Pho Hoa + Jazen Tea (Richmond) — Restaurant in Richmond

This place has changed drastically over the 4+ years we've been coming, and mostly not for the better.

The renovation, which dates even before COVID, changed what used to be a homey, authentic feel to a cold (literally, the temp is always under 20 degrees and the air conditioning is on full blast) overspacious and lifeless space.

Another disappointing change has been the food. To be honest, the food has never been amazing, but servicable for the price. The Jazen Tea drinks have always been consistently good. However, they swapped out the usual rice noodle for a "fresher" substitute, which is never prepared the same way. During one of our visits, all of my table's pho orders were overcooked mush. (To their credit, they were willing to replace our noodles with the original version pretty instantaneously)

The nail in the coffin for us has been wait times; they are understaffed and disorganized which really kills an experience. We arrived around an hour before closing one night, and ordered alongside two large groups. My partner's bowl of pho came out after 10 minutes, followed by our drinks, but 40 minutes past without any sign of both our side orders and my full order. In that time, all other tables were served in which the one server and their manager virtually disappeared into the kitchen. It wasn't until I called them over that they realized they lost my order while serving the other tables. Again to their credit, they refunded me the full cost without much delay, but this experience is pretty indicative of what every experience has been like in the last few visits.

One of the stars is for the drinks, and the other is for the one server who has been extremely accommodating and receptive. Otherwise, this Pho Hoa location is a pale imitation of a real Vietnamese restaurant and there are countless better options...

Visited Pho Hoa on Alderbridge & Alexander on Monday at 9am, NO customer was in the restaurant and all other restaurants were pretty full in the complex. I knew I stepped into a bad restaurant, but I thought I will give it a try since I have seen a few of this chain name in Vancouver. Bad choice. Here are the list of reasons why NOT to go: a) one server only who takes order, microwave the food, janitor, phone/online order receiver. b) I cannot understand what the server is trying to say. c) Over price on pho ($16.05) and summer roll (4.75 ea). d) big bowl with very little substance, but I was charged a large (the biggest of 3 sizes). f) summer roll = salad roll was full with noodles only and 4 slices of small shrimps, but missing everything else. g) the online order machine is dinging continuously at loud volume - because he is too busy mopping the floor so it annoying while eating. h) Would not print or bring me the bill, but just told me to come up to the counter to tell me the “over-billed”amount at the cashier machine. He overcharged me on my 2 items. I) he did not know their own happy hour discount. h) looked at their own happy hour signs, but still took 3 minutes to call someone to re-verify the happy hour discount - make me feel like sh1t at the counter. k) normally charge 2.% for credit card. L) but he did not remove the 2% surcharge when I told him I am using a debit card instead.

I have never written this bad of a review before!!!

Many other restaurants around the area so do NOT go to...

Okay throughout my years living in Richmond. I've been to pho hoa only 4 times. 1st time was very bad. Bad food, bad atmosphere, poor service. 2nd time was the same. Then fast forward a number of years and Pho Hoa completely revamped because they are an international pho chain. I believe previously it was poorly handled by previous owners until new owners came and followed the corporate revamp. 3rd time was phenomenal, they had a special coconut curry pho and wow. Then fast forward to 2024 and I went there again. It was late at night, and I went after work with a co worker. We were practically the only ones eating inside. But man oh man, the pho was really good! I had the pan seared garlic steak pho. Wow very garlicky, very beefy, good amount of steak. However I wish they gave me a bit more noodles. Also the noodles they used are VERY high quality compared to most places. The noodles are very white, and has the perfect chew and bite and really picks up the soup. My friend got the peanut sate and he loved it! I tried his broth and it was sooo creamy, peanutyy, and good sate flavour. Also we both got the fried roll and wow that was one of the best I've ever had. I believe they put in some minced pork, shrimp, salmon, and veggies. Great happy for the pho! And lastly, we devoured our bowls and left nothing. Drank all the soup too. It was just too good to pass!

Throughly impressed by Pho Hoa!!! I definitely will be going there more now. And they are the only pho in Richmond that...