Pho 79
723 W 21st St, Norfolk, VA, 23517
Pho 79 Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Norfolk for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Norfolk for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Norfolk for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
723 W 21st St
Norfolk, VA, 23517 - Phone (757) 333-4266
- Website https://www.eatpho79.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Diego O.
Great service and very friendly. Came here after walking out in Kappa Ramen due to awful customer service. Phó 79's staff was very attentive and food was delicious. My girlfriend and I made a good decision coming here.
(4)Don S.
Good service and clean. Comparing to Los Angeles, one only gets half the amount of bean sprouts, mint leaves, and green pepper. Flavor of the broth can be better, I will rate it as B/B-. Large size Pho is about 10-15% smaller than LA's.
(3)Baby B.
I ate at a another Pho 79 in Newport News...I think. But anyway.....I decided to try this one as well. The Baboa bubble tea was delicious! I had the chicken skewer and rice. Delicious. The salad was nice and fresh and the food is cooked to order so it was fresh as well. The presentation was nice and neat. The place was clean. Staff was polite and service was quick. I'd definitely eat at Pho again!
(5)Noella M.
I like their food...light, plenty, and extra doesn't cost. The place is clean with plenty parking in the back. I am vegetarian and here there is plenty dishes for vegans and vegetarians. I highly recommend.
(5)Mary J.
I was really pleased with the gracious service here. I ordered two things I had not had before. The first was the vegetarian spring rolls, which came with cucumber, fried tofu, rice noodles, and basil. I liked this, but the main taste was the tofu and the peanut sauce. I think it needed more cucumber or basil inside to round the taste out. The second thing I ordered was Hu Tieu. It was in a different section of the menu than the Pho, but it was like Pho to me. Mine came with pork broth, sliced pork, shrimp, fried shallot, scallions, and (I think) cabbage (or fancy lettuce)... the only difference from pho was the thicker noodles (more difficult to eat) and shallots. I enjoyed it, but the pork meat was kind of dry, even after being in broth. And I would like to not have the tails still on the shrimp. I've been to this location several times. It's definitely different than the other Pho 79s in Hampton Roads. The service is super and the restaurant is prettily decorated in a nice setting. You can sit on the patio or inside and watch the scenery on 21st St.
(4)J E.
This place was ok. There wasn't a crazy amount of beef flavor in the pho. It was just ok. If you want pho, but aren't picky like I tend to be, this is the place for you. It's good for a pho fix? Service is good. Things are clean. Check the big board for specials when you walk in. I wish I had.
(3)LaTonya L.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaah, I think I'm in love. I had such a great first experience here that I had to come back for more. I loooooooooooooooooove their Bun Chay! I will definitely be a regular at this place and I must have one of their hilarious t-shirts that reads "Pho-79 It's Pho-King Good!" ha ha! Love it! The Bún chay was fantastically sweet and light! The tofu was stir-fried to perfection and the veggies were quite appetizing! The service here was friendly and we received our meals quickly. I was impressed! I have no complaints.
(5)Jordan B.
A few weeks ago my friend and I originally planned to go to Mr. Shawarma. Little did we know, they closed at 3PM on Friday; however, everything happens for a reason because Phô 79 was right next door and my friend and I had been wanting to try phô soup for the longest and the opportunity presented itself. The restaurant was quaint and comfy inside, nothing too fancy though. Our drink orders were quickly taken after we got settled in and my friend and I ordered our favorite, Thai tea (always a good choice). We both really enjoyed our teas while deciding what kind of phô we wanted to try out. My friend got chicken phô, and I got the phô with round steak and meatballs. Both our soups came with fresh sprouts and jalepeño pepper, which was a nice compliment to the soup. It was pretty good. Ultimately, I would describe phô as a light yet satisfying dish, that would ideally be enjoyed in cold weather or while sick. Admittedly it wouldn't be my first choice, but it was very good and I'm glad I tried something different. Next time I visit here I have my eyes on the boba smoothies and the bbq pork ribs. My only complaint about this place is that the waiters could have been a little more attentive, but they weren't rude, so this is only a minor complaint. Overall, If you're in the Ghent area and would like to try something different I recommend comming here.
(4)Dennis C.
