I went to this restaurant twice on different occasions, one for lunch and one for dinner. I have celiac disease and a dairy allergy. That said, I have to ask a lot of questions before I order to avoid possible cross contamination. I was fortunate this time because the server was knowledgeable about celiac disease. I couldn't eat the spring rolls or the Vietnamese sandwiches but could eat the summer rolls, which I ordered along with the pho with beef. The pho was delicious, and came with a side dish of bean sprouts and basil and a lemon slice. I could not have the sauce that comes with the summer roll because it has wheat in it so I ate it plain. It was also delicious. The portions were large, I was pretty full when I left . For being in a mall, this sit down restaurant was fairly quiet, I could hear my friend without having to raise my voice. The server was excellent. I went back a few days later for dinner and the food was still delicious and the server was good. If you like Vietnamese food, and have dietary restrictions like me, this is a good place to dine. Just make sure you ask a lot of questions regarding cross contamination. I didn't get sick so I will be back! read more

We had dinner here tonight and it was better than I thought it would be. It was around 5pm and the restaurant was half full. We got seated right away. I like how they decorated the restaurant. It had one of those old school Vietnamese bikes hanging from the ceiling. We ordered two spring rolls $10, fall rolls $13, vermicelli & crab meat soup $24 and a chicken pho with extra noodles $24. The spring rolls were excellent. It was two cut in half, so four pieces. It came with lettuce, vermicelli, cucumber and pickled veggies that you could wrap it in. It was fantastic with the nuoc cham sauce. The crab noodle soup was on the sweeter side, which I wasn't used to. I like my broth more savory. I squeezed a piece of lemon juice in the broth and it made it much better. It came with three big pieces of crab meat mixed with ground pork. It also had tofu, tomatoes and Vietnamese steamed pork (cha). Service was excellent. When I asked for containers to take home our leftovers, the server gave me two containers. One was for the soup and the other one was for the noodles, so it wouldn't get all soggy. She also gave my husband a new container of peanut sauce for his fall rolls that he was taking home. We got a discount using our American Savings Bank debit card. It was $10 off of $50 or $20 off of $100. read more

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The interior theme is purple. They have a metal rickshaw suspended from the ceiling. We both ordered different pho. The broth was not temperature hot to me. There was no culantro with the condiments. I saw 2 waitresses but they didn't refill our water glasses or check on us. I signaled one lady for the check and one take out container but she walked the opposite direction. I ended up asking the male food runner after a wait. read more

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Stopped by Mama Pho's Ala Moana branch for some awesome Vietnamese food. Always loved their dining room and Full Bar. Service was great. We were seated promptly and our servers were very friendly and attentive. We ordered Mama Pho's Combo #1 (which comes with Mama's Special Pho (comes with rare steak, meatballs, flank steak, brisket, tripe, and tendon) , 2 spring rolls, and a fountain drink). We also ordered the Vietnamese Taco Crepe (you get 2 per order, they're filled with your choice of chicken, tofu, or shrimp ($4 more). Lettuce, green onions, pickled daikon and carrots) this is the only restaurant that we've been able to find this popular Vietnamese street food. And last but not least the Spring Roll salad and their Famous Vietnamese Coffee. Everything was prepares fresh and served Hot. Simply delicious . Whether you're craving Vietnamese food or just need a break from shopping Mama Pho's is a great choice. read more

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I'm giving them four stars but it's probably closer to three 1/2... Mama Pho is just ok. It's the only major pho restaurant in the Ala Moana complex so I get that prices will be inflated but the plate of basil, bean sprouts, lime, and jalapeño was so tiny! I had only two jalapeño slices and they were cut in half--so one whole jalapeño! The server was kind enough to give me more but I hate to bother the employees just to get more garnish. The pho itself was a large portion that I was able to take home and was very flavorful. I also love their chili oil!! So good. Please just give more garnish pls! read more

Makes me so sad this place isn't as packed as it should be. I have to say this is the best pho i've ever had the broth has depth and dimension. The meat itself so tender and delicious the last time I had the chicken pho and they do not skimp on the meat portions chicken and beef broth are equally as delicious! We split this pho between 3 people and we each had our own rib! The ambience even tho the restaurant was not full the fun music made up for it. the staff is supper friendly and accommodating as well. & very clean bathrooms. Can't wait to tell everyone about this gem! read more

