Pho So 1
1207 S Jackson St,Ste 107, Seattle, WA, 98144
Pho So 1 Menu
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Address :
1207 S Jackson St,Ste 107
Seattle, WA, 98144 - Phone (206) 860-2824
- Website https://phoso1seattle.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Garage, Street, 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 : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Jason N.
I'd come for the bun bo hue but the pho is still good. Parking is a hastle. Got ti love it
(5)Sarah M.
The spring roll was no good. the wrap was hard, and chewy in a bad way. The pho on the other hand, was great. the meat was tender, including tendon, and the broth was nice. I wish it came out piping hot though! *side note: they played Vietnamese radio the whole time, which was a little distracting. They did turn down the volume a little after we were seated.
(4)Thuy D.
Came here with my family for the first time and was so excited because I heard so much about the Bun Bo Hue here. Did it live up to the expectation? unfortunately not. The broth was barely lukewarm, a huge no no for me when I order noodle soup. The flavor are there although it was leaning on being a bit too sweet. Also, I did not detect any spiciness at all and there wasn't any satay on the table either so I guess you have to ask them for it. The veggie plate was kinda depressing, with a lot of purple cabbage and a few strings of banana blossom. Service was typical for a Vietnamese restaurant.
(3)Chryst'l S.
Pho So 1 is open at a reasonable time in the morning to nurse a gnarly hangover, which I appreciate. The staff and owners are very kind, patient and welcoming. However, they're a bit slow to refilling glasses of water, which can be a pain if you're trying to rehydrate while eating your pho (believe me, it happens). Overall the food quality is fresh and delicious. I typically order shrimp spring rolls and a bowl of pho. The food comes out fairly quickly, so if you're looking to satisfy your pho/Vietnamese food craving in a pinch, this is a great place to go. Give it a try if you ever find yourself in Central or International District!
(3)Alban N.
Best Bun Bo Bue I've ever had. Any day that I'm feeling under the weather, I head to Pho So for a nice big bowl of Bun Bo Hue. It always makes me feel great afterwards and wards off any under the weather-ness that I might be feeling. Prices are good and they do deliver with BiteSquad which is nice. Service has always been prompt and the pho is not bad either. I wish parking was better but really, that's not something they can control.
(5)Heidi M.
Great Pho! Located in a strip mall in the international district. Nothing fancy in regards to the interior. Great eggs rolls and tea. Love their pho broth. Its excellent!! Lots of fresh vegetables and the limes were juicy and large slices. Service average. Prices are average, we paid $24 (before tip) for 2 large bowls of Pho and 1 order egg rolls. Overall: a great & belly filling experience
(4)Mike S.
I've enjoyed food from most Vietnamese restaurants in the Seattle area. I ordered a standard pho tai chin. What I got was wads of tai, all wrapped together in a couple bunches, and no chin, very sad. I was not impressed at all! G.F. got the Bun bo Hue, said it was pretty good. I doubt we will return.
(2)Nancy C.
So hubby and I went in around 10 and he got a small pho dac biet as I got the bun mang vit. The duck noodle soup was off tasting. The bamboo shoot was sour tasting and that caused the soup to taste funny too. The duck was dry so I barely got any meat out of it. It was ok, they've had better moments. Now I'm extremely thirsty.. Idk if I'd want to go back anytime soon..
(3)Katie L.
The food here is so good but sadly their service makes me not want to come back. server would always forget one order of soup, drinks, or sometimes never refills our water.. Really disappointed since I am a server myself.
(2)Tan Lo S.
Um....I used to adore this place. But lately every time I come here, they always have some bad service or something awkward happens. Sad because I really like their food especially their pho and BBH. Recently, I came and ate. When it was time to pay, they all of a sudden they charged me $2 more for my pho and $1 more for my spring rolls. I was perplexed and asked why my food was charged SO much when it wasn't the same on the menu. He said they "change prices without notice." Wtf! You've got to be kidding me. More recent-I come and order their rice combo (com dac biet) which comes with pork skin, egg cake, shrimp cake, pork chop, egg, salad, and the red meatball loaf. I love that they give u variety (well it's $10 so there better be variety). But I order and the server says, "That's too much food for you." I look at him like "huh?" & again he insists it's too much food. I'm soo confused. I look at him and tell him I'll take it to go then if it's too much food and I don't finish. He says okay and we finish ordering. Awkward. Like he just stared at me and I was so caught off guard. The service makes me angry. Why does it take like 5-10 minutes for a table to get menus and a 1 minute time period to order and look at the menu? Like do you think I am ready after looking at the 4 page menu for 1 minute? I once walked out because they never gave us menus after seating us. And it's getting worse time and time again. Seriously? The food is not worth the headache. The food is a solid 4-5/5. Consistent and good quality Viet cuisine. But the service trumps this restaurant. I'm tired of walking out or being neglected when it comes to getting a drink or a menu or even to pay! It's ridiculous. Sorry Pho So 1- you have good food but your service makes me never want to return ever again. I'll probably go to my other Viet faves from now on, sadly.
(2)Paul Q.
Food: I ordered the large rare beef pho. It was just okay at best. The noodles were clumped together and the they were very skimpy on the meat even for a large order. The meat was not as tender as the other pho places I have tried. Broth was pretty good. Overall, not a very memorable pho for me. Also tried the grilled pork and shrimp vermicelli dish. The sauce for the dish was actually pretty good. The pork was flavorful too, shrimps were okay. I like this better than the pho. Service was okay. Not as bad as what I read in the other reviews. It was just weird that the server brought the vermicelli dish and took another 3 minutes to bring the sauce and that was already with prompting from us to remind him to bring the sauce. I would say price was average. I have had cheaper pho, which tasted better. I have also had vermicelli dish that was cheaper and tastier. So I would say for the taste, a tad pricey. With the amount of choices for Vietnamese places in the area, this place will probably not make the top of my list for to-go-back.
(3)Peter C.
