Pho Tran
4213 University Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105
Pho Tran Menu
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Address :
4213 University Way NE
Seattle, WA, 98105 - Phone (206) 547-5882
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
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
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Cynthia L.
Possibly the worst Pho restaurant on the AVE. I came here, nobody greeted me, so I sat myself down at a table. Then I noticed there was another table waiting patiently to be served. I waited about 8 minutes and the guy finally came to me. BUT he came to me first instead of the other table that was there before me Then I had to wait another 10 min for my bowl of Pho and it wasn't that good Plus, I found a shellfish in my Pho, if I was allergic to shellfish, this would have been a no no! I do not recommend this place at all!
(1)Chris A.
Pho Tran... Tran Tran tran.. Not much to say about Pho Tran. Vietnamese friends have told me that they think Pho Tran is the best Pho on the ave, but there is definitely open debate. My own non-Vietnamese tongue tells me that most of the Pho places on the ave are pretty similar... but! You be the judge :) Happy eating my friends.
(3)Regina M.
This isn't awful pho. Definitely had worse, but I've also had a lot better. The veggies are a bit wilted and it feels thrown together. I also found a hair in my pho, which honestly isn't a big deal (it happens with food) but it didn't improve my opinion of the place. I would pass on this place and choose a different one next time, and I won't be coming back when there's so much good pho around the UDistrict.
(2)Kevin W.
I ate here like three years ago, and ever since, a nagging part of my conscience had been telling me that I was too hard on this place with the rating. I recently returned to see how this restaurant on the Ave had changed. Unfortunately, my opinion of it is basically the same. Just go somewhere else nearby to get your pho. The service is still really fast, meaning your order can arrive in five minutes or sooner. Portions are still especially generous if you order an extra large bowl, and prices are low enough that you can expect to be well fed without spending more than ten dollars. I just don't like how they were so stingy with the garnishes, and something didn't look right with how brown those bean sprouts were. They looked like they had been sitting out for a while. The entire bowl's content of noodles was a single, unbroken clump. It might as well have been a soft, white hockey puck. They probably just dropped it as a solid mass into the broth like that and expected it to break apart on its own; that just goes to show you how much care they put into making each bowl.
(2)Joe N.
The owner of this place pays her staff (mainly consisting of UW students 8$ an hour and TAKES ALL THE TIP). Severs here are being treated a labor mules and do not get ANY portion of the tip you think is going to them. I urge you to not support ill business practices and take your money elsewhere. Eating here should hurt your continence, and your stomach too because they cut corners and also add too much MSG.
(1)Katleiah R.
I've found this to be one of my more favorite places to go for pho on the ave. They have quick service, are always consistent with the quality of their pho, have fresh rolls (and not all pho places on the ave do!), and also give you free cream puffs :) All in all, they pretty much have it all. Oh, and bonus points: it's close to campus!
(4)Jonathan E.
This place had larger portions than the other places I have gone to on the Ave. Also the no MSG is a big plus. Staff is very friendly and prices are the same as the other places on the Ave.
(5)Amanda K.
The veggie pho is decent, but I wish they had given me more soup =/ I like how they give a few different types of veggies (cabbage, carrots, broccoli) versus just one
(4)Patty G.
First time Ive ever eaten Pho, so I have nothing to compare this place to. BUT for what it was, it was cheap decent food, a nice little place, and the service was fast.
(3)Brandon C.
Not the worst, but still below average. This place is not the cleanest, but at least it is really cheap and you get the most bang for your buck. 2.5/5
(2)Jinah Y.
The pho broth is bland and the noodles are overcooked and the reason they can afford to implement a punch card incentive is because the tips you give go to the owners and not the waiters. I can't support a restaurant where they take the money meant for the waitresses that do the labor to serve customers. On top of that the pho is blah and the cream puffs are horrible. Go to pho Ty Ty instead.
(1)Andy C.
Cleaner than many of the other pho shops on the Ave. Good pho. Generally very fast service. I can usually be in and out within 15-20 minutes.
(4)Liz C.
The adventure of trying all the pho places on the ave continues. Our next stop was Pho Tran. With the taste and service of Pho Than Brothers and Than Vi in our memories, we decided to see what Pho Tran had to offer. They actually had a lot to offer. I was skeptical about Pho Tran because of all the people saying, "Pho Than Brothers is the best!" or "Than Vi has the best pho on the ave!" I always passed by Pho Tran, but I never felt compelled to enter. However, I was wrong to have just passed this place by. Upon entering you can see that Pho Tran is a lot more spacious and a lot more clean than the two other pho places I mentioned. One of the great things is that it doesn't have that strong odor of pho that sticks onto people's clothing. I like how there is plenty of space between tables so you feel a sense of privacy and how it is very clean compared to Pho Than Brothers. We were seated immediately (the place wasn't very busy in the first place and there was a lot of space). The menus are underneath the glass on the table so all you have to do is look down at the table to find out what you want to order. Pho Tran is cheaper than Than Vi so that was quite pleasing to see. The sizes are regular, large and extra large. The regular is about $5.55 while the large comes in at about $6.25 or so. My boyfriend and I ordered number 18 because we always seek the pho that has pretty much everything in it. Our food came very quickly and we were able to dig in without waiting at all. The sizes are very good for the price. I was at first a little skeptical since I couldn't see the noodles like most other pho places, but there ended up being plenty of noodles under the broth. Speaking of the broth, it was wonderful. There is no MSG which makes it so much better. Although the broth wasn't as flavor packed as other places I've tried, it definitely has a subtle, light flavor that is actually quite pleasant. It doesn't overpower the meat or the noodles, the flavor is there to accompany it. The noodles were well cooked, and there was a decent amount of meat and meatballs. The tendon pieces are huge! I've never seen such big pieces of tendon in my pho before. They have siracha and hoisen sauce here, but the other two sauces that are present at Than Vi are not on the table. If you want these sauces, you'll have to go to the front where they have about 2-4 bottles of them along with the side trays. The place uses the typical plastic chopsticks and spoons so make sure to wipe them down with the napkins before use. The meat for some reason wasn't as "meaty" as I think other meats are. But, I still believe it tasted lovely with the rest of the pho. The meatballs were perfection though. Not too hard, and not too soft. Like Pho Than Brothers, Pho Tran gives the complimentary cream puff as a dessert. These cream puffs were soggy on the bottom, but they weren't horrific or anything. I still ate them since they were given and they still had a nice smooth cream inside. You can pay at the front whenever you're ready and they don't rush you or anything. They do keep an eye out on you if you need any water, but other than that, they pretty much leave you alone to do your own thing. So far, this is my boyfriend and I's favorite pho place on the ave. Than Vi comes close though for their super kind and friendly service. Than Vi is just a bit more cramped in my opinion. The pho adventures do continue though as we travel along the ave!
