Pho 79 — Restaurant in Norfolk

Sat down ordered a sweet tea and half sweet/half unsweet tea. We also ordered our food at the same time. The waitress brought us 2 glasses of water as soon as we got in. So far everything was good. 7-8 minutes after placing our drink and food order, we still had not gotten our drinks. Mean while our waitress served a table there food then start stocking the tables. When she finally got to a table by us, I asked her where our drinks were and she said yeah yeah and went and got them. We noticed that the drinks were fountain drinks and there menu said fresh brewed tea. So I said something about it to her saying that what she gave us was not the freshly brewed tea and that's what we wanted. So she left mine and took my husbands to remake it. So I took mine to the counter and explained to the another waiter that I think she misunderstood what we wanted. I proceded to explain to him, when I saw our waitress using the fountain drink machine again for our tea. When she over heard me talking to the other waiter she threw the cup she was making in the sink. Then she turned around and said they don't have any unsweet tea made that if we want it we have to wait 15 minutes. So we said we would wait because we hadn't gotten our food yet. I went and sat at our table waiting for our food and drinks to be finished our waitress was storming around slamming doors talking so loud to people you could hear her across the room. When our drinks were brought out they gave another glass of water a kettle with 2 tea bags in it and my sweet/unsweet tea. I tried mine and it tasted like water. My husband just asked if he could get a glass of just ice for his tea. The waiter that brought it was nice and accommodating. He was also the one that brought our food. When we went to check out we still had the waiter that took over to cash us out. But our original waitress never came back to fix anything. All she did after I said something was walking around slamming stuff, took some food out to other people, and cash out a few people. I think I made her mad and she made the other server take care of us. If anyone ever gets that lady, ask for another server, cause she has no business in the restaurant business when she...

A Steaming Bowl of Perfection That Never Fails In a city with a growing number of Vietnamese restaurants, Pho 79 remains the undisputed king, the benchmark against which all others are measured. This isn't just a place to get a good meal; it's a Norfolk institution that delivers an authentic, soul-warming, and consistently flawless experience every single time. It is, without a doubt, a five-star culinary treasure. The heart of Pho 79 is, of course, the pho. The broth is a liquid masterpiece—a rich, complex, and aromatic elixir that can only be achieved through hours of patient simmering and a mastery of spices. It's so deeply flavorful that it could be served on its own, but when laden with high-quality, tender cuts of meat (the #9 with rare steak and flank is a classic for a reason) and perfectly cooked noodles, it becomes something truly transcendent. The accompanying plate of fresh basil, bean sprouts, jalapeños, and lime is always crisp and generous, allowing you to customize your bowl to perfection. While the pho is the main event, ignoring the rest of the menu would be a mistake. The Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe) is impossibly crispy and stuffed with delicious fillings, and the Bun Thit Nuong (grilled pork with vermicelli) is a masterclass in balancing sweet, savory, and fresh flavors. The appetizers, from the crispy spring rolls to the fresh summer rolls with a standout peanut sauce, are the perfect start to any meal. The atmosphere is exactly what it should be: a bustling, no-frills eatery where the focus is squarely on the food. The service is incredibly efficient and direct, designed to get a delicious, steaming bowl in front of you as quickly as possible. You come here for the flavor, not for fancy decor, and the constant crowd of happy diners is a testament to their priorities being in the right place. Pho 79 is the real deal. It’s a place that delivers an authentic, high-quality, and deeply satisfying meal with unwavering consistency. For anyone seeking the true, comforting taste of phenomenal Vietnamese food, this is the beginning and end of the...

Let me start this review by saying I've been coming to this restaurant for atleast the last 3 years. And atleast once a week on top of that. So I was pretty devastated when I was eating an order of the Shrimp Pho, ANKLE DEEP, in the bowl when I noticed some brown dots on my noodles. And i want to emphasize brown bc that's what drew my eye bc most seasoning, such as pepper, are around that size but black. So I looked closer and low and behold the brown spect had antenna's that were MOVING. And this alarmed me for multiple reasonS: ONE, i checked the broth to make sure there was nothing in it before i boiled it. Additionally with me boiling it the bugs shouldn't have been still moving. So my assumption was that they were in the noodles or the veggie. I called the place to file a complaint and I explained to the young lady (cashier) the situation and she placed the phone down to speak to the manager. Upon her return she informed me that the manager wasn't able to come to the phone now but was curious to know what time I placed my order. I let her know the time but I was disappointed to realize she didn't ask any further details. She informed me I could get a remake per the manager but after that I event I had to politely decline. She said she understood but the manager wasn't able to come to the phone and that she couldn't remedy the situation without the managers guidance. I let her know I was disappointed in that fact and really just wanted a refund and to let the restaurant aware since it was in the food they were currently serving. So... those are the facts. I rather not post the pictures since it is was pretty gross. But just...