Pho Lynn Vietnamese Restaurant — Restaurant in Olympia

My visit to Pho Lynn Vietnamese in Olympia was one of those dining experiences that lands squarely in the middle of the road, offering a mix of the expected and the disappointing without any strong feelings in either extreme. The restaurant itself is unassuming and tidy, providing a casual and comfortable environment for a quick meal. The staff was polite and efficient, ensuring that we were seated promptly and our orders were taken without delay, which I always appreciate.

However, the food itself was a letdown in key areas, preventing a higher rating. I decided to try one of their chicken dishes, and unfortunately, the poultry was quite dry and lacked the juiciness and tenderness that one hopes for. It seemed as if it had been overcooked or perhaps held for too long before being served. The flavors that were present were authentic and hinted at what the dish could have been, but the texture was a significant drawback. Similarly, the sandwich I ordered was merely acceptable. The bread was fresh and the ingredients seemed decent quality, but the overall taste profile was underwhelming and failed to leave a memorable impression. It lacked the vibrant, herb-forward punch and the harmonization of flavors that excellent Vietnamese cuisine is known for.

In the end, Pho Lynn serves its purpose as a convenient local spot for a straightforward meal. The service is commendable and the premises are clean, but the kitchen's inconsistency with certain proteins and the lack of depth in some dishes hold it back from being a standout. I left feeling neither disappointed nor impressed, but simply satisfied enough. It is a solid three-star establishment that has a good foundation but needs more attention to detail in its culinary execution to truly shine and earn a stronger...

The menu prices are outdated on their website and on the Google pictures. Since 2021, almost everything on the menu has gone up by at least $2. A Large Combination Pho now cost $13.99 instead of $11.69. We ordered a Large Combination Pho, a Jackfruit smoothie, and intended to order a Large Bun Bo Hue. When the waiter took our order, we decided to give him the item numbers instead of the name of the items because we thought that would make the process easier due to a language barrier. The waiter also didn't verify our orders, and unfortunately that was a big mistake. Instead of bringing us a 27D - Bun Bo Hue, the waiter brought out a 27B - Beef Stew. We understand the B and D sound alike so we decided to just let it go.

The pho was average. The broth tasted like lots of MSG, and there were not any hints of pho spices (anise, cloves, etc). The meat level was poor; there was maybe half a meatball in the bowl, and only one tiny bit of tendon. The beef stew was beefy, but lacked other spice flavors. The Jackfruit smoothie was the worst of the meal; it was intensely sweet and tasted of powder milk instead of real milk.

Overall we will NOT go back. This is our second time there; the first time was when it was Pho Hoa, which was also forgettable. The amount of rice noodle in the soups are small, even for the Large orders. Paying Seattle prices for mediocre service and a bowl of pho in Olympia is definitely...

Service: acceptable. It mainly focuses on serving food not serving service.

Food: taste is good and authentic. Portion is relatively smaller. This is based on personal experience. Ate pho in major cities (SoCal LA, Texas Dallas, NY Manhattan). Pho 102 actually has a larger portion (1.5x) of vegetables, noodles and meats even though menu says it’s “small” vs “medium” in pho 102. It’s a same sized bowl. Slightly saltier than pho 102. I consider fries are extremely salty, just to give some reference for comparison.

Hygiene: actually cleaner than pho 102. This is based on the trays for utensils and sauce/salt/pepper.

Efficiency: took me 3 min to get my food after ordering. I’m assuming the meats and noodles are already cooked, awaiting for customers to order. Not sure how long they have been cooked. Meats tasted tender imo.

Price: acceptable range. Market here isn’t expensive. That’s why I choose to eat outside than cooking at home, besides being lazy :p

Setting: pretty friendly customers. Mostly family or workers.

Recommendation: can come if you want a quiet, quick bite place...