I will preface this by saying that I am no pho expert. But one day, when I was still living in University City, I was craving some pho. Random? Yes, I'm aware. Anyways, I Google searched "Best pho restaurants in Philly" and this was the closest location so I gave it a try. I thought it was standard for a pho establishment. It seemed pretty authentic to me. They offered the standard toppings (cilantro, jalapenos, bean sprouts) for the pho and had sauces ready for use on the table. If you like pho, I don't think you can go wrong with getting it here!
(4)
Eleanor L.
Great value! Take out pho is the best! Chicken and Deluxe are my favorite so delicious and HUGE! Been many times and always nice and consistent the summer rolls (soft rice wrapper?) are delicious as well. They separate the Pho into the broth and the meat/veg so that you can take it home without it tasting like take out! Always delicous and fresh!b
(4)
Kevin C.
I love this place for its cheap, plentiful food and their strict "ignore the drunk athletes pounding 40s" policy. While I'm not entirely certain it's a BYOB, my friends and I have been bringing 40s here for 4 years and counting, and no one has EVER said anything to us about it. Their pho is decent, but I personally get the Steamed Broken Rice With Char, Pork Chop, Shredded Pork, Egg Quiche, Sunshine Egg. God, it's glorious, comes out piping hot, and is perfectly balanced by the light, fragrant flavors of Old English. I miss college so much it hurts sometimes.
(4)
Reika Y.
Great place for pho if you are around this area. It's relatively quick, especially if you order pho, and inexpensive compared to places nearby. While it is a small restaurant, you can definitely go with about 8 friends and they will arrange seating for you. I have a problem most of the time with not carrying cash on me, and this place does accepts ONLY cash. However, there is an ATM outside. There is a CVS one block north as well. I have tried their pho, broken rice, specials, and drinks, and you can't really go wrong. You can also ask them to not put milk in your milkshake for a smoothie.
(4)
Nicholas Y.
I ordered the vegetable fried rice and it was tasty. Not that many vegetarian options on the menu, and this was one of them. Good portion sizes too. I read another Yelp review which said "if you want to treat yourself, get the Hong Kong style milk tea". I was born and raised in Hong Kong and lived there for 18 years, so I know what good Hong Kong milk tea tastes like. This was definitely NOT good milk tea. It was overly sweet and tasted extremely artificial. Summary: good food. Bad milk tea.
(3)
Tina N.
I live within walking distance of this restaurant but have never tried it. In the world of Vietnamese food or pho, this place doesn't make many people's top list. But hey, I figured it must be in still in business for some reason. I finally visited during a random Tuesday for lunch. I ordered a beef pho with meatballs, pretty basic. The pho was not good. It wasn't a bad bowl of broth and noodles, but it wasn't good pho. It lacked all of the complex aromas of pho. I really think it was just beef broth and MSG. Like I said though, it wasn't a bad if it was any noodle soup, it was still palatable. I can see it serving the purpose if you're hungover. The place itself is dated, and small but no big deal since I expected this. I wasn't there for a fancy dinner. I may go back to try some other dishes purely because of it's proximity but I won't be going back for pho.
(2)
Shani T.
Ahh so many memories associated with this place. My first meal outside of a dining hall was at Pho & Cafe Saigon my freshman year of college. Post partying, this place was our go to for hangover food. Every time I go back to Penn, I find myself here again and again. To be honest, I haven't found a better bowl of pho in New York yet. I'm not sure if it's because I have so many memories attached to this little store in West Philly or what, but nothing seems to compare to the deliciousness of the broth and the tenderness of the beef. I could never get enough of the pho tai here. It's just literally so good. The price is reasonable, and you can even ask for a large size which bumps the price up to around $11 or $12. Very, very, worth it. The noodles are perfect and the broth isn't too oily like it is at many pho places. They have delicious bubble tea smoothies here as well. There are a lot of variety in the flavors you can choose. Seriously, where else would you be able to get a durian smoothie? So why am I giving this place 3 stars? Honestly, I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. The food itself is great. The owner is actually extremely friendly. There are just some issues that I have with this place... Sanitation being one of them. There was a huge fly flying around once and it really bothered me that it was landing everywhere (bean sprouts included) and the owner didn't even make an attempt to wave the bug away. Another time, there was a bug in my soup (gross) and I asked to have the bowl of pho remade. They remade it, but I'm pretty sure they just took the noodles and beef in my initial bowl and moved it to a new bowl of broth. Sorry, but that doesn't really fix the issue completely... Still, this is a pho place that I hold close to my heart and will visit again and again. Just be careful of bugs (mostly an issue in the warmer months, when the door to the restaurant is left open and bugs have easier access to the interior). Note that this place is cash only as well, and I don't think they typically split the bill between guests at a table.
(3)
Shereen C.
We had dinner here about a year ago and it was generally okay, edible food that wasn't particularly tasty or great in any way. Bun w/ grilled lemongrass beef was so-so. Broken rice w/ chargrilled pork, shredded pork, egg quiche was okay. Pork was dry and overcooked. Quiche was fine. Spring rolls were fine, not bad, nothing special. I wouldn't make a point of returning but if I was craving Vietnamese food and in the area, I might go again.
(2)
Jason T.
Had takeout spring rolls. Affordable and fast. Spring rolls were what you'd expect. Pretty good for a neighborhood joint.
(4)
Alex X.
University City, Philly PA I like my fresh honeydew ice drink. They didn't put the bubbles in. I applaud the fresh fruit water ice crushed ice fluids they make. I do not like the condensed milk they add to sweeten it. And I don't call this bubble tea. I guess Philly will never make the kind of bubble tea I'm use to in Manhattan. But at least it is fresh. Aroma here smells great- looking forward to trying some of their soups and pho's next time.
(3)
Grace L.
The best choice for pho near University City. The restaurant is very cozy and reminds me of a "hole in the wall" type establishment that has more authentic food (although I'm no judge of authentic Vietnamese food). I came here recently with a large group of friends for a BYO. While the servers were not the friendliest or outgoing, they were nice enough to allow us to raise ruckus and move around our table. The food came out extremely quickly for a group of 20 people (probably less than 5 minutes total??), and the bill was given to us in a readable manner. I ordered the shrimp spring rolls, which had a great rice paper skin but not enough shrimp. However, the peanut sauce that came with it was DELICIOUS. I also tried a durian drink, which was surprisingly much better than I expected for such an odious fruit. The servers didn't give us water without being asked, but was attentive when whenever we requested something. Also, the menu wasn't the most descriptive for people who are not as familiar with Viet food (some descriptions were simply "Rice Stick" or "Rice Flake"....which I had no idea what that was...), but if you already know what you're going to get then you're all set!
(4)
Jeremy C.
One day I had a pho craving and didnt want to go to Saigon anymore. I happened across this small restaurant. Compared with the other Viet offerings in University City, I was pleasantly surprised. The one standout of the pho was the broth. While at Saigon, another Viet restaurant in the area, I often times felt that the broth was watered down, just to present itself in such a big bowl, the broth here was very concentrated. Each sip was aromatic and fragrant with also a great hint of the meat used. The meat itself was similar to other pho I have had. One thing that stood out to me was the tendon, which was not tough or chewy like a lot of places but was more buttery and melted in your mouth. So if you're in university city and craving some pho, I urge you to try this place out. Although I must say that for the avid pho connoisseur, he/she should look more towards places in viet town, this is a great option for those looking to get their quick pho fix.
(4)
Jack J.
I come here all the time. because I live two blocks away. I love pho because they always bring it out within five minutes, and it's like instant source of warmth on a cold day. A big bowl of steaming noodles with good broth, nice portions of protein, and plenty of bean sprouts. If you like to sweat more you can always add sriracha to your heart's content. I definitely have had better pho, but due to proximity, it's one of my most frequented restaurants. They only take cash by the way, and there is a generic ATM right outside, but will charge a fee to use. go with #16!
Whenever I'm craving an authentic bowl of pho, I like to go here. In my opinion their broth is the best in philadelphia. And I love how its closer then going all the way to Washington Avenue. The husband and wife that owns and run the restaurant are super nice and friendly. I've tried a couple of items on their menu like their spring rolls, scrimp roll, broken rice plates, and different flavored smoothies. Everything I've had has been really delicious. This place is really great. The only down fall is that it's cash only. But no worries if you don't bring enough cash, they have an atm inside. If you're looking for some really good vietnamese food and want to go somewhere low key. You should def give this place a try~
(5)
Erin C.
This place is nice in terms of proximity in walking distance without having to drive or take any sort of public transportation. Their pho is average, not bad nor very good. It's also a bit pricier average. Another downfall is that their utensils and the mini sauce dishes were still a bit dirty. Had to use some water and a napkin to scratch off whatever was stuck on them.
(3)
Linda K.
The service here is super fast and the beef noodle soup I order is usually ready within minutes after I order. However their beef is far less quality than a place like Sangkee's so the loss of the star. But the broth is good and I love their brown sauce that I think is Hoisin??? Whatever it is that is why I come here. The bean sprouts, lemon and basil on the side is nice.
(4)
Steven C.
The closest good pho option to University City. Saigon on Walnut is too sweet and Pho Vietnam is just a tad far for an everyday walk. I came here recently on one of those chilly fall nights, ready to be warmed up before the rest of my evening, and boy did it deliver. Steaming hot, tasty soup was in front of me within minutes and I chowed down without hesitation. As usual, the beef here isn't great, nor are the portion sizes, hence the loss of star, but everything else was spot on. The flavor of the broth was just right, not requiring me to add my usual spice. The noodles were a nice firm consistency and the overall experience was probably heightened by the contrast compared to the cold I had just left. Come here for fast service pho near University City and be prepared to warm up. Might want to grab a snack after though
(4)
Srujana Y.
Disclaimer: Never dined in. My husband and I have always ordered take-out from this place.. so frequently that they know our order by heart. We live less than a block away from the cafe, so it is extremely convenient to pick up hot soups on our way back home, especially during this long winter. So I can't really comment on their service but the food is generally ready within minutes. Our usual order is tofu curry with vegetable, and veggie noodle soup - both the dishes are absolutely fantastic although tofu curry is my personal favorite!
(4)
Suman B.
Food is decent. I have the pho with veggies and tofu. They accept cash only..no credit cards. Veggie fried rice is also very tasty.
(3)
Michael F.
Determining my rating for this review was tough. Merely comparing it to other University City offerings I can see Pho & Cafe Saigon as a solid 4-star establishment. Factoring in the other Pho places I've visited in Philly^ and I believe 3-star is a fairer assessment. Here is why: * Prompt service and quick delivery of your food (Pho & other entrees) * Portions on par or slightly smaller than my typical Pho experiences * Prices slightly higher than other Vietnamese places, but on par or lower than others in University City The Pho was solid with a good amount of meat (tripe, tendon, etc) inside. I tried the rice flakes as well. They were good, but not great. Getting a mango shake offered a nice balance for my pho (since I've been known to put quite a bit of sriracha in my broth). Finally, I agree with a few other reviewers, it was odd getting the check before I completed my meal. Personally, that didn't impact my rating, but if it is something that is known to bother you, be warned. Oh, and remember it is CASH only! ^If your interested in Pho, check out my ongoing list: yelp.com/list/philly-pho…
(3)
Brent H.
This place is really good. My wife and I go here whenever we crave Pho. It is inexpensive, quality, and you get free tea when you dine in.
(4)
Cindy C.
A mediocore pho place. If you're in UC and have a craving for pho, this will do the job. However, I think this is just a joint that caters to hungry college students who do not better. Only one person was serving/taking orders when we went, but he was very attentive as we were the only customer. Cash only.
(2)
Ben W.
Best pho option on campus. A lot of my Vietnamese friends claim that Cafe Saigon does not have great pho by any standard, but on those cold nights when I'm craving a nice, piping bowl of beef pho, this place is where I turn to. This BYO is a great place to get ones feet wet with pho if you've never tried before because of it's wide menu selection. Whether you're vegetarian or are unsure what type of meats to get in your bowl, this place accommodates all of these requests. When you're seated, they'll immediately take your order and bring out a plate of toppings, which includes bean sprouts, lime wedges, jalapeños, and basil leaves. Literally within three minutes of ordering, they'll bring out your bowls. I usually go with #17, the beef eye round, tendon, and tripe. I lovee adding as many toppings as I can into my bowl. The sourness of the lime is a great compliment to the savory broth, the spiciness of the jalapeño adds a nice singe, the bean sprouts adds a nice crunch, and the basil adds a nice fresh aftertaste. Every time, I down the soup and leave an empty bowl. Not only do I think the food is tasty, it's also extremely affordable. This less than $10 meal is the best cure to chilly weather blues. I have yet to try their smoothies, but I've hard their avocado smoothie is out of this world. Pros: price, speedy service, menu options Cons: not the most friendly servers Dishes to try: pho!
(4)
Krystal H.
This place is legit. The Charbroiled Pork Vermicelli is on the verge of orgasmic. The fruit milkshakes make my life in the summer. Pho is on point and prices are reasonable. If you get the tofu Pho, note that the tofu is deep fried and then tossed in with the broth so it can get soggy. Cash only, but there's a busted ass ATM outside and the owners are friendly. Closed on Mondays.
(4)
Nataly N.
