Pho Sai Gon — Restaurant in The Dalles

We finally got to check out the reopened Pho spot in its new Union Street location, and while the food was fantastic, the service left a little to be desired.

We stopped in for lunch on a quiet Tuesday, with only one other table occupied. After being told to sit anywhere, we received menus quickly, and the waiter was efficient in taking our order. The food arrived promptly—always a good sign—but after that, service was virtually nonexistent. We had to flag him down, unsure if we needed to pay at the counter instead of getting a check. He said you can meet me at the counter.

That said, the food itself was well worth the visit. There’s a good variety beyond just Pho, though the Pho is the real star. I ordered the C-2, and the broth was absolutely spot on—rich, flavorful, and the kind that lingers in your mind long after the meal. The salad rolls were good but have changed since the restaurant’s previous iteration. They now have larger noodles and less lettuce than before, but the peanut sauce remains as delicious as ever.

One small hiccup: even though both of us ordered Pho, we were only given one small plate of fresh add-ins (sprouts, basil, jalapeño), and it was placed next to my dining companion. I kept waiting for another plate, but it never came, so we just split it. Not a dealbreaker, but a bit odd.

Ultimately, the broth is so good that I can overlook the lackluster service. While I hope they tighten things up on that end, we’ll definitely be back for...

What a hidden gem in a smaller community! We have tried pho in over 20 cities, the broth of this one ranks among the top.

We called and made sure that their broth is homemade, and was assured that they cooked the broth for 24 hours, which was reflected from the first sip of our order. We actually ordered a separate bowl of the broth to enjoy. The meat and noodles quantity is generous, so are the bean sprouts and basil, although we did ask for an extra one. The meatball is the only part we did not quite like. Other than that, everything was perfect!

We came in right after it opened up. The owner and chef was taking care of the plants outside and inside, to the small details of cleaning the drip pan under. The whole place is spotlessly clean, including the restroom.

The waiter is a young man who is efficient but not the big city friendly type. After talking with him more, you could tell that it is just his reserved personality.

Would definitely revisit it when we pass by next time. Highly...

Pho Sai Gon features a wide variety of Vietnamese cuisine, with the traditional Pho soup in many meat choices and of course the classic Pad Thai rice noodle dish. Their flavors are outstanding, with fresh meats, seafood and vegetables and savory broths. Spring roll appetizers are gorgeous and come with a delicious peanut sauce dip that left us licking our fingers to not waste a drop of it. My only negative comment is that the Pad Thai comes without the traditional crushed peanuts which usually give it such wonderful character and flavor. On the plus side, we asked our server for a side dish of crushed peanuts and she graciously brought us one so we were good to go. The staff were also very considerate of my food allergy concerns, and took every care to be sure that I was safe and comfortable....