Pho Hoa - Federal Way

Address: 32034 23rd Ave. S, Federal Way , WA 98003

Phone: (253) 839-0133

Prices:
Small - $5.76
Large - $7.14

Rating: 2.5

Pho Hoa is conveniently located off the freeway in Federal Way. When you walk in, you will quickly realize that it is a corporate chain and after looking at their website I would guess it is one of the largest, if not the largest, pho chains in the US and possibly the world. The interior was clean and nice, and the service was fast. 

Unfortunately it is also plagued by the same problem that most corporate restaurants suffer from: blandness. There really isn't that much I can say about the meal. It was okay. I ordered a spring roll to start; it was good but nothing special. The condiments were fresh and standard. The broth was okay but nothing special. The noodles were good and there was a proper amount. The only notable thing about the entire meal was the meat. The meat was a lower quality than I would expect from a truly good meal. The beef looked like thinly sliced bacon it was so fatty and I received one thin slice of nothing but fat.

Overall I would eat here again. The price is good, but I would not go out of my way to find one of their many locations. Go local; you will walk away more satisfied.

Noodle Zone

Address: 858 Southcenter blvd, Tukwila, WA 98188 (South Center Mall Food Court)

Phone: N/A

Prices: $8.95

Rating: 0.1

In an attempt to be fair to pho, I am willing to try any place that claims to sell the wonderful soup. But seeing a mall food court operator selling pho automatically sets off alarms in my head. Noodle Zone proved that these alarms and fears are well founded.

Noodle Zone is located in the food court of the newly remodeled Southcenter Mall. They serve many different Asian noodle dishes and one bowl of what they call pho. When I ordered the beef pho I was handed one of those pagers that you commonly see at places like Olive Garden. I was told it would go off when my food was ready.  I waited a very long time.  Finally I was given a bowl and a small plate of bean sprouts and a small container of hosin sauce. I was told I could find seracha sauce at the end of the counter. I loaded some seracha sauce into the soup and headed for my table.

After my first bite I knew I would have a hard time finishing. It had a strong taste that I cannot put my finger on until a coworker who was enjoying lunch with me said that it smelled strongly of cilantro. In normal pho you might expect cilantro but there was no cilantro to be found in my bowl, only a small about of onions floating around. This lead me to believe that it was some sort of additive. After the cilantro, the next thing I tasted were extremely dry and low quality noodles which I would not expect for the price I paid ($8.95!). Now let me next describe the meat. It was not anything I have ever been served in a true Vietnamese restaurant. It was thick and chunky like you would expect in a Chinese or Thai stir-fry. The meat was also extremely chewy and flavorless.

I would not really call this pho. I tried it but I will never, ever be back. We do not need people watering down the concept of pho.

Pho Of Aurora

Address: 12752 Aurora Ave N Seattle, WA 98133

Phone: (206) 363-5840

Prices:
Small - 5.95
Large - 6.95

Rating: 4.5

Pho of Aurora was a huge surprise. As you drive by, all you notice is a rundown, bland, grey building which made me a little weary. Expecting a dirty run down interior, I was surprised to find that the inside was a little run down but was extremely clean. The people who run the restaurant take pride in keeping the place clean. My waiter was quick to help and extremely friendly. The menu was typical Vietnamese fare with vermicelli and rice dishes and the typical full gamut of pho options.

As the soup arrived at my table I noticed how fresh the condiments and soup looked. There was a perfect amount of noodles to meat ratio and a perfect amount of tripe and tendon. The broth was a little lighter in color then I have become accustom to but it was very flavorful and balanced. There were no tastes that stuck out more than others. Really the only thing that I can complain about my experience at Pho of Aurora was the fact that the jalapeno was sliced a tad but thicker then I normally like, but that was easily forgiven.

This was one of the best bowls of soup I have enjoyed since starting this blog. If they offered a free cream puff I may have given them a perfect score. They even take credit cards, which is so rare at small local pho places in Seattle. Please don't be scared by the meager looks on the outside. If you go in you will have a great meal.

5 Seasons Grill

  

 

Address: 9724 Aurora Ave N Seattle, WA 98103

Phone: (206) 522-5550

Website: http://5seasonsgrill.com

Prices:
Small - 4.99
Large - 6.49

Rating: 3.5


5 Seasons Grill is conveniently located close to 105th on Aurora. The outside looks like many of the rundown restaurants that sport Aurora, with the difference being the appearance of the 5 Seasons trying to look nicer. The inside appears to be a remodeled older Chinese restaurant. They offer a full Vietnamese menu with all of the standard pho options. The restaurant was so busy that it took longer then one would expect. The people at our table received their food at a staggered rate - the people who did not order pho got their meals almost 10 minutes before those who did.