So, I had a pho craving this afternoon. I've only been to 5 different pho places in Philly and was thinking about visiting another one this weekend, but the little voice of conscience inside my rumbling stomach was too overpowering as I walked past Pho & Cafe Saigon on my way back to my apartment. As I walked toward this "restaurant," I beheld, with slight discomfort, a man looking at me though the glass door, watching me approach. When I reached the door, he opened it in silence, allowing me to come in. That was my server. I said "hi" and asked for a table in the nearly empty restaurant. Although he did not respond to my greeting, he did point to some tables, suggesting that I could just pick one. When I sat down, iced tap water was promptly delivered. I ordered a bowl of pho, which arrived with terrific speed, only 2 minutes later. If you know me, you would know that am a relatively fast eater. Multiply that speed by 2 whenever I am hungry or have a craving. Halfway through my meal, my check was shoved into my face as I was inhaling the pho. When I got up to leave, the server, who was facing me, avoided eye contact and headed straight for the check. I left a 20% tip, as I customarily do. I understand that people need to make a living in good or bad times. I know that in some family-owned businesses, perhaps workers who are family members don't always get paid as they should. I also keep an open mind, with the understanding that some people are not at always at ease with human interactions. However, the server was polite and spoke perfect English when a gentleman in a suit came in. He even asked the man how he was doing and politely seated him. He was suddenly well-versed in customer service skills. Unfortunately, I had to leave and could not observe the rest of this fascinating transformation. Conclusions from this experience: 1) The food was better than last time I was here. The pho was pretty good. There was a large, flat piece of ligament the size of my hand in the pho, but no big deal - I just set it aside. (+1 from my last rating) 2) The service was worse, and it was probably not an off-day. It wouldn't have hurt for the server to wait 3 more minutes to drop the check, once I finish absorbing my pho soup. (-1 from my last rating) 3) To maximize your experience, make sure you come here hungry. To get better service, wear a suit and white collared shirt instead of your regular clothes. (I only wore a nice skirt with a cardigan) 4) The price isn't bad, but reviewers who think it's cheap are probably not comparing this place to the many other Vietnamese restaurants in Philly (less than $5 for the same amount of pho). 5) The location helps it maintain customer inflow. If any other pho restaurant in Philly chose to open an additional location nearby, this place would need some serious upgrading to compete. I will say, though, that this is probably the fastest service I've ever experienced. My entire dining experience lasted less than 10 minutes.
(2)
Joey F.
Pretty standard Vietnamese staples. Good tasting food and shakes. Great prices. Great tasting consumme for chicken pho. More like a 3.5 stars.
(3)
Julia C.
My mover Andrew raved about this place being his favorite Vietnamese in West Philly.....So I tried it last Friday night. It was a cold, cold night and the tea they served was soothing. Service was quick and the server let me ask a couple questions about the menu: rick stick is thin noodle, rice flake is wide noodle and broken rice is really just a rice dish, plus they have big bowls of pho aka soup. I decided to get a shrimp spring roll for my appetizer and they brought it out ASAP, which is good because I was hungry! And not to much wait time for the entree which was Rice Flake with Tofu and Mixed Vegetables. The sauce, i thought, was nice and flavorful. The Veggies were plentiful and Tofu cooked just right. They didn't rush me, as a stream of customers came to place take out orders and some sit down.. I finished my whole pot of tea before embarking on my walk home in the crisp, autumn air. They have Vegetarian dishes. A sign on window reminds the customer CASH ONLY.
(4)
Emile M.
Good food,, reasonable prices and super fast service. My wife and I lkeep coming back for pho.
(4)
Schuyler L.
I still love this place, I usually get #21 (Noodle Soup with chicken (pho with chicken)), it's delicious. But, this time I had the Deluxe Noodle Soup, #9, takeout. Deluxe means beef combination, Round, Tripe, Tendon, and Flank, I believe. I asked to have the tripe left out but they put it in the takeout box anyway. It was perfectly flavorful. Pho Cafe Saigon has been incredibly consistent and exactly what I was craving after five hours in the library and a cold walk home. I'm becoming a regular, this restaurant comes highly recommended by me. The menu can be found here: philadelphia.menupages.c…
(4)
Santasangre C.
Great neighborhood spot. I don't have a lot of pho experience, but I thought the portions were huge. And delicious! Not sure what some of the other reviewers have experienced but they are leading me to believe that one usually gets a bathtub full of pho at other establishments. I always order a regular bowl - which is served in a big ol' bowl -- and have at least a meal leftover to take home. Pricing is consistent with a neighborhood restaurant in Philly - say, $12 for lunch altogether. I like the folks who work there & service is fast. Cash only, so plan ahead!
(4)
Cindy L.
This place has served me the worst Vietnamese food I have ever eaten. No joke. I don't understand the other reviewers at all. First of all, for Vietnamese food, it is pretty pricey. Second, my pho dac biet (the special) was not piping hot. Third, the meat in my pho was mostly fat. Fourth, my friend's vermicelli noodles were clumpy and slightly hard, either due to bad cooking methods or old noodles. But service was alright, so I guess an extra star for that.
(2)
Amy A.
This is a great neighborhood spot. It's quick and the service is pretty good. Plus points for being a BYO. A good pho to order is #15 brisket only. The shakes are pretty good too, especially the pineapple!
(3)
Sarah S.
Mango milkshake was nothing to write home about.
(2)
Lo' G.
Yo... This place is the truth. Since Megabus offers insanely cheap fares from DC to Philly, I'm always there visiting my line sister!! She lives directly across the street from "Saigon House" as I have dubbed this place. I've eaten here three times and have gotten the shrimp friend rice each time. Wait, my first visit I ordered the shrimp spring rolls too! Anyways... My food is always piping hot and the portions are always big! I always have left overs and eat them later. You could honestly enjoy the rice with no sauce but the sriracha and the sticky brown sauce set it off! I always ask the cashier for extra! It's fresh, delicious, and CHEAP!! Paid $8.00 for the rice. $2.50 for the Spring rolls if I recall correctly. BIG OH!! The service is super speedy! It's located in a trendy little neighborhood in West Philly, lots of hipsters and young adults. I gave this place a shot because I'm a sucker for hole in the wall joints! I hope to try the bubble tea next time, but I gotta get over my phobia of the texture of tapioca balls in my mouth. Creeps me out a little. I would explore the rest of the menu but the rice is so damn good!! I would've given it a 5, but the hours of operation are inconsistent making it difficult to plan my day (my days are planned around my meals!!).
(4)
Natalie B.
Fast service, lukewarm attitudes, okay prices and food. They were very quick to bring us menus and take our orders. We waited 5 minutes at most between ordering and getting our food... which is great for pho, but I didn't like that about my dish. My date had pho dac biet and I had shredded pork and Vietnamese quiche. It was bland and dry, and the fish sauce was too sour. I feel like it was thrown in the microwave and then given to me, which was disappointing because I was craving a Vietnamese quiche made with love (or at least with a little more feeling than nuking). I stole some of my date's broth, though, and it was deeelicious. The only way I can describe the service is that it's neutral - neither friendly nor rude. Our waiter sat at a table nearby on his laptop, but we were never ignored or had to wait long for anything.
(3)
Gila C.
Its okay... Normal from other Pho place that I went to. The summer roll are not that good, it doesn't seen fresh and the color of veg in the summer roll had been changed. The Broken Rice Pork Chop is very good, very tasty. The Beef Ball noodle soup is pretty good as well. Price on the menu are higher than the other Pho.... Over all, food are good. Cash only!!! I will go back if I am around.
(3)
Marissa R.
Their pho is good. But the prices are a lot higher than other places but you are in university city everything is more expensive there. The waiter was nice and attentive even offered a free glass of wine with my meal. Which was great. I will be returning to try their rice dishes can't wait!.
(4)
Cuong P.
Pho&Cafe Saigon is one of a very few Vietnamese restaurants in West Philly and it is definitely not among the best in the city. During my time in Philadelphia, I tried a dozen restaurants of my country cuisine. This restaurant is only good if you live in the neighborhood and don't want to go far. Pho is average, rice with grilled pork is below average. The service is fast but the food is nothing special. The price is higher than Vietnamese restaurants in South Philly.
(3)
Donald P.
I still absolutely LOVE this place. It's not much to look at, but from the bun alone....this place is outstanding. I can't really speak to the pho as I never really order it. My dish of choice is the Bun with grilled pork and crispy spring roll, because there's a taste that I can't put my finger on (maybe from the fish sauce, but definitely on the grilled pork) that puts my taste buds on sensory overdrive. Either way still remains one of my favorite little places for bun. It's just a damn shame I live so far away.
(5)
Bill M.
Due to feeling a bit under weather for the past couple of weeks soup has been on the menu a lot . And as a result I've been finding myself over here to satisfy my pho craving a lot. With Vietnam Cafe representing this definitely isn't anywhere near the best pho in West Philly. and as many have indicated this is nowhere near the the level of a lot of other places in Philly. But when you're looking for pho that's quick and pretty inexpensive Pho & Cafe Saigon makes a pretty good second fiddle. I've only really done takeout so I can't comment on service, but the people working the counter are friendly enough. The noodles for the pho definitely isn't the greatest I've had. But the cuts of meat are plentiful, and the broth is exceptionally satisfying. and the spring rolls that I've picked up here were definitely satisfying. So over all when old man winter and hangover bugs are kicking your ass, this place has enough to get you back to your senses. And I really need to try those milkshakes!
(3)
Yiwen S.
pho is and always will be the perfect hangover cure. three stars for the fact that it's only 2 blocks away, which makes mornings after a night of heavy drinking that much easier to face. in this case, convenience trumps taste, as long as i have sriracha to add flavor to the soup base. i always order pho ga (chicken) and it never fails me. most people order the rare steak pho, and i've heard from other people that it's decent here. i myself still prefer the chicken, even though the meat is dry. but honestly, the chicken is dry in almost every pho restaurant i've ever been to. portion sizes here are decent. for the same price, i've had bigger and better. but on mornings when i don't wanna make the drive over to washington ave, this place will suffice.
(3)
Siv L.
This is a University CIty favorite! The service is quick and friendly. I always get pho, which is #19 on the menu. Go early on Sundays because it is sure to be crowded. They only accept cash and are closed on Mondays.
(5)
Cherie C.
Really cheap and really fast...almost too fast. The service was gruff and curt. We ordered our food, and both our spring rolls and our pho were on the table within 3 minutes (no exaggeration). I wondered about the freshness since it arrived so quickly; they obviously don't cook to order. But maybe their busy takeout business keeps them cooking everything all the time? I don't know. The flavors were good. Not outstanding, but adequate. And the price was really good.
(3)
Michelle C.
I'm still exploring Saigon's menu because I'm a Vietnamese food n00b and half the time I'm totally guessing, but basically everything I've had here so far has been very good. Their menu really isn't helpful, so I'm kind of forced to make an educated guess. I don't mind before forced to try new things, though! The pho is really yummy and when you sit to eat you get a pot of hot tea and all the Sriracha and plum sauce you can stand. I've also had a few of their entrees. The pork chop with fried egg in particular stands out in my mind as being quite good. The only thing I didn't like from here was the beef ball soup, but that's because I bug out when I try to consume tendon. If it can't be chewed, it obviously doesn't want to be eaten. That's just how I feel. As for bubble teas and stuff, I haven't tried them yet. I have however downed a few avocado milkshakes and have plans to drink more in the future. Not sure why it comes with that weird maraschino cherry though. The service is.. kinda questionable? Some times I feel as though I'm bothering them, other days they're very friendly. I think the guy who works the front may just be stoic and can come across as annoyed. It's cheap, it's good, it's near my place, so I'm a fan. Would I go out of my way to get some noms from Saigon? Maybe. Warm spring days kind of beg for outdoor seating, pho, and an avocado shake for brunch. TIP: Don't use the ATM outside if you can avoid it. The fee is steep and it's finicky as hell. There's a CVS right up the street. Buy gum and ask for cash back.
(4)
Grace S.
I've been here a few times and I always get pho because I don't travel this far into University City/W. Philly to try something new. My friends have ordered the other dishes here and really like it so I'm sure the other menu items are all reliably good. The service is extremely quick and although the place is small, I've always managed to get seating even though I'm always in a group. The spring rolls are the usual fried goodness and although the pho broth isn't the most flavorful I've ever had, it's decent.
(3)
Dama J.
SO.... I've been to this place twice. First time was yesterday and I got some food and a fruit smoothie. I thought the food was just ok and the smoothie was super good and came in a cute cup. So i came back again today to get another smoothie, same ingredients and everything. The woman made my drink this time, when the guy who worked there made it before. SHe made it soupy like juice couldn't even taste any ice. So i asked her nicely to remake it for me or just add more ice and blend it again and she REFUSED and told me if i wanted a thick one I shouldn't have gotten watermelon in my drink. She was super rude. How are you going to be rude as hell and speak horrible english on top of everything. She was loud and made a scene in front of the guests that were there. I will NEVER go back here again. NEVER get her to fix you anything. Ask for the guy to make you stuff. Also they didn't even have the price of the smoothie anywhere and didn't tell me it was an extra 35 cent to mix the fruit. This place is over priced for the quality. Its pretty much the quality of a local chinese food take out store and I'm not just saying that because they messed up my smoothie. Anyway they totally lost a customer that could have been in there everyday drinking their smoothies. HOrrible.
(1)
Igal K.
Talk about a disappointment! Before I start bashing I want to note that the staff is awesome and the cashier and the older lady are nice beyond nice! That said, I came here for the Pho and was very excited to find some Pho in university city. Ordered a take out of chicken and shrimp pho and the beef pho. I L O V E pho and I thought that it was impossible to screw it up but now I know what an average broth tastes like, fat and bland, sad really. After all the sriracha and soy sauce it tasted edible and the result for my efforts was a light food poisoning, I do want to note that the ingredients were fresh and I'm not in any way blaming Saigon for it but I will from now on eat pho in Chinatown.
(2)
Jim M.
I've been here a couple of times. The spring rolls can be good, but they tend to get over fried and greasy. The dipping sauce does help give some nice flavor to the spring rolls. The broken rice with chicken and lemongrass was pretty good. All this being said, the guy who does most of the order taking and food dispensing is very aggressive. All the times I"ve been there I felt like I've been on a clock. He's constantly hovering, taking things away and pushing you to finish. It's extremely unpleasant, especially if you are with a significant other and trying to enjoy each other's company. This place survives due to its location and prices. It wouldn't last a hot minute if it was on or near Washington Ave.
(2)
Alex P.
