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    Joe's Pho Original

    3.9 (1.5k reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Joe's Pho Original Photos

    Business Info

    JOE'S PHO ORIGINAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Joe's Pho Original

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    Vermicelli Bowl with Shrimp and Pork
    Chassidy T.

    I went to Joe's Pho for a late lunch and was positively overwhelmed by all the delicious options and great service. Because it was so close to dinner time, I tried to go for something "light" and went with their pork, shrimp, and eggroll vermicelli with an egg cappuccino. Vermicelli was delicious and pretty large! And their egg cappuccino was really good. I was initially going to order their egg coffee, but the waitress recommended the egg cappuccino because it's sweet and not as bitter as the coffee -- I am so glad she recommended this because it was perfect. Strong and sweet (not too sweet, just how I like it). I'd love to come back and try their pho and the many other tasty-looking drinks on the menu. I also noticed that there's a complementary ice cream self-serve area, which is pretty awesome, especially when you have kiddos at the table. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lastly, the ambiance was great. The restaurant is quite spacious.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] As soon as I walked in, I was seated immediately, given sufficient time to review the menu, and received my meal within 15-20 mins.

    BBH
    Melissa Y.

    Was expecting a bit more from this place. Ordered the banh beo and bun bo hue. Banh beo didn't have the typical chewy texture that I'm accustomed to, and the bun bo hue seemed watered down with meat that wasn't too tender. I did appreciate that your meal came with complimentary dessert such as a pandan waffle or soft serve ice cream. Also, came with a party of 10 and their customer service was great, so they get some love for that.

    Grilled Chicken Sandwich
    Doris G.

    We got seated immediately. Orders came quickly and servers helpful and pleasant. Beef roll delicious and well flavored. White chicken breast roll very bland The bread is fresh with pickled vegetable and mayo. Very generous size. Báhn mi sandwiches are buy one get one free. We ordered grilled pork bánh mi sandwich and a grilled chicken. Both large and filling. Restaurant is in a shopping center, easy parking. They open till 9:30 at night. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is well lit.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Restrooms are clean and well stocked.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will be back.

    Eric L.

    Pretty good pho in a pinch, but definitely not comparable to OC or LA. I ordered Pho Tai, which usually uses the Eye of Round cut for a lean and clean flavor. This place only has Filet Mignon as the meat option for this. I think that cut is better used as a steak since it's a bit minerally in flavor and can use a good sear to enhance the flavor.

    Short Rib BBH Soup
    Kim T.

    I've been here quite a few times and always enjoy. While I do appreciate a good pho I end up getting the BBH every time! I wish it had more of a lemongrass flavor but It's still very good. I've come to realize large just means more broth, not more noodles, so get the small and get extra noods if that's your thing. They have a free ice cream station, and che and waffles, don't sleep on that. I apparently missed the che and waffles so I'll need to go back for that. Last time service was friendly, they forgot about our BBH but she apologized and got it to us soon after, no worries we came with patience. All in all a good meal and I will be back

    Dry microwaved chicken instead of freshly steamed.
    Ky V.

    Tried the Hoi An chicken rice plate. Didn't take a before picture but came out looking like something slapped on a plate and microwaved. Chicken was dry and tough to chew. Should have known better to order rice at pho place. Joe's should just stick to pho if they cannot meet the quality needed for other common Vietnamese dishes.

    Christine R.

    We came here for my cousin's birthday, but if I'm being completely honest, this wouldn't be my go-to spot for pho. I have a very specific pho order--I always get a seafood combination--which Joe's Pho doesn't offer. That said, I'll review them based on what they do have and on their service. One thing I absolutely loved is that they give you shrimp chips at the table. Those are one of my favorite things and something I always look forward to. I also liked that their menu offers a wider variety of items to choose from. I originally wanted the bone marrow pho, but I ended up ordering the combination bánh mì instead. The bánh mì was good, but I only ate about half because we had also ordered the shrimp fresh spring rolls and a new item I hadn't tried before--the salmon fresh spring rolls. I really enjoyed the salmon ones. The shrimp rolls were also good, and I loved their peanut sauce. Honestly, I think I filled myself up on shrimp chips and spring rolls. It didn't help that they were also making pandan waffles as part of their complimentary dessert bar. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant didn't look very crowded since there were quite a few empty tables, but there were a lot of employees walking around.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I understand everyone has specific roles and sections, but it still took a very long time for our food to come out. I know hot items take longer to prepare, but they brought out the three bowls of pho first, and my cold bánh mì came a minute or two later. What really bothered me was the way the hot food was served. Servers reached over guests to hand off bowls of hot pho. As someone who has worked in a restaurant, I was always taught never to reach over anyone with hot food--you either go behind them or walk around to the front. They reached over me twice, and I helped because that's the server in me, but what if the bowl had slipped or been dropped? That could have ended badly. We also had to ask another server for water refills, and they said they would let our server know. There was no need to tell us that--just communicate with them. Every time we needed something, it was always "let me find your server." I understand sections, but the restaurant wasn't packed or overly busy. We came on a rainy Thursday. When we were ready for the check, our server was nowhere to be found again. However, there was one server from another section who was constantly walking around. We asked him to find our server because we were ready to leave. It was frustrating that this one server was visible and attentive while ours barely checked on us. We consistently had to flag someone down if we needed anything. It's unfortunate because the food itself was very good. My cousin loved the bone marrow pho. My uncle enjoyed that his pho had a slight spicy kick. The pork chop was very flavorful. The food was solid, but service is a key element of any restaurant experience, and that's where things fell short for us.

