Pho Tai
148 SW 148th St, Burien, WA, 98166
Pho Tai Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Burien for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Burien for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Burien for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
148 SW 148th St
Burien, WA, 98166 - Phone (206) 439-8607
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:00 am - 11:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Estella P.
My husband and I have been coming to this place when it first opened as Pho Hoa. Their Pho is okay and not too greasy. And it always comes out piping hot. They also know my husband's order without having to ask. #45, NO CILANTRO. He absolutely hates cilantro. So they give me his to put in my soup. =) If we go to other Pho places they always miss the fact that he does not want cilantro in his soup. Maybe they mix it with their already chopped green onions? Who knows. Oh yeah, be prepared to walk out smelling like Pho after your meal. Anyways, they also have the rice plates, noodle bowls, teriyaki and bubble tea. I would skip on the bubble tea as it is made with the powdered stuff. Gross. Have a glass of the vietnamese iced coffee instead. It is wonderful.
(3)Aeche H.
For the price I am very impressed. Although the customer service is rather sullen, the food and service speed was excellent. I may visit again.
(3)Monkey T.
Best Broth! It was getting late and while most places around here are closed, Pho Tai stands out as the obvious choice amongst fast food and pubs. Clean, fairly busy and quick service. Monkey do: FRIED EGGROLL - Packed full of meat & carrot and not too oily #33 SEAFOOD PHO - Scallop, shrimp, imitation crab and the usual noodles, sprouts, basil & lime. Excellent broth with green onion, cilantro and browned slivers of garlic! Awesome flavor and best of all, NO MSG headache afterwards. Monkey will definitely return!
(4)K P.
Pho is ok sometimes I think the chef has his or her days because some days the pho taste great on the other hand some day the pho taste watered down. I'd recomend pho lilly which is next to the 7/11 because they keep a good consistency.
(2)John R.
Had Chicken Pho there. For the second time in several visits I bit into something hard that doesn't belong in your food. Not sure what it was... may have done some damage to my tooth. It wasn't crunchy, it was almost rock like. I brought it to the attention of the staff adding it may be a bone or the like. She was very defensive and wouldn't listen.. even when I showed her a piece of it. I'll not return there. I also got sick at the Pho Tai at Southcenter. I won't be going to any of them again actually.
(1)annika d.
We went and ordered the the number 45 number 11 and the number 18 when we got home we started to eat the pho then found a worm in the vegetables. We called the place and they told us to bring the food back. When we brought the food back they they debated whether or not they should give us a refund. They treated it as if this happens all the time. The owner told us that these are vegetables what do you expect we can't clean every single one to get the worm out. I had to argue with her to get my money back I will never ever return to this place again. My daughter questions if the health department is aware of this.
(1)Dawn S.
The location offers nothing for ambiance, but hands down this is the best Pho in Burien. Full of magical healing powers. I always get a small #1 to go...which is not small at all. The couple times I ordered a large I found that the cup was too packed for the hot broth to properly cook the meat once I got home. I also suggest the fresh rolls with peanut sauce Mmmmmmm and the Taro or Honeydew Bubble tea.
(4)LT K.
I am giving this a 4-star rather a 3 simply because it is better than Pho Vina down the street. I liked that pho here much better than Vina. I was pleasantly surprised that it was quite good. Though not the best that I have had, but a very good. And I did not expect this from this area. This is where Vietnamese go to eat so you know it is good and it is authentic.
(4)Lance S.
Food is great service is poor. I have been to many Pho Tai locations. This one is the worst. The employees ignore you and don't even smile. I have walked out after sitting down two times recently . Sit there for 5 minutes and they do not even make eye contact. They were not even busy today. Workers are in slow motion, and don't seem to care.
(1)Jess D.
Ugh. I went here on the advice of my nail gal and was sorely disappointed. It looks nice from the outside in a new-ish plaza, so I was surprised to walk in to a dirty place with zombie like workers. We sat toward the back and noticed lots of boxes and carts of dirty dishes. The floor was dirty and it smelled like an old mop bucket was nearby. The waitress was not friendly and seemed border line irritated we were there. I asked if they had veggie Pho and she said "no, we do not have vegetables." WTF? This is Vietnamese food and you do not have vegetables?! And you are one door down from a grocery store... I am not vegetarian but I love veggie pho with fried tofu. We decided to leave and go to Lily Pho, up the block, which is not as big and new, but the food is always fresh and delicious with great staff.
(1)Zen S.
Food was decent. Ordered bubble tea upfront and the server was rude. Customer service is lame. They didn't check up on us for any refill. Didn't even acknowledge us. They stock their stuff in the bathroom which is weird. I saw a box of cups there. Kinda nasty. I wouldn't go back here.
(2)Leigh F.