This is my favorite lunch spot in Ghent. I have been eating here about once a week for nearly the past two years. Much of this review will be a near mirror image of the one I recently posted of the original Pho 79 location on Virginia Beach Boulevard over a week ago, with a few differences and comparisons included. Let me begin with my most frequently ordered items as described on their menu: GOI CUON (2): FRESH SPRING ROLLS: (Menu Item A1). The spring rolls served here are a little larger than those served at the original location, but they are usually not quite as tender. Sometimes they can be a bit rubbery and hard to chew, like they were today. Their peanut sauce is every bit as good as that which is served at the original location. They apparently use the same formula, resulting in a delicate, delicious, and intoxicating blend of peanut sauce and hoisin sauce. It's my favorite peanut dipping sauce served among all of the Vietnamese restaurants in the area. PHO TAI NAM GAU (Menu Item 4). This is one of their most popular selections and contains round steak, well done flank, and brisket. This was the first variety I ever tried at the original location, and I have tried it here as well. It is very flavorful and is at least the equal to that which is served at the orignal location. PHO GA (Menu Item 10): This is now my favorite selection, and it is the one I order at least ninety percent of the time. It includes natural chicken broth and tasty and tender shredded pieces of chicken meat. Generous amounts of onions and scallions are added to accentuate its flavor. Each of their Pho selections comes with rice noodles, garnished with chopped scallions, onions, and cilantro. A side dish of condiments includes basil leaves, bean sprouts, and sliced jalapeno peppers. On the average, I have found that the the condiments served here at the Ghent location are a little more plentiful than those served at their original location. The Pho selections are available in two sizes at the Ghent location--small, and large. I order the small size most of the time, and the large size on those occasions when I am especially hungry. No matter which size I order, their ingredients are always well balanced and proportioned. If I order the large size of Pho Ga, for example, there is always a greater volume of rice noodles, chicken slices, onions, and scallions to accompany the extra broth. The broth never overwhelms the other ingredients. The consistency and flavor of their broths are as it good as they get for this area. Perfect consistency with Pho broth is very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. Accordingly, there are some days when their broth is better than others. From my experience, the quality of their broth at this location has always ranged from at least average to excellent, approaching or reaching excellence most of the time. Today, for example, the quality of their Pho Ga broth was excellent. BUN BO HUE: This item is currently not listed on the Ghent location's current menu, but it is available upon request. It is described on the menu of their original location as follows: "Spicy beef soup with thick vermicelli noodles, beef shank, slices of Vietnamese pork, and pork leg. The broth is prepared by simmering beef & pork with lemongrass and spicy chili oil." This is what I order when I am extra hungry and in the mood for a hot and spicy soup.This one comes in the large size only, and I enjoyed it here one Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago. Instead of rice noodles, the thicker vermicelli noodles are used, which have a slippier texture and can be more difficult to capture with your chopsticks. And instead of bean sprouts on their dish of condiments, shredded red cabbage is provided, which adds a nice crunchy flavor and texture. One difference I noted between the Bun Bo Hue served here and at the original location, based upon the last time I ordered it at both, is that came with side containers of shrimp paste and hot chili sauce at the original location. It came with neither when I recently ordered it at the Ghent location. I did not miss the shrimp paste, and the extra hot chili sauce was not needed. The Bun Bo Hue I recently enjoyed at the Ghent location was much spicier than the one I had at the original location. The spicier it is, the better I like it. Therefore, I give the Bun Bo Hue I had at the Ghent location the edge. Another point worth noting is that the pork leg bone served with the Bun Bo Hue at both locations gives the broth extra depth and complexity. I have yet to find any other local Vietnamese restaurant outside the Pho 79 family that serves the bone with their Bun Bo Hue. The service I receive at the Ghent location has always been warm and friendly. The always treat me like a member of their own family. The Pho 79 location in Ghent has definitely achieved a winning formula for success, as evidenced by their large numbers of happy diners during peak hours.
(4)Theresa R.
I came to this location numerous times while I was living on the ODU campus last summer. This is definitely one of my favorite locations for pho.
(5)Khanh C.
First off, I'm Viet, born there and emigrated to US so my standard for Viet food is quite high. I tried their Pho Dac Biet (beef broth), which had beef, flank, tripe, tendons, and balls. The soup is actually pretty decent. The amount of meat is reasonable. The price is high compared to most other big cities prices for the size of the bowl. I went in for a 2nd try and had their Hu Tieu (pork broth), which also tasted alright, doesn't knock your taste buds off or anything. I came here cuz I literally stay several minutes from it and will have to try the other Viet restaurants in the area. However, definitely an upgrade over the only Viet restaurant at my current town. Service is fast, place is clean. I would give this place 3.5 stars.
(3)Tim F.
Bottom line up front.. This is good pho! I only order Pho Dac Biet. This is the combination pho with everything in it. Tripe, tendon, beef, flank, beef balls. All are very good. The broth is excellent with a rich full flavor and the noodles have perfect texture and flavor. The only reason I do not give them 5 stars is that I have eaten there 20 times in the last 2 months and found inconsistency with the quality of the fresh vegetables. Which I suppose could happen, but I expect fresh bean sprouts, lime and basil always. The only choice for PHO in the area. Try it, you will like it.
(4)Matt R.
This is my favorite pho place in the area! Almost as good as back home in California. The veggie pho with tofu is amazing and flavorful!
(5)DéJa G.
Best Pho place in Hampton Roads. My favorite is the vegetarian pho with all their delicious mushrooms I also tried the pork vermicelli and it was AMAZING!! Service is not really that great. They're not really friendly here. But I don't know how to make Pho so they still get my business #truth
(5)Katrina C.
Since I've been sickly for the past two weeks, I've been craving nothing but a good clear broth. Pho ga is my go to chicken noodle soup to cure my scratchy throat and Pho 79 never fails to hit that spot. Part of the numerous Pho 79 locations scattered around the 757, this Ghentrified store holds up right next to Kotobuki. The place is always pretty clean and brightly lit. Always a fast service and never stingy on the water. Broth is pretty tasty and honestly I can't really tell the difference between a legit pho and a chain. Noodles on point though. Once you order it just magically all appears at your table like maybe 2-3minutes later. Sometimes its quicker depending on how busy they are. Oh and they serve vegan friendly food! Not that I am one myself, but I'm always glad to see restaurants catering to other people's lifestyle.
(4)Daniel D.
The restaurant that expands the variety in Ghent, bringing in tasty Vietnamese food to the area. I have come to this place a good number of times since it opened up. Making me frequent the place I went to for my Vietnamese food in Virginia Beach less. I have tried a good handful of the Pho (which are divided into types on the menu, with the meat selection making the difference) and the sandwiches. At first, I was finding it hard to let go of my place. I didn't find that flavor that I was expecting when it first opened. However, I kept on coming and their Pho definitely started hitting the spot. Now, the sandwiches have always been a flavor pleaser. I don't know what it is, but I'm also a sucker for the way they pickle the vegetables that go on it, it's mainly shaved carrot. The place is nice by design. It is pretty ample and spaced it out, and it provides both indoor and outdoor seating. You don't see much of outdoor seating for Vietnamese restaurants. The service has been great every time I have come to this place. They are pretty attentive and they are pretty friendly. I don't ever feel rushed or pushed by the staff. The food is also prepared at a very reasonable pace, so props to the chefs. The menu. I don't have an issue with the menu, but am only recommending. I do like that it's a condense menu. I have been to some Vietnamese restaurants where there is 100+ items on the menu. I feel like most of these large menus could easily be shorten, and should be. This condense version is definitely convenient, not only for staff but also for the customers. However, I do love other Vietnamese food that is not just Pho. They do offer a small handful of platters, but would like to see a little more offered. I know the main theme of the place is Pho, but I do feel like some customers would really enjoy this this and would bring more people. Oh best part for some...BUBBLE TEA! It is a complain that I hear from friends that some Vietnamese restaurants don't offer
(4)Hope Renay D.
