Pho Tai
1726 37th St NW, Rochester, MN, 55901
Pho Tai Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Rochester for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rochester for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rochester for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1726 37th St NW
Rochester, MN, 55901 - Phone (507) 216-0447
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Sujan P.
It's, until recently, the only viet food joint in town (apart from the grocery stores that have food available like Asia Pacific Market). Touts that it's authentic Vietnamese cuisine, I'm skeptical... Canh Chua Tom- It was ok, kinda pricey, and for the price I would expect hardcore vietnamese style. Nope, sure it had the basics--tomato, pineapple, sprouts...but celery!?! Celery in canh chua? Are you kidding me? Gross! And there wasn't any bac ha (taro stalk-a key ingredient because the mesh network of the stalk is like a sponge), or any of the traditional herbs served with it (basil, culantro (ngo gai), water paddy (ngo om). At the end, there was a long silvery piece of hair in it. Believe it or not, I really don't care when I find hair considering all the other stuff that's probably in the dish! Grilled beef with broken rice- really really good! I did see a roach scurry on my table when I first went there many months ago. It was really small. But made me feel like it was authentic! :)
(2)Tom C.
My favorite place in Rochester! I've lived on the East Coast and West Coast for a total of 8 years and every time I come home to visit my parents, this is the first place I want to go eat. Great pho, great service, reliable, fast, consistent, comfortable atmosphere, relatively inexpensive. I always get the pho, iced coffee, and spring rolls.
(5)Frank A.
I have always had a good meal and the service has been what I would expect. If you want to stray from the typical Asian food and try some Vietnamese food ...its worth a try.
(4)Lim K.
This restaurant was not the best place I have ever had Vietnamese food but what we ordered was quite good. My husband and I ordered a few dishes to share: The chargrilled beef on the vermicelli noodles with vegetables was a little bland. However, when we mixed it with hot pepper oil, it tasted much better. The combination of pork and shrimp sauté was delicious. When we mixed it with some hot sauce it almost tasted like a Korean dish. The third dish, which was a clear noodle soup with seafood, was very good. The main reason I like to go to Vietnamese restaurants is that they always have a few different sauces on the table. I especially love the hot pepper oil. It has a good taste and contains no salt. There was only one waitress on duty. The restaurant was not crowded but they had enough customers to keep her busy. It took a while to get our hot tea but once the food was served the waitress made every effort to get things we needed. If we happen to be in Rochester, we will definitely go back to Pho Tai. From just tasting a few dishes, we like their food much better than any Vietnamese restaurant where we live.
(4)Irene D.
I went here while visiting my boyfriend's family in Rochester with his parents in tow. The good Doctor and the Mrs. enjoyed their food. They do well appealing to the local demographic's palate. I had the ph tai bò viên, which is my standard choice. The soup here is actually pretty decent. I've had much, much worse in the Twin Cities, including contender for best ph in the city by Mpls Mag, Quang Restaurant. But yes there is decent Vietnamese food in Rochester!
(4)Brandon B.
You can't beat the price for the large amount of food.
(4)Ryan N.
I have been coming Pho Tai every Tuesday since they opened. The spring rolls are an absolute treat. The egg rolls, fried yes, absolutely the best, yes. Be sure to try 51, 63, 66, and 38. These are just a few that come to mind. The service is always fast, take in or take out. Definitely a place to check out if you haven't yet.
(5)Thomas S.
The food here is ok and I would have given a 4 star rating if it wasn't for the terrible service. Actually one employee in particular, I think she is the owner who has been quite rude to me on multiple occasions. I asked for a price on the phone and she blew up on me. I would not have gone back if it wasn't for the delicious cream cheese wantons. She needs to get her act togethor.
(2)Karen T.
I used to eat a lot of Vietnamese food when I lived in Houston. The food here was tasty, but different than what I'm used to. The thit nuong (bbq pork) was a little pink although fully cooked - kind of like a char siu. Spring rolls were also tasty, but the requisite nuoc leo dipping sauce was more of a cornstarch/sticky base rather than the thick sauce I'm used to. I'd still go back if I happen to be in the area.
(3)Ms. D.
This was one of the first places I had food from upon moving to Roch. We had a working lunch at work and the boss went and fetched food from Pho Hoa. These days, I am somewhat a "regular" there, to the point that my companion and I go in and the waitress knows we will be having eggrolls and Vietnamese Iced Coffee to start. From there, I usually get the Combination Fried Rice which is usually at least 2, maybe 3 meals worth of rice with beef, pork, shrimp and artificial crab in it. Sometimes, just to be different, I will get the asparagus/crab soup or something else from the menu, but I tend to stick with the eggroll, fried rice and iced coffee combo. I've never had anything there that I didn't like and would go just for the eggrolls which are like the ones my friend from Vietnam's mom would make whenever I would visit their house. They are a "comfort food" for me. Honestly, the only negative thing I can really say about the place is that it doesn't have alot of ambiance, but the food is good, prices are reasonable and so the fact that it isn't really aesthetically wonderful doesn't really merit any "ding" to it's rating. As the name suggests, they do serve several types of Pho (large bowls of soup with all kinds of goodies) that I've never personally tried, but they look interesting and smell very good. If nothing else, the eggrolls ensure that I will go back again and again.
