Pho Green Papaya & Deli
402 SE Martin Luther King Blvd, Portland, OR, 97214
Pho Green Papaya & Deli Menu
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Address :
402 SE Martin Luther King Blvd
Portland, OR, 97214 - Phone (503) 231-1431
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 10:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Travis T.
Pho Green Papaya is closed.
(1)Ay M.
PROS: Great location right on MLK and near downtown PDX. Plenty of parking Spacious outdoor patio Variety of asian beers CONS: Overpriced Low quality food Poor & slow customer service Two stars in my opinion because poor and slow customer service in conjuction with low quality overpriced food outweighs a great location etc. **The waitress was inattentive to us (myself and 1 other person) although the restuarant was empty. **Spinrg Rolls were huge but 95% vermicilli rice
(2)Laura G.
Deliscious pho. The beef pho was excellent and the owner very sweet. Will be back to try other dishes.
(4)Horace H.
My son and I are the only people in the place and its still slow as molasses with service ... the Pho is decent ...not great - ACTUALLY VERY MEDIOCRE ... second time there and just not going go again ~
(2)Venus K.
Delicious! My go to pho place in the area. I like the chicken pho. Very soothing. Fresh ingredients and delicious broth.
(5)Sparky M.
Worst meal ever served to me anywhere in the world. Absolutely the most foul, horrid, nasty and overpriced foetid plate that I've ever paid for. I have eaten school lunch and mess hall chow that was five stars plus compared to this awful mess. No one of the wait staff ever checked on us. Not one soul inquired about why our plates appeared untouched after many minutes. It was ALL I could do to not laugh out loud when I was offered a box for take away. If you need to eat cuz you are in that part of town- save yourself the raspy experience of the Green Papaya. Head up Grand a half block and get a really good meal at the original Nicholas Restaurant. Or start a fast for the time being. I am not one to write these things but the po'ass Faux GreenPapsmear was so terrible I had to do it so that you would be warned. Stay away.
(1)Thomas C.
The owners are the sweetest people and the food is delicious!! That is all!
(5)Marie P.
The owner here is so nice and very attentive! I absolutely LOVE their Udon Green Curry Soup!!! It's amazing!!!!
(5)Trieste D.
The service was very friendly, but the food was not great. I had the vegetarian pho, but I was wary from the beginning since the veggies listed were bell pepper and string beans. Sure enough, they did not work well in the dish. Blegh. Plus, instead of scallions, there were lots of big chunks of yellow onion. I would have given fewer stars if not for the warmth of the host.
(3)Nichole D.
Very good place for pho. I had the tom yum pho, which I've never seen anywhere else. It was loaded with veggies, avocado, red pepper, onion, cilantro, mushroom and shrimp. The tom yum wasn't too over powering which was nice. The spring rolls were delicious. Priced well and they have a nice little outdoor patio. Service could have been a little more attentive, got a kind of a deer-in-the-headlights feel from them.
(4)Michelle K.
I'm really surprised by the many negative reviews on here. Maybe some of the reviewers could elaborate? I get that they are not as vegan friendly now, maybe? But otherwise, I don't understand why people say it sucks now. In my experience (I go here for lunch about once a month), it's quite tasty. I've never had the Tom Yum Pho anywhere else -- the chunks of fresh avocado's a great treat, and the shrimp are plentiful. The salad rolls have a lot of different tastes going on for them, including a strong mint kick. Food presentation's attractive. There's not much going on in terms of interior decor, though they do have a heated patio eating area. It's definitely not mediocre enough to explain the... strong opinions of fellow yelpers... so sirs/ma'ams, I implore you, if this place is worth just one star, couldja explain why?
(4)Joel C.
@Chad P. -- Amen brother. Can I use curse words on Yelp? Well, here goes: Fuck this place. I'm so pissed that I checked the box saying the place costs $60 bucks per person. I'm so pissed that if you truly want to eat here, I'll cook you dinner for free in
(1)Bethany M.
Any reviewer that speaks poorly of this place has no clue what goood food is. This is by far the best Pho I have had in Portland....and I've tried a wide variety. It is always sooooo wonderful, full of flavor, fresh quality meats, truly healing food. The giant Thai Iced teas are also the best I've had, rich and delicious. The mango salad is a work of art! The service is attentive and graceful.
(5)Joselito C.
After living in Portland for 2 1/2 plus years. I believe i've found my Go To Pho spot. I like the variety. I love the quaintness and laid back atmosphere. I can tell most people whom go here are regulars. Lady up front is as sweet as can be. Was only my second time coming and she remembered me right away. Love that they have Kirin and Franz on tap. It comes out cold and just the right amount of froth. I can have several. Pho came piping hot. I was surprised with the Vegan Pho. Normally consider that an Abomination. But I LOVED IT! I hope to becoming a regular and my new place to call home away from home.
(5)Joan-Carrol B.
Delicious. The pho with avocado is unusual, subtle, and tasty-fresh - my favorite. But then again, the house-made Kombucha is so good I dream about it and get cravings for it. So happy that I found this location after the one on the west side closed down. Very friendly atmosphere!
(5)Lucas S.
Can we please talk about this house made Kombucha?! I'm super into it. If you're a fan of Kombucha, I suggest you come try this. It's got sweet, spice, tang. It's absolutely wonderful. The little lady that works here is so sweet. She saw I was cold and offered me a seat next to a heater. But Kombucha! Yes please. Oh. I got an appetizer that wasn't bad. The chicken roll. I'd eat it again.
(4)Miya A.
Pretty tasty pho. Plus the staff is very cute! I definitely like to come here when I get a chance to step away from work for lunch.
(4)Sophia T.
separate vegan menu: hell yes delicious vegan pho: hell yes (I was so happy! had vegan pho in CA and hated it) kimchi fried rice: mmmmmmmm going back tonight for dinner: hell yes love you!!!!
(5)Melissa R.
The most expensive mediocre salad roll in town! Advertised as the happy hour salad roll this $4 roll was merely a single roll cut in half with basically vermicelli noodles and few bean sprouts. The peanut sauce was warmed which was new for me but pleasant. The pho was good but not exceptional in any way. Two pho bowls, 2 beers and one weak salad roll for $33, never again.
(2)Anne K.
I don't rate service, ambiance, cleanliness and wait times; they are too variable. I can put up with anything if the food is good. It is all about the food- that's it. All of my ratings are based on vegan options only. Notes: This place is really good. They surprise me every time. Really flavorful food.
(5)Kelsie L.
Despite what the Yelp page says, they are open on Saturdays! Not sure of the exact hours, but I went during lunch for takeout. I was served by a kind, older Vietnamese woman. She was courteous and not intrusive. I got the regular ole beef pho. To my delight she asked how far I was traveling (answer 1 block on foot back to my desk) and assembled my order accordingly. I really appreciated that I didn't have to put my soup together myself and on the flip side I'm happy to know that if I was going much further she wouldn't have let my noodles sit in the piping hot broth and get mushy. I can't believe I have worked a block away for 6 months without checking this place out. I noticed they had an all day happy hour with lots of options ranging from 4-6 bucks. I will be back to check that out!
(4)Claire W.
Hands down my favorite Pho restaurant in Portland. We go here at least once a week. The owner is the sweetest woman ever & always remembers our orders. Fresh & delicious!
(5)Rachel H.
I absolutely love their chicken pho! Such good flavor! And an awesome patio to sit on during the summer! The dumplings were also really good - not too greasy and made with chicken and green onion. :) Yum!
(5)Asha S.
Love this place! It's quaint and cute and always has ample parking. The staff is friendly and sweet, it's usually the same woman working the register and waiting tables and she's an absolute delight. They have "happy hour" at lunch time and the food is tasty and quick. I go here often for lunch time hangouts with friends and coworkers!
(4)Caroline F.
Meh. I went to Pho Green Papaya last night with a friend and was very excited to read the menu. There are a lot of nice things to say about this place... It was a lovely evening and we enjoyed the outdoor patio, the waitress was very nice and fairly attentive and the appetizer (veggie gyoza dumplings) were tasty. Why just two stars then? Because the main courses were Bland. Bland. BLAND. My guest had the kim chee fried rice and it tasted like... Rice. Bland rice. She hardly touched it. I had the Tom Yum Pho. How could one possibly go wrong with such a delightful sounding bowl of steaminess? It was bland. I fixed it up with the array of sauces on the table but it still left me bored, unimpressed and not likely to go back.
(2)Erin A.
Love this place! It's my go-to meetup with friends for lunch during the work with place. The service is fast, the ladies who work there always remember us and are very friendly. It's my favorite place to get Pho, the broth is perfect, the chicken isn't gross and fatty and they give generous amounts of bean sprouts and basil to add in. Their pad thai, pot stickers, veggie rolls and peanut sauce are all yummy too.
(5)Lili K.
The pho I had was very bland. Not in a "needs more salt" kind of way, but it needed more flavor. Maybe the broth is too watered down? I liked the decor of the restaurant and the server was friendly but I would not eat here again given the plethora of other Pho places in Portland.
(2)AcroYoga I.
We have had the pho Tom yum, curry, spicey pho and spring rolls. Everything was delicious, so much that after dinner last night we came back for lunch today. Service was super friendly. Mega thai ice tea and fun to try the basil seed juice for something new. Great happy hour deals!
(5)John Jr. B.
Hesitant to award four stars, but after four or so visits, they've won me over with the variety of their menu. Tom Yum Pho? Spicy Beef Brisket Pho? Both are amazing and you'll be hard pressed to find these varieties anywhere nearby. The downside is that their basic pho, i.e. pho tai is average at best. Green papaya salad is hit or miss. With more misses lately than hits
(4)Frank S.
Please heed my warning...this place is NOT good. I love Vietnamese food and this barely qualifies. First of all, the place is dumpy looking (first warning). Second, the menu prices are waaay too high for Vietnamese, much less for the dumpy digs. You must have to pay extra for the location. But the Pho was really the worst. It tasted like they scooped in the MSG---how could other reviewers actually think that this is good stuff??? The mind boggles. I tried to hedge our bets by ordering Pad Thai. Yeah, I know it's ain't Vietnamese but how could they screw that up, I thought? They did! It actually smelled BAD as they brought it to the table. Some sort of off-putting vinegary order. And it contained "chunks" of chicken swimming in some sort of weird sauce. Pad Thai has sauce now??? Dreadful.
(1)Courtney S.
I've been very happy with Green Papaya. I really enjoy their Beef Pho the few times I've been here. And I will continue to come back. I thought their prices were very reasonable, as my Pho was $7.50 and my boyfriend's Tofu Teriyaki was $7.00. I'd say a $14.50 bill for two people is quite good. Sure the green walls inside are a little bright (green) and the building is older, they keep it clean inside! The service and fast and the gals worked are always friendly. Today was a great day for Pho...at Green Papaya.
(4)Bryan K.
Been following this place for a few years now and it's taken a dramatic up turn since its new management back in 2008 or so. Upon return from Phoenix, I thought I'd make a visit to see how it's changed as it's very close to work. I usually get the 3 meat combo pho, Luc Lac, or Teriyaki and I'd say; for the price it is the best it gets! The service was great and I got my refills very promptly. The atmosphere was very Portland like with very outlandish colors and warm lighting. Did I mention it was nice and toasty inside? I'd recommend Pho Green Papaya for anyone who is in a hurry for a lunch or a nice sit down dinner.
(5)Erica B.
I've eaten here a number of times and keep it simple with a vermicelli bowl with pork and spring rolls. It's never been amazing, but ok comfort food near my work. Until my last visit, I would have given it 3 stars. Last visit, my bowl was served on a plate, making it hard to combine the fish sauce dressing, noodles, greens, bean sprouts and pork. The pork was overcooked and tough. The spring rolls had essentially nothing in them. Just fried empty egg roll shell. 4 hours after eating, I got sick. Will let you make your conclusions. Sad to say I won't be going back.
