Pho Hung Cali — Restaurant in Chula Vista

It was my first time at Pho Hung Cali in Chula Vista. My partner and I were hungry and Pho Hung Cali was on our way home.

I walked inside and immediately felt space (too much of it) especially for the amount of tables that were inside of this restaurant. It could definitely use some Vietnamese decor, add some life to its walls and other areas. Entire place was clean. The outside could use some plants and should dispose of any trash/debris that’s been sitting outside of front entrance area.

Now for food …

All servers were attentive and polite, always ready to fill up our cup with water. The food came out in a timely manner, the right temperature and presentation. The pho meatballs soup was good, but meatballs were on the tough side. The chicken vermicelli was also good but the some of the chicken pieces were tough as well. The chicken wasn’t terrible, but it lacked seasoning. Definitely not as delicious as Pho Cow 7s in National City (best tasting chicken vermicelli in Southbay). In comparison to other Vietnamese restaurant’s price points, Pho Hung Cali should give a little more on portioning.

The place appears to be getting their share of customers so they must be doing something right.

Overall dining experience was good - 5 star service.

Not sure if this is the Vietnamese restaurant I would recommend unless it’s the only one in Chula Vista. However, would not hurt to...

Definitely not for clean freaks. Food was good, perfect even, but it's hard to focus when you're fighting off flies - the front door is kept wide open, so they come and go as they please. Not very appetizing watching them crawl all over the stuff on the utensil and sauce trays, or land on your family for that matter.

Flies are a natural fact of life, I know... but as I write this I am watching three different flies try to stick their heads down into the spout of a sauce container I'm sure several more people will use by the end of the day, and I'm watching a different one journey down the side of a straw. I've no doubt they've crawled all over the uncovered forks and spoons (which is a gross thing to have either way - it's impossible not to touch all the other fork heads while just trying to get just one for yourself because they're all positioned with the handles down)

Floor was also sticky when my party and I came in, which irked me to no end. Like, you could hear everyone's shoes going shk shk with every step.

Also, just a personal opinion - not enforcing a dress code for everyone makes a place look trashy. Kinda don't like being attended by a guy who looks like he just came off the street. Comfort is one thing, baseball caps and baggy jeans are another.

TL;DR Food's good, service is good, prices are good, but fly haters and general clean...

Correction, this USED to be my favorite Pho place in San Diego! Service has been lacking the last few times, and this time we were rushed out. My friend and I work opposite schedules and don't get to hang out much anymore except when we sell our hand crafted jewelry together at different craft shows and had just finished with one in the area. We were enjoying our conversation after eating our $59 meal, while finishing our bobas. Every few mins an employee came by and pointed at the line of people waiting to pay for their meals, and told us the table number so we would leave. I went to use the restroom and wash my hands. By then the line was gone and we went up to pay. Where the woman working the "register" immediately shoved a tube of hand sanitizer in my face. I can't use any of the gel sanitizers, I have eczema and am allergic. I told her no thank you, I'm allergic. She kept insisting. She would not allow me to pay using my TAP card on the screen. So we paid in cash, which is much dirtier then the hands I had literally just washed! We were insulted and annoyed. It seems over the last few years the service, quality, and restaurant itself, have deteriorated a lot! We will not be going back. There are a ton of great Pho places in San Diego, I will take my business to them...