Pho Ben Houston - Heights — Restaurant in Houston

I've eaten at Pho Ben probably 20 times at this point. They have yet to disappoint. I suspect they have some of the best pho in Houston, though I'll admit that after I found this place I stopped going anywhere else, so I really wouldn't know.

The food is great; pho is served with plenty of meat, delicious broth, and lots of fresh greens and sprouts that you can add to taste. The spring rolls are cool, fresh, and delicious with their peanut sauce. The bahn mi bursts with delicious grilled savory flavor (that's the source of that mouthwatering smell as you walk in). The atmosphere is refreshing and friendly with a street cafe vibe.

But the truly incredible thing is the service and efficiency of the operation. It has to be the best run restaurant I have ever been to. I've been there at peak times, when it looks like every single table is full, but I've still never had to wait more than 2 minutes for a table, which means they got the seating capacity perfect, which is incredibly difficult to do. The tables have plenty of space around them, so it never feels over crowded, even when it is packed. And, the tables are always clean, despite the demand moving at such speed that they must be turning those tables constantly. I'm an entrepreneur with business ops training, and I used to work in process improvement consulting, and this place is like witnessing a master class in restaurant operations. #entrepreneurshipgoals

When I have placed an order, I don't think I have ever waited more than 5 minutes for food - today I went at off-peak hours, and my food reached my table in literally under 1 minute, yet was still hot and fresh. Four items needed to reach my table, and they were brought by three different people, but the order was executed perfectly (every order I've ever placed has been executed perfectly). When my water ran low, a server was there in under ten seconds to ask if I needed more, but the servers are not hovering, they don't come by and ask "how is everything," instead they patrol and watch, and respond when you might actually need something. You pay at the front, so no waiting to catch a server's eye so they can bring you the check. And, they have really yummy fruit-flavored hard candies by the register that I look forward to every time.

Every time I go, the experience is smooth, fast and easy. Many places have consistently delicious food, but it you go a few times, most will have an off day on the service front at some point. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never seen Pho Ben have an off day, and my sample size is getting big enough to be statistically...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Pho Ben, a hidden gem for pho enthusiasts. From the moment I stepped in, the inviting aroma of simmering broth set the stage for an authentic Vietnamese culinary adventure.

The menu boasted a variety of pho options, each more enticing than the last. I opted for the traditional Pho Tai, and I was not disappointed. The rice noodles were perfectly cooked, and the broth was rich, flavorful, and had that comforting homemade touch. The thinly sliced beef added a delightful texture, and the accompanying fresh herbs and bean sprouts elevated the dish to new heights.

The ambiance of the restaurant was cozy and welcoming, with attentive staff members who were eager to guide me through the menu. The service was prompt, and my pho arrived piping hot, just as it should be. The portion size was generous, leaving me satisfied.

In additional, Pho Ben is offering a selection of Vietnamese appetizers and beverages (Vietnamese Coffee and Thai Tea). They can make the coffee fresh (dripping coffee) if you'd like too. To top off the experience, the Vietnamese iced coffee was a sweet and refreshing way to conclude the meal. The balance of strong coffee and sweetened condensed milk was just right, providing a satisfying endnote to a pho-nomenal dining experience. The springrolls was perfect too, specially Grilled beef and grilled pork. Definitely I will come...

DON'T ORDER TAKEOUT FROM THIS PLACE. You'll be happy if you dine in (I was), but every time I get takeout, my order is shorted, in one way or another. I've been coming back to this place for over a year now because I wanted to like it so bad, but this is just one time too many. First pic is my "large" combination phở. That's the amount of noodles I got. I finished the whole thing and was still hungry. And that's my "large" bún bò Huế. It also doesn't come with blood cake, or tendon, or pig feet, or chả, or any of those things that usually go in bún bò Huế btw. All it has is a few pieces of flanks. But to be fair, that's how they've always been doing it, I'm mainly complaining about the amount of food they gave me for the "large" size. And if they don't short me on the noodles, they'll overcook it to the point where it crumbles in the hot broth and I have to eat my noodles with a spoon. And if they don't overcook the noodles, they'll give me the wrong condiments and veggies. NEARLY EVERY TIME I GOT TAKEOUT FROM HERE, SOMETHING WENT WRONG. I give up, will take the extra time to drive to Bellaire from now on. The 2 star is for the good service, friendly staff and the few good dine in...