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Can't go wrong with its great location on the 4th floor of Ala Moana shopping center. Lots of clean, large booth seating, however the ambiance is a little off imo. For the food, the pho I would say is above average integrated with a generous portion. The brisket pho is tender with a good natural beefy flavor and the Vermacelli is honestly one of the best I've tasted. So why the 4 stars? Well it was our first time there and yes it's a pho restaurant but we weren't familiar with the menu and did want to explore our options. It wasn't a busy time but we were rushed to give our orders quickly only to be left sitting there with no attention , no water refills until much later so with that not much attention to clearing not used dishes etc. So food is good just don't expect to feel valued. read more

Mama Pho - Pho with Brisket - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Went to Mama Pho around 5pm on a Tuesday. There was a lot of seating and service was quick. The pho came out piping hot but the noodles a little too undercooked and the broth sweet, plus no cilantro. Also, theres only one size option. Note that it's huge. All in all it wasn't bad but not great. Regardless it's a good option. read more

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We ate here last weekend as we were in the area taking care of some things. We were craving pho especially since it rained earlier that day and it was pho like weather. We ordered the green papaya salad, filet mignon and the special pho, for dessert we had fried banana with ice cream. The food was good and service was quick. This satsfied the pho cravings since our local go to pho restaurant closed down a year prior. We'll be back again for their delicious pho! read more

Another great dining experience. We ordered our usual favorite dishes and were highly satisfied with the food, as always. Unfortunately, the service was a bit lacking this time. The waitstaff delivered our dishes and stopped by once to ask how everything was, but that was about the extent of the attention we received; didn't earn the suggested minimum 18% tip, but I gave them the benefits of doubt, so they received a little more. Our water glasses were not refilled until we were nearly finished with dinner, and the water itself tasted like it came straight from the tap. I was surprised that a restaurant of this caliber does not serve filtered drinking water. Excellent food and a pleasant atmosphere, but the average service and poor-quality water cost them one star. read more

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Today I got to try the Mama's Fresh Roll Platter and it was very tasty and unique. I got to experience my own wrapping. This place looks so clean and fancy like a fine dining. Also, the service was very friendly and helpful. read more

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Pedestrian Vietnamese food in a beautiful inviting setting. Nothing was outright bad, but much of it was unremarkable. The one standout was the Beef ceviche salad, which ended up being the most unique dish of the meal. Thinly sliced beef, well-marinated in fish sauce and served chilled, it was tasty, refreshing, and nicely balanced. Perfect with a cold beer or a glass of white wine. On the other end of the spectrum, the vermicelli pork and spring rolls were the least successful. Both were noticeably oily. Service was another weak point. Orders were repeatedly forgotten or took a long time to be delivered. New dishes were delivered while dirty plates from previous courses were still on the table. It may sound minor, but it adds up and starts to take up a lot of table space. Not to mention how messy it looks. In my decade-plus working in the restaurant business, this is server 101. Never go back to the kitchen empty-handed. Clearing as you go is basic hospitality. read more

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I've been a regular customer at this pho restaurant and have always had a good experience until today. When ordering, we asked if we could have extra jalapeños and lemon instead of the basil and bean sprouts that normally come with the pho. We specifically said we didn't want the basil and bean sprouts because we didn't want food to go to waste. In the past, other servers have accommodated this request without any issue. However, the server today refused and told us there would be an extra charge for the jalapeños and lemon, even though we were simply asking to substitute items that come with the meal. There was also no indication on the menu that this substitution would result in an additional charge. The inconsistency was frustrating, especially as repeat customers. We understand if restaurant policies change, but those policies should be clearly communicated and applied consistently. Disappointing experience compared to the service we've received here before. read more

Mama Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Passed by while at the mall and were intrigued by the very large menu. We shared the spring rolls and papaya salad which were both good. I wish the spring rolls had more flavor and better sauce though. The portions were huge. My mom got the beef and spring roll vermicelli and dad got the mama's special pho. Service was not very tentative but there was plenty of seating and food was good overall read more

GET THE PAPAYA SALAD! Also, their tofu in the pork and tofu rice dish was so good. I really like the variety in their menu, the vibes, and the staff was super smiley and nice. We always end up coming back to this place :) read more

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I've been avoiding this restaurant because I assumed it wasn't going to taste good and I wasn't sure it was going to live up to my expectations. Turns out, I avoided this place way too long because THIS PLACE IS AMAZING and now one of my all time favorites! I crave for this at least every other week. Be aware that the Pho bowls are HUGE and can easily feed 1-2 people. Yes, the price may be a little high, but everything from the broth, noodles, cuts of meats, and vegetable toppings are so well proportioned that it's justifiable! read more

