PHO 38th
3815 S Steele St,Ste G, Tacoma, WA, 98409
PHO 38th Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Tacoma for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tacoma for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tacoma for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
3815 S Steele St,Ste G
Tacoma, WA, 98409 - Phone (253) 475-3700
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 10
- Mon : 10:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
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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Monica K.
I actually prefer to give no stars at all, and a zero. All of this goes to how the service was treated. My older aunt, 2 cousins, my boyfriend and I all came to eat because we were pretty hungry for a nice meal. It was my aunt's treat for my boyfriend and I who was traveling a long way from Oregon. We came in, and the restaurant was 70% packed with customers. There were many tables that were needed to be bussed, despite the fact that there were about 2-3 waiter/waitress/cashiers up in the front. Maybe we came at the wrong time, but likewise -- after 3 minutes standing where we entered, we were brought to a table of 8 that was busy being cleaned up. We stood around the table, leaving a lot of space for it to be bussed. Despite waiting for the table to be cleaned, we were finally able to sit down. Menus were ready in front of us, and our waiter was gone. After our table has figured what to get, I raised my hand for one of the waiters/waitress to come and aide our orders. Yet that we expected, we were ignored, and a family of 3 that came after us, were seated the table close to ours --- was already getting their orders down, and even water was served. That's pretty awesome for my sense of patience. Finally, after about 8-10 more minutes, the manager, or owner came to take our orders... Not only were we updated with what's going on, but we had to wait an extra 15-30 minutes for our food... In honest truth, maybe it is because they were understaffed, or maybe it's because of new management...but there were not much customers eating at the time my group of family went, so any complications should at least be informed to the waiting customer. The place is small, and wide enough. In term of food, most of us ordered the Pho special. The broth was not that special.. a hint of spices that you can taste. The noodle saved it by a little -- but that's pretty much it. Their bubble tea is not bad, the bubbles/tapioca tasted pretty fresh..at least that's one good thing. I don't even know if I should dine in again or not. But I will take a chance to go see if has improved.
(1)Nora B.
Another amazing Pho restaurant in Tacoma! They're always friendly, open late, and good pricing. The soup tastes great of course. My favorite part? There's a Half Price Books next door!
(5)Jacqueline L.
I have similar comments as a lot of people. I got the brisket pho, the broth was delicious and the bubble tea was great, the tapioca balls were close to perfect. Unfortunately, everything but the broth for the pho was pretty lackluster, and I just wish the staff would smile a little! I'm always really polite and friendly when I go to restaurants so it kinda puts a damper on my meal if the waitress and cashier seem like they can't stand you.
(3)Norma A.
A totally different experience than Pho in California. This location lacked the Vietnamese feel, with a menu that has chicken and fries and fried rice trays and Korean dishes I wasn't sure if the food would be good. I saw they had sandwiches and thought that they were the Ban Mi. The sandwich was good but not what I expected. I ordered the Ham (which is cha lua - it was super thin sliced) and Fried Tofu. I thought the combo of both was great but the amount of ham was skimpy. It also lacked the pate which authentic Ban Mi have. Overall, I would come back for the sandwiches.
(3)Chris L.
A very disappointing experience. The service was the worst I have ever encountered. I ordered beef and carrot soup, which was fine. But although I had told the server that I cannot eat wheat, the soup appeared to be full of wheat, not rice, noodles. My husband ordered a Korean pork dish, and was served extremely overcooked beef instead, flanked by three types of banchan which were, in order of grossness, 1st - uninspired, 2nd-bad, and 3rd-downright nasty. We were never able to resolve these issues because even though it was not busy at 2:30 p.m. (there were six employees and only four tables) NO ONE EVER CAME BACK after plunking down the food. Even though my husband was soon not touching his meal. Even when I began picking out the questionable noodles and piling them on the condiment plate and then, when it filled up, the table. Unbelievable.
(1)Benjamin O.
Average pho, decent prices, poor service but what Pho place doesn't have poor service? You get your food, eat and leave. We only come here at night now, we've tried lunch here a few times and it is nowhere near as good as dinner is, maybe the cooks are different. There might be better in the area but this one is the closest.
(3)N. N.
Best broth in my humble opinion! The staff are pretty friendly too. I like their smokes hot sauce a lot. Too bad I live a little too far from this place otherwise I would go there more often. I love their fried spring roll.
(5)Danielle F.
I am very torn as to what type of star rating to give this restaurant. On one hand, the food was authentic, but also very average. Service was average. Look and feel of the whole restaurant also was not incredibly impressive. Price wasn't too bad though. On the other hand, the iced Thai latte with tapioca pearls was amazing. I am a snob when it comes to my tea, but the pearls were exactly the right consistency and flavor and the Thai tea had just the right amount of sweetness. My advice is, if you're looking for a great bubble drink, come here. If you're looking for a great restaurant, keep looking.
(3)Stacy M.
The pho is pretty good. Not the best I've had, but far from the worst. My love and I have eaten here a total of three times, each visit with several months in between. I always order extra lime and cilantro with my pho, and on our most recent visit, the server remembered me and brought me a plate of the extras before I even had to ask. I was very pleasantly surprised that she remembered, considering we haven't been there since about October or November. I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)Martelle O.