(5)chris b.
Very very good Vietnamese food. Great service, good Pho and noodle dishes. Another poster mentioned my favorite asian dish in town...Gà Kho Gùng (pot chicken simmered with ginger and fish sauce in a clay pot and accompanied by steamed rice)....a really great dish. Service is friendly, fast and attentive. One knock....The mens room smells like it needs to be bombed with bleach.
(4)Benjamin V.
when you're stuck in Rochester, MN and you're really craving a hot bowl of pho, this will do. it certainly doesn't compare to the many local vietnamese delis that pepper most Seattle neighborhoods, but it will give you your pho fix on those cold and/or rainy days.
(3)Patty W.
Not sure why this place has 3 dollar signs. Most of the dinners are under $10. Anyhow, we have always had a good meal here. Being a white girl from the Midwest, I can't say I can compare it to many other Vietnamese restaurants. What I do know is that we always get tasty flavorful fresh tasting good. Tonight I had rice noodles with grilled beef and shrimp. Delicious. My kids love the food too, which makes us happy since it's good healthy food. Like some Yelpers said, the ambiance could be better, but their tasty, non-greasy, relatively inexpensive food more than makes up for it.
(4)Elena H.
At Rochester, apparently not too many people use yelp and only a few restaurants have reviews. After going to the doctor and found out that one of us had a high cholesterol level, we called around for restaurants that served fish. This is one of them. They serve 2 fish dishes, one claypot and one soup. Both of them were good. However, service was only so so.
(4)Bo W.
They really deserve 3 1/2 stars, but we're gonna round down on this one. Pho Tai is a nice clean place with average food. We had Chicken and Seafood Pho and shared the Shrimp Lo Mein. I was disappointed when the Seafood Pho claimed that it had crab in it, when in actuality it was imitation crab. Both soups were good, but we couldn't tell a difference in the broths. They tasted the same, just with different meats in them. The Shrimp Lo Mein was good, but we've had better. The fish tanks were awesome. We've never seen such well maintained aquariums in a restaurant before.
(3)Charles P.
Got lost in Roch and found this place by accident. Excellent service. Food was hot and well prepared. Filled with Vietnamese people,so what does that say? Could use some cosmetic updating, but it was fine.
(4)Dennis L.
There are really two options for pho in Rochester and Pho Tai is a great alternative. Like every other pho joint, their 'pho dac biet' (I believe they call it 'pho tai') is the all inclusive bowl that includes brisket, meatball, tendon, and tripe. Compared to the other restaurant, Pho Tai has a much better broth that is very authentic. I would say their portion size could be improved in addition to the amount of protein that is added to the dish. Without the summer rolls I would have left unsatisfied. Service was otherwise quick and friendly. Their menu of authentic Vietnamese items seem to be much larger than the alternative as well. As other have mentioned in the other reviews, the entire Asian community seems to dine here (I heard both Viet and Chinese). The interior was clearly dated, as you would expect of any Asian restaurant with great food. I will certainly be back!
(3)Cindy D.
I came here with my brothers and sisters for lunch and this place was packed! We got the big table because our family size is enormous. lol. Seems like everyone in the Asian community come here for lunch because everyone was speaking loud in their native language. It was almost like I was eating at home instead of at a restaurant. I ordered egg noodle soup with seafood. I thought It was ok, nothing special. I am not a big fan of eating pho at a restaurant, but homemade is always the best! We had spring rolls as well and it was ok. The space is big. The staff was nice and quick. We got our food right away! Their parking lot is a little small because it shared with other shops.
(3)Rosalina C.
This place is OKAY. Pho Chau is definitely my preference but I'd come here if they're closed. They're a little pricier and give you less for your money but it's not a bad place to eat. The service is tolerable. My one complaint is that the place could smell better. I understand it's an Asian restaurant but it doesn't need to smell musty too.
(3)Andi S.
While the food & service were both pretty good, the restaurant itself could use a bit of updating and a really good deep clean (doesn't seem like much has been updated since it was a pizza place over 15 years ago). The place just looks worn out, dingy, a little dirty, and the tables were quite sticky. I think if I return, I'll stick to take out.
(2)Aaron S.
They really do have good food! I have been here only twice now but this last time I had some really bad service. At one point I wanted to know what was going on with my food up at the till, my waitress completely blew me off walked right by me and didn't say a thing. Hopefully I won't have issues like that in the future. The only other problem I have is ordering food their menu has got well over 100 something choices for food.
