I ordered the oxtail soup for take out and it was incredible. I was healing from surgery and wanted something nourishing and full of collagen and this was perfect. Lasted me a good 4 meals and it comes with all these veggie toppings including fresh chopped ginger. Really soothing to my tummy! read more

Went on a Friday lunchtime. Open for take out during virus. Free parking in private shared parking lot. Called in order 20 minutes ahead. Ordered for 2: 2 - grilled pork and spring rolls on vermicelli noodles. (Peanuts separate) (My son has a nut allergy) Comes with dipping sauce. Very cool and refreshing. Pretty big portion. $11.95 Highly recommend. read more

Very good broth, lots of accompaniments Owner is very friendly and gave us free dessert. read more

I ate at a lot of places through out the U.S. and the world. This one is definitely one of the best pho and pad Thai I had. 9/10 for both. Highly recommended. read more

Ocean Pho - Pho and Pad Thai - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Though Oahu is known for their Hawaiian and Japanese food, I was looking for some more variety in my time on the island. With that, I took to Yelp in hopes to find similar cuisine to the mainland. Craving Vietnamese food for a lunch meal, I found Pho Bistro 2 a few blocks away from the Ala Moana Shopping Center with about a thousand reviews. From seeing this, I decided to see if their food was as good as many of the Yelpers say. I came into Pho Bistro 2 around 12:30PM on a Thursday afternoon to see a few tables with families. The restaurant was small with 9-10 tables and showcased pictures of the locals. Upon entering, I signaled to the server my party size and he told me to wait while he cleaned a table. But looking around, there seemed to be many other tables I could sit at, which made me ponder why I was told to wait. I inquired about it, but the server insisted that I wait. That is, until another server told me I could sit at whichever table I wanted. From there, I took a seat and twiddled my thumbs a bit until the server came about a few minutes later with a menu and a water. At this point, I felt that the service was mildly grotesque and made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. But I chose to stick it out to see if things would change. Picking up the menu, I selected a Spring Roll and Grilled Pork Vermicelli which was $17.45 at the time of this review. Food came out in 10 minutes or so which was a good amount of time and I began to look at the dish. And as for first impressions, I was a bit of a skeptic. The bowl was smaller than the vermicelli bowls I would typically get which made me question whether I'd be full by the time the meal finished. Inside were two spring rolls cut up into 8 pieces, the pork, a medley of vegetables, a dash of peanuts, and the noodles at the bottom. Though the ratio of ingredients was balanced, I did end up leaving less than filled. Seventeen dollars approaching eighteen is enough to make one full in the more touristy areas of Honolulu, which is why I argue that the price to portion ratio at Pho Bistro 2 is a little lackluster. The taste of the food was good, but nothing particularly great to me. Beginning, the rice noodles on the bottom were nice and moist, meaning they pulled apart quite easily, weren't too gooey, and allowed the dish to fall back on a neutral flavor. The pickled carrots and daikon tasted like a hint of picked juice and weren't overly drenched in said juice, making them one of the strongest parts of the dish. All the rest of the vegetables such as bean sprouts, cucumbers, and lettuce were moist and had the flavor of a freshly rinsed salad which were very enjoyable. The peanuts on top added a little crunch to the dish which really helped the spring rolls maintain a difference in texture compared to the softer items. But though the garnished items on the side were great, the main items were different. The spring rolls were fine overall with a nice layered chew on the outside. Ratio-wise, skin to ingredients was fine. But the spring rolls tasted more on the heavy side. Flavor-wise though, the spring rolls were good, tasting of a caramelized meat. And finally, the grilled pork was leaning a little towards the dry side, which threw the balance of the freshness and cooked ingredients off a bit. This might have affected the flavor of the pork too as it tasted homogeneously flat. If the meat was a bit more moist, it would have really brought the dish together. After I finished, the server came by and asked about how I thought the food was and struck up a conversation about the pandemic's effects on many business' ability to survive. And from this, I could really empathize as I've seen many businesses I once supported go under after having a hard time surviving. He mentioned that his mom was the one in the back doing a lot of the cooking which made me happy to hear the pandemic hasn't completely wiped out local businesses. Afterwards, I was offered a free tapioca dessert with a variety of fruit which was DELICIOUS. Next time I return, I'll definitely order some. But in light of this experience, it was hard to give Pho Bistro 2 a discrete rating because there were many great aspects but also many that could be improved. If I could, I'd give a 3.5/5. But because half ratings don't exist on Yelp, the score settles at 3. The service at the beginning was a bit rocky, but really came out on top in the end. The food, though pretty good overall, was sort of hard to justify at close to 18 dollars. Should I come back in the future, I'd be excited to try one of their pho noodle soups as the pictures looked great. If you're looking to support local business and try good Vietnamese food, Pho Bistro 2 has been open for 16 years and is more than definitely able to satisfy a craving. Just keep swimming guys! read more