I don't particularly like the pho here. I find that the broth is often heavy and very greasy. The chicken in the pho ga has a weird texture and is often rubbery/overcooked. I come here fairly often though because the location is convenient, it's cheap, and fast. I have found that the grilled chicken with rice here is actually pretty decent. It's flavorful, moist, and juicy. Not a fan of the teriyaki as I do not like my meat to be drowning in sauce. If you come here, your best bet is to skip the pho (unless you're not too picky about it) and go with one of their rice plates instead.
(3)Marissa P.
The food is delicious, I never eat the chicken pho because of the weird onion flakes they put in it. I have never been pleased with their service, very rude and not very friendly at all.
(3)FatAsianman L.
One of the best pho franchise in seattle. Good soup broth, good amount of meat. Rice dishes are good too. I recommend this place if want good pho without going to Martin Luther king way area
(5)Melissa A.
I came in for a bowl of pho 10 minutes before closing time and they graciously ushered me in and let me enjoy my pho undisturbed while they finished cleaning. Most places would make you take it to go but they let me eat there. The pho was delicious and I'm grateful for the hospitality.
(5)Willy B.
Great broth. Fresh all around. I come here 2-3 times a week for lunch. Atmosphere could use an update and service is severely lacking. The food will keep me coming
(3)Calvin M.
I went back and had the beef stew with noodles ($6.38) today. The other reviews are right. It was kind of greasy. The traditonal soup is tomato based. I didn't taste too much tomato in their soup. But once again, they were very generous with the portions and the beef was very tender. All in all, I probably won't be ordering this dish again because of the greasy soup.
(3)Aimee M.
Great place! I give them 4 stars based on my many many visits. The service is consistent and we are always seated immediately...partly due to our visits usually occuring well after dinner hours 9:30 and later. I eat here averaging 8x mo. for several months now. I'd say we love it. Their broth is pretty dang good and I always enjoy my bowl of pho!!
(4)Megin O.
4.5 stars. I love this place, and I miss it! The pho is definitely right up there with Pho Hoa and Pho Bac in the Int'l Dist. No sweat parking. The service can sometimes be touch and go. For an extra treat try the avocado smoothie with boba. Yummy! I've had the beef pho, bun with pork and eggroll, spring rolls, avocado smoothie, iced coffee with milk... and it is all very good.
(4)Lara M.
Have only had the Chicken Pho here and it was good. Had it "take out" and they were great about including all the goodies that are supposed to "go with" Pho so I can't complain. Not the best I have ever had but when at work and I need my Pho fix it is great! Have never eaten in but there always is a fairly good sized crowd when I pick up my order (2x).
(3)David E.
We were off to try another Pho restaurant but it was closed on the 4th, but knew there was another nearby so we tried and very happy we did. The soup was good, I had the steak and brisket and was real happy with that, the broth was very good. We seem to always try the spring rolls and iced coffee, and again no disappointments
(4)Tuan N.
This is the first time i rate i came here a few times but everytime i came here i always have unhappy feeling for the place. The service was horriable waitress was very impolite, never write down what we order and always fucked up our order and two cook were fighting in the kitchen and they using foul langue calling each other bitches. I promise to myself will never come back to this place again unless the owner fired all the workers and hired new worker. I rated thisplace zero star. Chay ban nhu con cac. Tho nau thi chui lon nhu may con mu ban ca. This place is fucking up by the workers
(1)Arthur D.
The best place for me to go when the craving is strong!!!! I love this place not one time did they disappoint me!!!
(4)S K.
Fast service. I think I've been 2x and I forgot that it wasn't good Pho the first time, and went there tonight to be reminded. Also, boring and not very many rice dishes. They don't even have veggies to put in the Pho and the beef portion was tiny. But most of all the broth wasn't very flavorful.
(1)Monika H.
NUMMY NUMMY NUMMY!!!!!!!! alll the soups are awesome. I love the TOFU Pho noodle soup. I go here all the time. My suggestion, get a small and get extra meat. They might screw your order up a bit sometimes due to the language barrier, but that happens. Don't waste your time on the teriyaki dishes, you can get better stuff at Mana's across the street. And that is the only glass of water you might get so enjoy it! If you want more, you need to go up and ask for a refill. It the best thing for a scratchy throat, or a hang over.
(5)Wayne D.
Good food, fast service.
(4)Brian H.
Pho Tai may be hit and miss, but I'm not sure - every time I've gone there, it's been a miss. The pho was not horrible, but the quality of chicken has always been questionable at Pho Tai. Pieces of chicken have been fatty, grissle packed, and usually cut in an odd fashion (pieces still attached together by tendons). I've only had the Pho Ga (chicken pho), so I cannot speak for the other pho varities. I've also tried the spring rolls - like the chicken pho, these were not good. But whereas with the pho I could eat it, the veggie spring rolls were bad enough that I did not finish them. They tasted like they were deep fried in the same oil used for shrimp and seafood dishes; in addition, the oil tasted "old" - not sure how else to describe it. So, the veggie spring roll took on those flavors - old oil, with a strong seafood flavor. Not good. As an alternative, I would recommend Pho Vina, which is about a half-mile down the road. In particular, the chicken pho is great, portions are huge, and in particular I enjoy the salad wrap.
