This is the first time helpers did me wrong!! Why does this place have such high ratings? Ordered a Large pho and it had 5 small pieces of meat. I'm used to having green onions in there but it was broth and noodles with small pieces of meat. Added mint, lime, and bean sprouts but they didn't provide jalapeños here either. Not impressed by the flavor of the broth. I'm wondering if other items are better on the menu as this was not good. The Thai tea was also bland. Usually Thai tea is sweet but there wasn't any sweetener in it at all. Also ordered the spring rolls. They only had vermicelli, some lettuce and shrimp and pork. What happened to having bean sprouts or some mint in them? Disappointed by this place and still wondering how the ratings were so high!!! read more

The pho was great, hot and tastey , ordered the noodle with soft tofu- went in about 730pm and the plate with basil , jaleps, sprouts and lime was not fresh looking...looked a bit dry and the limes looked like they had been sitting. We also had the combo bahn mi which was alright, don't recommend getting a sando for dinner, the roll tasted like it had been sitting in the fridge and not fresh either. Thankfully the spring rolls tasted fresh made and were moist. I would go here again but just for the Pho since that was absolutely delicious and rich in flavor! read more

Phamous Cafe - Noodle pho with soft tofu - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

I asked them for everything in the pho raw and extra cilantro; but instead I got the entire pho cooked and no cilantro. Consequently, the noodles were so soggy there was no texture of chewiness whatsoever. Furthermore, I ordered egg rolls but almost left without the fish sauce because they failed to include it. The soup itself is okay, but the lack of attention to customers' requests were overall disappointing. read more

Had a late lunch with my daughter yesterday. We ordered shrimp spring rolls and chicken pha Great food and service. Will definitely be back. read more

Phamous Cafe, for a Goleta mom and pop shop specializing in Pho, definitely has the trained cooks to cook Pho, though not on a similar level to Pho places in my hometown of Oakland and places in Westminster and Garden Grove. Let's talk about the bowl. For $11, which is for a Large combination pho, you receive a decent sized bowl. I wouldn't call it large by any means but it is definitely filling. The meats, tendons, and noodles look amazing, though I do notice that the pho noodles are somewhat thinner than what other restaurants use in their Pho. The mint leaves, lemon, peppers, and bean sprouts look fresh, much more than I can say for Pho Delicious, whose greens look like they've been refrigerated for days on end. The soup is what you'd expect from a Pho place. As I devoured the Pho, I was reminded of my childhood life eating Pho in San Jose. Though the Pho is not of a similar quality than that produced in Vietnamese neighborhoods or even remotely comparable to Pho in Vietnam (OMG, it took my head to another dimension and back), it definitely gives you that satisfactory feeling. For anyone looking for authentic Pho, I highly recommend this place for people who are stuck in IV or Goleta and can't make the trip to the 626. The soup is on par, the meats are nice and tender, and they supply you with a good amount of thin pho noodles, enough to call it a meal and then some. read more

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I came here with my husband to get a nice warm bowl of pha. The pha I ordered was ok. I ordered the chicken pha. It was ok. I was tUrned off by this place after witnessing thE following: there is a young man that has an obvious handicap condition that was jumpin and screaming all over the place. After being yelled at a few times he sat down. Then I saw hIm pick his nose and hands down his pant and went to the soda fountain and served himself with the same hands that were in hIs pant and nose. ok what? Then I saw h at the door leading to the kitchen and was all over a woman. Which I assumed was his mother or caretaker. When I say all over her. I mean all over her face with his hands. Again. Didn't see him wash his hands. Is this what goes on in the kitchen by our food?. A restaurant is not a place to be unclean. Do they have an office back there that he is in the rest of the day? I'm not comfortable coming back here after witnessing that. It's a restaurant not a childcare center. I did not appreciate eating with the loud screeching and jumping. It was very uncomfortable. What if the waiters got hurt carrying the food? The waitress was nice and speedy service. It hurts me to write this but tHis has been my experience there. read more

