Phở Cali — Restaurant in Sarasota

I am delighted to share my 5-star review for Pho Cali, a wonderful restaurant located in Sarasota, Florida. Having been a loyal customer for over 10 years, I can confidently say that Pho Cali is my absolute favorite restaurant in town. Even after exploring various Michelin star establishments across the country, I find myself constantly yearning for the delightful flavors and exceptional dining experience that Pho Cali consistently delivers.

Let's start with the highlight of Pho Cali: the food. The pho here is truly outstanding. The broth is rich, flavorful, and fragrant, with a harmonious blend of aromatic spices. The noodles are cooked to perfection, and the meats are tender and succulent. Whether you prefer beef, chicken, or vegetarian options, Pho Cali offers a variety of choices to cater to all tastes. Each bowl of pho is a comforting and satisfying culinary experience that keeps me coming back for more.

Apart from their renowned pho, Pho Cali also offers an extensive menu of other Vietnamese dishes that are equally impressive. The spring rolls are fresh, vibrant, and bursting with flavors. The banh mi sandwiches are a delightful fusion of crusty bread and savory fillings that create a symphony of textures in every bite. The rice dishes are beautifully presented and packed with delightful flavors, while the stir-fried noodles are a delicious medley of ingredients that leave you craving for another serving. The attention to detail and the high-quality ingredients used in each dish truly showcase the culinary expertise of Pho Cali's chefs.

The service at Pho Cali is exceptional. The staff is welcoming, attentive, and always ready to provide recommendations or accommodate special requests. Whether you are dining alone or with a group, the attentive service ensures that you feel like a valued guest throughout your meal. The friendly and knowledgeable staff adds an extra layer of warmth to the dining experience, making your visit to Pho Cali truly memorable.

In terms of ambiance, Pho Cali offers a comfortable and inviting setting. The restaurant is tastefully decorated with Vietnamese-inspired elements, creating a cozy atmosphere that transports you to the heart of Vietnam. The vibrant colors and beautiful artwork on the walls add to the overall charm of the space. The well-lit environment creates a lively and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a casual lunch or a romantic dinner with loved ones.

One of the standout aspects of Pho Cali is its affordability. Despite offering exceptional food and impeccable service, the prices at Pho Cali are remarkably reasonable. You can indulge in a satisfying meal without breaking the bank, making it an ideal choice for regular dining or special occasions. The value for money that Pho Cali provides is truly commendable.

In conclusion, Pho Cali is a true gem in Sarasota, Florida. With its outstanding food, exceptional service, inviting ambiance, and affordability, it is undoubtedly deserving of a 5-star rating. Whether you are a local resident or a visitor to the area, I highly recommend experiencing the culinary delights that Pho Cali has to offer. Prepare yourself for a gastronomic journey filled with flavors that will leave a...

I visited Pho Cali when I first moved to the beautiful Florida Suncoast several years ago. Since then, I've been back around a half-dozen times; I'd go more often, but admittedly visit downtown Sarasota only periodically and live out of the immediate area. That noted, Pho Cali is an unpretentious restaurant where one should go to dive into steamy bowls of noodle soup or enjoy a fabulous bowl of curry.

The menu can at first seem intimidating with many options to choose from. I'd recommend starting with the crispy shrimp rolls as an appetizer, or perhaps the pork egg rolls (maybe both!). These delightfully light starters are bursting with flavor and are sure to please near anyone. Yes, there are plenty of vegetarian options including a vegetarian roll - I have no doubt it's also excellent.

As the restaurant name implies, this is a place to go to for Pho - the iconic Vietnamese noodle soup. That said, there are many other great options on the menu. A friend of mine particularly enjoys the fried rice options here. I, though, really love the curries, such as the coconut lemongrass chicken options. The portion sizes are all ample - often a bit much for one person, to me. The prices are also very reasonable. Entrees generally run $12 to 18, with most right round $15. Each time I've been here, service has been good.

The one note is that the place can become quite busy on a Friday or weekend evening, so there well may be a wait. It's worth it, though. And, I say that having brought friends to Pho Cali, including one who's lived in Japan. All agree, their dishes are fantastic.

If you find yourself in downtown Sarasota craving a rice dish, soup, or curry, or if you want to try something a little different, definitely stop...

Been here about 8 years ago, wasn't very impressed, or maybe i wasn't feeling it that day. Have not returned in a while because i forgot about the place. Since i moved downtown 1 block away from the place, we decided to try the place again.

Obviously, the price has gone up by a lot($20 for pho now instead of what it was, which would be around $12-15 years ago), but it's understandable because they are located in the downtown, i am sure they have to charge more to make enough to pay the rent.

Anyways, pho noodle soup was good (or good enough), was just a tad salty, so my wife had to add some water to it. I ordered chicken fried rice. It was one of the best fried rice i've had in a while. Nothing special done to it, it just tasted very good, no greasy flavor. Just fresh vegetable, and freshly grilled chicken on top. (no mysterious meat that you get from chinese place).

Overall good experience. Again it is a bit pricey, but it's worth visiting when we crave pho and fried rice.

By the way, one of the strangest things i thought they had was that they don't have the sauce tray (sriracha, hoisin, spicy garlic?). We have to ask for it, and then they give you the sauce in a little wasabi tray. I am not entirely certain if they are being cheap or doing it for some other reason. I am sure people waste a lot of sauce sometimes, but don't be cheap and bring us just a little bit of sauce , ONLY if/when we ask. It was a...