(1)Catriona C.
Traipsing around an unfamiliar city can have some unfortunate consequences - fortunately, stumbling over Pho Green Papaya was not one of them. Pulling into what looked to be a very rough parking lot with Green Papaya nestled in at the back, I was pleasantly surprised when we walked through the doors to find quite an attractive looking restaurant behind it. I had my usual vermicelli - I have to admit, I am accustomed to it being presented in a bowl - where this was served on a plate, with each individual part of the meal separated neatly. The fish sauce came pre-spiked with chilli and tasted like a diluted sweet chilli sauce - a little different to what I am used to. This is not always a bad thing. Myself and my friends all enjoyed our meals here - and although the service was slow, I would go again.
(3)F. Explora L.
Not very impressed..... Unique menu, but food wasn't as tasty as I expected :/ Cute little comfy restaurant with bright green walls :) Very friendly waiter. The vietnamese iced coffee was good. The green papaya salad was okay; it was a bit over-saturated in the sweet dressing. And I wasn't impressed with the veggie pho either... The food really didn't "hit the spot".
(2)Frannie h.
It's not bad, but it isn't good. Broth is weak and and noodles were thick and all clumped together. I finished my bowl but somehow didn't feel satisfied. Portions aren't especially small, but just doesn't feel as substantial as other Pho. I will eat here again only because it is close to work. I prefer Pho Jasmine. Next time I might try a different menu item, so far I have only tried the beef pho and the spicy pho (I DO NOT recommend this- it's pho with enchilada sauce added). Beef pho is passable but nothing special.
(3)Brian G.
Intro: Don't eat here. Go eat Lebanese up the street or something. Hell, go to Taco Bell and get a chalupa. Body: My cursed friend/guitarist recommended this place our first night in Portland. We got there and were excited to be in Portland and to sit outside in nice weather for some good vietnamese food. Nothing was particularly good. I ordered the korean pancake for a starter, thinking that this place must be Korean owned and therefore they would make their own cuisine better, and it sucked. I was hungry, so I ate it, but it was undercooked, poorly seasoned, and I basically drowned it in hoisin and chili. Next I ordered a bun. My chicken was dry and overcooked, the noodles were not freshly cooked, the rolls were rubber and bland. Terrible. None of my three friends had really good food either. Two of my friends both ordered bun with rolls and had to endure eating 6 of those things. The texture made me think of what fake plastic food in a display case must taste like. Conclusion: These people don't know how to cook, but obviously hired someone to create an image/menu that makes you think they can, until it is too late and you've already been served. A good place to dine and dash. I noticed it is under new management, so I will assume when my friend ate here last year, it was genuinely good, but is now zombie vietnamese food.
(2)Carla L.
Do not order the Pad Thai. It is awful. It is basically just sticky, fat, undercooked rice noodles tossed in a sweet and sour sauce that came out of a bottle. Probably the Caravelle sweet and sour sauce with the ship logo. And it had this bright yellow colored chicken dumped on it that was barely recognizable as chicken. It didn't even look appealing. The funny party is that when I asked the server if the Pad Thai was good, she paused. She paused for a good few seconds and gave a meek, "Yyeeaaa....yes...?" response. I should have known... The papaya salad was less than okay. It was served with Sriracha sauce, which is really weird. The spice from papaya salad is supposed to come from fresh chilies and fish sauce. I don't think this papaya salad had either in it. It's sort of a cross between Thai papaya salad and Vietnamese goi. I love both, but not together like this. This place has one redeeming quality: the pho. The pho is actually dece. If I ever eat here again I will only eat the pho. You should too.
(2)Lara G.
Really good pho. Had the chicken pho and my husband had the beef tenden, although the beef tenden had way too much tenden and not enough beef. Overall pretty good, I would give it a 3.5-4 star. Would definitely come back Great service!
(4)Jay S.
The blue little shack on MLK is the place to go in Portland for vegetarian Pho. The make a flavorful soup that has helped to rekindle my faith in the ability of kitchens to combine flavors and make a faux beef and star anis broth. Apparently their regular pho is good too, but I can't speak from personal experience. The other menu items have also been good. They offer a good variety of Vietnamese cuisine, with some very creative dishes. One highlights off the top of my head is the sugarcane shrimp. The bathroom is dumpy and the neon lights inside can be a little overwhelming, but the food kicks serious booty.
(4)Rick E.
During last week's visit to PDX for the SMMR BMMR music fest at Rotturé, Pho Green Papaya was the one and only disappointing meal of the trip. The only reason we ate there is because Rotturé didn't have any on-site food, and we didn't wanna miss a single band during the awesome Friday lineup. We power-walked over there and ordered what seemed to be the fastest dishes possible....veggie pho for the lady, and chicken curry for me. The service was very slow, so I hoped that the food would be tasty enough to make up for us having to miss the Ganglians and the first two-thirds of Ty Segall's set at SMMR BMMR. Alas...it only made me more bitter about it. My girlfriend's veggie pho was passable, she said, but the only thing she could compare it to was the veggie pho at the student-run UC-Davis Coffeehouse where blandness is the law. It was certainly expensive compared to the $5 pho we enjoy so much more here in our hometown of Sacto. Unlike many SE Asian restaurants which ask patrons to specify the level of spiciness, Pho Green Papaya just talks a mean game, hyping up the spiciness of my green curry with jalapeños so much that I was kinda bracing myself. I preemptively ordered the guava juice just in case of an inferno. But it was hardly necessary. The greenness of my curry looked rather suspiciously fluorescent, too. Was it enhanced somehow just for dazzling effect? It just didn't seem natural for this kinda food to be Nickelodeon neon ectoplasmic green. At least we went back to the show satisfied with the portions.
(2)Inga B.
I agree with the other yelper, I am not sure why this place is rated so low either. I've been here almost a dozen times and will continue going as long as the beef pho continues to taste as amazing as it does. It is hands down my favorite spot for beef pho. I've never ordered anything else. Service is good, it's a small cute place. Seating outside is nice.
(5)Carmen M.
This place has new management and prior to that it was an okay place to go run during lunch time and have a bowl of hearty pho instead of a cold turkey sandwich from the cafeteria for the same price. However, since the change, there is something missing in their pho! They also had this awesome curry chicken and something changed? It's almost as if they are using generic salt or not adding enough of something.... It's still decent, but not the same. And they changed the seating so that they are trying to move away from paying directly at the counter before you pay your meal. The whole thing is just weird and agree with reviewer before me that it takes longer. Tip: Their front walkway needs some fixing! I caught one of my heels between the deck boards and about landed my face on someone's ga!
(3)Raymond B.
It should first off be noted that they are now under new ownership. And the place has gone down the tube. It's no longer enjoyable. The food isn't good, they don't even spice it anymore, it's just not worth it. Strange story: they were trying to decide if we were wanting to eat "vegan" or not, so we asked them what the difference between two dishes was. Apparently, the one made with soy milk is considered vegan, and the dish made with coconut milk is not. Huh? An
(2)Ernie C.
Probably 3.5 but I'm feeling generous this morning. This was my latest stop In my continuing quest to try and find Vietnamese close to where I live (inner SE). The building is set back from the street, with a small parking lot in the front. When facing the building, there's a large, covered patio on the right. Once you enter, the counter/cash register is directly in front of you, with some seating to the left. Not a huge space. I sat outside and ordered the bun with grilled pork and rolls. I think this was 11 or 12 bucks, which I thought was steep. When it came out, I was really surprised to see it was on a plate, practically deconstructed. The noodles were in one corner, the sprouts and green in another, and the other half of the square plate had 3 skewers of grilled pork framed by two very skinny/long spring rolls (cigarillo sized). The plate was accompanied by the standard small bowl of fish sauce/dressing. Pretty plating, but definitely not what I was expecting. Took a bit of work to remove the pork from the skewers, cut it and the spring rolls into bite size pieces, mix everything together, and drizzle some sauce on it. Pork was a little dry, though the spring rolls were good, albeit a little smaller than I was hoping for. When I went to pay, the lady working the register looked at my name on my card and asked what my ethnicity was. Ends up she had been guessing I was Korean (and she is as well), and she pointed they had a few Korean menu items (kalbi and bibimbop), though they also had some high prices - low 20s for the kalbi, and maybe 12 for the bibimbop. To be clear, I had been hoping for a bowl of bun for around 8 bucks, so this deconstructed plate for 12 was a bit of curve ball. I want to come back and try their Korean food, but my quest for Vietnamese in the SE continues . . .
(4)Cola V.
I've had better Pho, but it's a great little place that always seems to be busy. The broth is little bland, but for a quick meal or take-out and for the price it's a great place to stop in.
(2)Christy H.
Went here for lunch yesterday to get some good pho. This place is a small restaurant serving traditional vietnamese dishes. The vibe here is very friendly and there are a lot of regulars that come in. A few people popped in for "to-go" orders and the owner knew just what they wanted. She was very friendly chatting with people during lunch. Great atmosphere! The pho was off the hook! I loved the broth. There was a tiny hit of a sweet flavor and seasoning almost like a cinnamon. The meat was some of the best pho flank steak I have ever had. Fresh and super soft. They have a number of noodle dishes that looked great! I can't wait to try this place again!
(5)Doug Y.
Good place, but uhh, it's really nothing you can't get at the mall. I was going to this place for a good two years before their makeover, and while their name and appearance changed, the food stayed the same (and actually I think a few dishes got worse) while the prices went up! They did have to close at one point because of a health code violation, but those were the days when they were busting ass to get orders done. You'd see them running across the street to Sheridan's for ingredients, and now they just get the stuff shipped in. Bah. The owner is the Citizen Kane of business owners, starting off with a big heart and good intentions, but inevitably becoming more concerned about her income and appearance. And that's probably just from my perspective as one of their longer-term patrons. But if you went there when they were called Sunset Deli and used to serve sandwiches (which were also from Sheridan's and ridiculously marked up, but it was a cute effort), you'd know how much they've changed and how good their food used to be.
(3)Jon R.
I love this Thai place. I call it a Thai place because I never get the Pho, I only get the Pad Thai, which is absolutely amazing and completely unlike any Pad Thai I've ever had. It's sweet and spicy and delicious and I highly recommend you try it. I liked it better when the lunch service was counter service. Now they have a weird waiter ritual that doesnt really seem to work that well, and ends up taking a lot longer.
(5)Sean G.
I was not at all impressed with the Pho on my visit. For starters, they did not offer a top-round-only pho, which is what I prefer. So I chose the top round and brisket. I quickly discovered I'm not really a fan of brisket. The noodles were good and the broth decent (a bit greasy and flat) but their selection of condiments was lacking. I don't remember there being the super hot chili sauce I like (I thought it was a standard, the little jar with the little spoon) so I was stuck with the sauce available. I thought part of the joy of pho was being able to make your own magical combination of spices and sweetness, so I felt this lack of variety to be pretty disappointing. Finally, the small bowl I bought cost $8 (and has probably gone up, as it has at other Pho places) and was nowhere near the quality of a few other places in the area. Their other food might be really good, and the presentation was nice (as was the staff) but I just didn't care for the pho. It's such a personalized food, you might have a different experience.
(2)Ajia T.
We headed to this joint for lunch after the NW Solar Expo yesterday and the food was deeeelicious! My friends suggested it since it's close to the Convention Center and we all love the Green Papaya downtown...I guess the owner of this place used to cook at Green Papaya or something. Anyway, this place has amazing food at outstanding prices! Everything was cooked to perfection: firm, yet silky tofu; crisp and flavorful veges; big, fluffy rice; super tender meat. I really liked the spice-o-meter system here, too. Instead of mild, medium, spicy, etc., you choose from 0 to 5 teaspoons. I chose 1, to be on the safe side (I've been burned before!), which was similar to mild. The only reason this place loses a star is the ordering system. I don't mind ordering at the counter, but not when I'm going to sit down and you'll bring my drinks and meal to me eventually, anyway. I could just pick it up at the counter, instead. Or you could just take my order at the table...right? Overall, everyone at our table was abundantly satisfied and I'm sure we'll be back for more (there are too many other things to try on their menu!). Man, I can't wait to eat my leftovers today. :) Oh yeah, try the Jasmine Iced Tea!