This was the first time I have been here. They were fairly busy when I arrived and were a little slow to get to the table but once we ordered our food the service was quick and we were served very quickly. The Pho#5 was good, excellent flavor, fresh basil and sprouts, my only complaint was the meat was not the best quality, it was a little fatty. The spring rolls and egg rolls were excellent and fresh. Overall it was a good meal, I would go back.
(4)Cynthia C.
This place I would recommend this to all my friends and family if the want some pho. They have other option to not just pho and it's a great place to take your kids they are friendly...
(5)Corinne P.
I was very impressed with this place. My husband and I walked in and I was surprised how spacious it was. I would have given 5 stars but the service was extremely slow. The guy took his sweet time to come over and take our order.... Oh well... broth was still amazing, I'll give it another shot.
(4)Brenna F.
Bad service, dirty restaurant, cold and gross food. Need I say more. I will not be returning.
(1)Nakia C.
This is the first time I have tried this particular Pho Tai restaurant. It was just ok. The pho was good. I really wanted to try the seafood pho, but it has imitation crab in it so I decided on the regular beef. I don't think I will try this place again.
(2)Devin F.
I really liked this place a lot , been going here for about a year now with friends. They do have the best pho I've had, and I've been to a couple places. But I've noticed lately that I've become sick after I eat there. stomach up set and just sick feeling. My friend has the same issue, so I know its not just me. But you cant go wrong with the price pretty good when you can get away with a meal for two for $12 Bucks'. But not worth the feeling after. Also noticed that the noodles in the chicken pho is different now. The broth has to be the best though for sure! The two stars is for the service, its just plan sucks. They are very rude, take their time to take your order. And if you order a drink, you get it in the middle of your meal. I get that they are busy sometimes but they have a large staff, no excuse. Wish they would go back to the way it was. Going to try to stop eating there!
(2)Corinne M.
They seem to attract a variety of people to this place, it's usually what I look for when I'm eating ethnic foods. The food was well priced, they had a large variety of options to choose from, they were very fast to great, and serve us. The food was very warm, although it was good, and was decent for the price, it was not top of the line pho, I should know, I eat pho at different places almost every week. If I'm in the area or on a budget, I will go back there, but I won't drive any distance out of my way to go there. The "shareable" items on the table were sticky, they could use a really good wipe down, not the cleanest place either.
(3)Charmaine D.
With all the Pho places located in this area, this establishment is definitely not one of the best. I ordered the basic beef Pho and the soup was really stale and bland. I also ordered the "spicy shrimp wide noodles" and it was not spicy and was filled with onions and celery instead of noodles. For some reason, I just have a strange "yuck" feeling about this place and I don't think I will be ordering from them again.
(2)S. W.
Not all that but decent. Alot of choices to choose from. The moment I sat down within maybe 5-10 min the servers came over and ask what I wanted to order. They proceeded to do that every 1-2 min or so and even stood at the table waiting until I told her, when I am ready I will let her know. There is no need to come every one min, I felt like she was trying to rush me. I don't like the service or atmosphere but the food is ok, I guess depends on who's cooking. I've had dried up porkchop before and it was gross.
(3)Kiriaki D.
I've only eaten here once and I swore I would never do that to myself again. I am Vietnamese but I don't know how to cook authentic Pho and seeing as how none of my family is near by, I rely on good Vietnamese restaurants to get my fix. I ended up leaving this place, along with my full Bowl of soup (it was not appetizing in any way), unhappy and hungry.
(1)Katrina W.
I had the pho ga ( chicken ) and the chicken wasn't too fatty, I only had to pull fat off a couple pieces. I was surprised to see two other types of pho I wanted to try, (vegetable and broccoli with gyoza) having a very limited pho palate. We were offered tea, which I don't find happens very often at most pho places I go. They also had yummy looking appetizers and bacon fried rice for our return trip! This may be my favorite pho place now!
(4)Kim P.
I am a regular here, seeing how this was the first Pho place I tried when I moved to Tacoma and it has pretty much been on point. My idea of a good pho place really depends a just a couple key factors, the broth and the meat. If I see alot of grease floating in the broth, it's a no go for me and secondly I always order the pho tai, (raw beef) and I better see some pink still when I get my bowl! Another key factor is the service but that's a must with any establishment. Seeing how a Pho restaurant should have all the essentials I don't expect to wait too long. The spring rolls are deelicious here and there peanut sauce is the BEST so far!!! I like the bubble tea here as well, but I'm not picky when it comes to that. There cafe su da is yummy too:) I've tried a couple of the other dishes they offer such as the shrimp fried rice since my Hubby orders it and also the Korean rice bowls.... the kimchee is sub-par, they don't use napa cabbage:( I think I want to try the Vietnamese sandwiches next time but I say that alot and always end up with pho!
(4)Mikal W.
