rice paper, what I know of as a summer roll) which comes with shrimp/pork and I got with only shrimp was underwhelming as it was only lettuce, rice noodles, and shrimp. There wasn't anything wrong with it, it just wasn't amazing. The pho was good - with chunks of tofu, carrots, broccoli, onions, cabbage, peppers, snow peas, green onions, mushrooms, rice noodles, and baby corn in a delicious (but SUPER burn your tongue) broth, it was really satisfying. My boyfriend had grilled pork with egg rolls on rice noodles and he enjoyed his as well. I didn't get my side plate of bean sprouts, lime, onions, etc but I wasn't torn up about it and could have asked if I wanted it. I came here again today - sick - to pick up takeout, just the pho this time. I was told to come in 15 minutes and when I got there I waited 18 minutes for my food. They were really busy so I was trying to be patient but when I finally got my food home it was lukewarm which means it was sitting in the back quite a while (thinking of how hot it was when I got it the other day, I feel like it had to have been there almost since when I called). It was pretty annoying but the quality of the food was good (and I got my side items this time). Overall I'd say that aside from the crowdedness of dining in, this is a better option. If you get take out, just plan to wait as I've read this complaint from others as well.
(4)Melinda P.
This review was from a visit on 5/25/15: I've visited here 5 times total now and am never dissapointed. This time was great as well. I ordered the pork/seafood and tofu pho (Crab Noodle Soup) with a Taro Boba smoothie. I usually save some to take home (if you do ask them to seperate the broth from everything else, I learned that the hard way) but this time this pho didnt stand a chance. As always pho is served with fresh greens and sprouts and a lime on the side just missing jalopenos this time but their sauces including siracha always help substitute. The smoothie was my favorite! I'd go back to get one of those bad boys to go.
(4)Kendy W.
I've been here a couple of times before and it's pretty reliable in terms of taste. It's tasty and the portions are pretty big depending on which one of the soup noodles you order. I noticed they give you a lot more noodles than other places but a bit less meat. I have no problems with this because I like the noodles. The only thing that I didn't expect was that it took quite a bit longer than I thought for the soup noodle to come out. If you're in a rush, you might miss your appointment. The Vietnamese coffee I got was so delicious. I swear I think they are adding Hershey's fudge into it, but I'm not sure. Whatever the secret ingredient is, I suggest they keep it a secret because it's going to make me come back to drink some more. I also ordered the summer roll because other other reviews. Overall it was light and the sauce was really the highlight of it. It went so well with it with a nice crunch.
(4)Lori C.
Amazing pho! We had very little expectations of Asian food in a state that wasn't California, and this place met our standards. The portion is very big and the meat quality is great. We got the Pho Dac Biet, which had six different meats, and it was actually way too much for one person. The ambiance is very comfortable and family oriented, although we saw tourists, students, couples, etc. dining here. We felt very welcome here and would love to make a stop here again the next time we visit. :D
(5)Matt A.
I recently went to Mills 50 to find some good Pho and Pho 88 has been recommended to me multiple times so I figured it was time to give it a shot. When I walked in the place smelled like old shoes but you know what, I didn't really care because it screamed authentic to me. The decor was horrible and I got even more excited that the food was the only reason people came here and therefore was excited for the meal only to be underwhelmed by the Pho. The broth had little flavor and really set the tone for a bowl of flavorless noodles, veggies and meat. The sauces they have added some flavor but at the end of the day I left disappointed. The service was attentive so I do want to point that out, but I came for the Pho and left wanting more. If anyone has suggestions on where to get good Pho let me know.
(2)Luis V.
in town for a week, from Los Angeles. This place has a great selection of food, with authentic taste and a welcoming atmosphere. The boba taro is very good as well. If your in the mood for good pho, this is the place. Thank you.
(5)Dee T.
Horribly slow service. But it was pretty busy so maybe that was why... But there were many bus boys just not waiters? Prices are cheap. Food was good Drinks were great!
(4)Krstfr H.
I've lived in Orlando for 4 years now. Since living here I've celebrated every family birthday with a family Pho outing. Outside of family Pho I've found myself returning to Pho 88 for quick dinners and lunches with other friends. I've even started exploring new menu items when I visit. Originally we chose Pho 88 to accommodate our vegan friends. As a flexitarian I've enjoyed both herbivorous and carnivorous dishes, but I always come back to our standing order of numbers 96 and 04--vegetable pho with tofu, and tofu spring rolls with peanut sauce. The food is consistently satisfying, as is the service. As can be expected with a lot of restaurants in this genre, the interior and ambiance are absolutely nothing to write home about. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that this place effortlessly facilitates fantastic family experiences.
(4)Lome K.
The grilled pork with rice is flavorless and dry. The vermicelli grilled pork and shrimp sucks too . The shrimp is spongy and undercooked while the grilled pork is flavorless and has a hard texture. I think I was better off eating the plate of bean sprout. Those bean sprouts probably had more flavor than the sad pork and shrimp. The server was decent. He brought the food out in a timely manner and the price is pretty reasonable for three people in our party, however this will be my last time here . Not a fan of loud raucous and smelly restaurants with mediocre food ! Bye!
(2)Brian H.
Was not impressed at all. I had the 54 with heart liver and shrimp meat pho. Had it to go #1 mistake. #2 was ordering that. #3 was semi hot broth that couldn't bring the flavors together at all. #4 broth lacked flavor. Not by alittle but by alot. Don't know if I will ever rebound to go again with all the options available nearby.
(2)Kaley C.
Pho 88 is my favorite Orlando bowl of noodles. They have a very authentic environment and great food. Their pho broth is one of my favorites and their white meat chicken is soft and flavorful. I love their summer wraps with peanut sauce too.
(4)Alex C.
Do not go anytime after 9pm because they are more concerned with closing than serving. We ordered xl pho and it had barely any green onion. Barely any limes. They got my takeout order wrong. I asked for bbq pork and I got dac biet (special). I opened it next day and I was upset. If your workers want to leave at 10.. The. Put your closing time at 9 and stop half-serving your customers. I will give them a three because the cleanliness and tables weren't sticky like every other pho restaurant. I wish I had gone at an earlier time but o well...
(3)Christine F.
Delicious Pho for an OK price. I usually get the white chicken pho.
(4)Greg C.
I'll begin by saying that the pho here is almost always savory and enjoyable (and a good portion) - as well as the stir-fried noodle dishes. But, the compliments basically end there. With such a competitive Vietnamese market in Orlando, I'm surprised to see how far Pho 88 has fallen from what once was, from what I hear, the go-to Vietnamese joint. We should all at least acknowledge that it's hard to enjoy pho or any food in an environment that smells like an 80's nursing home. But the real concern here should be the lack of service. The service staff here seem to despise the presence of customers! This is one of those restaurants where the staff treat you like you are a nuisance to their job, rather than the reason their job exists. No personality, no niceties, no smiles. It's painfully obvious that most everyone is complacent, hates their job, just going through the motions, and could care less whether you enjoy the food or their service. Because, after all, they already know you're going to leave them a crappy tip. It's your fault they suck. Beyond that, I have no faith in their sanitation practices either. I've seen servers leave the restaurant, walk across the street to 7-11, only to return and go right back to work without washing their hands. I've seen servers chewing on toothpicks, taking them in and out of their mouth - and then handle food and drinks. Usually the soup spoons are dirty (look for the orange dots of grease that you have to rub off yourself). Oh, did I mention the place smells like a nursing home? The pho is good (although, the broth is usually cloudy) , as is the stir-fried curry vermicelli dish. But, so is the pho at many other places. I was really unimpressed with the coffee here as well - I'm pretty sure it was from when they opened at 10am. For a 6 oz cup, it was over-priced and there was no thought to presentation: no Vietnamese filter, just any old coffee with condensed milk with about 25% of it all over the saucer and not in the cup. Cool (not). I think they just need to clean house (literally, as well) and rediscover their passion, as it seems the past praise and years of "Best in Orlando" allowed the management to coast along. While a 3-star review isn't that bad, for me this place is "one bad meal and a dirty look from an employee" away from 2 stars...
(3)Sandy M.
My first experience at Vietnamese food. It was really good. I had the Pho soup. Vey tasty and filing. I went with a couple of co-workers from work. It was not busy. Service was good and fast. They have a full menu to choose from. Pricing was average.
(4)Äăng T.
The food is okay, but service is horrible! I ordered and waited so long for the food! The waiter did not care when I ask why it took so long! Then he brought the check after I just finished half of my portion! Food came late and check was thrown at our faces!!!! But I left tips at the end! And the waiter came to take it and also ask out loud how much we put for tips??? I was like speechless since he is so rude and unprofessional! Never come back here! Feel so uncomfortable
(2)Hang N.
Ate here the other day. They have a bigger variety compared to the ones in south Florida, I like that. For appetizer, we ordered the salt & pepper tofu which was great! It had just the right amount of crunch to it and was topped with a load of sauteed red and green peppers and onions. The banh mi was cheap too...2.50 for the cheapest. I ordered the goi with shrimp and it was okay since I'm not a big fan of goi. I forgot what my friend ordered but it was the fried noodle dish with vegetable, chicken and shrimp. It was pretty good too. The dishes were pretty big, we left before we could even finish any of the dishes halfway.