(3)Jim T.
Excellent food. Simple menu. Good service. I had the noodle bowl and the rice noodles were cooked perfectly. Only 4 stars as carpet is worn and looks filthy in high traffic areas. Larger dining area than I had imagined.
(4)Scott H.
Holy frigid noodles, Batman! We've ordered take out here several times and it was always delicious and HOT. But last night we went for dinner at 8pm (they close at 10) Our food came out quick...too quick. I had pork over vermicelli and both the meat and noodles were stone cold. My wife had rich with pork and veggies. Both stone cold. When the waitress came over and was informed of the coldness she put her hand on the bottom of the plate and said "feel bottom, it's warm" errr, well the food was cold and isn't that the point? She reheated it (microwave) When we were cashing out I told the waitress I thought they usually cooked everything to order. She confirmed this. I then asked why the food was cold then. She said it was hot when she got it from the kitchen, but it must have cooled down quick. Ummm, a hot meal will not cool during the 20 foot walk from the kitchen to our table. Sorry Pho Tai, you lost a couple of frequent customer who will now give Pho Chau all our business. We shall not return.
(2)Phil Z.
Fast service, with incredible, authentic food. We've eaten here many times, and enjoyed it every time . Go for the Vietnamese dishes (as opposed to the more Chinese style stir fry)
(5)steve m.
Ok flavor but not the best in town. Slow service and the pho portion was about half that you would get elsewhere. I will go back to try other things on the menu.
(3)Kit H.
Finally got a chance to get into this place & I wasn't disappointed at all. Although I did not try everything on the menu, I did try their pho. & IMO it's not wrong to judge a Vietnamese restaurant on the quality of their most popular dish. The broth was light, but very flavorful. & given the fact that it was -3°F outside, it hit the spot. The service was fast, the tables clean. Overall, my experience was great & I'd definitely stop by again.
(5)Branden P.
VARY good Pho, I would definitely com back here with my family, I would recommend this restaurant to all the people that like Vietnamese food
(5)Jen R.
I am new to the wonderful experience that is pho. I have tried several places and so far this is the best pho in Rochester. The other food looks good but I wouldn't know since I always get the pho! The decor is eclectic but it grows on you. They have also hired more wait staff , so service has sped up. All the new people have been very polite. I eat here several times a month.
(5)Molly F.
Personally this is my favorite restaurant for eastern cuisine. It's not the kind of place your going to find sesame chicken or Mongolian beef. I very seldom order the appetizers, they just aren't as good as the entrees themselves, pre-made I believe. I always try to have something different at each visit, although the pork hot pot in fish sauce is my favorite. The soups are very fragrant and is served piping hot. This restaurant isn't about the atmosphere and service, it's about the food. I believe it's family owned, and yea the decor is outdated but there's a place to sit and it's clean so ok fine with that. The fish tanks are large and super clean!! (In comparison to a previous review) I definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting to try something new!! It's Pho-nominal!
(5)Mary Y.
Lunch time, A table for 2 ATMOSPHERE: Spacious dining area. Lots of fish tanks with interesting looking fish. Tanks are not very clean though. Place is dated and dingy. Needs a new face lift for sure. SERVICE: Good nuff. FOOD: Firstly, My husband said the pho was very good. Pho is his favorite food. I tasted his broth and you can really taste the beefy stewed beef bones. It was pretty good. Secondly, we also ordered the appetizer sampler plate. It was NOT good. It was very clear that everything they brought us was re-fried from a frozen state. Needless to say, we didn't finish it. The chicken wings were dry and old. Even the won ton filling was dry and chewy. It was NOT FRESH. Thumbs down to appetizers. I was also hoping to get some Vietnamese sandwiches and boba smoothies....but they didn't offer any on their menu. OVERALL: I was disappointed with everything but the pho. Thus the second star given. RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GUESTS: ONLY eat pho. RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OWNERS: Cook fresh food please!
(2)sum l.
I used to come here before pho Chau was open. But now their food are going down hill.. They just don't care anymore . Service are always lack, but the #69 used to be my favorite .. But not any more.
(2)Leigh B.
Great little neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant. I've been here a couple of times while visiting my parents, and I think it's a great place to go with a small group. There's a small vegetarian section in the menu, but I actually ordered the #52 both times--rice vermicelli with stir-fried tofu and vegetables. It is absolutely delicious; sweet, filling and satisfying. My SO got the #53 (same dish but with mock duck instead of tofu) and thought that was great too. Obviously it's dicey for a vegetarian to go to a Pho restaurant, so I thought it was great that there were good options for us leaf-eaters as well. Service and atmosphere were fine and standard. No complaints. I found it to be a fine place to sit back, enjoy some food that's a bit out-of-the-ordinary (for Rochester at least) and catch up with friends and family.