(4)Richard T.
This restaurant is pretty clean and neat inside compared with most of the Pho restaurants I have been to, but for some reason it does not have much business at all compared to the Pho Than Bros. right next door. The prices seem about the same with each other, but I can see that Pho Than was just packed with people while this place was mostly empty. The food was pretty was pretty good and filling with what we ordered. My gf had a regular pho and I had ordered my usual grilled pork over rice. It was tasty with the extra sauce you pour on top of the pork and with a nice fresh side salad even. The meal also includes a free cream puff for each entree you order! I have to say that I did like coming here maybe because it wasn't busy and crowded, but also that it was a good place for a quick and cheap lunch.
(4)Laura P.
I had a Sunday late night craving for Pho and thankfully stumbled upon this place while driving down The Ave. I'm pretty picky with my Pho and this place gets two thumbs up! The broth was flavorful and not over the top salty. The packaging to-go was great too, generous amounts of sprouts, mint, limes & Jalapanos and you get a cream puff as well. I will definitely go back to this place, the to-go was quick but even the ambiance inside was nice, not super hot and stuffy like some Pho joints can get.
(4)Dylan M.
I really like this place because 1. Service is quick and 2. Prices are very affordable. The pho itself is good enough (someone else stated that the broth was bland which I cannot really comment on because I drench my pho with Siracha and Hosien sauce). They have some pretty large sized bowls as well if you're especially hungry. Overall I wouldn't say the quality of the food is generally better or worse than any of the other pho places but the price, speed, and punch card aspect are all a part of what make this place my go to pho restaurant in the U-District.
(4)Ruby L.
Personally not a big fan of pho since its like an ordinary bowl of rice noodles to me, but I like their cream puffs& lemon to add to the flavor
(3)Tyler H.
Not my favorite Pho on the Ave, but will certainly hit the spot when you have a craving and the other Pho joints are too packed. They are happy to accommodate larger groups (we had 9 last time). They are not the fastest, but their price is right and the broth and meat were tasty. I usually don't care so much about the cream puffs, but I was actually disappointed with their's. Mine had only a small squirt of cream, and the puff itself was a little too biscuity. All in all, would definitely go back again when my favorites are too full or for a change up.
(3)Heather H.
Plain, plain, plain. I ordered up a veggie pho (complete with the veg based broth) and couldn't muster any more of the broth itself. Very bland with a bit of a funky after taste that I couldn't quite pin point on. No flavor whatsoever. The noodles were also completely underdone and still had that semi-hard chewy factor to it. I should have put my money toward my favorite pho place: Pearl Bistro.
(1)Rouge N.
Great pho, inexpensive prices, & no MSG! The real reason I eat here is because they don't use MSG in their pho. I usually get the steak pho, I can't remember if I've tried anything else. Great place to grab a quick meal.
(4)Shimmy S.
They must be under new management because the pho is better, spring rolls are good, and love the cream puffs! My new favorite pho place on the ave.
(5)Bob R.
I am a regular here and always receive friendly prompt service. The Pho is consistently good and most often great. The price is right, and in an era of buy 12 get one free, they continue to dole out the 8 punch cards! Lovin' it.. Could use a little more basil but you can always ask for more and they readily comply... Highly recommended.
(5)Lilani E.
Pho tran - quick, tasty and totally affordable. Pho starts at $5.55 for a regular bowl (all types are created equally here) and the Vietnamese sandwiches are only $3 (love the BBQ pork ones). The cream puffs served complimentary with the pho is such a sweet little treat. Everyone that works here is kind. There is a slight language barrier but all you really have to do is order and enjoy - and smile!
(4)Becky L.
They offer good size of pho, their extra large bowl is big enough for 2 ppl to share. The price is reasonable.
(4)bvos b.
This may not be the best place with the best broth with the most tofu in each bowl... But the pho's good, for sure. Give it a try, get a stamp card. And honestly, how the hell can you beat $3 Banh Mi sandwiches?? For three bucks I expected something mediocre.. But seriously, they're really good! SUCH A GOOD DEAL.