(2)dave m.
I can't believe I forgot to review this place! I have been going here for nearly four years....four hot and tasty years. They have a vat of pho ready for the serving at all times -- from order to serve is *always* less than 5 minutes. The flavor is always consistent, the prices just right.
(4)Rebecca R.
Dang! I'm 2 for 2 here. I was going to write a review of Vina Pho, nearby, but then realized that it would read exactly like the other reviews, nothing new. this Pho, however, is far more complex, spicy, flavorful and generous with the goodies than the forementioned. I had the #17 Pho, can't remember exactly what but it was basically the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink Pho. To go. I get back to work, and I've this huge paper bag full of sprouts, broth, noodles, lime, sauces, basil, leaves, meat - both cooked and, separately, raw, for my own cooking pleasure - mixed together, this was the best Pho I've ever had, and neck-and-neck with the Pho from my favorite place in HCMC. EDIT - Went back today for lunch. Different bowl, just as yum.
(5)Shirlene M.
Love this place and miss it like crazy--- I will never find another Pho place like this here in SF-- but oh well... Spring rolls are yummmmm and the fresh lemonade is yummmmmmm-ier... :) I MISS SEATTLE :(
(5)Amy B.
I grabbed some pho for take-out for lunch today. A nice cheap alternative to a TJ's sandwich or some other lunchtime something. My order was ready quickly and I was thanked a zillion times for my business. When I got back to my office and inspected my HUGE bag of goodies I was thrilled! A large Styrofoam container filled with hot hot hot broth, another container with noodles, onions, cilantro, spices, and meatballs, and a cute baggie filled with all my accoutrement. Very well put together! The meal was huge and filling - I'm an now warm enough and filled with energy to face the rest of the day at work.
(4)James T.
Ok, so I went there a few times and it was pretty good. Service sucked and the place is really dirty. I went once and had to get up to ask the girl a question and I saw them rinsing off purple basil that had already been served. I was shocked. Then as I go to sit down they finally bring me my soda which was in a can, They have a huge sign that says "Free Refills" but not for me. I asked the girl and she said there are no free refills. On top of that, they charged me $1.95 for a can of soda. I will never go back there again. Nasty
(1)Ani K. O.
This is my go to Pho place. It's fast and tasty. I'm not a fan of eating at the restaurant b/c to be honest, it's not that updated or comfortable. I also don't like the fact that when they bus the tables, they have a big ol' bucket where they dump the leftover pho broth. Kinda grosses me out. So do yourself a favor, call ahead and then swing by and grab it to go.
(3)Melissa Q.
This is my "go to Pho" place. They serve up a good honest bowl of yummy pho. Just that simple!
(4)crystal y.
This is one of those restaurants that serves its purpose. It's not the best Vietnamnese food I've had but the service is fast and the food is consistent. Since moving to Burien, this is my go-to takeout restaurant. I always order #32 with the spring roll, pork, and vermicelli noodles. They are always ready for me, I never have to wait much after I get there. For 6.99, I think it works for me.
(3)A D.
my family went to Pho Tai quite often until one day, at lunch, my father and i were seated in the back of the restaurant, near the cashier. i watched the waitresses as they handled money, cleaned the counter, bussed tables, and then made salad with their BARE HANDS, not even stopping to wash them. i looked up their records on the restaurant inspectors site and they had received many citations-in one visit, they had over 40. Pho Tai's food is delicious, but that does not make up for the staff's lack of hygiene.
(2)Jill J.
Talk about the rudest customer service imaginable. Did I catch this woman on a bad day? I wasn't acknowledged when I walked in. Then after a few minutes when I finally got the attention of the hostess, I asked if I could sit down at a booth and she didn't say a word, just glared at me. The place had maybe 5 customers so it wasn't busy. Then she tossed a menu at me 5 minutes later. This is not how you treat a customer. I will never come back here and I recommend trying Rose Pho down the street. Much cleaner and nicer staff.
(1)Sabrina D.
I actually come here often, I just forget to check in. Though it's not the BEST pho ever, it's still pretty good. I like the portions here cause they actually give you what you pay for. I've been to MANY Pho restaurants and here they give a good quantity of some quality stuff. Another downer is that whenever I go, they ALWAYS forget to make my bubble tea and I don't get it until i'm halfway done with my meal or after I finish.You never go out of that place smelling like you just went into a sauna of Pho.
(3)Sabrina F.