(4)John S.
Probably one of the best Noodle shops in Little Vietnam. Massive seating that could out pace the parking lot. Mills Ave is long so have no fear. Staff is friendly and the great food is always consistent.
(5)Jenn D.
In my opinion, Pho 88 is one of the better Viet restaurants in Orlando. They have a wide variety to choose from and everything always comes out fresh. You can always expect your food to come out in about 10 ten minutes or less and the service here is always super friendly. The prices here are decent and you get a good quantity of food. They also have ample table space for large parties so it's a great place to bring your friends for a good lunch and not feel like you have to spend a lot. They can get pretty busy during lunch times on the weekend, but they have a quick turnaround time. I never find myself waiting more than 3 minutes for a table, even when it's busy. I usually get the spring rolls with pho dac biet (the house special noodle soup) or bun bo hue (spicy beef and pork noodle soup). And if I have room, I'll also get che dac biet (the combination dean dessert with coconut milk). You'll definitely leave here feeling satisfied and not like you just made a huge hole in your pocket.
(4)Mike C.
Oh Pho 88....how I have come to enjoy the vietnamese bowl of yummy goodness that is Pho...I first came to this place when I was back in high school and my Chinese and Filipino friend told me we were gonna get some real vietnamese food. Ive since eaten at 2 other vietnamese places and continue to come back to this one. The building is kind of dated, but id argue that most of the buildings downtown are the same way. Parking lot is kind of small, which is strange because the interior is quite large in comparison. The staff are generally friendly and aren't of too many words. There is a huge t.v. to watch sports or select events on, depending on the night. But the real reason you want to come here is the food...The Spring rolls with the peanut sauce= delicious appetizer (who wouldve thought the blend of shrimp n sprouts with peanut sauce would be so good?).I keep the Pho Simple. I am not too much a fan of the tripe and all the goodies that make Pho so wholesome. Ill stick with the noodles,beef,sprouts and sriracha sauce. Don't make the mistake of putting too much in or you won't be able to enjoy your soup!(Took me a couple times to learn my lesson). You will definitely find all types of visitors here...wether it be from young to old or white to black Pho 88 has a little something for everyone in need of some vietnamese love!
(4)Surai J.
Hmmmm.... Good food for Orlando, just ok for pho overall. Stopped here during a visit from Cali (little saigon to some :-) and the food satistfied our craving for asian cuisine. Sauces for the rice dish was on the sweet side, so is the pho broth. BUT the surprise, broth was on the fatty side, with droplets floating around. Me likes but if you cringe at the sight of fat in your pho, go elsewhere.
(3)Mary S.
There's several Vietnamese restaurants to chose from in our area. However, I always gravitate to Pho 88! I love how their restaurant is very open. Bright, natural lighting & lots of tables. I always order their Spring Rolls with shrimp. Some fresh Basil inside of the roll would be a nice addition but still, the rolls always taste fresh & I love their peanut sauce. I usually order their Pad Thai for my entree mainly because it tastes divine! I have ordered other items to eat here, but that Pad Thai....! I agree, they have wonderful drinks that they call their "dessert" drinks. Some have beans, some have vermicelli in them. Fun colors too! I've never had a bad meal here & will keep coming back again & again!
(4)Paul H.
The food was great, but service was even better. We lucked out with a server that spoke perfect English and actually liked his job! I usually don't expect a lot when I go to Asian restaurants in terms of service which made our waiter even more of a pleasant surprise!
(4)Christina F.
So Bahn Mi, is like one of my absolute all time favorite foods. And I found a great one here. The bread was super fresh, the meat was sparing but well cooked, LOTS of cilantro, and just enough heat from the Jalepeno. We also had spring rolls, which were good, but not the best ever. Also had a bowl of pho broth (no noodles or meat) which was great, really herby with lots of onions. Service leaves a little something to be desired, though the server DID hook me up with free ice tea. All in all you don't come to a place like this for the atmosphere, you come to eat. I will be back soon.
(5)Kevin D.
Food and service horrible! I thought that I would finally try one of the Little Saigon restaurants-BAD MOVE! Spring rolls, fried rolls, fried pork rind rolls. coconut milk drink AND the famous Pho soup VERY POOR! I think that it took 45 minutes for the Pho because they were too embarassed to serve it to humans instead of pigs! I asked the waiter nicely every 15 minutes if my soup was ready. What a disaster! The waiter was pleasant but useless. EVERY FOOD ITEM WAS TASTELESS OR TASTES BAD! Beer and wine list worse than mundane. Is it too hard to find a food wine pairing on line? DUH- Reislings and gewurztraminers with asian food. Not one of either. Just plain do not eat there!
(1)Tommy N.
I have to say one of my favorite joints in Orlando for pho, I highly recommend for people who say there's no good pho in Florida. I'd only come here to have pho, nothing else because the rest of the area can top Pho 88 on, everything expect the pho of course. I have my usual Dac Biet with a order of steamed bean sprouts, deliciously sinister. Eat in the morning because it can get pack, also don't expect service to be great, approach them as if you know how to eat and have standards, or expect a screw up on something, trust me, other then that good noodles n broth, best in town
(4)Clara S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!!! I have been here many many many times,... such wonderfully fragrant food. I love the pho and that is really what I come for,... that and the summer rolls,... why don't more places offer summer rolls other than B.J.s and Pei Wei (which really can't compete with vietnamese town in Orlando)? This place rocks. Clean place efficient staff always fulfilling. Did I say I love it already???
(5)Michael J.
We were VERY impressed. The pho was outstanding. The portions were large and the prices were low.
(4)Brit M.
Best broth ever! And very generous wine pours :)
(5)Jeff G.
Real deal and bahn mi to boot!
(5)Roobitty L.
Yes, good well-priced pho.. Good service as well. I'll definitely recommend it.
(4)Kitty S.
Two stars off because the beef in the pho seemed substandard and the leaves were not washed quite clean. The food was very authentic, the price was right, and the service was good and fast.
(3)Cellsaver C.
Having spent all week eating boring chain restaurant food, I was hoping to have some Vietnamese food. I yelped this restaurant and I was delightfully happy I did. There was ample parking. Once inside I ordered the Pho with beef and meatballs. The food came out quick, It tasted great. Service was also just as prompt. Visit this restaurant, you wont be disappointed.
(4)Adam P.
Maybe my favorite food establishment in the city. Phenomenal food, awesome atmosphere, fantastic service, and amazing prices considering all the variety they have. Massive menu. They have one television that will put on whatever big sports event is on.
(5)Mark K.
Incredible food, made rethink Asia cuisine
(5)Bob M.
Definitely the best overall vietnamese in Orlando. My favorite is the spicy beef noodle soup, but everything I've had here is good. Service at some of the local Vietnamese places can seem a bit aloof at times, but I've never had a problem here.
(5)Ari W.
Luv this place. I think this place is authentic. The serving portions are gianormous, the prices are fair, and staffs are attentive.
(4)Matti J.
After hearing everyone talking about how great this place was, finally went and tried it and it was just ok, clean, nice people but the food, while tasty, wasn't anything earth shattering and was actually pretty over priced compared to other places. I'll go back but I refuse to type in all caps how some soup broth changed my life.
(3)Janene H.
Delicious! Pho 88 is one of those restaurants I wished I lived closer to so I could return again and again and try everything on the menu. I have to admit I'm not very familiar with Vietnamese cuisine. I couldn't pronounce much on the menu, I just know I ordered #169 (Egg Noodle stir-fried with bean sprouts, carrots, chives and combination of Chicken, Beef, and Shrimp- I had to look it up!) and it was wonderful! My dish came with a generous helping of garlicky, buttery noodles that were exceptionally long and a challenge to eat (especially with chopsticks!). There were also big chunks of nicely cooked chicken, beef and shrimp as well as a large helping of shredded veggies. We also tried the spring rolls for an app which were ok but the spongy, sticky, chewy roll casing was a little off-putting. The accompanying peanut dipping sauce had a pungent bite to it due to lots of... ginger, maybe? All in all the food was wonderful. It was cooked fast and was super filling. The restaurant itself is not much to look at; it reminds me of a Chinese buffet place with its cold white tile and bland décor. Service was efficient but not what I'd call friendly. Eh, I wasn't bothered much by any of that; I was too busy enjoying my food!
(4)Daya A.
This wonderful place makes delightful "pho".. quite possibly the best yummy chicken Vietnamese noodle soup in Orlando. It just warms up my heart and the coconut milk boba gets extra cool points. The servers are very nice and attentative...one saw me struggling to break the chop sticks apart after breaking one already...he came in to save the day yay! This is a great place to go to for a comforting meal just remember to park around the side entrance (eyes must concentrate)..it can be tricky but once found you will enter "pho" heaven. Totally worth giving a try indeed...
(4)Ashley M.