Pho So 1 is where it all started for me, this was were all my foodie adventures began. Ever Since I was a Phat Lil Azn Boi, my Gma use to bring me here every other day to eat bowls of Pho. This is on my My Chautime Top 10 Places to Eat in Seattle!!! This place has a very special place in my heart, because every time I walk in this complex it brings me back to when I was 4 years old. Holding my Gmas Hand and other hand holding onto a box of HeRro Panda Strawberry and Yan Yans Strawberry. While walking towards the door each time the scent all though a little bit different due to new ownership, still is ehhh close enough to the Beef Noodle Soup that powered this Phat Lil Panda since a baby. Here you will find my Favorite Pho and Bun Bo Hue in the Entire World as of Right Now and Probably Till Infinity and Beyond like BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!!! This isn't a "Toy Story" either anymore like Disney when I was a Kid, it's a Pho Rieu Fact Yo!!! Y.O.R.O., sorry I meant Y.O.L.O!!! Food: Pho- The Pho here is UnPhoGettaBo, PhoNomenal, and PhoTastic! The Broth is the Blueprint Base of how a Pho Starts off. Here you have a Broth with Beefy Rich Flavor, Filled with a Spectrum of Complex Notes and Layers of Flavors, has a Darker Color than that watered down Pho you might be use to, has a good amount of Phat to it for that authenticity, and a Lil Bit of Sweet Pho my Toof because of that Brown Sugar. While writing this I remember my Grandma telling me as a Kid the Tales of this Broth. In order to make this you need 888 Imperial Ox Tails, 666 Ribeyes, 3 NIne Tail Foxes, Two Burning Phoenix, and One Sophisticated Tran DyNasty Dragon from the 13th or 14thCentury. Noodles are as Silky as the Nguyen Dynasty Silk, Long and Uncut for Greater Years in Life, and Perfectly cooked. My Grandma taught me the Greatest Foodie Etiquette ever always eat your Meat BloODy and Rare. This is making so much sense why I am addicted to Ribeyes. None the Less, the meat here is A+ Top Notch Honor Student Worthy. Here is another tip I learned as a Kid "A bowl of Greatness doesn't need anything than what is in the Bowl." That means no Sriracha, Hoisin, Plum Sauce, or Veggies. Maybe this the reason I have never eaten Veggies my Whole Entire Life and had a diet of Meats and Sweets :0:0:0 I always to O.G. when ordering too Pho Dac Biet is my number 1 to go to! Bun Bo Hue- Grandma taught me since I was 4 Tom Ramen is for the "Punk Itch." I think she meant to put the letter "B" in front of the word Itch. Broken EnEgerRich (ENGLISH) whateves I UNDaStand MeOw. Bun Bo Hue is a Spicy Beef Noodle Soup with round Noodles and has Pretty, But Not so Pretty much every thing Nose to Tail a Pig has in it! This is a dish that wasn't a part of my life as a Rittle Boi from the Original Pho So 1. "Oh Nawww Oh Nawww" - The Weeknd. This that New School New Ownership Best BBH Eva "EVER EVER" - Outcast Dish. After all, I do like The New Money Benjamins more than the Old Money Benjamins because Diddy or was it Puff Daddy taught me, "It's all About the Benjamins Baby." Drake is trippin though about "No New Friends" because the New Hundred Dolla Bills be Shining with that Hologram like 2pac from Cochella 2013!! This soup is Fire, Fire from Ashes of the Legendary Burning Vietnamese Phoenix Phuong (The Male one not the Female one Hoang) because that's whats in the Broth. Right away you notice these Mythical and Magical Bloody Red Hues in the Beefy Rich Broth. They are Mesmerizing and Hypnotizing to the Eyes like seeing the Legendary Fox with the 9 Tails or something in the Modern World like the Tiffany & CO. Blue!!!! The taste of the Broth is EGGStreamLy Addicting it's Litterally the Best BBH Broth I have ever tasted in my Rife, otherwise my last Chau as it Chautime. If My Homie "Anthony Bourdain" came back to revisit me in Seattle I would have to take him here to taste this Dish and he would Concur. Spoonful after spoonful, the Broth Invites you in a Little Sweet, FlavorPho Beefyness, but Bites you with that Spiciness Satay Karate Chop to keep you coming back for more. The Noodles are very well cooked. The meat is everything good but YouDontwanaKnow what it is I call it Mystery Meat. If you really wanna know its Piggy Feet, Pork Roll, Pork Blood Ice Cubes, Tendons, Sliced Cow, and other MeatTastic Treats!!! To make it the Meats as Pretty as the Victoria Secret Models walking down that runway I sprinkle some Banana Blossoms to make the dish shine bright like a diamond!! Drank- Get that Thai Ice Tea for a Creamy Liquid Dessert to wash it all down!!!
(5)Mytoan N.
They have the best bun bo hue I've eaten in Seattle! Hands down!
(5)Chelsea J.
I really like this pho spot. I come every couple weeks. The service is friendly and the pho and rice dishes are really good. I like the spicy lemongrass chicken and rice dish and the vermicelli bowl. Tea comes with any meal. Prices are very reasonable. If I get a rice dish I almost always have leftovers. The decor is quite nice. It's a step above most of the pho places I've been to.
(4)Kim D.
I use to come here with my grandpa almost everyday when I was a child! I wish I wrote reviews to remember how it tasted!! It surely isn't the same... New ownership and new everything. FOOD: I had the chicken pho and nem nuong spring rolls. The soup was bland. It seemed water down.... HOW SAD =( I'll just stick to my momma's pho. I was hoping for the better but it was a disappointment. The spring rolls were even worst. The "crunchy" fried egg roll wrapper inside the roll was definitely not crunchy by any means. It was soft, mostly chewy. Made the whole roll fall apart. Never had something fried turn soft and chewy like that before and definitely never have witness such thing... How can you mess up frying wrapped egg roll wrapper... who knows. Also, I've been here for their bun bo hue before, mediocre. Nothing worth mentioning. SERVICE: It was attentive. Came over a couple times to ask if we were ready to order and once we ordered things changed. Our waitress did not come back.... maybe once? We had to pay at the register. PRESENTATION: Meh. LOCATION: In a strip mall on South Jackson Street. Parking looks limited by I believe you can park underground which there is an entrance in the small lot. WOULD I COME BACK: Not willingly. There are other restaurants in the International District to try! ADVICE: Don't get the nem nuong spring rolls! Any soup is bland so be forewarn. Also, look over your check before you pay! I think they over charged me but I was outta there before I realized it..
(2)Mya N.
I decided to come here because Ken L. checks-in at least once a week. And I wanted to see what the big deal was with their Bun Bo Hue. Parking on the main level is basically non-existent because its always full. But there is a free large underground parking lot. The restaurant was fairly small and dimly lit. We came during lunch and it was not too busy and we didn't have to wait. Bun Bo Hue: Had good strong flavor. Spicy but not burn your mouth spicy, maybe some heartburn. I thought there was a little too much lemon grass. The noodles were good, the blood cake was fine, and the pork knuckle was tender enough. Overall it was pretty solid. Not the best I have ever had. Pho: My hubs ordered the beef pho and he didn't look like he was enjoying it and didn't finish it either. Everything was not to shabby and it might be a little while before we come back.
(3)J M.
Favorite pho in Seattle, and I've been to all the widely reviewed spots. Its not a convenient location to walk to, but their parking lot is never full so driving there is quite nice actually. The broth is rich and delicious. The noodles are always cooked to perfection.
(5)Kristin W.
Okay, I have to upgrade their rating to 5 stars because they have the best beef broth that I've tasted so far. I'm no expert, but I've been eating pho three days a week for the past couple of months I swear, so I have a pretty good idea now. I don't have to put any hoisin sauce in their broth because the beef broth is soooo flavorful already. It's dark and has so many herbs and onions floating around in there. I had the pho tai today and I wanted to swim in the broth. I can eat this pho everyday!
(5)Huong N.
3.5/5. I liked my pho dac biet. My friend gave it a 3/5. He had pho too. The pho tasted like there was msg in it. But wasn't bad. Good customer service. Clean restaurant. I would bring my parents here next time to try other brothy dishes.
(3)Bill B.
Unbelievably bad experience. The food was ok (even called good by my non-English speaking Vietnamese relatives) but the service was so ridiculously bad to the point of comical, that it literally made it difficult to eat. First impression was good, we had a young, bi-lingual waiter who spoke to me and my Vietnamese mother in law with equal skill, was courteous and had a sense of humor. Once our order was taken, the middle aged guy in the cap took over, and the train wreck began. Brought tea, but couldn't bring water, napkins, or plates without being asked repeatedly (at least six times). Our coffee and spring role order was never filled, even after asking repeatedly. He did not bring plates with our appetizers. He did not bring the basil and sprouts for the pho till half way through the meal. My wife was getting visibly upset with him, and he still couldn't pick it up, even though he obviously knew he was messing up. We finally just gave up and started laughing about it (the comical part I mentioned earlier).The place was not that busy, so we thought this guy was either stoned, dense, or emotionally challenged, or maybe he'd never worked in a restaurant before and didn't want to. It might have been the former since there was a medical marijuana dispensary next door, another charming feature, as people double parked and delayed our departure by about 15 minutes. Regardless, this guy was hands down the worst host/server I have ever seen. There were several Vietnamese speaking people it the place, and obviously many people like the food. It sounds like they have changed ownership since they were still waiting for their liquor license. I rarely write reviews, but because this place had such I high ratings I wanted to warn customers (and ownership) - if a guy in a cap greets you, go elsewhere!!!
(2)Andrienne P.
My favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle. The service is great! They won't bother you too much but when you need something they are more than happy to help you out. If you get Dong, you're definitely going to have a good experience - he'll help you and also probably make you laugh. (Thanks for the guava candy!) In addition to the staff, the broth is definitely another great thing about this place. It is the perfect balance of salty and savory and I can't stop thinking about it. While the pho is tasty, I recommend to try one of the many variations of bun bo hue they have. And if you still have room (and even if you don't), try one of their avocado smoothies. The only thing I would change about Pho So 1 is the hours because all I ever want at midnight is that perfect broth!!