I've been here a couple times because its just a few blocks away from where I work and I'm surprised that not a lot of people have mentioned the bad service. Usually we are greeted but we never get checked up on the rest of the time. I would have given 4 stars if it wasn't for the last time I went recently. It was pretty busy so I didn't mind that no one greeted us but the younger boy that works there who was busing a table looked right at us and didn't even smile or say hello. Later on I noticed that when a family came in, he greeted them AND led them to a table whereas my boyfriend and I had to seat ourselves. Also, it shouldn't take more than 5 minutes just to get our menus. I noticed one of the guys glancing at us a few times but nothing else. When he finally gave us our menus, he asked us if we wanted to order already and we said we needed time. Talk about getting rushed... But he only gave us literally 20 seconds before coming back. Then when the lady served us our food we said thank you and she didn't say a word. But when she served the family behind us, she was all smiles and laughs. I understand that a bigger family would be more important than a young couple but we should still get at least decent service. And last but not least, this place is pretty dirty and unsanitary. My boyfriend picked up some chopsticks and there was a dried up piece of food on it.. Gross! I'm only giving 3 stars because of the good food.
(3)Shannon G.
Really very tasty. Always consistent... We have ha a number 5 everyday now for a week. Happy slurping
(4)J H.
This is the place to go for Pho. I have tried many different places, Seattle, Renton, Kent, but this location is still top ranked. Best PHO BROTH!!! Everything is good on the menu and the prices are very reasonable.
(4)Aj P.
Dirty, graffiti in men's room food is 2 star
(2)Nancy C.
They are very good in our books. The soup is packed with flavors, meat is ALWAYS tender amd even when the rare meat is the wrong cut; its still tender! This is definitely our place to go when we're in burien. The place is pretty big, they have regular tables and there are booths. So, why the 4 star instead of 5? Easily, because of the cleanliness. I know, I know, it can be a typical pho joint but im sure they can invest and redo the place so its less.. "dirty". Once or twice the soup spoons were dirty, to the whole point that I went through the whole stack thats on our table. Its obvious tables, chairs, spoons, chopsticks are worn out a bit. So hey, take some money and replace it. Itll make a difference.
(4)Erika A.
This place is mediocre to me. I used to come here a lot when I was younger and I would order their teriyaki chicken, but I stopped when my sister saw one of the waitstaff handle money and then make salad WITHOUT washing her hands. Gross. The restaurant probably changed owners by then, but even now, I have heard of health reports on this place. The can be pretty good and cheap, but that's pretty much the only good thing I can say about Pho Tai. The booths are pretty worn down and they are easy to shift around when you are sitting, which I think is a bad thing. Every time I'd go, I would accidentally bump my booth against the booth behind me. I don't think they do a good job on cleaning the tables. Even if the waiters would clean off the tables before sitting us, I could always feel a greasy sticky layer leftover. The sauce bottles on the tables would feel like there was grim left. Gross.. If you had better service and a cleaner environment, I suggest Vina Pho! It's nicer and the food is great!
(2)Kevin I Cant Delete My Profile T.
The best chicken pho, but I always end up with something else in my soup! Delicious tea, small portions...
(2)Jenny H.
This will be the last time I will come here. I work grave yards and seeing that they are open late, I thought I could get me something. The first I came, I was told they don't make rice plates because its too late, which I'm like ok understandable since its late but lame. Well went back tonight to get an order of spring rolls and wad told they don't have any cause is late and then when I asked what is there that I can get at this hour, guy says whatever on the menu. Really? That's a bunch of bull cause you just said no spring rolls and the time before that, no rice plate. Whatever. I'll spend my money somewhere else.
(1)Rome M.
My broth was very oily & my egg rolls were slightly burnt. It was a hot day so they left the door open welcoming flies. I ended up eating my pho while waving flies away from my egg rolls. Soup wasn't all that good, I usually finish my bowl but this was just unbearable. Will not be back here again.
(2)Anthony G.
My girlfriend and I picked up an order from Pho Tai a few days ago. I was skeptical after reading other reviews on Yelp, but I really wanted some Pho.... I ordered a chicken pho, my girlfriend had a tofu pho. They told us they were OUT OF VEGETABLES! Excuse me? How does a pho restaurant run out of vegetables? So all I had to eat was chicken, noodles, cilantro, and bean sprouts. No carrots, no celery, no broccoli, etc. etc. The chicken was terrible! It looked disgusting, and I was hesitant to put it in my mouth, but I was starving so reluctantly I ate it all... Mistake. The rest of the day I felt like I had a rock in my gut....and the next day, well...I won't tell you about that. The only good thing was the broth - pretty tasty. Unfortunately everything else was terrible. I will never go back.
(1)Ameet P.
I've been going to Pho Thai now pretty consistently for over 3 years now. Once I learned that the Chicken Pho was also in Chicken Broth, I was very happy! In fact, I probably went about 2-3 times a WEEK! Their chicken pho is both dark and white meat, which I think makes it more flavorful. The food is probably a 4 out of 5, but where they lack is their overall customer service and their CLEANLINESS of utensils and serving dishes. The Pho soup spoons and chopsticks are already at the table in a community serving bin, and MANY times I have found them to be not clean, or even still have food remnants on them. I am pretty sure that the holder in which the spoons and chopsticks sit are not cleaned regularly, but I say see for yourself. I also don't like the idea of kids and other people being able to just pick up the utensils and putting them back .. I think that is a definite germ violation. The Customer service is not the best. It's rare that you'll get another round of waters or refill, and as many times as most of my friends of I have gone, they never really care to remember how I order (which is pretty consistent every time ... I like to eat Pho the same way all the time) .. I remember complaining once to them about a hair in my Pho and thought they wouldn't charge me for the 2nd bowl they brought out (mind you this is the 3rd time they had seen me that week, and it was the same server each time), but they charged me... ugh! And lastly, EVERY time you go in there, you end up smelling like fried Vietnamese food because the circulation is so bad and the kitchen door is always open. It is a very good deal and as I said, the food is good, however, there are many Pho places that do the same if not better. In fact, if you want the SAME Pho and BETTER service you should check out Pho Liu off of Ambaum and 153rd. They just opened and the service, cleanliness, and food is 5 out of 5 to me.