I love their lemongrass beef Vermicelli and pho soup! Their watermelon bubble tea is also really tasty. Besides the food being really good, I also think that the prices are cheap. The service is also really fast. My only issue is that the restaurant could use some renovations and the staff could use some training in customer service.
(5)
Vivian H.
It's not very good (my friends call this place "soapy noodles"), but will usually do for quick filling meals. And by quick, I mean you order and they walk back to bring out your food. I don't know how they do it. It's also BYO and they bring you dirty little styrofoam cups. But if you have any other option, go for the other option.
(2)
Shanee S.
I went here for Pho and it was pretty dissappointing. The broth was flavorful but exteremely oily. The meat was not good quality but overall it was ok. I also got the veggie spring rolls which were equally greasy but delicious. My boyfriend got the chargrilled-chicken which he loved except it was very fatty. I did get an avocado shake which was delicious! But I'm pretty sure that the guy licked the spoon he was mixing with. My boyfriend got the mango shake equally good. Our entire meal came to 22 bucks. This is not the place to go for neatness, good service, or ambiance. But, it did do the trick.
(3)
Grace F.
Great food and incredibly (I mean like food comes out within 5 minutes of ordering or less) service!! The shredded pork vermicelli was simple but delicious. The deluxe pho was very flavorful and I only stopped eating because I was stuffed.
(5)
Daniel T.
During a long bike ride that had us (a friend and myself) teetering very close to this west Philly spot, I remembered this fact and pho was just what we needed to refuel. I'm going to drop some knowledge about pho for you: Pho itself, is breakfast in its motherland. The hearty bowl contains a good amount of carbs, proteins, and salt. Those elements are vital to start off a tough working day in the heat (manual farming for example). So it makes sense to start a day's ride with a bowl. As soon as we get to Pho & Cafe Saigon, we were immediately thrilled to see outdoor seating. The last time I can recall eating pho outside was when I was actually in Vietnam. Sun and pho just makes sense to me. So without doubt, we were to be eating here. So then we order the typical bowls, load it up with tripe and different cuts of beef in the ol' largest-bowl-you-got variety. Service is quick, just like any other pho monger. Bowls came out and there's that unmistakable sense of anticipation of designing your own meal, harking to the traditional South Vietnamese way of eating pho. After the condiments: thai basil, chile peppers, and mung bean sprouts have been drowned in the pool, we dig in. Immediately something is awry. This is not authentic. There's something missing. Beefy and unctuous, it's there. Noodles are nice and firm, check. The proper spices... nope, I"m sorry to say it's not quite here. With pho, a slight hint of anise and roasted ginger are supposed to provide that supporting chord to an already nice tune. This bowl, however, didn't have it. So what you're left with is a rather nice bowl of beef noodle soup, very paletable and tasty if this was your first. If you've eaten a proper bowl before, this just isn't pho like it's supposed to be. Because we're strictly pho afficienados, it's all we had. I cannot comment about the other items on the menu simply because we didn't order it. Needless to say we finished our bowls, did the typical 'dredging' towards the end in an attempt to muster up any sort of scrap that's hidden below the noodle-exhausted murky waters and bidded adieu. The price was rather expensive, coming in at over eight dollars for the bowl without any drinks or edible companions on the side. Still though, it's worth a trip on a nice, sunny day to enjoy a bowl of 'beef-noodle soup'. Sure it's not authentic, nor is it even cheap. But when you're sitting outside with a full stomach on a brilliantly sunny day, what's there to complain about?
(3)
Jimmy S.
For a dollar or two more than the cost of the pho you would normally pay for universally, this place is not worth it. The broth in the pho is very bland. there's not a lot of meat. The portion is a decent size as one would expect normally from a pho place. Also ordered some summer rolls which were eh...nothing special. Definitely a ripoff of a place. Plenty of other places to go to besides this if you want some decent pho.
(1)
Joan H.
The food is decent but the customer service is seriously lacking. I've eaten here like 30 times and the owners still act as though they don't know who i am. Kinda weird. The milkshakes are delicious!
(2)
Brooke T.
I love this place and I do not go here enough. Cheap, fast and nobody will bother you. Beat the dinner rush and you can get a table by a window (or the giant fish tank) where you can devour your pho in quiet. Be clear when you want tea, since the last few times I've gone, I've had to ask for it twice. Especially since once I was presented with a green tea milkshake. Whoops? Did I mention it's cheap? As every other Yelper states, the pho is to die for. If I feel the need to eat my feelings, I'll get the broken rice with beef and a sunshine egg. If you want to get out of control, you can get spring rolls (which are the jump off). Cash only, however there is an ATM outside. If you have a $20 on you, you'll leave with change. IT'S CHEAP! I don't think I've mentioned that.
(5)
Julie K.
Go and get the fried rice, grilled pork, and a jack fruit milkshake (or any other shake). This place has reliable, tasty Vietnamese food at very low prices.
(4)
J J.
I got carryout from here and it was satisfactory. The service was super fast. I got the Vermicelli w/ Shrimp and some Spring Rolls. The Spring Rolls were good, and the shrimp were really really good. The vermicelli was just in a plain lump (which might be the way it usually is? I don't eat that much Vietnamese...) So I enjoyed the rolls and the shrimp, but everything else was bland and I felt like the price wasn't worth having half my food be plain/bland. If I could just get a heaping plate of the shrimp and skip the rest, I'd like that!! And cash only!
(3)
Elaine L.
Had their noodles here once for take out one friday night when I just got bored and didn't want to make any food! HAH. Anyway, their noodles are good and the texture is good but they gave me completely raw meat. Not cooked at all, partially mooing. It was a little bizarre. I know that they typically give you raw meat but it's partly cooked every time that I have eating pho. Besides that, my friend had mentioned that she got sick one time here while eating their food so I was very cautious and made sure my meat was cooked before I ate it. The good thing is that they are super quick and got me the food very easily. And, their avocado milkshake is pretty delicious. I'm SO happy that they actually use real avocados instead of powder and they use ice with evaporated milk and blend everything together. SO good. This is a must for this restaurant for sure!
(3)
Erika B.
The Pho is really good. I tried the beef and shrimp versions and enjoyed both. Very fast service which is great for a quick lunch. Nothing is better in winter then nice hot bowl of soup.
(4)
Annie C.
Came here around lunch time on a Saturday for a bowl of pho. Can't really complain, but just a bit confused. What was the difference between my pho with beef "round" and my friends' with beef brisket? Nothing, it seems. At least both cost the same. The portion was fine, the broth was nice, it's an all-around decent pho for $7.25, with your usual fresh sprouts and basil sprigs. The place is a bit out of the way for me on a weekday, but this is a nice break after a chilly Saturday morning at the farmer's market.
(3)
Maya Y.
I am not a Vietnamese food connoisseur, but I found this place to be acceptably decent for how cheap it was (I went with a friend and we only paid $9 each with tip and tax included). I ordered the beef brisket pho noodle bowl. The beef slices were very tender and thin, shabu-shabu style, so if you want something more steak-like, I'd suggest getting another cut of meat. As with most pho places I've patronized, the waiter brought out a plate containing bean sprouts, a half slice of lime, and jalapenos. I didn't use the latter to season my broth but a touch of lime added some tart flavor to the broth. I dipped the thin beef slices into the hot chili sauce there, which ended up adding flavor and a much needed kick to a dish I find far less flavorful than a traditional bowl of ramen (forgive me for my partiality - I'm Japanese American). On another occasion I ordered the "dry" version of a noodle soup bowl and got the vermicelli noodle bowl which was topped with veggies and fried spring rolls. The spring rolls were juicy and greasy, which added the "meat" to the rather light, salad-like bed of vermicelli noodles and greens on which the rolls rested. All in all, I'd probably go back here again if I had the urge to have Vietnamese food. It's a cheaper alternative to Vietnamese Cafe on 47th and Baltimore which has superb ambience. But this hole-in-the-wall has its own charms, I'm sure, if the meal is shared with the right kinds of people. You can also buy a smoothie here. The copious amounts of fresh fruit on display in a glass window case looked appetizing. The place is cash-only, though there's an ATM box outside. Make sure to bring cash. Service: B Taste: B
(3)
Jake B.
This is hands down, my favorite place to eat in west philly. I have been coming here for years and I have never been dissatisfied with a single meal. Not once! Their pho is amazing, especially if you enjoy eating the nasty bits like tripe or beef tendon. I've heard people say it's not as good as chinatown's, or south philly... blah blah blah. I've had pho all over the city, and it all tastes like the same thing to me... DELICIOUS! This place is fast, cheap, and extremely tasty as well as being a plentiful meal. It's a wonderful place to sit down for a quiet meal. You have absolutely no reason not to come here. CASH ONLY! Don't be an asshole.
(5)
Alex Z.
Update...it seems that the first time I went here, it was an off day. I have since returned here several times and the food consistently was up a notch with much fresher ingredients! You get 5 stars, congrats! --- I am not exactly a Pho connoisseur, but I do eat it a lot. I think the Pho here is pretty damn good. I love Pho so much though. Prices? Not super cheap, but fair, good prices. I have also had the bun (rice vermicelli) at least twice, and it has also been consistently good. Service is quick and was good. I like having this place in the neighborhood...right around the corner.
(5)
Jessica S.
Pretty typical. VERY hot broth, all the tasty sprouts, herbs, lime wedges you need. Nothing more. Nothing less. The price is also.. meh. The 3 stars, A-OK rating was made for this place
(3)
Andrew K.
I went to Penn as an undergraduate and must have eaten at this place fifty times in my four years. I wish I were kidding. This place got me through undergrad. For the first several months, I wasn't aware that it actually had a name, I just sort of wandered there with friends and sat outside. Honestly, on a warm summer night, there are few things that are better than sitting outside on the corner of 43rd and Spruce and watching the world go by with a big bowl of pho. Insofar as food recommendations go, I always start with an appetizer of sorts, usually an order of spring rolls. The pho is great, so just pick whichever mix of assorted meat parts you want (don't fear the tripe and the tendon, they're both delicious) or, if you'd prefer, the salads are great too (and filling!) This place has always, always been consistent and if you're in West Philly there's no reason not to go.
(4)
Kate M.
I've been here several times. The food is always really good (Spring rolls, yum) and the service is ridiculously fast.
(4)
Candice B.
It's cheap, it's fast, and it's local. The charbroiled pork and vermicelli never disappoints. The fruit milkshakes are fantastic, and you can order them without milk. Is there better Vietnamese food in Chinatown? Absolutely. But when you don't feel like hopping on the trolley, Pho & Cafe Saigon is a sure bet. Things to keep in mind: it's cash only with an outside ATM, and closed on Mondays.
(4)
Alexandra W.
Right across the street from my apartment and with outdoor seating, this is the best hangover cure ever. They have pho dishes, as well as rice and noodle dishes. The pho is pretty good, but Chinatown and all of the Vietnamese places on Washington are too far in a pinch. They have bubble tea, too, but the bubbles are weird textured.
(4)
Judy T.
This place is great for grabbing a quick, yummy, and filling lunch in West Philly. The pho is pretty good, the vermicelli noodles with pork and springs roll is great, but I love their pork chop with a sunny side up egg. The food comes out super fast and is always good. I think I'll go this weekend. Note: only accepts cash (there's an ATM right outside).
(4)
Grant B.
The vegetarian pho was loaded with lots of good vegetables. Also they have amazing iced coffee! A great neighborhood place!!
(5)
Milena M.
This was my go to place in college. The food is great and I like watching the fish swim around in the tank. The pho is excellent and I always got it with the shrimp. The rice is also cooked to perfection. You get a really cute cup if you get a bubble tea to go. They only accept cash so hit the ATM before dinner.
Popped my pho cherry here. Like a first love, nothing can ever compare. Thank you, Pho & Cafe Saigon.
(4)
Dung H.
I couldn't resist the convenience this place is to me. It only took a nice 15 minute walk to get here from school and I'm way too lazy to drive to Washington Ave during the weekday for viet food... The place was what I expected. Typical hole-in-the-wall establishment, dingy table and chairs, small. I don't take any stars off the ratings for this because I knew what I was walking into. However, from the looks of it, I thought the pho would be cheaper. Don't get me wrong, it's not expensive at all, esp for any food around here.. but the portion size was much smaller than a typical pho place and was a little more expensive than I've had before. definitely not value or quality here but just.... meh, okay if you want vietnamese food in university city. The pho itself was alright, broth wasn't bland. Some of the pieces of meat had a weird color? Not sure if it was just me though.. The food does come out in literally 2 minutes. Wouldnt go back until I was REALLY dying for some pho, lazy and car-less. Otherwise, take yourself to Washington Ave or even Chinatown.
(2)
Jazmin I.
Cafe Saigon is the kind of authentic bare-bones restaurant you'd expect to find in Chinatown. The ambiance is somewhere between cheap takeout joint and fast-food restroom, the tables & chairs are ugly, and all the melamine spoons & chopsticks are conveniently already on the table and take up half of it. That being said, the pho is everything I could hope for & more: a fragrant, delicious broth, abundant shrimp & pork, and the tastiest rice noodles nestled in the bottom of the bowl just waiting to be mixed in with a squirt of lime, a hot pepper slice or two, a soupcon of basil and a handful of sprouts. Having been here 3 times, I've eaten the same soup each time because it's too good to move on. The boy is a bit more adventurous and has tried two dishes. The dishes listed as rice flake are actually a fat rice noodle kind of like chow fun and have all manner of tasty pork bits atop. Delicious, but not enough to tempt me away from my pho for more than a forkful or two. I haven't had many of their drinks, and it seems like they're out of some of them every time, but I looooove the lychee drink. It's quite refreshing and the lychee fruit makes a nice, sweet treat. This may not be a fancy date place or an ideal first date "gotta impress the lady with cloth napkins" kinda joint, but it's definitely a good place to grab an amazingly cheap and tasty meal. Two people can eat a healthy portion o' pho for under $20 (including tip). Add an appetizer and two fancy drinks and round the bill up to ~$30, and you've got yourself a fabulous food coma that's completely recession-friendly. And if you need some romance, bring your date some flowers with all that left-over money.