(4)Phil M.
My 3rd review of a pho joint in Portland. Not sure why this place gets some bad reviews. I had the beef pho and it was very good. The only oddity was that it was served with lemon instead of the expected lime. It gets 4 stars only because my previous 2 pho experiences were absolutely phenomenal. But with this place being close to my office in central PDX, it's definitely worth making it a regular stop on my lunchtime rounds.
(4)Kandace B.
Crowded, run-down, cheap and known to invoke late night cravings. When I first stepped in this place, I thought I'd never come back. I did. And, I do. Often. They'll have your to-go order ready quicker that you can walk the 3 blocks to pick it up. And a vegan section on the menu! Had to change the stars on this review after change in ownership has greatly changed the menu and taste. Bummer.
(2)Kristina W.
Nice little place run by two very friendly ladies. Not sure what to order? I like the Satay Chicken.
(4)Rob N.
My food was cold and I waited too long for it, even though there was hardly anyone in there.
(2)Lindsey J.
Absolutely love the PHO here. I have searched and searched for my favorite PHO place in many cities and PHO GREEN PAPAYA could easily take the number one or two spot thus far. I crave the pho from here. I also have ordered some other type of chicken-veggie-noodle dish that was amazing so the cooks are great. The service is a bit slow...that's all.....Understandable seeming as though people love the food and it's not like they have ten people back there cooking........ The wait is well worth it.
(4)Jen J.
I've been meaning to try this place out because it had vegan pho and was close to my work. I wish I would have gone somewhere else or not been lazy and packed my noodle soup from the night before. After hearing the staff speak Korean and seeing Korean items on the menu I was curious to see how their veggie Pho tasted. Boy, was I disappointed. The broth had no flavor so I squeezed every bit of the lime juice out that I could. They just cut up some old tofu and dropped it in as an afterthought. While I tire of fried tofu, they could have marinated and baked it or something. The tofu tasted old and had some spots on it. The noodles didn't seem fresh either and I really had to work at them to get them separated. It is so obvious when something is made with pride. I recommend going to Pho PDX or Pho Jasmine for really good vegetarian pho. If you are in Hillsboro, ViVi's has a good soup and stir fried vegan noodles.
(2)Kate N.
I have no idea why this place is rated so low. I have been eating here for almost three years, yes back when it was under different ownership, and I have never once had a bad experience then, or now. When I started eating there I was an omnivore and now that I am vegan, absolutely love their vegan pho. The service isn't awesome but the ladies are always very nice and quick. I will continue to eat there every time I am in town.
(5)Anne S.
This was my first time eating pho so I don't have anything to compare this place to. However, I ordered the chicken pho and I loved that the veggies included were fresh and crisp, the service was fast and the portion was HUGE. I think next time I go I'll order either seafood or just veggies as the chicken was a bit much (I'm not much of a meat eater). I would definitely eat here again...the three stars is just based on the fact I have no other pho restaurants to compare it to.
(3)Kelly M.
Pho Green Papaya, set back from the road on MLK a bit and recognizable from its green neon sign which matches green neon lighting indoors, is a new favorite. Portions are huge, and the food is delicious. You can expect to pay under ten dollars and be stuffed, and still go home with tons of leftovers. Their menu is extensive and appetizing, and for the ethical sect, they kindly offer an impressive vegan section. The lemongrass tofu is amazing!
(4)Alfred K.
Pho Green Papaya reminds us of Pho PDX, except it wasn't as good. The cream cheese wontons are good if you like fried wonton skins... there was hardly any cream cheese in it. The vegan menu is nice to see, although I would stay away from the tofu and udon in curry soup. The soup had pineapple in it and it was so sweet it tasted like dessert - ugh. Vegan pho was decent though - not as good as Pho PDX - but it's decent. It's hard to want to come to Pho Green Papaya again in the near future especially with the construction on MLK... but pho al fresco that unlike Pho PDX is actually available past lunch time? I guess I could be convinced...
(3)Rich F.
I've been a regular at this spot since moving our office into the neighborhood about a year ago. Everything's super fresh and consistent. The broth foundation for the Pho is complex and totally delicious. I'm also a big fan of their Bun dishes, and have reveled in each of the grilled meat accompaniments. Also recommended is the house-made ginger kombucha, which the super friendly staff have learned to bring me automatically as soon as I walk in the door. Great spot! Go eat!
(4)Itty B.
I very very much enjoyed the vegetarian Pho and the quiet atmosphere mid afternoon last week. The service was friendly and timely, the Pho was delicious. Try it!!
(4)Catherine C.
Pretty good. Really nice people. The chicken pho was made with all white meat. Would definitely go back.
(3)Sarah T.
i ordered pad thai to go and when i got back to my place to eat it i was bummed. It was noodles but was not anything like the pad thai i have had at other places or in Thailand. Weird redish sauce and disappointing.
(1)Amanda E.
I am sad to chime in with the 'new ownership went downhill' but it's the truth. I'll have to find a new vegan pho.
(2)Travis T.
Pho Green Papaya is closed.
(1)Amanda T.
I used to love Pho Green Papaya. This was back in the days when the guys who were there were always there. They'd harass me because I'd always be asking when the new pho was going to be unveiled or just for the fact that I was there once or twice a week. I loved it secretly. A few weeks ago though this all changed. I went in to order my pho and the restaurant looked a little empty. I thought it was weird but proceeded inside as usual ready to be berated because I planned on asking about the new pho again. But I never did get to ask my all time favorite Vietnamese restaurant staff when I was going to be able to try my new pho. This is because Pho Green Papaya is under new ownership. My experience with the new staff and owner has been nothing short of TERRIBLE. After ordering my food to go from the lady who proceeded to charge my credit card using one of those carbon copy swipe things(I haven't seen one of those since Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!), I went outside in full panic to call my boyfriend. I even did the slightly uncool thing and warned everyone who was entering the restaurant that it was under new ownership and it SUCKS. Whoops. I made a sorry last attempt to order food there last week and ended up getting so frustrated that I hung up on the lady who answered the phone. I will never go back here. I guess Pho Van is my new Vietnamese joint.
(1)Edward J.
If you are looking for cheap eats in Portland, I highly recommend Pho Green Papaya. Their lunch special is a killer cheap eat out. $6 for a large vegan pho with tofu, string beans, tube mushrooms, and scallions. Its so big that I hardly could finish it. I love pho and I'm super lucky to live in Portland where vegan pho is not hard to find. Almost every pho place in Portland downtown region has a vegan option. Though I don't know how they make vegan pho broth, 'cause the broth is made from oxtail. They also have many other vegan plates. There is the vegetarian/vegan spring roll. Deep fried to perfection. Its got string sliced woodear mushroom, bamboo shoots, cabbage and tofu. Its $1 per spring roll. The restaurant environment is not much of a place for romantic dining. It feels a bit like a shack or hole in the wall with caged up windows. There are more outdoor seatings than indoor seatings. The place is usually packed during lunchtime filled with local office white collar workers. PS: I think the dinner menu is a bit more expensive.
(4)N. C.
The recent reviews are right. The old vibe is gone, the cool waiters left with it, and today's pho means I'll probably never be back. It used to be a damned good bowl, but now the broth tastes of buillion cubes. Yes, the kind in the wrapper. Hydrolyzed protein. And there's nothing much to be found in the broth either. You could try to spruce it up with sprigs of last week's basil they've generously included on a little plate. Or you could bring in the trappings from your own lint trap. It's up to you. The new manager of the place has a cold and unwelcoming thing about her. Everything has changed. I'd like to find out what happened to the old cook and crew.
(1)augustus B.
The vegan pho here was phenomenal, and the portions were enormous. The service was great, they weren't table vultures, but they were attentive just the same. The only negative? avoid the basil seed drink and you'll have a great meal
(5)Christy H.
Went here for lunch yesterday to get some good pho. This place is a small restaurant serving traditional vietnamese dishes. The vibe here is very friendly and there are a lot of regulars that come in. A few people popped in for "to-go" orders and the owner knew just what they wanted. She was very friendly chatting with people during lunch. Great atmosphere! The pho was off the hook! I loved the broth. There was a tiny hit of a sweet flavor and seasoning almost like a cinnamon. The meat was some of the best pho flank steak I have ever had. Fresh and super soft. They have a number of noodle dishes that looked great! I can't wait to try this place again!
(5)Joan-Carrol B.
Delicious. The pho with avocado is unusual, subtle, and tasty-fresh - my favorite. But then again, the house-made Kombucha is so good I dream about it and get cravings for it. So happy that I found this location after the one on the west side closed down. Very friendly atmosphere!
(5)Lucas S.
Can we please talk about this house made Kombucha?! I'm super into it. If you're a fan of Kombucha, I suggest you come try this. It's got sweet, spice, tang. It's absolutely wonderful. The little lady that works here is so sweet. She saw I was cold and offered me a seat next to a heater. But Kombucha! Yes please. Oh. I got an appetizer that wasn't bad. The chicken roll. I'd eat it again.
(4)Marie P.
The owner here is so nice and very attentive! I absolutely LOVE their Udon Green Curry Soup!!! It's amazing!!!!
(5)Trieste D.
The service was very friendly, but the food was not great. I had the vegetarian pho, but I was wary from the beginning since the veggies listed were bell pepper and string beans. Sure enough, they did not work well in the dish. Blegh. Plus, instead of scallions, there were lots of big chunks of yellow onion. I would have given fewer stars if not for the warmth of the host.
(3)Ernie C.
Probably 3.5 but I'm feeling generous this morning. This was my latest stop In my continuing quest to try and find Vietnamese close to where I live (inner SE). The building is set back from the street, with a small parking lot in the front. When facing the building, there's a large, covered patio on the right. Once you enter, the counter/cash register is directly in front of you, with some seating to the left. Not a huge space. I sat outside and ordered the bun with grilled pork and rolls. I think this was 11 or 12 bucks, which I thought was steep. When it came out, I was really surprised to see it was on a plate, practically deconstructed. The noodles were in one corner, the sprouts and green in another, and the other half of the square plate had 3 skewers of grilled pork framed by two very skinny/long spring rolls (cigarillo sized). The plate was accompanied by the standard small bowl of fish sauce/dressing. Pretty plating, but definitely not what I was expecting. Took a bit of work to remove the pork from the skewers, cut it and the spring rolls into bite size pieces, mix everything together, and drizzle some sauce on it. Pork was a little dry, though the spring rolls were good, albeit a little smaller than I was hoping for. When I went to pay, the lady working the register looked at my name on my card and asked what my ethnicity was. Ends up she had been guessing I was Korean (and she is as well), and she pointed they had a few Korean menu items (kalbi and bibimbop), though they also had some high prices - low 20s for the kalbi, and maybe 12 for the bibimbop. To be clear, I had been hoping for a bowl of bun for around 8 bucks, so this deconstructed plate for 12 was a bit of curve ball. I want to come back and try their Korean food, but my quest for Vietnamese in the SE continues . . .
(4)Cola V.
I've had better Pho, but it's a great little place that always seems to be busy. The broth is little bland, but for a quick meal or take-out and for the price it's a great place to stop in.
(2)Joselito C.
After living in Portland for 2 1/2 plus years. I believe i've found my Go To Pho spot. I like the variety. I love the quaintness and laid back atmosphere. I can tell most people whom go here are regulars. Lady up front is as sweet as can be. Was only my second time coming and she remembered me right away. Love that they have Kirin and Franz on tap. It comes out cold and just the right amount of froth. I can have several. Pho came piping hot. I was surprised with the Vegan Pho. Normally consider that an Abomination. But I LOVED IT! I hope to becoming a regular and my new place to call home away from home.