Had a quick lunch here. Service was fast. Got seated, ordered, and left. I ordered B2, which was the grilled pork vermicelli. The bowl was big and packed with the noodles and had a lot of lettuce underneath. I was a little disappointed about the cucumber and carrots though. It looked like it was 1 slice of cucumber sliced up smaller and a few pieces of carrots. Decent Vietnamese food. read more

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Vietnamese Coffee and some of the best fried rolls with delicate filling of ground meat. Vermicelli Noodles with fresh romaine, pickled veg, carrot -- not sure if it had cucumber in it. Bahn Mi was great with mixture of grilled pork and char sui with pickled veg. Roll was really good, just not that super flakey French roll. Phamous's roll is a little softer but really good flavor. Great service, sanitizer on every table and tables distance. Really liked this spot. Great music too. read more

Phamous Cafe - Best rolls -- perfectly crisp + Vietnamese Coffee - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

great food! super reasonably priced and the staff is so friendly. my favorite vietnamese place in santa barbara/goleta area!

Although this place is a newer place, I wanted to give it a try since there's such a hype around here. I like coming here because aside from the other two vietnamese restaurants around town, this place actually has food other than Pho. They have authentic rice plates that taste great, spring rolls (they only have one kind), and even Banh Mi (vietnamese sandwiches). I was always hesitant to come here because their prices are higher than other places with a normal portion. I really like to eat pho with a bowl that's enormously large, and this place does not make me feel like a giant. My experience here wasn't too good, I ordered but I felt kind of rushed. We got out order, but they did not even give us our water yet. Halfway through the meal they brought out water for us... and they give out enough bean sprouts for a small kid... we barely got enough and has to ask them twice to get more. Their noodles!!! They are good since almost everyone buys it from the same place, but they need to wash them so they are not clumped together. It was hard to eat since they break when you pick it up, and this is also a sign that their broth is not cooked hot enough. Overall, if they could maybe provide a larger bowl; just more soup... to make me feel like i'm eating actual Pho I could give another star. And maybe another star if they could fix their service. read more

Phamous Cafe - Spring Rolls shrimp and pork ONLY - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

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Wanted Pho, read the reviews and decided to try it. It was good and hit the spot. Gentleman working was very nice. Food cam out quickly. Had the P3 Pho Tai, Chin and A1 Goi Cuon Tom Thit Heo. Both good and flavorful. Pho was hot temperature. Took it to go. Total with tax and tip about $24. I would recommend read more

Solid Vietnamese food in the Santa Barbara area. We ordered the pho and it was really good.

On the bright side, it's better than Pho Bistro. I came here for lunch and it sadly was mediocre, as I feared it would be. It's still at a higher price point than your normal joints in the Bay Area, LA, or the OC, but it's something you accept with the cost of transporting traditional Asian goods to Santa Barbara (an ethnic food dead zone). Though I have to say, $6 for banh mi is highway robbery. I got the bun thit nuong (grilled pork) for a light option. If you're a salad fan, I'd usually recommend this, but it was genuinely flavorless and there were even few vegetables. Most of it was just vermicelli, flavored with iceberg lettuce. For the record, romaine is superior. I didn't find the meat portion too small, but it was lacking more of the regulars. It needed bean sprouts, Thai basil, more quick-pickled carrots, and more mint. No complaints about the Thai iced tea, at least. The nuoc mam deserves a special shoutout for tasting just like the first half of its name: nuoc, which means water in Vietnamese. I would've appreciated seeing a chopped up chili or two in there. On the bright side, the service was fast and their menu is easy to read. read more

Phamous Cafe - Thai tea with boba. - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

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Decided to try this semi-new pho restaurant and was pleasantly surprised! i ordered the chicken pho with a roll on the side and it was perfect. plenty of well-cooked tender chicken and the broth was delicious as well. the best pho ive had yet! service was solid as well, the owner is very nice and seemed highly knowledgeable about the food. location is great, not crowded at all and has a nice open area inside for seating. overall a great experience and a must go to place if you want sb county's best pho. read more

