Happy Pho

I have never had a bad meal at Phoenix noodle House. The food is affordable, fresh, and staff is…read morevery thorough always having my order ready before I get there. Hands-down, my favorite Vietnamese restaurant

Super friendly and quick service, appreciated when you need to get to a show at the nearby Gallo…read moreCenter! Shrimp and pork fresh spring rolls were Delicious, full and accompanied by peanut sauce (that i mixed with Sriracha haha). Lemongrass chicken was very flavorful. While it isn't fancy this is a satisfying place and popular with locals based on the takeout business!

Upstairs

14. vermicelli with grilled pork $14.50...

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Outside

Konfucious Eats

4.1(224 reviews)

1.9 mi

I write this knowing you only have a couple weeks left to enjoy…read more The ramen here is incredible. You would be hard pressed to find better tasting food prepared by a more passionate person. Everything was fresh, everything was delicious, everything exceeded our expectations. This felt like a bay area experience right up the street. No traffic, no problematic parking just good people and good food.

Located in McHenry village, next to the postal annex, I've seen Konfucious Eats whenever I drive…read moreon Briggsmore. I never was interested in going there for years since it's been there but decided to try it tonight. Firstly, the ramen place holds maybe 40 at most and we had to wait a while before we were seated. They asked if we had a reservation but didn't think that it would be needed since it's not like a fancy restaurant and I don't know many ramen places that takes reservations. Since we didn't , we got seated on the bar which is fine. For it being in Modesto, they try to get the anime vibe with toys and anime art around. I'm no ramen expert but I've tried over a dozen ramen places in Tokyo, Vancouver, Japan town in LA, San Francisco, Oahu, Seattle just to name a few cities. So we got first the spicy garlic edamame. Not bad at all, had a kick to it and was edible. From a scale of 1 to 5. I'd give it a 5. For the main entree, I wanted the garlic tonkatsu but the waitress said they ran out.... Ok, for a Saturday night at 6 pm, running out of a ramen and they've been in business for several years now?!? never had that happen before in any ramen shop I've been to. So me and my wife both got the Ichiraku ramen which was a miso broth with pork belly. Price $23. I added 2 more pork belly at $5 more. Oh, the waitress mentioned no bamboo shoots and no fish cake........ ok, never had that happen before in a ramen shop. So while eating edamame, I kept track of how long it took we got our ramen.... It took 30 minutes before we got our ramen... definitely atypical to wait that long wait but I guess it's because they offer a lot of items besides ramen. Presentation was fine, the pork belly was seared on one side with a blow torch since I can taste that searing. . It just had green onions, 2 seaweeds and 2 soft boiled eggs which I was impressed the yolk wasn't overcooked. The noodles I chose was thin and was good with a soft texture. The miso broth was average Over all, it was an okay ramen. Me and my wife both didn't finish our bowls... definitely unusual since we love ramen but somehow, it didn't fulfill our satiety to finish and be content. I can tell you that of all the ramen places I've been to. This is average and doesn't compare to Ramen 101 in Modesto that I've ordered many times before my first time here. Sadly, I can only give it 3 stars because the ramen was average and not in the same league as other ramens I've had in other places and cities. And if me and my wife couldn't finish our ramen, that's a tell tale sign it was just okay. Plus, the place is called Konfucius Eats, doesn't have a Japanese name for a restaurant since "Confucius " is a Chinese Philosopher lol. In fact, I didn't see any Japanese or Asian cooks... just saying that's atypical to the other ramen establishments I've been to. For Modesto, it's aight. I just can't see myself going back here for a long time. Lastly, they are open Tuesday to Saturday only .

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Ramen

Mexihanas Hibachi Grill

3.4(173 reviews)

3.5 mi

Food is good but they say they are open to a certain time and end up closing early earlier than…read morelisted on hours.

Food was amazing!! Service was great too. We went late one night and didn't realize they were about…read moreto close and they still served us, they just said it would be served in Togo boxes which wasn't a problem because the serving sizes are big

Inside

Steak Lunch

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Chicken Potstickers

Pho Bac Noodle Palace

3.3(338 reviews)

2.4 mi

I have been living in Modesto for 20 years +, and I have been eating here since they first opened…read more What I like about them is the food portion they offer is still high quality and have not change. The workers there don't speak good English, but they are very friendly. If you are looking for authentic Vietnamese food in Modesto, then this is a perfect place. If you are expecting to have amazing customer service, a high-end restaurant, and a fancy atmosphere, then this is not a place for you. I hope my review helps your decision.

Always busy but you can get a seat, spacious enough to enjoy! Good pho broth, herbs, and portion. I…read moredefinitely will be back!