Great place. Wonderful Pho. Love their spring rolls, especially. The best Pho in downtown Orlando, and I've tried them all:)
(5)Scott R.
Food is mediocre and overpriced. Service passable but taste the same as other competing places (i.e. Little Saigon, which is a better price point.) however, Pei Wei is a much better price.
(2)Antonio M.
The food was good and hardy but be aware, know what you want before you go In there.
(3)Tedd S.
I was encouraged to catch the Pho 88 (pronounced like it's FUH). I arrived just after lunchtime on a Sunday and quickly ordered the #23 Beef Brisket Pho ($6.95) and the spring rolls ($2.95) and a sweet tea. The drink came first, as it should but it tasted like lemonade instead of tea? The spring rolls came with a small bowl of peanut dipping sauce...WOW, the spring rolls were freshly made with 3 big shrimp buried inside and a healthy dose of cilantro...best spring roll I've ever had, the sauce, meh...it needed something. Within 3 minutes the Pho came out with an accompanying dinner plate heaped with Thai basil, bean sprouts (they looked a little old) lime wedges and maybe 1/2 a jalapeno sliced thinly. Having never eaten Pho before I just whipped some of the extras into the bowl and dug in...Eh, it was good, the extras I added certainly made it better! Service never returned to refill my drink and after the jalapeno's I was a tad thirsty! Pho's OK...just not crazy-good.
(3)Mike D.
I've come here several times, and I really like the place. It's a pretty large dining room, but the atmosphere is pleasant. The menu numbers into the hundreds of items, but there are helpful pictures to get you through :) As mentioned before, the pho (Vietnamese beef stew with noodles) is not to be missed. The pad thai was fresh but uninspired. I was a little surprised the first time I ordered spring rolls, to find them not fried, but wrapped in a jiggly rice-paper coating. Quite tasty, though--just a note of warning :) The service here is friendly and quick, but they don't rush you out the door. The reasonable prices ($7-12) and great food keep me coming back here again and again.
(4)Sara L.
Loved the spring rolls and Pho Ga-Chicken noodle soup. Quick service and very friendly staff.
(5)AM D.
We just ate here after reading several reviews. One word to sum everything up Amazing! The food and service was great. This was my third time trying Vietnamese food the first two times i was not very thrilled, but this place got it right. To start off we had cold jasmine tea and spring rolls. Then we split Pho Thai soup (with steak), and a #121. Then to end the night i had an iced coffee with condensed milk, and the boyfriend had a red bean shake with coconut milk. Everything we had was outstanding, and that is not something which is easy to find at a restaurant.
(5)Yeni H.
I love this place- the variety of authentic Vietnamese food + it's spicy sauce are just awesome. Was brought here by my Vietnamese co-worker. Regardless of the big bowl of vermicilli noodle, I still managed to finished everything. price was fairly reasonable. Sandwich was ok- would prefer a toasted bread.
(4)Tasha D.
Loved it loved it loved it, went here cuz I love me some Pho, and yelp reviews were promising, ended up getting an XL pho and some crazy spicy chicken and jalepeno ... zomg. Delicious.
(4)Peter C.
I LOVE PHO!!!! This place ROCKED!!!! I travel all over for business...always looking for good Vietnamese Restaurants. I went for lunch and had Pho Thai and Fresh Spring Rolls...OUTSTANDING. Much better than Little Saigon (had same thing yesterday). Spring rolls were larger, fresher, tastier and Pho kicked serious butt. Going back again for dinner:-)
(4)Melissa G.
one of my fave places to get pho and banh mi. very good prices and big portions.
(5)Jay U.
I can only say two things: 1) the bun tum nuong (vermicelli with shrimp) is not as good as at Anh Hong, a block away. 2) the decor is unoffensive, but not much of anything; it seems sort of lost ; is it trying to be authentic, or modern, or classic, who knows? 3) the waitstaff may be no more or less bored than the waitstaff at other viet places, but they stand around where you can see them, sometimes watching the TV over your head. Not a great vibe.
(2)Sydnye A.
Delicious! My friend and I were in town for a concert, and were utterly disenchanted with the chains and steakhouses. I had a tingly feeling from head to toe after eating my pho. It could have been the potent and tasty iced coffee! Go to Pho 88! It will make you want to return to Orlando. Tasty and inexpensive. I prefer low-key dining. If you don't want frill and you do want delicious pho, this is the place!
(5)Good E.
This is the best place for Viet food as the locals will attest. Clean, comfortable and the food is real and tasty. This should be the #1 place for anyone looking for a good deal and good food.
(5)Ginger X.
I like the noodle soup very much. It is cheap. You can fill your big stomach with no more than 10 bucks
(4)Hani B.
Amazing Vietnamese food, one of my buddy's is addicted to this place. Love the Shrimp Spring rolls with a little bit of cock sauce mixed in with the peanut sauce. Try the plum soda if you are adventurous.
(4)lars h.
The pho is better than most places in Orlando. The broth is not that tasty, but the condiments make up for it.
(3)Justin K.
Nice service, lots of options, not my kind of ph. I've had plenty, including some in Vietnam, and this just didn't smell right. Bánh mì could be better, too. Pretty uninspired.
(3)Dee Dee R.
I'm from NYC and eat a lot of pho soup and summer shrimp rolls in NYC Chinatown. Pho 88 in Orlando, FL, was excellent, the summer rolls where better than what I've had in NYC in long time. Good value and a great break from chain/touristy restaurants in the Orlando area.
(5)Ellen B.
I always get the Phad Thai which is delicious. The beef noodle soup is perfect for rainy, cold days or when you are sick. At lunch I get subs for $2.50...great food at a great price makes me love Pho 88!
(3)Graham W.
I liked it a lot. Fresh tasting broth and a nice big pile of veggies. Good spring rolls too.
(3)Soetjahjo S.
We came here yesterday, and I tried Pho, and the soup is greasier than any I have ever eaten, it should be good, it's just the grease really bothering me, the meat is okay, I could taste the spices and the soup is good also, it's just the grease and for some reason I need to put a lot of salt in it, maybe because of once again the grease. I came from Colorado where we have some good Pho's. Not sure why people gave 4 for their reviews. We tried also chicken fried rice but it's not really that good, I don't know maybe we did not come at the right time.
(3)Kristine F.
Came to Orlando to see the mouse with family and was wonderfully surprised when we realized there were so many places to get Vietnamese. Good service, great food. I had the chicken salad bowl, fried tofu spring rolls and Vietnamese coffee.... all wonderful. We picked this place because of the yelp reviews and photos and we were very happy with our choice.
(4)Andre N.
good pho. went here when visiting dads friend and its a good place. better than some places in san jose.
(3)Liz M.
I could see why this place is packed (also a great sign coming in to a restaurant for the first time). We knew it was going to be good due to the heavy sunday night crowd and delicious smells around us. The only missing star accounts for service in my opinion. I feel like they were not so helpful and seemed to be rushing us out throughout the evening. I also think the server was annoyed at me trying to pronouce the Vietnamese dish...and I was not doing a bad job at all. I always try to use correct pronunciation with more exotic and ethnic dishes, it's part of the experience to me. And I am very good at picking up other languages...but he seemed offended that I didn't say "I'll have the number 22". Disappointing service aside, the food made up for the bumpy start. My husband and I ordered the quail appetizer to start. It is small, so can seem unwhelming when served to you- but it tasted fabulous! Really though, the Pho is where it is AT! Huge bowls of delicious soup comprised of fall off the bone meat choices, everything from beef to shrimp to tofu for the veggitarians, and a pile of tasty, fresh ingredients to add into your soup bowl: lime, fresh basil, bean sprouts, fresh jalapenos, etc. A little sriacha and you are good to go! I got beef pho with rice noodles. Fabulous! And my hubby got steak eye round pho, but we both agreed the ground chuck beef was better- perfect stew beef. So if you are ever craving soup & stew and don't know what way to go, getting pho will satisfy both those cravings. Plus, really good if you are trying to tackle a lingering cold like I am.
(4)Megan A.
Of all of the Vietnamese restaurants in Orlando this is my favorite! They have a great variety of items on their menu. I tend to stick with my traditional beef pho and an order of spring rolls but I've taken orders of the bún home to satisfy my cravings in the past. Despite them always being busy, there is never a long wait for a table. The parking lot isn't very big but there is parking behind the building too along with ample amounts of street parking. This is in the heart of the Vietnamese part of Orlando so make sure to take some time visiting the local grocery stores after your meal.
(5)Mike W.
Might have come on an off night but the pho was not as good as what I was expecting.
(3)Jeff C.
Great food and a great bang for your buck! Food seemed to have some authentic options. Ambiance and decor is a bit dated but overall the food is solid.
(4)M. P.
We came down to FL for vaca and thought we get some pho. Pho 88 came up in our yelp search and off we went. The pho was tasty but lacking a bit more meat. Especially since we ordered the xe lua/xl sized bowls. The 4 orders of nem cuon (summer or spring rolls whichever you call it) was alright. There was only two pieces of nem nuong per goi cuon which was measly. The com ba mau/pork chops with pork cake (rice plates) was similar and skimped on meat. I also order the banh mi with cha lua. It came in atypical bread. It was more of a sub roll versus the soft, airy rice-based baguettes. Ehh...we really wanted to like you Pho 88!