(2)Dennis S.
I've eaten at this place many times (due to convenience - being in area and pho called my name) and I've never been remotely impressed by them. In fact, the last time I ate there I was really turned off. At my last try at Pho Tai in Burien, I ordered the pho tai (rare meat) and I was grossed out by the meat. It was super rare (I don't mind a little rare), was deep purple in color and it came out clumped together in one piece the size of a golf ball. I had to break the meat apart and soak it in the "not even that hot" broth in an attempt to cook it. I ended up not eating the meat because I didn't want to get sick. The bowl of pho looked like an unwanted step-child and a trip to Harborview Hospital waiting to happen. Talk about recycled meat. I was hungry and I managed to eat a very small amount of the pho noodles and broth and gulped down the Vietnamese ice coffee followed by some tea. I then paid the cashier and got the pho out of there. I don't mind franchise pho; pho is pho and if it's good I don't really care if it's corporate or moms and pops (although moms and pops places tend to be best), but this particular Pho Tai location was a disappointment that got progressively worse. Nasty, scary meat in my pho... Wtpho?!
(1)Nam N.
biased review... its pho that i'm in love with. pho tai is conveniently located across the street from my work place so i love that i can run over for a cure for a cold, a hang over, a craving, a headache... i swear pho is the truth! what i do like about pho tai is the consistency of the pho. always quick, always tastes the same. goodness. and for $6 a bowl not a bad price and a healthier alternative to teriyaki or fast food around the area.
(4)T M.
Number 15 with extra noodles yum! Wish they were everywhere I go...
(5)Shawna B.
I went here a few weeks ago after an interview, so it was about 11am. A different staff, but same atmosphere, however I was disappointed in my brisket pho. The broth was very greasy, & the brisket was of poor quality, very fatty & stringy. It also tasted like the tripe, so I think they used the same knife/shaver to cut the meat as they did the tripe, or maybe the same cutting board/surface area without a wipe down. Not a fan of tripe so I was a little bummed out. My extra order of brisket did not come in the same bowl, but in a smaller bowl off to the side with more broth in. That was okay but normally it is just extra brisket in my main bowl. Not a terrible experience but not their normal quality...I recently went in yesterday during the afternoon & it was back to business as usual. Great brisket pho, broth & brisket were delicious & not tripe-y tasting as before. Maybe go in the afternoon until the morning shift has their routine down? Still the best broth I've had yet!
(3)Colleen W.
Not only is this the best-priced pho in town, it's the fastest around. The servers hardly speak to you or ackowledge your existence but it comes out hot and fast. A little dirty decor, but fast. Did I mention they're fast?
(3)Jolorene G.
Way before the yelp check in craze began, this place has been the go to spot for my family and close church buddies. The food for the most part has always been consistent. The service is prompt especially if you order soup, that is usually the quickest to come out. Amongst my circle of friends this place is best known as "stinky pho". We came up with that name after countless number of visits we notice the aroma of the pho tends to stick to our clothes and follow us home. Haha, I kid you not! But as we say, "the stinkier, the better" All in good humor of course. ;) Recommendations: For starters, you should order a Fresh spring roll.. But if you come here late or a few hours before closing chances are they'll already be sold out. One of the popular items off the menu. #17 is top choice for pho. (Considered as the special with everything incld. steak, brisket, flank, tripe and tendon) If you want something on the lighter side, #25 vermicelli rice noodle bowl. (sometimes I sub. the pork for chicken)
(4)Kozby E.
This Family restaurant is the best in Burien if you need to eat quality food in a good price. You must stop by here for sure.
(5)Brian P.
The pho here is good.nice tasting broth and plenty of ingredients. However, the teriyaki is way overcooked and dry. Avoid it. Stick with the soup and the gyoza they are the standouts. The place is a little dingy and could use a makeover.
(3)Yvonne D.
There's a bunch of pho tai around this one area I live, but this one is the best one out of all of them. The pho here's not bad, used to have a lot more meat though, lately the portion got cut back, bad economy? anyway it's good, but everytime I eat here I get a headache, maybe there's too much MSG? anyway if you're in the area and don't care about MSG, you can check this place out. P.S. the bean dessert's awesome here! =]
(3)Hong C.
