Pho 9 — Restaurant in Houston

1 is the lowest I can give otherwise I'd give negative stars.

This place has gone down big time. Yesterday considering the cold weather I decided to get some pho, called to place and order and the person who answered did not speak a lick of English. Which is totally understandable. I decided to just go and place the order in person.

When I got there, only one lady working, she's the cashier, the server, the busser and the cook. Unbelievable. Anyways placed my order after jee repeating it many times.

Waited. She was wearing the same gloves to handle register, bus tables, serve tables and cook. Disgusting.

My pho was already packed and ready sitting at the counter and she came back and asked me what was the other thing i ordered. Which was a banh mi. Then she went to cook the banh mi while my pho was getting cold. Someone else who had called and placed an order already was waiting till after me and her order was no where to be found.

Long story short the lady brought my banh mi made but unwrapped to the counter to pack it yuck. She was touching it with the same gloves that had become dirty.

Finally got my order went hone, instead of bowls I was given my good in a Styrofoam container. No utensils and finally when I was just about to eat, by broth had a small bug in it which seemed to me a baby roach. $40 food gone waste.

Ban mi was Disgusting in a stale bread with no pickled vegetable or nothing. Just some grilled chicken and a few pieces of basil leaves.

I will never go to this place again and you...

Update: 1/20/24

After a great, first time experience, I have to give a follow up review.

Initially, I was referred by a friend and decided to try the restaurant again by myself. This time, when I ordered the same Pho Tai Chin noodle order, there was more fat than meat in my bowl. The Sriracha sauce was empty at my table and so was the napkin dispenser, I had to snag both from another table.

The first time we had come directly from my house so I had no need to use the restroom, this time I found out there was no soap in the dispenser and not even a towel dispenser to wipe your hands. I was forced to wipe my hands with toilet paper.

I also overheard the waitress tell a customer at the table behind mine that they did not have the beef dish today and that he should order the chicken instead. They had just opened.

The older lady at the restaurant is nice and works hard, but it seems like she needs some help to keep the restaurant clean and filled with products necessary for a comfortable and pleasant dining experience. Minus 2 stars, sorry.

A friend of mine took me to Pho 9. I already have a Pho spot that I've been a customer at for a long time, but I decided to give this new spot a shot as recommended. I was pleasantly surprised, the broth was hot and flavorful and the rare steak and brisket was delicious and tender. I will definitely be back when I am...

Alright, folks, gather around for my take on this pho joint! If you're not too familiar with Vietnamese cuisine, their pho is solid and definitely worth a try. The meat portions are decent, so you won't be disappointed there. And let me tell you, their Vietnamese coffee is off the charts amazing!

But here's the deal: when it comes to service as you've seen in other reviews, be prepared for a bit of a challenge. The main person running the show is a sweet old Vietnamese lady, but English isn't her strong suit. She's multitasking like a champ, taking orders, handling the cash, and helping cook up in the kitchen. So, don't be surprised if you have to do some pointing and gesturing to get your message across. And fair warning, things might take a while as they're really short-staffed similarly to a lot of restaurants post covid.

Now, the vibe in this joint definitely gives off some Chinatown feels, which adds to the whole experience. But let's not forget, because it's located near the energy corridor, the prices are slightly higher than you might expect.(Yes it's 7$ for vietnamese coffee - but its strong and smooth unlike some other places)

In a nutshell, this pho spot has its own unique charm and serves up some tasty dishes. Just be ready for some language barriers and a slower pace of service. Def worth...