(3)Chris C.
Consistent. Can't say that for the rest of the Vietnamese restaurants. On a good day, some are better, on. A Bad day, it can be bad not the best. Check out some local Thai places as well. Yes, I realize they aren't the same thing but both local genres mix cuisines.
(4)Ruiza A.
Looking for some good Pho in Orlando and we were happy we found it! LOCATED in the same area near most of the other high rated Vietnamese restaurants near downtown Orlando, this place has its own parking area and has a clear Maroon sign of its name you can see on the street as you drive looking for it. We walked in to a well lit bright large room and we had to stand by the sign "wait to be seated" for a minute, until someone came by and sat us by a window. We got there around 5pm and they seem busy already which is always a good sign. SERVICE was different than most other Pho places. It seemed like the servers have their own "section" instead of everyone just taking care of all the tables. It usually works for any restaurant, IF everyone else helps out if your server is busy and cares about the whole restaurants experience---but over here was not the case. It's like, I'm not your server so I don't need to get the stuff you requested, but I will just tell your server who is actually very busy so you get your stuff 10yrs later after he was done doing whatever he was doing with all his other tables. So it felt like every time we asked anyone that walked by who wasn't our server (since our server seemed very busy and took a long time checking on our table) for something, it really felt like we were bothering them. So docked out points for that. FOOD was good. The stars are for that. The pho was one of the best I had no doubt. Unfortunately, even though the rice plate combo with the shrimp/pork/etc. was the most expensive one and tasted good---the amount of meat on there was a joke. I don't even eat much anymore, but man that place has the least amount of meat I have ever seen on a Viet rice plate. That was probably only 3 bites worth of meat (not counting the egg and pork/egg pie) I made a mistake not taking a pic of it uugghh. Was disappointed in that. Not worth the money. Overall--go for the Pho! It's a no fail! Don't order the full rice plate combo if you are hungry. There are a couple other great rated Viet restaurants in the area so I will try them out next time and see how they compare next time we visit Orlando.
(3)Bianca W.
Went here tonight and was served bad chicken. I am currently sick. Also the worst service I've ever had. My server came up to the table and amused of we were ready. We said yes and he walked away. Then when he returned 20 minutes later he said he forgot. Never going back.
(1)Leala V.
This is in my regular vietnamese restaurant rotation. The food and service is consistently good. We even went on Christmas day last year. Some of my favorites are the chicken noodle soup, beef stew, and grilled beef over rice vermicelli. As long as it is good, I will keep coming back.
(4)Henry G.
Had the honey shrimp 125. Brown rice was prepared well, liked it better than the white. Sauce was tasty and not salty. Shrimp were a medium sized, perfectly lightly breaded. Our server was very accommodating. Had the pho with chicken stock instead of beef. Also able to substitute BBQ pork instead of regular pork. Great waiter. No problems with service speed. Did forget white rice but corrected immediately when brought to his attention. Would recommend to go again for same dish honey shrimp with onions, broccoli and bell peppers.
(4)Sue M.
This place has been on my radar for a while. Boy am I glad I finally ate here!!! Over 100 types of pho, hot pots, stir fries, etc. So many different items to choose from that are very reasonably priced. I ordered the Crispy Roasted 1/2 Quail (Chim Cut Quay) as an appy and the Pork, Shrimp, Fake Crab, Liver, Heart and Quail Eggs Pho. The Quail was incredible! Crispy & juicy. It came w/a small bowl of seasoning (s & p?) w/a lime in it that I no idea what to do with. (someone help) The waiter, when taking my order, just stood there w/his arms crossed so I wasn't about to ask him. I just kept dipping my chop sticks into the bowl in between bites of Quail and that was fine w/me. It also came w/a bit of salad (see photo) which was a nice touch. The Pho was if anything, PLENTIFUL!!! Egg noodles and all those ingredients were extremely filling. The broth could of been flavored better but it certainly served it's purpose. I especially enjoyed how they had the sprouts on the side to add at will. There's so many more items I need to try so I will be back....hopefully soon. Current health inspection: 1-high priority, 2-intermediate, & 6-basic violations.
(4)Lexi K.
The food we ordered, Vermicelli and spring rolls, were subpar, I've definitely experienced MUCH better Vietnamese fare. I would not get that again - but would be open to try their pho since that seems to have great reviews. Also, the service was exceptionally slow and the restaurant wasn't even full when I went on a Friday evening.
(2)Alan V.
Decent Pho place. I usually get the Pho Dac Biet special and it does the job. Pho broth is hot enough with a decent ratio of noodles to meats. I don't eat here too often as I find its about mediocre at best. Not the best, but not horrible either. Where they do lack though is their customer service. Pretty much nonexistent and the guys just stand around trying to keep up with the soccer game on TV. That boss lady behind the counter that just stands there is pretty creepy too. It's like she's monitoring to make sure you finish all your food and enjoy doing so. The one concern I do have about this place though is seeing bugs and ants crawl on the floor near our table. Just recently read an inspection overview of this place and will no longer be eating here. 100 roaches? No thank you. Pho 88 at 730 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando was temporarily closed April 28 after inspectors found more than 100 live roaches at the restaurant. (April of 2015) Bon appetit! Source: m.bizjournals.com/orland…
(2)Heidi S.
I simply adore this place. It's clean and no frills, like many pho joints. I like the white meat chicken pho (#46) and we'll sometimes order the combination fried rice if we're super hungry. The rice is yummy! I was surprised by how much I enjoy it. I guess my expectations were low. The stuff is great! All the ingredients in the soup are so fresh--the Thai basil, limes, bean sprouts, jalepenos, etc. I load up on the basil and lime. And there's no shortage of sauces to add to your soup. I usually go for a few squeezes if sriracha. They have inexpensive wines by the glass and beer which works just fine for me. Especially since this is usually my go-to place for a quick, reasonably priced meal out during the week. They also have a lot of parking which is a plus given its location on Mills near the intersection of Colonial. Check it out!
(5)Cecille R.
I have soooo many friends and acquaintances that rave about this place. Surprisingly, my husband and I had never been here until recently. We have our own spots we like to go for Vietnamese cuisine. And honestly, we always steered clear because of the traffic to get into the parking lot along with how packed it always looks (through the windows). We had a decent experience overall . It's a big restaurant and great for large parties which was perfect since we dined with a party of 8. They have their own parking lot but if it's full, there is ample parking connected towards the back (behind Ginza and Chuan Lu Yuan) . I was content with my pho for the most part. I ordered the chicken pho with a combo of white and dark meat. There were a few random fatty, gristly pieces thrown in there which was a little wierd. I also had an order of the summer rolls with tofu. Those were pretty decent with the peanut sauce even though I got teased -- plus my hubby wouldn't touch them. I did wish they had a summer roll option with just shrimp. Everything that I saw on the menu had shrimp and pork. Next time, I'll ask if they can make that happen. If not, then that would tell me they are premade... The only awkward moment of dinner was when my friend inquired about the Orlando Weekly offer to check in on FB to get a free order of summer rolls. The waiter looked at her like she was speaking another language. Which made it even more awkward. She showed him the offer on her phone. So he TAKES her phone to the cash register area to find out about the offer....I swear they must've had her phone for 10 minutes or so. At that point, it was ridiculous. She ended up going up there to get her phone back. The deal ended up being more of a headache. No one should be made to feel awkward for inquiring about a deal they put out there. Anyways, to make a long story short, one of the younger employees came over to apologize and stated that it was the first time that someone had asked about the offer and that the older owners didn't know how to check FB for check ins so they were being shown. So apparently that's what was taking so long for my friend to get her phone back. They ended up bringing the summer rolls but I'm sure my friend was perturbed at that point. Aside from that fiasco, dinner was good . Our server did mention to those ordering items under $10 - "you're going to pay with cash right?" I thought that was a little rude but then saw the sign that they only take credit card purchases $10 and over. I guess he didn't want to be stiffed. Service was decent....just some awkward moments.... I wouldn't avoid this place but may not be the first place I come to when I have a craving for pho...
(3)Mark P.
I don't see why this is one of Orlando's best Pho spots when there's so many very similar experiences nearby. I think they're very good but also very average, and you'll know this when you start shopping the other ones. My last few experiences have been off so I'm particularly an advocate of walking about the area and finding your own "Best of Orlando" Pho. .
(3)Chris M.
I was debating on whether calling the service abysmal or non-existent was generous while sitting waiting to offer up my order for some noodles on a cold rainy day. I'm going with non-existent as we received no food as we were NEVER waited on or greeted after we were sat while the waiters stood around doing nothing. Only one other table was eating when we arrived. Two other tables were sat, greeted and orders taken before we decided to walk out. Their menu had a nice variety but was more expensive than other local offerings. We have been to ALL of the other phô places in town and will never consider returning to this dump. Phô k5 is relatively new and have great prices and the food is very good, we frequently go there. Their summer rolls are insanely good. Anh Hong has a slightly better phô broth but their service can be a little wacky sometimes but not horrible and it adds a little character to the experience at times. If you are looking for phô in OTown, walk away from this place to one of the previously mentioned alternatives, you won't be disappointed. Not to mention you will save money by going to them as well for what is more than likely the same product (I wouldn't know as there is no service).
