Mr. Pho — Restaurant in Albuquerque

I went to Mr. Pho last week with my family. We had been craving it since we haven't been in awhile. We know they close up their dining room at 7:30 so they can close the restaurant by 8, so we made it a point to get there with enough time. We had a party of 9, which was really 7 with 2 babies. A member of our party had gotten there before us and tried to get a table. Apparently another 2 bigger parties had come in (4-5 max in each party) and they were told it was going to take a "loooooong time". So when I got there, they asked if I'd go in and take a look since we've known the family for years and have been coming to the restaurant for years. When I walked in, they asked how many and I said 9. And the son had said oh you're part of that other party. I said yes, and saw there were multiple tables open. So, I asked if it was ok for us to come in, we didn't mind sitting at separate tables. All this exchange seemed presumably cordial and ok. Then when they started to come by and take orders, the tone changed. Lin (the owner and mom) took our order like she has for many years and was seemingly cold. We didn't even need to look at the menu because we already knew what we wanted to order. My daughter orders the Pho with a few options less, and she said she couldn't do it like that. Again, they've made her Pho that way with no issue ever before. I didn't want to push it, so we just let it go. The rest of my family was sitting at the table next to us and it seemed to take awhile for their order to be taken. They weren't attentive to getting their drinks and were not a friendly. It just felt weird overall and like we had just inconvenienced them with our presence. Again, mind you we sat down before it was even 7:00 and 2 other parties of 3-4 people came in and say down after us. Everyone ate and was ready to leave before they even closed at 8. The son dropped off the check at our table. When we looked at it, we realized they put everyone's order on the ticket. This didn't bother us, because they have always let us split any checks when we go pay. Well, when one of the people in our party went to pay, she asked the son if we could split the check. He said, no it's too late. Honestly, thought he was just joking around with us. But when he was dead face and said we should've asked them to do it at the beginning of our meal. My friend said they've always done it for us before. But he wasn't having any of that. She then made the comment, well that's a little ridiculous, to which his come back was "then don't come back. Any of you." We were floored. Never expected to be treated as such. It makes me sad that we've known their family, especially their mom, for decades. Yet, he had no problem losing our loyal patronage to their restaurant. I'm just beyond sad and disappointed about the treatment. Their food has always been good, and until this last time, so was...

The day was gloomy and the clouds were pouring outside. So it seemed like a pretty ideal time to stop by somewhere and get myself a comforting hot bowl of pho. I sat at a high table near the back of the restaurant after being graciously greeted and handed my menu. Mr. Pho certainly lives up to its namesake as the menu displays an ample amount of unique and special options any lover of Vietnamese food would appreciate. Once done reading through the menu, I finally decided to go with the beef and meatball noodle soup 🍜 . After about an eight-minute wait, it arrived at my table in piping hot fashion. The meatball serving was surprisingly plentiful: especially considering how increasingly conservative many restaurants are now getting with their red meat portions. The rice noodles made up the bulk of this dish and were more than satisfying and delicious. The broth was not too strong and complimented the content of the pho rather nicely. The service was great as the staff took turns checking in on me and making sure that everything was going smoothly. By and large, Mr. Pho proved itself to be a more than decent Vietnamese restaurant. It's a little difficult to notice as it sits behind an automotive repair shop off of San Pedro and Montgomery. But, be assured that it is indeed there and likely to surprise should you choose to...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If I could give more stars to Mr. Pho, I would throw the whole galaxy at them. This place isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a culinary love letter from Vietnam, handwritten by the sweetest family you’ll ever meet.

The food? Absolutely divine. Their pho is pure magic in a bowl—broth so rich it feels like it’s been simmered with love for decades, noodles with the perfect chew, and fresh herbs that make every bite sing. And don’t even get me started on the crispy spring rolls and banh xeo—they’re addictive.

But let’s talk about the real MVP: their eldest son. This guy is a waiter extraordinaire. He’s like the James Bond of customer service—smooth, attentive, and somehow always there with exactly what you need before you even realize it. Craving a refill? Done. Need extra lime or hoisin sauce? Already on your table. All of this delivered with a warm smile that makes you feel like part of the family.

Mr. Pho isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience. Come hungry, leave happy, and prepare to adopt this family as your own. If you haven’t been yet, what are you waiting for? Go,...