One of my favorite places. Go to spot on a cold rainy day. You can do take out but it's best to dine in. Service is hit or miss however, the food makes up for it.
(5)Jason L.
Best pho place in Virginia so far. Lots of other stores around so you can walk off all the food. Friendly staff. Good atmosphere. Low price good food.
(5)Xerxes N.
So I meant to post this review in June... It's been in my drafts folder for six months. So pretend it is hot as hell outside as you read this. It's probably too hot now to be out eating Pho soup but they have a few other dishes to try. Recently, I had Com Bò Nuong. Translation: grilled beef over rice. For what I got out of the meal I thought I paid a little much during lunch hours but I thoroughly enjoyed the taste and the flavors. My thing is always going to be the pho soup though. I can honestly say that I don't know what I order each time because everything looks the same to me. It's damn good though. This is my favorite location of all the Pho 79s in the area. It has a very modern feel and design and as soon as you walk in you sense Vietnamese. I'm no vegan but they do have such options, too. You can see the place from 21st St but you can park around the building and they have a back door entrance.
(4)Blair W.
My favorite pho restaurant! Their interior is pretty and clean. I like thier food, too!
(5)Bernadette S.
Whenever I'm sick, if i can't make my own soup, my 2nd go to option is to look for chicken pho. Their broth was very good and not salty at all. I opted for this without the noodles, just the chicken and the soup and it made me feel a lot better. One mishap that happened, which is why i put it as two stars. My husband got the special seafood soup bowl with egg noodles. When it first came out, it had the rice noodles like they serve in the pho. My husband pointed this out to one of the staff since our server went on break. She insisted that this order had the right noodles and began to have an attitude with him. They checked the ticket where the order was taken and kept insisting that it had the right noodles. Attitude went up even higher. I asked to see the menu and when my husband pointed to what he ordered, the woman double checked and simply said, "oh ok, yeah it should be egg noodles". She kept asking my husband if he just wanted the rice noodles instead, because it would take another 10 minutes. He said he would wait because he really wanted the egg noodles as written in the description. She kind of made a remark saying that this bowl will just be thrown away (tried to make us feel bad?) and my husband and i just looked at each other like "what are we supposed to say". At this point, I was kind of irritated because of her attitude and her forcefulness in trying to persuade my husband to keep the order. She finally picked up the bowl and dumped it in the trash.They made another order and it tasted fine for him, but with all that circus we went through, we wanted to just eat our food and leave.
(2)Darius M.
The Pho 79 in Newport News have me such high hopes for this spot. To be frank it has ruined every other sushi spot I've been too. I was disappointed with the freshness of the veggies and the quantity. It alright. I got 2 Veggie Pho dinners to go. I have yet to find a pho spot that can match Phone 79 in Newport News.
(3)Luke P.
So delicious!!! I recommend the #1. Very nice staff and quick service. Clean atmosphere too.
(5)Mary B.
This pho was good. Really good. It's not super fancy inside, but they serve beer and have a wide selection of food. I took half of my pho home and it was just as good the next day for lunch. I'd highly recommend the number 4 (can't remember the name but it was a chef's special).
(4)Yvonne F.
I've dined at this particular restaurant many times with no problems and only pleasant experiences. Because it's soup weather and I'm ill, a few friends and I decided to use the Order Up service for Pho delivery. I've done this before and for carry-out/delivery they place the broth in its own cup with the veggies, beef and noodles in a styrofoam box. My first experience with this method of delivery was great. The food (serving 3) arrived hot although I live about ten/fifteen minutes away. Yesterday's experience was not one to brag about. There were four orders of the Pho with only one of them being different (Vegetarian). Three cups of the regular broth arrived cold with the Vegetarian broth hot which leads me to believe that the fault doesn't sit with the Order Up deliverer. One out of four cups hot suggests to me that the three cups of regular broth sat on the counter cooling off while waiting for the veggie broth meal to be completed. I'm disappointed because I've had the Pho delivered before so I had expectations for a similar experience. With the broth arriving cold it lead to a potentially dangerous situation because the beef was still semi-raw upon arrival and would have needed to be cooked in the hot broth as soon as our order was delivered. I'm giving three stars because once I heated up the cold cups of broth, the meal tasted just fine.
(3)tianna b.
Tried this place once to get my pho & spring roll fix. For how busy it was and my past pho experiences I expected to be waiting for longer than I did. thumbs up for that. my only complaints would have to be that by the time I got home, a few miles away, I had to reheat it in the microwave. But the pho was still delicious! I loved the layered flavor in the broth. It kept me tasting and guessing, "what spice is that?" haha.... Secondly, I wish the spring rolls came with fish sauce along with the peanut sauce, because I like to mix the two, but I'm sure simply asking will fix that problem.
(4)Cassandra D.
Called in to order and the male I spoke with was helpful in telling me what the menu items meant. The pho was really good, best broth I've had. I also got the mango bubble tea and finished it before I even got back to the house. It was great. Don't get the combo unless you have tried all that is in it. I found out I dislike tripe and fatty brisket..
(4)Alejandro B.
Came to dine alone. Don't know if that's why the service was the way it played out. But super fast service for dinner time. They had people in other tables but that didn't matter. I think I was sat and had appetizer and pho bowl in less then 10 min. Pho broth was good and the shrimp spring rolls were nice and fresh. Will be coming back.