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I have found a way around the chewy meat. Get the meat on the side and then dip it in right when you get your food. It's the best way to avoid the over cooked meat. The meat quality here is much better than other pho places in SB, but the broth is still pretty bland. I have to add hoisen sauce, lime, and extra green onions to get flavor. I don't know why they cheap out on the flavor. It should be cooked with bones to add that delicious beef flavor. They can literally buy the spice packets and get more flavor. A note to the owner: don't pour out the fish sauce into sauce bowls early and place them in the fridge without coverage. The sauce loses all of its flavor sitting uncovered in the fridge. It should remain in a closed container and poured out every time that it is needed. I've been able to try to vermicelli dishes and they're okay since the fish sauce was horrible. I'm disappointed that the rice dishes aren't broken rice either. At least the presentation is nice and the food quality is good on the rice and vermicelli dishes. They just really have to work on that fish sauce. The spring rolls are good too with the peanut/hoisen sauce that you get with it. I haven't tried another sandwich since my first one soI can't comment on that. I still dock 2 stars for the broth and fish sauce. read more

Phamous Cafe - Beef vermicelli with eggrolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

This has been my go to spot for Pho in Santa Barbara for a few years now. Coming from the Bay Area, I'm always looking for good Asian food and Phamous Cafe always hits the spot! Inside, you're greeted with friendly faces and seated right away. The menu isn't very big, but I like that, since with many places it can be overwhelming with large menus! I usually order a Pho and customize it with the meats I prefer, and the staff is very accommodating to any requests. I like to ask for chili oil on the side too for an extra spicy kick! If I'm feeling hungry, I also order a bahn mi. The bread is made every morning, and if you're early enough you can smell the bread being made right in the oven! I like to order an S1, which has a little bit of every meat. Super filling compared to most other restaurants that only put a little bit of meat with their bahn mi. The servers are all very friendly and attentive. Jenny and Dan are the best! Overall, Phamous Cafe has been a staple restaurant for me throughout my college years. I'm sad that I have to go find a new pho spot! read more

I heard good things about this place but I wasn't impressed. I got the combination pho. Not the one at the top of the menu though. If you go towards the bottom of the menu they have the combination pho for cheaper (it's just not called combination). The bean sprouts were translucent and mushy!!! Probably were sitting out for a while. Not very appetizing. The basil leaves looked like they were sitting out too. The plates are probably prepped beforehand. Broth was ok. I think it's better at some of the other places in SB. As far as the contents, they gave me like one strand of tripe. If you're going to list that it comes with tripe, I expect more than that. Especially when I'm paying more. I'd rather eat elsewhere. You can find cheaper and better pho. read more

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I really enjoyed my first visit to this restaurant. The staff was friendly and answered my questions, although the restaurant was pretty busy it didn't seem to effect how long the servers took to return with a drink or food (they even got my dog a water bowl). The food was tasty too, and the prices are reasonable! I will be checking out this place again! read more

Came here with a large group after a night of drinking. Service was okay at first but when I asked for extra herbs and sprouts we were told "sharing is caring" ??? Garnish plates were small to begin with and we had a big group so I'm not sure what the problem was. The place is decent and clean and definitely used to be a Quizno's. Soup itself was fairly bland. The broth was clear and not too oily but had do depth or layers of flavor. Meat quality was good, especially the brisket. Given the lack of good Vietnamese food in the area, this could be your best option. read more

Great service and the closest you can get to home made Pho. 100% only recommend having Vietnamese food here!