(1)Isabelle G.
I'm such a huge fan of this place. We always go for lunch because the Pho is served quickly. For less than $10 you have a huge bowl of Pho that is most likely the best your're going to get around here. Stick to the Pho and you will not be disappointed, we've tried other things in the menu and none compare to it.
(4)Guoqiang W.
Ordered pho and pork chop rice. Both tasts very good. Glad to visit and recommend. Why i need to leave long comments? Good is good.
(5)Joshua A.
There are a lot of great Vietnamese restaurants in the Mills 50 area but Pho 88 is with out a doubt my favorite Pho/Vietnamese restaurant in town! I am a vegetarian and I have had every vegetarian dish on the menu. The food is always fresh, served quickly, portions are large and prices are very reasonable. I recommend it to anyone in the area looking for a GREAT Pho dining experience. You've gotta try the Coconut Juice! It has delicious young coconut meat in it!
(5)Yuyan C.
One of the best pho I had. I had beef fried rice as well for take-out but won't recommend it.
(5)Stephanie M.
We take the drive to Pho 88 every time we are in Orlando. Whether we are in the vicinity or miles away, it doesn't matter.. we stop at Pho 88. I order No. 44 a delicious bowl of pho with tendon, tripe, and all the fixin's. Portions are huge and full of fresh ingredients. We have been returning to Pho 88 for the last several years and have never once left unhappy. The staff is friendly and quick, we never wait for a table, and our soup is always on point.
(5)Beatriz L.
Love their Vietnamese noddle soup and the spring roll with the sauce so yummy. I ordered a milk tea there for me it was a little bit too sweet and the bubble was too soft I guess the bubbles were little bit over cook but over all the food is amazing.
(4)Ches P.
Mills and Colonial aka Little Saigon has Viet places EVERYWHERE! And i mean everywhere! I've been looking for another place to go get pho, but can't find another place better! This is my go-to spot. The broth is rich and the meat is plentiful. The plate of basil, bamboo shoots, and lime is always fresh. The vermicelli is not sticky and has great consistency. Some people substitute egg noodles and it tastes delicious too! Once in a while I'll order their platter dishes. Their grilled meat and rice platters are pretty good along with the Bun... Grilled beef with vermicelli is my favorite. Nice and clean and doesn't make you feel too much of a fatty. I also enjoy the grilled beef banhmi. Just make sure you add sriracha sauce to all those things mentioned. As for drinks, I don't really drink alcohol at Viet places for the most part, cause usually i'm here the day after a heavy night of drinking... BUT they do have beer and plum wine. I personally like the avocado shakes and vietnamese coffee. The clientele is a good mix of Vietnamese and non-Viet people. I always consider it a good sign when people from the same place as where the food is native to. Overall, the platter dishes are good, although there are other places that are just a bit better. BUT... i come here for the healing powers of pho. Best hangover cure, best cold weather comfort, and best cold/flu remedy evaaaaar! :)
(4)Simon S.
Always enjoy the Pho here (and also Ann Hong). Prefer the ambience here slight more than Ahn Hong. :)
(4)Maria B.
This big hole in the wall is a hidden gem. The staff are friendly enough although struggle to communicate because of their language. The food was great. We had soup 54-which had quail egg, liver, heart and shrimp and 58 which had barbeque pork, shrimp and wonton. Flavor was great, no need to add salt. Fairly inexpensive and quick.
(4)John N.
I hate to do this but I hope this message reaches the owners. I have been a patron of Pho 88 for nearly a decade and have loved its consistent food and service. While the food has remained delicious, the service and cleanliness has declined a great deal. More recently, my last 2 visits have been appalling due to the overwhelming mothball smell. Service aside I can deal, but I can not sit and eat with the smell of dirty mop buckets in sight and the strange odor in the air. Please fix the problem.
(2)Trish T.
I love summer rolls. Hadn't been to this place before so when a friend suggested we go I agreed Ordered the summer rolls for my starter. The peanut sauce was good but the rolls tasted like they had been sitting in a "sour" refrigerator since the day before. I didn't order anything else. If you serve old product I am not paying for anything else. My friend said her food was just "ok." It gets two stars from me because the staff was nice and the place was clean. I will stick to "Viet Garden" just around the corner which has fresher summer rolls and much better parking.
(2)Poet M.
I am here on Sunday, November 30, 2014 for the first time. The place is clean and big. I ordered the shrimp, chicken, tomato with mushroom soup (small). Very fresh and tasty.
(4)Jennifer T.
My family has been coming here for years, and I will say, their food is usually great and quite authentic. However, the reason why I am giving them such a low rating is because of the recent experience I had here today. Both my mom and I ordered a dry noodle bowl and when we had gotten our food, we both discovered we had huge pieces of plastic in our bowls. The unidentified plastic wasn't the worst part. The part that upset and ruined my dining experience the most, was when we called over the management to show them what had happened. Not only did the first server we talked to just laugh and walked away without saying a word, when we called over the head cashier he was ridiculously rude. All we got from him was a lousy explanation for what the plastic supposedly was and a snark remark that he had "already taken it off the bill." No apologies whatsoever. When you work in the food industry (as I do) that deals with customer service, you should do everything that you can to keep the customer happy, especially when there is clearly something wrong with their food. You don't say things like "I know I already took it off the bill," and "It was an accident" or give the customer attitude. Don't get me wrong the food here is good, but the customer service is lacking and downright disappointing. I can get the same, if not better, Vietnamese food somewhere else with exceptional customer service here in FL. I should also note that they only took off ONE of the noodle bowls and charged us for the second one, even though both bowls had plastic in it.
(2)Heather L.
Favorite place for pho! I used to stop by on the way home from work for take-out frequently a few years back. It was usually empty, but the person at the front counter is always hospitable and offered hot tea every time I needed to wait which was a nice touch (especially since I would forget to order ahead from time to time).
(5)Larry F.
Best Pho in Orlando. Perfect mix of noodles and beef and flavorful broth. Plenty of paper thin beef and lots chopped scallions. One of these visits I need to try something else. But it's so hard to not to order #34 PHO. Shrimp roll with peanut sauce was great. Well worth the drive downtown for lunch or dinner. Place appeared clean as well.
(5)brennan m.
Get the spicy noodle soooooooouuuuuup. It was awesome. I don't know if I could get anythjng else now
(5)Jay Y.
Good place for a quick bowl of noodles. I could be biased since I'm not too crazy about soup, but I do enjoy their Pho. My wife loves it, but I always go for the fried tofu rice. The food comes out pretty fast considering how packed it can become. I've been told that it's on a tourist list somewhere so there are always quite a few people and you'll be lucky to find a parking spot. Odd that there are only men working there.
(4)Marilyn T.
The pho noodle bowls at Pho 88 are some of the best in Orlando. The broth is savory and the vegetables (e.g., jalapeños, Thai basil, sprouts, limes etc.) are always fresh and crunchy. My absolutely favorite is the beef pho with everything; tendon, tripe, meatballs -- you name it, it's in there, and it's fabulous! Plus, do yourself a favor and don't leave without trying the salt and pepper roast quail appetizer with fresh limes. Believe me, you won't want to share.
(5)Donna S.
Went in ready to order some Pho, thinking I'd try something new. We were immediately seated upon arrival, given menus and asked what we'd like to drink. We ordered our beverages and began browsing the menu. The menu provided limited pictures making it difficult as a first timer to make decisions. We ended up ordering the quail appetizer, which was very good, seasoned well and not too gamey in taste. We also ordered the shrimp spring roll app., which was good, however I was not too fond of the sauce (peanut), I used traditional soy sauce to add flavor. Instead of trying the pho, too many to choose from, and waiter didn't seem to interested in assisting us in making chooses, so I try the shrimp fried rice entree. Which I might add was ginormous in portion size, truly a platter for two. My son had the "everything" fried rice, again portion size was enough for two people. Taste was wonderful....nothing was needed to accompany the rice, no soy sauce, sweet and sour, nothing. I must say it was the best fried rice I've ever had, hands down... Experience was good, I look forward to returning to try the pho, and I will definitely return again for the shrimp fried rice
(4)Ho L.
Easily my least favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Orlando. There are probably a dozen other Viet places (most within a few hundred yards) that I would rather eat at. Sometimes competition is fierce, such that a place isn't that bad, rather the other places are so much better. But that is not the case here. The food at Pho 88 is mediocre at best. I strongly base my Vietnamese restaurant reviews off of how well they do pho (after all, it's practically the national dish). The broth here is bland, with middling amounts of meat. And the overall size/price ratio is off...it is definitely not a good value. Do yourself a favor and try any other pho joint in town.
(2)Meaghan S.
