Pho Dien — Restaurant in Houston

This was my third visit and as always there was a crowd and all tables filled up nonstop. I ordered a large Pho Dac Biet (combo) and found the broth tasted very bland like it was watered down. I kept squeezing a lot of hoisin sauce but still had no taste. I should have asked for fish sauce too, but if you let customers add hoisin and fish sauce to suite their taste at table then it's a chef's failure. Pho broth is supposed to eaten as-is for those who don't like to add anything else. Others liked to add a bit of hoisin sauce and Sriracha and it should not become too salty. So the broth has to taste just right to begin with. Not this broth on this day! It tasted like they added water to get enough to serve the crowd. I remember some 30 years ago I ate at Pho Binh Trailer (for those who knew its famous history), one day the owner came out to apologize that his Pho was out. That was truly super honest and top of them all in authenticity! For sure no one would ever had to taste the watered down version.

Beef tenderloin (filet mignon) is certainly Pho Dien signature and popular. But other than that I don't know what the hype is and why there still is a crowd. There is another restaurant I liked that have much better tasting pho broth, which is the major component of Pho. Third time is not the charm for me. I grew tired of this Pho so it won't be my next Pho stop for quite a while.

Latest update, my mom wanted to go back to this restaurant because her denture could chew on the tender beef. We pulled in at 11:30 AM and waited for a car to pull out. As soon as that car was out, a Tacoma pulled right up in front of us and back right in, even though we waited before him. At my age and with my 96 year old mom onboard I don't want to get into a quarrel. There were 2 more cars pulling in looking for a parking spot. There was none. Some businesses placed parking signs up front for their business only. Not worth waiting for a spot we decided to go to Pho Con Bo instead (which is now closed for remodeling or so they said). They have similar beef tenderloin and many parking spaces. They both tasted the same to me, very bland. What's happening to these Pho restaurants now adays? Are customers supposed to season the broth themselves?

Adieu Pho Dien. That was truly my last time there. Reduced 1 star for no parking space at lunch time on any day. Come before 11:00 AM. If you could walk then park on the back or the side of the next parking lot...

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a charming Vietnamese noodle restaurant for the first time with a dear friend. From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere, which immediately set the tone for a delightful dining experience. The restaurant, though small, had an authentic feel with its tasteful decorations and soothing background music that seemed to transport us straight to Vietnam.

We decided to try a variety of dishes to get a full experience of what they had to offer. Starting with the spring rolls, which were incredibly fresh and flavorful, we were off to a great start. The highlight of our meal, however, was undoubtedly the Pho. The broth was rich and aromatic, filled with tender slices of beef, fresh herbs, and perfectly cooked noodles. It was a symphony of flavors that danced on our palates, leaving us craving for more with each spoonful.

Not to be overshadowed, the service was equally commendable. The staff was attentive and friendly, making sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. Their genuine smiles and eagerness to ensure we had a memorable visit truly enhanced our overall experience.

This wonderful and tasty culinary adventure has left a lasting impression on both of us, and we will definitely return whenever we find ourselves in the area again in the...

I came here on a weekend at 10:30 am and there was a line. The parking lot was almost completely full, considering it shares the lot with other places. The line moves quickly as people are in and out just ordering Pho.

The waitstaff is a bit weird when it comes to ordering. It's the typical old school Vietnamese process of handing you the menu, standing right there to stare at you and asking are you ready? Dude you just set the menu down and we just sat, can we get a minute for options? Not everyone is a regular. Expect this part, because this is what they do.

My friend ordered the combination in a large and I just ordered the brisket with meatballs in a large. While the portion is fairly large and filling, my brisket fell short. I expected a tender brisket, but it was a bit tough...The meatballs were diced into four pieces. They were average meatballs. The pho broth is very clean, a bit clear and not heavy. I will give them that. I was surprised to see the tai meat in my friend's combination was extremely tender.

As there are many pho options in bellaire, this would not be my top choice. If asked to return, I may in the future depending on the situation. Pho broth and meats should always be on par with one another. If one doesn't work, the whole thing just...