Pho was good here got two bowls during a late night on accident because the owner thought I wanted two. The pho is a solid choice I would come back here again. Nothing special but its good pho read more

I ordered the combo vermicelli and was pretty disappointed. The meat portion was very small compared to the huge portion of rice noodle they gave me make it look like there's a lot of food. The combo cake with 2 bland shrimp, 1 eggroll and a few pieces of marinated beef. I also ordered an iced viet coffee which was pretty decent. It wasn't as strong as the ones you would get from 626 or OC area. However, it's pretty good coming from SB. I think they diluted the flavor a bit as well. Overall, I would come back for their viet coffee but not for their main course. read more

Phamous Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

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Came back giving them another shot after being disappointment 6 months ago. Let's start off, when we sat down, they offered drinks. When she brought back two water cups, we were already asked what we would like. Within less than a minute, a second server asked us again. They were so rush for some reason. When we were finally ready to order, we waited almost 45 minutes for our entrees. This is ridiculous. Server did not even come update us even once on why it was taking so long. It was not even busy in there...When the male server brought over my rice plate, he drop it off with attitude and needs to get it together. This place is very unprofessional. Secondly, when receiving my rice plate combo, the pork cake was dead cold in the center. At this point, I could care less as I just wanted to get the hell out of here. All in all, I would not return here again. I rather take my business elsewhere and be treated like a guest. This establishment also needs to consider how much MSG is being used since my rice place had the seasoning all across the plating. read more

The best Vietnamese food ever Great service Nice store Wonderful pho , Price is affordable read more

Best phở in SB. Best customer service in SB. This is an overdue review as I have been going to this restaurant for 3 years and counting. I'm born and raised in Saigon, and this broth sits extremely well for me. Their Vietnamese coffee is fantastic, bánh mì is a perfect quick lunch, and grilled pork vermicelli is refreshing and savory. I also want to especially acknowledge that I've never felt more comfortable ordering from any other restaurant during this pandemic. They go above and beyond in their sanitary measures. The people who own this restaurant are so beyond sweet, I will make sure to tell all of my friends to support their business. read more

We discovered this hidden gem 3 years ago when we were looking for a quick Asian lunch after going to Costco. This is the first time after the pandemic that we have been back. They have good safety protocol. The lunch was quickly served and the price was inexpensive. We enjoyed our lunch and will come back again. read more

Phamous Cafe - a bowl of asian food - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

Stopped here for dinner on our long drive home to LA and boy was this place legit! Growing up in Los Angeles with great food on every corner, I've had my fair share of awesome Pho, but this place is hands down one of the best I've had. I got the P5 (Pho with rare steak and flank) and it was incredibly flavorful. My boyfriend got the vermicelli with beef which was also delicious. On top of the tasty food, the prices were very fair ($9.95 each), the service fast, and everyone who worked there was incredibly friendly. Definitely one of the better dining experiences we've had in a while. We will definitely make this our go to dinner stop whenever we drive down to LA and back! read more

The owners of this restaurant do not want Black customers. In fact, they are very hostile towards any Black person who dines in. Upon entering the place, the owners, husband and wife, walked away from the front counter and hid in the kitchen. Then they came back pretending to be too busy to take an order--the wife was yammering away on the phone in Vietnamese, and the husband began refilling the food trays. After both realized I was not going away, they yelled at me for my order. I told them to stop yelling because it was bad for business. I ordered my food and waited for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, White and Hispanic customers came and went as they pleased and the husband and wife team treated them more politely than me. When I asked them to check on the food, they ignored me. When I demanded a refund, then the wife demanded me to be patient claiming the other customers had order ahead of me. I told her that I was not spending money in any restaurant where people treat me very disrespectfully because it is obvious they do not want my business. I made sure she returned the money and walked out. The store owners carry hostility and prejudice against Blacks. They fail to understand that money is green. read more

The pho is a little pricier here than elsewhere but it's good. The service is fast and the place is clean. It's pretty easy to get a table even though the place is small. read more

One of the better pho place in the area with authentic taste. Pricing is reasonable as well

Excellent Pho. Very friendly staff, generous side of garnish, fresh and delicious. Thai tea was great too!