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The pho broth is rich and delicious. The rare steak always so fresh bright red and sliced thin but not paper thin, the tendon is so tender as it should be. Spring rolls, combo plate were outstanding! Very consistent throughout the years. Bright clean interior and the service is amazing kind, and attentive same people have worked there for years! read more

The new normal, eating out during COVID19. Great service. Very efficient. We were able to order and pay very quickly. They even brought our food out to our car. We decided to get the Vermicelli Cold Noodles with Spring Rolls & Grilled Pork $11.95. It was delicious. A huge MAHALO to Pho Bistro 2 for operating during this pandemic. read more

Ocean Pho - Vermicelli Cold Noodles with Spring Rolls & Grilled Pork $11.95 (COVID19 Takeout) - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Tried their pho twice (one take out and one dine in) but I feel like the broth is missing something it's not that flavorful as I expected. Maybe it's just my preference. On the other hand the house special combo plate was very delicious, especially the grilled pork! I wonder what they used to marinate it. There's a small parking lot outside that they share with other stores. There's a security guard there so definitely better than street parking. read more

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Amazing! I will come here to eat every single time!!!! Beautiful place, beautiful people Anna, Mark, Eddie, Chenoa read more

I went there with an open mind but I wanted to eat a specific noodle with meat. I asked the owner about it and he suggested something which was not what I wanted but he assured me that if I ordered anything on the menu and I didn't like it he'd pay for it. The food came looking delicious and I take the first bite and I can just say one thing- my soul was happy :) I enjoyed every bite I took and the flavors just kept bursting in my mouth. It didn't feel heavy even after finishing the entire bowl. My husband got chicken and it was so juicy, flavorful and cooked to perfection. The staff was super sweet and friendly. They have a few sauces on the side but trust me nothing was needed since everything was so delicious. I will definitely go back when I go to Honolulu again. read more

Ocean Pho - Vermicelli with grilled pork and roll - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Best pho on the island. This is a family run business that has been around for years. The service is always fast and I always get spring rolls fresh out of the fryer, with pickled carrots and dipping sauce. The pho always comes with a lot of bean sprouts and basil. All the condiments are on the table - sriracha, soy sauce , chili sauce, etc... they have tapioca pudding here too! Made with coconut milk and a perfectly sweet ending to a meal. read more

Ocean Pho - Sauce - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Still the best oxtail pho on the island but they've definitely cutback on the portions, probably due to the effect on businesses which COVID has caused. Not only have the prices gone up but the amount of oxtail you get has gone down. Still the same friendly service and humble establishment. Parking may be limited and credit/debit cards accepted. read more

Super slow service on a weekday. Egg rolls were salty. Pho was missing that authentic umami flavor. The hallway leading to the bathroom smells like cigarettes. read more

Ocean Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Delicious food and personable service! The owner came out and introduced herself and made us feel so welcome Thai chicken salad was amazing as well as the egg rolls and Pho (our large group ordered multiple flavors and everyone loved theirs)! read more

*3.5* Pho Saigon was closed for renovations so we dropped by here. All the food was fresh and the service was good even though the waitress was tending the whole restaurant. Spring rolls: you get three cut in half. The portion was on the smaller side compared to other restaurants but they were really fresh and tasty. They give a lot of veggies and the nuoc cham had a lot of flavor. Pho: I got mine regular size with all brisket. The brisket was tender but didn't have much flavor. Half of the brisket was fatty. The broth was hot and it had a good flavor, but not as flavorful as others I've had. The veggies were fresh. Mixed plate: chicken, pork chops and kalbi. Served with rice and green salad. This dish had so much flavor! I usually don't order these types of dishes at pho places but this really hit the spot. I'm not sure if I would come here again because it's out of my way, but they do have good food. read more

