Pho pho — Restaurant in Birmingham

Snuck away from my coworkers, who don't have my passion for Vietnamese food. I didn't look at the ratings for Pho Pho, I kind of wanted to go and give it its own chance to make an impression. I walked away impressed.

Food: ordered a P1 - Pho with rare beef and a few pieces of nigiri (himachi and taco). Both arrived looking fresh and at appropriate temperatures. Honestly, they looked exactly the way I'd hoped they would. Pho depends on its broth to succeed or fail as a dish. The pho at Pho Pho had a rich, aromatic broth that stood up well to the fresh lime and sliced jalapeño. There was a good balance of broth, noodles, beef, onions (served on top of the beef in the bowl), sprouts, jalapeños, and basil. I might have wanted another slice or two of lime, but requesting it would have made me set my book aside. The sushi was clean, fresh, cold, and had great flavor. It was suitably sized for the price charged and plated attractively. I would have liked to see mackerel on the menu, but I would much rather it not appear on the menu, than it be served less than fresh.

Service: without being obtrusive, the staff visited me to check in every couple of minutes and genuinely gave the impression that my satisfaction was important.

Restaurant: the entire interior of the restaurant consists of natural wood, high-contrast colors (red, white, and black), and gave an immediate impression of cleanliness and sophistication. I have no illusions of sophistication, but the interior never made me feel uncomfortable or out of place. It is probably one of the most attractive restaurants in the Five Points area, even if it appears subdued from the street.

Overall: I have no concerns recommending Pho Pho and I will have to figure out how to slip free of my friends, again, if I can't convince...

I was forced to come eat at pho pho only because I was waiting on my girlfriend to get out of work and dying of hunger. In the past, I saw pho pho’s grand opening and was super disappointed with every menu item. I’ve tried this place with every new ownership change only for it stay a flop, BUT this time was different. Some nice Korean people bought this place, and I have eaten here 3 times this past week for the C1 (Charbroiled Pork). The short grain rice was soft and firm (it didn’t break apart easily). The pork was not only good but the portion is a good size and won’t leave you unsatisfied. For real pho lovers, the fat layers rising to the top of the broth are minimal in bubbling. It was a good balance of salty and savory, and it wasn’t the cheap-o pho powder some places use. I will eat here...

I'm highly upset with the restaurant. I have gotten larger portions on a kids order. These were $10 each and the broth is not beef Pho broth. It is a joke. I don't appreciate this place trying to pass off that garbage as beef Pho. I'm not vietnamese but I have been involved closely with the Vietnamese culture for over 20 years and I honestly don't know what you call this but it's NOT true beef Pho!!!! I really miss Pho Que Hong. Pho broth is supposed to have the five spices and it's a darker color. I have never been so upset with a restaurant as I am now. I am just at a loss for words to really express my feelings. If you have ever had real Beef Pho you would understand. The broth is the entire essence of the soup. I have since found out the issue. These are Koreans trying to serve...