So far this place has to be one of thee if not the worst Pho I have ever had. It started off with bad service. Two different tables got their order before my wife and I, we had even ordered before they even arrived!! All I got was a small combo Pho and the wifey got a salad... What the crap would take them that long?? The bad service just annoyed me a little bit, but when my Pho came I was baffled. I could almost see the bottom of my bowl due to a lack of ingredients but mostly due to the water/broth they tried to serve me. I was shocked, so I just tasted the broth alone to see.... Wow, it barely tasted like watered down Campbells beef broth. It was horrible, I had to add copious amounts of other stuff to make it edible. I actually used half of the container that had the hot pepper paste and tons of Siracha. To be honest Ramen beef broth had this beat! It was supposed to have tendon, which I literally got tendon..One flippin piece! I have been here before and it was already at the bottom of my Pho picks but due to location we just came here... The absolute worst part though was the DEAD MOLDY FLIES EVERYWHERE!! Seriously? I know Asian joints are not the cleanest, but DEAD MOLDY FLIES, right next to where we were sitting?! I think not, and please don't try and pull that extra protein line! This place only legitimizes the fact that when you know somewhere that is great than take no substitutes, either go to the best or don't go at all. I have had Pho most of my life so I know what I am talking about, I have Vietnamese friends who lived in Vietnam and have made it their whole life. Needless to say neither my Vietnamese friends or I will ever be coming back!
(1)Ronnie E.
Thai tea: tapioca balls were stale and hardened. Steamed gyoza: dry like it's been sitting out and definitely not fresh. Pork noodle salad (vermicelli): not presented with the normal accoutrements that normally come with any Vietnamese noodle dish. The pork was overcooked and had the consistency of jerky. The spoons seemed to have dried food bits on them. I'm sure they were clean but it didn't really look like it. Also, the menu is too large and mixed for a pho joint. I like Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean food, but not all on one menu. I'd rather see less distractions so they could focus on the namesake of the restaurant.
(2)Cindy F.
It's a totally pretty good pho. Massive orders, fast and tasty broth. Spring roll was ok. I bit bland, could have used a little something extra but good peanut sauce.
(4)Kay R.
My first and my last time ill ever eat here!!! FLIES in the soup.. Although the soup was very good my stomach turned once I noticed mosquito-like fly.
(1)Michael K.
While the restaurant itself is very simple, and the ambiance is nothing to really speak of, the food itseld was delicious. This is the Pho joint of choice for two of my friends who eat Pho very regularly, so I gave in and tagged along. More notably even then the food, perhaps, is the fact that the food was ready in about 4 minutes (no joke), and there were at least 10-15 other tables with people. Nothing short of a miracle when it comes to speedy service. Because I'm a creature of habit, I had: Spicy Chicken - It was really good. The chicken was tender and not chewy, and there was tons of it. The sauce was fantastically spicy - no need for either the regular or hot sriracha's. The rice was perfectly cooked and they give you a ton of it. Even the salad was so good I ate pretty much all of it, which was two parts I liked it and one part I was kinda drunk and may have forgotten salad is good for me. Anyways, the dish was great, and for 8 bucks, it was a superb deal. Vietnamese Egg Roll - This was included in the 8 dollar price, and omg was it perfect. I almost want to give this place a 5 simply because the egg roll ranks in the top two, short only to another Viet egg roll I used to get in Minnesota... And that one only wins because it was the size of a football. The preparation of it is perfect, so crispy on the outside, loaded with delicious fillings and plenty of spice, which is really the kicker. Plus, whatever the sauce was that it came with... possibly soy sauce, general tsao, sriracha, whip cream, pancakes, and diamonds... It was great. Egg roll for the win. 5/5 price 4/5 ambiance 4/5 food 6/5 egg roll
(4)Cynthia R.
Eh, a suitable substitution for when I don't have time to get out to Pho Hoa but nothing to write home about. The service is consistently horrid!! I had to flag down the waitress to get a drink refill. After several attempts she finally came over for my refill. When she returned she only filled my cup halfway!! She ran off before I could say anything. Service is annoying enough to keep me from going back but food is good enough to put up with it once in awhile.
(3)Sue H.
I can only really speak for the bahn mi here. It's really good and I like it. I've had the pho too. It's just okay. There are places that do it better.
(3)Kay Y.
I pretty much am addicted to Pho 38th. My husband turned me on to Pho and I can't get enough. I have been trying out different broths, but this place has it down. They are pretty busy most of the week, but Sundays are slower. Very good experience and the soup is served fast.
(5)George P.
We like Pho 38 for the sandwiches and carrot stew, but prefer other places for Pho and other Viet Namese dishes.
(3)Allen B.
I didn't know which sauce to put on my food because they didn't have the containers labled. Tasted the tall one. OK, hoisin. Medium one. Good, Soysauce. Short one. FISH SAUCE. Gagged. Almost upchucked all over the table. PULEEZE lable your sauces. Not a Pho expert so I got Chicken w/broccoli and 2 spring rolls, one beef one chicken. Considering theres a Pho catagory called "for the adventurous" THAT scared me off. The majority of the food isn't all bad but the beef in the spring roll tasted like someone sprayed hairspray on it. Overextended menu w/pushy, unfriendly service. But the beverages are good and the prices certainly won't break the bank so add a 1/2 star.
(2)Angel L.
Pho...ok Bun Bo Hue ok Spring rolls.. cold and old Nothing special
(2)Erron B.
One of the top Pho restaurants I have ever been to. They have a lot of seating, well-staffed, and are very quick and organized. The prices are reasonable, their menu is larger than any Pho restaurant I've ever seen, and their food is very nice. I have usually order the pork noodle salad, which is very delicious, and it comes with a nice bowl of fish sauce (some restaurants only give a tiny ramekin). Very good Vietnamese Sandwiches for only $4.25! Definitely check it out!
(5)Tim H.
