Pho Dai Loi #2 — Restaurant in Chamblee

Bottom Line: I would come back. This one experience was disappointing, but it is usually one of my top picks for Vietnamese Pho in Atlanta.

Atmosphere: High-light ambience. Very open and spacious. It can get kind of noisy with other customers.

Food: Disclaimer: This it not my average experience. My average experience is much better which is why I'm giving it four stars instead of three.

We got the $5.50 #3 Fresh steamed spring rolls with Shrimp. This comes with a peanut/hoison(plum) sauce garnished with crushed nuts. This was the best part of this experience. It came out fairly quickly.

The entrees also came out fairly quickly.

My entree was the $14.50 #21 medium bowl of Pho Bo Vien. This dish was very disappointing as I've had it here plenty of times in the past and it was much worse than my usual experience. The broth had very little flavor. The meatballs texture was slightly off as was the flavor. It didn't have that usual "snap" when I bit into it, and it tasted old/not fresh at all.

My companion had the $16.50 #36 Com Tam Bi Cha Suon Nuong Trung Ga. This was also disappointing. The only good thing about it was the shredded roast pork. Everything else was overcooked. The grilled pork was tough, the steamed omelet didn't have that usual "snap" when biting into it, the egg was not sunny-side up as advertised (it was cooked over hard with an overcooked yolk).

Service: Service here is very quick. The staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and food is typically served within 10 minutes of ordering.

Overall: I would come back. I would normally give this restaurant four stars as it is one of my top three in the area. The location in Duluth off Pleasant Hill (Pho Dai Loi #3) is also great. I'm giving this three stars for my most recent experience, but I plan on updating it in the future when...

This used to be one of the best Pho restaurants in Atlanta. Today I received Horrible customer service and bad food. I walked in to place an order to go. The two women that were standing there argued about who was going to "take me". Back when they had good customer service you would place your order and they would invite you to have a seat and place a cup of water on the table. Now after you pay they turn back to each other and just start talking again.

I ordered Pho Ga "all white meat" (which of course is extra). When the lady returned with my food she was hovering over me. As always I started to open the bag to check my food. The woman, (she told me her name was "Long" but who knows) she literally grabbed my hand and said, No no, it's right. Strike #1. I was putting napkins in the bag and she was still hovering over me trying to get me not to open the bag. Strike #2. Then I generally get the chopstix from the table because I don't like the wooden ones. She literally snatched them from my hand and put them back on the table and pointed at the bag. Strike #3.

Of course when I got home I saw why she didn't want me to open the bag....mostly all dark chicken meat when I paid extra to have all white meat. It wasn't all that special tasting anymore either. I drove all the way to Buford Highway for this restaurant and I know I passed at least 4 Pho restaurants just to get to this one. I am extremely disappointed.

Save yourself time and frustration. What used to separate Pho Dai Loi from ALL of the other Pho restaurants was the customer service.

Now it's just another one of those Pho restaurants on...

Phở Dai Loi #2 is my favorite & generally recognized as 1 of the best Atlanta-area noodle houses. PDL is located in Saigon Plaza, close to Plaza Fiesta. There are other locations in Forest Park & Duluth.

PDL gives cafeteria seating vibes. The staff is cordial & will make suggestions, but do not expect frequent check-ins. The staff is always cleaning, & will clear your table quickly once you leave. This is also a restaurant where you pay your check @ the counter.

I Ordered: Cà phê sữa đá - iced coffee w/condensed milk Chả Giò - egg rolls Phở tái Gân - Phở w/eye round steak & marble brisket Chè Dặc Biệt - dessert w/ sweet red beans, jelly, mung beans, bánh lọt, & coconut milk Soda Chanh Muối - salty lemonade w/club soda Cơm Tấm Bì Chả Sườn Nướng Trứng Gà - jasmine rice w/pork 2 ways, & eggs

The iced coffee is delicious and packs a caffeine punch.

I loved the salty lemonade’s balance of salty, sour, & sweet and it is my new refreshing cold beverage.

I loved the crunch & flavor of the egg rolls, which served as a great texture contrast to the Phở.

My Phở is always aromatic & flavorful. Their chili sauce is a great condiment.

I enjoyed the pork chop of the Cơm Tấm Bì Chả Sườn Nướng Trứng Gà & found the shredded pork interesting. The eggs were more over easy than sunny side up, & I missed mixing the runny yolk w/ the rice.

I enjoyed the sweet red & mung beans of the Chè Dặc Biệt. But I struggled w/the dessert’s textural contrasts, particularly w/ the jellies & the...