(3)Loni W.
Me and my husband go here all the time. Love this pho so much, husband says just like his moms.
(5)Yajaida P.
Is it terrible to write this review just for their boba? When I saw the bubble tea sign I just went nuts. Really one of my favorite beverage treats. You can have your smoothies I want my bizarrely addictive tapioca pearls. The first few times I came here the mixture was thick and flavorful with plenty of pearls and any number of tasty combinations. Running errands in Ghent I would stop here just for a drink to go and left happy. The last time I was there I noticed a decided change. Maybe it was just the particular server that time, but I had what amounted to ice water with a big straw.
(3)Jessica M.
I'm not really a big fan of Pho 79 and their customer service but went tonight with my sis and her friend. I got coffee, egg rolls and Korean BBQ. The coffee was good, and the egg rolls tasted frozen (you can really taste the difference between fresh and pre-made frozen) and the Korean BBQ short ribs weren't that great. To me Pho 79 is over expensive and a bit Americanized. I probably wouldn't go again unless that's the only place around.
(2)Deedee M.
Food was fantastic the BBQ short ribs OMG were the best. Kids Pho great. Only thing to complain about was the service super slow. Could of been cause there was 10 of us. Other than that I will be back!
(4)Cynthia F.
Great pho! Bahn my is fresh and delicious and the Korean barbecue is very flavorful. The staff is very nice
(4)Susie L.
The egg noodle was pretty darn amazing. However, the pho was not up to par. The noodles were soggy and the broth was disgusting. Their Thai tea is pretty good, a little on the milky side. The limeade was yummy! It tasted pretty fresh. I would recommend their spring rolls, egg noodles and limeade.
(3)Paul T.
"Who wants to eat hot soup when it's 90 degrees out!?" A big bowl of spicy Pho on a warm summer day, nothing beats it! For those of you that aren't aware Pho is basically soup. I've been coming to Pho 79 for about 2 years now, we actually have a tradition called Pho-Phridays. This restaurant is perfect for a lunch time meal. The prices are great, the serving sizes are ludicrous (if you get a large) and huge if you get the regular. If you want to play it safe, go with the #2, meatballs and strips of steak. Also, their spring rolls and peanut sauce are wonderful. Additionally they have a Pho inspired section which contains a chicken noodle option. They also have an assortment of other Vietnamese dishes, but honestly, if you're coming to a restaurant named Pho for the first time... try the Pho.
(4)Nicholas R.
I'm disappointed with Pho 79. They should be at least a 3, but they let me down. Went with my friend and her sister. I showed up ahead of them and was seated, then given a water. When they arrived, they joined me and the server came over, but didn't bring them water until they specifically asked for it. Well, we placed our order, and my friend ordered a boba. We received our food, but no boba. The food itself was decent, maybe even good. Towards the end of the meal, the boba showed up, in slushie form. One, they didn't say it would come at the end, and two, I would presume most people would expect a boba tea in liquid form. When we were getting ready to leave, my friends decided to order some food for the next day. Once it was finished, we discovered one item missing, and no Vietnamese coffee (both were placed in the order). Long story short, the service here is subpar. Lack of attention to detail. The food, interior, parking and all were fine, but I was not impressed with their service. If I go back, I'm hoping that'll change.
(2)Leo P.
Absolutely delicious! Definitely the best Pho I have been to. Staff very friendly and service was great as well.
(5)Ali B.
Decent pho overall. As good as you'll find in the area. Broth isn't too complicated. I frequently compare this place to maybe a bad dish your mom or dad made growing up. Sure maybe it wasn't that flavorful but it was a staple in your diet and you began to fall in love with that tasteless pasta sauce or bbq or mac n cheese dish. As a result you looked lovingly to your favorite flavorless staple at home. Well for me it's pho 79. Maybe not the best pho (by no means bad), but will leave you feeling full and satisfied. I typically get the Beef pho that comes with flank, brisket, and meatballs. All the fixings also provided. Usually a fair amount of meat. I find that I just can't get enough of broth. I'm definitely one of those good until the last drop guys so yes unfortunately my company is usually waiting on me to finish my bowl. Spring rolls here are ok. No mint or cilantro in them but still enjoyable. Waitstaff can be hit or miss depending on the night and/or server. Overall, I'll be back as long as I'm in the area.
(4)Deva B.
Eh, I don't love it. It is not bad but I can't say it is super awesome good either. I have only had their pho and I find they flavors a bit weak, their broth lacked depth. Service is just okay, I don't like waitstaff that hovers but it is nice to see a smile once in a while.
(3)Paula B.
This place satisfied my Vietnamese food craving. The pho here is pretty good - I got the number 9. The fried rolls are pork and shrimp and can't be modified to just shrimp. :/ I did have the fresh spring roll- good though I thought it could have had more flavor inside. The grilled beef on rice is decent. They have Thai iced tea bubble tea which isn't offered in the bible tea shops I've been in and it was great!
(3)Donnell S.
I like how diverse the menu is compared to other pho places. Food was good, but the service was bad.
(3)Samantha S.
We've loved the Virginia Beach location and have frequented it for years (sometimes even for breakfast!), so we were delighted to discover that there was a location in Ghent so close to our apartment! This location has the same fantastically flavorful food with an even cleaner and newer atmosphere, plus it has a nice covered patio seating area. The spring rolls here are an absolute must-have! I could eat the hoisin-peanut dipping sauce with a spoon, it's that good. Also, they now offer them in both the traditional shrimp/pork variety, and in a vegan-friendly format. They also have vegan and vegetarian options all over their menu at this location. Although not exactly surprising in the Ghent area, it is still a pleasant discovery, and good to know for when I'm dining out with vegan friends. Coincidentally, tonight I had the vegan pho (had to try it!), which was stuffed to the brim (literally) with a wide variety of veggies (carrots, mushrooms, onions, broccoli, celery, scallions, and some sort of Vietnamese turnip/radish/daikon?). It also had a generous helping of vermicelli noodles and four big chunks of tofu swimming in a flavorful veggie broth. My husband ordered the beef pho as usual, and it was as delicious as always. This place never disappoints for a huge, soul-warming bowl of hearty Vietnamese goodness.