(5)Sophia T.
separate vegan menu: hell yes delicious vegan pho: hell yes (I was so happy! had vegan pho in CA and hated it) kimchi fried rice: mmmmmmmm going back tonight for dinner: hell yes love you!!!!
(5)Melissa R.
The most expensive mediocre salad roll in town! Advertised as the happy hour salad roll this $4 roll was merely a single roll cut in half with basically vermicelli noodles and few bean sprouts. The peanut sauce was warmed which was new for me but pleasant. The pho was good but not exceptional in any way. Two pho bowls, 2 beers and one weak salad roll for $33, never again.
(2)Anne K.
I don't rate service, ambiance, cleanliness and wait times; they are too variable. I can put up with anything if the food is good. It is all about the food- that's it. All of my ratings are based on vegan options only. Notes: This place is really good. They surprise me every time. Really flavorful food.
(5)Kelsie L.
Despite what the Yelp page says, they are open on Saturdays! Not sure of the exact hours, but I went during lunch for takeout. I was served by a kind, older Vietnamese woman. She was courteous and not intrusive. I got the regular ole beef pho. To my delight she asked how far I was traveling (answer 1 block on foot back to my desk) and assembled my order accordingly. I really appreciated that I didn't have to put my soup together myself and on the flip side I'm happy to know that if I was going much further she wouldn't have let my noodles sit in the piping hot broth and get mushy. I can't believe I have worked a block away for 6 months without checking this place out. I noticed they had an all day happy hour with lots of options ranging from 4-6 bucks. I will be back to check that out!
(4)Claire W.
Hands down my favorite Pho restaurant in Portland. We go here at least once a week. The owner is the sweetest woman ever & always remembers our orders. Fresh & delicious!
(5)Rachel H.
I absolutely love their chicken pho! Such good flavor! And an awesome patio to sit on during the summer! The dumplings were also really good - not too greasy and made with chicken and green onion. :) Yum!
(5)Asha S.
Love this place! It's quaint and cute and always has ample parking. The staff is friendly and sweet, it's usually the same woman working the register and waiting tables and she's an absolute delight. They have "happy hour" at lunch time and the food is tasty and quick. I go here often for lunch time hangouts with friends and coworkers!
(4)Caroline F.
Meh. I went to Pho Green Papaya last night with a friend and was very excited to read the menu. There are a lot of nice things to say about this place... It was a lovely evening and we enjoyed the outdoor patio, the waitress was very nice and fairly attentive and the appetizer (veggie gyoza dumplings) were tasty. Why just two stars then? Because the main courses were Bland. Bland. BLAND. My guest had the kim chee fried rice and it tasted like... Rice. Bland rice. She hardly touched it. I had the Tom Yum Pho. How could one possibly go wrong with such a delightful sounding bowl of steaminess? It was bland. I fixed it up with the array of sauces on the table but it still left me bored, unimpressed and not likely to go back.
(2)Miya A.
Pretty tasty pho. Plus the staff is very cute! I definitely like to come here when I get a chance to step away from work for lunch.
(4)Frannie h.
It's not bad, but it isn't good. Broth is weak and and noodles were thick and all clumped together. I finished my bowl but somehow didn't feel satisfied. Portions aren't especially small, but just doesn't feel as substantial as other Pho. I will eat here again only because it is close to work. I prefer Pho Jasmine. Next time I might try a different menu item, so far I have only tried the beef pho and the spicy pho (I DO NOT recommend this- it's pho with enchilada sauce added). Beef pho is passable but nothing special.
(3)Erin A.
Love this place! It's my go-to meetup with friends for lunch during the work with place. The service is fast, the ladies who work there always remember us and are very friendly. It's my favorite place to get Pho, the broth is perfect, the chicken isn't gross and fatty and they give generous amounts of bean sprouts and basil to add in. Their pad thai, pot stickers, veggie rolls and peanut sauce are all yummy too.
(5)Lili K.
The pho I had was very bland. Not in a "needs more salt" kind of way, but it needed more flavor. Maybe the broth is too watered down? I liked the decor of the restaurant and the server was friendly but I would not eat here again given the plethora of other Pho places in Portland.
(2)AcroYoga I.
We have had the pho Tom yum, curry, spicey pho and spring rolls. Everything was delicious, so much that after dinner last night we came back for lunch today. Service was super friendly. Mega thai ice tea and fun to try the basil seed juice for something new. Great happy hour deals!
(5)Ay M.
PROS: Great location right on MLK and near downtown PDX. Plenty of parking Spacious outdoor patio Variety of asian beers CONS: Overpriced Low quality food Poor & slow customer service Two stars in my opinion because poor and slow customer service in conjuction with low quality overpriced food outweighs a great location etc. **The waitress was inattentive to us (myself and 1 other person) although the restuarant was empty. **Spinrg Rolls were huge but 95% vermicilli rice
(2)Laura G.
Deliscious pho. The beef pho was excellent and the owner very sweet. Will be back to try other dishes.
(4)Horace H.
My son and I are the only people in the place and its still slow as molasses with service ... the Pho is decent ...not great - ACTUALLY VERY MEDIOCRE ... second time there and just not going go again ~
(2)Venus K.
Delicious! My go to pho place in the area. I like the chicken pho. Very soothing. Fresh ingredients and delicious broth.
(5)Sparky M.
Worst meal ever served to me anywhere in the world. Absolutely the most foul, horrid, nasty and overpriced foetid plate that I've ever paid for. I have eaten school lunch and mess hall chow that was five stars plus compared to this awful mess. No one of the wait staff ever checked on us. Not one soul inquired about why our plates appeared untouched after many minutes. It was ALL I could do to not laugh out loud when I was offered a box for take away. If you need to eat cuz you are in that part of town- save yourself the raspy experience of the Green Papaya. Head up Grand a half block and get a really good meal at the original Nicholas Restaurant. Or start a fast for the time being. I am not one to write these things but the po'ass Faux GreenPapsmear was so terrible I had to do it so that you would be warned. Stay away.
(1)Thomas C.
The owners are the sweetest people and the food is delicious!! That is all!
(5)Frank S.
Please heed my warning...this place is NOT good. I love Vietnamese food and this barely qualifies. First of all, the place is dumpy looking (first warning). Second, the menu prices are waaay too high for Vietnamese, much less for the dumpy digs. You must have to pay extra for the location. But the Pho was really the worst. It tasted like they scooped in the MSG---how could other reviewers actually think that this is good stuff??? The mind boggles. I tried to hedge our bets by ordering Pad Thai. Yeah, I know it's ain't Vietnamese but how could they screw that up, I thought? They did! It actually smelled BAD as they brought it to the table. Some sort of off-putting vinegary order. And it contained "chunks" of chicken swimming in some sort of weird sauce. Pad Thai has sauce now??? Dreadful.
(1)John Jr. B.
Hesitant to award four stars, but after four or so visits, they've won me over with the variety of their menu. Tom Yum Pho? Spicy Beef Brisket Pho? Both are amazing and you'll be hard pressed to find these varieties anywhere nearby. The downside is that their basic pho, i.e. pho tai is average at best. Green papaya salad is hit or miss. With more misses lately than hits
(4)Courtney S.
I've been very happy with Green Papaya. I really enjoy their Beef Pho the few times I've been here. And I will continue to come back. I thought their prices were very reasonable, as my Pho was $7.50 and my boyfriend's Tofu Teriyaki was $7.00. I'd say a $14.50 bill for two people is quite good. Sure the green walls inside are a little bright (green) and the building is older, they keep it clean inside! The service and fast and the gals worked are always friendly. Today was a great day for Pho...at Green Papaya.
(4)Bryan K.
Been following this place for a few years now and it's taken a dramatic up turn since its new management back in 2008 or so. Upon return from Phoenix, I thought I'd make a visit to see how it's changed as it's very close to work. I usually get the 3 meat combo pho, Luc Lac, or Teriyaki and I'd say; for the price it is the best it gets! The service was great and I got my refills very promptly. The atmosphere was very Portland like with very outlandish colors and warm lighting. Did I mention it was nice and toasty inside? I'd recommend Pho Green Papaya for anyone who is in a hurry for a lunch or a nice sit down dinner.
(5)Erica B.
I've eaten here a number of times and keep it simple with a vermicelli bowl with pork and spring rolls. It's never been amazing, but ok comfort food near my work. Until my last visit, I would have given it 3 stars. Last visit, my bowl was served on a plate, making it hard to combine the fish sauce dressing, noodles, greens, bean sprouts and pork. The pork was overcooked and tough. The spring rolls had essentially nothing in them. Just fried empty egg roll shell. 4 hours after eating, I got sick. Will let you make your conclusions. Sad to say I won't be going back.
(1)Catriona C.
Traipsing around an unfamiliar city can have some unfortunate consequences - fortunately, stumbling over Pho Green Papaya was not one of them. Pulling into what looked to be a very rough parking lot with Green Papaya nestled in at the back, I was pleasantly surprised when we walked through the doors to find quite an attractive looking restaurant behind it. I had my usual vermicelli - I have to admit, I am accustomed to it being presented in a bowl - where this was served on a plate, with each individual part of the meal separated neatly. The fish sauce came pre-spiked with chilli and tasted like a diluted sweet chilli sauce - a little different to what I am used to. This is not always a bad thing. Myself and my friends all enjoyed our meals here - and although the service was slow, I would go again.
(3)F. Explora L.
Not very impressed..... Unique menu, but food wasn't as tasty as I expected :/ Cute little comfy restaurant with bright green walls :) Very friendly waiter. The vietnamese iced coffee was good. The green papaya salad was okay; it was a bit over-saturated in the sweet dressing. And I wasn't impressed with the veggie pho either... The food really didn't "hit the spot".
(2)Brian G.
Intro: Don't eat here. Go eat Lebanese up the street or something. Hell, go to Taco Bell and get a chalupa. Body: My cursed friend/guitarist recommended this place our first night in Portland. We got there and were excited to be in Portland and to sit outside in nice weather for some good vietnamese food. Nothing was particularly good. I ordered the korean pancake for a starter, thinking that this place must be Korean owned and therefore they would make their own cuisine better, and it sucked. I was hungry, so I ate it, but it was undercooked, poorly seasoned, and I basically drowned it in hoisin and chili. Next I ordered a bun. My chicken was dry and overcooked, the noodles were not freshly cooked, the rolls were rubber and bland. Terrible. None of my three friends had really good food either. Two of my friends both ordered bun with rolls and had to endure eating 6 of those things. The texture made me think of what fake plastic food in a display case must taste like. Conclusion: These people don't know how to cook, but obviously hired someone to create an image/menu that makes you think they can, until it is too late and you've already been served. A good place to dine and dash. I noticed it is under new management, so I will assume when my friend ate here last year, it was genuinely good, but is now zombie vietnamese food.
(2)Carla L.
Do not order the Pad Thai. It is awful. It is basically just sticky, fat, undercooked rice noodles tossed in a sweet and sour sauce that came out of a bottle. Probably the Caravelle sweet and sour sauce with the ship logo. And it had this bright yellow colored chicken dumped on it that was barely recognizable as chicken. It didn't even look appealing. The funny party is that when I asked the server if the Pad Thai was good, she paused. She paused for a good few seconds and gave a meek, "Yyeeaaa....yes...?" response. I should have known... The papaya salad was less than okay. It was served with Sriracha sauce, which is really weird. The spice from papaya salad is supposed to come from fresh chilies and fish sauce. I don't think this papaya salad had either in it. It's sort of a cross between Thai papaya salad and Vietnamese goi. I love both, but not together like this. This place has one redeeming quality: the pho. The pho is actually dece. If I ever eat here again I will only eat the pho. You should too.