(4)Sergio G.
I'm used to San Francisco Vietnamese Resto's, this was by far on par with many Pho places I have eaten at. I had the Broken Rice dish with grilled chicken and it was delicious, will definitely come again. Nothing fancy about this resto, just good and plentiful food.
(4)Courtney K.
Food was alright. Service was horrible! They may have been shorted staffed as there was only one server/waiter that seemed to be helping everyone. We had to wait a good 10 mins to order after we were brought out our drinks and menus. Once we were finished eating it took her forver to give us our bill! I don't think I will be going back there!
(2)Foxfeather Z.
Very good vietnamese egg rolls and sesame beef appetizers - great ginger chicken hot pot, pho soups, and various dishes. Flavorful and very quickly served!
(4)Robert S.
(Haven't eaten here since early 2011 so the place may have changed. Caveat lector and all that.) Pho Tai is as good as it gets in Northwest Rochester. Their spring rolls are tremendous, the salad is as you would expect, and that pho ... so warming, so delicious. Try it; you'll want more. The menu is expansive and most entrees can be made to order. The community will be at a loss if this place goes out of business.
(4)Sparrow K.
Appetizer review only. My dad an I grabbed an appetizer sampler and some spring rolls to take home.The service was fine. The food was bad. (I notice a few reviews warn customers about this portion of the menu). Spring rolls had a fishy odor, and were overall bland with some tough bits of meat and yucko sauce. The sampler was overfried, oily, tough meats in various shapes and sizes.
(1)Stefanie L.
Having been to some fantastic pho places in California, I'd say this place ranks right up there with some of the best pho I've had. I feel like the service is always quick and the servers are friendly. The pho is fantastic, is always piping hot, and always very flavorful. The spring rolls are also quite good. I've only ever gotten the spring rolls and the pho, so I can't really comment on the rest of the extensive menu. This is always a must-stop when Simon and I are in Rochester for a visit. :)
(5)Edina N.
Came here because pho chau was closed. I would say I'm not really a fan of this restaurant. Prices are little high, decorations are hideous, staff isn't friendly. Save your money and avoid this place.
(2)Susan T.
Many Asians ate here and so it must be a great place to eat, right? Well, I didn't follow the suggestions by other Yelpers and so maybe this gives reason for my 3 star experience. We started our meal with the ultimate platter - it was pretty much all deep fried. Their crab rangoons . . .were rangoons sans crab and very thickly deep fried. The spring rolls were deep fried and flaky to a crisp with oil squeezing out between my teeth. Our entrees, the half-game hen and a spicy broccoli stir fry, tasted like something I could cook. Next time I come, I'm going to try their Vietnamese Iced Coffee and their Ga Kho Gung dish.
(3)Jason W.
Best pho place in town. Steamy hot pho with 20+ selections to choose from. If you don't want pho there are plenty of other choices from chow mein to plenty of meat and rice dishes. Fast service for sure. Only complaint is they should add more veggies and noodles but I am sure if you asked they would give. Pho starts at $7.75. Also for common customers they usually give more as they know the tips are better. Plenty of fish tanks to check out while you are there as well and a nice side dining area with lots of natural lighting.
(4)Ben R.
Walking through the door, the ambiance was similar to that of the local VFW. The wood paneling, large bar (which simply serves as the front counter), and the multiple ceiling fans with colored lights provide and interesting environment. For an appetizer, I ordered the spring rolls, which were cool and refreshing, with just the right amount of shrimp and pork. Interestingly, the peanut sauce was served warm with the springrolls, this was the first time I had experienced that. For my meal, I ordered the Bun Ga Nuong (chicken, rice vermicelli, vegetables). I was impressed with the way in which the vegetables were cut thinly, almost shaved, and mixed in. It created more of a blended taste than I'm used to. The portions are more than enough for one person, it is served in a large bowl. Overall, I would definitely eat here again.
(4)Ashley L.
Has been better. I will probably try to find a new place for this style of food. The place seems to not be kept up, looks kind of dirty. Service was not very good. Took a while to get our order even taken, and when we did it was from another worker who got up from sitting at a table eating. Asked for an add in on my order and was told I would be charged for a whole other order, not the extra difference, which I thought was a little unreasonable. Quality of the food is not what I have received in the past. Also the meat and seafood portions seem more stingy as of late.
(1)michael d.
I've been to a lot of good Vietnamese restaurants in California and this place ranks right up there with the best. I did not try the pho, but I did like the spring rolls wrapped in rice paper for an appetizer. For the main course, I had the bbq pork, spring roll vermicelli bowl. Very good with mint and some vegetables. If you've never tried fresh young coconut water, you must order a glass. It is a nice touch to throw in several pieces of the soft coconut meat. The restaurant itself is large and comfortable, definitely not a hole-in-the-wall. Service was prompt and courteous. I'll go back for sure.