(5)Chelsea H.
Having visited their Greenbrier location I decided to try this one since it's closer to my house. The food was great but the service could have been better. I ordered hot jasmine tea but the server have me unsweetened iced tea. He brought me the correct one when I asked, no big deal. However I'm glad they keep the napkins at the table because he didn't check on us the rest of the time. We waited about 15 minutes for our check because we weren't sure if he was supposed to bring it or we were supposed to just go to the register when we were ready to pay, so he just decided to go up to pay cause we were ready to go. Other than that the food was delicious. Would definitely come back but hopefully they improve their service just a little.
(3)Thuy N.
Love this place! I go here often for an early dinner. They're one of the few places around with banh mi and even though it's not the same as back home, they're pretty tasty. Their pho is seasoned just right and the bowl is not just filled with soup. I have to admit though that the boba tea is why I come here sometimes. It's one of my favorite drinks and once again, this is one of the few places around that has it. The staff is very friendly and attentive. They have a nice flow of customers, but it's never overly packed and you're never ignored. The owner is pretty friendly and his kids/relatives work there, too. In my opinion, family ran restaurants are some of the best around.
(4)Peter K.
It's pretty good. Personally, I find the pho here to be a little inconsistent, in that it has good days and bad, but that could be interpreted just as my personal taste, as I've eaten mainly the west coast style of a more The ban mi is delicious and has to be one of it's main selling points in the area. The bubble tea here is pretty good, not the best, but good nonetheless. Overall, it's a slightly above average Vietnamese store, but nothing particularly notable.
(3)Joanna P.
If you have never tried Pho 79 before you are missing out!! It's already been said, but I'll say it again.. Two words.....VEGAN PHO! I work down in Ghent and I can not get enough of it ! I order it for lunch and I've introduced my sister and a few friends to it and they loved it just as much. They just applied for their beer and wine permit. The ONLY thing that could make my Vegan Pho lunch or dinner better? A glass of wine to go with it! I repeat.. If you have never tried Pho 79 before...get there ASAP! And don't go to any of the other locations. I have tried other locations and they don't have the vegan and their Pho just lacked in comparison. Drive to Ghent! You won't regret it.
(5)Coventry S.
When a good friend told me that Pho 79 had a vegan pho I was intrigued and wanted to try it. After dropping somewhere in the ballpark of $12, I was rewarded with what amounted to noodles, broth, and probably about $2 worth of veggies and barely any tofu. It was OK, I wouldn't call it especially flavorful or filling. It definitely wasn't worth the cash. If you're a vegetarian/vegan, I wouldn't recommend this place. I'm sure it has more to offer omnivores.
(2)Kimberly H.
As a Vietnamese American, I would like to give my 0.02 on the Vietnamese restaurant dining experience. Typical vietnamese restaurants are fast paced, quick service. Don't expect typical American hostesses greeting you with a smile, and filling up your water. The usual regimen is: you walk in, they nod their head to you as they are cleaning up a table, and you just sit anywhere you want. They are not eager to please you to get a good tip. Don't expect them to ask you how your food is, or if you need a refill. You have to flag them down. So if you ever experience this, don't take it to heart. If anything, that might be a good sign that the place is actually authentic. Anyway, on to my restaurant review. This place is NOT authentic. The servers are non-Vietnamese (maybe because there aren't many in the area??), it doesn't have that rich, "Pho" smell inside, and you actually do feel like you are getting served. the floor is nice, and they have a mounted flatscreen tv to watch sports games or dancing with the stars. There's an outside patio for when you want to enjoy a meal outside. They do offer boba tea, albeit, not that great, but it's the only place that can satisfy my boba tea fix w/n a 10mi radius. Also, they do offer a vegan pho on their menu. I need my meat, so I've never eaten a vegetarian/vegan pho before, so I don't know if it's any good. I just know that this is the only vegetarian option they offer on their menu (no tofu or vegetable stir fry dishes). The pho is ok. I've had better at a lot of other places. I guess for Norfolk/VA beach, it's decent. But the broth is very bland, and it doesn't have that pho smell that usually permeates in my mother's kitchen whenever she cooks it. Last time I went with my cousin, the broth wasn't even hot enough to cook the meat entirely. Disappointing. If you get the special grilled meat combo dish (either noodle or rice, it doesn't matter), now THAT is a good and filling meal. I've had it twice so far, and both times I was very satisfied. So if you want to try a different vietnamese dish, get either the grilled pork (thit nuong) or the combination grilled dish. Depending on my mood I'll choose it as a rice dish or a noodle dish; take your pick. I'd still take my family and friends here for Vietnamese food, but i don't know if it's just because it is the only vietnamese place around. But for around this area, I guess it's just average. And very americanized, so it didn't feel like an authentic dining experience for me. Tip: If you go in a group, ya'll just go to the cashier and pay separately. Tell them what you had, and they ring it up for you. They do keep track of the orders though, so it's hard to walk out without paying. But this is an easy option instead of trying to split the check/calculating how much to put on each credit card/etc. at the end of your meal. You're just in charge of your own meal. and if you want to pay for someone else ofthe entire group, you just go to the cashier and tell them. and they accept credit card (also something that a lot of Vietnamese restaurants don't do).
(2)Amanda F.