(4)Jennifer B.
Cheap pho, get it while it's hot. This place is cleaner than Than Brothers. I've tried the regular pho and the veggie pho and they were okay. I am accruing punches on my frequent pho card. My friend had a rice dish and thought it was decent. You get a cream puff too. It's free and if you don't mind it being a little hard it's a nice way to top off the meal.
(3)Shelly J.
This restaurant is clean and large compared to other vietnamese joints on the ave. I agree with Richard T's review that it's a curious situation for them to not have as much business, their food and service are certainly comparable to other places, if not better in some cases. Their pho comes out piping hot and quick with all the necessary ingredients for making a delicious pho - jalapeno, bean sprouts, lime and basil. The noodle is cooked just right (not too soggy) and the broth is hearty and soothing, especially on those rainy days we get so many here in Seattle. I am partial to chicken pho and this place serves all white meat (I've been to hard-core authentic vietnamese restaurants in Canada where the chicken they serve in pho seriously tested my grasp of poultry anatomy). And their complimentary cream-puffs are always welcome! Another dish that I enjoy getting here that other pho-only vietnamese places on the ave don't offer is the meat skewer dishes. They have chicken, beef, pork and prawn options and it is served with white rice and a small serving of salad and dressing. The really neat thing about this particular dish is that I can ask for no rice and extra salad instead - for those of you who are gluten sensitive or just trying to reduce carb intake, this is a great option. Now you don't have to avoid grabbing a lunch with your friends who just want a great bowl of pho and don't understand why you're being so darn difficult.
(4)Kimberly P.
This place is nicer on the inside than it looks on the outside. Prices are definitely reasonable - vegetarian, chicken, shrimp, and beef pho are priced the same and they don't use MSG (who knows what they use instead...).
(4)Angel I.
Best cream puffs on the Ave. The pho is okay. They do take credit cards, and there is more seating than the other Vietnamese restaurants on the Ave. If you do come here often, I recommend getting a free punchcard for pho. After 8 pho purchases, your 9th pho meal is free! :)
(3)My N.
Good sized portions for the price. I was raised on pho and always judge its quality by the taste of the soup base - Pho Tran does it right; plus lots of meat. If it doesn't taste right, you've probably messed it up with too many sauces. Try the sandwiches - $3 a pop is a pretty good price!
(5)Jennifer F.
I've been coming here since my freshman orientation back in 2007. Pho Tran's pho is always made fresh, and their vegetables are always crisp. Unlike other places, the soup here isn't watered down, and while they do charge a tiny bit more (prices have gone up substantially since my first time here) than most pho restaurants, they give you a large amount of meat. The service is definitely not top-of-the-line, but I believe it's because of the language barrier ... sometimes I ask for extra beansprouts, but the server doesn't know what I'm saying so it never comes out, and then I have to ask someone else. Their service isn't the worst, but it's not the greatest either. If you come here, make sure you pick up a stamp card - 8 meals gets you 1 free one! This has been my favorite pho restaurant since 2007, and I can't keep away!
(5)Jennifer O.
I can't believe I never reviewed this place! This was my go-to pho restaurant in Seattle. No, it's not the best quality meat ever... but the broth is pretty good. I like it a lot better than than brothers, and I also like that they accept credit cards. I always get the pho ga, add the basil and jalapenos and avoid the chicken. The chicken has weird brown spots on it... kind of freaks me out. But the broth.... yum. So good. I want some right now.
(3)Matthew S.
Well, sadly, my wife and I will never eat here again. And, maybe, neither should you. This is a damned shame too because, until yesterday, everything was cruising along at around 3 stars (We've eaten here for a couple years). Well, my wife almost puked after noticing a dead bug in her vegetarian pho. And there you have it...Oh, and they STILL charged us for my bowl of pho! The nerve! BUG in my wife's vegetarian pho!! BUG in my wife's vegetarian pho!! BUG in my wife's vegetarian pho!!
(1)Inna B.
The Pho was pretty good but only the friend who got the vegetarian bowl was thrilled. Apparently other veggie-pho he's had before didn't have carrots and broccoli and stuff. Otherwise... smaller servings of Pho than I'm used to (good for me, bad for those who want/need more food). They also have a few rice dishes and a pretty good selection of drinks for a Pho place (tea, bubble teas, about 5 different juices, and.... coffee?). It somehow seems more "upscale" than most U-District Pho joints.... but the service still sucks.
(3)Laura M.
I was pretty disappointed with the service here and the milk tea boba was just watered down tea with too much milk, not your typical milk tea boba. I came in with my friend cause we really wanted boba and no one else was in the restaurant, yet it still took the woman serving us a good 10 minutes or so. I've had quite a bit of boba in my life and I can't fathom how any good boba place could stay in business if it took 10 minutes to shell out boba to only two customers. The interior of the restaurant is tired as well. Kind of disappointing...
(2)Katie J.
Pretty standard pho place. Three sizes to choose from. The 'medium' size is $6.25 and pretty darn big. The broth is rich with animal fat. Super yummy and the cream pastries are always fresh. I prefer this place over Pho Than Brothers next door anytime.
(4)Jane A.