(4)
Abigail T.
Quick, cheap, tasty, and filing. That's all this place is, and that's all it's meant to be. I got the lemongrass chicken bun, my vietnamese food standby, to go. I walked in, ordered, and had my food in less than 5 minutes. I got a generous portion of lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, sprouts, and mint along with my vermicelli and chicken, which I promptly doused in fish sauce and devoured. Also, my boyfriend says the Pho is tasty, and the portion is huge!
(4)
Stephen R.
Cheap and quick and GOOD food Wife gets the pho and it's great, I usually do the salad, great for a nice lunch or lighter dinner. Milkshakes are good too! Coconut so far is the best, avocado is good too. I haven't tried some of the other flavors but they have a huge selection. Pineapple shake doesn't blend as smoothly though.
(5)
John M.
I'll be honest, I can count the number of times I've had Vietnamese food on one hand, and 3 of them have been at Pho & Cafe Saigon due to it's proximity to my front door. I find the pho to be pretty good and I've tried the rice stick with lemongrass chicken, which was decent as well. I agree with Erin G's opinion of the spring rolls....way too greasy. The service is fast and courteous. My girlfriend has accompanied me here on 2 occasions, and being the all-american meat and potatoes girl that she is, she has a hard time finding this place palatable. That probably has to do more with her than the food. If you're in the neighborhood and want a quick decent meal, I would recommend this place....but it probably won't knock your socks off.
(3)
Alex C.
Reviewing this place, you got to review it for what it is. It's an unpretentious, high-volume Vietnamese restaurant, which means you just have to set your expectations correctly. Service will be quick and efficient. Food will be prepared quickly. The bill will be cheap and come early. There will not be small talk. Decor will be meh. The pho (rice noodles with thinly sliced beef in broth) is above average and a pretty good size. I like the beef flank because it's tender and tasty. For the vermicelli dishes, the one with shredded pork or the one with pork and spring roll are my usual choices. The double porkchops are deliciously marinated, if you are looking for a dish with rice. The spring rolls and shrimp rolls (try these, it's different and real Vietnamese food) are also pretty good. I've never found the spring rolls to be "mad greasy", oh well, different expectations. I'm not sure if I would drive all the way out here for Vietnamese, but if you live around Penn's campus or in University City and don't want to go to Chinatown this is a pretty good option. Also, remember that this place is closed on Mondays...several potential Monday pho lunches of mine were thwarted because I would always forget this. OH! I almost forgot, try the egg noodles with shrimp, if you're in the mood for something new. I love the texture of the noodles. Make sure to tell them to make the noodles harder or al dente. Don't be put off if the waiter or waitress seems like they don't get it. Trust me, they do... It's hidden in the pho section, and I didn't even discover it on the menu until the 20th or 25th time I came here. Yeah, I came here a lot for food because it was so conveniently located and pretty tasty. Also, their bubble tea and fruit smoothies with bubbles (tapioca) are good. They use fresh fruit and the bubbles are the right texture--kinda chewy and gummy, NEVER hard.
(4)
Candace C.
3.5 stars but im rounding up because it is unique to find authentic asian food in west philly. its a little pricey for vietnamese food (im in california where its plentiful and cheap) but the place is quite good, very good for philadelphia. i recommend the beef noodle stew. the vietnamese version of it is so flavorful! the spring rolls with shimp (or the summer rolls? not sure of its name but its the ones that are not fried) is also tasty. the pho is dependable. definitely hits the spot when i crave asian food and am in west philly. CASH ONLY!
(4)
Sudo N.
I truly do not know what everyone is complaining about here. There is nothing wrong with this restaurant, and I mean that as a high compliment. Maybe people take this cafe for granted because it is an unassuming hole in the wall. There is nothing outstanding about it, but I think everything they do is above average, and that adds up to a winning experience. The food is good, the prices are right, and the service is instantaneous. What else do you want? Today I took my 14-month-old daughter and got broken rice with grilled pork for $6.95. Have you ever taken a 14-month-old to a restaurant? Every second counts. The pork was delicious, tender, flavorful, and served hot off the grill. It's not high cuisine, and it's not meant to be.
(4)
Stacey S.
My favorite pho in the city.... always fast (few minutes form ordering, every time.) Pho taste/broth balance is perfect and is never reminiscent of bath water (trust me, I've had that experience with pho & it's not pretty.) Cash only, attentive wait staff. University-city localized, family owned, authentic. the inside of this corner Vietnamese establishment makes me love Philly more every time I go. Definitely try this place out if you have a hankering for pho- the other noodle dishes are just as good too. I wish they were open on Mondays, though :(
(5)
Geoff c.
nothing great about this pho. if you want better stuff, head over to chinatown or washington ave. almost everything is better there. ive only been here once. but it was not a great experience. i understand that when you go to a small asian eatery like this, you shouldnt expect the friendliest wait staff, but our server just seemed downright angry at us. he also got my order wrong. maybe it was a bad day for him. anyways, if you want better pho and larger portions for the price, just cross over the schuykill. west phillys not a great place to find pho.
(2)
Sara C.
If you're looking for top notch pho, go elsewhere. If you're in the midst of a craving but don't feel like crossing the river, come here. The pho itself is mediocre at best, but if you dress it up with all the hot sauce, sprouts, and basil provided, it works. I once ordered the lemongrass chicken, and it was tasty, but the portion was paltry. Seemed like most of the non-pho items were also this way. I'll have to give those milkshakes a try, however. I'm just looking forward to the opening of the Vietnam Cafe at 47th & Baltimore (from the lovely people at Fuh Wah and the Vietnam restaurant in Chinatown) near the end of January 2008.
(2)
Dio S.
I went to try out this place for lunch. Let me tell you, the Pho is bad! First of all, the broth was way too salty! I had to put a lot Hoisin sauce just to balance out the saltyness. Another thing, apparently there is only one size of Pho. It seems to be a small size bowl with little of noddles and meats. Lastly, the price for a bowl of Pho came up to a total of $8.10 plus tip. That is pretty price for me. I will never go there again!
(1)
Katarina M.
Went back had the pho and the fried springrolls again (ah so good), and also had the shrimp toast (OMG SO GOOD). Mmmmmm. Go here go here go here!!! Don't forget your cash. But there is an ATM just outside.
(5)
C C.
Had the Deluxe Pho. Just what getting Vietnamese food should be like: good portions, quick to be served, and little to no service. Good for a quick eat if you're not looking for fast food. The smoothies looked interesting though. Especially the Durian and Avocado flavors. 3 PT SUMMARY - Cheap, filling Vietnamese dishes - Don't expect great service, but you'd probably just be going here for a bite to eat and not much else - Pho is pho, pretty much what you'd expect at a Vietnamese place
(3)
Hunter B.
This is a good West Philly lunch spot, although now that Vietnam has opened at 47th the competition is gonna be pretty stiff. Service is surly but fast and efficient. Is it pre-cooked? Wait a minute, we are talking about a $6-8 menu here, from a corner neighborhood joint. I don't know how long charbroiled pork, broken rice and a spring roll really takes to make, but I sure don't mind getting it fast. And the fruit milkshakes are damn good. (They take longer to produce than the food, so they must be made to order.) Plus, the outdoor tables are a welcome treat from spring to fall. Gourmet, upscale, Best-of-Philly Vietnamese? Nope, but you already know where to go for those -- Vietnam (I and II) and Vietnam Palace -- and if you're here at Pho, you know you're not in Chinatown or South Philly. So, for what it is, where it is, we could do a lot worse. Manage your expectations and it'll seem that much better. Recommended.
(3)
Secret V.
Bland and not so hot for veg options. I've given them a few shots and every time I'm disappointed by a soup whose broth tastes more like the Schuylkill than any pho I've ever had. Head for Vientienne instead.
(2)
Michael C.
Unfriendly wait staff and pho that is definitely precooked and dumped into hot broth minutes before being served. Why do I come back time and time again? There's no better (and by that, I mean, no other) place to get pho in University City. Come for pho that's fast, relatively cheap, and pretty tasty.
(3)
J M.
I come in here all the time. The manager is friendly and takes the time to bring me a water and talk to me every time I come in. The food is excellent and comes out quick. This is such a jewel in my neighborhood and the one thing I will miss when I move.
(5)
Oxana M.
i cook better! seriously, much better! service was terrible. the server reached through all our food to fill up stack of spoons at the end of our table! sweet potatoes were under-cooked. no one said "thanks" or "enjoy"... maybe its good for meat eaters, but for vegetarians, go to any chinese joint and get the same crap for less $$$! oh, the last but not least, the place is dirty too =(
(1)
Kevin R.
Pho was very good. Nice quick place to grab a bite in Spruce Hill. Has crazy flavors of smoothies (avocado).
(4)
Totally I.
A solid staple - Pho or char-broiled something-something... and maybe some fruit smoothie - mango! mmm, mango. There's nothing really to it, it's cheap food at a cheap price with no bs. Not the best Vietnamese in the city by a long shot, but whatever.
(4)
Jon L.
The woman here knows my order by heart: egg roll, plus pho with flank, tripe, and beef ball (in large bowl). The service is the best in the city, as far as I know. You walk in, you order within seconds, and in about three minutes your food is on the table. Incredible. Take-out is also a good option; this University City restaurant really has the packaging of pho down to a science. Your noodles and vegetables are served separately in a Styrofoam container, while your meats are dunked into that glorious broth to soak up all the flavors as you walk (or drive) home. If you really feel like treating yourself, get a bubble tea "Hong Kong Style." To order correctly, you must say, "One boba, please. H.K. Style." They won't hassle you if you get it wrong (like they do at Pat's and Geno's), but you don't want to sound ignorant in front of your friends.
(4)
Tim S.
While the food wasn't bad, it certainly wasn't good by any stretch either. Also, I swear they pre-make all their dishes and nuke it in a microwave before serving it to you. I order my meal (Com Bo Nuong) and I KID YOU NOT, my dish was on my table in less than three minutes. Seriously. The food tasted like it was microwaved. The portions were small and the prices too high to ever make me want to make a return visit. Scratching my balding head to know why people actually like this place. Go figure.
(2)
Erin G.
This place is alright. It's a neighborhood joint that is can be conveniently located (if you live/work in the University City area). Honestly, Vietnamese isn't my favorite, partially because of the lack of vegi options, and the staff here are pretty reluctant to make substitutions or help keep your food both tasty and meat free. The spring rolls are mad greasy, though, so if you need a hangover cure, those with some pho just might do the trick.
(2)
Brittany B.
I was a little hesitant to try out some pho after reading some of the reviews, but i was pleasantly surprised. As it should be with pho, I ordered my food, and it was out on a matter of minutes. They brought out hot tea, then came the pho, along with all of the fixings. I would say that there was a little less beef in the pho than i've had at one or two pho places in chinatown, and the thai basil was a little wilted, but still tasted good. I'll be going back for sure!
(4)
astro t.
this place rocks stars. I call in and they say "5 minutes!" and that's what it takes me to get there, running. I run because I can't wait to get their #38! All for a good price, no frills place, great food. It can be busy but people are in and out an I've never had to wait. They also have great fruit drinks, durian, papaya, watermelon, and the bubble tea is always an option, which they can make blended. Sometimes I just get a drink but it's really hard not to get something to eat also.
(4)
Nick M.
I ate here once and got food poisoning. Since then, I've literally talked to 2-3 other people who have had the same experience. The sad thing was that I didn't even enjoy my food. I was just so hungry I kept eating it. Needless to say, this was a "one and done" for me.
(1)
Karen B.
I guess I'm a cheap date, because I really like this place! The food comes within three minutes of ordering, piping hot, and always tastes good. Granted, I haven't been to any of the other Vietnamese places in Philly yet, so I have no basis for comparison. Still, for a place that charges $6 for a giant bowl of soup brimming with meat and noodles, it's not bad. Yum yum.
(4)
Jessica N.
The pho here is okay and is one of those things you order when you have a cold and it is February, but the mango milkshake, oh the mango milkshake! It is a bit pricey, but it will change your whole outlook on life, especially if mangoes are in season. My boyfriend and I just spent an entire day cleaning up my place for a visit from his parents. We were dirty and cranky and finally I just said the magic words, "mango milkshake", we dove out of my apartment and down the street, got the milkshakes and sat on a bench in the school yard drinking them and watching the fireflies. All was good with the world.
(2)
Evan H.
This place was recommended to us. Why? For bland Vietnamese food? That must have been why our recommenders liked it--because they've never had good Vietnamese food. We used to live four blocks away, in the restaurant-desert that West Philly continues to be--where tumbleweeds of litterers' craft make for most of the street life--but we only ate here once. We count it a true disappointment, considering people had recommended it to us. You may hear it's good due to the warped tastes of some neighborhoody regulars, but don't be fooled. Those people don't know what good Vietnamese food is.
(2)
Melissa S.
first place i had pho. would definitely go back. but, nothing to write home about. don't like how early it closes.
(3)
Sameer S.
saigon may have a dour (business-like if i were feeling more diplomatic) staff and food prepared so fast that it can only be pre-cooked, but saigon is also a mighty convenient establishment. in my view, it is a better version of those ubiquitous panda's seen in food courts across america.. the selection is poor, but the price is good and the food itself is average. as i live only a block away, i visit saigon so frequently (out of sheer lethargy) that i have to give it three stars.
(3)
Erick K.
I love this place. BYO, great food, no bullshit.
(5)
Joy C.
Amazing, inexpensive Vietnamese food. What the place may lack in ambiance, they make up with portion sizes and speed. I've never waited more than 5 minutes for food - sit down or take-out. And it's THE place in Philly for Bubble Milk Tea in my opinion (I'm addicted to the Jasmine). Be sure to bring cash, though, since they don't take plastic.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Natalie K.