I have tried the pho here before and was very unimpressed. I was a little worried about visiting again but i wanted to make sure to give it a second try and give it a proper review. To my pleasant surprise, my meal this time around was much better but it wasn't without its flaws. I ordered a bowl with tripe, but the tripe was missing. The noodles were just slightly over cooked but not so much that they were too mushy to enjoy. Other than these small issues I found the soup much better than my first visit. The broth was full flavored and slightly sweet. The meat was quality and the condiment plate was both fresh looking and tasting. I also ordered a few spring rolls on this visit - they were nothing special but were tasty and I would order them again.

Overall, I will eat here again. I enjoyed it and it is very close to my house at the moment but I am fully aware of the fact the I might not always get the same quality meal.

Pho Duc

 

  

 

Address: 3815 196th St SW # 102 Lynnwood, WA 98036-5749

Phone: (425) 672-2466

Prices:

Medium - 5.49
Large - 6.49

Rating: 1

While out in Lynnwood recently, I decided to use Google Maps on my Blackberry to find an early lunch spot. Pho Duc was the first place that popped up. Pho Duc is located in Lynnwood about a mile from the Alderwood Mall, tucked away just off a main road. As you drive up you notice the almost standard pho restaurant sign. They offer a large dinning room and have quick service.

I ordered my regular bowl filled with beefy goodness. The standard condiments came out wilted and looking that they had been sitting out for a few hours. The soup came quickly but from the first smell I realized that I was in for dried pho noodles. The noodles were so bad that the whole broth was tainted with the taste of cheapness. The broth also did not help in this manner - it was thin and lacking any real sustenance. To top it off,  the meat also tasted cheap and was sliced far too thick for a good bowl of pho.

Even though I finished my meal, I will avoid this place in the future.  Any place that uses low quality noodles is not worthy of my time and I would say they are not worth yours, either. The low quality noodles along with the thin broth just shows me that this store is more concerned with cost instead of quality.  Why spend your money at a place like that when there are many pho restaurants in the area that truly care about providing you with a great meal?

Than Brothers - Ballard

Adress: 2021 NW Market Street Seattle, WA 98107

Phone: 206-782-5715

Website: http://www.thanbrothers.com

Prices:
Small - 4.35
Medium - 4.75
Large - 5.25
Extra Large - 6.25


Rating: 2

If you ever look at other review websites such as Yelp, people either love or hate Than Brothers. Being the largest chain pho restaurant you can pretty much expect this. Personally, I like somewhere in between.  I have eaten at a few of them and they have decent pho but nothing to rave about. On this trip, though, I did not have the most pleasant experience.  I walked in and the woman behind the counter glanced at me in such a manner that made her look like she was annoyed that I was there and the waiter that came to my table looked very bored.

The food that I ordered did come very fast, but it did not look too good. The condiments plate looked like it was at least two days old and a bit wilted. It only came with one slice of jalapeno which was so thick that it must have been a third of the the pepper. I ordered a medium but when they brought it to my table it looked like I had ordered a small and they decided to add a little broth. In the photo above you may notice that there is a huge slice of tripe half way out of the bowl. Now i realize that most Americans probably don't order the tripe but is it necessary to display it? With all that being said, the soup was actually pretty decent. The meat is tasty but nothing special, the broth is very tasty and the most enjoyable part of the meal.  All orders of pho come with a cream puff and they are delicious.

There are 13 Than Brothers throughout the Seattle area and I do plan on visting them all over time and giving them reviews, but I certainly hope that my experiences will be better than this one. The soup is good enough that I'm not dreading going to another location but since I know there are other great pho places close by, I will probably avoid this one in the future.

Pho 99

Adress: #302-403 North Road Conquitlam, BC V3K3V9

Phone: (604)-939-2288

Website: Http://www.pho99vn.net

Rating 3.6

On a recent business trip there was a nice looking pho restaurant close to my hotel. Pho 99 had a pleasant interior, with typical Asian influenced art and decorations through out the store. As I walked in I noticed the staff sitting at a table with the largest mound of whole garlic I think I have ever seen. They appeared to be peeling it. The menu was larger then expected. It included vermicelli salads commonly know as "bun" rice dishes, sandwiches, and various types of "beef stew" that was apparently different from pho. Since this was a dinner for me instead of a lunch, I ordered a sampler plate of the spring rolls and a French styled iced coffee with condensed milk on top of a bowl of pho.