I DONT SMELL LIKE ARMPIT!! don't you hate eating pho and then smelling like armpit. Some venue's i dont mind because they have really good pho but this place is okay and they have better ventilation then others. As you can see in my reviews I try alot of vietnamese places. I think I'm searching for the pho that comes close to the one in San Francisco. So far, no luck. This place is on the ave so there's a million other pho places filled with college students. I came here because it was empty and looked new. Wanted to try them out and feel it out to see if it's good or not. Pho is okay. I've had better and I've had much worst. The one thing I like about this place is that they service rice dishes and not just Pho. Love that about places like this. And they also give you a cream puff at the end. Such a treat! The service is amazing, EXCEPT when its this skinny waiter boy. I'm not sure if he knows what he's doing. I feel like he's going to spill Pho all over me and he's extremely slow. slow in many things. But when others are serving, they are amazing. I usually enjoy the regular order Pho Thai. But their Pho Thai here is a bit different, something about the meat is more meatier. Maybe they didn't slice the meat thin. It's thin but not thin thin like how I like it. One time it gave me a stomach ache. I still always tip regardless. They look like their business picked up because now the place is 80% packed when I go in. PS: I only come here when i'm craving for pho and in the u-district.
(3)Camille S.
The food here was overall, meh. I got a bowl of pho and a sandwich, the broth was very good but the noodles were overcooked. What upset me the most was the sandwich, The bread was either stale or toasted, and the ingredients in the sandwich were kind of gross and mushy, it was like they made the sandwich 3 days before and didn't refrigerate it at all. If I were you, I would probably go to one of the other 5 pho restaurants on that block.
(1)Michelle F.
I came in with a large group on a Saturday night. We received prompt service. Our food came out in decent amount of time. I ordered the veggie pho. Before the soup came out, I received a cream puff. It was yummy. A little unusual to receive dessert first, but hey, It was good! As for the soup, I wasn't a fan of the noodles. Left most of them in the bowl. I enjoyed a brief moment of nostalgia when I noticed that this place was just a few doors down from the corner cafe where I used to spend every Saturday morning studying with my physics pals.
(3)Sabra S.
My boyfriend and I went for lunch on Saturday around 1 pm. There were a few tables already in there. You could tell we just missed the rush because there we a lot of tables that were still dirty. I've been in the restaurant industry for about 8 1/2 years now. So, I do have a high standard in expectations for service but I do have a lot of understanding. I could see why dirty tables could be last on the priority list but at the same time as a customer/guest that's dining out, I don't appreciate looking at someone else's mess. We waited patiently while he finished with a couple, who sat right before us. It being Pho, we didn't need exactly a lot of time to decide what we wanted. By the time he came over with waters we were ready to order. Instead he instantly walked away to help another table. I'm not sure if she had sat before us or not. It didn't bother me that he walked away without helping us any further after the waters. What bothered me is when another table came in after us and he helped them first. After he was done their order he then came to us. My Boyfriend and I both ordered iced coffees. When he returned he did have 2 in his hands, but only one was for us. He walked away and gave the other to another table (which I understand, trying to multitask) but he walked away so quickly we had to get his attention to tell him we both ordered one. I could get nit picky and go into further detail how they mix the coffee unlike the other pho restaurants in the area and that my glass wasn't filled nearly as much as my boyfriends or that he drags his feet while he walks, very distracting; but I guess that is the last of my complaints. Finally, when I had ordered I had ordered a large. When it came out it was a regular. Honestly, I try not to complain but at this point I was pretty irritated by everything so I decided to say something. I asked him if it was large or a regular. I couldn't really understand what he was saying and I was trying to tell him I ordered a large. He walked away and came back with the original ticket order and said, you ordered a regular, showing me the ticket. Honestly, just because that's what the ticket says doesn't mean that's what I ordered. I kind of expected him to fix it so that I had a large in front of me. I finally just said it was fine. I realized he wasn't going to do much to fix the problem. I had been there before for Vietnamese sandwiches, which I was quite impressed with. My boyfriend were just looking for a pho restaurant and thought we'd try it out. Unfortunately after the experience here we decided we won't be back. I recommend you not to go here as well.
(1)Charisma Y.
This is my favorite pho place on the ave. I think there are roughly three of them?? The reason why I choose this place is because of its interior, their service, and their pho of course! It's not as small as the other pho places; there's actually room to walk around without having to ask other people to move their chairs. It's never packed so I don't have to wait for a table nor do servers have to rush with bussing tables. It's CLEAN inside. And whenever I ask for extra cilantro, they're happy to oblige.
(5)Mailani W.
This place needs to get it together. The space is way too big for their kitchen and staff. Expect to wait for a bowl of pho for 20 minutes if the table next to you ordered some bahn mi to go. Their staff is less than enthusiastic for your business. And to the dude w/the glasses, please learn how to use a tray. The one bowl out at a time, is a no-no sister. Pho is supposed to be a quick, casual meal if the restaurant is running a tight ship. Btw, DO NOT order to-go from this place! You can order a large, but expect the portions/broth to be exactly the same as a small! They still will charge you for a large though. Super shady! Goes all the way down to their basil that has went south with big black spots too. Unacceptable. To add insult to injury... My buddy's complimentary creme puff was just a puff of AIR! That is where I draw the line. Especially since you know their asses knew that when picking up a filled verses non. Please, get your shit together. It's embarrassing.
(2)Dante M.
Yummmm, nothing like some great Pho on a cold, clowdy day. My first Pho experience has been graced with Pho Tran, and it is hands down the best Pho I have ever had. On top of this, the large bowl comes to about 6 dollars with tax included. This 6 dollars goes a long way as it is a very healthy meal and fills me up substantially. All of the side garnishes are of high quality and very fresh, the broth is tasty, and the service is great as well. I would definitely recommend any Pho lovers to this establishment. But bring cash if you are eating by yourself, as they won't accept credit cards for purchases of under $10.
