Pho Tai Restaurant — Restaurant in Lakewood

Pho Tai Lakewood, Lakewood WA 9am to 4am daily

If you're looking for some midnight eats, then tucked into a nondescript strip mall along Tacoma’s South Tacoma Way, you will find the late night Pho Tai, as in late night being open daily (well nightly) until 4:00am.  Upfront, don’t expect anything fancy, but the place is fairly large and can seat quite a number of people in both booths and standard table configurations. Take out is a big thing here, but with the relaxing of many Covid restrictions indoor dining is also now available.  Upon being seated you are presented with what I would consider a very extensive if not overwhelming (for a first time visitor) array of offerings. Pretty much a plethora of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese a la Asian dishes, all with full color images encased within a childproof high laminate menu. The images alone are pretty eye popping from the Bubble Tea, Milk Tea, bobas and etc. to the many assortments and combinations, from the 15 or so types of  Pho (with a special section for ‘beginners’), to Vietnamese Sandwiches (Bánh mì), Teriyaki, Salad bowls and the familiar traditional Thai options.  This visit (around midnight) we had the Fresh Rolls which where basic but refreshing with a Thai peanut sauce, a Pho dish featuring raw beef and meatball, along with what could be called a breakfast Bánh mì with Vietnamese ham and greens served on a crisp baguette and topped with an over easy fried egg.  In addition to this midnight feast we downed a super creamy and delicious chocolate/coffee (mocha) shake along with a Banana flavored milk tea with Strawberry bursting Bobas. Yes, a weird combo, but it was midnight. Pho Tai Lakewood is a great stop for late night and no doubt anytime during their opening hours of 9am-4am daily. Prices are very reasonable with a pretty decent value for monies paid. Dine in or takeout, but be forewarned the menu is somewhat overwhelming at...

Simultaneously worst and most expensive bowl of pho I've ever eaten.

I ordered at the counter before going to my table and paid up front. One large Pho Dac Biet cost over $20, and after adding extra tendon and raw steak it was over $30. I had water, nothing else.

When they delivered my soup, the first thing I noticed was that the side bowl of raw steak wasn't raw. In fact, it was a wrinkled shrivelled ball of grey rubbery beef. They had put the whole pile of raw slices into the microwave and brutalized them, so they couldn't even be separated from each other using my hands. And my bowl of tendon was cold and hard.

Ok. What about the soup? The broth was so bland. Very little animal product was boiled in this water, and no anise or basil or much of anything else. If I hadn't already squirt in some sriracha, I probably would have tasted municipal chlorine.

No meatball, a few strands of tripe, one small piece of brisket. Remember, this is the most expensive bowl of "dac biet" I've ever ordered.

I left the restaurant not drinking more than a few sips of the broth - usually I drink the whole bowl, even when it's just average.

I wouldn't eat here again if it was free. I don't mind giving them one star, they deserve that for being open until...

Was visiting the Tacoma area and was looking for a place to eat on Sunday evening that didn't close early. There were not too many places, but luckily found this place. There was no mention of gluten free items, but my partner called and spoke to someone who confirmed there was no gluten in the pho. It is located in a small plaza and the parking area was tight and pretty full. Luckily someone was just leaving so we got that spot. The restaurant is a cozy spot, not too fancy, but has a good atmosphere. They gave us menus and then told us that we order & pay at the counter. They have so many options on their menu, that it is a little overwhelming at first. I ended up getting the T4, which was teriyaki chicken, salad, white rice & an egg roll & my partner got the spicy tofu pho. Our food came out very quickly. The bowl of pho was huge and the teriyaki was a large portion also. It was all very good. The staff was busy the entire time, but was very friendly and patient. They checked on us once before we left. I thought it was a great spot and for the amount of food that you get, is very reasonable & the employees are friendly. I am sure we will be back in...