Pho And Bestea — Restaurant in Mission

pho and bestea, more like foe and worstie. I think the main audience for this place will be people who've never had a good bowl of pho before. I was asked if I wanted extra veggies with my beef pho but I declined because I figured the usual amount would suffice and I didn't wanna pay extra. I didn't realize that the "extra" veggies were the sprouts, herbs and limes that come standard with a bowl of pho anywhere else in the city. I was a little shocked when I received my pho in a plastic bowl (and a small bowl, too, considering the $13+ price point) on a tray and the spring rolls came wrapped in plastic. They didn't taste very fresh and the fish sauce I requested with them was the worst fish sauce I've ever tasted. It was salty and musky in a bad way. Wound up having to drown the spring rolls (with very dry pork and wilted cilantro) in hoisin sauce to make them edible.

The beef pho itself was only ok. It was definitely missing the veggies and the lime would've helped a long way to lift the oiliness and heaviness of the broth. Usually I delight in finishing off the broth but this time I couldn't; it just wasn't very good. The meatballs had a funky flavor to them and the pho didn't have a lot of beef. And you don't get the traditional soup spoon, it's just a basic disposable one.

The spicy seafood ramen only had the one prawn and the banh mi was so tiny and thin, it was practically on ozempic. It was just deli ham and some carrots and lettuce. The "sausage" found in the ramen was chopped up hot dog or a lil smoky, but definitely not actual sausage. At least the atmosphere was nice, the booths were spacious but the food and the presentation felt cheap. I saw they had a boba tea menu but I was so disheartened by the food I didn't dare further ruin my appetite and waste my money, I went to Paris banh mi instead. Wish I'd gone there for...

I wanted to find something light and found this new pho place offering chicken pho. I had great chicken pho at also a new opened chicken pho place, so just wanted to give it a try. The decorations are really new and refresh. I ordered one bowl to go in the early evening, and I was greeted immediately by someone like an owner. After I gave my order, she passed me to a staff like person. However, during the ordering, the staff asked me if I want veggie, I thought on the menu the veggie is written and included in the meal, so I said yes. Then I found that there’s an extra charge for veggie. It turns out the usually complementary sprouts/lemon/basil/Jalapeño is not complementary at this restaurant. The charge was not ripping off (less than a dollar) but it was a bit of surprising. Ok. The chicken pho itself from this place, is not my bowl of pho. What I expected was clear broth with light but rich taste. The broth from this place is way too greasy, and salty and sweet for me… the broth is in dark color, so there must be some kind of soy sauce in it. Just not what I would picture in the chicken broth. All the veggies come with the bowl and the extra plate were really fresh though. For the portion to the price, it is good and nothing to complain. But I probably wouldn’t do the chicken pho the next time, but something...

Read this before you decide. Let me preface this review by saying pho is literally my favorite food. I eat it when I’m having a bad day, a cold whatever. This place had literally taken something that I loved commercialized it with zero substance. The food is of fast food quality. So much in fact it’s served in plastic to go containers even when you dine in. That’s not the bad part. The bad part is it tastes like it hasn’t been prepared well and rushed. The meat in the pho is tough because it has been precooked. The ramen could literally be a ramen bowl from the store. Portions pho is usually a generous amount making you feel comforted and warm. Not here the portions are very lacking in both size and content. Oh and they charge for bean sprouts and vegetables. Let me repeat they charge for the bean sprouts. I was very disappointed by everything at this restaurant. A basic menu with zero option for kids. Also spending 40 dollars on pho that is inferior was also a big disappointment. But I would have been fine with that provided it was of good quality and appropriate...