Pho Ha — Restaurant in Temecula

This place was very disappointing. Pho Ha is a chain that’s been around for decades with one of my favorites in San Jose and Pomona (eat there and you won’t be disappointed). By reputation, Pho Ha is very authentic but this particular day it went wrong. Owners of this franchise really need to go back on their service and chef training. It gives the other Pho Ha a bad name.

We left Palm Springs to head south and wanted pho. The next closest Pho heading South was Temecula. This was Thanksgiving weekend and combined with CoVId restrictions, this plaza was very dead. Pho Ha had six tables for outdoor dining on their sidewalk. Three on each side, five of them seat 4 and one seated two.

The first annoying incident was that we went inside and stood halfway between the door and register due to social distancing. There were others in there and at the time we thought they were customers but they were workers! No uniform so we couldn’t tell. Then they didn’t acknowledge us! At least say, “we will be right with you”. So we made a comment out loud like do we just stand here? A guy walks passed and said you order at the front then find a seat outside. We thought he was a customer leaving but that guy happened to work here!

So we finally placed our order, no apologies from the counter at all. My mother was already seated outside. We got 3 pho’s (seafood, dac biet, and rare streak) and banh khot which is Vietnamese savory mini pancake.

The seafood pho was not worth serving. One of the imitation crab was still frozen. Which means the fish balls, meat balls, shrimp probably all were frozen prior.

The broth tasted weird and at first, I couldn’t figure it out. It was like soupy. I got the rare steak and normally I love carbs and would eat noodles and save meat for last. This time the broth and noodles was so disgusting that I just ate the meat. I still couldn’t shake that smell and taste from the broth. Later, I figured it out, it’s not the broth, it’s the noodles that was over cooked and it’s like they didn’t rinse off the extra starch and just served it like that so it had a funky thick smell to it.

My mom and I can’t stand to waste food and we thought maybe taking it home and add some spice would be easier to chow down. So we asked for take out containers. My mom had the seafood and ended up tossing the noodles and keeping the seafood to make a new meal at home. I had the rare steak and when I took it home to heat up, It was worse so I had to throw it away.

On the flip side, they give a lot of noodles. So that take home portion could have been divided up into two meals.

The only item that turned out delicious was the banh khot. We thought they forgot about it because it should be an appetizer but it came out after we boxed our pho.

Banh khot was freshly made, the batter had to be mixed and fried. It came out crispy on the outside and glutinous chewy in the center with the friend shrimp on top and had tons of flavors when wrapped in lettuce and dipped with fish sauce.

I was aiming for 1 star but the banh khot redeemed...

Pho Ha #1 is an ethnic Vietnamese restaurant. Big difference in their approach to food compared to, let's say, with Chinese food. I would say right away that this place offers a healthier type of food, based on the ingredients used, specially in their Pho type soups. We went there yesterday around 8 PM, and tried their well reviewed Pho. Forgot to ask for a menu to go, so all I remember is the Pho number in this case: #11. It consisted of lean brisket (we are not for fatty meat in our soups), and rare lean beef? Arrived to the table with a side dish of sliced jalapeños, bean sprouts, slice of lime, and what I believed to be a branch of a flavorful plant, which in the end is all supposed to be thrown in the, hopefully, very hot broth, for maximum results. I am almost sure some fresh mint was included. I asked for the noodles to be placed on the side, for I find it reduces the amount of broth when mixed all together, plus I have discovered that the bean sprouts are a preferred option instead. The other exact soup was ordered with the noodles in the soup, and according to my lovely female companion, was quite tasty. The broth was very thin, but also very flavorful, in a way quite unique and appetizing. They did excel in their broth, in this case. Each large bowl cost $8+, and was well worth it, in our hungry opinions. Our party of 3 had 2 and shared accordingly. Very nicely served. 2 appetizers to the tune of $6.50 each, were also ordered. One with a very thin, see through wrap, was it filo? thin pasta? with whole plump shrimp, leak?, sliced cucumber, cabbage?, all rolled into one tasty roll served with a sweet, but not overly, sauce. The second appetizer consisted of basically the same method, but with pork sausage. Each plate came with 4 pieces. This Pho Ha #1 serves generous portions. The place was half full on the Thursday evening, service competent, all smiles, while we ate to our complete satisfaction. Total bill $31+ plus a well deserved gratuity of 15%. Very happy campers, and we made the very sad mistake of heading to Kryspy Kreme? recently opened in Menifee to appease the sweet tooth, but that is another story, with an entirely different ending. I say more ethnic Cuisines, if they are going to be every bit as good and interesting as our first visit to this well kept...

I came into Pho Ha in Temecula last Sunday and had such a good experience that I returned tonight after a long day at work. I was just hoping for a quiet bowl of soup and a moment to unwind, but I left with much more than I expected.

My server, Breanna, recognized me right away and asked if I was doing laundry again. She asked my name and used it throughout the meal, which felt sincere and personal. It was not only that she remembered me but how she carried herself. Her service was warm, attentive, and genuinely kind without ever feeling forced. I felt seen, and it became the highlight of a difficult day.

Breanna recommended the rare filet mignon pho, and it was excellent. The broth was rich and aromatic, with balanced, deep flavor that showed real care in the kitchen. The filet was tender and silky, and every spoonful felt comforting and fresh. The restaurant itself is spotless, calm, and welcoming, and the staff seem to truly enjoy what they do.

Another front-of-house team member named T also caught my attention. He has a funny, genuine, and vibrant personality that lights up the room. Even in the short interaction I had with him, his energy was contagious. Watching him move around the restaurant, smiling and connecting with people, you cannot help but feel happier yourself. It is rare to see that kind of natural joy at work, and it adds so much to the atmosphere.

I moved here from Southern Oregon about two months ago, and I have not made many personal connections outside of work yet. That is part of why this visit meant so much. Breanna’s kindness reminded me how powerful genuine hospitality can be. I imagine she and T make travelers and new guests feel the same way, cared for and completely at home. That is a real gift.

As someone who works in hospitality, I notice the details, and Pho Ha gets them right. The food, the service, and the atmosphere come together beautifully. They have earned my loyalty, and I plan to make this my Sunday spot. If you are anywhere near Temecula, treat yourself to a visit. You will leave feeling nourished, appreciated, and already looking forward to...