(5)Johnny L.
would have gotten a '5'!!! if they knew the basic principle of "rare" meat.. some morning pho w/ the wife @ ID 2 start the day.. I was able 2 pass on my beloved Pho Bac 2 come try this place again since the last time we came, I only remembered they had a good broth the place looked renovated since the last time we came the server came n we sat ourselves, she spoke good English, but when we ordered, she did not have a clue on wat flank meat was..! n they have flank on their menu! we swore that last time, they had more meats on their menu like oxtail n a whole bunch of stuff that u won't find as meats in typical "pho" restaurant anyways, I ordered their pho tai chin, large n my wife had a pho tai something? N we shared nem nuong spring rolls the nem nuong spring rolls came n we had fish sauce w/ it; it was really fresh, the nem was really good like ham in a way, don't know how 2 describe it in English.. fish sauce was good (don't know if they were trying 2 b like a fine dining restaurant), but it took a little 4 the pho 2 come, I mean we had 2 finish our app(etizer) first n then the pho came.. same as last time, the broth was good, the noodles needed 2 b cook, so I cooked them 4 a little in my broth, the brisket was thin n fatty, really good, but when u indicate on ur menu that u have RARE STEAK n when it comes 2 our table FULLY COOKED.. WAT THE HELL!! I wasn't as upset as my wife, since I prefer brisket over rare steak, but if I have rare steak, I don't want it 2 b fully cooked, when it comes 2 my table! I want 2 cook it myself.. it's like false advertising! even though saying that, the pho was good, but I would only do str8 brisket next time, Pho So 1, u got lucky that u have a 4 star rating out of me, but my wife n 4 the real "rare" steak lovers, WATCH OUT!
(4)Ken L.
I have to update and bring my rating back up to 4 stars. -Bun Bo Hue - immediately apparent are the deep red hues of the broth and variety of meat toppings true to its popularity. Soft slices of beef, a pork foot, combined with a plate of banana blossom, a lime, and mint herb veggies did not disappoint. The broth is more on the "sweet" side, and that adds to the overall spiciness. Be sure to ask for and add the Satay chili to get that kick. No where else has the right combination for Bun Bo Hue Dac Biet- 1) pork foot 2) sliced pork roll 3) tendons 4) pork blood 5) beef slices 6) sweet broth 7) excellent satay chili infused with lemongrass and 8) all the right veggies like mint, banana blossoms, cabbage, bean sprouts, etc. -Bun Mang Vit - nice sized bowl of bamboo and noodle soup accompanied by side plate of cut duck pieces placed on top of a shredded cabbage mint salad. Oh my goodness gracious, the broth is plain outstanding as the depth of rich savory stock needs exactly NO addition of any spices. I taste the goodness of the bamboo strips and they know how to make ginger fish sauce! -Pho Ga - Pho here is extraordinary, the broth base and the tender chicken catapults its way up to one of the best I have had in Seattle. Back up to 4 stars, see you there this weekend.
(4)Clint W.
day off, out running errands. brr outside. pho? good idea. lots of folks recommended this place and i peeked....opens early in the morning! done. i'm there. i saunter in and seat my hiney. rolls and pho. goodness in the morning. staff is friendly and food pops out quickly. the broth...pretty tasty, with layers of flavor. mongo sized rolls. lots of goodness in the pho and it's a large portion. hells, i'll be back. its clean and the staff was concerned if i liked what i ordered. i'm in.
(4)Tien N.
Lost a star for the few times they didn't get my to-go order right for the Bun Bo Hue! (Missing the noodles, put bean sprouts in it, etc). But my family and I are OBSESSED WITH BUN BO HUE here! They know us when we come in..... (Not sure if that's a good thing lol) I'm not lying it's so bomb that I've never even had their pho and it's called Pho So 1. Their "hu tieu my tho" is good too. Highly recommend either or. Friendly service and good food? Hard to beat for a soupy Vietnamese entree.
(4)A J.
Every time I come here, I'm so happy! I used to come super early, at 7am some mornings, when I was actually on my way to sleep and needed some comfort food....the broth is spot on, good veggies on the side. Try the bone marrow! Yummmmm!
(5)Vivian H.
3.5 stars. I've been spoiled with very, very good bun bo hue. Before I moved from San Francisco, I made frequent trips to San Jose, the mecca of amazing Vietnamese food, and is home to a very well known bun bo hue restaurant. There was no reason to go anywhere else for bun bo hue if you lived 45 mins from San Jose. If you can't make the trip, you wait until you can. Since I associated bun bo hue with San Jose, I had not had it since I moved to Seattle. I started craving it, and I waited until I could make it to Pho So 1 (which is a little tough, since they close at 8pm). Finally, I made it. Of course the bf had to come, because he LOVES bun bo hue. Service was quick and minimal, as expected. The bowl came out piping hot, and it was actually spicier than I am used to. It also is sweeter than what I am used to, which I did not enjoy much. It tasted like tomato, but bun bo hue shouldn't have tomato in the broth. There was a substantial amount of meat. I skipped the pork blood; I don't care for it. There was no pork loaf.. which was a little disappointing. We also tried the tripe with a dipping sauce made with garlic, ginger, and fish sauce. It was OK; I wouldn't order it again. I guess I would come back for bun bo hue, since it's supposed to be the best here.
(3)Uyen H.
This place has the best bun bo hue! Don't forget to ask for some fried chili on the side to add to your soup, so good!
(5)T D.
Cm s 1 and bún bò Hu s 1 are the best
(5)Jonathan H.
I got the pho tai and bun thit nuong. I really liked their pho. This might be premature since I haven't tried all the pho places in Seattle, but so far, pho so 1 has my vote for the best pho in WA. Broth was very flavorful. I didn't feel the need to put anything in the broth (i almost never do this but I get tempted because pho broth in WA is so bland at most joints). And they give you a choice of noodles, big and small. Bun was ok. Ingredients were fresh. I would order it again, but I wouldn't go here just for the bun.
(4)Hoc P.
I finally gave this one a try after so many years skipping it. Who needs another Pho place in Chinatown, right? Well, they have been around for awhile but I didn't want to go in for just Pho. This time I ordered several different things: com tam, bun bo hue, bun thit nuong. All are good. I am surprised. I didn't get Pho though so I can't tell. Their com tam is fresh and somewhat tastes better than the one from Vietnam House (next to Tamarind Tree). I guess they cooked and marinaded the pork better. Bun has plenty of meat and nicely packed. I liked the fact they don't use foam to-go boxes but paper to-go boxes. It's environmental friendly and microwave safe. I would go back here again. For newbies, be careful not to scratch your car in underground parking. There are many hidden poles in that dark place, especially when you drive in from bright sunlight outside. It's just too tight.
(4)Carleen P.
Hellllooo my new hangover pho spot! I love their hours. I was able to walk in at 8 am and get a gigantic bowl of pho (with extra meat) for $8.75. This was my first time getting well done brisket, which I know is making some people cringe while reading this. What took me so long?! My only problem is.... will it be this good elsewhere? Or is well done brisket something I will have to keep for just Pho So 1? Because they have really good well done brisket if you couldn't tell. I immediately uploaded a photo of my pho when I saw all of the seasonings on top. The place was nice and quiet. You can get your gigantic bowl of pho to-go if you can't finish it, like some people, who are writing this review.
(4)Joseph S.
My favorite Pho joint in Seattle. Very good broth, a generous amount of noodle and meat. I've liked every meat combination I've tried. The service is fast and extremely courteous. I always feel very well taken care of. The restaurant is spacious, and very clean. And the prices are great.
(5)Pauline T.