Came here for lunch and service was horrible. No one greeted us when we entered and they weren't even busy. So we sat at a table and a minute later a waitress just gave us the menus without saying anything nor did she give us water. Then we waited for literally 5 minutes for someone to come take our order when there were workers just mingling with each other behind the cashier counter. And the lady who took our order was really moody towards us even though she was just joking around a second ago. At this point, still no water was given to us. I've been to their Bellevue location and the workers there were less lazy and more attentive towards the customers. I'm only giving them 3 stars because their pho ga was not that bad compared to other places.
(3)Teresita C.
Searching for a place to eat in Burien on a Sunday, is not unlike looking for a four-leaf clover-you'll be looking a LONG time. And then thanks to my Yelp app, we found Pho Tai. What a great find in an otherwise dump of a strip mall. The place was bustling when we arrived on Sunday night, families, couples and a few solos spread here and there. The host was darling, and found us a spot and brought us water fairly quickly. We ordered and waited for a bit, but it's understandable due to the high volume and brisk pick-up business. It's too hot for pho, so my partner and I got the salad bowls, both as good as any we buy in Ballard, and much less, $-wise. The tofu bowl wasn't on the menu but they made it for me, and it was filling, fresh and a salve on a hot night. Our friend got the chicken teriyaki, which was a decent portion size but didn't look out of the ordinary for the dish. I also ordered a passion fruit smoothie which was DIVINE, and my beau ended up stealing it, no surprises there.
(4)Monica C.
The last time I came here was 10 years ago and for some weird reason I decided to come back here instead of getting a gyro, my was that a huge mistake. 10 years ago, my family member was extremely upset with his pho as it was pretty mediocre and the meats came out completely overcooked and not rare. At that time, my palette wasn't as refined as they were now but jeez coming back, I totally can understand why he was so upset and complained to the staff. My usual pho place hasn't been consistent lately so I'm on the prowl to find a new spot. This is not going to be it, I'm not sure it'll ever slide into anything past number 3728137 on my list. Our table had no utensils, no napkins. My husband had to collect these items himself and we felt rushed. I don't understand what was up with not having any utensils or napkins on the table, is it to prevent people from stealing chopsticks??? One second after the menu was dropped in front of us, we were asked what we wanted. I have a problem with that considering I didn't even open my menu yet. Heck you could be serving Rocky Mountain oysters, I don't know what your offerings are! -.- standard pho, rice plates and boba understandably, but I just needed a quick minute and honesty, I was just like screw it, I just want a combo and didn't even have time to order a smoothie before the menu got picked up. THANKSSSSSS. I just went for a large combo because I was super hungry. I normally would get a small but this was a situation in which I was so glad I got a large because it's comparable to another pho place's small. The bowl came out underwhelming, the portion is painfully small, not a lot of noodles and the meat portion was mediocre. The meats were soooooo thin I could read a newspaper through it and the slices were just unbelievably tiny. Everything seemed like they were trying to stretch it beyond capacity, and our bowls which were suppose to be the combination bowl barely had anything. Not good, I'm use to noodles and meat piled high. I can't imagine how small, a small is... probably equivalent to a kid's sized pho. The broth didn't have much flavor, it tasted watered down so this wasn't a saving grace. Pho is supposed to be cooked down for hours, I didn't get that homey all-day rich broth taste. It tasted like bland beef boullion cubes, and for $16 for two bowls... MEH. It was just a lost cause and after squirting in a ton of hoisin, siracha and even salt and pepper, I decided to just finish the contents and not slurp the soup. Which is sad because I loveeeeeee pho broth but this was a complete let down for me. Save your money and satisfy your pho cravings elsewhere. The pho isn't very good and customer service could use some work. Despite it being fairly busy with people coming in and out, the amount of foot traffic doesn't really live up to what you're actually getting.
(1)Diana V.
I usually come here for pho when I'm in town but I feel like there's a lot of msg. I always get pho tai Bo vien which is rare steak and beef balls. The prices are about the same as other places. I remember the spring rolls being really good here but I haven't tried it the last few times I've been here.
(4)Brenda H.
Went here because I didn't feel like driving across town to my usual place, and surprisingly, wasn't disappointed! Food: I ordered a regular brisket pho, and a mango bubble tea. The pho was oily, but very tasty and super hot. The ingredients were fresh, and the $6-7 pho was plenty. More than plenty. The only con was with the bubble tea... It was plenty yummy, but the pearls seemed like they were already broken/breaking down. Just a peeve. Very fast service. Like 5 minutes total fast for takeout. Will come again!
(4)Tony S.
Do not waste your money, there are way too many Pho restaurants around to spend your money here and this is why. This used to be our favorite Pho place that we started coming to almost 10 years ago. We would eat here at least once a month. For the last 3 years or so, the food has gotten progressively worse, the service continues to disappoint and the portions are much smaller than they used to be and smaller then other local competitors. What is a large bowl today was a small bowl last year and the small bowl now is what a kids meal used to be and the kids meal is now made for a new born versus a toddler or kid. I normally do not post negative reviews, but due to our history with this place and the fact that it continues to digress not progress I figured everyone should know not to waste their money. It is so disappointing to know this used to be our favorite place and now I would drive 20 miles to avoid this place.