(5)Frank A.
I have always had a good meal and the service has been what I would expect. If you want to stray from the typical Asian food and try some Vietnamese food ...its worth a try.
(4)Rosalina C.
This place is OKAY. Pho Chau is definitely my preference but I'd come here if they're closed. They're a little pricier and give you less for your money but it's not a bad place to eat. The service is tolerable. My one complaint is that the place could smell better. I understand it's an Asian restaurant but it doesn't need to smell musty too.
(3)Andi S.
While the food & service were both pretty good, the restaurant itself could use a bit of updating and a really good deep clean (doesn't seem like much has been updated since it was a pizza place over 15 years ago). The place just looks worn out, dingy, a little dirty, and the tables were quite sticky. I think if I return, I'll stick to take out.
(2)Aaron S.
They really do have good food! I have been here only twice now but this last time I had some really bad service. At one point I wanted to know what was going on with my food up at the till, my waitress completely blew me off walked right by me and didn't say a thing. Hopefully I won't have issues like that in the future. The only other problem I have is ordering food their menu has got well over 100 something choices for food.
(3)Jim T.
Excellent food. Simple menu. Good service. I had the noodle bowl and the rice noodles were cooked perfectly. Only 4 stars as carpet is worn and looks filthy in high traffic areas. Larger dining area than I had imagined.
(4)Charles P.
Got lost in Roch and found this place by accident. Excellent service. Food was hot and well prepared. Filled with Vietnamese people,so what does that say? Could use some cosmetic updating, but it was fine.
(4)Dennis L.
There are really two options for pho in Rochester and Pho Tai is a great alternative. Like every other pho joint, their 'pho dac biet' (I believe they call it 'pho tai') is the all inclusive bowl that includes brisket, meatball, tendon, and tripe. Compared to the other restaurant, Pho Tai has a much better broth that is very authentic. I would say their portion size could be improved in addition to the amount of protein that is added to the dish. Without the summer rolls I would have left unsatisfied. Service was otherwise quick and friendly. Their menu of authentic Vietnamese items seem to be much larger than the alternative as well. As other have mentioned in the other reviews, the entire Asian community seems to dine here (I heard both Viet and Chinese). The interior was clearly dated, as you would expect of any Asian restaurant with great food. I will certainly be back!
(3)Cindy D.
I came here with my brothers and sisters for lunch and this place was packed! We got the big table because our family size is enormous. lol. Seems like everyone in the Asian community come here for lunch because everyone was speaking loud in their native language. It was almost like I was eating at home instead of at a restaurant. I ordered egg noodle soup with seafood. I thought It was ok, nothing special. I am not a big fan of eating pho at a restaurant, but homemade is always the best! We had spring rolls as well and it was ok. The space is big. The staff was nice and quick. We got our food right away! Their parking lot is a little small because it shared with other shops.
(3)Bo W.
They really deserve 3 1/2 stars, but we're gonna round down on this one. Pho Tai is a nice clean place with average food. We had Chicken and Seafood Pho and shared the Shrimp Lo Mein. I was disappointed when the Seafood Pho claimed that it had crab in it, when in actuality it was imitation crab. Both soups were good, but we couldn't tell a difference in the broths. They tasted the same, just with different meats in them. The Shrimp Lo Mein was good, but we've had better. The fish tanks were awesome. We've never seen such well maintained aquariums in a restaurant before.
(3)Scott H.
Holy frigid noodles, Batman! We've ordered take out here several times and it was always delicious and HOT. But last night we went for dinner at 8pm (they close at 10) Our food came out quick...too quick. I had pork over vermicelli and both the meat and noodles were stone cold. My wife had rich with pork and veggies. Both stone cold. When the waitress came over and was informed of the coldness she put her hand on the bottom of the plate and said "feel bottom, it's warm" errr, well the food was cold and isn't that the point? She reheated it (microwave) When we were cashing out I told the waitress I thought they usually cooked everything to order. She confirmed this. I then asked why the food was cold then. She said it was hot when she got it from the kitchen, but it must have cooled down quick. Ummm, a hot meal will not cool during the 20 foot walk from the kitchen to our table. Sorry Pho Tai, you lost a couple of frequent customer who will now give Pho Chau all our business. We shall not return.
(2)Phil Z.
Fast service, with incredible, authentic food. We've eaten here many times, and enjoyed it every time . Go for the Vietnamese dishes (as opposed to the more Chinese style stir fry)
(5)steve m.
Ok flavor but not the best in town. Slow service and the pho portion was about half that you would get elsewhere. I will go back to try other things on the menu.
(3)Kit H.