Food

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Dinning area

Viet Noodles Xpress

4.3(274 reviews)

2.4 mi

Family-owned & operated

Vegetarian friendly

Great service, very quick and friendly! I've only eaten here once but the restaurant was clean and…read morethe food was brought out quickly! The broth had great flavor and I really liked that the chicken was sliced.. most places just do the pulled chicken that look like it came from a rotisserie. I've ordered on doordash before and those experiences were positive as well! Can't wait to come back and try more

We were on the way back home from Yosemite and needed a break from driving and honestly needed our…read moreVietnamese food fix after eating American food almost the whole week. I had heard about Viet Noodles Xpress and decided to give it a try. The pho hit the spot. The quality of the beef is not as great as what I get in San Jose but it was still good, the broth had great flavor and the noodles were cooked perfectly. It was super comforting and much needed after being in the mountains for a few days. My wife ordered the bun bo hue and it tasted great. Lots of protein options and really good depth of flavor in the broth. I enjoyed it almost as much as the Pho. The staff was awesome. It looks like a family owned place and everyone worked together smoothly and was really welcoming. They were friendly, gave suggestions, and were quick with everything we needed. This will definitely be a spot we check out again if we are ever in the Modesto area.

Pho Dac Biet

Roasted duck egg noodle soup

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Breakfast sampler with fresh baguette.

Modesto Sukiyaki

4.4(510 reviews)

0.2 mi

Soooooooo good it must be magic!!!!! Best Sushi in all of Modesto. If only they had a bigger…read moreplace, it would be packed all day.

Small sushi spot tucked in a large plaza between a nail shop and hobby shop…read more Inside is small and quaint. Not sure if they can accommodate big groups since it has tight spaces. Service was a bit slow with one girl running the whole restaurant, getting orders and serving. Food was good. Baked mussels is yummy but it's not a whole mussel, it's more like imitation crab mixed with minced mussels. The ratio is less on the mussel portion. Th rolls are decent. I don't eat raw but my hubby does and states it's really good quality fish! So give it a try if you like quality fish!

Mud

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Salmon nigiri

Crawfish Noodle & Grill

3.9(497 reviews)

1.5 mi

My wife's favorite place! The bad thing about this place is…read morethat they close 1 day of the week! Food is always delicious, prices are reasonable, and the place has a lot of parking. We have never been a part of the karaoke times but we'd assume that it's a whole lot of fun. Waitress is always very attentive.

The service was amazing from the time we got seated until the end... ambiance was fine but it was…read moreso cold in there... not sure if the heat was working this past Saturday night. The spring rolls and egg rolls were on point. I ordered the seafood boil combo #1. The portion of rice was perfect; however, the sauce of the seafood boil could've been a bit thicker. Thus the 3 stars.

Inside

Custom ordered waffle fries with garlic = $11

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Chicken strips with fries

Thailand Restaurant

4.4(389 reviews)

3.5 mi

Always, and I do mean ALWAYS amazing customer service!! The waitress even remembers our order…read morebetter than me sometimes! The food is ALWAYS wonderful too! We had two chicken satay with peanut sauce, two penang chicken dishes, one spicy (for the kiddo), potstickers with peanut sauce (don't knock it until you've tried it!), and rice. Always clean inside and most of the booths comfortable. A few of the booths by the window are a little more narrow we have noticed. All in all a perfect experience!

Another show at the Gallo. Another meal at Thailand Restaurant. The trick is to not order so much…read morethat we end up with leftovers. Very difficult to manage when we so enjoy having different flavors. Once again, we failed and had to take the leftovers back to our van before the show. Service here was again friendly and attentive. Our server helped us with our selections and they were spot on. 11B - Thai Basil Chicken Wings - 4 - Crispy and sticky and yummylicious. These wings were good hot or cold as leftovers. 61 - Pineapple Curry - 5 - We ordered this with Prawns and they were cooked perfectly. Bell peppers, Basil and Coconut Milk rounded out the dish making it perfect for serving over rice. 73 - Pad Kraprao - 4 - Just a bit of heat to wake up the taste buds, we ordered this with Chicken and it an excellent choice. Again, a successful meal. We'll be back!

Wall decor.

34. Pad Thai (choice of meat) Thai Iced Tea

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Potstickers with peanut sauce instead of sweet and sour.

Tokyo Express

4.3(233 reviews)

3.4 mi

Delicious Excellent customer service…read more I was in and out in 5 minutes delicious sushi roll; tasty big and on time! Unlike Raw...

Extremely disappointing. I spent $50 at Tokyo Express and honestly feel like it was a waste of…read moremoney. The food had almost no flavor, and the garlic chicken had basically no garlic at all. The chicken was also extremely tough and clearly overcooked/fried. For $50, I expected much better. Bland, tough, and not enjoyable at all. Do not recommend.