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- Easy place to find, on the top floor of Ala Moana - Solid spot for Vietnamese food - They sell their chili oil (hot and mild) if you want to take them home. Mild is still pretty hot. Very good, will visit again. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by this place! I only tried the combo pho, rare beef pho, and the spring rolls. BUT they were all very good. I felt like the portions were large and the broth was savory and good. The ingredients were fresh and I felt they cared about the temperature of the broth and didn't bring a "lukewarm" bowl which I dislike. I have to disagree that this is "mall pho" that some people said cause it is good pho but I have to agree that the prices match the rent of Ala Moana, slightly higher than most pho places with same quality and quantity. The staff was awesome and the restaurant was clean and orderly. The bathroom was clean and the temperature of the restaurant was cool, perfect for a hot bowl. If you want some good pho, willing to pay about $22-25 a bowl, then this is the place for you. I didn't mind paying 3-5 dollars more since it was convenient and tasty. Don't take my words for it, go try it! read more

Mama Ashley enjoyed her self at Mama pho. I even brought a "mama pho" tee shirt at the end. I ordered the fillet mignon pho and shrimp summer rolls. Excellent plus. The ambiance was relaxing and met all of my expectations. If you are at Ala Moana and want some pho check out mama pho. read more

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While on O'ahu I had to check out their Pho. I was told that Mama Pho was the place to try. They have two locations and I visited the one Ala Moana Shopping Center on the fourth floor. This is not the original restaurant that opened in 2011 but the restaurant has a great feel and fantastic service. My colleagues had their sandwiches but I had to try their Pho. They have a variety of options for meat and I had the rare steak, brisket, and flank steak option. The flavor of the broth was fantastic and the meat was plentiful. I like my Pho with a little spice so I added their house made Volcano Garlic Chili (spicy version) and I may have put a little bit more than I should've. Let's just say I lost feeling to my lips but that did also enhance the flavor of the dish as well. I tried their Hawaiian Sunrise drink. Which is a mango flavored soda. If you like mangoes you will love this drink! Overall I really enjoyed my time at Mama Pho and would recommend this location to others. read more

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Pro's, the vegetables were super fresh! Not pickled like in many traditional Vietnamese dishes, but crisp and fresh. The pork in the vermicelli bowl was excellent. The taste was fantastic! Con's: the Mamas platter was not only bland but WAY over fried. I had the grilled shrimp vermicelli bowl and both the spring roll and the shrimp were fried to death. Basically, unless you REALLY like the dipping sauce and want to drown vermicelli noodles, un-pickled vegetables and over cooked shrimp in the sauce, I wouldn't recommend it. Basically, the majority of the food was bland beyond what I would want to try again. read more

Food: Great! I got the Mama Special (Pho Bowl) for $22 or $23. I was bummed about the price given that on the mainland it is cheaper. But, my mental grumbling was subsided after getting my bowl. It had a respectable amount of meat compared to some other places on the island. The beef came out as expected with a little pink on it, and I was able to used the hot broth to cook the rest of it. My only issue was that they gave us 1 plate of veggie toppings for the table to share among 5 adults, but one of us asked for more and they gave as requested. Service: We went on a Saturday at 6pm-ish and there were plenty of seats available. Service was quick and food came out in a timely manner. The server came to ask about refills for water about 2 or 3 times. Ambiance: Clean and spacious and appropriately lit. Not too bright and not too dark. Would I go back? Yes. read more

Mama Pho - Mama's Special Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Been here with the boyfriend and the most current time we went was descent but the last time we went my spring rolls seemed cold and the meat wasn't even hot. I do enjoy my meats hot and fresh but they served our food way too fast. Service was quick and prompt. Definitely liked that. The inside was nice and cool. Bathrooms were in the back.. I would come back again but food needs to be hot for me. We will see if the food is hot. Tasty and enjoyed my meal. read more

Mama Pho - Our set up - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came here on a weekday holiday and it filled up quickly, so if you want to get seated fast. Was a little hungry so went for the pork chops. They are thinly cut so don't expect a thick piece of pork. Got the special combo which includes spring rolls and a soft drink for $30. Don't quite know why they call it "chicken" rice because it lacked any chicken or chicken flavor(s). read more