Definitely a good meal. Portion sizes are good, prices are affordable. The pho was delicious. I got -#37, which is beef balls and flank steak. Meat was perfect and soup and noodles were good too. Will definitely return for more :)
(4)Travis F.
Checked this place out for lunch today. We started with spring rolls and iced Vietnamese coffee with cream. Then we had a bowl of Pho each. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Prices were good.
(5)Nicole O.
This place was very good! Our first Vietnamese experience. Lots of sauce options on the table. The food was definitely good- not gourmet- but quality. The honey chicken had the perfect ratio of batter to meat (not all batter) it was crispy and flavorful. Any chicken dish that's listed as spicy provides good quality meat, and it good. We had the soup as well- nothing too adventurous- just the chicken, but it really hit the spot. The prices are reasonable and the staff is nice. Would definitely return!
(3)Jennie B.
Beef Pho was delicious, spring rolls we're excellent. The service was great and the server was very knowledgeable
(5)Tiffany L.
Been there many many times. Whenever my friends come in from out of town, we usually hit this place up since it is one of the most popular vietnamese restaurants in the area. I don't think this one is the best IMO but I do appreciate the portions we get. Their portions are very big compared to most restaurants. I used to love coming here for their Bun Bo Hue but I feel like it doesn't really taste the same anymore, still good though. I do enjoy the Pho here because the broth is good and their Bun bowls never disappoint. I like the summer rolls here but sometimes the peanut dipping sauce tastes a bit bland. Now the service. It's either bad or mediocre. A few times I've gone, I've noticed that the servers are not very attentive to the customers. One time, I only saw my server 3 times - when I ordered, when I got my food and when I paid. He did not once come to ask us how our food was and didn't refill our waters. Sometimes I see the servers sitting by the register on their phones while there are customers trying to get their attention. But I gotta give it to them on how fast the food comes out, they never disappoint there. Also, the parking lot looks a bit small but if you keep driving to the back, there is a whole empty lot back there! Overall, I'd give this place a 3.5.
(3)Andi P.
I have been to Pho 88 a ton of times (it's in my hood), but felt like I needed to go one more time to give a review. This time I ordered takeout and I found the experience to be a little different than dine-in. I stood in front of the counter to pick up my food for a good 4 minutes (with servers behind the counter right in front of me) before anyone acknowledged/noticed me and I ended up thanking them multiple times rather than the other way around... It was a bit odd... It may have been a fluke because I've always had pretty good luck when dining in. Also, I was a little bummed that I only got one to-go cup of peanut sauce when I asked for extra. But, the food was dependable as always. Decent tofu summer rolls (not life-changing, but still good), great pho though. I look forward to returning and updating my review. Hopefully this was not indicative of all takeout experiences.
(3)Carlos M.
I used to go to this place for the beef pho until one day I found in my soup a small bug. I called the server and he didn't know what to say. He certainly didn't apologized. Needless to say I never went back to this place. This restaurant was a little bit to authentic for me.
(1)Tracey J.
Love this place! The best Pho by far in Orlando. I'm a strict vegan (no meat, eggs, fish/oyster sauces). #4-Veggie Spring Roll and #96 Veggie Pho Noodle Soup is the best!
(5)Brittany S.
I can only speak for the carry out at Pho 88 but I will say it was mighty fast, delicious and dead-on with your average price point for a casual bowl of pho. As always, my order of chicken pho was accompanied by a an order of veggie spring rolls. Both were delicious. As a heads up, the neighborhood is on the weird side/somewhat sketchy for an out-of-towner in the evening hours.
(4)Michelle S.
The only place I'll go for really perfect and authentic Vietnamese food! Get the Pho (of course) but also try the fish!
(4)Sarah T.
Disclaimer: I am from out of town so this review does not compare the taste and environment of this place with other local pho places. Environment: The inside was very clean and well kept. I liked the bright lighting and the mirrors made it look more spacious. Service: Average for Pho places which means get your order taken and then get left alone except for occasional water refills. Food: Ice Coffee: I was very disappointed. The cup was very small and I felt like I was paying for a cup of ice rather than coffee. The coffee, water, condensed milk ratio was also very off even if you don't count the ice problem. I thought it was a fluke at first but my friend had the same problem of overpacked ice with her coffee order and another ordered a completely different drink also with the same problem. Bun Bo Hue-I was surprised at how clear the broth was in comparison to places I've been to in California, Virginia, and New York. I could still taste the flavor and I wouldn't call it bland but in comparison to other places the soup was not as rich or deep. But they did put the perfect amount of spice in the dish in terms of how hot they made it. Other places put either too much or too little for me. While the dish was not packed full of flavor it had a more refreshing taste to it. I feel that part of the reason was also due to the hot weather so a clearer broth suited the situation at least in my case. I did not feel that the dish was watered down because there is still a good amount of flavor but it could be better. Chicken Pho-My friend tried this dish and really seemed to enjoy it. I got to taste some of it. Against the broth was more clear and the taste less rich and deep than I am use to but still a decent amount of flavor. The broth isn't cloudy at all which makes me wonder if they strained the soup or if it's just watered down. Final Thoughts: I've only been here once but it looks like their customer base is pretty mixed so it could account for their more subtle flavoring. In addition I did enjoy both the Bun Bo Hue and the Chicken Pho even though I wasn't use to it. It was different but it wasn't as if it was bland, too watery, or tasteless. It had decent flavoring so I like it enough for the average 3 star rating even if the ice coffee disappointed me.
(3)Brenda L.
Comfort food in Orlando! Stumbled across this joint based on yelp reviews and we were not disappointed!! A must try in Orlando. Steph, our server was awesome!!!
(4)Gustavo A. L.
As a fan of Pho, this place is a must visit. If you are looking to acquaint yourself with Vietnamese culture and cuisine, Orlando offers a very rich and diverse restaurant scene and among them Pho 88 stands out as a good, go to place. For us it is convenient and ubiquitous, located well within the Mills 50 shopping district, you can take a trip down their culture right through the culinary creations here. As I mentioned before, we like coming here a lot, we still do, however, we are bit put off by their lackadaisical approach. Despite us coming here sometimes several times in a week, there is just no way for the staff to warm up to the patrons. They just go through the motions with an almost automatic attitude. This is not necessarily bad, it is just human nature to establish relationships, this is the main reason why we moved camp down the street to another establishment down the road... Sometimes a smile is all you need to make the experience a bit sweeter. Pho 88 will deliver good food, as long as you don't care to make human contact, you're all good.
(3)Unique M.
Did you guys know that Pho is a breakfast food in most areas of Vietnam? I didn't know that until one of the servers told me; I googled it and found other sources claiming the same. Super cool! When I first came here a few years ago, I had NO idea how to eat pho and what all of the bean sprouts and basil was intended for. The same waiter took the time to explain how the components of the meal work; pho is actually the rice noodle and broths vary from place to place. The various garnishes act as flavor enhancers. What I love most about this place is the variety of pho and OTHER dishes. If you aren't in a pho mood, then have Banh Mi, another great joy of life; Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sub, so opt for that if you don't want Pho. Last but not least, you can taste the freshness in everything. I love this place and will continue to come here as long as I live in this beautiful city.
(5)Kimberly K.
I came here after reading a bunch of rave reviews, and although this place was pretty yummy, it didn't rock my world like I thought it would. I got summer rolls to start and pho with well-done brisket for my entree. The rolls were made with pork and shrimp. They were fresh, but the accompanying peanut dipping sauce was a bit bland. My parents ordered fried spring rolls to start. They were decent, but I'd have to say my summer rolls were tastier due to the freshness of the ingredients. The pho I ordered was super delish. In fact, I gave this place gets 4-stars for the entree itself. The noodles were chewy and perfectly cooked, and the server brought a ton of thai basil leaves, jalapenos, and sprouts to add to my piping hot noodle dish. The brisket melted in my mouth and tasted sublime with my hoison/hot sauce mix. FYI: Food took forever to leave the kitchen so don't come if you're in a hurry or super hungry and need food in your belly STAT. If you're visiting and itching for good asian food, Pho 88 is definitely a great place to eat. Also, you get a lot of bang for your buck. My pho was only $8.
(4)Quynh D.
Vietnamese cuisine should be easy right? This place got voted best pho in Orlando so I had expectations. My family and it visited Orlando on our Disney world trip and we were craving pho. All of us ordered Pho Dac Biet and all of us felt the same about the flavor. It was so bland!! The meatballs had a mothball taste to them, and they were very large. It was gross to get a giant taste of that. Although they offer a lot of different meats in the bowl, it lacked the broth! The broth was bland and they did not serve much. The bowl came out and I could barely see the water above the noodles. It wasn't too pricey so that was good. Their banh mi is good for that price. The pad Thai is not truly Thai food so don't get it. If you're truly desperate for pho, the come, but if you're not then don't. It wouldn't be worth it. Maybe this is the best Orlando could do. I guess southern Louisiana just does a better job.
(3)Crystal R.
I love this place, especially on a rainy day. The service is ridiculously quick. I ordered the Pho Chicken Noodle Soup, along with an Avocado shake and both were very tasty. The portion sizes for soup are amazing. Every time I come here this place is jammed pack. Incredible food and Service!