(5)Agi V.
Me and my boyfriend have spent many hangover sundays at this place and let me tell you : I have never had better pho!!! Super fast service, great tasting food, punch card and let's not forget the free Cream puffs!!! This place is great! In fact we are going there right now!
(5)ShmoHaw K.
I'm always interested in trying different Vietnamese restaurants, and especially their sandwiches. Here's why Pho Tran gets one star: Their prices posted on their menus outside the restaurant state completely different, cheaper prices than the higher prices listed indoors. All of their sandwiches, for example, are priced at $3 each on the outside menu. But, once you get inside the menu on the table lists the price at $3.75. The same is true for other items as well. On principle alone, I will NEVER eat at a restaurant engaging in this type of dishonest pricing. So, we left without even ordering. Secondly: when we went in this afternoon there was no one else eating in the restaurant. So, even if we had stayed, the food probably wouldn't have been that great anyway based on the apparent lack of interest in this place by the rest of the community.
(1)Taeyoung W.
Get a little more exercise and walk to the next closest pho restaurant if you're looking to eat pho. This pho place's pho isn't great at all. Also, I don't like the service that they have here as they rarely check up on you. However, their BBQ pork earned them an extra star! It's really good!
(2)Stella Y.
I walked in here because the regular pho restaurant I go to was closed and the seating looked comfortable. I was immediately taken aback when I saw that the regular (or small) sized bowl of noodles were $5.55 (a little higher than the other pho restaurants in the U-District). However, I did feel they gave out a decent portion of meat. The broth is on the sweeter side compared to other pho restaurants. The pho wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either. I do like that they accept credit cards (for a small fee) and the seating is spaced out nicely. If I go back, I'll probably opt out of the pho and try their rice dishes.
(3)Adam C.
Whoa, if I'd seen that a bug had appeared in someone's pho here, I might have thought twice... bugs in dishes are lunch du jour in Vietnam but are not quite as acceptable here. (However, who has ever seen a cockroach in Seattle other than at the Woodland Park Zoo? Dubious...) In any case, my naivete took me here where I enjoyed a fine bowl of pho for under $5. They even threw in a free cream puff, a la Than Bros. The coffee didn't steep at the table but was still tasty. My only complaint was that it took a few minutes to get our order in and that I just can't stomach Celine Dion.
(3)Christie J.
My coworkers and I came here this past weekend after one of them recommended the place. Not the best pho I've had, but the portion was decent and the cream puff was tasty (why do we get dessert first?). They were accomidating to me ordering the veggie pho with meat but it seemed to be lacking in the veggie department. I wouldn't drive across the water for the place, but if I was in the area I wouldn't resist going. Why are there so many pho places on this street? I will have to try the others next time.
(4)Jee Young Y.
I go to this place at least once a week or more! It's probably one of my favorite pho places ever. I looooove pho, and this place definitely is great. They give you a lot of noodles and meat! Other pho restaurants on the ave either give you a lot of broth that's too watery and little noodles, but pho tran has a good ratio. Great price for the amount they give. I've never really tried anything else on their menu except for their pho, but the pho is worth five stars! Highly recommend this place!
(5)Jason L.
A co-worker and I decided to head to Pho Tran on our lunch break. We got there and seated ourselves just as the lunch rush commenced. Not too much longer, the people that were seated after us began receiving their food first. Twenty minutes later and still no food. Part of the reason that people eat pho is because it's not only cheap, but fast...right? I digress. With only 15 minutes left of our lunch break, we tell one of the servers that we actually have to get it to-go now. Five minutes later, we get our food and just when I think we're going to be rung up, the server steps back into the kitchen and we have to wait another couple of minutes for someone else to come ring us up. So, we head back to work on empty stomachs, but at the very least I know I can enjoy my complimentary creme puff. I'm sure you guys can imagine my complete and utter disappointment when I bite into my creme puff and realize that there's no cream filling. I guess they're free for a reason.
(2)Suzanna F.
The pho here was pretty good. Not fantastic, but definitely not bad. They only have sizes regular, large, and extra large, but their regular is about the same as most restaurants small. What I didn't like was that the restaurant was essentially empty and so my "private" conversation was heard by all. It felt kind of... echoey. Also, my friend had to get up and pick up his cup before the waiter realized we needed more water. The good thing is they do take Visa and Mastercard unlike Pho Than Brothers down the street.
(3)Ninja S.
Just another Ave pho place. Not quite as good as many of the others. You can be assured of sub-standard pho if a place is trying to riff off the Tran's chain Sure. Anyone, I guess, can open a place, make some beef broth, boil up some noodles, and throw it in a bowl. That doesn't mean that you should actually do it though. This is not a ninja-approved pho venue. Keep on moving down the line.
(2)Irie A.
I wish I had gone to Than Bros. The noodles were in a large block at the bottom of the bowl of near & the meat was just lump on top of them in a bowl of near flavorless broth. I spent way too long trying to separate them so I could get a proper bite. I was never served any water. I only ate the cream puff after reading other Yelp reviews out of curiosity to see if there'd actually be cream. There was- I think that was the best part of my lunch.
(2)Natalie W.