Very good pho, and very good and affordable sandwich. Very generous portions and veggie sides for the pho. Good broth, chicken pieces were slightly fatty, more than most places. Overall, very good pho quality. Extremely quick service and courteous staff.
(4)Ranny K.
Korean food at a Vietnamese restaurant. Say wha? You're probably thinking. Well, at Pho 38th, they have a Korean menu included with their already extensive Vietnamese options. Although it's owned by Koreans, they hire only Vietnamese cooks and servers (brilliant, right? Keep overhead low). Unfortunately, they're keeping costs low with their pho too. My Mom and I ate here today. I ordered a Korean bimimpap rice dish. Very good price for Korean food. As for my Mom, she wanted pho. You can have it so many ways, but she chose the "adventurer's option" with everything in it. This was what I use to order everyday when I use to go there every-day, and it was good...back in the day. Then the quality started going downhill, and it's been there since. My Mom didn't like it. I don't go there for the pho so it gets 4 stars. They have other stuff on the menu that is delicious. Plus, they have great sandwiches (aka banh mi) and really good shakes/bubble tea in all sorts of flavors. And it's still decently priced. It's strange to me that it's called "Pho" 38th when everything BUT the pho is good.
(4)Kari-lynn F.
Delicious! The broth doesn't need all the doctoring that some Pierce County Pho broths require . This broth can definitely stand on its own! Nice surprise!
(4)David C.
Coming from Philadelphia, I've experienced all different kinds of Pho. This includes the good and the bad. And I can definitely tell you all that this place is on the good side. The waitress was very kind and my order came out pretty fast,. I was skeptical at first because the pictures on the menu portrayed small portions. However, upon receiving my large #7, I was quite surprised. The soup was tasty and there was a generous amount of meat. The bean sprouts were also fresh and crunchy. With this being the first Pho restaurant I've eaten at in the state of Washington, I am quite pleased. I will be definitely venturing back here whenever I have a craving for Pho.
(4)Tigris W.
BEST pho in Tacoma. Super cheap prices, FAST service and sooooo yummy!
(5)Jackie G.
It's okay here. There was alot of business traffic for lunch which is always good sign. Looks like alot of people are doing the healthier food thing these days. I still find that the PHO place down in Tukwila is the best, and I've tried PHO in about 5 different places. The price is always the same for Med or Lrg..most places don't have a small. $5.99 and you can easily share 1 with somebody else. Plenty in the bowl. I would come back here in a minute since it's closer to me than the Tukwila restaurant. So....if you ever get to Tacoma near the REI..you should stop into this PHO joint. You won't be disappointed. It's as good as anywhere else. The ambiance is just so so but at least I didn't seek to find mold or flies like the other person who left a review. I've seen worse and definitely better. no place is perfect and if you go to Vietnam and eat PHO, I can only imagine how much dirt and nasties would be around. We have a fear of a little dirt here in the US. It won't kill me...probably won't kill you either. :)
(3)Lovely V.
There were two of us and the waitress only gave us one menu; she did not give us time to order and asked if we were ready to order 5 times in ten minutes. The water they gave us HAD SPICES IN IT-THE WATER LOOKED LIKED PEPPER. I asked for a discount, if the water was dirty what else was dirty? That is a reasonable argument to me. The manager was mad at that and gave us a $2 discount. Bad service, place is not clean, and not very friendly.
(1)megan k.
Just went last night, and for I had forgotten how much I love this place. Seriously love it. The broth is tasty, perfect ratio of noodle to extras. In response to some of the reviews about the staff, from what I can see for a lot of the employees english is a second language and leave their dialogue short. Example, my boyfriend always asks for modifications (they will not do that for you here), their response is "No" not "Of course" or "Sorry we don't do that". Not rude, just short. The decor is god awful. It's literally in some business building with corporate business carpet and flourecent lighting. But, this place is cheep and open late. Extremely fast service.
(4)Darren L.
Food is okay and waiter service is poor! They seems to be more polite to American compare to Asian people.
(2)Khristian V.
The pho was pretty good, place was packed. We ate here pre-vegan days, I don't think the tofu pho broth is vegetarian, but don't quote me on that. We had pretty awful service to be honest. I usually take into account how busy it is, but it took 3 requests to get one drink, water was never refilled, and the server wasn't busy, because they were just standing in the back chatting. The pho was the saving grace from a 1 star.
(2)Irene Y.
Need fast food, and don't really want "fast food." Come to Pho 38th. You'll receive your food and your check at the same time, all in the matter of about 5 minutes within ordering. Call me weird, but I kind of like it that way, especially if you only have a 30 min or a 1-hour lunch break. Quick tip: In order for this to work, know what you want AHEAD of time before they first come to your table. Pho 38th is probably one of the best places I've tasted Pho. The food never seems to disappoint, and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. If you're not craving Pho then you're in luck, they have quite a menu selection. Whenever I come here, I always order #20. Within that bowl of broth, comes with the perfect amount of Brisket, and noodles. To top it off, it comes with onions and cilantro, giving it an extra bit of flavor. Before receiving the Pho, they bring out a small plate of bean sprouts, basil, jalapeños, and lime to throw in your Pho. And boy, I use them all! I also order the Fresh Spring Rolls. It's a pretty decent size, and comes with a delicious peanut sauce. (The parking lot could be a problem sometimes. Pho 38th is located within a small shopping center, that shares parking with Red Robins, Verizon, Once Upon a Child, the Dollar Store, Half Price Books, etc. Just be prepared!)