I will preface this by saying that I am no pho expert. But one day, when I was still living in University City, I was craving some pho. Random? Yes, I'm aware. Anyways, I Google searched "Best pho restaurants in Philly" and this was the closest location so I gave it a try. I thought it was standard for a pho establishment. It seemed pretty authentic to me. They offered the standard toppings (cilantro, jalapenos, bean sprouts) for the pho and had sauces ready for use on the table. If you like pho, I don't think you can go wrong with getting it here!
(4)Eleanor L.
Great value! Take out pho is the best! Chicken and Deluxe are my favorite so delicious and HUGE! Been many times and always nice and consistent the summer rolls (soft rice wrapper?) are delicious as well. They separate the Pho into the broth and the meat/veg so that you can take it home without it tasting like take out! Always delicous and fresh!b
(4)Kevin C.
I love this place for its cheap, plentiful food and their strict "ignore the drunk athletes pounding 40s" policy. While I'm not entirely certain it's a BYOB, my friends and I have been bringing 40s here for 4 years and counting, and no one has EVER said anything to us about it. Their pho is decent, but I personally get the Steamed Broken Rice With Char, Pork Chop, Shredded Pork, Egg Quiche, Sunshine Egg. God, it's glorious, comes out piping hot, and is perfectly balanced by the light, fragrant flavors of Old English. I miss college so much it hurts sometimes.
(4)Reika Y.
Great place for pho if you are around this area. It's relatively quick, especially if you order pho, and inexpensive compared to places nearby. While it is a small restaurant, you can definitely go with about 8 friends and they will arrange seating for you. I have a problem most of the time with not carrying cash on me, and this place does accepts ONLY cash. However, there is an ATM outside. There is a CVS one block north as well. I have tried their pho, broken rice, specials, and drinks, and you can't really go wrong. You can also ask them to not put milk in your milkshake for a smoothie.
(4)Nicholas Y.
I ordered the vegetable fried rice and it was tasty. Not that many vegetarian options on the menu, and this was one of them. Good portion sizes too. I read another Yelp review which said "if you want to treat yourself, get the Hong Kong style milk tea". I was born and raised in Hong Kong and lived there for 18 years, so I know what good Hong Kong milk tea tastes like. This was definitely NOT good milk tea. It was overly sweet and tasted extremely artificial. Summary: good food. Bad milk tea.
(3)Tina N.
I live within walking distance of this restaurant but have never tried it. In the world of Vietnamese food or pho, this place doesn't make many people's top list. But hey, I figured it must be in still in business for some reason. I finally visited during a random Tuesday for lunch. I ordered a beef pho with meatballs, pretty basic. The pho was not good. It wasn't a bad bowl of broth and noodles, but it wasn't good pho. It lacked all of the complex aromas of pho. I really think it was just beef broth and MSG. Like I said though, it wasn't a bad if it was any noodle soup, it was still palatable. I can see it serving the purpose if you're hungover. The place itself is dated, and small but no big deal since I expected this. I wasn't there for a fancy dinner. I may go back to try some other dishes purely because of it's proximity but I won't be going back for pho.
(2)Shani T.
Ahh so many memories associated with this place. My first meal outside of a dining hall was at Pho & Cafe Saigon my freshman year of college. Post partying, this place was our go to for hangover food. Every time I go back to Penn, I find myself here again and again. To be honest, I haven't found a better bowl of pho in New York yet. I'm not sure if it's because I have so many memories attached to this little store in West Philly or what, but nothing seems to compare to the deliciousness of the broth and the tenderness of the beef. I could never get enough of the pho tai here. It's just literally so good. The price is reasonable, and you can even ask for a large size which bumps the price up to around $11 or $12. Very, very, worth it. The noodles are perfect and the broth isn't too oily like it is at many pho places. They have delicious bubble tea smoothies here as well. There are a lot of variety in the flavors you can choose. Seriously, where else would you be able to get a durian smoothie? So why am I giving this place 3 stars? Honestly, I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. The food itself is great. The owner is actually extremely friendly. There are just some issues that I have with this place... Sanitation being one of them. There was a huge fly flying around once and it really bothered me that it was landing everywhere (bean sprouts included) and the owner didn't even make an attempt to wave the bug away. Another time, there was a bug in my soup (gross) and I asked to have the bowl of pho remade. They remade it, but I'm pretty sure they just took the noodles and beef in my initial bowl and moved it to a new bowl of broth. Sorry, but that doesn't really fix the issue completely... Still, this is a pho place that I hold close to my heart and will visit again and again. Just be careful of bugs (mostly an issue in the warmer months, when the door to the restaurant is left open and bugs have easier access to the interior). Note that this place is cash only as well, and I don't think they typically split the bill between guests at a table.
(3)Shereen C.
We had dinner here about a year ago and it was generally okay, edible food that wasn't particularly tasty or great in any way. Bun w/ grilled lemongrass beef was so-so. Broken rice w/ chargrilled pork, shredded pork, egg quiche was okay. Pork was dry and overcooked. Quiche was fine. Spring rolls were fine, not bad, nothing special. I wouldn't make a point of returning but if I was craving Vietnamese food and in the area, I might go again.
(2)Jason T.
Had takeout spring rolls. Affordable and fast. Spring rolls were what you'd expect. Pretty good for a neighborhood joint.
(4)Alex X.
University City, Philly PA I like my fresh honeydew ice drink. They didn't put the bubbles in. I applaud the fresh fruit water ice crushed ice fluids they make. I do not like the condensed milk they add to sweeten it. And I don't call this bubble tea. I guess Philly will never make the kind of bubble tea I'm use to in Manhattan. But at least it is fresh. Aroma here smells great- looking forward to trying some of their soups and pho's next time.
(3)Grace L.
The best choice for pho near University City. The restaurant is very cozy and reminds me of a "hole in the wall" type establishment that has more authentic food (although I'm no judge of authentic Vietnamese food). I came here recently with a large group of friends for a BYO. While the servers were not the friendliest or outgoing, they were nice enough to allow us to raise ruckus and move around our table. The food came out extremely quickly for a group of 20 people (probably less than 5 minutes total??), and the bill was given to us in a readable manner. I ordered the shrimp spring rolls, which had a great rice paper skin but not enough shrimp. However, the peanut sauce that came with it was DELICIOUS. I also tried a durian drink, which was surprisingly much better than I expected for such an odious fruit. The servers didn't give us water without being asked, but was attentive when whenever we requested something. Also, the menu wasn't the most descriptive for people who are not as familiar with Viet food (some descriptions were simply "Rice Stick" or "Rice Flake"....which I had no idea what that was...), but if you already know what you're going to get then you're all set!
(4)Jeremy C.
One day I had a pho craving and didnt want to go to Saigon anymore. I happened across this small restaurant. Compared with the other Viet offerings in University City, I was pleasantly surprised. The one standout of the pho was the broth. While at Saigon, another Viet restaurant in the area, I often times felt that the broth was watered down, just to present itself in such a big bowl, the broth here was very concentrated. Each sip was aromatic and fragrant with also a great hint of the meat used. The meat itself was similar to other pho I have had. One thing that stood out to me was the tendon, which was not tough or chewy like a lot of places but was more buttery and melted in your mouth. So if you're in university city and craving some pho, I urge you to try this place out. Although I must say that for the avid pho connoisseur, he/she should look more towards places in viet town, this is a great option for those looking to get their quick pho fix.
(4)Jack J.
I come here all the time. because I live two blocks away. I love pho because they always bring it out within five minutes, and it's like instant source of warmth on a cold day. A big bowl of steaming noodles with good broth, nice portions of protein, and plenty of bean sprouts. If you like to sweat more you can always add sriracha to your heart's content. I definitely have had better pho, but due to proximity, it's one of my most frequented restaurants. They only take cash by the way, and there is a generic ATM right outside, but will charge a fee to use. go with #16!
(3)Jane S.
A combination of value, quality, an excellent service - this is our go to place for pho in west Philadelphia. We love the tofu rolls, the spring rolls, and the sautéed lemon grass. Squeeze a lime & you're done! Casual, comfortable & yummy. Our kids crave this food! Visit every weekend.
(4)V. I.
Whenever I'm craving an authentic bowl of pho, I like to go here. In my opinion their broth is the best in philadelphia. And I love how its closer then going all the way to Washington Avenue. The husband and wife that owns and run the restaurant are super nice and friendly. I've tried a couple of items on their menu like their spring rolls, scrimp roll, broken rice plates, and different flavored smoothies. Everything I've had has been really delicious. This place is really great. The only down fall is that it's cash only. But no worries if you don't bring enough cash, they have an atm inside. If you're looking for some really good vietnamese food and want to go somewhere low key. You should def give this place a try~
(5)Erin C.
This place is nice in terms of proximity in walking distance without having to drive or take any sort of public transportation. Their pho is average, not bad nor very good. It's also a bit pricier average. Another downfall is that their utensils and the mini sauce dishes were still a bit dirty. Had to use some water and a napkin to scratch off whatever was stuck on them.
(3)Linda K.
The service here is super fast and the beef noodle soup I order is usually ready within minutes after I order. However their beef is far less quality than a place like Sangkee's so the loss of the star. But the broth is good and I love their brown sauce that I think is Hoisin??? Whatever it is that is why I come here. The bean sprouts, lemon and basil on the side is nice.
(4)Steven C.
The closest good pho option to University City. Saigon on Walnut is too sweet and Pho Vietnam is just a tad far for an everyday walk. I came here recently on one of those chilly fall nights, ready to be warmed up before the rest of my evening, and boy did it deliver. Steaming hot, tasty soup was in front of me within minutes and I chowed down without hesitation. As usual, the beef here isn't great, nor are the portion sizes, hence the loss of star, but everything else was spot on. The flavor of the broth was just right, not requiring me to add my usual spice. The noodles were a nice firm consistency and the overall experience was probably heightened by the contrast compared to the cold I had just left. Come here for fast service pho near University City and be prepared to warm up. Might want to grab a snack after though
(4)Srujana Y.
Disclaimer: Never dined in. My husband and I have always ordered take-out from this place.. so frequently that they know our order by heart. We live less than a block away from the cafe, so it is extremely convenient to pick up hot soups on our way back home, especially during this long winter. So I can't really comment on their service but the food is generally ready within minutes. Our usual order is tofu curry with vegetable, and veggie noodle soup - both the dishes are absolutely fantastic although tofu curry is my personal favorite!
(4)Suman B.
Food is decent. I have the pho with veggies and tofu. They accept cash only..no credit cards. Veggie fried rice is also very tasty.
(3)Michael F.
Determining my rating for this review was tough. Merely comparing it to other University City offerings I can see Pho & Cafe Saigon as a solid 4-star establishment. Factoring in the other Pho places I've visited in Philly^ and I believe 3-star is a fairer assessment. Here is why: * Prompt service and quick delivery of your food (Pho & other entrees) * Portions on par or slightly smaller than my typical Pho experiences * Prices slightly higher than other Vietnamese places, but on par or lower than others in University City The Pho was solid with a good amount of meat (tripe, tendon, etc) inside. I tried the rice flakes as well. They were good, but not great. Getting a mango shake offered a nice balance for my pho (since I've been known to put quite a bit of sriracha in my broth). Finally, I agree with a few other reviewers, it was odd getting the check before I completed my meal. Personally, that didn't impact my rating, but if it is something that is known to bother you, be warned. Oh, and remember it is CASH only! ^If your interested in Pho, check out my ongoing list: yelp.com/list/philly-pho…
(3)Brent H.
This place is really good. My wife and I go here whenever we crave Pho. It is inexpensive, quality, and you get free tea when you dine in.
(4)Cindy C.
A mediocore pho place. If you're in UC and have a craving for pho, this will do the job. However, I think this is just a joint that caters to hungry college students who do not better. Only one person was serving/taking orders when we went, but he was very attentive as we were the only customer. Cash only.
(2)Ben W.
Best pho option on campus. A lot of my Vietnamese friends claim that Cafe Saigon does not have great pho by any standard, but on those cold nights when I'm craving a nice, piping bowl of beef pho, this place is where I turn to. This BYO is a great place to get ones feet wet with pho if you've never tried before because of it's wide menu selection. Whether you're vegetarian or are unsure what type of meats to get in your bowl, this place accommodates all of these requests. When you're seated, they'll immediately take your order and bring out a plate of toppings, which includes bean sprouts, lime wedges, jalapeños, and basil leaves. Literally within three minutes of ordering, they'll bring out your bowls. I usually go with #17, the beef eye round, tendon, and tripe. I lovee adding as many toppings as I can into my bowl. The sourness of the lime is a great compliment to the savory broth, the spiciness of the jalapeño adds a nice singe, the bean sprouts adds a nice crunch, and the basil adds a nice fresh aftertaste. Every time, I down the soup and leave an empty bowl. Not only do I think the food is tasty, it's also extremely affordable. This less than $10 meal is the best cure to chilly weather blues. I have yet to try their smoothies, but I've hard their avocado smoothie is out of this world. Pros: price, speedy service, menu options Cons: not the most friendly servers Dishes to try: pho!
(4)Krystal H.
This place is legit. The Charbroiled Pork Vermicelli is on the verge of orgasmic. The fruit milkshakes make my life in the summer. Pho is on point and prices are reasonable. If you get the tofu Pho, note that the tofu is deep fried and then tossed in with the broth so it can get soggy. Cash only, but there's a busted ass ATM outside and the owners are friendly. Closed on Mondays.
(4)Nataly N.
