Pho46 & Banh Mi — Restaurant in San Diego

Just found Pho 46 while accidentally ending up at Baba Kabob nearby earlier today (separate review). The fact that Pho 46's prices for popular Vietnamese appetizers and dishes are way less than most Viet restos around here caught my eye. Notes: $0.50 fee for credit or debit pymts under $10. Wheelchair accessible.

Now add to that the fact that they have a "happy hour" from 3pm to 8pm Mon to Sat where all the main dishes -- which are already less expensive than every other Viet resto around here -- become $4.99. (For take out, though, you have to pay an extra dollar per dish.) Not surprisingly, it was almost standing room only at around 7:15pm.

I ordered grilled pork summer rolls and my go-to fave, Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio (vermicelli rice noodle with "salad," grilled pork and two pieces of fried Vietnamese style egg rolls.

Even despite the happy hour price, they didn't skimp on the Bun dish. The take out container was large and stuffed with noodles, grilled pork strips, lettuce, sprouts, cukes though no pickled carrot/ radish combo. I tried a few bites and it was as good as any other place.

The summer rolls I relinquished to my in-laws, and I'm pretty sure I heard some "mmmm" sounds in the kitchen.

Of course, I'll be back.

UPDATE: I couldn't wait and went back again today, and man was it insanely busy. (6:00 to 7:30pm is heavy order time). The poor lady at front was handling everything -- seating people, taking orders, taking take-out orders, packing take-out orders. She had a bit of help with serving food, but still did most of it.

And my not knowing what I wanted 10-15 seconds too late meant that I had to wait 15-20 minutes to order, and then two tables who came in after me got served before me. (She apologized when I was paying, and she thanked me for waiting.) But the wait was worth it, even though I was starving by then, and despite my 10-mile round trip home.

I ordered a rice dish that was a combo (likely a Chinese dish, not Vietnamese) of mushrooms, onions, chicken, beef and shrimp (though I skipped the shrimp). I would have liked a slightly thicker sauce, but I still loved the dish, which was perfectly seasoned, not too salty. And even without the happy hour price of $4.99, the regular price of $7.50 is still way below the cost of similar dishes ($9.95-12.95) at nearby restaurants.

Update: Went back again today (will add some photos) and tried the BBQ pork chop with sunny side up egg, a bit of salad, and rice. The pork chop was perfect, with bone-in, but not too much, yet the meat was still very juicy. The traditional dipping sauce was mild and perfectly...

Edit: giving it a 4 star after trying this place for the second time.

This time, I did a takeout: rice vermicelli, and spring rolls.

Spring roll: skinnier than last time, but the flavor and texture is pretty much same as last time.

Vermicelli: good amount of veggies good amount of bbq pork good texture for the noodles (not too soft, not too hard) sauce is on point

Overall, I enjoyed the rice vermicelli more than the pho I tried last time.

————————— I ordered 3 spring rolls and a House Special Pho.

Spring rolls tightly rolled, chewy, good texture with freshness from the veggies. sauce is bit watery and salty. I prefer more creamy texture and more peanut flavor.

House Special Pho good soup when it’s hot. green onions and onions already included in the soup… so if you like to have them on the side, tell them beforehand. meat quality seems to be on the lower side especially with what they call “rare steak”. would like to see more tendons. overall, large size… took a while to finish the noodles.

Quantity makes up for the quality. Kinda pricey for a Pho but can’t complain.

I’d like to give another chance with ordering a different menu next time!

Giving...

When I came to San Diego in 2017, I found my high school buddy who was working as VA Doc. Both of us have experienced $2.50 pho in the heart of San Francisco Chinatown (granted, that was during the earlier part of this century), and my friend took me to this place. Prior to Covid, they offered $5 dishes that had both of us excited with younger memories. It was the best priced Pho out of the whole California... maybe even the whole States as I was moving from Houston Texas, another huge hub of Vietnamese community. Long story short, it is still the best priced pho, at least by 30%. Portions have increased through Covid and inflation. Doesn't matter. The owners deserve the review and much more.

Note to 3rd party Deliveries... buy the drivers a meal here as tip.

PS. It's a...