    Basil Popcorn Grilled Pork Chop, Fried Chicken and Egg Roll Rice Plate
    Holly S.

    The pho is the clear standout: a deeply aromatic broth with real depth, clean yet rich, clearly simmered with care rather than rushed. The chicken is tender, portions are generous, and the noodles hold their texture all the way through the bowl. Fresh herbs arrive crisp and plentiful, and the balance of flavors means you don't have to aggressively doctor the soup for it to shine. Beyond pho, the supporting menu items are solid and reliable. Service is functional but minimal. Orders are taken efficiently, food comes out promptly, and mistakes are rare--but warmth and attentiveness are hit or miss. Don't expect much check-in or engagement once your food arrives. It's not unfriendly, just transactional. If you're coming for a quick, satisfying meal, it gets the job done; if you're looking for hospitality-driven service, this isn't that kind of spot. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining room is clean, bright, and comfortable, with a relaxed, casual vibe that suits the menu well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It feels welcoming without trying too hard, making it equally appropriate for solo lunches, family meals, or casual meetups. Overall, Joe's Pho delivers where it matters most: the food. With excellent broth, dependable execution, and a comfortable setting, it's an easy recommendation for anyone craving quality Vietnamese cuisine in San Leandro. Slightly elevated service would push it into standout territory, but even as is, it remains a strong local favorite worth revisiting.

    Jeff D.

    I heard the pho here was really good. It was late night and decided to order from here. They did not disappoint. Food was good especially the bbq chicken bahn mi. One day we will make it to the restaurant for sure.

    Love online menus!
    Michelle C.

    To preface- Joe's Pho used to be my favorite pho spot, but we stopped dining here after that scandal they were involved in a few years ago. Decided to come here recently after we found out that our current fave pho spot was closed that day. We ordered: Special combo pho, regular ($19) - solid; came with a good amount of meat. Could've been hotter. The regular size was pretty big, I couldn't finish all of it. Beef stew noodle soup ($18) - my partner enjoyed it. The large beef chunks were tender. Shrimp spring rolls ($12) - fresh, good. Jasmine milk tea w/ boba ($8) - too sweet; not enough tea flavor; skimped on the boba. Gold Dubai chocolate smoothie/ drink ($9) - not sure what we expected it to taste like but it was more of a chocolate milk w/ a sprinkle of kataifi and a crumb of pistachio. Our server was attentive and friendly. Our water cups stayed filled and at the end of our meal she mentioned free dessert toward the back (soft serve). We shared a small vanilla cone, but it was ok. Joe's Pho didn't really hit the spot for us, drinks were a miss, and we felt like things were on the pricier side. I wasn't sure how to feel about the receipt since it only provides four checkboxes for tipping (18%, 20%, 22%, & 25%) and purposely excludes the line to add your own tip/ total.

    p1
    Jasa M.

    YUM YUM YUM! great pho for rainy weather. i ended up getting the P1 and it was fresh and delicious. i usually never like the meatballs when I get them in pho, but I could not get enough of these ones. definitely will be back here when I'm on this side of town!