(2)Lara G.
Really good pho. Had the chicken pho and my husband had the beef tenden, although the beef tenden had way too much tenden and not enough beef. Overall pretty good, I would give it a 3.5-4 star. Would definitely come back Great service!
(4)Carmen M.
This place has new management and prior to that it was an okay place to go run during lunch time and have a bowl of hearty pho instead of a cold turkey sandwich from the cafeteria for the same price. However, since the change, there is something missing in their pho! They also had this awesome curry chicken and something changed? It's almost as if they are using generic salt or not adding enough of something.... It's still decent, but not the same. And they changed the seating so that they are trying to move away from paying directly at the counter before you pay your meal. The whole thing is just weird and agree with reviewer before me that it takes longer. Tip: Their front walkway needs some fixing! I caught one of my heels between the deck boards and about landed my face on someone's ga!
(3)Rick E.
During last week's visit to PDX for the SMMR BMMR music fest at Rotturé, Pho Green Papaya was the one and only disappointing meal of the trip. The only reason we ate there is because Rotturé didn't have any on-site food, and we didn't wanna miss a single band during the awesome Friday lineup. We power-walked over there and ordered what seemed to be the fastest dishes possible....veggie pho for the lady, and chicken curry for me. The service was very slow, so I hoped that the food would be tasty enough to make up for us having to miss the Ganglians and the first two-thirds of Ty Segall's set at SMMR BMMR. Alas...it only made me more bitter about it. My girlfriend's veggie pho was passable, she said, but the only thing she could compare it to was the veggie pho at the student-run UC-Davis Coffeehouse where blandness is the law. It was certainly expensive compared to the $5 pho we enjoy so much more here in our hometown of Sacto. Unlike many SE Asian restaurants which ask patrons to specify the level of spiciness, Pho Green Papaya just talks a mean game, hyping up the spiciness of my green curry with jalapeños so much that I was kinda bracing myself. I preemptively ordered the guava juice just in case of an inferno. But it was hardly necessary. The greenness of my curry looked rather suspiciously fluorescent, too. Was it enhanced somehow just for dazzling effect? It just didn't seem natural for this kinda food to be Nickelodeon neon ectoplasmic green. At least we went back to the show satisfied with the portions.
(2)Inga B.
I agree with the other yelper, I am not sure why this place is rated so low either. I've been here almost a dozen times and will continue going as long as the beef pho continues to taste as amazing as it does. It is hands down my favorite spot for beef pho. I've never ordered anything else. Service is good, it's a small cute place. Seating outside is nice.
(5)Nichole D.
Very good place for pho. I had the tom yum pho, which I've never seen anywhere else. It was loaded with veggies, avocado, red pepper, onion, cilantro, mushroom and shrimp. The tom yum wasn't too over powering which was nice. The spring rolls were delicious. Priced well and they have a nice little outdoor patio. Service could have been a little more attentive, got a kind of a deer-in-the-headlights feel from them.
(4)Michelle K.
I'm really surprised by the many negative reviews on here. Maybe some of the reviewers could elaborate? I get that they are not as vegan friendly now, maybe? But otherwise, I don't understand why people say it sucks now. In my experience (I go here for lunch about once a month), it's quite tasty. I've never had the Tom Yum Pho anywhere else -- the chunks of fresh avocado's a great treat, and the shrimp are plentiful. The salad rolls have a lot of different tastes going on for them, including a strong mint kick. Food presentation's attractive. There's not much going on in terms of interior decor, though they do have a heated patio eating area. It's definitely not mediocre enough to explain the... strong opinions of fellow yelpers... so sirs/ma'ams, I implore you, if this place is worth just one star, couldja explain why?
(4)Joel C.
@Chad P. -- Amen brother. Can I use curse words on Yelp? Well, here goes: Fuck this place. I'm so pissed that I checked the box saying the place costs $60 bucks per person. I'm so pissed that if you truly want to eat here, I'll cook you dinner for free in
(1)Bethany M.
Any reviewer that speaks poorly of this place has no clue what goood food is. This is by far the best Pho I have had in Portland....and I've tried a wide variety. It is always sooooo wonderful, full of flavor, fresh quality meats, truly healing food. The giant Thai Iced teas are also the best I've had, rich and delicious. The mango salad is a work of art! The service is attentive and graceful.
(5)Doug Y.
Good place, but uhh, it's really nothing you can't get at the mall. I was going to this place for a good two years before their makeover, and while their name and appearance changed, the food stayed the same (and actually I think a few dishes got worse) while the prices went up! They did have to close at one point because of a health code violation, but those were the days when they were busting ass to get orders done. You'd see them running across the street to Sheridan's for ingredients, and now they just get the stuff shipped in. Bah. The owner is the Citizen Kane of business owners, starting off with a big heart and good intentions, but inevitably becoming more concerned about her income and appearance. And that's probably just from my perspective as one of their longer-term patrons. But if you went there when they were called Sunset Deli and used to serve sandwiches (which were also from Sheridan's and ridiculously marked up, but it was a cute effort), you'd know how much they've changed and how good their food used to be.
(3)Jon R.
I love this Thai place. I call it a Thai place because I never get the Pho, I only get the Pad Thai, which is absolutely amazing and completely unlike any Pad Thai I've ever had. It's sweet and spicy and delicious and I highly recommend you try it. I liked it better when the lunch service was counter service. Now they have a weird waiter ritual that doesnt really seem to work that well, and ends up taking a lot longer.
(5)Sean G.
I was not at all impressed with the Pho on my visit. For starters, they did not offer a top-round-only pho, which is what I prefer. So I chose the top round and brisket. I quickly discovered I'm not really a fan of brisket. The noodles were good and the broth decent (a bit greasy and flat) but their selection of condiments was lacking. I don't remember there being the super hot chili sauce I like (I thought it was a standard, the little jar with the little spoon) so I was stuck with the sauce available. I thought part of the joy of pho was being able to make your own magical combination of spices and sweetness, so I felt this lack of variety to be pretty disappointing. Finally, the small bowl I bought cost $8 (and has probably gone up, as it has at other Pho places) and was nowhere near the quality of a few other places in the area. Their other food might be really good, and the presentation was nice (as was the staff) but I just didn't care for the pho. It's such a personalized food, you might have a different experience.
(2)Ajia T.
We headed to this joint for lunch after the NW Solar Expo yesterday and the food was deeeelicious! My friends suggested it since it's close to the Convention Center and we all love the Green Papaya downtown...I guess the owner of this place used to cook at Green Papaya or something. Anyway, this place has amazing food at outstanding prices! Everything was cooked to perfection: firm, yet silky tofu; crisp and flavorful veges; big, fluffy rice; super tender meat. I really liked the spice-o-meter system here, too. Instead of mild, medium, spicy, etc., you choose from 0 to 5 teaspoons. I chose 1, to be on the safe side (I've been burned before!), which was similar to mild. The only reason this place loses a star is the ordering system. I don't mind ordering at the counter, but not when I'm going to sit down and you'll bring my drinks and meal to me eventually, anyway. I could just pick it up at the counter, instead. Or you could just take my order at the table...right? Overall, everyone at our table was abundantly satisfied and I'm sure we'll be back for more (there are too many other things to try on their menu!). Man, I can't wait to eat my leftovers today. :) Oh yeah, try the Jasmine Iced Tea!
(4)Phil M.
My 3rd review of a pho joint in Portland. Not sure why this place gets some bad reviews. I had the beef pho and it was very good. The only oddity was that it was served with lemon instead of the expected lime. It gets 4 stars only because my previous 2 pho experiences were absolutely phenomenal. But with this place being close to my office in central PDX, it's definitely worth making it a regular stop on my lunchtime rounds.
(4)Alfred K.
Pho Green Papaya reminds us of Pho PDX, except it wasn't as good. The cream cheese wontons are good if you like fried wonton skins... there was hardly any cream cheese in it. The vegan menu is nice to see, although I would stay away from the tofu and udon in curry soup. The soup had pineapple in it and it was so sweet it tasted like dessert - ugh. Vegan pho was decent though - not as good as Pho PDX - but it's decent. It's hard to want to come to Pho Green Papaya again in the near future especially with the construction on MLK... but pho al fresco that unlike Pho PDX is actually available past lunch time? I guess I could be convinced...
(3)Rich F.
I've been a regular at this spot since moving our office into the neighborhood about a year ago. Everything's super fresh and consistent. The broth foundation for the Pho is complex and totally delicious. I'm also a big fan of their Bun dishes, and have reveled in each of the grilled meat accompaniments. Also recommended is the house-made ginger kombucha, which the super friendly staff have learned to bring me automatically as soon as I walk in the door. Great spot! Go eat!
(4)Itty B.
I very very much enjoyed the vegetarian Pho and the quiet atmosphere mid afternoon last week. The service was friendly and timely, the Pho was delicious. Try it!!
(4)Catherine C.
Pretty good. Really nice people. The chicken pho was made with all white meat. Would definitely go back.
(3)Sarah T.
i ordered pad thai to go and when i got back to my place to eat it i was bummed. It was noodles but was not anything like the pad thai i have had at other places or in Thailand. Weird redish sauce and disappointing.
(1)Amanda E.
I am sad to chime in with the 'new ownership went downhill' but it's the truth. I'll have to find a new vegan pho.
(2)N. C.
The recent reviews are right. The old vibe is gone, the cool waiters left with it, and today's pho means I'll probably never be back. It used to be a damned good bowl, but now the broth tastes of buillion cubes. Yes, the kind in the wrapper. Hydrolyzed protein. And there's nothing much to be found in the broth either. You could try to spruce it up with sprigs of last week's basil they've generously included on a little plate. Or you could bring in the trappings from your own lint trap. It's up to you. The new manager of the place has a cold and unwelcoming thing about her. Everything has changed. I'd like to find out what happened to the old cook and crew.
(1)augustus B.
The vegan pho here was phenomenal, and the portions were enormous. The service was great, they weren't table vultures, but they were attentive just the same. The only negative? avoid the basil seed drink and you'll have a great meal
(5)Edward J.
If you are looking for cheap eats in Portland, I highly recommend Pho Green Papaya. Their lunch special is a killer cheap eat out. $6 for a large vegan pho with tofu, string beans, tube mushrooms, and scallions. Its so big that I hardly could finish it. I love pho and I'm super lucky to live in Portland where vegan pho is not hard to find. Almost every pho place in Portland downtown region has a vegan option. Though I don't know how they make vegan pho broth, 'cause the broth is made from oxtail. They also have many other vegan plates. There is the vegetarian/vegan spring roll. Deep fried to perfection. Its got string sliced woodear mushroom, bamboo shoots, cabbage and tofu. Its $1 per spring roll. The restaurant environment is not much of a place for romantic dining. It feels a bit like a shack or hole in the wall with caged up windows. There are more outdoor seatings than indoor seatings. The place is usually packed during lunchtime filled with local office white collar workers. PS: I think the dinner menu is a bit more expensive.
(4)Jen J.
I've been meaning to try this place out because it had vegan pho and was close to my work. I wish I would have gone somewhere else or not been lazy and packed my noodle soup from the night before. After hearing the staff speak Korean and seeing Korean items on the menu I was curious to see how their veggie Pho tasted. Boy, was I disappointed. The broth had no flavor so I squeezed every bit of the lime juice out that I could. They just cut up some old tofu and dropped it in as an afterthought. While I tire of fried tofu, they could have marinated and baked it or something. The tofu tasted old and had some spots on it. The noodles didn't seem fresh either and I really had to work at them to get them separated. It is so obvious when something is made with pride. I recommend going to Pho PDX or Pho Jasmine for really good vegetarian pho. If you are in Hillsboro, ViVi's has a good soup and stir fried vegan noodles.
(2)Kate N.