So, I had a pho craving this afternoon. I've only been to 5 different pho places in Philly and was thinking about visiting another one this weekend, but the little voice of conscience inside my rumbling stomach was too overpowering as I walked past Pho & Cafe Saigon on my way back to my apartment. As I walked toward this "restaurant," I beheld, with slight discomfort, a man looking at me though the glass door, watching me approach. When I reached the door, he opened it in silence, allowing me to come in. That was my server. I said "hi" and asked for a table in the nearly empty restaurant. Although he did not respond to my greeting, he did point to some tables, suggesting that I could just pick one. When I sat down, iced tap water was promptly delivered. I ordered a bowl of pho, which arrived with terrific speed, only 2 minutes later. If you know me, you would know that am a relatively fast eater. Multiply that speed by 2 whenever I am hungry or have a craving. Halfway through my meal, my check was shoved into my face as I was inhaling the pho. When I got up to leave, the server, who was facing me, avoided eye contact and headed straight for the check. I left a 20% tip, as I customarily do. I understand that people need to make a living in good or bad times. I know that in some family-owned businesses, perhaps workers who are family members don't always get paid as they should. I also keep an open mind, with the understanding that some people are not at always at ease with human interactions. However, the server was polite and spoke perfect English when a gentleman in a suit came in. He even asked the man how he was doing and politely seated him. He was suddenly well-versed in customer service skills. Unfortunately, I had to leave and could not observe the rest of this fascinating transformation. Conclusions from this experience: 1) The food was better than last time I was here. The pho was pretty good. There was a large, flat piece of ligament the size of my hand in the pho, but no big deal - I just set it aside. (+1 from my last rating) 2) The service was worse, and it was probably not an off-day. It wouldn't have hurt for the server to wait 3 more minutes to drop the check, once I finish absorbing my pho soup. (-1 from my last rating) 3) To maximize your experience, make sure you come here hungry. To get better service, wear a suit and white collared shirt instead of your regular clothes. (I only wore a nice skirt with a cardigan) 4) The price isn't bad, but reviewers who think it's cheap are probably not comparing this place to the many other Vietnamese restaurants in Philly (less than $5 for the same amount of pho). 5) The location helps it maintain customer inflow. If any other pho restaurant in Philly chose to open an additional location nearby, this place would need some serious upgrading to compete. I will say, though, that this is probably the fastest service I've ever experienced. My entire dining experience lasted less than 10 minutes.
(2)Joey F.
Pretty standard Vietnamese staples. Good tasting food and shakes. Great prices. Great tasting consumme for chicken pho. More like a 3.5 stars.
(3)Julia C.
My mover Andrew raved about this place being his favorite Vietnamese in West Philly.....So I tried it last Friday night. It was a cold, cold night and the tea they served was soothing. Service was quick and the server let me ask a couple questions about the menu: rick stick is thin noodle, rice flake is wide noodle and broken rice is really just a rice dish, plus they have big bowls of pho aka soup. I decided to get a shrimp spring roll for my appetizer and they brought it out ASAP, which is good because I was hungry! And not to much wait time for the entree which was Rice Flake with Tofu and Mixed Vegetables. The sauce, i thought, was nice and flavorful. The Veggies were plentiful and Tofu cooked just right. They didn't rush me, as a stream of customers came to place take out orders and some sit down.. I finished my whole pot of tea before embarking on my walk home in the crisp, autumn air. They have Vegetarian dishes. A sign on window reminds the customer CASH ONLY.
(4)Emile M.
Good food,, reasonable prices and super fast service. My wife and I lkeep coming back for pho.
(4)Schuyler L.
I still love this place, I usually get #21 (Noodle Soup with chicken (pho with chicken)), it's delicious. But, this time I had the Deluxe Noodle Soup, #9, takeout. Deluxe means beef combination, Round, Tripe, Tendon, and Flank, I believe. I asked to have the tripe left out but they put it in the takeout box anyway. It was perfectly flavorful. Pho Cafe Saigon has been incredibly consistent and exactly what I was craving after five hours in the library and a cold walk home. I'm becoming a regular, this restaurant comes highly recommended by me. The menu can be found here: philadelphia.menupages.c…
(4)Santasangre C.
Great neighborhood spot. I don't have a lot of pho experience, but I thought the portions were huge. And delicious! Not sure what some of the other reviewers have experienced but they are leading me to believe that one usually gets a bathtub full of pho at other establishments. I always order a regular bowl - which is served in a big ol' bowl -- and have at least a meal leftover to take home. Pricing is consistent with a neighborhood restaurant in Philly - say, $12 for lunch altogether. I like the folks who work there & service is fast. Cash only, so plan ahead!
(4)Cindy L.
This place has served me the worst Vietnamese food I have ever eaten. No joke. I don't understand the other reviewers at all. First of all, for Vietnamese food, it is pretty pricey. Second, my pho dac biet (the special) was not piping hot. Third, the meat in my pho was mostly fat. Fourth, my friend's vermicelli noodles were clumpy and slightly hard, either due to bad cooking methods or old noodles. But service was alright, so I guess an extra star for that.
(2)Amy A.
This is a great neighborhood spot. It's quick and the service is pretty good. Plus points for being a BYO. A good pho to order is #15 brisket only. The shakes are pretty good too, especially the pineapple!
(3)Sarah S.
Mango milkshake was nothing to write home about.
(2)Lo' G.
Yo... This place is the truth. Since Megabus offers insanely cheap fares from DC to Philly, I'm always there visiting my line sister!! She lives directly across the street from "Saigon House" as I have dubbed this place. I've eaten here three times and have gotten the shrimp friend rice each time. Wait, my first visit I ordered the shrimp spring rolls too! Anyways... My food is always piping hot and the portions are always big! I always have left overs and eat them later. You could honestly enjoy the rice with no sauce but the sriracha and the sticky brown sauce set it off! I always ask the cashier for extra! It's fresh, delicious, and CHEAP!! Paid $8.00 for the rice. $2.50 for the Spring rolls if I recall correctly. BIG OH!! The service is super speedy! It's located in a trendy little neighborhood in West Philly, lots of hipsters and young adults. I gave this place a shot because I'm a sucker for hole in the wall joints! I hope to try the bubble tea next time, but I gotta get over my phobia of the texture of tapioca balls in my mouth. Creeps me out a little. I would explore the rest of the menu but the rice is so damn good!! I would've given it a 5, but the hours of operation are inconsistent making it difficult to plan my day (my days are planned around my meals!!).
(4)Natalie B.
Fast service, lukewarm attitudes, okay prices and food. They were very quick to bring us menus and take our orders. We waited 5 minutes at most between ordering and getting our food... which is great for pho, but I didn't like that about my dish. My date had pho dac biet and I had shredded pork and Vietnamese quiche. It was bland and dry, and the fish sauce was too sour. I feel like it was thrown in the microwave and then given to me, which was disappointing because I was craving a Vietnamese quiche made with love (or at least with a little more feeling than nuking). I stole some of my date's broth, though, and it was deeelicious. The only way I can describe the service is that it's neutral - neither friendly nor rude. Our waiter sat at a table nearby on his laptop, but we were never ignored or had to wait long for anything.
(3)Gila C.
Its okay... Normal from other Pho place that I went to. The summer roll are not that good, it doesn't seen fresh and the color of veg in the summer roll had been changed. The Broken Rice Pork Chop is very good, very tasty. The Beef Ball noodle soup is pretty good as well. Price on the menu are higher than the other Pho.... Over all, food are good. Cash only!!! I will go back if I am around.
(3)Marissa R.
Their pho is good. But the prices are a lot higher than other places but you are in university city everything is more expensive there. The waiter was nice and attentive even offered a free glass of wine with my meal. Which was great. I will be returning to try their rice dishes can't wait!.
(4)Cuong P.
Pho&Cafe Saigon is one of a very few Vietnamese restaurants in West Philly and it is definitely not among the best in the city. During my time in Philadelphia, I tried a dozen restaurants of my country cuisine. This restaurant is only good if you live in the neighborhood and don't want to go far. Pho is average, rice with grilled pork is below average. The service is fast but the food is nothing special. The price is higher than Vietnamese restaurants in South Philly.
(3)Donald P.
I still absolutely LOVE this place. It's not much to look at, but from the bun alone....this place is outstanding. I can't really speak to the pho as I never really order it. My dish of choice is the Bun with grilled pork and crispy spring roll, because there's a taste that I can't put my finger on (maybe from the fish sauce, but definitely on the grilled pork) that puts my taste buds on sensory overdrive. Either way still remains one of my favorite little places for bun. It's just a damn shame I live so far away.
(5)Bill M.
Due to feeling a bit under weather for the past couple of weeks soup has been on the menu a lot . And as a result I've been finding myself over here to satisfy my pho craving a lot. With Vietnam Cafe representing this definitely isn't anywhere near the best pho in West Philly. and as many have indicated this is nowhere near the the level of a lot of other places in Philly. But when you're looking for pho that's quick and pretty inexpensive Pho & Cafe Saigon makes a pretty good second fiddle. I've only really done takeout so I can't comment on service, but the people working the counter are friendly enough. The noodles for the pho definitely isn't the greatest I've had. But the cuts of meat are plentiful, and the broth is exceptionally satisfying. and the spring rolls that I've picked up here were definitely satisfying. So over all when old man winter and hangover bugs are kicking your ass, this place has enough to get you back to your senses. And I really need to try those milkshakes!
(3)Yiwen S.
pho is and always will be the perfect hangover cure. three stars for the fact that it's only 2 blocks away, which makes mornings after a night of heavy drinking that much easier to face. in this case, convenience trumps taste, as long as i have sriracha to add flavor to the soup base. i always order pho ga (chicken) and it never fails me. most people order the rare steak pho, and i've heard from other people that it's decent here. i myself still prefer the chicken, even though the meat is dry. but honestly, the chicken is dry in almost every pho restaurant i've ever been to. portion sizes here are decent. for the same price, i've had bigger and better. but on mornings when i don't wanna make the drive over to washington ave, this place will suffice.
(3)Siv L.
This is a University CIty favorite! The service is quick and friendly. I always get pho, which is #19 on the menu. Go early on Sundays because it is sure to be crowded. They only accept cash and are closed on Mondays.
(5)Cherie C.
Really cheap and really fast...almost too fast. The service was gruff and curt. We ordered our food, and both our spring rolls and our pho were on the table within 3 minutes (no exaggeration). I wondered about the freshness since it arrived so quickly; they obviously don't cook to order. But maybe their busy takeout business keeps them cooking everything all the time? I don't know. The flavors were good. Not outstanding, but adequate. And the price was really good.
(3)Michelle C.
I'm still exploring Saigon's menu because I'm a Vietnamese food n00b and half the time I'm totally guessing, but basically everything I've had here so far has been very good. Their menu really isn't helpful, so I'm kind of forced to make an educated guess. I don't mind before forced to try new things, though! The pho is really yummy and when you sit to eat you get a pot of hot tea and all the Sriracha and plum sauce you can stand. I've also had a few of their entrees. The pork chop with fried egg in particular stands out in my mind as being quite good. The only thing I didn't like from here was the beef ball soup, but that's because I bug out when I try to consume tendon. If it can't be chewed, it obviously doesn't want to be eaten. That's just how I feel. As for bubble teas and stuff, I haven't tried them yet. I have however downed a few avocado milkshakes and have plans to drink more in the future. Not sure why it comes with that weird maraschino cherry though. The service is.. kinda questionable? Some times I feel as though I'm bothering them, other days they're very friendly. I think the guy who works the front may just be stoic and can come across as annoyed. It's cheap, it's good, it's near my place, so I'm a fan. Would I go out of my way to get some noms from Saigon? Maybe. Warm spring days kind of beg for outdoor seating, pho, and an avocado shake for brunch. TIP: Don't use the ATM outside if you can avoid it. The fee is steep and it's finicky as hell. There's a CVS right up the street. Buy gum and ask for cash back.
(4)Grace S.
I've been here a few times and I always get pho because I don't travel this far into University City/W. Philly to try something new. My friends have ordered the other dishes here and really like it so I'm sure the other menu items are all reliably good. The service is extremely quick and although the place is small, I've always managed to get seating even though I'm always in a group. The spring rolls are the usual fried goodness and although the pho broth isn't the most flavorful I've ever had, it's decent.
(3)Dama J.
SO.... I've been to this place twice. First time was yesterday and I got some food and a fruit smoothie. I thought the food was just ok and the smoothie was super good and came in a cute cup. So i came back again today to get another smoothie, same ingredients and everything. The woman made my drink this time, when the guy who worked there made it before. SHe made it soupy like juice couldn't even taste any ice. So i asked her nicely to remake it for me or just add more ice and blend it again and she REFUSED and told me if i wanted a thick one I shouldn't have gotten watermelon in my drink. She was super rude. How are you going to be rude as hell and speak horrible english on top of everything. She was loud and made a scene in front of the guests that were there. I will NEVER go back here again. NEVER get her to fix you anything. Ask for the guy to make you stuff. Also they didn't even have the price of the smoothie anywhere and didn't tell me it was an extra 35 cent to mix the fruit. This place is over priced for the quality. Its pretty much the quality of a local chinese food take out store and I'm not just saying that because they messed up my smoothie. Anyway they totally lost a customer that could have been in there everyday drinking their smoothies. HOrrible.
(1)Igal K.
Talk about a disappointment! Before I start bashing I want to note that the staff is awesome and the cashier and the older lady are nice beyond nice! That said, I came here for the Pho and was very excited to find some Pho in university city. Ordered a take out of chicken and shrimp pho and the beef pho. I L O V E pho and I thought that it was impossible to screw it up but now I know what an average broth tastes like, fat and bland, sad really. After all the sriracha and soy sauce it tasted edible and the result for my efforts was a light food poisoning, I do want to note that the ingredients were fresh and I'm not in any way blaming Saigon for it but I will from now on eat pho in Chinatown.
(2)Jim M.
I've been here a couple of times. The spring rolls can be good, but they tend to get over fried and greasy. The dipping sauce does help give some nice flavor to the spring rolls. The broken rice with chicken and lemongrass was pretty good. All this being said, the guy who does most of the order taking and food dispensing is very aggressive. All the times I"ve been there I felt like I've been on a clock. He's constantly hovering, taking things away and pushing you to finish. It's extremely unpleasant, especially if you are with a significant other and trying to enjoy each other's company. This place survives due to its location and prices. It wouldn't last a hot minute if it was on or near Washington Ave.