(4)Digital B.
When ever I visit Pho 88 I get their spring rolls and either a soup of a chicken and veggie dish. Of the spring rolls they come out hot and crispy with the right mixture of cabbage and meats. The flavors are brought out even more when I use a dish sauce to dip. The soups are always more than enough to fill you on a cold winter day but even during the summer they can serve to provide you with comfort as they fill your belly. The other dish I like is the chicken and broccoli, but I don't really like the rice so I skip it. The chicken is cooked tender and covered in spices. All priced fairly for those on a tight budget. Parking in plenty but during a lunch rush they can get really packed. I like going right after the rush crowd.
(5)Lisa A.
I've been craving good Pho since moving from Vancouver Canada where you can get fantastic Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Korean or Chinese every second block, so we headed here based on the Yelp reviews! I was not disappointed. The place was busy and service was slow but the Pho was good, broth was flavorful and veggies were fresh! The waiter was friendly when he finally did take our order and although food was a little slow to come out it was tasty when it arrived. Hubby had sweet, sour and spicy chicken with veggies and rice, the sauce was super tasty with the perfect amount of heat! All the food coming out looked good! This place is definitely worth a try!!!
(4)David R.
Pho 88 is a fine Vietnamese restaurant situated among many. Prices are very reasonable and the food is tasty. My favorite is the Tom Yum soup.
(4)Darlene T.
I always order the Pho (with my beef on the side) when I come here and like always it is good. The soup has has a nice flavor profile, not too sweet and the portion is just right. As always, consistent, served fresh and fast.
(4)Andra L.
The only place I'll go for pho. I travel from over half hour away just for a hot bowl of chicken pho. There's no place like pho 88. And of course the summer rolls with peanut sauce are always a must!
(5)Nikki M.
Well, I can definitely tell you that the food is out of this world. I love love the brisket pho, quail, spring rolls and salt & pepper tofu. The only reason I knocked it down a peg is because it's kind of plain inside, which isn't THAT big of a deal, but I'm a little disappointed in their varieties of bubble teas (which are also delicious) and the staff could be a little bit friendlier. You have to wait quite awhile for a drink refill.
(4)Juliet B.
Great Pho. Don't have to go anywhere else. Every variety of Pho & then regular meals as well.
(3)Ricky L.
Pho 88, over the course of the past year or so, has become my favorite vietnamese restaurant. Whether heading out for a nice big bowl of pho or trying out some tasty grilled pork with rice, Pho 88 is the place my friends and I almost aways pick to go to. The nice thing about Pho 88 in addition to great food is the large space that they have which can accommodate large parties. Another positive is the lightning fast speed which the food comes out, maybe 10 minutes max after you order on average. Another favorite of mine is the banh mi (vietnamese sandwich) that they have here. Most of their dishes come around $8 or less, unless you get family portions. so yeah , drop by Pho 88, for some pho-nemonal good eats! pho 88 is the pho king
(5)Tom D.
Loved this restaurant. Very energetic staff for sure. Opens late too. Food is great, service was super fast! This was my first time in Orlando and I'll be sure to come back for this restaurant in the future!
(4)Kelly D.
I want to like Pho 88, I really do. I love the variety on the menu, I love that it has pictures of plates to help me order, but I just can't go there and it's not even because of the consistently bad service. It is because of the roach I found in my pho on one occasion and the hair I found in it the other. I will never walk in there again.
(1)Henry W.
One of my default lunch spots in Orlando any day of the week! This place has the best Thai tea ever. You can't go wrong with any of their broken rice plates or banh mi sandwiches. On a cold, rainy day, you can find us in there slurping on the beef stew with egg noodles.....The Nuts!!! Definitely check this place out!!
(5)Peter O.
Terrific ph, some of the best I've had -- plus, they have great salty lemonade and Vietnamese iced coffee too (natch)
(5)Phila E.
Avg. Nothing special. Spring rolls are terrible.
(3)Janice C.
It hurts my heart to finally review this place and have to do it this way because this was my FAVORITE restaurant. I always had great food and service and ate here weekly. Unfortunately, the last (and I mean final) visit I made the mistake of telling the waiter, politely, that they brought me the wrong meal. Now, normally I would have just eaten what they brought me because it looked good. Instead the waiter felt like he needed to prove me wrong and sent two different people from the kitchen to reconfirm what I asked for and each argued that I asked for the wrong item. The waiter tells me 'Whatever, I'll replace it and I'll pay for it.' Now at this point in order to avoid flipping a table at him I finally said 'I don't want this. Just take this off my check and bring me the bill.' Then the waiter decided to apologize and replace the food. I didn't want it but he insisted on 'correcting'. So of course, as everyone fears when sending food back, they brought me a plate with hair and metal shavings mixed in it. It looked like they dropped the food on the floor and swept it back on to the plate. Metal shavings I tell you. I can't even decipher what piece of kitchen equipement it came from. I will NEVER ever, ever eat here again.
(1)Dan M.
Some of the fastest (but still friendly) service I've gotten in any of the mills/50 restaurants...but the mirror wall really threw me for a loop when we walked in...I sorta had to just stare at the ground while walking to our table. I'm guessing that happened just because I play too many video games and have turned my brain to mush, but I think my taste buds still function. The roast quails were the biggest individual birds I've seen at any of the area restaurants, which made them the easiest to eat and generally more moist and tender...unfortunately the flavor, while not bad, didn't reach the level as some other places around here. Stir fried squid with veggies was very good, but bun bo hue...not so good. I'd actually just been rather disappointed in another restaurants bun bo hue a few days earlier and hoped this place would do a better job...nope. Ah well, the search continues for a great version of that soup around here.
(3)Kathy S.
The food was pretty tastey. I ordered some spring rolls for an appetizer and a krab And shrimp soup. Everything came out super fast and was full of flavor. Perfect soup for a rainy day. Definitely would recommend this place for some Vietnamese food!
(4)Mariam D.
I do not recommend this place at all. The spring rolls everyone raves about were awful, like really awful, as was the service. The server rarely checked on us and barely spoke English and did not understand our requests. The chicken pho was good, but everything else was average or below average. I am a very easy to please person and not a tough critic at all, but believe me when I say this; even by my standards, this restaurant was not good and I would not go again.
(1)Shaina V.
Favorite place for pho downtown! They also have great summer and spring rolls. Pad Thai is good too but not what people typically expect, it's sweeter than traditional pad Thai. Service is attentive and consistent.
(5)Nicole E.
I'm so glad I went to Pho 88 with a friend who could help me navigate the monstrously huge menu, because on my own it was pretty overwhelming. I ended up getting tofu rolls (which came with this incredibly yum sauce that I wanted to take home and put on everything) and pho with tofu and veggies (#108). For a first pho experience it was pretty great! I love the tray of sauces - there's no need to worry about it being too spicy to order, because it is literally just a bowl of broth, noodles, and whatever protein you ordered. From there you can add sauces to make it spicy, sweet, salty, and possibly fishy (was that fish oil? It smelled like fish oil. All I know is, my friend took a whiff and promptly dumped a tablespoon into her bowl). I don't like being the type of person who always orders the same thing when she goes to a restaurant, but I could see that happening here - writing this review made me want to go back and get the same thing again. Yum!
(4)Tom T.
The family and I was in Orlando for summer vacation. Dad had a craving for Pho so after looking things up in yelp, we went to Pho 88. Coming from Chicago, there are quite a few places serving up good pho noodles there. But Pho 88 did not disappoint! Their pho is delicious. The big bowl is BIG!!! I split it with my son bc I'm not that much of a pig. The broth is savory and very flavorful. Spring rolls are standard and pretty good too.
(4)Ryan R.
I came here with a big group and everyone's meal looked good. I wanted to try a bit of each, especially one dish, the name of which I can't remember, that was served with an egg on top--always a plus. Our server was awesome. He was cocky in a good way, attune to our American ignorance but also quick to introduce us to the nuances of the menu. He wasn't afraid to tell you what you ordered was crap, but he would also suggest a few other items as a substitute for your poor choice. He also read my mind. I ordered a Tiger beer (Chinese) mistaking it for '33 Export (Vietnamese, the logo sports a tiger, hence the confusion) and he brought the latter, to my relief. The whole service experience was much less awkward than the half-attentive deferential servers at other Vietnamese restaurants in town. Lastly, you have to respect a Pho restaurant that doesn't rely on a silly pun for its name. I've seen a few, none in Orlando, the best of which (name-wise) was called Pho King. Keep it classy Pho 88.
(4)Kelly F.
Huge menu! Great Vietnamese resturaunt in Orlando. It's pretty authentic, so you might need to have the menu explained!
(4)Clarence E.
Good pho. Satisfying but missing the something that puts it over the top. It was the broth, good but noy great. Goi coun was good but cha gio was better. Overall better than our last try in the area at Saigon. Heard bahn mi were real good. Maybe next time.
(4)Rob S.
