Pho Tay Do — Restaurant in Tuckahoe

This would have been a 4-star review. Unfortunately due to the way their staff's nonchalant attitude towards covid-19 handling in the restaurant and the arrogance towards patron's request to wear masks properly, I have to give them a one-star or rather no star review. They are basically committing manslaughter to high-risk customers and slowing down the recovery of the economy. You wouldn't knowingly serve food with E Coli to your patron, why would you get defensive when your patron requests that you wear your masks properly. Just because you are asymptomatic and can ride it out, it doesn't mean all your patrons can. I would like to think you would want as many people to live and stay healthy to continue to support your business for many years to come not just one meal during the covid-19 era!

On 11/29 I ordered pick up. Before I opened the storm door attached to the restaurant I noticed one of the cashiers had the mask on his lips but nostrils were out in the open and the other one had the mask on the chin. I signaled to them to pull the masks up, when I walked towards him he said "what you can't see the glass?". He was referring to a plastic shield in front of him that has an opening at the bottom and all three 3 sides are opened to the poor circulated airflow which can carry droplets around the restaurant, so the plastic glass has minimal help unless you also wear a mask as well. The entire restaurant is a little less than 700 square ft with no or little natural airflow. They allow patrons to sit inside to eat. Takeout people are being forced to pay cash inside since they do not have merchant service set up. (Ironically they leave your pick up food by the door but you still have to walk inside to pay) I live in the neighborhood and have introduced many people to their establishment. However, due to this unfortunate event, I will not be going back. Their attitude is not worth anyone's health risk or to test out...

Best pho joint in Richmond, no question. I spent most of my life in Northern Virginia, which has one of the largest Vietnamese communities in America. Pho is ubiquitous, & while it's one of those foods that's hard to screw up, truly superb pho is difficult to come by. There're a couple of places that are fantastic up in NoVA; finding one in Richmond was harder. Then a friend mentions the groaningly named Pho Tay Do (whatever "tay do" means in Vietnamese, in English… well, I don't want to ruin it for you. Just say it really quickly, accent on the second syllable). His praise is effusive. I track it down with a friend: sign on door "CLOSED". Why? I guess the owner/cook/artiste (all the paintings inside are his, and he has a good eye for cleavage. Apparently the Communist regime provides ill-tailored garments to the exceptionally busty peasants of Vietnam, or so one would think from the paintings that adorn Pho Tay Do) just felt like taking some time off.

I tried again, this time with another friend, a pho fanatic who couldn't wait to find out if it was as good as it was supposed to be. Well, it was. Even the "Bible Tripe", which she usually despises, got a thumbs up. What is so biblical about the tripe in question, I don't know, but it's the lining of one of four segments of the cow's stomach that is traditionally used in pho, & always described as "bible tripe".

The broth is divine. Everything is divine. The servings are massive. Even a small bowl is enough for dinner and a midnight snack.

Seriously, just go already! It's almost a divine revelation to tuck in here & realize what the Platonic ideal of pho is. All pho wishes it...

It looks like a house. Also known as, "blue house", as my family likes to call it. Not a lot of parking, sometimes you'll have to park on the street. Been coming here for years as a kid with my parents. Not a lot of things have changed over the years.

A small business and the dad is a great artist. Around the restaurant, there's a lot of paintings of people, landscapes, and more. The wife of the owner used to make the food, but she passed away from cancer, unfortunately. Now, her daughter took over the business and is now making the food. Which is just as good. She's continuing the legacy of what her parents started. The daughter's husband is helping too, as a server, so that's nice.

My recommended dish to get here for an appetizer is the Egg Roll. Always served hot and crunchy. Their pho is really good. The only place that is inexpensive to get Pho, like 6 or 7 dollars only. I have gotten broken rice, spring rolls, and other dishes, but they're not the best compared to other places I've had.

A caveat is that you have to come here with cash because they only accept cash for payment. Their customer service is excellent. The waiter is always checking on us frequently. Checking to refill our water and if we're okay or if we want anything else.

Overall, it's a small restaurant that has reasonable pricing for great food. Everyone is friendly and seems like they enjoy what they're doing. I like how the business is still running after everything that has happened. If you ever want a good bowl of pho, come to Pho Tay Do! They definitely deserve 5 stars because they provide not just food, but love and passion...