A Ma's Kitchen & Pho - North Chandler — Restaurant in Chandler

Was here checking out the plaza during the weekend and we also just happened to be scoping out any potential new restaurants to try for lunch (we drive in from Phoenix and do not find much opportunity to make it out to the east valley). This place caught our eyes, the aroma of the soups caught the sniffs of our noses, and the noise coming from the line of patrons caught the attention of our ears. They had set up a few tables outside for outdoor dining and the bowls from the party that just left had leftover soup broth which placed the nail on the coffin for us in terms of our lunch plans. Just from peering at the leftovers on the table, I can see from the color of the broth, the clear consistency (clean, no excessive amts of oil, etc), the size of the bowl (serving size/portion is quite generous from first meets the eye), we had high hopes. So we decide to join into the line. They operate like a fast casual eatery, not like a traditional sit/dine-in restaurant. Keep in mind, still full service, meaning you will have a server who will accommodate to your needs, serve you your check, clear your tables, etc. However, you place your order at the register, are handed a number, and your table will be shown to you once your food is ready. This way, there are no parties taking up a table despite not having an actual use for it (yet). Maximal efficiency. I noticed some other yelpers who have left reviews criticizing this style....I say get with the times. This allows the owners and staff to run their business, increase work/volume of orders, all without needing to lease out a big expensive location. Once we got our turn for a table and to try the food (I ordered the Bun Bo Hue, my friend had the Pho Dac Biet) we were very delighted with what was presented in front of us. The bowls were huge, which we already knew prior to ordering. But man they are NOT skimpy on the amount of meat that was in the bowl. What I like about their menu too is that you have the option to choose from the light or traditional broth (fatty broth from the meats or without the fatty broth). If you do not specify, be warned the default is obviously the traditional broth with the natural fat. We both opted for traditional because what self-respecting Vietnamese person does not? Overall, we wolfed our meals down. Left fat, full, and happy. Will...

My brother was raving about this place, so I decided to check it out. We went the previous Saturday (4/14/24) around 6 and the girl at the counter said they were sold out. We were disappointed as the aroma of pho permeated the small place, which was a good sign. We tried again the following Saturday, earlier this time at 4;30 and was able to get a booth with no wait. We ordered the eggrolls and both got #7, A Ma's Favorite Pho, reasonably priced at $13.99. It is customary that when you order an appetizer and entree, the appetizer should come out first. Here, you get whatever comes out of the kitchen first. In this case, it was the pho, which still took about 15 minutes after ordering. The portion was generous in a nice metallic bowl, which was cheapened by disposable chopsticks and soup spoon. There was a strong aroma of star anise. The broth itself was bland. I had to add hoisin and fish sauce for a better taste. Overall, the pho was typical of what you can find at any other Vietnamese place. The eggrolls came out towards the end of the meal. Presentation wise, it was not worth the wait. Just 3 plain skinny eggrolls on a paper plate with plain diluted nuoc mam in a plastic dipping container. No mint leaves; no lettuce; no daikon & carrot mixture; no chili paste. We took them home and enjoyed them with our own condiments later that evening.

Overall, this is just your average Vietnamese restaurant. I would go there if I was in the area and can grab a quick meal, but I wouldn't go out of my way & wait an hour for a seat, which is very limited in this...

I originally gave this place 5 stars for their delicious and affordable noodles. However, I’m taking away 3 stars based on a recent visit. I ordered pho and politely asked for an extra packet of hoisin sauce, but the waitress told me each customer is only allowed one because it’s “very expensive.” A quick check online shows 500 packets cost just $26.99. On top of that, the prices have gone up while the portion sizes have noticeably shrunk. Disappointing change from what used to be a favorite spot. Reply: Don’t worry, I won’t be returning to your place, but I feel it’s important to let others know about the rude service I experienced. I didn’t bring up the issue about “large” or “small” earlier because I understood it was a misunderstanding. I had mistaken those terms as referring to portion size rather than the shape of the noodles.

Regardless of the noodle shape, the portion size is still smaller than it used to be. On top of that, your waitress refused to give me hoisin sauce because she said it was expensive. I have no reason to lie about any of this. There is nothing for me to gain. I didn’t accept your refund because I’m not doing this for free food. I just think people deserve to know the kind of service they might receive.

What was even more disappointing was when you said you didn’t recognize me — that alone shows how little you care about your customers. This is the second time I’ve visited your restaurant this month alone, not to mention the many times I’ve been...