(4)April M.
I never ate pho before moving here to tacoma and this place made me fall in love with it. I always get it with brisket and its tasty. The broth is always on point and the cilantro and onions compliment the pho perfectly. I have tried a few other places and this one is my fave for the time being. Also you can't beat the prices.
(4)Danielle D.
Fast Friendly Service, eaten here often, seems each time the pho has a different taste sometimes good sometimes bad. But a place i choose when close by.
(3)K D.
Go here if you need a pho-fix, and everything is closed. Otherwise, go elsewhere. Even better, just wait. The pho is not terrible, but it isn't memorable. I prefer Than Brothers and Vien Dong! The service is terrible- *absolutely terrible*. I have been here numerous times. The pho is suitable to eat, it isn't bad or anything, but there are tastier places to go, and where you will be treated better. Water refills? Haha. No. Need something? Good luck asking a waitress. I asked for a fork and knife so I can cut my toddler's noodles. She pointed to the station where the flatware is stored way across the dining room- I had to get it. Awkward? Yeah. Whenever we order appetizers, they are always served right along, or after, the pho arrives. All of the above has happened numerous times to us- we didn't just come here a few times. I will never go here again. I'd rather eat packaged ramen than deal with the crap service with mediocre pho.
(1)J J A.
Quick, casual....Always great
(4)Joy L.
This is the only place I go for PHO. I have tried others and it just doesn't taste right to me. The service is so so. There is the guy waiter that isn't friendly at all. But the ladies are super nice. There is the one lady that is there almost everyday, she is the best! It's the cooks that serve the food, and when you ask for a fork, sometimes you don't get one, I think this is because they don't speak good English. If you order PHO it comes pretty fast. If you order PHO salad it takes a little longer. Then if you order a meal plate, that takes about the normal time because they do have to cook it. Over all best PHO, besides home made PHO, I have had.
(5)Steve F.
Quick with good prices. Goi cuon seems like it could be fresher sometimes. The soups are all good. Bahn mi is not too good and overpriced. Still no dive like this in Gig Harbor so I do find myself paying the toll when I get a craving.
(3)Joey e.
Ive been here once and didn't like like it. but decided to give it another try. my husband and i was totally have a Pho craving. the waitress was really nice. she was a little shock to hear me speak Vietnamese because i don't look Vietnamese. but we got our food and tho Pho is decent here, they give you alot of meat. the only thing that my husband and i agreed on is that the soup could use a little flavor. its a tad bit bland for me. not bland as in add more salt. bland as in add more flavor. other than that try it out. our favorite Pho is still Pho to chau in renton!!
(3)Kevin S.
One of the best Pho experiences that I've had.
(5)Simon P.
Perfect for lunch. In contrast to many pho shops, the bowl I got was full of meat. I got a spring roll on the side, also very good.
(4)John K.
Picked her nose!!!! The waitress picked her nose right in front of me while I was paying my bill. Yikes. It was a deep nostril penetration.
(2)Dan M.
This place doesn't look like much. Actually, it looks pretty gross. They seriously need to tear out their carpeting. It's disgusting. I feel like I have to intentionally avert my eyes from it to avoid being grossed out by it. And the staff are usually surly, or at least not overly friendly. But there are always people eating in here; at lunch time it gets packed. Why? Good, cheap food. I'll come in here on my dinner break from work for a cheap pork bánh mì. They're good, with lots of filling: vegetables, a tangy-sweet sauce, and lots of tasty marinated meat. My GF usually gets the pho and likes it enough to get it every time. (I don't like pho, so I'll have to let the fact that she orders it every time we visit speak for itself.) Their menu has all kinds of dishes (with helpful photos for the uninitiated) and is printed in English, Vietnamese, and Korean. I'd give this place a try; it might not be for you, but if you like it, you'll probably be back over and over again.
(3)Marc P.
I tend to end up at this place alot because its open late and right by REI. As you walk in the place it kinda looks like a dump. However when it comes to certain foods its the food I'm intersted in and not the decor. The menu had a good selection and the price was cheap for a full dinner. After going to afew places I have to say the Pho is really tasty though not always consistent (sometimes its super, other times its bleh). Overall my girlfriend and I still love going there and its always great for a quick vietnamese fix before shopping for outdoor gear.
(3)Isabel C.
After going to many different Vietnamese restaurants around Tacoma, Pho 38th is easily my favorite. Their pho has the perfect amount of noodles to beef to broth and you're given plenty of sides to throw in it as extra. Their menu is huge, and includes some Korean, Chinese, and American (french fries, an interesting choice) dishes as well. I've tried probably about 15-20 different menu items, and I've barely made a dent in the choices. My favorite thing to get is the raw beef pho and a spring roll. Let me just say, that these spring rolls are fantastic. They always come out very quickly and super hot. I also enjoy the different Korean items they have (try K2 which is bee bim bop or one of the lettuce wraps), especially the pork which they manage to grill deliciously. And of course, the pho, which never disappointments me. As for people's negative reactions to the wait staff, I haven't encountered a problem. They have always been attentive to me and my friends. Over all, Pho 38th is a great place for a small or large group. The food is served quick and hot and all for a very fair price. I don't think I'll ever grow tired of going here.
(4)Michele B.