The food was a little slow to get to me but that was forgivable since the place was pretty busy (and the staff was busy peeling garlic). The very first thing I noticed was the fact that the "Rare Beef" that the menu boasted of was actually raw and set to cook in the hot broth, which was a pleasant surprise since that is what I always envisioned but it is very rare to see. The fatty brisket was truly fatty brisket. The broth was one of those great indescribable broths that is not overpowering but leaves you very satisfied. My only complaint really was with the amount of tripe that was given to me - I wasn't expecting tripe soup. The spring roll sampler included a shrimp roll, a pork roll and fried veggie roll and I thought it was superb and if I ever end up going back I certainly will order it again. The coffee was also delicious and I enjoyed it.

Overall it was not the best pho I have ever had but I would definitely eat there again and enjoy the spring rolls and the truly rare meat. According to their website they have a few restaurants here in Washington and one in Seattle that I will be sure to check it out.

Pho Tic Tac

Address: 208 N 85th St Seattle, WA 98103

Phone: (206) 783-4381

Price:
Small - 4.5
Large - 5.25
Extra Large - 6.25

Rating: 3.5


Pho Tic Tac is located in the Greenwood neighborhood on 85th St. It’s easy to find due to the large clock painted on the front window. The restaurant is a little run down and could use a remodel, but it is obvious that they are doing every little thing with out spending a lot of money to make you feel welcome. The staff is friendly and attentive. Under the glass of every table are little notes and jokes such as how to call into work when you’re not sick, or a note from a previous customer talking up the virtues of Pho Tic Tac, which I found to be both entertaining and cheesy at the same time.

I ordered a large bowl with all the beef products that they offer. The food came very quickly and looked great but as I took my first bite I realized that the noodles were over cooked and a little mushy. Otherwise it was a great bowl of pho. One of the best parts is how thin they sliced their meat and jalapeño. I am sure that they must have a cook in the back with missing finger tips from mastering the slice so well. Even though they slice the meat so thin they do not try to skimp on the meat. The Tic Tac Pho broth is also excellent – it is light in color and cloudy, and it has a great beefy flavor.

I would recommend Tic Tac Pho overall. The prices are real cheap and the food was decent. If it wasn't for the over cooked noodles I would have given at least a 4. I have eaten here previously and the noodles were cooked better but it took a long time to receive my food. So obviously consistency is a big issue here, but for the price a little inconsistency is worth the risk.

Green Leaf Vietnamese

Address: 418 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104

Phone: (206) 340-1388

Price: 6.95

Rating: 4.0

One of many Vietnamese restaurants in the International District, Green Leaf Vietnamese is the first I have personally tried. As you walk up to the store front you notice a large green leaf sign. From the front door the restaurant looks like a dingy worn down hole-in-the-wall, but to my pleasant surprise the inside was stylish and eloquent. As we walked in I noticed that the place was packed with people and started to worry that we would have to wait to be seated, but we were escorted to the second story that was small but not cramped. The tables and chairs are made of thick stained wood and many framed newspaper articles decorate the walls.

The menu was a full Vietnamese menu, not just pho. All of the food looked very reasonable in price - I didn't notice anything above $10 except a few seafood specials. All of the pho was priced the same amount and had all of the normal fairs with different varieties of beef, veggies, and chicken. I ordered the option that offered the full gambit of beef from meatballs to tripe. Even thought the place was packed the food came quickly.

The condiments looked fresh. The pho was good but was not the best I have ever had. The meat was the highlight - it tasted very good and was definitely quality meat. The meatballs had a good flavor and I doubt they were frozen. The tripe came in a large chunk which I am usually a little weary of but it taste very fresh and not over powering. The broth was what kept this soup from being a truly fantastic bowl of pho. It was thick and dark and it was a little too strong and tasted too much like cinnamon. I enjoy a little bit of a cinnamon taste but it was just a little too much this time. That's not to say that I would not recommend the pho it is probably the freshest I have rated yet, and the broth was only a minor downfall.

My girlfriend, who ate with me, ordered the spicy lemon grass chicken. It was a little too spicy for her taste but I tasted it and would have been happy if I had ordered it myself.

As we walked out I kept looking at other people's dishes and thought to myself, "Man that looks really good. I wonder what it is." I will be going back in the future to find out.

Pho 900

Adress: 216 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102

Phone: (206) 568-3599

Price:
Small - 6.40
Large - 7.40

Rating: 3.0

Pho 900 is located in Capitol Hill on Broadway. The interior was probably the nicest of any Seattle pho restaurant that I have been to yet. The menu was much larger then just pho – they also served Vietnamese rice dishes and stir fry dishes. I was surprised by the fact that their pho menu itself was actually a little limited: chicken, chicken with veggies, vegetarian, beef, rare beef, beef with rare beef, and what I ordered - beef, rare beef, meatballs, and tripe. They also offer seafood but it was too expensive to even contemplate at $8.95 for a small and $9.95 for a large.