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I've been wanting to go here since they opened a while back. I'm glad to say I was pleased with their pho broth. It's tasty and flavorful. We also ordered the mamas chicken wings and mamas special banh mi. Great sides to enjoy. The fish sauce for the chicken wings are a lot thicker, likely to coat the wing better. We came as a group and they were so nice to be able to split the check per person. The staff does speak English with Vietnamese accents so do your best to listen well. I believe we had a bit of a misunderstanding with our drink order and missing food items. Our server took our group order by memory, which may explain why there was confusion, but it's okay though, we ended up confirming and receiving everything. read more

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I should have wrote this review much earlier, but time kinda got away from me. Anyway...Mama Pho...I heard about this place, never ate there in the amount of times I went to Ala Moana. And boy, did my first visit there feel unique. I came into that place with somewhat limited expectations, but in this case, I'd say it was alright for a first-time visit. It seems any Vietnamese place I visit to for a Bahn Mi, they all come out interesting in terms of looks. And each one comes out different by appearance. I ordered the Mama Pho Bahn Mi and it wasn't too bad. The bread and vegetables felt fresh and I couldn't wait to dig right in. The first bite, I didn't know what to make of it at first, but it took a few bites to get into the good stuff, and everything looked portioned properly, considering they didn't crowd it with a lot of vegetables. It's interesting with how different it is compared to previous places where I had a Bahn Mi. They definitely gave me a different experience with it, but somehow made it work. Very filling, I must say as well, which also helped out nicely. All in all, it was a good first try experiencing this restaurant. Would I come back there again? I think I might. Maybe for another Bahn Mi or perhaps a Vermicelli Bowl or Pho (to switch it up). I do think this place is interesting to look into if you get the chance to check it out. read more

Mama Pho - Mama Pho's Special Bahn Mi sandwich. - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It seems like this spot always has customers no matter the day and time. My husband, who's been missing home-cooked Vietnamese food since we've moved from the East Coast, was super intrigued. We were delighted to see that they offer staples and a variety of dishes. Of course we had to order a bowl of pho. The broth was clean and light in flavor (in a good way!). I got the vermicelli noodles which is my usual go-to when I'm not in the mood for pho. The fish sauce was extremely light in flavor (in a bad way); it tasted very watered down. The servers were super friendly and patient, especially while we were trying to get our kids to sit long enough to eat a few bites. I kept eyeing all the desserts and beverages in the fridge behind our table. I would definitely return to try their other dishes (and desserts!). read more

This place is okay. The crab meat soup has really good flavor but there isn't actually any crab meat in the soup, it's flavored with crab paste. The pho portion is large but the prices are pretty high for pho. We also tried a rice plate which had smaller portions. The Moscow mule was a premade mix and Thai tea was small. If you are craving pho and want convenience while shopping this spot is good, otherwise I recommend going across the street to Pho Saigon for better quality but similar pricing. read more

Mama Pho - Vermicelli Crab Meat Soup, good flavor - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Dinner at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii... Mama Pho was on my list of places to visit for such a long time... i finally found an opportunity to dine in! Service was very friendly and helpful! The staff were cheerful and had beautiful smiles! The interior was very elegant and modern! I appreciated the convenient restroom and free parking! I got the vermicelli with grilled shrimp and spring rolls. Everything was delicious! The noodles were chewy! The shrimp had a smokey flavor and didn't have any shell nor tails! The spring roll was tasty! The pickled veggies were crunchy! The lettuce and bean sprouts were fresh! My friend had the same menu item and enjoyed it, too! She ordered takeout for her daughter and the noodles were packaged separately from the soup - thank you! It was a wonderful experience! read more

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Wow this place is huge which is great because they can cater to more people. Was it the best tasting Pho I've ever had no. Was it the worst? No. The broth for the pho was a little bland in my opinion and the noodles were very standard. Overall it was just okay. The spring rolls however were good, but the winner here was actually the wings. Absolutely delicious. Anybody who goes here should get the wings. I know it's an ask cause it's like not a typical thing you'll get here but it's pretty awesome. Flavorful, crispy and just the right amount of everything. Service was on point! Friendly, helpful, I can't say anything bad about it. read more

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The food was awesome, and service was lightning fast. They had some perks to the food that other restaurants didn't , like they took off the tail on the shrimps. Overall it was amazing and I would definitely come back here any day. The restaurant design is very modern as well, and while I was here I couldn't believe that I was only in a mall. The bathrooms were really clean too. Please come back here anytime you can! read more