Good food, decently priced. The service was pretty good, but messed up our orders. And trying to pay at the register was a huge mess. But other than that, I'm so glad to have a delicious Pho restaurant near by!! I will definitely stop by again!
(4)Chris H.
On vacation in a new city and as usual we always hunt down Korean or Vietnamese fare. Found Pho 79 on Yelp so we decided to stop down and try it out. Restaurant seems new and very clean which is a plus I guess, although over the years I've found the best Vietnamese I've had in the States and Vietnam is from some of the grungiest places..but I digress. I had the Mì Tôm Thit which is an egg noodle soup with clear broth, shrimp and pork. Flavor was pretty good. My wife had the Com ac Biet, which is three skewers of meat (beef, chicken & pork) served with broken rice, cucumbers, carrots and a side of fish sauce. She was less than thrilled with her dish as the fish sauce was quite salty and the skewered meat just didn't hit the spot. Maybe we have been spoiled with the hole-in-the-wall places in Little Saigon Garden Grove, CA. Anyway the thing that rubs me is that while the decor is quite nice and the prices are reasonable the service is a let down and doesn't match the neighborhood or the mood of the place. We have come to expect this in the grungy little Vietnamese places, as the general rule is that the Vietnamese just don't tend to you nor are they as friendly as you would find in most restaurants, and most times the food and prices blow you away to make you look the other way. Here though, it's the same care-free attitude to service, but the food nor the prices really knocks your socks off. Our general rule is combine good food with either good prices or exceptional service and you've got a hit, unfortunately Pho 79 doesn't fit that criteria. Maybe it's up to local standards, but I can't say I'd return.
(2)Wei L.
The pho is very good and that's what it's known best for. The spring roll is great but everything is is either OK or mediocore. The baguette sandwich is especially bland and mediocre. Overall the service is great and the pho is one of the best in the area.
(4)Bel J.
Pho 79 is such a conveniently placed Vietnamese restaurant, located right next to ODU, so making a pho trip is easy for Navy people and college students. It's a very nicely furnished place, very clean, giving it a better vibe than most pho places. This place also has a larger menu than it competitors which is awesome because they have my favorite grilled pork sandwiches. I have had better pho but for what it's worth, this place is a frequent stop for me and I enjoy it every time I come here.
(5)Eric C.
To make things even more awesome here, they now have bubble (boba) tea! All different flavors. Nice and creamy! I need to go to the gym for 3 hours before I come here... They also have vegan pho now! Bring your non meat eating friends!!
(5)Porsha R.
I really do love this place. I've been here several times and each time I'm not disappointed. When I go, which is usually around 8:00pm on a weeknight and an occasional time on the weekend, it's never too packed. I enjoy the staff and they're rather attentive. The Pho is great, no complaints on my part. I noticed that they also have boba, but have never tried it. The prices are reasonable. I also tried one of the sandwiches and they're rather good as well. When I'm looking for a fix, this is the place to go. P.S. I accidently ordered the chicken pho once, not a good idea. Tasty but didn't hit the spot.
(4)Adora P.
This place is a great quick place to get some tasty Pho! Nothing super fancy, but a wide variety of options and quite a nice restaurant for a casual lunch.
(4)Jennifer E.
I have to admit. I am a recent pho convert. I love asian cuisine - ate it growing up, have had it all over the world (East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, Europe, Kuwait. Bahrain, and (gasp) Asia!) As much as I loved the different tastes and flavors, pho just did not do it for me - not in Houston, not in LA, not in NYC, so it wasn't just that I hadn't had "good pho.". Until this 2013. My dear friend and I found a time on our dance cards for lunch once a week, and she loves pho so I gave it another try. Holy smokes - its my new addiction. The small number one is my standby - love the noodles, love the broth. Love the tang of the lime and crunch of the bean sprouts that come on the side.The service is not bad, and the space is well lighted and airy - you can sit in booths or at tables. Maybe by the spring I'll have tried the rest of the menu. In the meanwhile - I"m a pho fan!
(4)Gary H.
Food is fine. Service consistently sucks. I can't describe in words the level of indifference I get from the older staff when I order. It's almost like they're prisoners and I'm the asshole warden making their lives hell. I hope they get it straight before another pho place opens within walking distance of my house because I would never go back here. PS: Look at my other reviews, I'm not a restaurant Nazi, this is legit bad service.
(3)Sally M.
I love the one in Newport News, but there's something a little off about this location that makes it subpar. I went here on a Friday or Saturday night and it was packed. I'm guessing Vietnamese is new and exotic to the Ghent crowd. I ordered a pretty standard dish, a large pho with meatballs and brisket. For a large order, the noodles and meat were lacking in quantity. Also, it wasn't as hot (temperature-wise) as a bowl of soup should be. Spring rolls were okay, except for a little too much noodle (go figure), but I didn't like the sauce it came with - I'm guessing hoisin. The service was a little slow and confusing. We thought we had one server taking care of our drinks, appetizers, etc., but then another person swung by to ask us about our order and took care of it. Maybe they do a communal thing where all the employees help each other, but it's a little annoying to get interrupted so that you can repeat yourself for an order that you thought was already taken care of. Note: This place is a little cramped with lots of seating close to each other. Please be aware of you or your kids just lingering around the walkways. Time and time again I saw the poor employees trying to get by and saying "hot soup!" only to be ignored.
(2)Melissa G.
Clean and quick service which is probably it's only saving grace. Ordered a thai tea which tasted like soap and we sent back. They also had the nerve to still charge it to our bill which was taken off once we pointed it out. Ordered the small pho dac biet and it was alright. Salty and not much beef flavor. The spring rolls were alright. Has both pork slices and shrimp in it. I ordered the kids rice plate with a beef skewer and it came out when I was about half way done with my bowl of pho. He kept spitting out pieces of beef that I've cut off the skewer for him. Curious, I took a bite and I could barely eat through the cardboard chewy mess. Waste of $4.50. Total was $17 before tip and after the thai tea was taken off our bill. Definitely not visiting this restaurant again ever in the future.