    Raw meat , cold pho soup , the fat brisket in the other plate

    I experienced a very uncomfortable, sad situation with management im guessing it was and employees . As I ordered my food I specifically asked for non fatty brisket , I've previously ordered it and it's just FAT literally just FAT so knowing this I let the girl know who was taking my order while training an employee. When I got my food back, the food had what I specifically said to not put into the soup . She explained after going back to the kitchen that she only had fatty brisket , and I told her that was the item I specified I didn't want in my food , and I just wanted the meat replaced . She went back to the kitchen and when she came back she said the " owner " couldn't come out to talk to me about the situation because she was leaving to Vietnam lol . So when she came back out she kept explaining that they didn't have brisket only fatty brisket that's why they put the FAT in . After she went back to the kitchen about 4-5 times for this single issue . The " owner " came out and literally started arguing with the employees in front of the WHOLE lobby !!! You can literally hear the owner screaming at the poor employees that were trying to do their job . Once they finished getting screamed at , a women I hadn't seen before came out and brought the dish that replaced the fatty brisket which I had originally asked for , what she brought out was Litteraly raw brisket in COLD PHO how is that possible . I feel as if the woman did it on purpose . I couldn't bare my self to stay longer and tried to finish my food but I just couldn't . SAFE TO SAY I WONT BE COMING BACK TO A SCREAMING OWNER WHO SCREAMS AT THEIR EMPLOYEES IN FRONT OF PAYING CUSTOMERS!!!'

    S9. Vietnamese Sausage
    Maricar F.

    This place is great! Lots of options- all looks delicious on their colorful menu! Super fast service- place is simple yet clean- but good food and bid portions. We especially like the fresh egg rolls ( they have a variety of what you want inside the roll).

    Indoors

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    Review Insights

    15 days ago

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    3 days ago

    Call over the phone to order 2 order of spring rolls..it took them 30 minutes to make it and it not even busy...

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    14 days ago

    So...so yum, yummy good. Thank you. I ordered online. They prepared it really fast, and the delivery was awesome. Thank you.

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    Joe's Pho Original Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Joe's Pho Original

    Is this place good for big groups?

    Yes! There’s a ton of seating inside!

    When are they opening the downtown San Leandro location?

    Open

    I got a side of shrimp chips with my chips, are they complimentary or do they charge you?

    Complimentary

    Does Joe give his employees the tips?

    Yes

    What kind of creamer do they use for their milk tea? Is it non dairy?

    Is indoor dining available now?

    Yes. Both indoor and outdoor dining is available now

    As of 1/25/21, the state has opened up outdoor dining. When will Joe's be reopening for outdoor dining?

    Yes. I believe they are open for outdoor dining. I saw some people are eating outdoor.

    Does this place use a lot of msg?

    No they do not use msg.

    Does anyone know if Joe's pho is offering outdoor dining right now?

    Yes they have a patio set up for outdoor dining check then out on Facebook pics are up.

    Are there any Vegan options?

    Yes

    View All 13 Questions

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    2.2 mi
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    I am selfish and so happy they came to San Leandro!…read more It's solid, wholesome, and flavorful Pho Ga. Every appetizer is also a hit! I usually get the chicken giblets pho with a side of Thai tea. It's a monthly visit and have yet to be disappointed. Great service and always a quick stop.

    3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 stars My wife and daughter gave…read morethis place 3 stars. I gave them 4 stars, 5 stars for my food! Quality/Quantity - My daughter craved Pho so we came to this place. It has been a VERY long time since we ate here. Actually, the previous time was with the previous owners/business. Today we got the following: Fish Ball Noodle Soup with Pho Noodles - Of course my daughter's choice and with NO veggies?!?! This looked so plain... I know I could have made this better at home! My wife shared some of her wontons with my daughter to add to the flavor. See pictures. I am sure this is NOT what my daughter had in mind when she craved Pho. This was much more of a "Chinese" dish rather than Vietnamese. Update - My daughter mentioned that she could not find regular thinly sliced beef pho as an option. And she thought fish balls were beef balls... Wonton Noodle Soup - Also as plain as my daughter's dish. Again, more of a Chinese dish rather than Vietnamese. #24 Fried Pork Chop, Chicken, Egg with Steamed Rice - Fried fresh and perfectly done! My pork chop and chicken were 5 stars! Everything else was just okay. Ambiance - Very small local business. Decent size parking lot, but not enough spaces for this busy mall. We got lucky and got a space fairly close to the restaurant. Not stressed as we planned to shop at Foodnet after lunch. Service - Had to ask for everything. Hard to get their attention as they just hung around the first booth talking and talking and talking. The hardest worker was the runner, probably the only employee that was not family...? Price - $66 + more generous tip than deserved or earned. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success at this location since 2024. And your previous location in Oakland, etc. The previous location was known for their chicken, chicken noodle soup, etc.

