Mama Phở — Restaurant in Honolulu

I never thought square footage would be a criteria when evaluating a pho restaurant, but during COVID-19, the ability to socially distance while dining is suddenly a big deal. Most pho restaurants are dusty holes in the wall, while Mama Pho occupies a surprisingly large space (the former Ruby Tuesday space) at Ala Moana Center.

I also wouldn't have expected to be reassured by the distinct smell of disinfectant upon entering a restaurant, but here we are.

So, the food. The pho is good, but comes in only one size, which is disappointing for this "extra large" fan. And the broth is very mild, which depending on your tastes could be a good thing or a bad thing. If you want spices and herbs, you'll have to add them yourselves.

I always get the Mama Pho special combination beef pho, which comes with as much meat as noodles. My friend regularly gets the lemongrass chicken sandwhich, which is fresh and crispy. The spring rolls are also good, though the filling is a little over blended to be recognizable.

With attentive service, water refills (now in plastic cups instead of their fancy glasses), regular spray-and-wipedowns, and lots of space between occupied tables, Mama Pho is a worthy spot for lunch or dinner during...

When my daughter is at Ala Moana and in the mood for Pho, she likes to go to Mama Pho. They are located on the top floor next to CPK and Tanaka of Tokyo. When I went there with her, I found their menu very limited, and none of the traditional Vietnamese dishes that I enjoy was on the menu. However, their vermicelli with spicy beef soup was tasty. I was very disappointed in their spring rolls, because they do not even give enough lettuce for each spring roll, no mint, no basil and their Nước chấm dipping sauce is watery. I prefer Pho Saigon a block away on Kapiolani Blvd.

Overall: * Food: * Value: * Menu: ** limited selections Ambiance: * Service: * Parking: **

RATINGS & RECOMMENDED ORDER: Vermicelli with spicy beef soup = B Chicken Pho = A (my daughter’s rating - “good”) Spring rolls = C little veggies

Website: https://www.mamapho.biz/ Yelp: https://yelp.to/ziJydNctB6

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RATINGS KEY: A = Really Good - one of the best B = Good - would order again C = ok - similar, nothing special we D = Not very good - wouldn’t order F =...

Timely service & pretty good, consistent pho! You can taste the beef in the broth & not just herbs & spices. The interior is very purple (Mama Pho branded), & feels like a modern family-style restaurant. It's also always kept clean. As far as location, it might be inconvenient if you're not going to the mall for anything else, but I still go here for the pho every once in a while, & it's well-priced given it's located at the Ala Moana Center. One downside experience I've had is that not all of the workers speak/understand English well, so it might be difficult if you're trying to ask details about a menu item, or they may not be super attentive due to that fact. Regardless, they don't have bad service, & Mama Pho is definitely worth a try if you love pho. *Pro Tip: If you enjoy extra large bowls of pho (or need to order for kids to share), order extra noodles! They prepare your bowl with the extra noodles inside, so you also get extra broth unlike other restaurants that only give you cooked noodles...