I have no idea why this place is rated so low. I have been eating here for almost three years, yes back when it was under different ownership, and I have never once had a bad experience then, or now. When I started eating there I was an omnivore and now that I am vegan, absolutely love their vegan pho. The service isn't awesome but the ladies are always very nice and quick. I will continue to eat there every time I am in town.
(5)Anne S.
This was my first time eating pho so I don't have anything to compare this place to. However, I ordered the chicken pho and I loved that the veggies included were fresh and crisp, the service was fast and the portion was HUGE. I think next time I go I'll order either seafood or just veggies as the chicken was a bit much (I'm not much of a meat eater). I would definitely eat here again...the three stars is just based on the fact I have no other pho restaurants to compare it to.
(3)Amanda T.
I used to love Pho Green Papaya. This was back in the days when the guys who were there were always there. They'd harass me because I'd always be asking when the new pho was going to be unveiled or just for the fact that I was there once or twice a week. I loved it secretly. A few weeks ago though this all changed. I went in to order my pho and the restaurant looked a little empty. I thought it was weird but proceeded inside as usual ready to be berated because I planned on asking about the new pho again. But I never did get to ask my all time favorite Vietnamese restaurant staff when I was going to be able to try my new pho. This is because Pho Green Papaya is under new ownership. My experience with the new staff and owner has been nothing short of TERRIBLE. After ordering my food to go from the lady who proceeded to charge my credit card using one of those carbon copy swipe things(I haven't seen one of those since Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!), I went outside in full panic to call my boyfriend. I even did the slightly uncool thing and warned everyone who was entering the restaurant that it was under new ownership and it SUCKS. Whoops. I made a sorry last attempt to order food there last week and ended up getting so frustrated that I hung up on the lady who answered the phone. I will never go back here. I guess Pho Van is my new Vietnamese joint.
(1)Kandace B.
Crowded, run-down, cheap and known to invoke late night cravings. When I first stepped in this place, I thought I'd never come back. I did. And, I do. Often. They'll have your to-go order ready quicker that you can walk the 3 blocks to pick it up. And a vegan section on the menu! Had to change the stars on this review after change in ownership has greatly changed the menu and taste. Bummer.
(2)Kristina W.
Nice little place run by two very friendly ladies. Not sure what to order? I like the Satay Chicken.
(4)Rob N.
My food was cold and I waited too long for it, even though there was hardly anyone in there.
(2)Jay S.
The blue little shack on MLK is the place to go in Portland for vegetarian Pho. The make a flavorful soup that has helped to rekindle my faith in the ability of kitchens to combine flavors and make a faux beef and star anis broth. Apparently their regular pho is good too, but I can't speak from personal experience. The other menu items have also been good. They offer a good variety of Vietnamese cuisine, with some very creative dishes. One highlights off the top of my head is the sugarcane shrimp. The bathroom is dumpy and the neon lights inside can be a little overwhelming, but the food kicks serious booty.
(4)Raymond B.
It should first off be noted that they are now under new ownership. And the place has gone down the tube. It's no longer enjoyable. The food isn't good, they don't even spice it anymore, it's just not worth it. Strange story: they were trying to decide if we were wanting to eat "vegan" or not, so we asked them what the difference between two dishes was. Apparently, the one made with soy milk is considered vegan, and the dish made with coconut milk is not. Huh? An
(2)Lindsey J.
Absolutely love the PHO here. I have searched and searched for my favorite PHO place in many cities and PHO GREEN PAPAYA could easily take the number one or two spot thus far. I crave the pho from here. I also have ordered some other type of chicken-veggie-noodle dish that was amazing so the cooks are great. The service is a bit slow...that's all.....Understandable seeming as though people love the food and it's not like they have ten people back there cooking........ The wait is well worth it.
(4)Kelly M.
Pho Green Papaya, set back from the road on MLK a bit and recognizable from its green neon sign which matches green neon lighting indoors, is a new favorite. Portions are huge, and the food is delicious. You can expect to pay under ten dollars and be stuffed, and still go home with tons of leftovers. Their menu is extensive and appetizing, and for the ethical sect, they kindly offer an impressive vegan section. The lemongrass tofu is amazing!
(4)Horace H.
My son and I are the only people in the place and its still slow as molasses with service ... the Pho is decent ...not great - ACTUALLY VERY MEDIOCRE ... second time there and just not going go again ~
(2)Venus K.
Delicious! My go to pho place in the area. I like the chicken pho. Very soothing. Fresh ingredients and delicious broth.
(5)Christy H.
Went here for lunch yesterday to get some good pho. This place is a small restaurant serving traditional vietnamese dishes. The vibe here is very friendly and there are a lot of regulars that come in. A few people popped in for "to-go" orders and the owner knew just what they wanted. She was very friendly chatting with people during lunch. Great atmosphere! The pho was off the hook! I loved the broth. There was a tiny hit of a sweet flavor and seasoning almost like a cinnamon. The meat was some of the best pho flank steak I have ever had. Fresh and super soft. They have a number of noodle dishes that looked great! I can't wait to try this place again!
(5)Joan-Carrol B.
Delicious. The pho with avocado is unusual, subtle, and tasty-fresh - my favorite. But then again, the house-made Kombucha is so good I dream about it and get cravings for it. So happy that I found this location after the one on the west side closed down. Very friendly atmosphere!
(5)Lucas S.
Can we please talk about this house made Kombucha?! I'm super into it. If you're a fan of Kombucha, I suggest you come try this. It's got sweet, spice, tang. It's absolutely wonderful. The little lady that works here is so sweet. She saw I was cold and offered me a seat next to a heater. But Kombucha! Yes please. Oh. I got an appetizer that wasn't bad. The chicken roll. I'd eat it again.
(4)Miya A.
Pretty tasty pho. Plus the staff is very cute! I definitely like to come here when I get a chance to step away from work for lunch.
(4)Joselito C.
After living in Portland for 2 1/2 plus years. I believe i've found my Go To Pho spot. I like the variety. I love the quaintness and laid back atmosphere. I can tell most people whom go here are regulars. Lady up front is as sweet as can be. Was only my second time coming and she remembered me right away. Love that they have Kirin and Franz on tap. It comes out cold and just the right amount of froth. I can have several. Pho came piping hot. I was surprised with the Vegan Pho. Normally consider that an Abomination. But I LOVED IT! I hope to becoming a regular and my new place to call home away from home.
(5)Sophia T.
separate vegan menu: hell yes delicious vegan pho: hell yes (I was so happy! had vegan pho in CA and hated it) kimchi fried rice: mmmmmmmm going back tonight for dinner: hell yes love you!!!!
(5)Melissa R.
The most expensive mediocre salad roll in town! Advertised as the happy hour salad roll this $4 roll was merely a single roll cut in half with basically vermicelli noodles and few bean sprouts. The peanut sauce was warmed which was new for me but pleasant. The pho was good but not exceptional in any way. Two pho bowls, 2 beers and one weak salad roll for $33, never again.
(2)Anne K.
I don't rate service, ambiance, cleanliness and wait times; they are too variable. I can put up with anything if the food is good. It is all about the food- that's it. All of my ratings are based on vegan options only. Notes: This place is really good. They surprise me every time. Really flavorful food.
(5)Kelsie L.
Despite what the Yelp page says, they are open on Saturdays! Not sure of the exact hours, but I went during lunch for takeout. I was served by a kind, older Vietnamese woman. She was courteous and not intrusive. I got the regular ole beef pho. To my delight she asked how far I was traveling (answer 1 block on foot back to my desk) and assembled my order accordingly. I really appreciated that I didn't have to put my soup together myself and on the flip side I'm happy to know that if I was going much further she wouldn't have let my noodles sit in the piping hot broth and get mushy. I can't believe I have worked a block away for 6 months without checking this place out. I noticed they had an all day happy hour with lots of options ranging from 4-6 bucks. I will be back to check that out!
(4)Claire W.
Hands down my favorite Pho restaurant in Portland. We go here at least once a week. The owner is the sweetest woman ever & always remembers our orders. Fresh & delicious!
(5)Rachel H.
I absolutely love their chicken pho! Such good flavor! And an awesome patio to sit on during the summer! The dumplings were also really good - not too greasy and made with chicken and green onion. :) Yum!
(5)Asha S.
Love this place! It's quaint and cute and always has ample parking. The staff is friendly and sweet, it's usually the same woman working the register and waiting tables and she's an absolute delight. They have "happy hour" at lunch time and the food is tasty and quick. I go here often for lunch time hangouts with friends and coworkers!
(4)Caroline F.
Meh. I went to Pho Green Papaya last night with a friend and was very excited to read the menu. There are a lot of nice things to say about this place... It was a lovely evening and we enjoyed the outdoor patio, the waitress was very nice and fairly attentive and the appetizer (veggie gyoza dumplings) were tasty. Why just two stars then? Because the main courses were Bland. Bland. BLAND. My guest had the kim chee fried rice and it tasted like... Rice. Bland rice. She hardly touched it. I had the Tom Yum Pho. How could one possibly go wrong with such a delightful sounding bowl of steaminess? It was bland. I fixed it up with the array of sauces on the table but it still left me bored, unimpressed and not likely to go back.
(2)Erin A.
Love this place! It's my go-to meetup with friends for lunch during the work with place. The service is fast, the ladies who work there always remember us and are very friendly. It's my favorite place to get Pho, the broth is perfect, the chicken isn't gross and fatty and they give generous amounts of bean sprouts and basil to add in. Their pad thai, pot stickers, veggie rolls and peanut sauce are all yummy too.
(5)Lili K.
The pho I had was very bland. Not in a "needs more salt" kind of way, but it needed more flavor. Maybe the broth is too watered down? I liked the decor of the restaurant and the server was friendly but I would not eat here again given the plethora of other Pho places in Portland.
(2)Courtney S.
I've been very happy with Green Papaya. I really enjoy their Beef Pho the few times I've been here. And I will continue to come back. I thought their prices were very reasonable, as my Pho was $7.50 and my boyfriend's Tofu Teriyaki was $7.00. I'd say a $14.50 bill for two people is quite good. Sure the green walls inside are a little bright (green) and the building is older, they keep it clean inside! The service and fast and the gals worked are always friendly. Today was a great day for Pho...at Green Papaya.
(4)Bryan K.
Been following this place for a few years now and it's taken a dramatic up turn since its new management back in 2008 or so. Upon return from Phoenix, I thought I'd make a visit to see how it's changed as it's very close to work. I usually get the 3 meat combo pho, Luc Lac, or Teriyaki and I'd say; for the price it is the best it gets! The service was great and I got my refills very promptly. The atmosphere was very Portland like with very outlandish colors and warm lighting. Did I mention it was nice and toasty inside? I'd recommend Pho Green Papaya for anyone who is in a hurry for a lunch or a nice sit down dinner.
(5)AcroYoga I.
We have had the pho Tom yum, curry, spicey pho and spring rolls. Everything was delicious, so much that after dinner last night we came back for lunch today. Service was super friendly. Mega thai ice tea and fun to try the basil seed juice for something new. Great happy hour deals!
(5)Ay M.
PROS: Great location right on MLK and near downtown PDX. Plenty of parking Spacious outdoor patio Variety of asian beers CONS: Overpriced Low quality food Poor & slow customer service Two stars in my opinion because poor and slow customer service in conjuction with low quality overpriced food outweighs a great location etc. **The waitress was inattentive to us (myself and 1 other person) although the restuarant was empty. **Spinrg Rolls were huge but 95% vermicilli rice
(2)Laura G.
Deliscious pho. The beef pho was excellent and the owner very sweet. Will be back to try other dishes.
(4)Sparky M.