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This was my very first time trying pho and it was the most delicious, savoury, bowl of food I have ever tasted. They were very fast in preparation of food for 8 people and very attentive. I will most definitely be coming back and recommending this place to people! read more

The Pho was very tasty and service was top notch what more could you want from a pho place. They were a bit busy but still were able to help out everyone. The guy server working was doing an amazing job and was really taking care of everyone. read more

Food was delicious! My boyfriend and I had the combination pho, spring rolls and Vietnamese coffee and everything was so tasty! Their service was fantastic and the food came out fast. It's a family run restaurant, casual and worth checking out! I'm definitely coming back here again! read more

Ordered the Pho... it was OK, the broth wasn't as rich, kinda tasted watered down, the sprouts was so old and limp. The old lady (maybe owner?) and waiter was extremely rude!! Won't be going there again!! read more

Solid option for a bowl of pho in a clean and presentable restaurant. I've seen more meat offered at other pho restaurants, but you will likely have to sacrifice cleanliness and service for more meat in Chinatown. The regular size pho at $9.95 was large enough for me. The large size is only a dollar more if you are a big eater or want leftovers to take home. Service was polite but could have been more attentive. I had to ask for more water and went to the register to pay the bill because my waiters did not give me the check. Would return again when craving pho in McCully - Moiliili neighborhood. read more

Ocean Pho - Outside - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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While staying in Waikiki, we saw a noodles place. When searching for it later on the trip, we forgot where it was. So honestly, this place was accidentally found. It was pretty good however, very busy as the night progressed. We got pad Thai to share and the lady yelled at me for not eating the Brussels sprouts. She said "don't order what you won't eat", although there never said on the menu what was included. It was still good and she gave us thanks for coming. I really wanted the pho and regret not getting it but maybe next time. read more

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Awesome place for food and drinks. Service was great. Wish I can here sooner. They been here for a long time

If you're able to find parking, the broth is really good, has lot of depth. Still one of the best spots outside of downtown.

I thought this would be just another typical Pho place, but I was pleasantly surprised. The papaya salad had delicious flavor, and the seafood pho was delicious too. read more

Authentic Vietnamese cuisine with excellent service and amazing pho! I got the vermicelli bowl with shrimp and chicken which was delicious, flavorful and super filling. If you are looking for a cozy, family friendly environment away from the touristy hustle and bustle of Waikiki check this place out! Food will not disappoint. read more

My bun tom thit nuong was bomb! My family got pho and it was a 7/10, but my bowl was definitely a 10/10. I added fried spring rolls to my bowl, and it made for a filling, satisfying brunch. Their Thai tea was on the sweeter side, but I prefer it that way. Parking lot right next to it, so that was a major plus since parking is a pain in the ass near the Waikiki area. Came around 10:30 am and there was no wait. I'd definitely come back in my future Hawaii travels! read more

Ocean Pho - Bun thit nuong + tom + cha gio - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My husband LOVES pho and every time we travel, he just HAS to have it at least once in no matter what country we're in. Being in Hawaii with so much asian influence, we were not concerned of how it would turn out, especially a place with 4.5 stars (at least in Jan 2021). We came here at 10:30 am, right when they opened cause it's never too early for pho! Upon entering, we sanitized our hands and picked a table to seat ourselves. All tables are socially distanced. We then ordered two pho tai bo vien which is our usual go-to if available. For being the first customers and early morning, I was surprised how rich and clear the broth is. It really hit the spot and immediately made me feel very comforted and warm. We got regular sized and there was a good amount of meat and noodles! Being born in Vietnamese and coming from an area full of pho restaurants in CA, I approve of this place! read more

Ocean Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I absolutely LOVED the food and I would definitely come back. Also, the service was amazing. They made the food so fast and they always refilled my water. The ambiance of the restaurant is amazing. I love how they showed pretty paintings and all of their decorations. read more

We ordered the spring rolls, oxtail pho, and chicken pho. All of the food was delicious! The spring rolls were great as an appetizer. The oxtail pho was enough to share for 2 people! Quick service! read more

Great Pho and Bun. Great service from a family owned business. Convenient location. A few parking spots out front and some in the fenced area next door. read more

Tasty Vietnamese dishes with a few Thai options. Family style place, casual and friendly. They do not take AmEx but Visa and Mastercard is fine. Food arrives quickly in large portions. Lots of locals eat here. read more