    Photos
    2/25/26 FYI. Drink station
    2/25/26 FYI. Drink station
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    Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle

    Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle

    4.0
    (328 reviews)
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    Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle Restaurant is located in the San Leandro Plaza. A free parking lot…read moreis available. The interior is simply decorated with inside table seating. They do have a couple of long tables to accommodate a party of 10. The restaurant has some nice large windows to let in the natural lighting. One coded lock unisex restroom. The service was friendly, nice, & attentive from both young ladies, especially Selina (?) who took care of me. Beef Tripe Salad - thin cuts of marinated tripe that was spicy, flavorful, though a bit salty ~maybe just this batch today. I usually love this appetizer in general. Sticky Chicken Wing - hot, juicy, fried wings in a soy, chili, and sticky sweet sauce. This had a nice flavor to it but, I wouldn't say it was in the same class as San Tung's. It is worth trying. Red Bean Pudding Milk Tea - lots of red bean and decent tea flavor. I'd come back to try their Noodle dishes, etc. Support your local business.

    My coworker and I went here during our break when we were passing by. We did get the dry beef…read morenoodles that I sadly did not take a picture of, but it had peanuts in the dish (they do not list any of the ingredients on menu but I feel that they should at least, list for allergies). I pointed out the roasted peanuts in the dish and they pulled it back but I think they just removed the peanuts and revarnished the top because I ended up having an allergic reaction. There could have been a language barrier or not wanting to waste food but it was highly unsafe especially for really bad allergies. The dishes before I had the noodles were the calamari and the tempura. It was very crispy. The calamari was rather salty but overall, the texture was there. The rice rolls were soft, it was different from the regular Chinese pork (even shown in the pictures of the menu) but still pretty good. The servers needed to be flagged down to get help but they were proficient in timing the food. Very spacious area and lots of room seating.

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    Cucumber salad
    Cucumber salad
    Interior
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    Baby Cafe

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    Came here for the second or third time yesterday since they opened this location and ordered the…read morebeef stew with dry noodles and the baby milk tea. my cousin had her usual Hainan chicken. Omg the beef stew was sooo good, probably best I've had! I love the concept of the dry noodle where you dip your noodles as you eat so the beef stew stays flavorful it was so tasty and tender and good balance of meat and tendon (actually lots of meat!) I ate the leftovers today and cleaned my plate % Service was very attentive and of course the ambiance is beautiful with the indoor trees

    Been to this restaurant several times. The HK style cafe food served here is good. The classic Bake…read morepork chop rice/spaghetti is great. Among other items they offer are definitely delicious. One biggest gripe about this place that I have experienced so far is that for some unknown reason the restaurant never seems to have HK style egg waffle to offer. The item is on the menu and every time I visit this place the servers always tell me that they either have sold out for the day, or they run out of batter or some lame excuse. Honestly, it is kind of difficult to believe that for a restaurant such as this that they could run out or sell out of HK style egg waffle. Just find it hard to believe. Aside from this, I do recommend this restaurant for anyone who wants to eat some HK style cafe food in the San Leandro area.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    1/2 shredded chicken
    1/2 shredded chicken
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    Chong Qing Noodles House

    Chong Qing Noodles House

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    (288 reviews)
    7.5 mi
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    Wooooow I'm literally blown away! Happen to be in alameda and was craving dried noodles. Looked…read morethrough Yelp and ofcourse there's tons of options. Ended up going to Chong Qing noodle house and it was a smart decision. We walked over and immediately greeted by the very nice lady. We said to go so we grabbed a menu and sat down. The lady approached us and asked if we needed reccomendation. I said I wanted dried noodles so she recommended the Zha Jiang noodles. She also recommended the wonton and some cucumbers but we ended up just getting the wonton in addition to the noodles. They prepared our foood quickly and we had it to go We took our food to the alameda brewery and as soon as open the noodles - it already smelled so good. Those noodles were amazing!!!! It was so flavorful, bouncy noodles, tender meat and together it was perfect. I did wish it comes w fried eggs. The wontons are also tasty - great taste and the chili oil is perfect I would def comeback to this place and try their other dish! And I recommend you check them out

    This was an interesting experience. My niece and I were in Alameda and she wanted to try this…read moreplace. The location is convenient, plenty of neighborhood parking. The spot is cute. About 15 seconds after we got our menus, that one of the servers was hovering over us. We were trying to make our decision but she would just not leave us alone, and kept pointing out options. It felt more like pressure than anything. Once we ordered the food came fairly quickly. The wings were incredibly flavorful, I'd order again in a heartbeat. The dumplings were delicious. My biggest complaint was how pushy the server was. I wanted to leave but I thought my niece wanted to stay so I didn't say anything. While we were leaving my niece said she was very uncomfortable there, but didn't want to say anything. The food was delicious, but we both agreed we'd probably order delivery next time. Our in person experience was just too unpleasant.

    Photos
    Menu
    Menu
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Beef noodle soup

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    Beef noodle soup

    Joe's Pho Original - vietnamese - Updated August 2026

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