So far this is the best pho I've been to- and I've been to quite a few around the area. I always make sure I get the large and then just pack the rest for later (I know some of you don't like leftover pho but for some reason I like it!). It's worth the extra few cents. The service has been great so far- the people are always so nice. Anything that I need (extra limes, straws, more tea) is brought without hesitation. Very tasty broth. The waiter suggested that I try their chicken pho next time. I told him I was a bit wary (I don't think chicken pho would taste good) but he says it's worth trying theirs. They use organic cooked chicken and a special chicken broth (not the beef broth unlike other restaurants that mix the 2 flavors). I said I'd give it a try- I'll update with my thoughts! Parking? It's always going to be yucky in chinatown. But I've had good luck so far with parking just a little east on Jackson off to the side.
(5)Victoria T.
As I walked through the International District, I passed plenty of pho restaurants. I knew I needed to explore the one street of the ID known as Little Saigon, and figured, what better place to have a meal? It was a great decision, too. I went to Pho So 1, touted in the menu as the first pho restaurant in Seattle and "The Real Taste of Vietnam." The service was friendly. I picked a table and was given a pot of tea right away. As I looked around, I liked the vibe that the Vietnamese pop music gave the restaurant, though I was a little confused by the painting on the walls - they looked like scenes in Italy, which was...unexpected. But when I looked down, I was a little appalled as bean sprouts were here and there on the floor. It could have used a sweeping, but also a good mopping. The menu was varied - they also offered shrimp pho, tofu pho, and vegetable pho, though the menu noted that the latter two were served with beef broth, so they're not actually vegetarian choices. I'd like to try their bun bo Hue sometime, too. The prices here were a little cheaper than downtown. I had a small bowl of pho tai chin, which was $6.50 ($7.50 for a large). It was pretty empty - I came at 2:30 in the afternoon, a late lunch again. My food came within five minutes. I don't usually have the well-done steak in my pho, but I might have to start because it was really good! The meat was added at the last possible second, just as it should be, and the rare steak beautifully pink. Both meats were tender (the well-done steak a bit chewier, as expected). The meats were clumped together and had to be separated, which some people don't like, but I don't mind since it takes minimal effort. The noodles were perfectly chewy. I was very hungry after walking around so much, but I really thought the broth was perfect. It was savory, and not oily, so I could consume a lot of it. It wasn't as salty as the broth I tried the night before at Origin Vietnamese Bistro. I was really delighted with the meal. Taste-wise, it was flawless, though it doesn't get perfect marks by my ranking! I was conflicted over how many stars to award. The pho itself is worth 5 stars, but it's just a shame the the restaurant wasn't as clean as it should have been. With such slow business at that time of day, there was certainly time for a quick sweep. I figure it's cleaner than eating in Vietnam, though, so four stars it is. All in all, dirty floor included, I enjoyed the experience here and look forward to returning, even knowing that Seattle has other great Vietnamese restaurants worth visiting. Rating Breakdown: Taste (12/14)- Broth flavor- 5/5 Noodle & meat quality- 5/5 Garnish selection- 1/2 Portion size- 1/2 Restaurant (12/16)- Service- 4/5 Cleanliness- 3/5 Atmosphere- 3/4 Speed of arrival- 2/2 Total: 24/30 Read more at phoacrossamerica.com
(4)Justin B.
Definitely one of my top 5 places to go in the Seattle area. The pho speaks for its self but I also feel that the spring rolls and egg rolls are also above average. I'm no egg roll connoisseur, but their rolls always seem to taste fresh and homemade. How many pho places can say that?? Like other posters have said - the service is kind and attentive and parking is sketchy. I refuse to park in that garage below or in the courtyard outside. Street parking is usually your best bet, if you value your vehicle.
(5)Kate S.
Good pho. Slightly sweeter than other places and is that... cinnamon? Yes, definitely cinnamon in my pho. Different, but still delicious. Since it was sweeter I did add more seasonings than typical, and I was sad to see no chinese doughnuts on the menu. We ordered "crispy pork skin" fresh rolls as well. And um, while tasty it was not crispy nor pork "skin". Just shredded pork with noodle, veg, in a very very sticky wrapper. I only ate half -- considering I was happily focused on my soup. But a forewarning to you folks out there who might expect something different. Price to quantity ratios are higher than other areas, and Im pretty sure she rang me up wrong when it came to the spring roll prices. Whatever. Two people still ate fairly well for $20. Not the best deals in town, but seriously good pho in a place that is a little nicer/cleaner than it's neighbors.
(4)Jason T.
The place looks exactly like every other pho place in the city, but stands out as having better service. The Food: Pretty much what I expect from every other pho place. Their pho broth tasted a bit lighter than the rest. In a good way, of course. I had the pork dish with vermicelli noodles and various vegetables. They give you a teapot of tea as you order, which is a nice touch. The Ambiance: A little nicer than your average pho place. They have an empty aquarium right as you walk in with some Sounder paraphernalia on it, but what happened to the fish? The Service: Maybe I have unbelievably low expectations for pho places, but this was was pretty good. They were patient as my gf was slowly picking out what she wanted and were prompt at refilling water glasses. Would I Go Again? Yes.
(4)Frankie O.
I was in the mood for pho, probably due to the chilly weather and decided I wanted to try a new restaurant. When we walked up to the door at 7pm there was not a single customer inside, and we almost turned away. I'm really glad we didn't, the moment we walked in we were greeted from a very friendly man, who I'm guessing is the owner. My partner and I always get beef pho with everything, so it was a simple order with some hot tea. The quality of the beef in the the soup was the best I've had in Seattle. No off flavors (sometimes the beef in pho can be a little 'wet-doggish'). The noodles were as good as most any pho. This would be a perfect bowl of pho for me if it wasn't for the broth being a little sweet for my liking. I will definitely be back. I'd like to note that the ambiance was very warming, I wasn't uncomfortable at all.
(4)Thai D.
Pho #1! It's a good pho spot nestled right there amongst many other pho spots on the corners of that intersection. The broth is a bit sweeter than other pho spots, so that means you either put less hoisin sauce or more sriracha - or substitute sritacha with chili paste. It's definitely good broth, just be prepared for it being a little bit different. The bun bo hue is killer, with a big hunk of pig's foot, blood cubes, and pork slices. I'm definitely a fan of the bun bo hue.
(4)Gar L.
There is finally the moment where I can eat pho without adding hoisin or sriracha sauce and enjoy the crap out of it and this miracle happened here at Pho So 1 today. I've been to pho bac, pho hoa, pho than bros, pho thy thy, pho cyclo, pho everything in all of Seattle, Bellevue, Renton and it's neighboring areas in search of the BEST pho in town. I've been patroning the nearby pho bac regularly but this actually takes the cake. The pho is light, without the bubbles on the top (less fatty) but has a very strong aroma. It has the taste of beef but with hints of sweetness and saltiness. There was more meat than I expected, which is always a bonus. The beef tendon was not just a crappy random cut thrown in, it was actually attached to the soft meat and that is a true rarity. I ordered the pho tai nam gan sach which has brisket and tripe, both are very delicious and perfect texture. Noodles are very good -- I HATE when pho places give the bowl to you late and the noodles are already broken before you even put it in your mouth. These are FIRM, and excellent. I will be back to try the bun bo hue, as many pho places do not sell that. I am very excited to come back here. Thank you Pho So 1!
(5)Josh T.
So Pho #1 you say? me thinks not. I had been craving, dying for some pho but as a vegetarian, this place failed me. None such luck. We ordered some fried tofu with a shrimpy sauce which I liked, the tofu was deep fried but not greasy and the sauce was indeed spicy and shrimpy. I ordered basically the only vegetarian thing for entree which was a vermicelli tofu bowl. The tofu was the same as from the appetizer, just deep fried and tossed in the bowl, no sauce or sauteeing or anything with the usual ingredients and some fish sauce but the whole thing was lacking much flavor. So really meh is the best word to describe it. Not horrible, but no reason to come back.
(2)Jason Y.
