Pho Palace 2 — Restaurant in Mansfield

I had tried to come here once before but they were closing, so I finally made it back for dinner. This spot serves Vietnamese cuisine and is located right off E Broad Street, in a super busy restaurant area next to Kroger. It’s easy to find, and being in a strip center means plenty of other options are nearby if you’re exploring.

The exterior is a nice brick building that blends in with the other stores around it. The parking lot is large, though it was packed during my visit. Accessibility is good with ramps and side entrances, and overall the building looked clean and well kept from the outside.

Walking in, the staff seated me right away—no wait at all. The host was friendly and casual, and I appreciated how quickly things moved.

Inside, the dining area was spacious, set up mostly for parties of four. The seating was decent, everything was very clean, but the atmosphere felt a little dark and dull. The background piano music didn’t help—kind of boring and gave the place a sleepy vibe. The restrooms, however, were clean and orderly.

For food, I ordered the grilled pork vermicelli. (For anyone unfamiliar, this is a classic Vietnamese dish: a bowl of thin rice noodles topped with grilled meat, fresh herbs, cucumber, pickled vegetables, and often served with fish sauce for dipping or pouring over.) The dish came out quickly—about five minutes. Presentation was nice, the portion was generous, but the price was a little high for what you get. Taste-wise, it was just okay: the meat seemed like it was past its peak freshness, the noodles were average, but the vegetables were crisp and fresh. Overall, I’d call it about average compared to other Vietnamese spots I’ve tried. The menu itself does offer a wide selection, so there’s definitely room to try something else next time.

Service throughout the meal was excellent. My server checked in a couple of times, refilled my drink, and made sure everything was okay—really solid attention.

The bill came to just under $20 before tip, which I’d rate as 3.5 stars for value. Not bad, but not amazing either.

In the end, I’d say the highlight was the location—close to my hotel and easy to get to. I would recommend this place, mainly because I think they’re capable of better, and I plan to return to try another dish. For now, I’ll...

I don't normally leave reviews but I have to alert others of the inconsistency and treatment that I have received recently. Up until yesterday, I was a regular at this restaurant for 5 years but within the last three weeks my treatment at this restaurant drastically changed. Even though I order the same meal off the menu for years, they purposely started messing with my order, the menu does not specifically state how items will be prepped and its often confusing but that as practical as I am it never bothered me. The older lady who works behind the counter has evolved into a extremely rude and tacky person, I don't speak Vietnamese but the last few weeks when I enter she screams something out to the staff and then walks away from behind the counter, refusing to speak to me, because I have been visiting this restaurant for 5 years, I just thought that maybe she was just having a few bad days but yesterday when I entered, she let out an exasperated sigh and screamed something out again. When another gentlemen walked in she purposely looked over me and asked him what he would like to order. I then looked at her and asked did she not see me standing there for about 3 minutes? She then summoned another person to take my order but I just walked out. It was not the guys fault by any means but he was of a different gender/skin color. Despite my loyalty to this restaurant for years, they will never get another dime from me and I truly hope that others are treated kindly, and fairly if they choose to visit this...

So good! Went in thinking I’d have Pho, but the rice plates were calling my name as soon as I saw the menu. So bbq pork rice plate it was! Pho Palace 2 puts their own touch on the traditional rice plate with a marinade and fish sauce that’s just a little different, adding just a little kick to the sauce. Don’t get me wrong, not really spicy (believe me, my weak self can’t handle spice), just a good flavor with a hint of a kick. Seriously, the bbq pork rice plate was DELICIOUS, along with the crispy egg rolls. Sparkling fresh lemonade is my favorite drink at any Pho establishment, so I was pumped to see Pho Palace 2 had it, as so many restaurants just don’t offer it anymore. That didn’t disappoint either. My only regret is that I didn’t order a second lemonade for the road.

Service was A++. My waitress was attentive and friendly (though a bit shy but that’s cool), and I was able to eat my lunch and leave when I needed. Numerous employees (another waiter and the owner possibly?) checked on me often, left my check, picked it up and all that efficiently, but without being bothersome or making me feel rushed at all.

Nice that there’s a great Pho place located this South now. I can whole heartedly recommend them for fantastic food and their terrific service. Can’t wait to try their Pho. But how can I branch out when I know their rice plate is so good? Ugghhh......