(2)KC C.
I finally got a chance to check this place out and enjoyed the food there. Since I was dining solo, I opted to sit at the small bar I managed to take up all by myself. Got the Pho Nåm, Gân, Sách, which was the Noodle soup with well-done flank, soft tendon and bible tripe. That may not seem like other people's first choice, it's the dish that remind me oxtail soup and I enjoy it. I also tried Chang beer, which was made in Thailand. While I would say the Pho is ok, what really amazes me is how reasonable the prices are here, considering the other restaurants in the area. This is a good place to get cheap eats and something quick to eat, which I would give it a little more than three stars except I've had better food, but in dumpier places. Pho 79 has decent food and decor, making it an ok place to check out.
(3)Kim N.
I love pho! When I go I usually get the #4 or the pork skewers with rice! So yummy! Definitely a must try... It's never too too busy so you usually get your food in a timely manner. Staff is friendly and the place is clean. Yay for pho 79!
(5)s s.
Not premium quality , just average. Their pho broth does not taste deep and the rice noodle tasted rice flavor which is not good. The meat was overcooked. Vietnamese coffee came out already brewed. They did not ask me if I wanted hot or iced. Some places offer both option when it came with the coffee kit. I would not go back.
(3)Belle J.
They have been real consistent with their amazing aromatic flavors in the broth. I recommend asking for extra cilantro in the soup. I also like to add the bean sprouts, 2 squeezed limes, Siracha sauce and Hoisin sauce. This makes such a tasty combination every time! The Bubble Tea is also really good! I recommend honeydew and green tea flavors. I like to have it for dessert!
(5)C J.
I thought the food was ok. Overall, a clean place but I have had better.
(2)Steven A.
I love Vietnamese food the way women love chocolate. Sometimes it even makes me tingle when I eat it. The flavor profiles are unique from other Southeast Asian cuisine and they simply warm my soul. Eating a steaming bowl of Pho, especially on a crisp fall or winter day, will turn a gray day bright and will mellow out the most dour of your moods. Its better than Mom's chicken soup even. But in a nod to my contrarian streak, I chose to forego the Pho for lunch recently and opted instead for an order of spring rolls with that delicious peanut dipping sauce. I followed the rolls up with their grilled pork Banh Mi sandwich, which can only be described as heaven on bread. The minimalist approach they take to these sandwiches achieves maximum flavor. I think if they added anything beyond the marinated pork, the pickled veggies and the cilantro it would mess it up. It would be like adding circles to a work of Picasso's cubist period.
(4)Hollie W.
Vegan Pho, yes! Decent soup! The vegan broth was a little bland but my old trusty sidekick sriracha fixed that right up. The size small soup was in typical Pho fashion, massive, and there was enough left over for lunch the following day. Also tried the vegan spring rolls which were good but the rice paper was thick and kind of difficult to bite through. Nom nom!
(3)Carolyn B.
The only reason why I keep coming here is that it's the closest Viet restaurant I've found to Portsmouth. Food is ok - help ease my Viet appetite for Mom's food but the food is really not that special. Pho - I've ordered 3 times already so it's not a fluke. The broth tastes like instant broth, no real Pho spices aroma. 3/3 times, the Pho comes out warm when it's supposed to be hot. Bun Dac Biet - big portion, good. Has rice noodles, fish sauce, veggies, chicken, pork, beef, and an eggroll. Too tired to bother today to mention they forgot to have the eggroll to my order today.... Overall service - stinks. The young waiter needs to be trained on better service quality if he wants better tips. I think today will be my last time visiting them, I'd rather drive further to a place with comparable food and better service. If you're looking for a chill hangout with mediocre Viet tasting food, come here but don't expect good service.
(2)Kate W.
Hallelujah for pho in Ghent. 'nuff said.
(4)Jennifer G.
Hands down the best pho and pork in the area! Nice restaurant and staff.
(5)Traci W.
Heads up, vegan/vegetarian friends! If you look at the online menu, there are no vegan options listed. There are actually several available. Don't let the menu discourage you from going. Restaurant owners- I would encourage you to correct this - may be helpful to your business!
(4)Gwen D.
The true measure of any Vietnamese restaurant is its pho broth. If you cannot execute the broth, nothing else in the bowl will make up for it. And if your Pho sucks, nothing else on the menu will make up for it. Also, when I order wonton egg noodle, I expect there to be wontons in my soup. That's how it's done at many other Vietnamese restaurants. Don't call it a wonton soup if there is no wonton in it! You're cheating customers out of an authentic experience! The fact that this is a chain restaurant didn't lead me to have high expectations. But I gave it a try anyways hoping that being in this restaurant-savy town might give the restaurant owners more motivation to serve great pho. Alas, my fears were confirmed. This is just another 79 restaurant that has given up on authenticity in order to make a profit off customers who don't really know what GOOD Pho is supposed to taste like. I give it 3 stars for everything else on the menu and the quick service. But on the Pho alone, 0 star.
(3)Harry Y.
Everything was fresh and the taste was okay but the pho was luke warm and the spring rolls (they called them egg rolls) had a pastey filling. Good value and service was good.
(3)Geoffrey L.
Bottom Line: If you know what Pho is and you want the best Pho Virginia has to offer then here it is! Food and service are great. Spring rolls with peanut sauce are to die for! Really nothing wrong but I reserve the 5 stars for the very best!
(4)Amanda L.
I'm pretty sure the Pho here is magical. I do wish there was an option to get Pho with meat AND veggies, instead of one or the other. The staff is always very accommodating by letting me order the Veggie Pho and adding meat as well...simple fix! The jasmine tea is a great touch, too!
