Pho Birmingham — Restaurant in Birmingham

Been to Pho many times, but this was my first at this location. What’s the point having the online order option? I came here on the limited time I get for lunch from work, I had ordered on the website in advance so that no time would be wasted. When I got there I waited second in line for a table just to get someone’s attention, after a little while an Asian guy with flip up sunglasses started seating people, I used this moment to grab his attention and tell him I’m waiting for an online order. He pointed me to the side where other people were waiting for their takeaway. He didn’t ask for my order number. I waited there and received no attention until an Asian lady (from the kitchen) came with two takeaway bags. One was a Deliveroo order and the other for another customer. She thought the Deliveroo was for me, I said it’s not mine and she asked me to give her a moment. She also didn’t look at my order number. Then a third (Indian?) lady who was next to me prepping the side salad plates noticed I was waiting a while. She asked what I was waiting for, I told her. She also asked if the Deliveroo order was mine, I said no again. She also didn’t ask for my order number and said that it’s probably not ready yet as it’s not here. My order was accepted at 12:50, scheduled for 13:05. I saw it was the lunch rush, so 25 minutes after the order was accepted I decided to approach a waitress, a white (European) lady with glasses. I asked her for the wait time, she said 10-15 minutes (i had been waiting 25). I explained the situation and she also offered the Deliveroo bag. Then she looked for a ticket and then said the online order system isn’t working. Then she went to the kitchen and asked about it. Out of 4 people she was the first person to ask about my chicken curry to the kitchen. The kitchen had just finished the order and she gave it to me and asked if my name was ‘Brandon’. That’s not my name. That order was for someone else who had used the kiosks at the store to order a takeaway. Their order was cooked within 8 minutes. She was about to go ask the kitchen to make my food, before I told her to give me Brandon’s food instead. She took his juice out (I didn’t order a juice) and gave me the chicken curry. luckily Brandon had ordered the same thing, or I would have been late to work. All that wasted time meant that I had to go back to work straight away and didn’t get to eat my lunch. My issue is if your online system doesn’t work, then what’s the point? Secondly, why out of 4 people did only one either ask for my order number or order item? Good food but poor service. Was planning on coming back for dinner, but went to tortilla...

Pho is a traditional establishment that prides itself on authentic Vietnamese flavours and dishes. No detail is overlooked right from the bountiful range of herbs in their salads such as perilla and mint, and their set-table condiments such as pickled garlic and red chilli. I ordered a Vietnamese coffee to start; the rich roasted flavour paired with the sweet condensed milk made for a lovely pallet cleanser and readied the appetite for more. The vegetable spring rolls were beautifully crisp with a moist interior, the flavours of the vegetables were enhanced with a little dip of the peanut sauce. Finally for the main course I had the chicken salad. The tender chicken pieces melted in the mouth, the sliced cucumber and radish added a crunch and if you’re a spice lover there was plenty of sliced red chilli as a topping. I have to additionally mention the speedy and friendly service. All staff on hand were all eager to suggest food items, provide anything else for the table in a swift manner, and we’re happy to demonstrate how to prepare your food the Vietnamese way (this was done with the coffee- simply marvellous). The restaurant itself is in a busy upper part of grand central so naturally it does get a noisy and the rear seating arrangements, particularly the booths, are a tad hard on the back, but nothing a little adjustment can’t fix. Overall I would recommend Pho to anyone looking for a healthy lunch options, interested in authentic dishes, or simply looking for something new. I look forward to returning to Birmingham and you can guarantee Pho’s Coffee is on...

I’ve been coming here for years, both to sit in and take away. The food has always been brilliant and we love that it’s dog friendly too. The staff have always been very helpful.

Unfortunately, a few days ago, I tried to order a takeaway before I caught the train home. Which I have always done regularly after work, except for maybe the last 3-4 months. This time I was met with an absolute jobs worth, when trying to order over the phone. He was rude and abrupt. Yes I know that the squid is not on the takeaway menu because it goes soggy in the box. But every time I have ordered this in the past, the manager has happily obliged, after me explaining to them that I don’t mind the squid cold or soggy. It tastes just as good. To clarify I have ordered the squid MANY times in the past to takeaway on the train with no problem.

This individual said that I had to sit down, order the squid on a plate, and then put it in a box to takeaway. I mean, can you get anymore ridiculous or petty? I’m trying to catch a train, and he’d rather stand there being rude, than process a £40 order at the customers request.

I then tried to call Pho head office, and the phone just rang out constantly with no answer.

If me the customer, doesn’t mind cold soggy squid for a train journey. What is the actual problem? Absolutely ridiculous. As a long time regular customer of yours, this experience has been quite disappointing!

If you would like me to edit this review, then I suggest having a word with the manager in this branch, and giving him a lesson on...