(2)Alex P.
I love their lemongrass beef Vermicelli and pho soup! Their watermelon bubble tea is also really tasty. Besides the food being really good, I also think that the prices are cheap. The service is also really fast. My only issue is that the restaurant could use some renovations and the staff could use some training in customer service.
(5)Vivian H.
It's not very good (my friends call this place "soapy noodles"), but will usually do for quick filling meals. And by quick, I mean you order and they walk back to bring out your food. I don't know how they do it. It's also BYO and they bring you dirty little styrofoam cups. But if you have any other option, go for the other option.
(2)Shanee S.
I went here for Pho and it was pretty dissappointing. The broth was flavorful but exteremely oily. The meat was not good quality but overall it was ok. I also got the veggie spring rolls which were equally greasy but delicious. My boyfriend got the chargrilled-chicken which he loved except it was very fatty. I did get an avocado shake which was delicious! But I'm pretty sure that the guy licked the spoon he was mixing with. My boyfriend got the mango shake equally good. Our entire meal came to 22 bucks. This is not the place to go for neatness, good service, or ambiance. But, it did do the trick.
(3)Grace F.
Great food and incredibly (I mean like food comes out within 5 minutes of ordering or less) service!! The shredded pork vermicelli was simple but delicious. The deluxe pho was very flavorful and I only stopped eating because I was stuffed.
(5)Daniel T.
During a long bike ride that had us (a friend and myself) teetering very close to this west Philly spot, I remembered this fact and pho was just what we needed to refuel. I'm going to drop some knowledge about pho for you: Pho itself, is breakfast in its motherland. The hearty bowl contains a good amount of carbs, proteins, and salt. Those elements are vital to start off a tough working day in the heat (manual farming for example). So it makes sense to start a day's ride with a bowl. As soon as we get to Pho & Cafe Saigon, we were immediately thrilled to see outdoor seating. The last time I can recall eating pho outside was when I was actually in Vietnam. Sun and pho just makes sense to me. So without doubt, we were to be eating here. So then we order the typical bowls, load it up with tripe and different cuts of beef in the ol' largest-bowl-you-got variety. Service is quick, just like any other pho monger. Bowls came out and there's that unmistakable sense of anticipation of designing your own meal, harking to the traditional South Vietnamese way of eating pho. After the condiments: thai basil, chile peppers, and mung bean sprouts have been drowned in the pool, we dig in. Immediately something is awry. This is not authentic. There's something missing. Beefy and unctuous, it's there. Noodles are nice and firm, check. The proper spices... nope, I"m sorry to say it's not quite here. With pho, a slight hint of anise and roasted ginger are supposed to provide that supporting chord to an already nice tune. This bowl, however, didn't have it. So what you're left with is a rather nice bowl of beef noodle soup, very paletable and tasty if this was your first. If you've eaten a proper bowl before, this just isn't pho like it's supposed to be. Because we're strictly pho afficienados, it's all we had. I cannot comment about the other items on the menu simply because we didn't order it. Needless to say we finished our bowls, did the typical 'dredging' towards the end in an attempt to muster up any sort of scrap that's hidden below the noodle-exhausted murky waters and bidded adieu. The price was rather expensive, coming in at over eight dollars for the bowl without any drinks or edible companions on the side. Still though, it's worth a trip on a nice, sunny day to enjoy a bowl of 'beef-noodle soup'. Sure it's not authentic, nor is it even cheap. But when you're sitting outside with a full stomach on a brilliantly sunny day, what's there to complain about?
(3)Jimmy S.
For a dollar or two more than the cost of the pho you would normally pay for universally, this place is not worth it. The broth in the pho is very bland. there's not a lot of meat. The portion is a decent size as one would expect normally from a pho place. Also ordered some summer rolls which were eh...nothing special. Definitely a ripoff of a place. Plenty of other places to go to besides this if you want some decent pho.
(1)Joan H.
The food is decent but the customer service is seriously lacking. I've eaten here like 30 times and the owners still act as though they don't know who i am. Kinda weird. The milkshakes are delicious!
(2)Brooke T.
I love this place and I do not go here enough. Cheap, fast and nobody will bother you. Beat the dinner rush and you can get a table by a window (or the giant fish tank) where you can devour your pho in quiet. Be clear when you want tea, since the last few times I've gone, I've had to ask for it twice. Especially since once I was presented with a green tea milkshake. Whoops? Did I mention it's cheap? As every other Yelper states, the pho is to die for. If I feel the need to eat my feelings, I'll get the broken rice with beef and a sunshine egg. If you want to get out of control, you can get spring rolls (which are the jump off). Cash only, however there is an ATM outside. If you have a $20 on you, you'll leave with change. IT'S CHEAP! I don't think I've mentioned that.
(5)Julie K.
Go and get the fried rice, grilled pork, and a jack fruit milkshake (or any other shake). This place has reliable, tasty Vietnamese food at very low prices.
(4)J J.
I got carryout from here and it was satisfactory. The service was super fast. I got the Vermicelli w/ Shrimp and some Spring Rolls. The Spring Rolls were good, and the shrimp were really really good. The vermicelli was just in a plain lump (which might be the way it usually is? I don't eat that much Vietnamese...) So I enjoyed the rolls and the shrimp, but everything else was bland and I felt like the price wasn't worth having half my food be plain/bland. If I could just get a heaping plate of the shrimp and skip the rest, I'd like that!! And cash only!
(3)Elaine L.
Had their noodles here once for take out one friday night when I just got bored and didn't want to make any food! HAH. Anyway, their noodles are good and the texture is good but they gave me completely raw meat. Not cooked at all, partially mooing. It was a little bizarre. I know that they typically give you raw meat but it's partly cooked every time that I have eating pho. Besides that, my friend had mentioned that she got sick one time here while eating their food so I was very cautious and made sure my meat was cooked before I ate it. The good thing is that they are super quick and got me the food very easily. And, their avocado milkshake is pretty delicious. I'm SO happy that they actually use real avocados instead of powder and they use ice with evaporated milk and blend everything together. SO good. This is a must for this restaurant for sure!
(3)Erika B.
The Pho is really good. I tried the beef and shrimp versions and enjoyed both. Very fast service which is great for a quick lunch. Nothing is better in winter then nice hot bowl of soup.
(4)Annie C.
Came here around lunch time on a Saturday for a bowl of pho. Can't really complain, but just a bit confused. What was the difference between my pho with beef "round" and my friends' with beef brisket? Nothing, it seems. At least both cost the same. The portion was fine, the broth was nice, it's an all-around decent pho for $7.25, with your usual fresh sprouts and basil sprigs. The place is a bit out of the way for me on a weekday, but this is a nice break after a chilly Saturday morning at the farmer's market.
(3)Maya Y.
I am not a Vietnamese food connoisseur, but I found this place to be acceptably decent for how cheap it was (I went with a friend and we only paid $9 each with tip and tax included). I ordered the beef brisket pho noodle bowl. The beef slices were very tender and thin, shabu-shabu style, so if you want something more steak-like, I'd suggest getting another cut of meat. As with most pho places I've patronized, the waiter brought out a plate containing bean sprouts, a half slice of lime, and jalapenos. I didn't use the latter to season my broth but a touch of lime added some tart flavor to the broth. I dipped the thin beef slices into the hot chili sauce there, which ended up adding flavor and a much needed kick to a dish I find far less flavorful than a traditional bowl of ramen (forgive me for my partiality - I'm Japanese American). On another occasion I ordered the "dry" version of a noodle soup bowl and got the vermicelli noodle bowl which was topped with veggies and fried spring rolls. The spring rolls were juicy and greasy, which added the "meat" to the rather light, salad-like bed of vermicelli noodles and greens on which the rolls rested. All in all, I'd probably go back here again if I had the urge to have Vietnamese food. It's a cheaper alternative to Vietnamese Cafe on 47th and Baltimore which has superb ambience. But this hole-in-the-wall has its own charms, I'm sure, if the meal is shared with the right kinds of people. You can also buy a smoothie here. The copious amounts of fresh fruit on display in a glass window case looked appetizing. The place is cash-only, though there's an ATM box outside. Make sure to bring cash. Service: B Taste: B
(3)Jake B.
This is hands down, my favorite place to eat in west philly. I have been coming here for years and I have never been dissatisfied with a single meal. Not once! Their pho is amazing, especially if you enjoy eating the nasty bits like tripe or beef tendon. I've heard people say it's not as good as chinatown's, or south philly... blah blah blah. I've had pho all over the city, and it all tastes like the same thing to me... DELICIOUS! This place is fast, cheap, and extremely tasty as well as being a plentiful meal. It's a wonderful place to sit down for a quiet meal. You have absolutely no reason not to come here. CASH ONLY! Don't be an asshole.
(5)Alex Z.
Update...it seems that the first time I went here, it was an off day. I have since returned here several times and the food consistently was up a notch with much fresher ingredients! You get 5 stars, congrats! --- I am not exactly a Pho connoisseur, but I do eat it a lot. I think the Pho here is pretty damn good. I love Pho so much though. Prices? Not super cheap, but fair, good prices. I have also had the bun (rice vermicelli) at least twice, and it has also been consistently good. Service is quick and was good. I like having this place in the neighborhood...right around the corner.
(5)Jessica S.
Pretty typical. VERY hot broth, all the tasty sprouts, herbs, lime wedges you need. Nothing more. Nothing less. The price is also.. meh. The 3 stars, A-OK rating was made for this place
(3)Andrew K.
I went to Penn as an undergraduate and must have eaten at this place fifty times in my four years. I wish I were kidding. This place got me through undergrad. For the first several months, I wasn't aware that it actually had a name, I just sort of wandered there with friends and sat outside. Honestly, on a warm summer night, there are few things that are better than sitting outside on the corner of 43rd and Spruce and watching the world go by with a big bowl of pho. Insofar as food recommendations go, I always start with an appetizer of sorts, usually an order of spring rolls. The pho is great, so just pick whichever mix of assorted meat parts you want (don't fear the tripe and the tendon, they're both delicious) or, if you'd prefer, the salads are great too (and filling!) This place has always, always been consistent and if you're in West Philly there's no reason not to go.
(4)Kate M.
I've been here several times. The food is always really good (Spring rolls, yum) and the service is ridiculously fast.
(4)Candice B.
It's cheap, it's fast, and it's local. The charbroiled pork and vermicelli never disappoints. The fruit milkshakes are fantastic, and you can order them without milk. Is there better Vietnamese food in Chinatown? Absolutely. But when you don't feel like hopping on the trolley, Pho & Cafe Saigon is a sure bet. Things to keep in mind: it's cash only with an outside ATM, and closed on Mondays.
(4)Alexandra W.
Right across the street from my apartment and with outdoor seating, this is the best hangover cure ever. They have pho dishes, as well as rice and noodle dishes. The pho is pretty good, but Chinatown and all of the Vietnamese places on Washington are too far in a pinch. They have bubble tea, too, but the bubbles are weird textured.
(4)Judy T.
This place is great for grabbing a quick, yummy, and filling lunch in West Philly. The pho is pretty good, the vermicelli noodles with pork and springs roll is great, but I love their pork chop with a sunny side up egg. The food comes out super fast and is always good. I think I'll go this weekend. Note: only accepts cash (there's an ATM right outside).
(4)Grant B.
The vegetarian pho was loaded with lots of good vegetables. Also they have amazing iced coffee! A great neighborhood place!!
(5)Milena M.
This was my go to place in college. The food is great and I like watching the fish swim around in the tank. The pho is excellent and I always got it with the shrimp. The rice is also cooked to perfection. You get a really cute cup if you get a bubble tea to go. They only accept cash so hit the ATM before dinner.
(5)Sinéad O.
Popped my pho cherry here. Like a first love, nothing can ever compare. Thank you, Pho & Cafe Saigon.
(4)Dung H.
I couldn't resist the convenience this place is to me. It only took a nice 15 minute walk to get here from school and I'm way too lazy to drive to Washington Ave during the weekday for viet food... The place was what I expected. Typical hole-in-the-wall establishment, dingy table and chairs, small. I don't take any stars off the ratings for this because I knew what I was walking into. However, from the looks of it, I thought the pho would be cheaper. Don't get me wrong, it's not expensive at all, esp for any food around here.. but the portion size was much smaller than a typical pho place and was a little more expensive than I've had before. definitely not value or quality here but just.... meh, okay if you want vietnamese food in university city. The pho itself was alright, broth wasn't bland. Some of the pieces of meat had a weird color? Not sure if it was just me though.. The food does come out in literally 2 minutes. Wouldnt go back until I was REALLY dying for some pho, lazy and car-less. Otherwise, take yourself to Washington Ave or even Chinatown.
(2)Jazmin I.
Cafe Saigon is the kind of authentic bare-bones restaurant you'd expect to find in Chinatown. The ambiance is somewhere between cheap takeout joint and fast-food restroom, the tables & chairs are ugly, and all the melamine spoons & chopsticks are conveniently already on the table and take up half of it. That being said, the pho is everything I could hope for & more: a fragrant, delicious broth, abundant shrimp & pork, and the tastiest rice noodles nestled in the bottom of the bowl just waiting to be mixed in with a squirt of lime, a hot pepper slice or two, a soupcon of basil and a handful of sprouts. Having been here 3 times, I've eaten the same soup each time because it's too good to move on. The boy is a bit more adventurous and has tried two dishes. The dishes listed as rice flake are actually a fat rice noodle kind of like chow fun and have all manner of tasty pork bits atop. Delicious, but not enough to tempt me away from my pho for more than a forkful or two. I haven't had many of their drinks, and it seems like they're out of some of them every time, but I looooove the lychee drink. It's quite refreshing and the lychee fruit makes a nice, sweet treat. This may not be a fancy date place or an ideal first date "gotta impress the lady with cloth napkins" kinda joint, but it's definitely a good place to grab an amazingly cheap and tasty meal. Two people can eat a healthy portion o' pho for under $20 (including tip). Add an appetizer and two fancy drinks and round the bill up to ~$30, and you've got yourself a fabulous food coma that's completely recession-friendly. And if you need some romance, bring your date some flowers with all that left-over money.