(1)Johnny Z.
Average pho place. This place feels a bit crowded with a large amount of seating but the restrooms are tiny. It's kinda hard to mess up pho but every time I come here there are pieces of meats in my bowl that just don't quite cook fully. It'll help if the soup was warmer. My favorite appetizer when eating pho are the shrimp and pork spring rolls. The ones here are really small :( Overall the food was average, but good. Service was quick.
(3)Delilah R.
One star for quick to go orders, always ready when I get there. Otherwise, the PHO itself is standard. I only get the chicken pho (i've tried other stuff but this is my usual). Here, the chicken pho has gristle and too many chewy parts. I'm super sick right now so I buckled down, added some hot a lot of hot sauce and sipped the broth when I got it home. There were at least 7 tables of people in at 6p the other night. It's freezing balls outside though so who knows, maybe people are just desperate to feel warm on the inside. I was! Won't be coming here again. Broth is bland, a large is smaller then what I would expect a medium to be and our basil and cilantro were slimy/browning. That's nasty.
(1)Fin W.
This is our go to place when we have a craving for Pho. My wife is vietnamese, and she says this place has the most authentic pho of all the places we've been to when we set out on our quest to find authentic pho (trust me, we've been to a LOT of pho places). The prices are low, the portions are good, and the broth is great! It's flavorful without being overwhelming, and with fatty flank it's awesome. The only reason for the 4 star rating is like a lot of others have said, cleanliness. They have been working on it, and it's been getting better, but it's not at the level of the SouthCenter Pho Tai, which is one of the cleaner pho places I've been to. Nevertheless, we still end up here every week or so for our Pho fix!
(4)Diana T.
I am definitely spoiled with the Pho in California! I came here around 11:30pm at night and this place serves Pho and other rice/noodle dishes! Since it was almost closing, they only served Pho and not the other dishes. I ordered the Pho Ga and the pho was lacking in flavor. Nothing special about this pho. Chicken was dry and it was just eh. Not much to say.
(2)Shullina E.
I don't even know why I came here, maybe because it's the only one that's open past 10 and all the other pho places are closed. Staff doesn't look friendly and not that attentive, order was taken wrong, never repeated the order back, and server who took the order seemed to avoid us after we said it was the wrong order. As for the pho, the broth taste plain that I had to add more sauces for flavor.
(1)Wen W.
This is a decent Vietnamese restaurant in burien right off the freeway. Beware of the rush hour lunch/dinner service because they were so slow!!! Pho (beef soup) is actually pretty good for restaurant standard and com tam (broken rice with pork chop, shredded pork meat, egg, and salad) is okay. However, the rice over here is more like regular jasmine rice and not broken rice. But what is nice is they let you accompany the rice order with a bowl of soup. If you order com tam to go, there won't be a side soup addition.
(3)John A.
Came in with the girlfriend around 9:00 PM. There were probably 3 small table of 2's plus a large table of 5 occupied. So why were there so many un-bus tables? I counted 3 tables that had dishes stacked and the that's just from walking in. I can only imagine further inside. They have a good variety of Vietnamese dishes. We opted to get the Pho as it was freezing outside. It came fairly quick and the waitress was nice. The portions, to me, was decent compared to what other reviews have mentioned. Large was worth it, lots of noodles and meat. The bean sprouts and basil were fresh considering the time we went. However, my girlfriend asked for the beef slices to be put on the side instead of inside the bowl. It wasn't a big deal but the place wasn't crowded to begin with, least they can do is get the order correct. Ended up getting an extra order of beef slices on the side. Two large Pho ended up costing us 20$ not including tip. Maybe I'll drop by again when I'm near the area at 9 pm and starving.
(2)Belle G.
I honestly just come here for the sandwiches, iced coffee and spring rolls. Service sucks! They look at you when you come in and have a smirk on their face... Which kills my mood everytime
(2)Kamariah R.
Let me start off by saying that Pho Tai itself is NOT a bad franchise by any means. I've had great experiences with the Southcenter location and that is probably the only location I will visit from here on out. My beef with this place (pun very much intended) is mainly cleanliness. The food doesn't taste too bad, but I've had several experiences where I was so off-put by the state of the restaurant that I wanted to walk out. Immediately upon entering it is common to see at least 2-3 unbussed tables, and they take their sweet time cleaning them up too, which limits seating options and adds an unpleasant feel to the restaurant. But that isn't the worst part. I once got sat down right by the kitchen door. The curtains were open so I was able to see into the kitchen. Not only was it very dirty and over crowded, but there was a huge tub of the thin cut steak used for pho sitting on the ground. My friend and I were there for about an hour before it was moved, all the while the staff were laughing and joking around walking past it several times. Who knows how long it had been sitting there before we arrived? That is disgusting and very dangerous. Another time, my boyfriend ordered the beef carrot stew and found a lymph node in a piece of the stew meat. This is indicative of poorly inspected and probably unclean meats. Also, their pho broth has the tendency to be murky which is a sign of unclean meat being used in the soup. I wouldn't touch their food with a ten foot pole let alone a chopstick. I recommend trying one of Pho Tai's other locations. The southcenter location is clean and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Eat here at your own risk. They need a serious wake up call if they think these conditions are clean enough.