Worst meal ever served to me anywhere in the world. Absolutely the most foul, horrid, nasty and overpriced foetid plate that I've ever paid for. I have eaten school lunch and mess hall chow that was five stars plus compared to this awful mess. No one of the wait staff ever checked on us. Not one soul inquired about why our plates appeared untouched after many minutes. It was ALL I could do to not laugh out loud when I was offered a box for take away. If you need to eat cuz you are in that part of town- save yourself the raspy experience of the Green Papaya. Head up Grand a half block and get a really good meal at the original Nicholas Restaurant. Or start a fast for the time being. I am not one to write these things but the po'ass Faux GreenPapsmear was so terrible I had to do it so that you would be warned. Stay away.
(1)Thomas C.
The owners are the sweetest people and the food is delicious!! That is all!
(5)Marie P.
The owner here is so nice and very attentive! I absolutely LOVE their Udon Green Curry Soup!!! It's amazing!!!!
(5)Trieste D.
The service was very friendly, but the food was not great. I had the vegetarian pho, but I was wary from the beginning since the veggies listed were bell pepper and string beans. Sure enough, they did not work well in the dish. Blegh. Plus, instead of scallions, there were lots of big chunks of yellow onion. I would have given fewer stars if not for the warmth of the host.
(3)John Jr. B.
Hesitant to award four stars, but after four or so visits, they've won me over with the variety of their menu. Tom Yum Pho? Spicy Beef Brisket Pho? Both are amazing and you'll be hard pressed to find these varieties anywhere nearby. The downside is that their basic pho, i.e. pho tai is average at best. Green papaya salad is hit or miss. With more misses lately than hits
(4)Frank S.
Please heed my warning...this place is NOT good. I love Vietnamese food and this barely qualifies. First of all, the place is dumpy looking (first warning). Second, the menu prices are waaay too high for Vietnamese, much less for the dumpy digs. You must have to pay extra for the location. But the Pho was really the worst. It tasted like they scooped in the MSG---how could other reviewers actually think that this is good stuff??? The mind boggles. I tried to hedge our bets by ordering Pad Thai. Yeah, I know it's ain't Vietnamese but how could they screw that up, I thought? They did! It actually smelled BAD as they brought it to the table. Some sort of off-putting vinegary order. And it contained "chunks" of chicken swimming in some sort of weird sauce. Pad Thai has sauce now??? Dreadful.
(1)Alfred K.
Pho Green Papaya reminds us of Pho PDX, except it wasn't as good. The cream cheese wontons are good if you like fried wonton skins... there was hardly any cream cheese in it. The vegan menu is nice to see, although I would stay away from the tofu and udon in curry soup. The soup had pineapple in it and it was so sweet it tasted like dessert - ugh. Vegan pho was decent though - not as good as Pho PDX - but it's decent. It's hard to want to come to Pho Green Papaya again in the near future especially with the construction on MLK... but pho al fresco that unlike Pho PDX is actually available past lunch time? I guess I could be convinced...
(3)Rich F.
I've been a regular at this spot since moving our office into the neighborhood about a year ago. Everything's super fresh and consistent. The broth foundation for the Pho is complex and totally delicious. I'm also a big fan of their Bun dishes, and have reveled in each of the grilled meat accompaniments. Also recommended is the house-made ginger kombucha, which the super friendly staff have learned to bring me automatically as soon as I walk in the door. Great spot! Go eat!
(4)Itty B.
I very very much enjoyed the vegetarian Pho and the quiet atmosphere mid afternoon last week. The service was friendly and timely, the Pho was delicious. Try it!!
(4)Catherine C.
Pretty good. Really nice people. The chicken pho was made with all white meat. Would definitely go back.
(3)Sarah T.
i ordered pad thai to go and when i got back to my place to eat it i was bummed. It was noodles but was not anything like the pad thai i have had at other places or in Thailand. Weird redish sauce and disappointing.
(1)Amanda E.
I am sad to chime in with the 'new ownership went downhill' but it's the truth. I'll have to find a new vegan pho.
(2)Travis T.
Pho Green Papaya is closed.
(1)Amanda T.
I used to love Pho Green Papaya. This was back in the days when the guys who were there were always there. They'd harass me because I'd always be asking when the new pho was going to be unveiled or just for the fact that I was there once or twice a week. I loved it secretly. A few weeks ago though this all changed. I went in to order my pho and the restaurant looked a little empty. I thought it was weird but proceeded inside as usual ready to be berated because I planned on asking about the new pho again. But I never did get to ask my all time favorite Vietnamese restaurant staff when I was going to be able to try my new pho. This is because Pho Green Papaya is under new ownership. My experience with the new staff and owner has been nothing short of TERRIBLE. After ordering my food to go from the lady who proceeded to charge my credit card using one of those carbon copy swipe things(I haven't seen one of those since Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!), I went outside in full panic to call my boyfriend. I even did the slightly uncool thing and warned everyone who was entering the restaurant that it was under new ownership and it SUCKS. Whoops. I made a sorry last attempt to order food there last week and ended up getting so frustrated that I hung up on the lady who answered the phone. I will never go back here. I guess Pho Van is my new Vietnamese joint.
(1)Edward J.
If you are looking for cheap eats in Portland, I highly recommend Pho Green Papaya. Their lunch special is a killer cheap eat out. $6 for a large vegan pho with tofu, string beans, tube mushrooms, and scallions. Its so big that I hardly could finish it. I love pho and I'm super lucky to live in Portland where vegan pho is not hard to find. Almost every pho place in Portland downtown region has a vegan option. Though I don't know how they make vegan pho broth, 'cause the broth is made from oxtail. They also have many other vegan plates. There is the vegetarian/vegan spring roll. Deep fried to perfection. Its got string sliced woodear mushroom, bamboo shoots, cabbage and tofu. Its $1 per spring roll. The restaurant environment is not much of a place for romantic dining. It feels a bit like a shack or hole in the wall with caged up windows. There are more outdoor seatings than indoor seatings. The place is usually packed during lunchtime filled with local office white collar workers. PS: I think the dinner menu is a bit more expensive.
(4)N. C.
The recent reviews are right. The old vibe is gone, the cool waiters left with it, and today's pho means I'll probably never be back. It used to be a damned good bowl, but now the broth tastes of buillion cubes. Yes, the kind in the wrapper. Hydrolyzed protein. And there's nothing much to be found in the broth either. You could try to spruce it up with sprigs of last week's basil they've generously included on a little plate. Or you could bring in the trappings from your own lint trap. It's up to you. The new manager of the place has a cold and unwelcoming thing about her. Everything has changed. I'd like to find out what happened to the old cook and crew.
(1)augustus B.
The vegan pho here was phenomenal, and the portions were enormous. The service was great, they weren't table vultures, but they were attentive just the same. The only negative? avoid the basil seed drink and you'll have a great meal
(5)Jen J.
I've been meaning to try this place out because it had vegan pho and was close to my work. I wish I would have gone somewhere else or not been lazy and packed my noodle soup from the night before. After hearing the staff speak Korean and seeing Korean items on the menu I was curious to see how their veggie Pho tasted. Boy, was I disappointed. The broth had no flavor so I squeezed every bit of the lime juice out that I could. They just cut up some old tofu and dropped it in as an afterthought. While I tire of fried tofu, they could have marinated and baked it or something. The tofu tasted old and had some spots on it. The noodles didn't seem fresh either and I really had to work at them to get them separated. It is so obvious when something is made with pride. I recommend going to Pho PDX or Pho Jasmine for really good vegetarian pho. If you are in Hillsboro, ViVi's has a good soup and stir fried vegan noodles.
(2)Kate N.
I have no idea why this place is rated so low. I have been eating here for almost three years, yes back when it was under different ownership, and I have never once had a bad experience then, or now. When I started eating there I was an omnivore and now that I am vegan, absolutely love their vegan pho. The service isn't awesome but the ladies are always very nice and quick. I will continue to eat there every time I am in town.
(5)Anne S.
This was my first time eating pho so I don't have anything to compare this place to. However, I ordered the chicken pho and I loved that the veggies included were fresh and crisp, the service was fast and the portion was HUGE. I think next time I go I'll order either seafood or just veggies as the chicken was a bit much (I'm not much of a meat eater). I would definitely eat here again...the three stars is just based on the fact I have no other pho restaurants to compare it to.
(3)Ernie C.
Probably 3.5 but I'm feeling generous this morning. This was my latest stop In my continuing quest to try and find Vietnamese close to where I live (inner SE). The building is set back from the street, with a small parking lot in the front. When facing the building, there's a large, covered patio on the right. Once you enter, the counter/cash register is directly in front of you, with some seating to the left. Not a huge space. I sat outside and ordered the bun with grilled pork and rolls. I think this was 11 or 12 bucks, which I thought was steep. When it came out, I was really surprised to see it was on a plate, practically deconstructed. The noodles were in one corner, the sprouts and green in another, and the other half of the square plate had 3 skewers of grilled pork framed by two very skinny/long spring rolls (cigarillo sized). The plate was accompanied by the standard small bowl of fish sauce/dressing. Pretty plating, but definitely not what I was expecting. Took a bit of work to remove the pork from the skewers, cut it and the spring rolls into bite size pieces, mix everything together, and drizzle some sauce on it. Pork was a little dry, though the spring rolls were good, albeit a little smaller than I was hoping for. When I went to pay, the lady working the register looked at my name on my card and asked what my ethnicity was. Ends up she had been guessing I was Korean (and she is as well), and she pointed they had a few Korean menu items (kalbi and bibimbop), though they also had some high prices - low 20s for the kalbi, and maybe 12 for the bibimbop. To be clear, I had been hoping for a bowl of bun for around 8 bucks, so this deconstructed plate for 12 was a bit of curve ball. I want to come back and try their Korean food, but my quest for Vietnamese in the SE continues . . .
(4)Cola V.
I've had better Pho, but it's a great little place that always seems to be busy. The broth is little bland, but for a quick meal or take-out and for the price it's a great place to stop in.
(2)Doug Y.
Good place, but uhh, it's really nothing you can't get at the mall. I was going to this place for a good two years before their makeover, and while their name and appearance changed, the food stayed the same (and actually I think a few dishes got worse) while the prices went up! They did have to close at one point because of a health code violation, but those were the days when they were busting ass to get orders done. You'd see them running across the street to Sheridan's for ingredients, and now they just get the stuff shipped in. Bah. The owner is the Citizen Kane of business owners, starting off with a big heart and good intentions, but inevitably becoming more concerned about her income and appearance. And that's probably just from my perspective as one of their longer-term patrons. But if you went there when they were called Sunset Deli and used to serve sandwiches (which were also from Sheridan's and ridiculously marked up, but it was a cute effort), you'd know how much they've changed and how good their food used to be.
(3)Jon R.
I love this Thai place. I call it a Thai place because I never get the Pho, I only get the Pad Thai, which is absolutely amazing and completely unlike any Pad Thai I've ever had. It's sweet and spicy and delicious and I highly recommend you try it. I liked it better when the lunch service was counter service. Now they have a weird waiter ritual that doesnt really seem to work that well, and ends up taking a lot longer.
(5)Sean G.
I was not at all impressed with the Pho on my visit. For starters, they did not offer a top-round-only pho, which is what I prefer. So I chose the top round and brisket. I quickly discovered I'm not really a fan of brisket. The noodles were good and the broth decent (a bit greasy and flat) but their selection of condiments was lacking. I don't remember there being the super hot chili sauce I like (I thought it was a standard, the little jar with the little spoon) so I was stuck with the sauce available. I thought part of the joy of pho was being able to make your own magical combination of spices and sweetness, so I felt this lack of variety to be pretty disappointing. Finally, the small bowl I bought cost $8 (and has probably gone up, as it has at other Pho places) and was nowhere near the quality of a few other places in the area. Their other food might be really good, and the presentation was nice (as was the staff) but I just didn't care for the pho. It's such a personalized food, you might have a different experience.
(2)Catriona C.