I like their Veggie Bahn Mi! After trying a few on the Ave at other places I find myself coming back here for a quick lunch fix. Their veggie bahn mi is tofu with additions like dakon, carrot, cucumber, herbs, and mushrooms. The mushrooms are whole and taste like the ones in pho. It cost $4.13 with tax. The sandwich is not that large, but the ends up being really filling with a couple thick cutlets of tofu. The sandwich gets soggy as you eat it since some of the veggies are marinaded and they add a little bit of the normal bahn mi sauce. FYI's~ * They sell milk tea + bubble tea also- they just added green tea flavor * Bahn mi types= grilled chicken, pork, bbq pork, and tofu * Offer lots of pho option in regular, large, and extra large... which is as big as a tub- the bowl sizes are demonstrated by the register * Debit/Credit card purchases must be over $10
(4)Evil W.
This popular Pho place is authentic and deserving of a visit. Parking is on the street - beware the parking Nazis. The room inside is pretty large. Seating is ample and not too crowded. Ordering is almost immediate, and the food arrives very quickly. The pho and drinks are accompanied by a small cream puff - a nice additional touch that most places do not provide. The quality of the food was good - nothing to complain about, although I have had some that is richer. I'd say that the balance of the flavors here is a little different that elsewhere, but not bad. Pricing is reasonable, and service is excellent. I recommend this place if you're on Broadway and in the mood for some Vietnamese food.
(4)Crispina T.
I have been to numerous Pho places and I love this one. I especially like their portions. I love it when a soup bowl is fiiled with lots of noodles. I also love their cream puffs. It was to die for. Come and check this place out. You won't be sorry.
(4)Quynh-An P.
Not bad, not great either. Just pretty solid. I've definitely had worse pho and better pho. I do appreciate that they're open late, so we were able to grab dinner at around 9:40 pm. Although they did seem a bit annoyed by us coming in so late, and as soon as we sat down they quickly turned off the "OPEN" sign. A nice surprise was that the boyfriend and I were each given a mini cream puff for dessert. I'm a huge fan of my cream puffs, so I was really excited about this. Too bad they weren't that great...although they were better than the ones I had at Beard Papas (see that review for the full story there). They give out a punch card, and it's only 8 meals to get a free bowl of pho. Most places require 10 purchases for the free meal, so score on getting it 2 meals earlier. Note: I believe I read the menu stating that take out orders are charged more, so keep that in mind.
(3)Amy P.
Having been spoiled by the likes of Than Bro's on Pho, I have yet to venture into eating the pho offerings from Pho Tran. They are, however, the ONLY place I have found on the Ave. that sells Vietnamese sandwiches. (Update 1/31/09: Than Vi has them too!) I've been here twice this week and have been happy with the Tofu sandwich. A small loaf of crusty french bread (not fresh, but were you expecting that?) with stir-fried tofu, cucumbers, crunch lettuce, carrots and mushrooms. Dressed up with plum sauce and a sprinkle of Surachi sauce, the sandwich is a steal at $3.75
(3)Colin S.
Another good Ave Phö restaurant. Nothing different from any other one in the U-District, but it is the closest one to NE Campus Parkway and Lander/Terry Dorms.
(3)Linda J.
This place isn't bad at all. The service is pretty good and the staff pretty friendly. The pho isn't out of this world but the portions are nice and they don't skimp on the meat. You get those little cream puffs with your meal which is always nice :) I've gone a few times already and they have one of those punch cards. I look forward to getting my free pho one day.
(3)Shari d.
One extra star because they were the only Pho shop that I could find open past 9pm. In terms of quality a solid 2 stars...because if I think of all the Pho I have had in my lifetime I can honestly say I have experienced better. Late night Pho is one of my Achilles heels. I seem to crave it at odd hours and only when I can't find a restaurant open. While in the U district not too long ago I found myself craving a hot bowl of Pho at 9:45pm. I knew that Pho Cyclo was open until 10 but there was no way I was going to make it in time. I turned the corner and found Pho Tran open and was elated. I ordered it to go to make sure that I didn't take up extra time in the restaurant seeing as how they were about to close. The Pho was decent...a lot of cinnamon flavor which doesn't really bother me but doesn't really appeal to me either. The soup was boiling hot which was a plus but the Pho was $5.55 for regular size, plus $0.60 for take out. All in all I could have gotten a cheaper bowl that tasted better but I guess what do I expect when I have such an odd craving at an odd hour. They also did not give me the free cream puff that was promised with every order of Pho so that was a bit of a downer. I would go back...but only if I was in the area craving Pho at 9:45pm at night.
(3)Kristi F.
The bahn mi here are not the best, but it's one of the two places (Than Vi being the other) that I can find bahn mi close to my house in Wallingord. It works in a pinch, and it's pretty tasty. The bread could be fresher, and they are a little more expensive than the delis in the ID, but this is the U district, so it's expected. The pho is also just okay, I would consider going elsewhere. They have a punch card which is really cool-buy 9 bowls of soup and get one free! This is a great idea that I'm surprised no other places have picked up on. They also take cards, a nice convenience for us non-cash carrying eaters.
(4)Michelle F.
This was pretty dang tasty. I'm not gonna lie. Better than any other pho I've had on the Ave, that's for sure. Not the best ever ever ever, but definitely the best in the University district.
(5)Ema C.