Service was fast and got our food quick but the pho broth was kinda bland and the noodles were tasteless (did not hold flavor at all don't get me started on the meat). They didn't even bring us water.
(3)Bunneh L.
Do not order the Vietnamese chicken wings!! So fucking bland. No sauce on them whatsoever. I ate one and a half and couldn't choke down another bite. The pho, on the other hand, is pretty darn good. And the best part is they open at 7 FUCKING in the MORNING!! Becomes sometimes, I just can't wait until 11, when most pho places open. Remember, pho is a breakfast item in Vietnam, so it should be your first meal of the day, especially when hungover. The music they play sucks hardcore (teenage pop and hip hop), but try to endure anyway.
(4)Joseph R.
Love this place. Tasty broth. The Bun Bo Hue is the best i've had in Seattle. I enjoy the music. The owners are super cool and friendly. The vibe is good and they tell me they are planning on selling Bo Kho on the weekends:) Rock on guys
(5)Joy S.
It's wonderful to find pho that I actually feel BAD about adding sriracha & hoisin sauce to. (I don't find anything wrong with pho broth normally, but it just tastes so good to add them anyway.) I'm finally writing a review after about 3 or 4 visits. So far, I've gotten the same thing every time, small beef pho with steak, brisket, and tendon. Regardless of what kind of pho you get, though, the broth here will win you over every time. The overall atmosphere of the restaurant is very nice. It's quiet, the lighting is soothing and not too dim, and the simultaneous play of both Vietnamese tv and instrumental jazz surprisingly don't clash. Service is polite, and jasmine tea is complimentary. Unless your pho costs an arm and a leg, I generally don't expect stellar customer service at a pho restaurant, but the people here definitely try to meet your needs and respect you as a customer. So here's how pho here works: You pick either small or large, your meat combination, and whether you want extra meat or noodles. (Extras are a bit pricey, so I haven't tried ordering any yet) , If you like your meat on the more raw side, I definitely recommend requesting it on the side, since it is usually almost fully cooked by the time I take my first bite. I've sampled different variations of pho broth, and this one leans toward the more rich, inherently flavorful end of the spectrum, as opposed to more seasoned broths like Than Brothers. (I love Than Brothers btw, so no bashing is going on here) They do have other items on their menu besides pho, but I haven't gotten around to trying their other foods...I love the broth too much.
(4)Coleena S.
Let me get through the ambiance and the service so I can gush about the pho. The place is your typical Vietnamese restaurant. Lots of tables lined with spoons, chopsticks and sauces for you to add to your bowl of soup. The servers are very nice, polite and don't hover over you ever three minutes to ask how you're doing and also don't leave you hanging when you do need something. Ok. ok. ok, now the pho. Ayo Ba Bar and Pho Bac, Imma let you finish, but PHO SO 1 has the best pho of ALL TIME! I had Pho Tai Chin. THE BEST PHO I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. I've eaten thousands of bowls of pho by now. The game changer is the bowl of delicious marrow oil w/ scallions. Pour a spoonful of that magic in to your bowl of pho and you will never want to have pho anywhere else. The meat is tender and sliced perfectly thin. I don't want to go anywhere else EVER. I can't wait to try their other dishes.
(4)Michiko S.
Best broth ever. This is the pho that I compare all other phos to. Beef broth is super beefy, like the most delicious consomme. I think they must cook a shank bone in there all day. Yum. Chicken broth is also excellent, I crave it when I'm sick. But, they put chicken cartilage and skin in there, so, not for the squeamish. Never had the veggie option. Why bother? Also, one of my favorite egg rolls in Seattle. Plus, super nice people who work here and the music is always entertaining.
(5)I live to eat ..
I personally think they have best chicken pho in town. The broth is very clean and they use free range chicken. Service wise is ok. Don't expect much when ur in china town.
(4)Wendy Y.
I have never had Vietnamese food for breakfast. I know, how can I be missing out for so looong? I finally gave my 'first time" away right here at this Pho So 1 and thanks to the delicious food and friendly staff, my cherry-popping experience was pho-nominal! My significant other and I arrived on a Sunday at around 10AM. When we were walking through the entrance one table just paid and left. So apparently we are not the only early risers. Instead of ordering the same old bun bo hue (which I love), which they have "8" versions of, or regular pho, I've decided to be defiant and order duck leg and bamboo shoot noodle soup. I say noodle soup because this dish is usually served with vermicelli but I substituted the original with bun bo hue round noodles instead. Not too long later, a gigantic bowl of piping hot steamy bowl arrived. At the back of my mind I said to myself, thank gawd we didn't order anything else. The broth was crystal clear with some oil patches on top. The soup tasted rather different from the regular pho broth. It was duck-y, savory, and more robust. The noodles were cooked to perfection and the brown bamboo shoots on top were aromatic and not fibre-y. The duck legs were cut up and served on a separate plate along with a dipping sauce and a generous portion of finely shredded cabbage, which I immediately put in the soup as soon as the food arrived. I was imagining the duck meat to be softer, almost like fall-off-the-bone tender but it wasn't. Having said that it wasn't completely chewy and molar-grinding. My significant other and I both agreed that the food was delicious. Service was attentive. Eating area and washrooms were clean. Price aren't bad. Highly recommended.
(5)Jesse P.
Still the best Pho in Seattle, hands, spoon, and chopsticks down.... into a large empty bowl. Because I ate it all. Yum...
(5)Howie T.
Visiting from California.. Pho was too sweet.. Bun bo hue was cold light tasting... Not again.
(3)Gem N.
Im a Vietnamese and this place has officially became my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. Just try the whole menu, everything is awesome.
(5)Shanna M.
Not really a fan here anymore. Management changed and so everything changed. Server is not that friendly and doesn't really want to have anything to do with us the whole time. Won't be back.
(2)Peter J.
Food is great! I haven't had better Vietnamese in seattle. Parking is a little funky and there is an odd smell when you walk in but the good is great!!!
(5)Syde K.
Under new management. Service is still pretty decent, ambiance is still the same but there is a BIG difference in the amount they give to your plate and bowl. Sadly, it is now less than usual. The large bowl of soup is equivalent to a small :( I think I'll be going to Pho Ba from now on.
(2)Jeranel J.
Excellent Bun Bo Hue! Some of the best I have ever had even though I am not a big fan of the noodles they used. I prefer the thinner rice noodles but this soup was still AMAZING.
(4)Simon K.
I thought the name was tacky, I was tired, we all were in the car after a night of no sleep and needed something soupy for our first meal of the day and we came here. I was around the neighbourhood not too long ago and knew I'd find good pho around this area and this was one of those places that was open. Through a consensus vote we all wanted pho, and we were in an area where it was abundant! Might as well try some place I haven't and see if I could be surprised. We sat at a table near the window, eyes tired from the night before and definitely hungry, and our menu's came. A very extensive menu, from pho (or pho's... is that possible?), a kid's menu, appetizers, sandwiches, rice dishes, and a whole section of Bun Bo Hue (BBH!!) yeah.... this was actually a surprise for me.. as usually I would only see one.. maybe two.. but not 7 choices? Well it was early, might as well wake my sleepy ass up with a bowl of spicy noodle (breakfast of champions!). Putting in my order, I started looking at the big fish tank up front with two big Oscar fish swimming around, following me, while I was looking at them. Eventually my bowl of BBH came, globs of red fatty oils floating on the top, steam eminating into the air, and the assorted meats, from the blood cube to the beef, and the mixed meat cake pate where just showing themselves, harbouring around the top of the bowl. Right when my bowl arrived I dipped my spoon in to see how the broth was and surprisingly it was a little sweet, it was deep, but that sweetness was one where I wasn't use to at first, but eventually going through the bowl I drank most of the broth. The noodles were cooked just right, just not enough, would have loved a little more as there was a bit too much meat in my bowl. If your a meat lover, this one is for you, the portions were very fair for the price. The other people with me had bowl's of house special pho, and looking at them, there were filled to the top, didn't get a chance to try them, but I wouldn't hesitate next time. I was surprised, but really I shouldn't be due to the location, the heart of Vietnamese town! Come in, try it out, it's spacious, many things on the menu, worth a go if you got a craving!