A great addition to the restaurants at Ala Moana. I ordered take-out, but they welcomed me to sit "anywhere " and wait in the AC. Quickly brought me ice water while I waited. I had the summer rolls and chicken bahn mi. I have to say that the bahn me may be the best I've had on this island. The bread is amazing and they have the chicken pate included. The rolls were so fresh and the iced coffee was perfect for a hot day. Restaurant is clean, staff is very attentive and professional. Fantastic and highly recommended. read more

Mama Pho - Bar area. - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Just went there and we got seated quickly, we got our food and it was very tasty and a lot. Lots of noodles, the broth was very good, lots of meat, all in all I enjoyed it and money worth spending. It was definitely a treat and will go again. They have options if you want your food with rice, noodle, or bah min. They came once a while to refill and I thought that was really good. They have good timing and they don't let you wait very long. They are polite and ask to take your food away if your finish and if it was okay. The ambiance was nice and they even had an area of you have a stroller to place it there. Good job Mama Pho. read more

Mama Pho - Beef stew soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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A tasty spot for pho located conveniently in Ala Moana! I'm personally not the biggest fan of tendon pho- I prefer mine plain, but I ordered the tendon pho and gave the beef tendons to my sister. For only 2$ extra, they give you so much tendon! It was legitimately shocking the amount of tendon I pulled out of my soup. Portions are generous and the broth was flavorful. I liked the spring rolls a lot. Service was fine and I would return overall. read more

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We experienced a very hospitable welcome , my friend and I, for lunch. The ambiance was very nice, clean, modern and appreciative of the Vietnamese music playing in the background. The service was excellent, Christine was our server. She was pleasant and very friendly. We ordered the fish balls as appetizer. It was different but tasty with a dipping sauce. I ordered the grilled pork with tofu, side salad and yellow rice. My plate was clean after. I enjoyed the mild flavors on each item. My friend had the rare steak with beef ball pho and veggie toppings. She finished a whole bowl of it! I would definitely recommend to my friends and family. BTW, the prices were reasonable too! read more

Mama Pho - Grilled Pork and tofu, yellow rice and refreshing side salad. - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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That's funny, the last time here at Ala Moana Center, I was looking for Iced Vietnamese Coffee and I came into this same restaurant. They are located next to Tanaka's of Tokyo on the 4th floor. The restaurant is very spacious and can accommodate a few large parties. Indoor seating only in an air-conditioned place. The have a full bar. They have a Men & Women's separate restrooms. The service was nice and friendly. Again, this review is only for their drink. It was strong, and perfectly sweet to my liking. Though, the cup was a tad small. Come support your local business! read more

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I've been to both locations (Aina Haina and Ala Moana) and I think I prefer Ala Moana. This time I got the Filet Mignon and it was a LOT of meat. I found it a little chewy. I think I'd do the Special next time. 4 stars because of the difficulty of locating the restaurant and language barrier when asking questions about the menu. Otherwise, i found the service and food to be great. read more

My friend and I were hungry after appointments and shopping - I always remembered seeing the name Mama Pho but never tried it so we gave it a go! We loved their lunch specials where you can pick your pho and fountain drink plus you get fried spring rolls. I had the beef pho, and the bowls were huge! I love the broth and all the fresh beans sprouts and Thai basil they gave us. We were so full and happy from our meals. I would totally come back here again! Thank you, Mama Pho! read more

We had really good fresh and summer rolls here. My friend had a vermicelli bowl that was full of the all the usual yumminess. This place delivered on the tasty and quality and we were quite happy. Service was great too! read more

Mama pho at Ala Moana center is the worst service restaurant. I ordered pho with rare beef on the side, (usually beef is very thin sliced and very soft) but this time server brought very thick and beef was hard like a rock. I just ate little bit, as it looks like a beef was hard as a rock. So I decided not to eat more and called server. She said she is the manager. She could not answer may question. Unbelievably that female manager was talking to the customer next table of me. Called another server. Younger male server came but is was same thing. I tasted it a little bit so I told them I will pay for it. Do you know what they said to me ? We do not need that fucking money. They (both female manager server and male young server) both of them use F-word in their restaurant. I was very unpleasant. No wander this Mama pho restaurant was always empty and bad review all the time. read more