After reading the recent review from Michael K. I decided to give this place a try. I talked a co-worker into going with me at noon for lunch and the place was packed. We were able to get two spots at the end of a long table. It was a nasty day outside so pho was a perfect choice. We both went for the rare beef and brisket. I also ordered a side of tofu. It was nice, clean, and well lit inside unlike my previous visits to pho places on 38th and off of South Tacoma Way. I would say it was a good, nothing spectacular, safe bet if you are looking for pho.
(4)Tasha M.
"I won't be back. Ever." Famous last words. I should have taken my own advice and stayed as far away from this place as possible, but when most places in the area close at 9 and a neon pho sign is shining at 9:20, standards go out the window and crazy things happen. Friend: Oooh! Pho! Me: Nope. No way. Friend: C'mon... you LOVE pho. It's oooopen. Me: Yeah, but it's gross there. Believe me, I've tried it. Friend: It can't be THAT bad. C'mon! Me: Please no? Friend: C'MON! Me: ... fine. I was hungry, running out of options, and obviously, defeated. We headed in with forty minutes to spare before closing and sat ourselves at a table. We told the unfriendly waitress the numbers we wanted and waited only a few minutes before our orders arrived at the table. There were other groups dining as well, so it seemed a bit rude when one of the staff members turned on the vacuum cleaner and proceeded to clean the entire restaurant. It was incredibly difficult to have a conversation over the loud "VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!" echoing throughout the room. Is it really necessary to vacuum when you have customers trying to enjoy their dining experience? Not cool, guys. I already expected gross pho. I had very low expectations, so I wasn't surprised by the poor quality meal I received. I ordered raw beef pho with a spring roll. Gummy noodles that were hard to chew, flavorless broth, not worth the five bucks I paid. But it WAS pretty funny watching my friend eat: Taste the broth. Squirt sriracha. Taste again. More sriracha and a bit of hoisen. Taste. Shrug. Slurp noodles. Drink broth. More sriracha and generous additions of fish sauce. Taste. More fish sauce. Chomp a few pieces of meat. Slurp noodles. Add more sauces. Taste. Look quizzically at the bowl. Slurp. Give up. Friend: I'm full. Me: Psh. No you aren't... you hardly ate anything. Friend: Ah, I know. But I just can't eat any more of this. Me: I understand completely. AND I told you so. More of the same: horrible service and awful food. No thanks.
(1)Emma C.
I ate here the other day. It was good. The service is average, give you things you need and thats about it. I had pho with brisket. I didnt really like that the cilantro was already in there when I got it. I just so happen to love it but not every one does. It made good left overs too. I prefer the place on South Tacoma Way but it was all in all a good experience.
(3)K N.
Love this place. I recommend the Vietnamese rice noodle bowl with chicken and egg roll. The only thing I don't like is that it's a little difficult to get a refill on your drink.
(5)Kristin J.
This place is gooooddd. It was packed when I went on a Wednesday afternoon, but worth the wait for my to-go order. I got two of the Vietnamese sandwiches, the B3 and B8, plus a Thai iced tea with boba. I don't usually order boba in my drinks when I'm somewhere not dedicated to bubble tea, since they can often be undercooked and too chewy, dry, or frozen in the middle. But it's an easy way to tell how authentic a place is, and Pho38 passed the test with flying colors. I didn't mind the odd mish-mash of decor or the fact that there is practically no place to stand while waiting for my order; prices were very cheap for how good the food was. I ran in here to pick up lunch after checking out the clothing store next door, but will probably be in the area for Pho38 more! I've heard the Pho itself is amazing. A big plus: the menu is in English, Vietnamese, and Korean, and very well organized and easy to read.
(5)Leslie P.
The broth was good (at least for me) because I love cilantro. The meatballs were good too, just like the ones from Pho Tai. Comparing the two, Pho 38th's soup is not as strong. And yes, the noodles are not as soft but good thing I prefer firm noodles. My husband ordered their spicy beef rice plate and said it was disgusting. The spicy sauce on the beef tasted sour so he barely ate his food. I would recommend Pho Tai's rice dishes instead--although they are oily. I'm giving this place three stars instead of two since I like their broth and that's the only thing I'm coming back for.
(3)Rick D.
The fried rice is great. Possibly the best I've ever had. I recommend it.
(4)Erin K.
While there are some excellent pho places in Tacoma, if you live in the North End, heading to S Tacoma Way is not always feasible when you want pho on a whim. I'm glad we found this place. The staff is pretty nice as far as that goes, and I love the amount of cilantro they put in the broth! The menu is easy to read, and the non-pho options are plentiful. They also have the French-inspired banh mi sandwiches. The lunch options around the mall are seriously lacking in my mind, so this is a nice place to dip away from the crowds and warm up!
(3)John E.
Pho not too bad. Cha gio tasted fishy, as in "fried in oil that was bad or had been used to fry fish" not as in, "dunked in fish sauce". It seemed like maybe it was run by non-Vietnamese, but what do I know? It is next to the REI in Tacoma, and just the thing after waiting in the snow for the REI garage sale to start. That, I know.
(3)Victoria F.
Hands down the best Pho I have had yet! Tried little bit of everything almost and wasn't disappointed with a single thing I tried...pretty amazing considering I have traveled all over and tasted some pretty incredible food!
(4)Tammy K.