Finally got a chance to get into this place & I wasn't disappointed at all. Although I did not try everything on the menu, I did try their pho. & IMO it's not wrong to judge a Vietnamese restaurant on the quality of their most popular dish. The broth was light, but very flavorful. & given the fact that it was -3°F outside, it hit the spot. The service was fast, the tables clean. Overall, my experience was great & I'd definitely stop by again.
(5)Branden P.
VARY good Pho, I would definitely com back here with my family, I would recommend this restaurant to all the people that like Vietnamese food
(5)Jen R.
I am new to the wonderful experience that is pho. I have tried several places and so far this is the best pho in Rochester. The other food looks good but I wouldn't know since I always get the pho! The decor is eclectic but it grows on you. They have also hired more wait staff , so service has sped up. All the new people have been very polite. I eat here several times a month.
(5)Molly F.
Personally this is my favorite restaurant for eastern cuisine. It's not the kind of place your going to find sesame chicken or Mongolian beef. I very seldom order the appetizers, they just aren't as good as the entrees themselves, pre-made I believe. I always try to have something different at each visit, although the pork hot pot in fish sauce is my favorite. The soups are very fragrant and is served piping hot. This restaurant isn't about the atmosphere and service, it's about the food. I believe it's family owned, and yea the decor is outdated but there's a place to sit and it's clean so ok fine with that. The fish tanks are large and super clean!! (In comparison to a previous review) I definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting to try something new!! It's Pho-nominal!
(5)Mary Y.
Lunch time, A table for 2 ATMOSPHERE: Spacious dining area. Lots of fish tanks with interesting looking fish. Tanks are not very clean though. Place is dated and dingy. Needs a new face lift for sure. SERVICE: Good nuff. FOOD: Firstly, My husband said the pho was very good. Pho is his favorite food. I tasted his broth and you can really taste the beefy stewed beef bones. It was pretty good. Secondly, we also ordered the appetizer sampler plate. It was NOT good. It was very clear that everything they brought us was re-fried from a frozen state. Needless to say, we didn't finish it. The chicken wings were dry and old. Even the won ton filling was dry and chewy. It was NOT FRESH. Thumbs down to appetizers. I was also hoping to get some Vietnamese sandwiches and boba smoothies....but they didn't offer any on their menu. OVERALL: I was disappointed with everything but the pho. Thus the second star given. RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GUESTS: ONLY eat pho. RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OWNERS: Cook fresh food please!
(2)sum l.
I used to come here before pho Chau was open. But now their food are going down hill.. They just don't care anymore . Service are always lack, but the #69 used to be my favorite .. But not any more.
(2)Edina N.
Came here because pho chau was closed. I would say I'm not really a fan of this restaurant. Prices are little high, decorations are hideous, staff isn't friendly. Save your money and avoid this place.
(2)Leigh B.
Great little neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant. I've been here a couple of times while visiting my parents, and I think it's a great place to go with a small group. There's a small vegetarian section in the menu, but I actually ordered the #52 both times--rice vermicelli with stir-fried tofu and vegetables. It is absolutely delicious; sweet, filling and satisfying. My SO got the #53 (same dish but with mock duck instead of tofu) and thought that was great too. Obviously it's dicey for a vegetarian to go to a Pho restaurant, so I thought it was great that there were good options for us leaf-eaters as well. Service and atmosphere were fine and standard. No complaints. I found it to be a fine place to sit back, enjoy some food that's a bit out-of-the-ordinary (for Rochester at least) and catch up with friends and family.
(4)Sergio G.
I'm used to San Francisco Vietnamese Resto's, this was by far on par with many Pho places I have eaten at. I had the Broken Rice dish with grilled chicken and it was delicious, will definitely come again. Nothing fancy about this resto, just good and plentiful food.
(4)Courtney K.
Food was alright. Service was horrible! They may have been shorted staffed as there was only one server/waiter that seemed to be helping everyone. We had to wait a good 10 mins to order after we were brought out our drinks and menus. Once we were finished eating it took her forver to give us our bill! I don't think I will be going back there!
(2)Foxfeather Z.
Very good vietnamese egg rolls and sesame beef appetizers - great ginger chicken hot pot, pho soups, and various dishes. Flavorful and very quickly served!
(4)Robert S.
(Haven't eaten here since early 2011 so the place may have changed. Caveat lector and all that.) Pho Tai is as good as it gets in Northwest Rochester. Their spring rolls are tremendous, the salad is as you would expect, and that pho ... so warming, so delicious. Try it; you'll want more. The menu is expansive and most entrees can be made to order. The community will be at a loss if this place goes out of business.
(4)Sparrow K.
Appetizer review only. My dad an I grabbed an appetizer sampler and some spring rolls to take home.The service was fine. The food was bad. (I notice a few reviews warn customers about this portion of the menu). Spring rolls had a fishy odor, and were overall bland with some tough bits of meat and yucko sauce. The sampler was overfried, oily, tough meats in various shapes and sizes.