The prices here are ridiculous for a bowl of plain rice noodles and a meager piece of vegetable! I came in this morning for my usual veggie pho and they were in the process of changing the menu prices on the tables. It now costs $5.55 for a regular bowl of pho! Then when I went to pay for my food, the cashier asked if I had cash! Uh, I did have enough but since they raised their prices, I had to pay extra for putting it on my card. LAME! $8.87 for a regular pho and an iced coffee is too much for not so much food when I can go to a buffet a few stores down for $7.99!
(2)Ron M.
Had a pork sandwich and pho. It was sub standard. I don't know what else to say. The waiter was friendly.
(2)Mike J.
I've had bahn mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) all over the west coast and in HCMC..... No real VN sandwich has lettuce and/or mayo in it.... I would expect that if the owners were not VN maybe this would happen, the were VN... is it bc it's a college town? Won't b back... It's not a burger, it's bahn mi, kinda...
(1)Bob C.
Probably the second best Pho on the Ave, behind Than Brothers. Pretty good, in my opinion.
(3)Chloe V.
I am so sad that this place is reviewed so low. There are at LEAST three great things about this place. 1. "Veggie" Beside the fact that veggie pho is not available everywhere, I LOVE a low veggies to noodles ratio. As its already been noted, there aren't THAT many vegetables in it. But I mean, it's like 4.98 for a regular bowl, I'm not expecting greatness. 2. Emptiness I don't go to Than Bros on the Ave because it is always full, and this one is like TWO steps away from Than Bros, the old stand by. 3. The Punch Card If only I didn't lose things so easily, I would have already gotten a few free meals from this place. In conclusion, I come here because it's empty, I stay because it has a cheap vegetarian option and feel obliged to come back because of the punch card.
(4)Angie K.
I'm a huge fan of Than Brothers, but my husband and I have started coming here on Friday nights sometimes when we want a cheap dinner between work and going somewhere. Reasons: They have food other than pho It's new and clean and spacious The pho is just as good The service is a little strange, and sometimes there is this kid working who looks like he got on the boat after the fall of Saigon and got stuck in a time warp in the Pacific Ocean, just getting off now, maintaining that ultra hipster look without even looking like he's trying. And he plays his 80's music really, really loud.
(4)Brian K.
compared to the other pho restaurants this one is subpar. go if you want a quieter cleaner environment, but for good pho check out the other places on the Ave.
(3)hung n.
I know college students are starving students so this may be the place for you. Imagine a Vietnamese version of 'Top Ramen' and this is what Pho Tran is.... Now, if you're not in college anymore, then go to the many other Pho houses in the city. This one's not so clean and just tastes ok. Leave this one for the students.
(2)Polly C.
I think Pho Tran is located on the Ave for a reason. It draws all the college students in the area who just want to grab something cheap and aren't picky about what they eat. It was new year's day, which happens to be the day everyone in Seattle eats pho to recover from their new year's eve hangover. We originally went to another pho place a few doors down, but the wait was too long and we were really hungry so we decided to go to Pho Tran instead to try it out. The service was very slow and I think they even had a 10 year old boy waiting tables. The broth was also very tasteless. I wouldn't even call it pho but more like tap water with some noodle sprinkled with beef on top. The creampuff that came with our meal was awfully soggy and I actually feel embarassed for the owners for even serving something so unappealing to their customers. I will definitely cross this place off my list of places to go back to. For college students who are looking for a cheap meal, avoid this place because there are plenty of other options on the Ave!
(1)Emily N.
I had the veggie pho. It tasted great and the bowl was full of bright fresh vegetables and tofu. good price!! oh and the little cream puff at the end was such a nice treat too.
(4)Michelle D.
As I first walked in, there was no customer service to sit us at a table. The speed of service was pretty fast, it is pho. One major thing i did notice was when the pho arrived, all the noodles were stuck together in one clump as if they took the noodles right out of the freezer and put it in the broth. On a positive note, they give a complimentary cream puff with each bowl of pho. I would recommend this place if you are in a hurry, because this place is usually pretty empty. Otherwise, I would suggest finding another pho restaurant on the ave.
(3)Erin G.
The pho is so so, but they get one star for their completely uneatable sandwiches. They are TERRIBLE. I bought a tofu sandwich, spicy. I took one bit and tossed it, and I was really hungry. The spiciness was good, everything else was so bad it almost made be cry, because, as I said, I was so hungry. If you are looking for a Vietnamese sandwich and this is the only place open that seems to have them, as was in my case, pick a different food item rather than giving it a try. I promise you, you will be better off. As for me, I am writing this while still really hungry and sort of pissed off that I just had to toss a sandwich...how do these places stay in business?
(1)Paula R.
Pho Tour 2008 continued into 2009 with a stop at Pho Tran in the U-Dist. I wish I would have known that I would have been stopping and taking a right onto Yuck-o Avenue because it was Pho-King terrible. Would it kill ya to throw more than 1 1/2 teeny tiny green onions in there? Is it too much to ask that maybe two or 12 sprigs of cilantro be included instead of one? Could you maybe open up a window or something so it doesn't feel like I'm sitting in a pho steam bath when I walk in? Was that beef jerky in my mouth, shoe leather, or the "well done beef" that was written on the menu? If the basil was any more bruised, it could have been sucked through a straw. The only saving graces was that the service was nice and there was a delish pastry puff included. It was so terrible that Pho Than Brothers a couple doors down would have been an improvement - WHOA! That's bad . . . .
(2)Becky B.
