Pho Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant - Sta Rosa — Restaurant in Santa Rosa

Pho Saigon in Santa Rosa, Laguna, offers a Vietnamese dining experience that, while decent, struggles to measure up to the more polished and refined offerings of Pho Hoa. As someone who enjoys authentic Vietnamese cuisine, my visit to Pho Saigon left me feeling underwhelmed, especially when comparing it to the consistency and quality of Pho Hoa.

The menu at Pho Saigon includes staples like beef pho, spring rolls, and banh mi, but the flavors lacked the depth and balance that one would expect from good Vietnamese food. The broth, which is the heart of any pho, felt one-dimensional and lacked the nuanced flavors of star anise, cinnamon, and cloves that are prominent in Pho Hoa’s offerings. The noodles were passable but didn’t have the fresh, silky texture that sets Pho Hoa apart.

Another noticeable difference is the presentation and portion size. Pho Saigon’s dishes seemed hastily put together, with ingredients that didn’t feel as fresh or as thoughtfully prepared as those at Pho Hoa. For instance, the herbs served alongside the pho looked slightly wilted, and the bean sprouts were not as crisp. These details, while small, add up to a less satisfying dining experience.

The ambiance of Pho Saigon is functional but lacks the polished feel of Pho Hoa’s interiors, which manage to strike a balance between casual and upscale. The service was courteous, but it didn’t compensate for the shortcomings in the food.

Pho Hoa has long established itself as the go-to for Vietnamese food, with consistent quality, flavorful dishes, and a welcoming atmosphere. Pho Saigon, while trying to offer a similar experience, feels like a budget version that cuts corners where it matters most: flavor and authenticity.

In summary, Pho Saigon might suffice for a quick Vietnamese meal in the area, but for those who know and love the flavors of Pho Hoa, it’s hard not to see it as an inferior alternative. If you’re in the mood for pho, it might be worth making the extra effort to find a Pho Hoa...

2nd time there. Much much much improved. We went there right after they opened, so maybe they were not sharp. Read my earlier review. But my wife suggested we go again. She likes the Bahn Thit. So off we went on a Tuesday afternoon. The place was comfortable and a bit crowded. Actually we walk by this place often and it always has a lot of people. So we sat down, looked at the menu, and hit a call button to summons the waitstaff. Promptly, our waitress arrived. Took our order of Bahn Thit, a Bahn Mi, and an order of spring rolls. That's exactly what we ordered a year ago. Meanwhile our water arrived and we quickly were served. The spring rolls were plumpy and fresh. Came with a fish sauce and sweet pepper mixture as dip and a peanut satay type dip. Those were very good. But, the shiracha? Anyone who knows it probably would tell you the stuff served here is NOT SHIRACHA. I have no clue where they got this. But it is more the texture of banana style ketchup with pepper. The Bahn Thit followed. Loads of pork (more on the sweeter side than that special spice filled Vietnamese) but still good. My Bahn Mi was "so-so." Chucks of pork is not how it's made. It should be sliced pork. It's not as bad as last time but not as good as in Vietnam. Missing the right cut style and taste of the pork. The butter was new on a sandwich like this but acceptable. Actually, they had some pork pate on it. Last time, they didn't have any, so this time, I brought my own just in case. The bread was good. Baget style. Similar to the Vietnamese style. All in all, I give the sandwich a 6 out of 10. My wife liked her Bahn Thit. And we both liked the spring rolls. It was a much better experience than the first time. Almost a 4-star lunch. Cost was acceptable as well 1090 pesos for 2. I will...

The place was nice as well as the people serving there, food was freshly served just in time. unfortunately they served the wrong Pho, supposedly we wanted beef but they served us chicken. Only figured it out when I took a sip of the soup. too late to ask for replacement so we just went on and ate what was served to avoid causing ado about it since we wanted to start having a sip of the pho.

Each server were enthusiastic and and accommodating, although I hope they would list orders next time to avoid serving the wrong pho. addressed it to the servers at the place but I’ll write it here to remind y’all incase. —Bc usually you’ll receive more customers that may be of old age or some who don’t have patience especially most of the food offered are healthy options for them. it’s food, it’s something that may either give comfort, happiness, relief to your customers. if it’s not met some might give the servers earful words about it. It’s best to avoid that.

enjoyed trying the new place here, I figured it’s quite pricy. It’s not budget friendly. It’s something to contemplate about when you...