(1)Stefanie L.
Having been to some fantastic pho places in California, I'd say this place ranks right up there with some of the best pho I've had. I feel like the service is always quick and the servers are friendly. The pho is fantastic, is always piping hot, and always very flavorful. The spring rolls are also quite good. I've only ever gotten the spring rolls and the pho, so I can't really comment on the rest of the extensive menu. This is always a must-stop when Simon and I are in Rochester for a visit. :)
(5)Susan T.
Many Asians ate here and so it must be a great place to eat, right? Well, I didn't follow the suggestions by other Yelpers and so maybe this gives reason for my 3 star experience. We started our meal with the ultimate platter - it was pretty much all deep fried. Their crab rangoons . . .were rangoons sans crab and very thickly deep fried. The spring rolls were deep fried and flaky to a crisp with oil squeezing out between my teeth. Our entrees, the half-game hen and a spicy broccoli stir fry, tasted like something I could cook. Next time I come, I'm going to try their Vietnamese Iced Coffee and their Ga Kho Gung dish.
(3)Jason W.
Best pho place in town. Steamy hot pho with 20+ selections to choose from. If you don't want pho there are plenty of other choices from chow mein to plenty of meat and rice dishes. Fast service for sure. Only complaint is they should add more veggies and noodles but I am sure if you asked they would give. Pho starts at $7.75. Also for common customers they usually give more as they know the tips are better. Plenty of fish tanks to check out while you are there as well and a nice side dining area with lots of natural lighting.
(4)Ben R.
Walking through the door, the ambiance was similar to that of the local VFW. The wood paneling, large bar (which simply serves as the front counter), and the multiple ceiling fans with colored lights provide and interesting environment. For an appetizer, I ordered the spring rolls, which were cool and refreshing, with just the right amount of shrimp and pork. Interestingly, the peanut sauce was served warm with the springrolls, this was the first time I had experienced that. For my meal, I ordered the Bun Ga Nuong (chicken, rice vermicelli, vegetables). I was impressed with the way in which the vegetables were cut thinly, almost shaved, and mixed in. It created more of a blended taste than I'm used to. The portions are more than enough for one person, it is served in a large bowl. Overall, I would definitely eat here again.
(4)Ashley L.
Has been better. I will probably try to find a new place for this style of food. The place seems to not be kept up, looks kind of dirty. Service was not very good. Took a while to get our order even taken, and when we did it was from another worker who got up from sitting at a table eating. Asked for an add in on my order and was told I would be charged for a whole other order, not the extra difference, which I thought was a little unreasonable. Quality of the food is not what I have received in the past. Also the meat and seafood portions seem more stingy as of late.
(1)michael d.
I've been to a lot of good Vietnamese restaurants in California and this place ranks right up there with the best. I did not try the pho, but I did like the spring rolls wrapped in rice paper for an appetizer. For the main course, I had the bbq pork, spring roll vermicelli bowl. Very good with mint and some vegetables. If you've never tried fresh young coconut water, you must order a glass. It is a nice touch to throw in several pieces of the soft coconut meat. The restaurant itself is large and comfortable, definitely not a hole-in-the-wall. Service was prompt and courteous. I'll go back for sure.
(5)Ryan N.
I have been coming Pho Tai every Tuesday since they opened. The spring rolls are an absolute treat. The egg rolls, fried yes, absolutely the best, yes. Be sure to try 51, 63, 66, and 38. These are just a few that come to mind. The service is always fast, take in or take out. Definitely a place to check out if you haven't yet.
(5)Thomas S.
The food here is ok and I would have given a 4 star rating if it wasn't for the terrible service. Actually one employee in particular, I think she is the owner who has been quite rude to me on multiple occasions. I asked for a price on the phone and she blew up on me. I would not have gone back if it wasn't for the delicious cream cheese wantons. She needs to get her act togethor.
(2)Sujan P.
It's, until recently, the only viet food joint in town (apart from the grocery stores that have food available like Asia Pacific Market). Touts that it's authentic Vietnamese cuisine, I'm skeptical... Canh Chua Tom- It was ok, kinda pricey, and for the price I would expect hardcore vietnamese style. Nope, sure it had the basics--tomato, pineapple, sprouts...but celery!?! Celery in canh chua? Are you kidding me? Gross! And there wasn't any bac ha (taro stalk-a key ingredient because the mesh network of the stalk is like a sponge), or any of the traditional herbs served with it (basil, culantro (ngo gai), water paddy (ngo om). At the end, there was a long silvery piece of hair in it. Believe it or not, I really don't care when I find hair considering all the other stuff that's probably in the dish! Grilled beef with broken rice- really really good! I did see a roach scurry on my table when I first went there many months ago. It was really small. But made me feel like it was authentic! :)
(2)Tom C.
