Pho Saigon — Restaurant in Vancouver

UPDATE: If someone asks for NO cilantro in their pho, they are dead serious about there being NONE. If you forget their request and bring out a bowl full of cilantro leaves, don't you dare take it to the back and just pluck out as much of it as you can, before re-serving the same exact soup: there are still leaves in it, the fragrance and flavor is overwhelming regardless of whether it's been fished back out.

People who emphatically ask for no cilantro are dead serious about there being none, and will not accept simple removal; in fact it borders on disrespectful of their need. To these people with this LITERAL GENE, cilantro and its fragrance taste like SOAP or fake floral potpourri. It's disgusting and inedible and these people are really tired of others not taking their aversion seriously.

My bowl arrived full of it. I was apologized to for forgetting the request, then I was served the same exact bowl again that had clearly been fished through for the most obvious leaves, by a guy who emphatically said to my face that there was none.

I still gave my clearly still tainted bowl three tries because I try to be a patient and understanding person and don't like waste, but it was ultimately inedible; I went to the counter to explain why I was leaving and asked to pay so I could go. I wrongfully assumed she would change me only for the soda I had already drank, and not the full bowl of unacceptable soup -- nope, she charged me for it. At that point I was so internally frustrated and disappointed that I just paid it and left. I went elsewhere and they made it right.

This was my favorite pho place; my husband likes another place better, so I came here frequently all on my own. I'm sorry but I'll never be back after not being taken seriously. I'm sick to death of being treated like it's not a real thing.

If this complaint doesn't apply to you, great! I hope you continue to enjoy their pho.

-------- ORIGINAL:

Best pho in town, and we've tried just about all of them.

Their broth is so good, I have a hard time adding anything to it (chili sauce, hoisin) like I automatically have every single time I've ever eaten pho. I love spice and heat, but the broth here is simply too good to overpower.

Their noodles are also really tender and fresh-tasting -- they don't feel and taste like they were frozen or whatever. However they prepare them, they do a good job of elevating the finished product.

The service is great! My only complaint is they consistently begin washing the floors with a bleachy solution long before their closing time. This bothers my husband more than it does me, but I feel it bears mentioning.

It doesn't stop me from repeat business, hahaha....

As the yard sales get old and stale at the end of the day, I cast about looking for something amazing, something to satisfy my soul and reward myself after a day wandering the streets like a lost knight seeking the grail. I drag my tired butt into Pho Saigon and order the spicy beef soup and because it's there and and I can never resist Bao, I get a BBQ Pork Steamed bun.

I don't know, but this Bao does not sing to me. It seems exactly like the ones I get in the frozen section over at the asian market. It tastes like microwave... I could be mistaken, but I love Bao like a crow loves a shiny button and this is not a shiny button.

The sprouts do not look fresh, this is one of the cardinal sins. The fixin's for a broth have got to be fresh, that a restaurant would serve old fxin's takes frugality dangerously into the realm of insult. Do they think we will not notice?

And then we get to the broth itself. I've had spicy broth all over town and this bowl did not measure up. There was no spice, no depth or profound mystery of culture and adventure. It was just, bland. Maybe other dishes are better, but if I can't dip my proverbial toe into what should be the signature dish of a place with Pho in the name, then I'm not going to out of my way to visit again. Staff was pleasant enough, I always feel bad when I visit somewhere and find the food disappointing.

At least I found some fun stuff at the yard sales and the fact that are two Indian grocery stores directly across from each other in the parking lot (I'll bet there is a story there). Rescued the experience. A little.

Where is the passion? The love of cooking? The pride of craft? It feels like the Vietnamese version of the guy in the diner slinging hash like a robot. When was the last time they checked out the competition? Tried something new? Got excited about coming into work. I know there are paces that do these things, their food...

I usually dont write reviews. But this review is well needed. I have been coming here for years. Found this place roughly 15 years ago. And frequently visit with my family 1-4 times a month, and more often than not I go out of my way to come here instead of other places closer. In the past it wasn't the cleanest but the food was amazing and plentiful. You know "Diamond in the rough" kinda place... Came in today for lunch, ordered spring rolls (always my favorite) they were ........ Ok....... Got my vermicelli chicken, the bowl consisted of a small hand full of rice noodle, roughly 4 square inches of chicken, less than full 3 finger pinch of what looked like shredded lettuce and cabbage, 2 thai basil leaves, 3 strands of cilantro, some shredded carrots and peanuts. The bowl looked less than 1/2 full. I asked the lady if the portions had changed in the last month (I understand the raise in food costs). She said no. I simply said ok. I checked the menu prices and nothing seem to have changed in as far back as I can imagine. I'm guessing from some basic math..... my meal cost around 1-2 bucks given the size of what I got.

In all food had great flavor just as i remember from the first time several years ago. The porportions were super disappointing.

Meal was $25 + tax (water to drink)

Would have been better to go get a bag of Top Ramen and add veggies for 1-2 bucks, or get a crappy burrito from the gas station

I gave it one star cause the food was good, porportions were significantly less than...