iPho by Saigon — Restaurant in Saint Paul

It would be because of sentimental value if I give this place a 5 star because I have been visiting this restaurant since 2012 for more than 50 times. I remember back then when my stomach was much bigger, I could devour their jumbo every time, and it was very affordable, only a bit more than $10 per bowl. Now their P1 jumbo is $14.95, but it's still within a very affordable range for such a large amount. I will always be down with this business even if I don't think they have the best phở in the Twin Cities. It has been a staple serving many southeast Asian communities, particularly Hmong people, around the Frogtown area, as well as Hamline students who went to school around there.

With that said, in terms of food, affordability is their biggest strength. I always get the P1, Phở Sài Gòn Dặc Biệt, which is the Saigon Special that has eye round steak, flank steak, brisket, tripe, tendon, and beef meatballs all included. The broth is mediocre, which in many ways define their phở as subpar, as it's the broth that counts. But meat lovers will still have a good time dipping all that meat in a small side dish of hoisin sauce. Nowadays I have downgraded to a regular instead of jumbo, and the size difference is quite big, so I say if you have a big stomach, spending an extra $4 for the jumbo is worth it as you are guaranteed to be full! My partner always gets their mock duck bánh mì, claiming that they have the best one. But of course, since she doesn't eat pork, she won't get the full experience, so I will just leave it as that. Do I think the mock duck bánh mì is good? Yes, I think so. But it's definitely not the best I have had around here. The baguette is often too soggy or too dry, and it's often sloppily garnished with cilantro on the top. I have also had their smoothie bubble tea before and I will say that it is very artificial and I am currently beyond the point of having that kind of bubble tea and will advise others to look elsewhere for such instead.

I have been here for 11-12 years and despite their large menu, I have barely, almost never, had anything else other than what I have mentioned above! This is definitely a comfort food spot for me especially when I used to live around Frogtown, so in some ways I feel bad about not giving this establishment a 5 star, but I simply can't do it, knowing that I still have to place the heaviest emphasis on food quality, despite its economical nature.

Service is very fast! Your order will arrive within 5 minutes most of the time, even if they are packed. Therefore no need to worry about having to hold your hunger!

Back in the days when my friends, my partner, and I used to come here, we would always look forward to the "hot waiters" haha but nowadays a lot of them are not there anymore. That's just a fun fact! I think this place will continue to thrive, and I surely hope that they will, because there are many communities dependent on them. If there's improvement on food quality, then of course that would be better, but even if there's not, I will continue to treat this place as my Midway Saint Paul haven phở spot. The sentimental value is...

iPho by Saigon in Saint Paul is a fantastic spot for anyone craving authentic, flavorful Vietnamese cuisine in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted with friendly smiles and attentive service that makes you feel right at home. The cozy, casual vibe is perfect for a quick lunch, dinner with friends, or a comforting solo meal.

The menu offers a great variety of classic Vietnamese dishes, but the star of the show is, of course, their pho. The broth is rich, aromatic, and deeply satisfying — clearly simmered to perfection with traditional spices and fresh ingredients. Whether you choose the rare beef, brisket, or chicken pho, each bowl arrives steaming hot, generously portioned, and packed with flavor. The fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and lime wedges on the side allow you to customize every bite.

Beyond pho, their vermicelli noodle bowls and banh mi sandwiches are equally delicious. The grilled meats are tender and flavorful, and the fresh vegetables add just the right balance. Vegetarian options are also available and thoughtfully prepared.

Prices are reasonable, especially considering the quality and portion sizes. Service is consistently prompt and courteous, with staff always willing to offer recommendations or adjust spice levels to your taste.

If you’re in the Saint Paul area and looking for a go-to spot for comforting, authentic Vietnamese food, iPho by Saigon is a must-visit. It’s the kind of local gem you’ll find yourself returning to...

About service: i have to admit that the servers here were very nice. They always smiled, gently talking and did the service real fast. I thought i had to wait for about 15-20 mins as usual in other restaurants for food, but no everything came out immediately which surprised me.

About food: i do not think this is a Vietnamese restaurant because the food here were not authentic at all. They tasted different from my country (im from Vietnam) and i even cooked them better at home.

I did not like egg rolls at all. 6/10 for this I ordered Bun Bo Hue and it disappointed me so much. It did not taste right at all but tasted like beef stew.

My husband ordered Pho but he said my Pho cooking at home was better. I do know why so many people pick this place and reviewed 5 stars for food. They might not be Vietnamese so they have no ideas how the food should be i guess.

But i rated this restaurant 4 stars not because of the food because i believed people have different tastes. Other people might like it here. I gave the 4/5 because the who restaurant was so smelly and stinky.

When people at the next table finished their eating and left, The servers pushed the whole trolley along the restaurant to that table and clean all the leftover pouring them into the bin that contained a lot of food trash in there from previous table. I feel like i was eating in the trash bin. I could not eat at all because i have a very sensitive nose🥲. I could smell everything🤮....