My favorite place in Rochester! I've lived on the East Coast and West Coast for a total of 8 years and every time I come home to visit my parents, this is the first place I want to go eat. Great pho, great service, reliable, fast, consistent, comfortable atmosphere, relatively inexpensive. I always get the pho, iced coffee, and spring rolls.
(5)Karen T.
I used to eat a lot of Vietnamese food when I lived in Houston. The food here was tasty, but different than what I'm used to. The thit nuong (bbq pork) was a little pink although fully cooked - kind of like a char siu. Spring rolls were also tasty, but the requisite nuoc leo dipping sauce was more of a cornstarch/sticky base rather than the thick sauce I'm used to. I'd still go back if I happen to be in the area.
(3)Patty W.
Not sure why this place has 3 dollar signs. Most of the dinners are under $10. Anyhow, we have always had a good meal here. Being a white girl from the Midwest, I can't say I can compare it to many other Vietnamese restaurants. What I do know is that we always get tasty flavorful fresh tasting good. Tonight I had rice noodles with grilled beef and shrimp. Delicious. My kids love the food too, which makes us happy since it's good healthy food. Like some Yelpers said, the ambiance could be better, but their tasty, non-greasy, relatively inexpensive food more than makes up for it.
(4)Elena H.
At Rochester, apparently not too many people use yelp and only a few restaurants have reviews. After going to the doctor and found out that one of us had a high cholesterol level, we called around for restaurants that served fish. This is one of them. They serve 2 fish dishes, one claypot and one soup. Both of them were good. However, service was only so so.
(4)Lim K.
This restaurant was not the best place I have ever had Vietnamese food but what we ordered was quite good. My husband and I ordered a few dishes to share: The chargrilled beef on the vermicelli noodles with vegetables was a little bland. However, when we mixed it with hot pepper oil, it tasted much better. The combination of pork and shrimp sauté was delicious. When we mixed it with some hot sauce it almost tasted like a Korean dish. The third dish, which was a clear noodle soup with seafood, was very good. The main reason I like to go to Vietnamese restaurants is that they always have a few different sauces on the table. I especially love the hot pepper oil. It has a good taste and contains no salt. There was only one waitress on duty. The restaurant was not crowded but they had enough customers to keep her busy. It took a while to get our hot tea but once the food was served the waitress made every effort to get things we needed. If we happen to be in Rochester, we will definitely go back to Pho Tai. From just tasting a few dishes, we like their food much better than any Vietnamese restaurant where we live.
(4)Irene D.
I went here while visiting my boyfriend's family in Rochester with his parents in tow. The good Doctor and the Mrs. enjoyed their food. They do well appealing to the local demographic's palate. I had the ph tai bò viên, which is my standard choice. The soup here is actually pretty decent. I've had much, much worse in the Twin Cities, including contender for best ph in the city by Mpls Mag, Quang Restaurant. But yes there is decent Vietnamese food in Rochester!
(4)Ms. D.
This was one of the first places I had food from upon moving to Roch. We had a working lunch at work and the boss went and fetched food from Pho Hoa. These days, I am somewhat a "regular" there, to the point that my companion and I go in and the waitress knows we will be having eggrolls and Vietnamese Iced Coffee to start. From there, I usually get the Combination Fried Rice which is usually at least 2, maybe 3 meals worth of rice with beef, pork, shrimp and artificial crab in it. Sometimes, just to be different, I will get the asparagus/crab soup or something else from the menu, but I tend to stick with the eggroll, fried rice and iced coffee combo. I've never had anything there that I didn't like and would go just for the eggrolls which are like the ones my friend from Vietnam's mom would make whenever I would visit their house. They are a "comfort food" for me. Honestly, the only negative thing I can really say about the place is that it doesn't have alot of ambiance, but the food is good, prices are reasonable and so the fact that it isn't really aesthetically wonderful doesn't really merit any "ding" to it's rating. As the name suggests, they do serve several types of Pho (large bowls of soup with all kinds of goodies) that I've never personally tried, but they look interesting and smell very good. If nothing else, the eggrolls ensure that I will go back again and again.
(5)chris b.
Very very good Vietnamese food. Great service, good Pho and noodle dishes. Another poster mentioned my favorite asian dish in town...Gà Kho Gùng (pot chicken simmered with ginger and fish sauce in a clay pot and accompanied by steamed rice)....a really great dish. Service is friendly, fast and attentive. One knock....The mens room smells like it needs to be bombed with bleach.
(4)Benjamin V.
when you're stuck in Rochester, MN and you're really craving a hot bowl of pho, this will do. it certainly doesn't compare to the many local vietnamese delis that pepper most Seattle neighborhoods, but it will give you your pho fix on those cold and/or rainy days.
(3)Brandon B.
You can't beat the price for the large amount of food.
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