Pho Hoa Noodle Soup - Pinole — Restaurant in Pinole

It is with mixed feelings that I write this review, as I am truly a fan of the delicious food at Pho Hoa. However, I feel compelled to share my recent experiences with one particular server, whom I believe goes by the name that starts with the letter 'C' and is a petite young Asian female adult wearing gold rim round glasses. On two separate occasions, I encountered a significant issue with her service.

It's disheartening to note that her demeanor towards customers left much to be desired. Initially, I wondered if it might be a personal matter, but after the second incident, it became apparent that she might not enjoy her job. In contrast, I must commend the bussers and the cashier, who are also young adults, for their attentive and proactive approach to customer service.

On my most recent visit, I ordered a Banh Mi Sandwich for my daughter, unaware that it contained jalapenos. Unfortunately, my daughter took a bite and started experiencing discomfort, desperately reaching for water. Regrettably, our server, the girl with the glasses, was nowhere to be found. This mirrored my first visit when I had to walk up to the counter to request a refill and place my order. On this second occasion, the busser, who happened to be nearby, noticed my daughter's distress and kindly offered milk and water. I expressed my gratitude for his quick response.

Despite this, the server never returned, often disappearing into the kitchen. I sincerely hope that the owner or manager of Pho Hoa will address this issue with the specific employee in question. Until this situation is resolved, I am hesitant to return to Pho Hoa, even though I...

I have tried it twice and both times were the worst experience with pho I've ever had and the only time I've never been able to finish pho.

The first time, I ordered chicken pho, and the chicken were like giant frozen blocks that tasted extremely processed and were hardly edible.

The second time, today, I decided to give it another chance with beef. The beef was entirely inedible! I couldn't chew any of it! I let my mother try, and she said it wasn't just chewy, she literally couldn't bite into them! As a restaurant owner, she said that the beef were so discolored, it looked like pork rather than beef, but if it was really beef and this inedible, it must have been frozen for years then hastily unfrozen to have lost all its texture and taste. She called it absolutely "horrifying".

But it wasn't just the beef! The noodles and soup had a strong taste of chemicals or plastic! I barely made it half-way through before giving up because I felt so sick eating it. When I let my mother tried, she said that the noodles must have been in storage for so long, it had absorbed a sickening taste of sulfur. Even she could not finish the pho.

The boba milk tea by the way (which didn't seem different from Thai iced tea separate on the menu) was also terrible. Way too oversaturated with sugar or syrup and probably used milk powder instead of fresh milk.

I rarely bother to leave reviews, but I am doing it this time not because I'm outraged but because I believe this establishment's food is genuinely unsafe to eat. There are other pho restaurants in the area which are fantastic and have...

I recently visited this place and ordered a large pho with steak along with two summer rolls. This review is purely my personal opinion and may be a bit biased.

The pho broth tasted more like a store-bought extract diluted with water, which reminded me of what you might expect from a chain or franchise restaurant. Unfortunately, I couldn’t detect the deep, rich flavors typically found in more traditional pho spots. The meat and noodles were fine, but the broth lacked the depth and complexity that makes pho comforting and memorable.

As for the summer rolls, the ingredients were fresh, but the dipping sauce was overly sweet and commercial-tasting, likely heavy on corn syrup. Personally, I would have preferred a homemade-style peanut sauce for a better balance.

That said, the restaurant was clean, and the restroom was well-maintained, which I do appreciate. The staff was polite, and service was prompt. Overall, I’d say the food was just okay. If you’re looking for a quick bite in a clean setting, this might work, but if you’re after authentic pho flavor, you might want to explore...