Omg. If I had seen the review about the cockroach being in the food before I came here, there wouldn't be a need for this review. GROSS. I came here thinking Pho would be yummy, and a perfectly acceptable place to eat by yourself while reading a good book. I thought, Pho Than, or Pho Tran? They're both next to each other, I might as well give the smaller place some more business. What's the difference, right? WRONG. I got the veggie pho and green tea. My small as tits bowl came with like 2 pieces of raw, not steamed broccoli, 5 thin triangles of tofu, two whole magic mushroom-lookin' things, and a hunk of noodles. VEGGIE pho implies VEGGIES. And STEAMED veggies at that. I must be spoiled with my lunchtime spot Pho and Bubble Tea Express, which is jam packed with veggies and huge hunks of soft tofu. Plus, the broth was darker than I'm used to, tasted more ginger-y, and I had a faint stomach ache after eating. Pho never gives me tummy aches. A couple minutes AFTER my pho arrived, my tea arrived, IN A GLASS. A drinking glass. A friggin GLASS drinking GLASS. Hot water + glass = hot hot hot. I had to wrap napkins around the glass just to drink it. Who serves tea in a drinking glass? The only "alright" part about this place is the little cream puff that probably was 90 years old. Tasty. Plus side is, I didn't have to tip because their debit signing slip doesn't have a tip line. Score. I wouldn't have tipped anyway.
(1)Jian Pang G.
The ladies (servers) were very nice. Even I asked them to steam my spouts they did with no complain. The soup seem very plain maybe because there is no MSG. But still wish the soup was stronger. Overall they gave a decent amount of food for a regular (5.55).
(3)Jarrod L.
The broth is bland, the quantity of meat is small, and the sizes are all one smaller than other places (e.g. a large here is a regular at others).
(2)Sutee D.
Not sure why there's such a huge discrepancy between this place and Than brothers. I think the Pho here is better. The soup base is more colorful and richer. The meatballs were probably the best I've had. The prices are really good, and the people who own the restaurant are very nice. The menu offers more variety in terms of what goes in your Pho than Than Brothers, but I do wish there were appetizers.
(4)Gary H.
I don't get this place. A friend of mine told me about a place with good Vietnamese sandwiches, and I accidentally went to Pho Tran thinking it was the place. It was not. This is my story: Outside is a huge banner that says "Vietnamese Sandwich:" followed by a price that was wiped off or something yet still somewhat visible. I go in and order a beef sandwich. That's it. Pretty typical right? I guess not. No beef sandwiches. Okay, for a place sporting a GIANT sign advertising their sandwiches, they sure have a TINY selection. It's not like every other Vietnamese place I've ever been to didn't have beef, probably the most abundant meat on the planet next to chicken. Okay, whatever. Not a big deal right? So I order a different sandwich instead. Then I find out that the price is more than the weird sign outside kind-of advertises, although I guess the price part wasn't supposed to be visible anymore or something. Anyways, I wait. I wait some more. I get my overpriced not-beef sandwich and leave. It wasn't that great. On top of it, the place is gloomy inside and the guy working looks like he doesn't want to be there. My first time visiting was also my last time visiting. Do not want.
(1)Pendleton F.
Pho Tran Definitely an inferior species of Pho, and that's bad news when you're a few feet or a few blocks from many competing Pho places. The owner/employee is very nice and kind, but when it comes to judgment time, when I sit down and say "Which one will be my regular Pho joint" it's going to be dependent on the atmosphere and above all the Pho at hand. As far as the restaurant feels, it's a little less "abandoned hospital" feeling than the Pho Brothers down the Ave a bit, but doesn't feel like a real dive should. It's a cross between a worn down Subway and a Denny's in character, and doesn't have any of the warm, claustrophobic quality I dig in tiny Asian restaurants on the Ave. The Pho is mediocre to be sure. The broth is fine, the basil/sprouts/peppers are somewhat on the meager side, and the condiments are limited to plum sauce and sri racha, but the real issue for us was the noodles. I'm used to the noodles swimming a little more freely around the bowl, usually under a cover of beef or cloudy broth, but these looked like they were in their pre-soak brick form. I had to work pretty hard to break them up for eating, otherwise I'd be taking the full fist sized noodle matrix at once. The flavor was good, but not stellar, and the beef was similarly pasted together, necessitating delicate surgery to unlayer the individual slices for more even distribution. It was quite a lot of work, just for eating a Pho Bowl. Let it be said that Pho Tran's cream puff is exactly how it should be done. A fluffy, semi-sweet exterior, and than an explosion of custard on the inside. No a drop nor a dallop, not a mere squeeze or squish of custard. No, this cream puff was ready to burst, and I had to euthanize in the name of sweet, sweet deliciousness. Sadly, a cream puff is not enough to make this the main Pho draw on the Ave.
(2)Roku T.
it's cold out there, it's been raining for days in seattle. naturally, i went to pho tran. 1. the noodle soup came. i gave the raw meat a nice warm noodle blanket. several minutes passed, the meat was still pink and frozen. why are the meat still pink? shouldn't they be fully "cooked" by now? 2. i decided to sip on broth while i wait my food to be fully cooked. that's when i saw a black thing swimming in the bowl. .....that's right, my friend. it was a baby *cockroach* floating in my soup! 3. i told the server "i can't eat this". he said "i'm sorry", and he charged me for full price. i threw away the punch card.
(1)Ray I.
The broth here isn't gross. Idk what it is but it tastes really off and weird.
(1)Nicole L.
Love this place. Plus no MSG!!!
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