Pho 408 — Restaurant in San Jose

Was bummed that Super Dish closed since it's the only authentic Hunan spot in South San Jose. But I was pleasantly surprised by the diverse menu at Pho 408, which took its place—especially excited to see Chao Bo Ne on the menu, since the wait at Bo Ne Phu Yen is always over an hour + I haven't been able to find any Banh Xeo place since the one in Grand Century food court closes!

Here's the verdict:

1. Banh Xeo (ordered without mung bean) - it was OK but was very oily and I knew something was missing but only realized it now: bean sprouts!! Also wish the meat chunks were smaller—it would’ve made it easier to wrap and eat.
2. Banh Mi Chao Bo Ne combo - baguette had that perfect crisp, and the pâté with filet mignon slices were solid. But the chicken shu-mai? Definitely just Costco Aidells teriyaki meatballs. And I’m pretty sure the sausage was Aidells Chicken Apple one too. Will get the Bo luc lac version next time
3. Pho Dac Biet - broth is rich & flavorful! Just wish it comes with more noodle & there's more fat on the flank cuts.
4. Cha Ca La Vong - most disappointing dish of all. Very tiny portion and the fish slices remind me of popcorn chicken but without crisp. Thiên Long wins hands down
5. Mini salted egg yolk Chinese doughnut with egg creme filling - menu showed cut-up 油条, but we got two short whole ones instead. Thought it will be coated with egg yolk outside but turned out it's filled with it (think 流沙包 but not as lava). The egg cream was rich and delicious, but not enough 油条 to go with it. Very tempted to grab extra 油条from the 99 Ranch food court for $3, or bring the leftover cream home and fry up a 3-pack of frozen 油条 for $6 🤣
6. Homemade pandan soymilk - can definitely tell it's not the artificial kind. It's perfectly sweetened with hint of fresh pandan flavor. I asked for less ice but it still came pretty full of it, which watered it down a bit.
7. Coco Grass Jelly Pennywort Juice – Refreshing with chewy grass jelly and a cool, earthy flavor. The herbal tastes aren't too strong, probably balanced out by the creamy coconut milk. If you like matcha drink (without the bitterness), you'll...

This is my second visit to Pho 408 in just three weeks — and let me tell you, it’s not even pho season, but the cravings were too real.

This time I sat at the bar — and that was the move. The owner, Natalie (a true culinary concierge), gave me the behind-the-scenes tour without ever leaving the kitchen. From how the tendon is simmered to how the fresh noodles are pulled daily, she made the meal feel like a guided tasting menu in the middle of San Jose.

Let’s talk broth: The long rib pho came with a side of depth. Deep, rich, no MSG afterburn, just pure slow-cooked soul. The tendon broth? Silky, almost gelatinous in the best way — like it had been simmered down for generations.

The fresh noodles were a standout. Slippery yet chewy, they soaked up the broth like they had a mission — no factory noodles here. This is the kind of place where even the carbs show up to work.

I doubled back on the sizzling pancake and was not disappointed. Still crisp on the outside, airy in the middle, and that hint of coconut? Totally unexpected and completely addictive.

For dessert, we did damage: • The mango tofu had the texture of panna cotta and the flavor of a tropical vacation. • The Vietnamese donuts? Let’s just say they didn’t make it past the parking lot.

And the vibe? Spotless. Like surgical clean. You could eat off the bar if it weren’t already full...

Pho 408 in Oakridge Mall: The Good: Wonderful service, plenty of elegant outdoors seating (would be perfect for sunny afternoons or warm evenings) great foods at very reasonable prices. We liked their Bánh Hỏi Thịt Nướng ($20). This is angel hair rice vennicelli served with grilled strips of pork, peanuts and lots of greens. This could be for 2 people. They also give rice paper to wrap. Other dishes are just as good. The Not So Good: Their pho (yes, ironic since it's in the name of the restaurant.. LOL, one would think it's done well), although flavourful, was too surgary sweet. We spoke with the owner regarding this, hope she'll make some changes to the amount of rock sugars they add to the broth. Update! We tried pho again recently, happy to report that broth is now flavourful and perfectly seasoned, plus their Vè giòn is best I have had (only Pho Y is comparable). The Take Away: Although we are sad the previous restaurant (Superdish) had to close, we LOVE that Pho 408 took its place Update: They have since changed their menue. What used to a very reasonable $15/bowl of pho is now $18/bowl. Every dish increased by at least 20% from...