Came here for the first time earlier today with my parents. I ordered the B11, which was vermicelli noodles with grilled pork, shrimp and egg rolls layered on top of veggies and served with fish sauce. The dish itself was good but the fish sauce was a little bit bland in my opinion. Even after I dumped the whole bowl of fish sauce into my bowl of noodles, it was still lacking in flavor. My parents got the pho with rare beef/steak, and said it was bland but not bad. The service was nice and friendly. I didn't catch the names of any of the workers but they were all very young. Prices were a tad steep. We didn't get to try their banh mi today but were shocked at the price tag since banh mi where I come from is like 3 bucks a pop. I'm very picky with my food, especially when it comes to Vietnamese cuisine. However, I think Phamous Cafe is the best I can get here in Santa Barbara (which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 3). Although Phamous Cafe's food lack a kick and a lot of seasoning, it's definitely worth a try and I will be coming back in the future to satisfy my Vietnamese food cravings. read more

Phamous Cafe - B11 - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

The best pho, bun, and banh mi you can get in SB! Delicious pho broth (all of the varieties are good from the classic beef pho to chicken to veggie) and great service. read more

Best bánh mì sandwich I've ever had. It is even better when it's dipped in a bowl of pho

Food is not great and the service is horrible! You have to ask for water and they only give you half the glass.

They are still on top of the Bahn Mi game. They bake their bread fresh daily in house. Food is always fresh and tasty.

I wanted to try this place after hearing a coworker talk about it. I'm glad I did. I called ahead to order the P6 pho. When I arrived the restaurant was clean and the servers were very attentive. The staff were courteous and kind. Since my pho was to go they packaged all the components into separate bags which was very convenient to me. The Pho tasted amazing as well. Great broth and the meats were tender. Will definitely be coming back for more. Also a large for around 10.75 out the door fed two people. Great value and quality. read more

Phamous Cafe - P6 on the menu. Had this to go. Very flavorful. - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

From a person that ate at Noodle City every time I got a pho craving, this place is SO MUCH better. I mean the place looks way more presentable. Cleanliness is key in my book. Also the seating area is more spacious and you don't feel like you're sitting on someone's lap while waiting for your food. The moment you walk in you can smell the freshly baked bread used for the Bahn Mi. I got the P1 (combination pho) and the S1 (combination Bahn Mi) and an order of spring rolls. The pho is delicious! So much meat and noodles in my bowl of pho and the broth was flavorful. No complaints here. The Bahn Mi is to die for. Bread straight out of the oven and the veggies are super fresh. The meats were seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The spring rolls were delicious as well. All the ingredients were fresh and the peanut sauce was perfect. To top it off, the service was amazing. Very friendly. Food came out pretty quick. I will definitely recommend Phamous Cafe to all my friends and family. 5 stars hands down!!!! read more

Phamous Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

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Very good service, the food was well priced and tasty. All in all very recommendable!

There are a few Vietnamese restaurants in Goleta but this is the one that stands out the most to me. As soon as you walk into the room with it's colorful walls and pop radio station give it a playful casual atmosphere. I have never been here while it has been too busy which is great because that means less wait time for your food and more attention from the waiter/waitress. There are a ton of tiny little tables scattered around which are perfect for you and one other but they are also capable of holding a large group. The workers here are all very kind and nice but I want to mention Jennie. She has been our waitress most times that we've eaten here and she now recognizes us and knows what to bring us before we even ask her. Definitely the perfect balance between attentive and overbearing. As for the food, I am not a fan of pho so I have not tried that dish here but I love their rice places and most of all their vermicelli. I love the way they introduce mint leaves here, it is not something I have seen at other restaurants. Also the beef cuts are great, marinated to perfection and thinly cut for small bites with the rest of your food. The vermicelli noodles are the perfect texture, not hard and not too soft. Would recommend to 7 out of 7 friends. read more

Phamous Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California