Traipsing around an unfamiliar city can have some unfortunate consequences - fortunately, stumbling over Pho Green Papaya was not one of them. Pulling into what looked to be a very rough parking lot with Green Papaya nestled in at the back, I was pleasantly surprised when we walked through the doors to find quite an attractive looking restaurant behind it. I had my usual vermicelli - I have to admit, I am accustomed to it being presented in a bowl - where this was served on a plate, with each individual part of the meal separated neatly. The fish sauce came pre-spiked with chilli and tasted like a diluted sweet chilli sauce - a little different to what I am used to. This is not always a bad thing. Myself and my friends all enjoyed our meals here - and although the service was slow, I would go again.
(3)F. Explora L.
Not very impressed..... Unique menu, but food wasn't as tasty as I expected :/ Cute little comfy restaurant with bright green walls :) Very friendly waiter. The vietnamese iced coffee was good. The green papaya salad was okay; it was a bit over-saturated in the sweet dressing. And I wasn't impressed with the veggie pho either... The food really didn't "hit the spot".
(2)Frannie h.
It's not bad, but it isn't good. Broth is weak and and noodles were thick and all clumped together. I finished my bowl but somehow didn't feel satisfied. Portions aren't especially small, but just doesn't feel as substantial as other Pho. I will eat here again only because it is close to work. I prefer Pho Jasmine. Next time I might try a different menu item, so far I have only tried the beef pho and the spicy pho (I DO NOT recommend this- it's pho with enchilada sauce added). Beef pho is passable but nothing special.
(3)Brian G.
Intro: Don't eat here. Go eat Lebanese up the street or something. Hell, go to Taco Bell and get a chalupa. Body: My cursed friend/guitarist recommended this place our first night in Portland. We got there and were excited to be in Portland and to sit outside in nice weather for some good vietnamese food. Nothing was particularly good. I ordered the korean pancake for a starter, thinking that this place must be Korean owned and therefore they would make their own cuisine better, and it sucked. I was hungry, so I ate it, but it was undercooked, poorly seasoned, and I basically drowned it in hoisin and chili. Next I ordered a bun. My chicken was dry and overcooked, the noodles were not freshly cooked, the rolls were rubber and bland. Terrible. None of my three friends had really good food either. Two of my friends both ordered bun with rolls and had to endure eating 6 of those things. The texture made me think of what fake plastic food in a display case must taste like. Conclusion: These people don't know how to cook, but obviously hired someone to create an image/menu that makes you think they can, until it is too late and you've already been served. A good place to dine and dash. I noticed it is under new management, so I will assume when my friend ate here last year, it was genuinely good, but is now zombie vietnamese food.
(2)Jay S.
The blue little shack on MLK is the place to go in Portland for vegetarian Pho. The make a flavorful soup that has helped to rekindle my faith in the ability of kitchens to combine flavors and make a faux beef and star anis broth. Apparently their regular pho is good too, but I can't speak from personal experience. The other menu items have also been good. They offer a good variety of Vietnamese cuisine, with some very creative dishes. One highlights off the top of my head is the sugarcane shrimp. The bathroom is dumpy and the neon lights inside can be a little overwhelming, but the food kicks serious booty.
(4)Rob N.
My food was cold and I waited too long for it, even though there was hardly anyone in there.
(2)Lindsey J.
Absolutely love the PHO here. I have searched and searched for my favorite PHO place in many cities and PHO GREEN PAPAYA could easily take the number one or two spot thus far. I crave the pho from here. I also have ordered some other type of chicken-veggie-noodle dish that was amazing so the cooks are great. The service is a bit slow...that's all.....Understandable seeming as though people love the food and it's not like they have ten people back there cooking........ The wait is well worth it.
(4)Kelly M.
Pho Green Papaya, set back from the road on MLK a bit and recognizable from its green neon sign which matches green neon lighting indoors, is a new favorite. Portions are huge, and the food is delicious. You can expect to pay under ten dollars and be stuffed, and still go home with tons of leftovers. Their menu is extensive and appetizing, and for the ethical sect, they kindly offer an impressive vegan section. The lemongrass tofu is amazing!
(4)Carla L.
Do not order the Pad Thai. It is awful. It is basically just sticky, fat, undercooked rice noodles tossed in a sweet and sour sauce that came out of a bottle. Probably the Caravelle sweet and sour sauce with the ship logo. And it had this bright yellow colored chicken dumped on it that was barely recognizable as chicken. It didn't even look appealing. The funny party is that when I asked the server if the Pad Thai was good, she paused. She paused for a good few seconds and gave a meek, "Yyeeaaa....yes...?" response. I should have known... The papaya salad was less than okay. It was served with Sriracha sauce, which is really weird. The spice from papaya salad is supposed to come from fresh chilies and fish sauce. I don't think this papaya salad had either in it. It's sort of a cross between Thai papaya salad and Vietnamese goi. I love both, but not together like this. This place has one redeeming quality: the pho. The pho is actually dece. If I ever eat here again I will only eat the pho. You should too.
(2)Lara G.
Really good pho. Had the chicken pho and my husband had the beef tenden, although the beef tenden had way too much tenden and not enough beef. Overall pretty good, I would give it a 3.5-4 star. Would definitely come back Great service!
(4)Erica B.
I've eaten here a number of times and keep it simple with a vermicelli bowl with pork and spring rolls. It's never been amazing, but ok comfort food near my work. Until my last visit, I would have given it 3 stars. Last visit, my bowl was served on a plate, making it hard to combine the fish sauce dressing, noodles, greens, bean sprouts and pork. The pork was overcooked and tough. The spring rolls had essentially nothing in them. Just fried empty egg roll shell. 4 hours after eating, I got sick. Will let you make your conclusions. Sad to say I won't be going back.
(1)Rick E.
During last week's visit to PDX for the SMMR BMMR music fest at Rotturé, Pho Green Papaya was the one and only disappointing meal of the trip. The only reason we ate there is because Rotturé didn't have any on-site food, and we didn't wanna miss a single band during the awesome Friday lineup. We power-walked over there and ordered what seemed to be the fastest dishes possible....veggie pho for the lady, and chicken curry for me. The service was very slow, so I hoped that the food would be tasty enough to make up for us having to miss the Ganglians and the first two-thirds of Ty Segall's set at SMMR BMMR. Alas...it only made me more bitter about it. My girlfriend's veggie pho was passable, she said, but the only thing she could compare it to was the veggie pho at the student-run UC-Davis Coffeehouse where blandness is the law. It was certainly expensive compared to the $5 pho we enjoy so much more here in our hometown of Sacto. Unlike many SE Asian restaurants which ask patrons to specify the level of spiciness, Pho Green Papaya just talks a mean game, hyping up the spiciness of my green curry with jalapeños so much that I was kinda bracing myself. I preemptively ordered the guava juice just in case of an inferno. But it was hardly necessary. The greenness of my curry looked rather suspiciously fluorescent, too. Was it enhanced somehow just for dazzling effect? It just didn't seem natural for this kinda food to be Nickelodeon neon ectoplasmic green. At least we went back to the show satisfied with the portions.
(2)Inga B.
I agree with the other yelper, I am not sure why this place is rated so low either. I've been here almost a dozen times and will continue going as long as the beef pho continues to taste as amazing as it does. It is hands down my favorite spot for beef pho. I've never ordered anything else. Service is good, it's a small cute place. Seating outside is nice.
(5)Carmen M.
This place has new management and prior to that it was an okay place to go run during lunch time and have a bowl of hearty pho instead of a cold turkey sandwich from the cafeteria for the same price. However, since the change, there is something missing in their pho! They also had this awesome curry chicken and something changed? It's almost as if they are using generic salt or not adding enough of something.... It's still decent, but not the same. And they changed the seating so that they are trying to move away from paying directly at the counter before you pay your meal. The whole thing is just weird and agree with reviewer before me that it takes longer. Tip: Their front walkway needs some fixing! I caught one of my heels between the deck boards and about landed my face on someone's ga!
(3)Nichole D.
Very good place for pho. I had the tom yum pho, which I've never seen anywhere else. It was loaded with veggies, avocado, red pepper, onion, cilantro, mushroom and shrimp. The tom yum wasn't too over powering which was nice. The spring rolls were delicious. Priced well and they have a nice little outdoor patio. Service could have been a little more attentive, got a kind of a deer-in-the-headlights feel from them.
(4)Michelle K.
I'm really surprised by the many negative reviews on here. Maybe some of the reviewers could elaborate? I get that they are not as vegan friendly now, maybe? But otherwise, I don't understand why people say it sucks now. In my experience (I go here for lunch about once a month), it's quite tasty. I've never had the Tom Yum Pho anywhere else -- the chunks of fresh avocado's a great treat, and the shrimp are plentiful. The salad rolls have a lot of different tastes going on for them, including a strong mint kick. Food presentation's attractive. There's not much going on in terms of interior decor, though they do have a heated patio eating area. It's definitely not mediocre enough to explain the... strong opinions of fellow yelpers... so sirs/ma'ams, I implore you, if this place is worth just one star, couldja explain why?
(4)Joel C.
@Chad P. -- Amen brother. Can I use curse words on Yelp? Well, here goes: Fuck this place. I'm so pissed that I checked the box saying the place costs $60 bucks per person. I'm so pissed that if you truly want to eat here, I'll cook you dinner for free in
(1)Bethany M.
Any reviewer that speaks poorly of this place has no clue what goood food is. This is by far the best Pho I have had in Portland....and I've tried a wide variety. It is always sooooo wonderful, full of flavor, fresh quality meats, truly healing food. The giant Thai Iced teas are also the best I've had, rich and delicious. The mango salad is a work of art! The service is attentive and graceful.
(5)Raymond B.
It should first off be noted that they are now under new ownership. And the place has gone down the tube. It's no longer enjoyable. The food isn't good, they don't even spice it anymore, it's just not worth it. Strange story: they were trying to decide if we were wanting to eat "vegan" or not, so we asked them what the difference between two dishes was. Apparently, the one made with soy milk is considered vegan, and the dish made with coconut milk is not. Huh? An
(2)Ajia T.
We headed to this joint for lunch after the NW Solar Expo yesterday and the food was deeeelicious! My friends suggested it since it's close to the Convention Center and we all love the Green Papaya downtown...I guess the owner of this place used to cook at Green Papaya or something. Anyway, this place has amazing food at outstanding prices! Everything was cooked to perfection: firm, yet silky tofu; crisp and flavorful veges; big, fluffy rice; super tender meat. I really liked the spice-o-meter system here, too. Instead of mild, medium, spicy, etc., you choose from 0 to 5 teaspoons. I chose 1, to be on the safe side (I've been burned before!), which was similar to mild. The only reason this place loses a star is the ordering system. I don't mind ordering at the counter, but not when I'm going to sit down and you'll bring my drinks and meal to me eventually, anyway. I could just pick it up at the counter, instead. Or you could just take my order at the table...right? Overall, everyone at our table was abundantly satisfied and I'm sure we'll be back for more (there are too many other things to try on their menu!). Man, I can't wait to eat my leftovers today. :) Oh yeah, try the Jasmine Iced Tea!
(4)Phil M.
My 3rd review of a pho joint in Portland. Not sure why this place gets some bad reviews. I had the beef pho and it was very good. The only oddity was that it was served with lemon instead of the expected lime. It gets 4 stars only because my previous 2 pho experiences were absolutely phenomenal. But with this place being close to my office in central PDX, it's definitely worth making it a regular stop on my lunchtime rounds.
(4)Kandace B.
Crowded, run-down, cheap and known to invoke late night cravings. When I first stepped in this place, I thought I'd never come back. I did. And, I do. Often. They'll have your to-go order ready quicker that you can walk the 3 blocks to pick it up. And a vegan section on the menu! Had to change the stars on this review after change in ownership has greatly changed the menu and taste. Bummer.
(2)Kristina W.
Nice little place run by two very friendly ladies. Not sure what to order? I like the Satay Chicken.
(4)