(4)Vy T.
This is where I go whenever I crave for Bun Bo Hue-spicy beef central style noodle dish. I personally prefer Bun Bo Hue than Pho, since the broth is more complex. But let not argue pho or Bun Bo Hue-which one is better here! I just love their Bun Bo Hue. Their broth is deep and packed with lots of herbs and spice. Meat and ham are all tender and chewy. Their noodles is always fresh and they are very generous with the herbs/veggies. So skip the rice platter here since it's nothing special. Go elsewhere and you get much better food. And yes, they take cards here so no worries about carrying cash. Why not five stars? I actually hate their Togo packing. The container is way too soft so it almost lose it shape when you pour hot soup. But I keep coming back and dreaming about their Bun Bo Hue though!
(4)Sharann M.
I found out pho so1 is under a new owner. The family before took much more care making this place cleaner and better at customer service. Apparently the chef is the same, which seem true the soups are the same. But the service is subpar for sure since the new owners have been here.
(2)Krystal N.
DO NOT COME HERE AT OPENING! They told me that they need more time to make the food when their actual sign says 8AM opening. This is very unprofessional.
(1)Kate L.
3.5 stars. The rating is on what we did have. I love homemade bun bo hue, but it takes a lot of time to make. I really liked their bun bo hue, minus the oiliness of it and I did feel thirsty for the remainder of the day (MSG?). My husband had the com tam so 1 and it was good, but the pork chop was a bit thin and overcooked. Will try another com tam and maybe a pho (unless I just want to stick to their BBH again :)) next time. Can't complain about the service we have. Our server was nice. I was disappointed that they didn't have the soda sua hot ga and this was at 11:30 am. Perhaps it's not order often? We tried the che ba mau instead, but it wasn't to our liking. On that note, I really like the proper red beans (azuki) in my che ba mau, but it seems like restaurants nowadays use kidney beans or something similar. It's just not the same :(.
(3)Stan L.
i came for the bun bo hue and i left pretty damn satisfied.. the broth is flavorful without being too greasy.. the broth could have been hotter.. and it could be a bit spicier too.. of note.. the pig's foot is pretty damn tender..
(4)Amanda N.
Service here was ok. It started off great, go seated right away. Shortly after waitress came to take our orders. Appetizers came out at a decent time but somehow later the waitress thought we ordered another portion of appetizers that we didn't do. I noticed this happen to several other guests too. Ordered the nem noung spring rolls and not much of the nem noung was in it. Finally 3 out of 4 entrees came out I waited patiently for the last dish thinking it's still getting dished up but after about 10mins I asked the waitress and she told me it was coming. The unfortunate part is that I understood what the waitress said in Vietnamese and apparently is hasn't even been made. I had to ask again about 10mins later and still nothing. By the time it came, everyone else was almost done with their entrees. I only got a chance to eat a little bit of my soup. It was pretty salty and full of msg. I had a headache for days!
(2)Vania N.
My absolute favorite place. The owner is super nice! Always craving for its Bun Bo Hue (spicy noodle) and Com Tam So 1 (combo broken rice dish number 1). Reasonable price too.
(5)S S.
I have walked past this place many times to Lemongrass restaurant next door and never thought twice about it. However after yelping and found them to have good bun bo hue, my friends and I decided to go here. We ordered two bun mang vit and they came out smelling good (broth wise). The broth has the fat on it so you know it is very authentic and just like what my old mom would make at home. However, the duck itself I suspect is left over from the day before because some it looks dry from heating it up in the microwave? There was plenty of noodle and portion is huge on the noodle but duck was not much, however, they did debone the duck so that was nice. The goi (salad) itself was dry bc it was just plain cabbage without the vinegar dressing on top of it. My friend complained about that. The combo rice dish - this one is bad because the pork was dry and the bi\ was lacking that seasoning taste. Basically the whole dish was bland and needed a bunch of fish sauce. The server was nice but they were out of Che ba mau because apparently it was only served during the weekend. I think point here is stick with the pho and bun bo hue perhaps (which none of us did). Otherwise I guess nothing really to keep us coming back.
(3)Sam T.
Still only Viet place that'll give you the soup bone and I've asked around...most places look at you like you are an idiot... Solid place that is getting recognition it deserves... Broth is solid, cuts of meat plentiful, noodles sometimes perfectly chewy... Service very good... Love this place...
(5)Andrew L.
Was craving pho and yelp led me here! I got the large combination ($7) w/ the egg rolls ($3somethin?). Deliciousness in all respects. They have a good meat-to-noodle portion, but hey you can always ask for more of either for $1... in case you gotta pig out like me, sometimes... maybe. I don't think I really am selective enough to say their pho is best, but it's definitely good, and I've had bad pho, so I can make that distinction at least. Give them a try. They are located in a plaza with the underground parking structure on Jackson and 12th. Had no problems there. I think I subconsciously took off a star because they were playing the weirdest assortment of holiday songs, in english, viet, and at least 1 more language, but who knows. I'll pass on techno versions of "Last Christmas" and "Jingle Bell Rock," thanks. The food's good, that's the important thing!
(4)Madison G.
This is officially my favorite spot to eat pho. I love that the pho dac biet (pho combination) includes meatballs. I eat pho all over and I always have to request meatballs in addition to my combination bowl. The broth has a lot of flavor and doesn't require the huge amount of hoison sauce that I usually use. They're quick and it's clean. No complaints.
(5)Regina D.
Standard pho place with free parking underneath. Spring rolls were nothing to rave about and actually quite disappointing.
(2)N J S.
I haven't been to this place since 2004 when my husband (then bf) would take me to his "favorite pho place"...The reason for the absence was because we didn't live in the area, or that we were just lazy to drive over.... So...even though we live on the Eastside, we made the drive over. The place is under new management like all the Yelpers say, and as far as the service/staff...it's been fast and friendly. My husband got the Bun Bo Hue and I had the Pho Dac Biet, and I also ordered the eggrolls/Shrimp spring rolls. The portions in both noodle soup were plentiful, the flavor was good. The eggrolls, my kids enjoyed, but the shrimp spring roll was just meh. All it had was one uncut lettuce leaf, vermicelli noodles and a few shrimps rolled together, however I thought the wrap wasn't a good wrap since once you took a bite, everything in the roll would fall apart.. It's nothing to really get fancy over since I've had better spring rolls where they would pack a little more ingredients in like, vietnamese ham, green onion, or even some a rolled up fried eggroll wrap that they roll up in the middle of the spring roll for a little extra crunch. Overall, it's a great pho place, but I don't think I would want to make the drive over, however, if we were in the area, we may stop by.
(4)Adine L.
there are new owners, and while the pho is still excellent, the service has gone down a notch.
(4)BR C.
Just ordered through bitesquad.com and satisfied with the quality of the food and the delivery service. The food was great and came as we ordered online. Will be back soon!
(4)e. w.
Great organic ckn pho but mini clouds of gnats on the sriratcha are a turn off
(3)Michelle M.
On a last minute unexpected trip back to Seattle, I had spent a few days trapped inside Harborview Medical Center caring for my son. Cabin fever set in and I had to venture into the city that I know and love to get something better than hospital cafeteria food... I wanted some Seattle Pho! Pho in Hawaii is just not the same... This was my first time here at Pho So and I am glad that my friend recommended it. The broth was delicious! Fragrant, flavorful and fresh...I ordered the Veggie Tofu Pho, Spring Rolls and Fresh Shrimp Rolls. Each and every thing we ordered was fantastic!! The place must be good since it was close to impossible to get a table! Large groups were beating the door down...10 top, 6 top, 8 top...so many people just craving their Pho! Thanks for making my day!
(5)Daren D.