(1)Trang T.
This place had always been decent, their customer service isn't that great but since my family was craving some pho, I caved and went with them. I soon regret my decision, and here's the reason why. I ordered my pho and to my dismay, I found a disgusting bug attached to my bowl. I called the waitress to show her the bug, she looked at it and left. Without any action taken to correct the nasty bug infestation issue they have, the fact that they didn't even do anything to show they are apologetic that there was a bug attached to my bowl of pho. Please don't EVER eat here if you value your health & would like to go home from a meal without having some kind of stomach problem or food poisoning. I also attached the picture of the bug I found if you want to go over the pictures.
(1)Cindy H.
I come to Pho Tai every once in awhile and the pho was always just average and the service was always alright. This time as I finished my pho and got up to pay I saw cockroaches on the floor and pointed them out to my friend, the cashier and server not knowing that I was Vietnamese "the fat girl saw the roaches what do I do?" And kept insulting my friend and I. ONE. Pho Tai has cockroaches. TWO. Don't insult someone not knowing is they can understand you or not.
(2)Kimberly W.
This is our favorite Pho place in the Burien/White Center area. The meat and broth are really tasty. Also, the service has always been relaxed and good. Restaurant was clean and fairly large.
(5)Leilani A.
Average pho place. Horrible spring rolls. I once ordered it to go and they wrapped each spring roll individually in plastic wrap! One it was hard to see it and I ate the plastic first, two it was hard to get off, three they were so small for the price and not very tasty.
(2)Philicia S.
This place is okay. Really small selection of menu items, I ordered a Small Shrimp Noodle bowl and a kids teriyaki chicken with drink. There was barely any shrimp at least not enough to account for how much noodles there were. The broth was delicious though and noodles were perfect. I used all the veggies and mint they gave me because I wanted to be more full! =) My sons teriyaki chicken was yummy, it came with a shredded cabbage salad and a mayo dressing. Very yummy and a drink for only $5.45 I believe. The restaurant itself is worn out and the paint on the tables are coming off, their door to the kitchen entrance near the restroom was open and I noticed meat sitting out in containers before I got in and still there after I finished. So not sure if that is sanitary or safe practice of raw food items. But they could do better on the cleanliness and safe food handling. Thats why I give this place 2 stars. The Pros would be the prices and the tastiness of the food. But I didn't feel comfortable eating on a sticky worn out table where the wood is cracking and bacteria is likely stuck in the wood on the surface. But I am sure I will come back again. The prices are awesome =D
(2)Stephen F.
Mediocre pho at best. Ingredients were not very fresh and the broth was under seasoned and not flavorful. This is one of those mall joints that is all about quantity over quality. Sad, cuz I really wanted a rich bowl of pho.
(2)Gretchen F.
I was impressed by the pho and the customer service. I ordered the classic Pho Tai which is beef pho and was impressed with the flavors, quantity and accoutrements. The spicy sauce could be a tad more impressive. The shrimp rolls were also good and so was the bubble tea. I surprisingly like the fresh avocado one. Yum and not too sweet. Overall impressed for a to go order. The ambiance was quite lacking so I'm not sure I'd want to hang there to eat in house
(4)Alice R.
I was in Burien for work and was craving a nice hot bowl of Pho. Granted, I was way past hungry and would have eaten anything at that point. I pulled into a big strip mall where the Safeway is off 1st Ave. I spotted the Pho Tai and thought I'd try it out. I did a quick search on yelp and found it had decent reviews. The service was very fast and efficient so I had my nice steaming hot bowl of pho in no time. I was able to satisfy my craving and have a full tummy. I would go again in a pinch. Now, here are some things to note: I went during a super high turnover lunch rush so there were a bunch of tables that had yet to be cleared. When I walked in, the server motioned for me to pick any table. Of course, I think she meant any table that was clear and cleaned. There were half a dozen that were clear so it wasn't a problem finding a place to sit, but yeah, if you're going to freak out about seeing all those dishes on tables than this may not be the place for you. Or you may not want to go in there between 11am - 1pm. It seemed like a very popular place though. Everyone from all the different work sites, construction sites, area businesses, seemed to be in there having lunch and enjoying their food. If you're looking for someplace that is nicer and more pleasant place to eat, I would drive a mile or two south to Rose Pho in Normandy Park. Otherwise, Pho Tai was just fine for quick lunch.
(3)Phyllis R.
Busy place but not that great of food, staff are friendly. Little slow on service. Lots of parking
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