PhoWok — Restaurant in Austin

We were excited when we heard of a Pho place opening in the neighborhood and waited impatiently while the new owners transitioned from the previous restaurant. Since Pho Wok opened a few weeks ago we've probably had a dozen meals there. The food is great with standard Vietnamese offerings like pho, vermicelli bowl and lettuce wrapped egg rolls. The traditional Chinese-menu dishes are solid, as well and prepared with a little lighter touch for a fresh quality. The Singapore Noodle definitely deserves a mention and one of the standouts is a Cajun-Viet-Chinese fusion Crawfish Fried Rice - totally delicious and nice and spicy. For lunch or a light dinner, the Bahn Mi can't be beat. It's not overdone, just a few fresh, simple ingredients and just the right amount of house sauce to compliment the nicely seasoned grilled pork, beef or chicken and bargained priced considering a portion that's 3 small sandwiches - plenty for a big appetite. Then there's always the traditional beverages, including Fresh Young Coconut, which is a fun treat but the 8-year-olds in your party won't like it as much as they though they would. :)

The space is very pleasant and nicely decorated. A couple of big screen TVs feature non-stop videos of street food vendors and it ends up being engaging while waiting for food but unobtrusive once the meal arrives. A soundtrack of light jazz music might seem a little out of place but it's a pretty chill vibe and lends a casual sophistication that seems to be the overall theme of the décor and layout. Table service is excellent and the staff are friendly...

The best pho in town for me is Pho Phong Luu. But if you live south it can be a bit of a trek to get there. So I was curious how Pho Wok would be once it opened since I would obviously love a place closer to home.

I've been here a few times now and I have to say I'm pretty impressed. Their pho is the closest thing I've had to PPL anywhere. It has a clean, light but flavorful broth. It's not overly spiced with anise, clove, etc like a lot of places can be. It really tastes like they go through the trouble of making it correctly. It always comes out piping hot and the portion is generous. The first couple of times the soup was a little underseasoned but they seem to have corrected this on my last few visits.

I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting much to be honest, especially since pho is really a tiny corner of their menu. But it's definitely legit. Service here is always super friendly.

My only critique would be that they don't have traditional combos like pho dac biet, etc. You're limited to two protein choices and everything after that is an add on.

Having said that, south Austin sorely needs more quality Asian food, and somehow Pho Wok has come out of nowhere to have some of the best...

PhoWok is the best place for authentic Vietnamese cuisine! This family owned and operated restaurant is cozy, welcoming, and has soul warming food.

The Stir-Fried Beef Pho is my favorite and the Chicken Banh Mi is an absolute must! The pho broth is clean, fragrant, and savory. It’s not overly salty nor muddled with unnecessary sauces. It’s a high quality broth, deep with flavor, that speaks volumes about how much time and effort goes into making it.

Their Chicken Banh Mi is simply amazing. It’s the perfect blend of fresh ingredients, a savory juicy chicken, and creamy sauce, all encompassed in a soft bread that has a nice crunch. It’s a 12 inch long sub, cut into thirds, so it’s perfect for sharing!

Their Vietnamese Coffee is insanely good. I’ve wanted to find out what their recipe is, but it’s a closely guarded secret, even more so than the Krabby Patty recipe. One day, I’ll find out… till then, I’ll keep ordering it every time I visit PhoWok.

Huge shout out to Dat and his brother for always treating everyone like family!

This place has my highest recommendation as the quality of the food and exceptional service has always been consistent. If you want a real taste of Vietnam, don’t walk, RUN to...