I like the pho --- but yeah, the staff is not overly ambitious as far as customer service is concerned. Just go and expect to eat -- and that's it.
(3)Justina S.
never again!
(1)Rene A.
Pho 38 has the best Pho I have tasted. The No 40 is the best. Good service and good bobble tea.
(4)Sky C.
Not so great. For starters, their vegetarian options are very limited. When I asked about veggie food, the girl at the counter showed me a tofu salad and said that was all they had and walked away. My companion and I decided to order bubble tea anyway. We didn't do much better with that; although the slush part was pretty good, the boba was actually some of the worst I've ever tasted, and that's saying a lot because I've had some pretty horrible boba since arriving in the Seattle area. Almost raw, crunchy on the inside and pasty on the outside... yuck. Never again.
(1)Carey T.
I have been to this place a couple times now. I always get the pho tai and the spring roll. I thought the pho was very good, great broth. One of the better pho places I have tried. Probably in the top 3 out of 10 places I have been in Seattle & Tacoma.
(4)Chuck L.
This Pho restaurant has one of the better Vietnamese meatballs in Tacoma. Most other Pho restaurants use meatballs that taste like they were bought in the frozen section of a asian grocery store.
(3)Miranda S.
For my money, this is the best pho in Tacoma. I love it. Their broth is excellent.
(5)Vance C.
Absolutely the best pho in Washington!!! I have been to many places but pho38th tops the charts ,always friendly and speedy with my order! Mm the raw beef pho! YES! I come here about twice a week! Give it a try!
(5)Emma T.
-Pho was delicious -Bubble Tea is Amazing -Seating doesn't look the cleanest -Service is O.K. (it takes a while to get our food) -Gyoza is O.K. -Rice is Good -Noodles are Exceptional, but wouldn't go back for more specifically Over All it's a good place,
(3)Natasha R.
Husband and I love this place, we are regulars and come in all the time the staff don't even give us menus because they already know what we want hahah, best pho I've tasted and I've been to ALOT of places that have been disappointing. Broth is always on point and is served super speedy for us. Love the icecream milkshakes and the meatball pho.
(5)Janet W.
I use to love this place! Now the quality of food and service makes it somewhere I won't go again! Too many good pho places to waste my time. Poor service and trash TV. Yuck!
(1)Ashley B.
I don't even know where to begin with this place. But I guess we can start with the pho. It is pretty average. Definitely not bad since we've had worse. I think that's about it for this restaurant. The times I didn't ordered pho, I ordered the rice dishes with the grilled meat. Those times made me regret getting them within the first few bites. Today was filled with regret again. I didn't even bother to finish a 1/3 of it because most of it tasted old or gross, with the exception of the meat (which was okay). The egg was so oily. The coleslaw they put in the box was a soppy mess. The rice was extremely dry. For $8 and to not be able to eat it, is disappointing and a waste of money on the many occasions I chose rice. The interior was not desirable. A good amount of tables were filled with dirty dishes from previous patrons. The smell of stinky, old food hits you right when you get in the door. Everything just looked dingy and old and left me with the impression of an equivalent image of the kitchen (which one would rather not imagine). The staff is cold and customer service is non existent. Overall, it's an overpriced restaurant, considering the poor to mediocre food you receive. Save your tummy and drive a few lights down on 38th to Lincoln district and enjoy a better meal at one of the many Vietnamese restaurants on the strip.
(1)Johnny L.
Pho 38, broth is good, but outside of that, it is not that great. My wife and I came to taste their pho. I had a large pho with rare beef and brisket. They hit on the broth, it kind of tasted like Pho Bac, but outside of that the meat was chewy and tough and the noodles were overcooked. Their spring and egg rolls were decent. Fish sauce was good. Restroom was messy. Their staff is definitely ready to get your order going. And did I say they have way too much on their menu? They have Korean, Vietnamese, Thai and American. With your choice of shrimp, chicken, pork, beef, their banh mi is definitely catered to the American palate. My wife liked their pho, but I won't be back.
(3)Lucia H.
I used to eat here at least two times a week when I was in college and I went back for the first time in a couple of months last night. They lost one star because the service is always awkward... It is very quick but they don't say much or look at you and they can be forgetful. I ordered a spring roll, a spicy pork sandwich and a coffee bubble tea last night and they didn't bring my spring roll until we were about ready to leave. They lost another star for decor / the food is good but not great. However, I love all the options. From bubble tea to Thai tea to French fries to Korean rice bowls to pho. It is all pretty cheap too! Definitely a good spot to come to get some quick Asian food!
(3)ZahRaa E.
Walked in, was seated. Ordered spicy beef w/gyoza. Very tasty. Shrimp fried rice had no flavor however.... But salt & hot sauce made it ok. Waitress was totally rude. Seemed annoyed, over worked and impatient. Wanted to rush our order off their 5 page menu. However...the perk to the menu was the diversity. Had the choice of ... Chinese, Korean , vietnamese! So it had a huge selection. Price was a little spendy for the decor, food & service. I dont think we will be returning here.
(2)Variant F.
The pho here is surprisingly not bad. The reason I say this is because I had some people advised against going to this pho place and the place did not look as clean. The Vietnamese coffee and 3 color desert wasn't the best but it definitely held up the flavoring. In all, if you are looking to branch out to try different, give them a shot.
(4)Doug J.
