Pho Time — Restaurant in Oʻahu

I had been craving pho for a couple weeks now so I was really looking forward to trying out a new place while we were in Aiea.

Unfortunately it wasn’t what I was hoping based on the reviews. We ordered pho & summer rolls, it was mediocre at best. The lettuce in the summer rolls was old and soggy and they ended falling apart. The chili sauce for the pho was odd tasting, like it had been sitting out for a while or like it was an old batch. I’m also used to getting a humongous bowl when I order a large pho but this one wasn’t the typical large size. We were given a very small amount of basil and sprouts and one teeny-tiny piece of lemon.... I guess it was enough for the size pho we got? Idk...

The real reason I’m giving it a 3 is because of cleanliness. The place was dirrrrty. The windows haven’t been cleaned in a long time, they were covered in dead bugs, spider webs and lots of dust. Upon entering the bathroom (inside of the kitchen 🥴) you notice the operation in the back isn’t the cleanest either. We didn’t feel comfortable drinking the ice water cuz based on everything else who knows when the last time the ice machine was cleaned. 🤷🏽‍♀️ There was also only one table available for dine-in when we arrived because every other table and chair were covered in dirty boxes and boxes of masks (which are also sold out of the restaurant)??? 🤦🏽‍♀️

Sad this place wasn’t a better experience, we were really looking forward to having some yummy pho in Aiea... I’ll stick to town for pho...

I never leave reviews (it’s been probably a decade or more) but in this case I have to. We placed an order for takeout at 6:25 pm on Sunday for 1 Pho and 1 Summer Roll. Very simple and easy order. We were told it would be 15 minutes, and with a toddler in the car, it’s important that these estimates are accurate.

We arrived at 6:40 and paid at the register at 6:45 and this was the first of a dozen or so times the “they are making it and it will be right out” statement was made by staff.

Over the next 35 minutes, I sat in the restaurant while my toddler and wife were in the vehicle waiting. I watched DoorDash order after DoorDash order and large party orders pass me by. I even watched people who came in to dine in 10 minutes after my purchase at 6:45, get the exact same order as me, and be almost finished with their meal by the time I finally received my family’s food at 7:20.

Expectation setting was inaccurate. A dozen times I was misled on timing after I purchased. And not a care in the world was shown by the team here.

The food is fine and atmosphere is a typical strip mall Pho restaurant, but the take out service...

Food Had the combo pho. The broth is missing that "zing" of spices that a solid pho broth should have. There was a good amount of meat, mostly brisket, but it tasted very gamey and there was only 2 pieces of beef ball, 1 piece of tendon, and no tripe. Also they could have given us more veggie toppings (bean sprouts, basil, dandelion leaves, lemon). I feel like the amount given to our party of 2 pho-eaters was the same as for 1 pho-eater.

Service The waitress was very nice and sweet and addresses most patrons as "aunty" or "uncle" but she was only waitress her working, understandable because its a small resturaunt, she was also taking phone orders and needed help from the cooking staff to bring out our orders.

Atmosphere This is what I was was most unimpressed about. The resturaunt seemed a bit dirty, grimey, and dimly lit. The tabletops were clean. The walls had a line of grime from the chair backs constantly making contact with it. The floors were grimey and looked like they needed a deep steam clean. They need some...