PHO YING — Restaurant in Niagara Falls

Given the plethora of Pho restaurants in Niagara Falls, we had expected similar food quality. However, this was not the case. The restaurant was near empty when we arrived, which seemed a little odd since it was during dinner service.

On with the "good" ----- The restaurant is very clean and organized. A pho restaurant should have a tray of condiments which should include soya sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, Vietnamese hot sauce, and pepper sauce ---- 5/5 for table presentation; everything was available in clean bottles.

Service was quick, but seeing as how we were customers #3 & #4, we would not have expected less. A little confused as to why the appetizers arrived before the pho, but, a minor detail.

The pho broth was tasty, but barely meeting the temperature where we contemplated sending it back. For a simple dish, much of the cooking is done by broth that has been on the burner all day - perhaps there was a burner out. Ordering rare beef pho usually means that the beef is cooked in the hot broth to about medium. Fortunately, I like rare beef (which, by the way, is very tender). While we left quite satiated, the portion size was somewhat smaller than other local pho restaurants.

My partner ordered the meatball pho, which she enjoyed aside from the temperature of the broth.

The spring roll appetizers are made with crab, pork, and mixed vegetables. I am guessing they were processed together because we couldn't identify which was what stuffed into the wrapper. The filling was a little too sweet for spring rolls, even with a healthy dunk into soya sauce.

Pho Ying uses a rice paper wrap as opposed to a wonton wrap for there spring rolls - perhaps it's an acquired taste, but we didn't really appreciate the tough crunch of the rice paper wrap.

One last positive note, another couple had ordered from the Chinese menu, and the food looked absolutely delicious.

We'll keep it in mind for Chinese food, but unlikely to...

I am beyond disappointed with Pho Ying. This wasnt my first time having food from here but it is certainly my last. I have had there rice noddle vegetable soup with vegetable broth several times, tastes great and its inexpensive. I have dietary restrictions I make it very clear wherever I eat out. I do not eat meat and havent for years, I was very clear when i placed the order in person. The lady serving me repeated my order and said "NO MEAT LIKE VEGAN". Everything seemed fine until my soup was 2/3 eaten. There were pieces of chicken, I called them to make sure 100% there soup doesnt have meat, they said "yes zero meat its only vegetables". I told them my soup has pieces of chicken, they told me they are human and make mistakes. I was the only person in their restaurant and the only person taking out. I explain that they are a resturant and thank god i didnt have a potentially deadly allergy. I explained that my stomach is very upset and i cant complete my day and had to go home. They had the audacity to tell me I got sick from something else I ate today, funny thing is I missed my breakfast and only drank 2 bottles of water. I havent had meat in 5 years, of course it is going to make me sick, they told me even if it was chicken broth it wouldnt make me sick. Not only did my day end early, and im at a loss due to this restaurants incompetence but I have choosen not to eat meat and thank god I didnt eat that piece of meat but i am still unaware if the broth was chicken. But overall for my own ethical and health reasons this restaurant took something so meanful from me and they will never get my business ever again. Pho Ying take responsibility for your actions, dont blame your mistake on me or anyone else, you are in the business to serve food be lucky i didnt have an allergy. Would not recommend if you have any type of dietary...

Worst experience ever! Wish I can give zero stars. I got a few items from there today. When I got home, I realized the deep fried chicken wings tatsed and smelled expired. Took the wings back to the store where I encountered an employee (later finding out she is the manager) who insisted they weren't bad as she has been serving them all day and tried to force me to take it. I explained to her that I also work in the food industry and know when food is bad and don't want to risk getting sick she insisted that there is nothing wrong with them with attitude and said she can eat all of them (proceeding to eat the wings I brought back). I warned that she may get sick later but her goal was to prove a point I guess. I initially told her I just wanted somthing else but after her constant disagreement and arguing with me I asked for a refund and was told I can only get a store credit. I asked to speak to the manager, I was told there was no manager there and the manager doesn't speak english. I told her to explain to the manager my concerns and she refused. She tried to give me a refund in all coins saying thats her own money from her tips. I felt strongly about my concerns with the wings and insisted on either getting a proper refund or the manager. My boyfriend tried to explain to her that she is being unprofessional as she continues to be rude and argue with me. She finally gave me a refund on the wings and I proceeded to leave as she tells me I'm no longer welcomed there and she is the boss. I told her I will be reporting them to the health board and left.

I strongly advise against eating here. The manger has no concern for food or public health and is super disrespectful and unprofessional. WORST...