Inside restaurant

#6 BENTO BOX Chicken Shogayaki

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Le Saigon

Family-owned & operated

The food always hits the spot! The service is as fast as…read morethey could get it out but they forgot our orders so I had to go ask and they took longer But the food always good and eggrolls are a hit!

Quick tasty inexpensive food. Place is a bit of a dive. Staff nice and hard working.read more

#3 Chicken Sandwich

#2 cha lua sandwich

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#20 chicken and rice

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Cheyenne S.

5 months ago

If you're talking about real pho in Modesto, it's hard not to put Happy Pho at the top of the list. There's something about this spot that just hits different. From the moment the bowl comes out, you can tell it's not watered-down or rushed--it's rich, steaming, and packed with flavor the way authentic Vietnamese pho is supposed to be. Their menu is built around traditional dishes, using fresh ingredients and classic recipes that keep people coming back again and again . What really sets Happy Pho apart though is the depth of flavor in everything they serve. The broth is the star--slow-simmered, aromatic, and comforting in a way that feels homemade. Regulars rave about how fresh and flavorful the food is, and how it's become their go-to spot once they try it . And then there's the chili oil. If you know, you know. Their lemongrass chili oil is seriously next level--spicy, fragrant, and addictive in the best way. It's not just heat, it's flavor. That citrusy lemongrass kick mixed with rich chili oil takes an already great bowl of pho and turns it into something you think about later. It's the kind of sauce that makes you wonder how you ever ate pho without it. The vibe adds to it too--casual, welcoming, and the kind of place where people become regulars fast. Between the authentic cooking, the comforting atmosphere, and that unforgettable chili oil, Happy Pho isn't just a good pho spot--it's one of the best in Modesto. The staff is so kind and the people people make the business! read more

Paul A.

429

226

9 years ago

Came in right before they closed on a Thursday night and expected to receive poor service and limited ordering given the time. The owner Huey was amazing and got us seated right away, took our order and had our food out within minutes. I have been to many Pho restaurants all over the country, and service over 2k restaurants in the bay area. It is a tie for my favorite between this location and another one I frequent in San Jose when I am at work. Now I have some Pho to look forward to in Modesto and can't wait to go back! Thank you for the amazing service and food! read more

Natalie R.

1 year ago

Been here a couple times and the food is so good! I barely add anything to my pho. Which is not normal in my case. The owner (I assume) is always so nice seems to remember the people that come in. The orders are taken and promptly made. Barely have to wait. The portions are insane! And the food is the kind of food you close your eyes to eat. It's flavor profile has such a poetry with spices and savory broth and fresh vegetables. I highly recommend this place for comfort and flavor read more

Rhonda A.

142

104

8 years ago

5 star because this place was open for my after hour craving. When everyone else was closed. The steak in the pho was great but the broth had a different taste to it. Friendly staff. Try it out read more

Elisabeth C.

8 years ago

They closed it before it was supposed to close...I drove all the way to get me some noodles and a boba drink and they had already closed before it was supposed it...just so disappointed read more

Steve Vincent N.

107

8 years ago

Excellent food excellent service. I never follow the stars on yelp. I have to see and experience it for myself and definitely worth the 5 s I'm giving. read more

Yoya G.

7 years ago

Place is good the pho had a great taste , service was fast an generous server was nice. I liked that the place was clean definitely recommend this place read more

Nguyet L.

1 year ago

They have always tried to please their customers and make them feel happy when they leave. They said that is the reason for the name "Happy Pho". read more

Samora S.

5 years ago

The service was excellent, the new guy was very attentive and kind. And the food was delicious. I will be going back again!

Colleen C.

4 years ago

First time here, quick service, fresh and hot food. Lots on the menu. Very tasty! Will come again.

Aman O.

1 year ago

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Trucly N.

9 years ago

Customer services is absolutely WONDERFUL!!! The Pho and Seafood Hot Pot is sooooo DELICIOUS

binh m.

3 years ago

good good food Friendly employee good service clean. me and my family will come again read more

Happy Pho - vietnamese - Updated October 2026

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Charges for sauce- I want to start by saying that the food is delicious and the service is always…read moregreat. I genuinely enjoy dining at your restaurant. One concern I have is the recent charges for sauces on takeout orders. When dining in, sauces are provided at no additional cost, but for takeout there is now a charge for items like chili oil and even extra Sriracha packets. I understand that restaurants have costs to manage, and I'm not trying to be petty or rude. However, charging $1 for two Sriracha packets feels excessive to me. I would encourage you to reconsider these charges, or perhaps only apply them when a customer requests an unusually large amount of sauce. Small requests for condiments seem like a reasonable part of a takeout order, especially for customers who regularly support your business. I appreciate your time and hope you'll consider this feedback from a loyal customer.

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