The meal came with a good amount of the standard condiments. The soup looked great when it reached my table. The broth was interesting - it was a little sweet but good. The bowl was filled with meat; to some this would probably be a good thing but there was a little too much meat for me. The meat was a little fatty and tough but wasn't bad. The meat balls had a decent taste but were obviously pre-made and frozen. I enjoy tripe but in small portions; my order came with a heap of tripe which I ate but I felt it was too much.

Overall I thought that the pho was decent. It was not the best pho I've had but I would probably eat here again. My biggest complaint is that it is a little bit pricey. There are a few other pho places up on Capitol Hill you might want to try first.

Tony's Teriyaki

Address:
6315 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

Phone:
(206) 706-4711

Price:
Small - 5.15
Large - 5.75

Rating: .5

This will sound dramatic but today when I went to lunch I had the worst bowl of pho in my entire life. Tony's is located on 15th Ave in Ballard, a block from Ballard High School. I drive by the restaurant a couple times a week on my way to and from work. The only reason that you would believe that they serve pho is in the front window where they have a large sign saying PHO. I have learned that it is usually best to avoid pho places that are not dedicated Vietnamese restaurants, and Tony's certainly help me cement this opinion.

When I pulled up to Tony's I was a little skeptical. The place was a total hole in the wall and there weren’t very many people in the store. Tony's only offers 5 different styles of the soup: pho with sliced beef, pho with sliced beef and meat balls, chicken pho, shrimp pho, and vegetarian. I stayed on the safe side and ordered the pho with sliced beef. On the plus side it did arrived fast and it did come with a large plate of the traditional sprouts, basil, jalapeño, lime, and the bowl of soup actually looked good. I started to feel like maybe this wasn't such a bad idea but I was quickly proven wrong as I took my first bite. The broth was completely tasteless, even though it appeared to be beef broth. The sliced beef somehow tasted like a McDonald's .99 cent hamburger. The noodles were not the traditional pho styled noodles - they tasted to me like the cheap rice noodles that you can buy at any grocery store. I rarely do not finish a meal at a restaurant, but I didn’t come close to finishing this one today. I have tried to cook pho before for myself, and it was a horrible disaster, but what I cooked tasted better then this place. DO NOT EAT HERE!

Viet Niam Pho

Address:
7640 15th Ave Seattle Wa 98103

Phone:
206-783-4310

Price:
Small - 4.35
Large - 5.15
X-Large - 6.35

Rating: 4.75

I figured that I would start with a review of my favorite Pho eatery. Viat Naim Pho is in Ballard. As far as I am concerned, this place sets the bar for Pho. The menu only consists of Pho, cream puffs, spring rolls, and drinks. I ordered a large Tai Chin Nam Gau Gan Sach, which is eye-round steak, well done flank, marble brisket, soft tendon, and tripe. This is what I normally order when I am enjoying a bowl of Pho. I know it is not very common for a "westerner" to enjoy tripe and tendon, but if you can make the tripe and tendon taste good then that is a true measure of a great bowl of Pho.

This bowl of pho was a great bowl of soup. It had the perfect balance of meat and noodles. The meat was sliced thin and was full of flavor. The tripe and tendon were also thinly sliced and the flavor did not overwhelm the rest of the meal. The condiment plate that traditionally comes with a bowl of pho was the perfect size. There was enough jalapeño, which was also sliced thin. There is nothing worse then getting big chunks of jalapeño because the flavor just over bears the soup. The broth at Viat Naim Pho is probably the best broth I have ever tasted. I always end up drinking all of it and i always get a feeling of disappointment when it is gone. At Viet Naim you are served a cream puff with every bowl of pho. Their cream puffs are great and I almost always think about buying some for later as I walk out the door. Overall, as I said at the beginning, I love this place and can't recommend it enough. If you love pho, I bet you will love this place.

Seattle Pho U

Hello

You can call me Oplin. My favorite food on earth is pho. As defined by
Wikipedia, "Phở is a traditional Vietnamese rice-noodle soup dish,and is served as a bowl of white rice noodles in clear beef broth, with thin cuts of beef (steak, fatty flank, lean flank, brisket). Variations featuring tendon, tripe, meatballs, chicken leg, chicken breast, or other chicken organs (heart, liver, etc.) are also available."

I will be reviewing Pho restaurants in and around the Seattle area and giving them a 1 to 5 rating. If you know of a restaurant and would like me to review it please let me know.