PHO 501 — Restaurant in East Hartford

If you're a fan of Vietnamese cuisine or simply looking to indulge in a bowl of authentic pho, Pho 501 and Authentic Pho are absolute must-visits! Both spots excel in delivering a rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying pho experience.

Pho 501 is a hidden gem that consistently serves some of the best pho in the area. The broth is perfectly balanced—deeply aromatic, not overly salty, and packed with umami flavors that only come from hours of careful simmering. The meats are always tender, whether you go for rare steak, brisket, or a combination bowl. The fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime, and chili on the side let you customize your pho to perfection. On Saturdays, they offer a spicy pho option that’s a must-try for anyone who loves a bit of heat—it’s rich, bold, and perfectly spiced. The only slight drawback is the small parking lot, which can get a bit crowded during peak hours, so plan accordingly. The quick and friendly service, however, makes it well worth the visit.

Authentic Pho lives up to its name by offering a pho experience that feels straight out of Vietnam. The broth is incredibly fragrant with hints of star anise, cinnamon, and cloves, reflecting the care that goes into its preparation. The noodles are always perfectly cooked, and the generous portions of meat and vegetables make each bowl a hearty, satisfying meal. Their spring rolls and banh mi are also worth trying if you're looking to expand your Vietnamese food adventure. The cozy ambiance and welcoming staff only enhance the experience.

Both Pho 501 and Authentic Pho stand out for their dedication to authenticity and quality. Whether you're a longtime pho enthusiast or a first-timer, these spots will leave you craving another visit. Highly...

FOOD SAFETY and SANITATION WARNING! I Walked in to Pho 501 to purchase a beef soup bowl on my lunch time just now. I Watched from the register as an elder woman washing dirty dishes in the kitchen proceeded to multitask taking warmed noodles out of the microwave and using her dirty dishwater bare hands to pick up the ball of noodles from the bowl and mixed the noodles around the bowl with her dirty bare hands. No gloves. Gross!!!! She looked right at me and proceeded to do this again several times more multitasking in the time it took me to receive my order. The bowls she was working with were for customers seated dining in. Hand washing and cross contamination are basic 101 safe food handling training. I understand using bare hands culturally to prepare food and I am fine with that, but please please respect the health and trust of your patrons who are loyal to your business believing these elder ladies understand these safe and sanitary food handling concepts. Needless to say I will not eat from here again. The people are nice and friendly and the food is decent and prices well. But cleanliness is a priority for me. Just wanted to share my experience in case this is a problem for another fellow patron. Pho 99 in Manchester is great and is my go to but they moved from East Hartford and I didn’t have time to make the drive. I will MAKE time next...

We did not have a great experience at PHO 501. It's disappointing to have lapses in service, especially considering my prior positive experiences at the establishment. The oversight in providing basic condiments and the multiple trips to the counter for missing items certainly detracted from the dining experience. The young man brought our soup and never checked on us and not even look our way and had to keep going back to the counter multiple times. I hope the restaurant takes my feedback constructively and addresses the service issues to ensure a more seamless and enjoyable experience for customers in the future. Insights are valuable for both the establishment and potential patrons.

The quality of the soup was also mediocre as I remember it being top-notch and worth the drive to go to East Hartford. I felt bad for my friend as I made him drive all the way here from Hartford as we were about to eat at a place there which was very good. I told him this place is better. I apologized to him for making him drive so far for not a good experience.

We went at 7:15 PM and promptly ordered at the counter. After we finished our meal, we were enjoying our conversation and finishing up our tea at which point they suddenly shut off all the lights in the restaurant . They could’ve told us we are closing and we would’ve left. That was very rude and...