Good broth. Usually get the brisket Pho consistent good. . The staff doesn't talk much but that may be a language thing . Soup is quick and filling My kids like the bubble tea and fruity ice drinks so it's a kid friendly place. Kid size pho and they will cut the noodles up for the little ones
(4)Gus L.
Service is fast after you seat yourself. The Phò itself is fair, the broth ok compared to the other Phò places in Tacoma. It tends to stay dirty when they are busy but it is a popular place to eat in this plaza. Price is marginally expensive compared to other Phò restaurants, though cheap in the grand scheme of eating out.
(3)Jackie K.
Me and my daughter came here too eat and the food was ok broth could be stronger BUT the service was NOT friendly They talk Vietnamese among themselves very LOUD the whole time we were there nonstop and I felt VERY uncomfortable and wonder if they talking about ME it seemed that they were fighting will NOT come back HIGHLY NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!!!
(1)Jony V.
I would come here often a couple years ago but started noticing the service was going down then I stopped all together. I decided to try it again and it's even worse, the food quality is bad. The pho is average but in that case I rather go to the one by pacific and 38th st. Anyways, I wouldn't recommend this place, two star just because of the average pho. My wife ordered grilled chicken and it looked, felt and tasted like a 2 day old microwaved plate. Not good... place looks dirty, and customer service is mostly bad with a few exceptions of the table - cleaning ladies but if only the food was good I would keep coming once in a while but now I will avoid this place unless it's the final choice. Hope this helps :)
(2)Will M.
Only ever get a #20 with a pair of spring rolls, but never have been disappointed. Pho Yum!
(4)Don T.
We go often for lunch here since there is very little in the way of decent pho in Gig Harbor and it is located close to the malll. We only come for and order pho and perhaps a spring roll. The broth is great and the meat is nice and tender, including the tendon. Service is okay, but we don't go to a small strip mall restaurant like this for the white napkins and fawning service. Very busy place at lunch but we have always been seated immediately. By way of disclaimer, to show you how we have it in Gig Harbor, I am just happy they include Thai basil with the bean sprouts and not some lettuce c*.
(3)David E.
Great pho and convenient location. The Pho is always excellent. What else is there, really? Actually the Korean dishes are great too. One star off for minimalist service and sometimes messy dining room.
(4)Ashley-Marie W.
Just moved here from Philly. Best Pho I've had in WA so far. Very fast, very cheap, pretty good broth!
(3)Vivian D.
I don't like the Pho by Korean owner! First:The soup have a lot MSG.I almost die when I have the soup have to much MSG like this. Sorry for only 1 star but I can't give them more
(1)Stella R.
This place is not my go-to pho place but it is closest to my house... I usually order the raw beef or brisket.. my last visit consisted of the raw beef and I wasn't impressed.. idk if it's my taste buds that changed or what but the noodles seemed rubbery and the broth felt as though it was missing the essential spices and heavy on the oil. Perhaps I came in on a bad broth evening... hmm? Service is prompt as well as the food but idk if I've ever been checked on more than once in my 15 plus visits there and water refills tend to be scarce. All in all, it's not the best pho and most certainly not the worst..
(3)Rusty S.
Not terrific, but not bad either-- if you happen to be at this shopping center near Tacoma Mall and want a hot bowl of soup or other Asian dish, this will do. There are so many great Asian restaurants in the area (there's an entire Vietnamese district just up the road a bit on 38th St.) that it's kind of a shame to spend your time and money at one that's just "ok". But as the saying goes, it's all about 'location, location, location'. Pho 38th has got a good one-- right in the middle of an always-crowded shopping center (REI, Half Price Books, and Verizon are neighbors, among others). Of course, a major downside to this busy location is that the traffic and parking situation can be a pain... Prices aren't bad: a medium bowl of Pho is $6.50, and it's an awfully big bowl of soup. Finish off the hot broth and noodles with sauces, condiments, and vegetables brought to the table and it's a pretty good deal.
(3)Blossom K.
This restaurant is located right next to tacoma mall. We were starving so had no choice. * Good things 1. A lot of menus : Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese 2. Big portion of fried rice. (It's for two at least) 3. Location : next to the mall * Bad things 1. Not tasty : Fried rice, spring rolls, kyoja. Everything was bad. Seriously. 2. All ingredients in spring rolls were old and not fresh at all. I got a bad stomachache after I had it. Cabbages and bean sprout turned brown and all dried out when I look at the inside of the roll. Seriously??? You guys really sell food like that????? You definitely need an INSPECTION very soon!!!! 3. A lot of frozen ingredient : especially fried rice, it's just frozen. I don't know why we are going to a restaurant for frozen food. 4. Whole restaurant is not clean. Kind of Nas*y when u look at the table. 5. Service is poor : NO ONE's gonna smile when they serve. They all are always mad :) smile please~~ There are tons of good Vietnamese restaurants in Tacoma, so we will never come back. Sorry.
(2)Emily A.
We just ate here & the food was not great at all. The Pho is too slimy, the condiments aren't as good as it use to, the spring rolls HAVE A LONG STRAND OF HAIR on it, and the bubble tea is a bad instant mix, not great either. We instantly lost our appetite as soon as I found a hair on my food. Very disgusting. The workers just took off the particular item in our check and that's it. We were in a hurry to leave and regret having dinner there tonight.
(1)Edrick W.
yess. #15 all the way.
(4)