Easily the best pho place in Hawaii and quite possibly the best pho place in the entire 50 states. They nail all of the fundamentals of fantastic pho, with delicious broth, perfectly cooked noodles, fresh veggies, and tender meat. Beyond the basics, they have several little "extras" that really elevate them above the rest of the pho places I've had. After they serve you your pho, they come around and offer you a scoop of their special spicy sauce. Definitely opt in for that. It's very spicy but absolutely delicious. Be careful though! I've had my fair share of coughing fits from inhaling too it too hard, and definitely felt self conscious that everyone else in the restaurant would think I had Covid. Definitely order their Pho Dac Biet to get their full variety of beef parts. Their beef tendon is particularly soft. More tender than at any pho place I've had. The only way you achieve that (to my knowledge) is to cook it for a reeaally long time. If you get lucky (maybe 50% of the time) their brisket comes out thick cut and melt-in-your-mouth tender. It had the texture of an amazing Texas BBQ brisket, something you'll never get at another pho place! read more

Ocean Pho - Large Pho Dac Biet (House Special Combo Pho) - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What a great place to get pho for rainy days! I came here for their oxtail soup which was delicious with a good portion of oxtail with peanuts inside. Their customer service is wonderful and attentive even though they do get busy with phone in and dine in orders. Parking can be tricky since the lot is small with limited spots so try to avoid going during meal times to guarantee a spot. I'll definitely come back! read more

Ocean Pho - Oxtail - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The food never disappoints. Service is efficient and friendly. Love the casual atmosphere

Still a go to place for pho. They have regular and large sizes. I think the regular is more than enough to leave you satisfied. Lots of meat and broth is good. Service quick. Parking is limited. read more

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This just hit the spot after the beach!! The vermicelli with spring rolls and grilled pork was delicious and the pho was spot on as well. I really appreciated the covid precautions they took as well. So delicious and definitely one of the best pho's I've had in Hawaii read more

Ocean Pho - Bun cha gio and grilled pork - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Loaded with delicious meat. Served quickly great service. Really the best pho place I visited in Hawaii.

I came back for Pho! The broth is mild, hearty, flavorful, and clean with a subtle sweetness. There's no strong MSG taste. It had a nice amount of tender beef and tendons. We also ordered the Spring Rolls. It came with three pieces with fresh cucumber, lettuce, shredded carrots, and a handful of vermicelli noodles with fried shallots on top. The sweet and sour dipping sauce was very good with a nice balance of flavors. The spring roll filling was tasty. Eating spring rolls wrapped in the lettuce and all the other ingredients with the sauce is a much better way than eating it alone. The Autumn Rolls were okay. I prefer Winter and Spring over this season. The tofu was thick, and there was too much lettuce and bean sprouts, so it tasted bland and watery. Even dipping it in the delicious peanut sauce, the natural water from the vegetables and tofu really toned out the taste. It needed more noodles to soak up the sauces. Oxtail Soup is still amazing! Until next time! read more

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I have been coming to Pho Bistro 2 for years. They are always very friendly and their food is always on point and fresh. Today I had number 12 regular size, House special pho combo but no tripe. The broth was so flavorful. There was a generous portion of noodles and meat. The Thai Basil and bean sprouts side dish was generous as well. I will be back again. read more

Ocean Pho - Pho menu - Vietnamese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This is my go to pho spot in Hawaii! I went in for lunch and tables were all spaced out, which is a good sign. The middle of the restaurant is empty. The purpose of it seemed to be for pick up orders, which makes a lot of sense. I sat at a table and the first thing I noticed was that the food menus were placed underneath the acrylic that's on top the table. Very Smart! This way dirty hands never have to touch the menu. We were given water in plastic cups. And I ordered a large pho with steak and beef balls (steak on the outside). Every time I go here, the same server lady is always there. A bit reserved but very nice and kind. Besides the kitchen work, I really think she does it all AND does what she does extremely well. The food came out and the soup was very hot (which I like), the noodles were nice and chewy, and the meat was not frozen. These are the first three things I notice as soon as I take my first bite. The lady always poured us water right when it was running low. yay! I don't like having to ask for water all the time haha I also asked if they have a pho bistro ONE, and what the relationship was. So there is a pho bistro in Waipahu, however, the owners are different. A little fun fact to know! Anyways, pho bistro 2 all the way! I do wish the AC was a little stronger though. Can't wait to go back! read more

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