Pho Bistro — Restaurant in Elk Grove

I used to come here when it was the old pho place, and I gave this place a try when it first opened and thought it was good at first. After trying it a few more times I noticed things changing, from the way the food taste to the service you receive (whether you're dinning in or picking up - they think everyone is a Uber eats driver). To say thr least, experience has changed.

The taste is not genuine and not much effort is placed flavor either tradition or originality. The service feels unwelcoming at best, hardly a smile, and warm greetings; it feels like you're doing them more trouble by giving them business than they should feel grateful to have a customer (strange feeling)..

My recent visit I overheard the owner tell a staff member in Vietnamese to "just reheat and the customer won't tell a difference" in a mean and derogatory way. When I confronted the guy, I asked him if the owner would think that's "OK", he said "I am the owner" very cocky and disrespectful...

This type of behavior from the owner made me understand why the taste and service wasn't to par with a well-rounded restaurant, one that has friendly staff, tasty food, and good spirit when you come in.

I wouldn't not recommend it, unless you're in desperate need of pho noodles with little flavor and low...

My first time here on their soft opening. I had phở. It tastes fine. The broth is a bit on the salty side. They use large-type noodle. I am more used to the thin, small noodle. It's just a personal preference, but if there are choice of noodle, it would be better.

Water is served in a mason jar. I never understand the appeal of using mason jar for serving non-alcoholic liquid. Too trendy and hip in a phở place for me.

The wood bench at the wall is higher than regular chairs and with the raised edge, sitting on it is uncomfortable for adults.

My rating of 4 * is for the food only.

2024 update: they use small, thin noodle now. The mason jars are gone. Hooray. Wood bench is replaced with cushion bench at right height. Nice to seat for dinning.

They serve only one size of bowl of pho. It's rather large for me. I cannot finish the bowl. Every time I eat there is about half or a third left. This food waste is my concern. Please give us, the customers, a choice of a bit smaller bowl. I don't want to order...

My family and I came for lunch this morning for their soft opening.

The food was great and the service was timely. We had the Bistro sampler, OMG it was a meal in itself. It came with egg rolls, grilled pork and shrimp roll, honey garlic wings and crab and cream cheese wontons. Unfortunately the kids were hungry and finished the sampler before I could take a picture. Everything was fresh and delicious! There were four of us and we did not have to wait long for our food at all.

I had the bun bo hue and my family ordered the pho bistro and hu tieu noodle soup. We all enjoyed our food and the place has a nice ambiance.

Great food and extremely reasonable prices make this a GREAT lunch spot. We need more authentic Vietnamese eatery in Elk Grove and I'm glad to have found one close to home. We can't wait to go back and try...