Very clean and nice space. Plenty of parking in the garage if the street is crap. =P I stopped by to try some soup: Duck and Bamboo Vermicelli Soup. It wasn't what I expected since the duck was on a separate dish as if it was its own side dish. Apparently, the chopped duck is the vietnamese version I'm told. I did my best to pick around the bones, but I just don't like that part. Maybe it's because I've had Duck Noodle Soup before from Thai places? Hmm. Also, the bamboo was weird; again, maybe this is all somewhat authentic, only new to me and I tend to like duck and bamboo mostly in Thai dishes (curry + bamboo, duck + soup, etc).
(4)Alanna M.
This is my favorite pho joint. The broth is always yummy with minimal seasoning needed (lime, more fish sauce, sugar, etc.). The portions have shrunk and the price has increased but everybody is trying to survive in this economy I guess! They are a bit stingy with the meatballs but you can always ask for extra. Best part about this place is it's a mom and pops restaurant and not a chain.
(4)Michelle C.
Great place to get pho! The food was delicious and The pho broth was not oily. The service was good. Best of all they open at 8am.
(5)Yee V.
No jokes. Seriously. BEST PHO IN SEATTLE. Always consistent for me. I really don't think anyone is better. Service is quick. They open early. Parking sucks, but I can deal with it.
(5)MAX P.
My cousin's favorite pho spot and now one of mine. Service is fast and friendly, broth tastes great. Not much to say about the place, usual decor, and it can get busy on weekends. Great thing about the place is that it opens early on weekdays if you want pho for breakfast! Usually don't eat pho anywhere else unless it's home made...
(5)Elizabeth T.
Definitely one of my favorite places for pho. :) I like their fish aquarium. Good atmosphere. Typical Vietnamese family owned and operated business. Got lots of cute little kids running around. The people there are really nice.
(5)Le N.
This was some of the best Pho I've ever had! I came here once back in 2008 and back again during my recent trip to Seattle, and it was better the second time around! The both was made just right, it even tasted as good as my parents. You also gotta try the Lemonade. It's made fresh to order and very refreshing!
(5)Matthew G.
I've been trying to find Seattle's best pho for a while now. This place consistently serves the best pho I've had for years now. I've tried the places nearby, the ones that have more reviews, and nothing comes close to the quality and quantity Pho So 1 provides. Here's how I judge pho. Broth:Needs to be tasted before anything else. Should be clear and clean tasting. Not too salty. Broth gets cloudy the older it is. Beef: Should be put into the broth raw making it rare when it gets to you. Many places let it cook a little before bringing it out, overcooking the beef. The cuts should be thin and the meat should be tender. Rice Noodles: Should still be cooking when they get to you. If they are already soft, they are overcooked. Stay away from anything resembling campbell chicken noodle soup. Additions: Usually scallions, cilantro, and pepper. A plate of mung bean sprouts, thai basil, jalapenos, and lime wedges are standard. Pho So 1 has the best broth I've tasted. Which is the most important part of the pho for me. The beef isn't overcooked and they provide more than most (nearly 2x). The noodles are still cooking and need to be separated, which ensures the freshness of all the ingredients is the same. The ground pepper on top is a simple addition that adds a lot of flavor. The customer service consistently 4/5 stars. Always smiles, no complaints. Update 8/2015: pho here has gone down in quality for the past year. I've kept with it, hoping it was just a fluke but it appears it was not. Changed my rating from 5 to a mediocre 3/5. Will not be returning much anymore =[
(3)Dennis S.
Good broth, good pho, good service and clean restaurant. The owner is related to the owner of nearby Pho Bac, so perhaps good pho runs in the family. :) The location is good; located in a plaza in Little Saigon, so you can hit up other shops once you're done getting your pho on. There's parking although finding a space can be a little challenging.
(4)Mark C.
friendly staff..really good shrimp spring rolls you could tell they were made to order, thats a big plus.. I am going to review the pho ga (chicken pho) which was the BEST I have ever had anywhere in the US, and I have traveled alot and lived in NYC, LA, SF, Portland and Seattle..the chicken is organic and is shredded..the broth was very delicious,,i should have ordered a large..My boyfriend had the spicy beef soup, i snuck a bite and that also was very very good..hands down my new favorite place for Vietnamese..thanks. See you really soon
(5)SF Doom ..
EARTH PEOPLE: this spot is the only place u need to go for the goods. dont mention Than Brothers to me. dont mention Pho Bac to me. doing so results in you receiving a *FACEPALM* just show up, order a large, and you will gain understanding. it's like six bucks and some change (cold hard cash only). sometimes they give you tea when you sit down, or occassionally they remember to bring you water. not all the time tho. it is a unique place. but after a while, the kooky christmas music that plays in the background (in the middle of July) starts to sound pleasing and festive. DON'T go there thinking you'll get 4 star service. DO go there expecting a 5 star bowl. this is the best pho joint in seattle. and no, there are no creampuffs. *FACEPALM* the parking isnt exactly "easy" (double parking, people blocking u in, people parking on sidewalks, people parking on people, infants left in the cars with the motor running...???), but that's besides the point. actually, i forgot what my point was. it was probably something like: EAT PHO HERE.
(5)Hannah C.
I would say that this place had deserved a 1 star for damned sloppy service, the stupid methods of packaging of my two small pho to go, and the stupid unapologetic bitchy woman owner. Here is the story. Usually when a Pho shop packs up your broth to go, they would encapsulate the broth containers with plastic bags and then tied them up. They didn't do that here. As a result, the chopstick had poked into both of the styrofoam containers and we had 24 ounces of hot smelly pho disgoring all over my brand new car seat including on the floor, and on top of that it had burned me when I had grabbed that bag to throw it out to drain after taking an exit off of the I-5. I had drained it and when I had brought the drained bag of food back to the restaurant to get my money back, the lady owner was a total bitch. She acted upset instead of me! While combative owner explained that she was not responsible for her worker's mishap. I had to get my car cleaned and shampooed but they didn't offer to pay for it. I only went here because Pho Bac on 7th Ave was closed that day. I will NEVER go here again. Their place didn't look clean either. I would go to Pho Bac on 7th ave!!!
(1)John L.
Best Pho in the Northwest (that I know of)!!! Their large bowl is LARGE and full of great tasty cuts of meat. The broth has a wonderfully robust compliments the flavor too (dont know if it has msg in it and since I dont have high blood pressure i dont care). The staff is very friendly too. Its always a pleasure to dine there.
(5)Christina S.
I love this place! I always order their Bun bo Hue dish and Vietnamese Iced Coffee. I heard that there are a few good Bun bo Hue places down at Rainier too but they use a lot more MSG (from what I heard). Their Bun bo Hue is always yummy and the customer service is superb too. This is becoming by bi-weekly Sunday brunch :-)
(5)Roman M.
Everything we have had here tastes great! Lean brisket and chicken pho are both amazing, egg rolls are a perfect appetizer as well. Service is alway fast and courteous. We keep coming back!!! Keep up the good work guys!
(5)Ken L.
Didn't expect much, didn't get much. The place is located in a little plaza - I was seriously debating going to the noodle place next door, but I was hungry and my belly aint picky when it's empty. What can I say? It's your run of the mill pho place. Does the job and prices were reasonable. Would I come back? Sure. Next time, though, I'd pick the place next door.
(3)John S.
You only go to the #1 for one reason - the pho. Don't go for anything fancy or the ambience 'cause you'll be disappointed. But the pho is by far the best I've ever had and when I go with my buddy and he orders in Vietnamese it tastes even better (I don't ask, I just eat). Nothing cures a demented hangover better than a bowl at Pho So 1.
(5)Christopher D.