(4)Abigail T.
Quick, cheap, tasty, and filing. That's all this place is, and that's all it's meant to be. I got the lemongrass chicken bun, my vietnamese food standby, to go. I walked in, ordered, and had my food in less than 5 minutes. I got a generous portion of lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, sprouts, and mint along with my vermicelli and chicken, which I promptly doused in fish sauce and devoured. Also, my boyfriend says the Pho is tasty, and the portion is huge!
(4)Stephen R.
Cheap and quick and GOOD food Wife gets the pho and it's great, I usually do the salad, great for a nice lunch or lighter dinner. Milkshakes are good too! Coconut so far is the best, avocado is good too. I haven't tried some of the other flavors but they have a huge selection. Pineapple shake doesn't blend as smoothly though.
(5)John M.
I'll be honest, I can count the number of times I've had Vietnamese food on one hand, and 3 of them have been at Pho & Cafe Saigon due to it's proximity to my front door. I find the pho to be pretty good and I've tried the rice stick with lemongrass chicken, which was decent as well. I agree with Erin G's opinion of the spring rolls....way too greasy. The service is fast and courteous. My girlfriend has accompanied me here on 2 occasions, and being the all-american meat and potatoes girl that she is, she has a hard time finding this place palatable. That probably has to do more with her than the food. If you're in the neighborhood and want a quick decent meal, I would recommend this place....but it probably won't knock your socks off.
(3)Alex C.
Reviewing this place, you got to review it for what it is. It's an unpretentious, high-volume Vietnamese restaurant, which means you just have to set your expectations correctly. Service will be quick and efficient. Food will be prepared quickly. The bill will be cheap and come early. There will not be small talk. Decor will be meh. The pho (rice noodles with thinly sliced beef in broth) is above average and a pretty good size. I like the beef flank because it's tender and tasty. For the vermicelli dishes, the one with shredded pork or the one with pork and spring roll are my usual choices. The double porkchops are deliciously marinated, if you are looking for a dish with rice. The spring rolls and shrimp rolls (try these, it's different and real Vietnamese food) are also pretty good. I've never found the spring rolls to be "mad greasy", oh well, different expectations. I'm not sure if I would drive all the way out here for Vietnamese, but if you live around Penn's campus or in University City and don't want to go to Chinatown this is a pretty good option. Also, remember that this place is closed on Mondays...several potential Monday pho lunches of mine were thwarted because I would always forget this. OH! I almost forgot, try the egg noodles with shrimp, if you're in the mood for something new. I love the texture of the noodles. Make sure to tell them to make the noodles harder or al dente. Don't be put off if the waiter or waitress seems like they don't get it. Trust me, they do... It's hidden in the pho section, and I didn't even discover it on the menu until the 20th or 25th time I came here. Yeah, I came here a lot for food because it was so conveniently located and pretty tasty. Also, their bubble tea and fruit smoothies with bubbles (tapioca) are good. They use fresh fruit and the bubbles are the right texture--kinda chewy and gummy, NEVER hard.
(4)Candace C.
3.5 stars but im rounding up because it is unique to find authentic asian food in west philly. its a little pricey for vietnamese food (im in california where its plentiful and cheap) but the place is quite good, very good for philadelphia. i recommend the beef noodle stew. the vietnamese version of it is so flavorful! the spring rolls with shimp (or the summer rolls? not sure of its name but its the ones that are not fried) is also tasty. the pho is dependable. definitely hits the spot when i crave asian food and am in west philly. CASH ONLY!
(4)Sudo N.
I truly do not know what everyone is complaining about here. There is nothing wrong with this restaurant, and I mean that as a high compliment. Maybe people take this cafe for granted because it is an unassuming hole in the wall. There is nothing outstanding about it, but I think everything they do is above average, and that adds up to a winning experience. The food is good, the prices are right, and the service is instantaneous. What else do you want? Today I took my 14-month-old daughter and got broken rice with grilled pork for $6.95. Have you ever taken a 14-month-old to a restaurant? Every second counts. The pork was delicious, tender, flavorful, and served hot off the grill. It's not high cuisine, and it's not meant to be.
(4)Stacey S.
My favorite pho in the city.... always fast (few minutes form ordering, every time.) Pho taste/broth balance is perfect and is never reminiscent of bath water (trust me, I've had that experience with pho & it's not pretty.) Cash only, attentive wait staff. University-city localized, family owned, authentic. the inside of this corner Vietnamese establishment makes me love Philly more every time I go. Definitely try this place out if you have a hankering for pho- the other noodle dishes are just as good too. I wish they were open on Mondays, though :(
(5)Geoff c.
nothing great about this pho. if you want better stuff, head over to chinatown or washington ave. almost everything is better there. ive only been here once. but it was not a great experience. i understand that when you go to a small asian eatery like this, you shouldnt expect the friendliest wait staff, but our server just seemed downright angry at us. he also got my order wrong. maybe it was a bad day for him. anyways, if you want better pho and larger portions for the price, just cross over the schuykill. west phillys not a great place to find pho.
(2)Sara C.
If you're looking for top notch pho, go elsewhere. If you're in the midst of a craving but don't feel like crossing the river, come here. The pho itself is mediocre at best, but if you dress it up with all the hot sauce, sprouts, and basil provided, it works. I once ordered the lemongrass chicken, and it was tasty, but the portion was paltry. Seemed like most of the non-pho items were also this way. I'll have to give those milkshakes a try, however. I'm just looking forward to the opening of the Vietnam Cafe at 47th & Baltimore (from the lovely people at Fuh Wah and the Vietnam restaurant in Chinatown) near the end of January 2008.
(2)Dio S.
I went to try out this place for lunch. Let me tell you, the Pho is bad! First of all, the broth was way too salty! I had to put a lot Hoisin sauce just to balance out the saltyness. Another thing, apparently there is only one size of Pho. It seems to be a small size bowl with little of noddles and meats. Lastly, the price for a bowl of Pho came up to a total of $8.10 plus tip. That is pretty price for me. I will never go there again!
(1)Katarina M.
Went back had the pho and the fried springrolls again (ah so good), and also had the shrimp toast (OMG SO GOOD). Mmmmmm. Go here go here go here!!! Don't forget your cash. But there is an ATM just outside.
(5)C C.
Had the Deluxe Pho. Just what getting Vietnamese food should be like: good portions, quick to be served, and little to no service. Good for a quick eat if you're not looking for fast food. The smoothies looked interesting though. Especially the Durian and Avocado flavors. 3 PT SUMMARY - Cheap, filling Vietnamese dishes - Don't expect great service, but you'd probably just be going here for a bite to eat and not much else - Pho is pho, pretty much what you'd expect at a Vietnamese place
(3)Hunter B.
This is a good West Philly lunch spot, although now that Vietnam has opened at 47th the competition is gonna be pretty stiff. Service is surly but fast and efficient. Is it pre-cooked? Wait a minute, we are talking about a $6-8 menu here, from a corner neighborhood joint. I don't know how long charbroiled pork, broken rice and a spring roll really takes to make, but I sure don't mind getting it fast. And the fruit milkshakes are damn good. (They take longer to produce than the food, so they must be made to order.) Plus, the outdoor tables are a welcome treat from spring to fall. Gourmet, upscale, Best-of-Philly Vietnamese? Nope, but you already know where to go for those -- Vietnam (I and II) and Vietnam Palace -- and if you're here at Pho, you know you're not in Chinatown or South Philly. So, for what it is, where it is, we could do a lot worse. Manage your expectations and it'll seem that much better. Recommended.
(3)Secret V.
Bland and not so hot for veg options. I've given them a few shots and every time I'm disappointed by a soup whose broth tastes more like the Schuylkill than any pho I've ever had. Head for Vientienne instead.
(2)Michael C.
Unfriendly wait staff and pho that is definitely precooked and dumped into hot broth minutes before being served. Why do I come back time and time again? There's no better (and by that, I mean, no other) place to get pho in University City. Come for pho that's fast, relatively cheap, and pretty tasty.
(3)J M.
I come in here all the time. The manager is friendly and takes the time to bring me a water and talk to me every time I come in. The food is excellent and comes out quick. This is such a jewel in my neighborhood and the one thing I will miss when I move.
(5)Oxana M.
i cook better! seriously, much better! service was terrible. the server reached through all our food to fill up stack of spoons at the end of our table! sweet potatoes were under-cooked. no one said "thanks" or "enjoy"... maybe its good for meat eaters, but for vegetarians, go to any chinese joint and get the same crap for less $$$! oh, the last but not least, the place is dirty too =(
(1)Kevin R.
Pho was very good. Nice quick place to grab a bite in Spruce Hill. Has crazy flavors of smoothies (avocado).
(4)Totally I.
A solid staple - Pho or char-broiled something-something... and maybe some fruit smoothie - mango! mmm, mango. There's nothing really to it, it's cheap food at a cheap price with no bs. Not the best Vietnamese in the city by a long shot, but whatever.
(4)Jon L.
The woman here knows my order by heart: egg roll, plus pho with flank, tripe, and beef ball (in large bowl). The service is the best in the city, as far as I know. You walk in, you order within seconds, and in about three minutes your food is on the table. Incredible. Take-out is also a good option; this University City restaurant really has the packaging of pho down to a science. Your noodles and vegetables are served separately in a Styrofoam container, while your meats are dunked into that glorious broth to soak up all the flavors as you walk (or drive) home. If you really feel like treating yourself, get a bubble tea "Hong Kong Style." To order correctly, you must say, "One boba, please. H.K. Style." They won't hassle you if you get it wrong (like they do at Pat's and Geno's), but you don't want to sound ignorant in front of your friends.
(4)Tim S.
While the food wasn't bad, it certainly wasn't good by any stretch either. Also, I swear they pre-make all their dishes and nuke it in a microwave before serving it to you. I order my meal (Com Bo Nuong) and I KID YOU NOT, my dish was on my table in less than three minutes. Seriously. The food tasted like it was microwaved. The portions were small and the prices too high to ever make me want to make a return visit. Scratching my balding head to know why people actually like this place. Go figure.
(2)Erin G.
This place is alright. It's a neighborhood joint that is can be conveniently located (if you live/work in the University City area). Honestly, Vietnamese isn't my favorite, partially because of the lack of vegi options, and the staff here are pretty reluctant to make substitutions or help keep your food both tasty and meat free. The spring rolls are mad greasy, though, so if you need a hangover cure, those with some pho just might do the trick.
(2)Brittany B.
I was a little hesitant to try out some pho after reading some of the reviews, but i was pleasantly surprised. As it should be with pho, I ordered my food, and it was out on a matter of minutes. They brought out hot tea, then came the pho, along with all of the fixings. I would say that there was a little less beef in the pho than i've had at one or two pho places in chinatown, and the thai basil was a little wilted, but still tasted good. I'll be going back for sure!
(4)astro t.
this place rocks stars. I call in and they say "5 minutes!" and that's what it takes me to get there, running. I run because I can't wait to get their #38! All for a good price, no frills place, great food. It can be busy but people are in and out an I've never had to wait. They also have great fruit drinks, durian, papaya, watermelon, and the bubble tea is always an option, which they can make blended. Sometimes I just get a drink but it's really hard not to get something to eat also.
(4)Nick M.
I ate here once and got food poisoning. Since then, I've literally talked to 2-3 other people who have had the same experience. The sad thing was that I didn't even enjoy my food. I was just so hungry I kept eating it. Needless to say, this was a "one and done" for me.
(1)Karen B.
I guess I'm a cheap date, because I really like this place! The food comes within three minutes of ordering, piping hot, and always tastes good. Granted, I haven't been to any of the other Vietnamese places in Philly yet, so I have no basis for comparison. Still, for a place that charges $6 for a giant bowl of soup brimming with meat and noodles, it's not bad. Yum yum.
(4)Jessica N.
The pho here is okay and is one of those things you order when you have a cold and it is February, but the mango milkshake, oh the mango milkshake! It is a bit pricey, but it will change your whole outlook on life, especially if mangoes are in season. My boyfriend and I just spent an entire day cleaning up my place for a visit from his parents. We were dirty and cranky and finally I just said the magic words, "mango milkshake", we dove out of my apartment and down the street, got the milkshakes and sat on a bench in the school yard drinking them and watching the fireflies. All was good with the world.
(2)Evan H.
This place was recommended to us. Why? For bland Vietnamese food? That must have been why our recommenders liked it--because they've never had good Vietnamese food. We used to live four blocks away, in the restaurant-desert that West Philly continues to be--where tumbleweeds of litterers' craft make for most of the street life--but we only ate here once. We count it a true disappointment, considering people had recommended it to us. You may hear it's good due to the warped tastes of some neighborhoody regulars, but don't be fooled. Those people don't know what good Vietnamese food is.
(2)Melissa S.
first place i had pho. would definitely go back. but, nothing to write home about. don't like how early it closes.
(3)Sameer S.
saigon may have a dour (business-like if i were feeling more diplomatic) staff and food prepared so fast that it can only be pre-cooked, but saigon is also a mighty convenient establishment. in my view, it is a better version of those ubiquitous panda's seen in food courts across america.. the selection is poor, but the price is good and the food itself is average. as i live only a block away, i visit saigon so frequently (out of sheer lethargy) that i have to give it three stars.
(3)Erick K.
I love this place. BYO, great food, no bullshit.
(5)Joy C.
Amazing, inexpensive Vietnamese food. What the place may lack in ambiance, they make up with portion sizes and speed. I've never waited more than 5 minutes for food - sit down or take-out. And it's THE place in Philly for Bubble Milk Tea in my opinion (I'm addicted to the Jasmine). Be sure to bring cash, though, since they don't take plastic.
(4)