What they do, they do well. The best Pho in Orlando. If ur in the mood for Pho, go here. Also, their combo fried rice and bún bò Hu is very good. bún bò Hu is a spicy version of Pho.
(4)Sam B.
Next time I will have to write down exactly what we had, but it was ALL amazing. Try the Avocado shake, it was fantastic.
(5)S C.
Food: Good pho! You get a choice of medium and large. There also seems to be a huge selection of rice dishes. The salty lemonade I got was good. We went on a holiday Monday afternoon and the place was packed. Parking is hard in their small lot when it is busy. No one greeted us at the door and we just kinda stood there with other parties until some tables started to leave. It seemed like the food took longer than it should have to come out because all they had to do was pour hot soup over some noodles. These are the only bad things I could think of about my experience.
(4)Erin S.
This place is great. Every time that I go I am happy with the service and the food. I love all of their vermicelli dishes and of course their pad thai. I would give a miss to the veggie spring rolls because they are basically just lettuce and noodles in a rice wrap, but the shrimp or tofu ones are pretty good. They also have boba drinks there, which I can never resist!
(5)Eric B.
Came for the pho! It was pretty good, but I'm not sure it's good enough to go very far out of your way. To be honest, I was expecting a little more detail out of the broth. The taste was great, though, it was served steaming hot, and there were plenty of noodles. On the surface, their prices are good, but they also adhere to what seems to be the "standard rate" for pho -- a regular size bowl is between $6.50 and $7.50, with the large size being $1.50 more. The large size at Pho 88 is more like the normal size at other establishments I've been to, but if you can see where I'm going with this, the prices tend to match up for what you get. This can save you a buck-fifty if you're like me, and don't need a massive bowl to fill you up. The service was friendly, casual, and fast. I liked it! They also seem to welcome graffiti on their premises to some degree. One side of the building is covered in pieces, with tags & bombs throughout. Just a nice little detail about the place. This shouldn't be interpreted the wrong way; you aren't walking into an abandoned warehouse of a restaurant or anything like that.
(4)Jussi D.
This place was clean, friendly, and a great value. The "small" bowl of pho was actually very large. The server was very helpful and I ordered exactly what he recommended. Glad I did! I can't remember exactly the name anymore, but it was a beef pho. I also went specifically for Pho. I was at the awards store next door and saw the Pho 88 sign. I had lots of pho on my trip to Vietnam 10 years ago and wanted to see what it was like stateside.
(4)Angela C.
Regular for many, many years....not anymore. Soup was warm. Pork chops were dry and tasteless. Rice wasn't even cooked right. Couldn't find our waiter. Then they tacked a 18% tip on for poor service. We USED to send people there.
(1)Lauren H.
Out of all of the places in "Little Asia" (as I like to call it) on 50 near downtown Orlando Pho 88 is my favorite! My boyfriend and I dine here at least 3 times a month! It is great! Quick service, consistently yummy food, and fair pricing. I also love that you can come as you are - most time we come straight from working or or hot yoga to grab a quick bite and it is perfect!
(4)J C.
The food here is great (and inexpensive, which is a bonus) but the service is HORRIBLE. I've given this place chance after chance because the food is so good, but I've gotten terrible service every. single. time. No water refills, waiting over 20 minutes just to order an appetizer, then waiting over 30 minutes for the food to arrive...the list goes on. I've even tried ordering takeout to bypass the bad service, and they even messed that up! I got the wrong meal twice (my fault for not checking the bag before I left) and the third time they forgot the peanut sauce for my summer rolls! Although the food is yummy, it's not worth the bad service. Especially with so many other options nearby. The three stars are for the food alone...
(3)Dan J.
Pho 88 is located in the heart of Viet Town of Orlando. It is an unassuming restaurant with a rather plan looking dining room. While we were there the all of the other patrons were Vietnamese. The menu is huge there are 212 numbered items, including the Durian Shake # 205. I had # 107 Grilled Chicken on Rice Vermicelli (Bun Ga Nuong) $6.25. This is the standard dish I get in a Viet restaurant. It was prepared in the way I expected, julienned carrots, dakon, and cucumber. There was also sliced lettuce and bean sprouts. The dish was topped with a sprinkling of cilantro and scallions. The grilled chicken was a little fatty and not as smoky as I like. The over all experience was a nice one. Viet Garden is still my favorite Vietnamese restaurant.
(3)David C.
Moderately priced, very large bowls, tons of meat. Enough noodles to fit the amount of meat added (lots). It was super busy though and loud, but I would go eat here anytime I was in the area.
(5)Sandee P.
I LOVE Pho 88. Quality ingredients, fast service, low prices. Of course you can't expect the place to look trendy. This is as asian as it gets : huge room, lots of noise but awesome and affordable food. this is why Pho 88 is always busy, anytime of the day, and often crowded at night when other restaurants in the same neighborhood are empty.
(4)David O.
This is my favorite place to get Vietnamese style noodle soup. There are definitely a lot of other places in the neighborhood that are very good too, but I like Pho 88 the best. They have a tremendous variety of menu choices, both Vietnamese and Thai. I've never been dissappointed by the service. I also like the open, airy atmosphere of the restaurant with the big windows overlooking Mills Ave. It's fun to get a window seat and watch the world go by as you eat your spring rolls, iced coffee, and noodle soup. When I'm driving around I also enjoy looking at the grafitti art on their south wall. That's kind of fun too.
(4)JEWELe M.
I think iFound my new spot for Pho! Well I actually do not order pho....I usually get the soup w/ egg noodles, shrimp, pork, and wontons.... regardless, the broth was delicious here! And it was a perfect day for soup!
(4)Bettina T.
I always go here for Pho or Pad Thai but today I was feeling adventurous and went for a Banh Mi Nem Nuong....YUM! =] I also had a Viet coffee which made me sleepy -_-
(4)Nora H.
wow, lot's of places to sit and it still looks the same after 12 years. It's low key and great to visit on a cool rainy day. The pho (soup) is really good. I get menu No. 88 (soup entree) as I have gotten over my fear of fish balls and tripe. Everything else is tasty as well, although it's odd to find some thai food on the menu. I enjoy drinking the "thai tea" (in a viet-eatery, go figure) and the iced-coffee (Starbucks has nothing on this!) --go with friends and splurge on the appetizers and go pot-luck style so you can try everything all at once.
(4)pete h.
In Orlando on vacation and we were craving some thing light as we had been eating lots of carb intensive friend southern food for the past few days. Decided to log onto Yelp and find a good Pho' place and this place came highly rated and recommended. Therefore we drove from our resort in the Seaworld area to this restaurant and ate, it was about a 15 minute drive from the Disney/Seaworld area. The food was ok, nothing to write home about. In fact, I think it's even a little worse than Pho Hoa', for some of you that have this Pho' chain in your neighborhood. It certainly wasn't up to San Jose, CA or even Seattle, WA Pho' but since this is the southeast, it was probably decent. Bottom line, when you've been eating days and days of friend, gressy, carb intensive southern food, this place is a nice change......
(3)Patricia P.
Update: I ate at Pho88 the other night and noticed that they're bringing the check to the table now. Also, I'm not sure why the one reviewer said Pho 88 does not add cilantro to the soup?? Fresh cilantro is brought with your veggies to add to the soup.. maybe reviewer does not know what fresh cilantro looks like.
(5)Janet H.
Pho 88 is my favorite vietnamese place to eat in Orlando. I loveeee the Bun Rieu here. All the other dishes are goood as well.
(5)Mel N.
I am from Westminster, CA which has one of the largest Vietnamese population in the country. My husband and I currently live in JAX and came up to Orlando to do Disneyworld. We knew Orlando had its own little Saigon and were pretty excited about it since in JAX there isn't a great variety of Asian food. This was actually the second time we've come to this area, the first time we ate at a different Vietnamese Restaurant (can't remember the name at the moment), which was just as good. I've notice that reading some of these reviews, why do you go to a Pho restaurant and eat a sandwich? Its the same thing as going to a taco joint and eating pasta. If you want a sandwich actually go to a place that specializes in sandwiches. Okay with that said. My husband and I had almost lost hope that Florida didn't have some good Pho and this place proved us wrong. The Pho was just as good as it is in Little Saigon in Westminster, CA. There we equal amounts of meat and noodles, the broth was just to die for, and lots of veggies. Awesome! My husband is Vietnamese and he had to agree that this place was great. I hope they make a chain here in JAX, cause man... it is really good.
(5)Kelly J.
Our professional/social group met there last night for dinner. All of us enjoyed our meals, with each plate served hot, promptly and together as a group. My Pho entre, an order of spring rolls and 2 glasses of wine came to $21 including tax. The service was excellent...and the waiter immediately offered to write individual tickets, which is wonderful when you have group events!
(4)Big P.
Food was awesome. Pho was amazing, I've had it all over the country and this is in the top 3. Quail was great, lemon soda was awesome. More awesome was the service. 30 minutes to close and they treated us great without rushing us. The waiter was fabulous!! Go here and eat some good food instead of that tourist microwave junk.
(5)Lisa S.
Ok. Not too much to say, good or bad.
(3)