"Do one thing, and do it poorly." Pho So # 1 served me the worst Pho I have experienced in this city. So bad that I left 90% of my bowl uneaten. The broth was salty with a dishwater consistency. More like tap water with a few bullion cubes thrown in. The meat tasted old - less "This meat is a little 'less than fresh'" and more "Has this meat gone bad?" The noodles were thin, flavorless, and (somehow) overcooked. Did I mention the meat? It was really really really that bad. Pho So # 1 steps way below the acceptable standard for filth in a pho restaurant: Harsh lighting, The dirtiest floors I have seen in a pho restaurant, and wooden chopsticks (which would be acceptable if the employees made a tacit attempt at keeping the restaurant clean). At first I tried to blame myself: I am too white, It was Sunday, I didn't order in Vietnamese.... This must be more authentic! The reviews on Yelp are so good! Pho is, traditionally, a dish for the poor! Did I go to the wrong place? The sad truth is that my soup was produced without care or concern for quality or cleanliness. The combination of horrible ingredients, horrible flavor, and "dirty by the already lax pho restaurant standards" adds up to the absolute worst pho. At $7.25 a bowl, you'd be far better served to go down the block to Green Leaf, or even Pho Hoa (the McDonald's of Pho). Honestly, You'd be better off going to McDonald's! Normally, I'll try a place twice before judging it as bad. This place was so bad I will not go back.
(1)Richie P.
Pho is one of my favorite meals, and this is my favorite Pho spot. The broth is just amazing. I've done comparisons with other spots and the difference is quite noticeable. When they expanded their menu beyond just "large" and "small," I was worried that the pho would suffer. Luckily it did not. Pho aficionados need look no further.
(5)Darcy H.
Oops. No vegetarian option, chicken or beef broth only. Next!
(1)Jim S.
This place is, to me, consistently in the "top 3" list in Seattle for Pho. The broth is rich, there's little (if any) MSG, so you don't get that stomach ache like you do from other places. There's a nice assortment of other menu items, and the service is good. Oh, and all you people complaining about the parking-- there's free underground parking. I've rarely had a problem getting a space under the bldg., though it's a bit cramped. But you don't need to hunt for street parking.
(5)Scott M.
I love this place, I'm sure I eat here 3-4 times a week...the Pho ga is fantastic...actually everything I've had there has been excellent. I find the servers to be great....very sweet, in fact. One of those places where they get to know you and treat you like family.
(5)S L.
I have been coming to this place since the 90s for their Pho. They have changed owner recently. Waitress are friendly. Pho and Bun Bo Hue is our favorite. Rice dish is not as good as next door Huong Binh.
(4)Philip L.
One of the better pho places I've been, but I usually can't escape Pho Bac's gravitational pull from across the street. Very good pho. Excellent broth with very rich flavor.
(3)Sean H.
Today I went with a friend and ONCE AGAIN the Pho was hot, and delicious! And I finally got to meet Yvonne! I must say, the condiments that come with the pho are ALWAYS so fresh!!! And now we get limes! A friend of mine came with me today and we both agreed on something: Many Pho restaurants in the International District are very quick to get you in and out. Basically before you even get your coat off at some places, they are asking for your order and throwing a bill at you. At Pho So 1, they are so hospitable!! They always greet you with a smile and are SOOOOO friendly! There is absolutely nothing bad I have to say about Pho So 1! If you have never tried pho, or want to try a different place than your usual.........GO TO PHO SO 1!!!!!!! You wont be disappointed! And again Pho So 1, thank you again for the warm welcome today and of course, an amazing lunch! Sean PS: The fried spring rolls were excellent!!!!
(5)Lynn D.
My first experience in this restaurant was with my Pho-natics group earlier in the week. I LOVE THIS PHO!. I have since been back & can't wait to go again. This has become my new favorite restaurant for Pho. Also, I want to thank the Nortwest Vietnamese news for the great front page photo. Great service. I was treated like family. Great food.
(5)Mairead R.
It takes the edge off office politics, douses last night's hangover into submission, and warms up the question, "Is this chill really a Seattle summer?" About once a week, I sidle on over to Pho So 1 for a small, rare beef pho. Half a serving fills me up, leaving another helping for the next day - seriously, its so good that I am craving it by the following morning! When you get take out, the meat, noodles, and spring onions are boxed separately from the broth. They give you a plastic bag with tons of fresh thai basil, couple handfuls of sprouts, and a few jalepeno slices. While you wait, check the fake flowers, quirky calendars, and blossoming ginger arrangement. So, "Is this freezing weather really a Seattle summer?" Yes, yes it is. Now go warm up with some pho!
(4)Bam B.
I have tried this place twice. Prices are very decent, the food my two favorites bun bo hue and vermicelli noodle w/ shrimp and pork is awesome! Not to mention the fresh avocado smoothie for $3!
(4)V P.
One of the best Pho place in town. The broth is rich (you can also ask for fatty broth, which is more rich but you have to walk home to burn the extra calories). If you like your broth hot and steammy then you should also ask for steamed beansprout instead of the raw stuff they put on the table. Great place for a quick bowl in the morning (they open quite early)
(4)Phil R.
This is my favorite pho restaurant in town. The soup is soooooo delicious. I've been to many, many pho restaurants and this one takes the cake. It reminds me of the pho I had in Vietnam. It's worth the trip into Seattle. Best of all, free parking.
(5)akzidenz g.
the pho was ok, but the meat (lean brisket) was delicious- perhaps the best pho brisket ive had. for this reason only, i would return. the service was pretty slow- there was only one waitress that kind of did it all- took your order, served your food, cleaned the tables, and handled the payments. she was nice though, but definitely could have used some help.
(3)Tammy V.
i am Vietnamese...and i don't really like pho. ...to me it's like asking an American if they like chicken soup. (well? do you?) i have been going to Pho So #1 (Mot!) since i've been a kid and it's where we had family lunches so this place brings back memories. the pho is pretty good (for it being pho!) and definitely better than any pho hoa or than brothers i've ever been to. i guess that says a lot to those pho crazies out there! =P ok, i think i should give up on rating Vietnamese places - i'm really bad at this. since i start comparing it to my mom's food and...yeah. game over! =P
(4)Jefferson S.
I give them a 4 star rating, It is more than the food ... it is the people. They do the best organinc chicken pho. I here it is special chicken brought down from Canada. My friends and I (who have traveled in VN often) have been to Pho So 1 several times. They do the best Smoothies ... smaller in size but very big and thick in flavor. And made from fresh ingredents. The people are very sweet and even help us with our Tieng Viet. Go and enjoy not only the food but the people you meet.
(4)pascal T.
consistency, all my friends claim they are Pho expert and must agreed with me that they have a perfect balance taste,
(5)Ian N.
Most likley to be the best bowl of beef pho in town. coming in at 7.00 for a large, it is a bit pricey, but the product that you get is amazing. The broth is always well balanced and is always piping hot, the noodles are always pillowy soft and brought out quickly as to not become solid at the bottom of the bowl. The meats are selected and cooked to perfection, especially the beef brisket, always amazing. the wait staff is sparse and do not expect to much help with anything, this is a straight up pho establishment. eating at pho so 1 will undoubtly ruin pretty much every other bowl of pho you will have in Seattle, be warned, -Ian
(5)Keith D.
The best ever! Nothing compares.. Nothing!
(5)Tiffany L.
Great broth! I enjoyed the ambiance a bit more before the remodel. Pho is still good.
(4)Joel P.
Hands down the best bowl in town. Don't be fooled by the Than Bros craze, this place is about the pho and not the creampuff. Parking can get a little crazy and the ambience is no frills but overall it's worth it for the quality of the food. No rubbery meat (unless you get the tendon), noodles are always perfect, and the broth is amazing. None of that sweet, oily tasting nonsense you get at most other places. Try it out for yourself sometime.
(5)Jummy T.
This is the best pho in Seattle I've ever had. No fluff (cream puffs) and that's just fine! The broth is rich and savory and perfect. The music is usually interesting (Viet-techno perhaps) and the service friendly enough. It's really just about the pho. The PHO. Yum, want some now.
(5)megan d.
i would give a better rating but just walk up the street and go to pho bac. this place is okie but nothing was really amazing to me.
(2)