(4)Lillith B.
Wish there where more vegan options not counting the spring roll, the staff didn't quite grasp what vegan meant{despite it being in large letters on their specials board}. When I asked if the bubble tea was vegan. I was asked what is Vegan? No one quite seemed to know what the other party was doing, there was a lot of confusion about who got which tea drink. I might consider going back for the pho if there is a groupon. The pho was really good, just kind of pricey
(2)Nicky S.
Consistently good. Two thumbs up!
(4)Annie W.
I love Vietnamese food and my favorite are the vermicelli bowls. The grilled chicken and pork are delicious but the beef was over cooked and tough. I will definitely be back for more.
(3)Bill S.
We stopped in for the vegan pho . The waitress didn't appear to understand what we were saying but we were able to eventually explain we wanted their vegetarian pho and the pho with squid and fish ball, and jasmine tea for 2. We were brought a virtually empty tea pot, enough for 3 small cups between us. The "large" soup didn't have any more vegetables or noodles than a "small", just more broth. While the pho was served luke warm, the tofu pieces were ice cold on the inside, as if just defrosted in a fridge and dropped into the warm broth. . The waitress never returned to inquire if we wanted more tea, water or to ask how we enjoyed our meal... despite there being only 1 other group in the restaurant. Had they served the meal hot, with a full tea pot and provided better service, it would have been worth the money because the taste was very good and the decor not bad. I might give them another try after they've been open a while and see if things improve.
(2)Rafael C.
I ordered fried egg rolls and pho with round steaks and meat balls. Let me first talk about the egg rolls. I remember reading a review from someone else here that the texture of egg rolls was weird. Let me define that weirdness. That's how it looks like when the egg rolls are fried at a lower oil temperature than the normal frying temperature. They just did not look fully fried. That's all. Having said that, the taste of the egg rolls were good. Their fish sauce was awesome! I always wondered how the fish sauce tasted different in every restaurant and this sauce is by far one of the best fish sauce I have tasted. It was sweet and wonderfully fragrant that the word fish really does not seem to fit as a part of the name for this sauce. Everything in this restaurant seemed perfect. I felt like everything about this restaurant was setting up for a really great pho and I got very exited. The place was clean and cozy, with fine decor. There were tables outside for outdoor dining as well, and the waiters were friendly too. As I mentioned they gave me a wonderful fish sauce for the egg rolls. When they brought the beansprouts, basil and slices of pepper I thought they had just picked them from their own garden in the back yard, perhaps. They were that fresh. So, is it possible not to get a great pho after seeing all these wonderful things about this restaurant? The answer is yes. It is all about the broth when it comes to pho. It looked ok, but it did not taste ok. And I really don't know how to write about this pho without having to sound like I am being impolite. It is really difficult to explain this but the broth kind of tasted like a mix between the pho broth and instant ramen noodle soup.
(3)Scott O.
Amazing Pho with friendly and prompt staff. Bubble tea is awesome. Hot tea is delicious. #1 hangover spot in Norfolk.
(5)Katelyn L.
I loved it! I was a bit confused with the menu because I had never heard of anything on there, but I was extremely satisfied. It was fresh, tasty, attractive, delicious. My whole family,including my kids lived it.
(4)Nans'e L.
enviorment is nice, food is cheap. When i want some noodle, I would like to go pho79. get number 9 on the menu...some beef,pork ,chicken yaki is not so tasty as other vetnamese restaurant i went..
(4)Anne E.
So glad to finally have a Pho place in Norfolk! Love their pho and the staff is friendly and welcoming as well. I order from here about once a week. I always carry out, so I can't speak to the service for dine in, but they have never messed up a single order for me.
(4)Tierra J.
Not the best Pho but only thing really close in the area. The flavors were just off. I love Pho and have eaten at some good and not so good places and this falls in the middle. The broth is just ok, not as flavorful as my favorite restaurant. I stuck with the Pho Ga and got the grilled beef, pork, and chicken trio. The Pho like I said was bland and all the side condiments couldn't fix it but the meat and vermincelli dish was pretty decent. Surprisingly I liked their lemonade which the waitress said was homemade but I didn't believe that but it was good. That's what saved them from 2 stars. Overall I won't be running back to this place at all. But if I get caught in Norfolk again with a Pho craving and I have no gas to go elsewhere then I may stop by.
(3)Panda G.
A great addition to the neighborhood and quality Pho as well. The decor is better than the VA Bch location.
(5)Stacey H.
I bought a gift certificate from their va beach location. We were told it could be used at any Pho 79 location in Hampton Roads. My dad was so excited to take me for lunch so we decided to go to the Norfolk location....big mistake! We were told by the waiter we could not use the certificate before the meal even began.....They said each location has a different owner yet they list all 4 locations on their menu! That aside we decided to stay. Our waiter took our order and brought out our food....that was the last time he came to our table because a buddy of his came in and proceeded to sit at a table with him and chit chat for the next 30 minutes! I had to walk over and ask for the bill not to mention he never brought us refills nor did he bother to bring a fork for my 4 year old....pho was okay...I think the whole experience was ruined from the get go! They really need to get it together....disappointed.
(2)Brenn T.
Delicious vegan pho. We got it to-go and there was a lot of vegetables and noodles for the price, we were surprised at the amount of food we got. Plus it was a treat to get bubble tea.
(4)Jadea G.
We had pho at Pho 79. It was good. It was not amazing. The restaurant was really nice and clean. The lemonade was great, fresh made. Our spring rolls were ok. The texture was a little weird. I will go back.
(4)Jeff R.
Great place!!! The decor is inviting and fun. The menu is awesome, Vietnamese/English and well executed. I've been there twice and will keep coming back. Food is fresh, quick, and delicious. The staff is awesome and a fun place to chill and watch some football. Pho and Football, a new fad!!!
(5)