Pho Chu The — Restaurant in Calgary

I was really looking forward to trying this Vietnamese restaurant, but honestly, the experience was so frustrating. The menu doesn’t have any Vietnamese names for the dishes—only awkward English translations that are confusing and often misleading.

For example, there was a dish called “Vietnamese egg pancakes.” With no photos or Vietnamese words anywhere, I assumed it meant bánh xèo. It wasn’t until the waitress finally explained that it was actually bột chiên. If she hadn’t clarified, I never would have known what I was ordering.

It’s especially frustrating because they serve some very typical local Vietnamese dishes that aren’t popular or familiar to most foreigners, yet there’s no Vietnamese name shown anywhere on the menu to help identify them.

To make things worse, the Vietnamese girl who was serving us was not friendly or welcoming at all. You don’t feel like you’re welcome here, which just adds to the disappointment.

It’s a shame, because the food itself seems authentic, but between the confusing menu and the unwelcoming service, the whole experience ends up feeling frustrating and off-putting.

“Update in response to owner

Thanks for your reply, but I find it disappointing that instead of addressing the actual feedback I gave, your response deflects and gets personal—particularly your comment about my name. Let me be clear: there is nothing wrong with having an English first name while being Vietnamese, and it has no bearing on my ability to recognize and speak about Vietnamese food or culture. Making that kind of remark was unnecessary and inappropriate.

Also, I found it a bit ironic—you criticized me for using an English name (which is my legal name) while running a Vietnamese restaurant named Pho Chu The, which is very Vietnamese (not Canadian at all), yet your menu avoids using Vietnamese names. That contradiction is actually kind of funny.

The core issue I raised was about menu clarity and guest experience. Many of your dishes are traditional and not widely known outside the Vietnamese community. Without any Vietnamese names or photos, it’s hard for even people who do know Vietnamese food to feel confident about what they’re ordering.

Regarding the menu: most other Vietnamese restaurants that mainly serve customers beyond just the Vietnamese community include the Vietnamese names of dishes to help clarify what they are. Yours does not, which makes it confusing for people who know Vietnamese food and for those who don’t. The fact that your staff had to clarify what the dish was is proof that your menu lacks clarity—not that “the system worked.”

As for the service, being “checked on” doesn’t mean the guest felt welcome. Hospitality isn’t just about process; it’s about tone, warmth, and overall atmosphere—something that was noticeably lacking.

I left my review to give honest feedback, not to start an argument. I hope in the future, you can receive feedback more professionally instead of making...

I have been a loyal customer to this specific pho place since 2021. the last few experiences since I have moved and ordered take out every Sunday or 2/3 times a week, had been the worst experience. The staff does not take orders well, whoever they have on at the front some girls. I have a peanut allergy and can only have the beef sate with the chilli oil. The new staff in the last year are soo damn rude, and refuse to follow instructions. This place has turned into a money grab. It already is a popular spot they have no issue with customers paying, and definitely aren't losing their business or need to shut down. But for some reason they want to charge people up for little things like chilli oil and because i didn't pay for it and asked for it on the side, they refused to actually put it in my takeout bag, or any bubble tea with extra jelly when I don't wanna extra but you cant order it without the requirement, they make you pick extra jelly and charge you for it. It just doesn't make sense. Im not complaining about the prices obviously everything went up the last few years, but If I have been coming here for 3 years now, I spend at least $30-50 or more every-time i get it for take -out. The last order was my last straw. I ordered my food like I usually do every Sunday through doordash. my food didn't get to me for almost 2 hours, they sent the driver for another order near by before coming to me. they went and adjusted the price and charged me $7 for a chilli oil thats $1.20 otherwise it would not be delivered to me. I was shocked because A. I have been going there for 3 years and B having a peanut allergy and getting no sympathy and not taking it seriously and just care about the money is just crazy to me. I will NEVER be ordering from them again. The only reason I gave 2 stars. Its because the food is actually not bad, and the one guy who has been there for a very long time, he has always been very nice. Otherwise I would give no...

Not impressed. First time experience. Took a business partner at 430pm on a Tuesday. Place was empty except a large family with small kids in one area. Server had us sit on the table next to the family when there's NO OTHER customers in other tables. I think they were reserving it for Caucasians or preferred clients.

After a few minutes of kids crying right beside us, we got up and went to another table across the restaurant. Server didn't look happy.

Then the food.... I've had Vietnamese soup and spring rolls and I can tell ya, theirs hit a very low score for me. Barely any meat on the xl pho. Their pork springroll had barely any pork. The only decent item was the springrolls. They basically loaded the food with white noodles and decorated it with the main ingredients.

Anyway. Poor experience overall. Won't be returning here anytime soon. I felt bad giving a tip. Had this been before the pandemic, I would have left the place. But I felt bad for the restaurant.

Couldn't stop thinking about the experience so I decided to...