Pho Sate — Restaurant in West Falls Church

My go-to pho restaurant in the DC area! I've been going to Pho Sate since I was maybe 10. Having grown up in this area, there are a number of other pho places to check out and a lot of competition, but Pho Sate wins my vote every time. I actually grew up in Arlington and used to frequent the Pho 75 in Arlington quite a lot before my family discovered Pho Sate in Falls Church. Once my family moved out to Fairfax, we never went back to the Pho 75. And why would we? That place, although in the Washingtonian Cheap Eats, has the rudest staff I've ever encountered in any pho restaurant. Yes the pho tastes good and they're quick/efficient, but the sheer disrespect you get from these people is atrocious.

At Pho Sate, you get great tasting pho and good, polite service. Also, they open until 10pm Monday-Thursday and 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, which is much, much better than the other pho restaurants that close at 8 or 9pm (who closes that early?! People have to eat!). Pho Sate offers other dishes besides pho and although I've never tried any of the other dishes, they look appetizing, authentic, and worth a try.

They recently had a makeover (it used to seat only 20-30 people) and wow, they've expanded twice their original size, got a new credit card machine, more TVs, and the kitchen is HUGE! I usually get a regular bowl of pho (typically eye round steak with either flank or brisket) and that's it. Their name pays homage to their sate sauce, which is delicious. Pile in some Thai basil, bean sprouts, chili peppers, and a dash of lime, and you're good to go. Pho is perfect for the cold days that are settling upon us right now. Hearty soup that goes down like water.

And yes, as I mentioned above, they now ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS! I'm actually not sure if that's a good or bad thing because now it's so convenient to go and have a bowl of pho anytime, so they may eat up more of my money...

I always check out the other patrons at a restaurant when it's my first time, as the locals, and people who are from that culture would know the food best.

I've been to this restaurant a few times now, since I wanted to give there vast menu some justice before I decided to give my review. It's Vietnamese food, but very different, and a large menu with so much to choose from.

The gentleman who waited on me was the same every time, and he is so patient and helpful, explained the menu well, and made recommendations too.

I tried the flat noodle stir fry the first time on a rainy afternoon, along with the crispy pork and taro eggrolls, which were very tasty, but slightly greasy, of course they are fried!

The second time was during a heatwave, and it was uncomfortably hot inside. The air conditioning seemed to be struggling, there were ceiling fans, table top fans, but I was still sweating, especially while trying to eat my confit Duck Noodles. Never had his dish before, and my Vietnamese friend suggested it. The broth is light, and delicious, with a hint of star anise and herbs, it also had greens that looked like lettuce, and Shitake mushrooms that were succulent, the duck was so tender cooked to perfection and not gamey.

I also got the chicken & beef with crispy egg noodles that reminded me of the Chinese bird's nest.

The mini chicken rolls, were such a perfect appetizer served with sweet & sour sauce, along with their house chili oil, which has a slight tingle of Schezuan peppercorns, I loved it.

The Salty Plum Drink is my favorite, and was perfect on a hot day.

There is so much more to discover at this restaurant, and I will definitely be back, just not...

I'm not an expert at Vietnamese or pho but the food is so good, and I want to encourage others to try this place.

If you're unsure about Vietnamese food, this is a good place to learn. The menu is big but the descriptions are clear and everyone speaks English well, so it's not hard to find something you'll like.

My favorite so far is #204, Hà Tiếu Satế Triều Châu Thịt Gà.

It's a pile of thin noodles soaked in a flavorful gravy and topped with pieces of chicken (you can also get beef, shrimp, or any combo), with fresh chilled veggies on the outer rim. There's also a sprinkling of crushed peanuts and scallions.

It's sort of like Hunan beef on noodles, and is completely filling and delicious... it's a steal at 10 bucks. Having those fresh veggies, including a few chunks of pineapple and slices of cucumber, really as a nice contrast, it makes the dish both savory and refreshing.

Also, I almost forgot about the satế, their specialty. You know how's some restaurants have a dish of chili oil to spice up your food? Well satế is like that but the oil is really flavorful and very different from what you'd get in other Asian places. It's spicy but nothing over the top. You get a small dish on the side and you can dip your meat or a bundle of noodles into it.

If you are a fan of sweet iced coffee, I highly recommend the Vietnamese iced coffee, which is rich and not too strong or bitter.

I also appreciate that the room is nice and open, with plenty of space and big windows, and the service is completely on top of it. They also keep the temperature and volume at a nice mild level. Basically they get...