Pho Kim Long — Restaurant in Olmos Park

I was in search of a fantastic pho place and found it here at Pho Kim Long. Great food - a testament in looking at my banking statements and realizing I have spent $1625.76 since January of this year. I have brought employees for their work anniversaries and have had team dinners here, adding to the customer base with employees and co-workers finding the food spectacular as I have.

As with most mom-and-pop places, it can be short-staffed - understandable. I think we all understand the concept of supply and demand. There is a high demand for this fantastic place, and there will be opportunities - no establishment is perfect. What an establishment can do is be its best. Treat people the way you want your family to be treated, be appreciative, the basic concept of being thankful for a person or persons choosing to spend their money at their place of business.

We all have been in situations where we are short-staffed, having to balance several things at once. I also understand we have our bad days, and at times, stress gets us. But customer service always needs to be a priority if you are in the customer service industry. It's what keeps customers coming back - the feeling of being appreciated after appreciating a great meal and service.

I have always had the best customer service here except for one fellow. Reading the comments, I see he has a pattern of behavior and has left a bad taste with customers. Today was my turn and the final straw leading me to share my experience as others have regarding this individual's attitude and poor choices in behavior.

Today, I placed an order via DoorDash Pick-Up and saw the time was increased 45 mins after placing the order. No harm; it happens all the time. When I called to see if it would be faster to dine in, the male stated it would take just as long. I told him to keep the order and was about to thank him when I heard him say "thanks for wasting my time" as he hung up. Knowing he had behaved like this with me in the past, I didn't get upset. I went to Pho Kim Long, and as usual in the afternoon, he was working the register. When I asked if I could speak to someone in charge, he folded his arms, placed them on the counter, and said, "you can speak with me." I told him I would not speak to him or tolerate his attitude. I shared with him that this was now the third time he had treated me in such a manner. I told him that I got it, things are busy, and he is by himself, but that is no reason to say what he did on the phone. In asking how long would it take for my DoorDash pick-up to be ready, he stated he canceled it because I called to ask about dining. After telling him that I only called to ask the question, he started to place the order again, with such an attitude and disgust, stating, "it is still going to be an hour." I had enough and told him to cancel the order.

Never in my years have I encountered a person who has such a disgust for what he does - serve people who visit his family's place of business. I would encourage him to evaluate his behavior, asking if he intends to hurt his family's business, reputation, and ability to keep growing their customer base. It pays the family's bills. His family's earnings should not hurt if he isn't happy with what he's doing or unable to handle the stress of what seems to be an everyday occurrence at Pho Kim Long. The place is busy because it is popular. This place will continue to have customers turned off and away because of one person.

I wish Pho Kim Long continued success. I want to wish this kid luck in finding happiness and hope that he realizes his attitude, behavior, and choices hurt his family, not the person he chooses to act out towards.

Thanks to ALL the others who are their best and help keep this place what it has become...

As an Asian, this was very disappointing especially for our first time eating from here. There were six shrimps in this shrimp and spring roll plate. I need my protein. “We should have bought a bag of shrimp and made it at home,” is what was said, plus he gave a good tip. During this pandemic, we appreciate you being open, but six shrimps are not enough for Pescatarians. Also, the rice wasn’t sticky. You know we Asians are used to sticky rice. This is Vietnamese food, not American food. The shrimp was not seasoned and definitely not grilled; it seemed more like steamed or steamed on the flat top grill very quickly- or maybe even microwaved. (No char....We’ve been in the food industry so we know what grilled shrimp looks like). For further reference, please let customers know or at least put on the menu if the Spring Rolls have chicken or pork; we couldn’t eat it. I guess we could have asked if it was vegetable spring rolls, but that should be assumed by default. Again he said, “that is one of the weakest purchases I have made lately.” The chili oil was not spicy at all and we had to dip into our fridge to get “real chili oil paste,” from the Asian market. I’m still hungry, plus I work out so those shrimps did not satiate the protein I need for my muscles. Back to studying on a hungry stomach! I think maybe dining in might give you more on your plate if you eat here, but I’m not too sure. I’m willing to give this another chance but only as dine in.

-PS: any restaurant that has Vietnamese AND Chinese on their menu, means the food might just be subpar and you’re better off making it at home no matter how busy you are.

-Tip 20% to support people struggling in the pandemic, but make sure to get your money’s worth at this place by asking many questions beforehand.

-Not Instagram worthy.

-If you’re on a special diet like Pescitarianism or in a workout challenge, ask lots...

I usually get my orders from here to go and have never had issues. I've typically liked the food and consistency. Until now. I ordered Lemon Grass Vermicelli with Tofu. It is always so fresh and good. I picked up my order and headed home. When I opened my food, it was steamed rice and onions. I found exactly three small pieces of tofu. This is not what I ordered. I called to tell them, and the guy said there's a lot of onions in that dish and asked if there was tofu in it. I said yes, three pieces of tofu, and explained that first of all, it's not what I ordered and that it was just onions and rice. I didn't order that. I paid $17 for onions and rice. He kept telling me over and over that there are a lot of onions. He just laughed it off and hung up. My friend came over and saw my food and got mad that I paid for a whole onion and steamed rice. She called and they told her rice and Vermicelli are similar (no, they're not). They offered a discount to buy new food. That turned into a mess and didn't go well, which I feel bad about. However, it's not ok to charge $17 for something not ordered and definitely not onions and rice, then justify it rather than apologize and make it right. I have been going for years and will never go back. I could have gone to HEB bought an onion and steamed some rice for less than $5. But who the heck wants to eat onions and rice? I had to throw it away because it was not satiating nor nutritious. The restaurant is happy to charge $17 for onions and rice rather than make the correct order of Vermicelli, Vietnamese salad, peanuts, tofu, a balanced amount of scallions and onions and the rice wine sauce. How hard is that? Wouod the owner be happy to accept...