Eh. It was cheap, but you can definitely find better pho in the Baltimore/DC metro area. There wasn't nearly enough meat and the meat included is not of very good quality. The broth doesn't have much flavor to it either. I also need to agree with previous reviews regarding the service. It does take a long time and it's just not a warm place. In a pinch I would eat here again, but it's certainly not a place I'd recommend or go out of my way to visit again. read more

Pho 1 - Give me more meat!!!! - Vietnamese Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

Checked out this place after recommendation from a friend. My first experience with Pho was at the Mekong Delta Cafe in downtown Baltimore. As expected, I became a fan after this first experience. Pho #1 is located in the shopping center closest to 695, next to the Sam's Club. When walking into restaurant, it was very clean and had that "new restaurant" feel. Simple decor and dimly-lit interior. There were a few parties that were already seated when we visited in the early evening. We had a server ask us for our drink order and appetizers within about 2-3 mins. of sitting down. One minute passed and we had our drink and appetizer. We then put in our order for pho. Being my first time here, I ordered the "#1" on the list of pho which included rare steak, tripe, tendon and something else I believe. I ordered a small as my friend told me their portions are large. After about literally 3-5 minutes, we had our pho, nice and hot (really quick!). For the appetizer, we got the spring rolls. There were two that came with the order along with a side of some sort of peanut dipping sauce which was delicious! The spring rolls were a bit on the small side, which I wasn't used to, but still extremely pleasant to eat. The "small" pho portion is certainly enough for one person. They provide you with a plate of fresh basil and other items to optionally add to your pho. The tables are also stocked with soy sauce and sriracha (YES!). The pho broth was very nice, some of the best I've had so far. Very savory, a nice medium consistency. The meat is cooked beautifully, the noodles cooked perfectly and the broth brings this harmonious dish all together. Very impressed with everything thus far. I ordered a "Bia 33" beer with my order which tasted just like a Vietnamese lager. Very simple beer and went well with the pho. It's like a Vietnamese Budweiser, yet better flavor. The owner/manager stopped by our table after we were done and he started discussing beers with me. He told me about "Chang" beer that they also have, and offered me a rather healthy sample to try -- a very courteous gesture in my opinion. The "Chang" beer had a lighter, bit more sour taste than the Bia 33. It reminded me of Heineken, which I'm no longer a fan of, but the "Chang" beer was more flavorful. On the way out, we ordered a thai iced coffee. I believe we got the "bubble" version as there were a bunch of, what tasted and felt like tofu, gelatin pieces at the bottom of the cup. I wasn't too much a fan of that, but that's just my personal preference. The coffee itself was great, very rich and chocolatey, but the "bubbles" just threw me off. (The coffee can be ordered without the gelatin "bubbles.") I'm already looking forward to my next trip here, which should hopefully be in the next couple weeks as I'd like to bring a few friends over so they can try it for themselves. With the winter season soon approaching, a place like this could become an easy home away from home with their delicious hot pho. read more

Pho 1 - Store Front - Vietnamese Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

Update time, whoo! Unfortunately since our last review, Pho #1 has somewhat lost its lustre as far as the food is concerned. I am not able to really have pho for myself anymore, due to the diabetes diagnosis (and pho spikes me like a mofo, just saying), so I actually tried something else that I'd been wanting for a while - the beef and shrimp vermicelli (I think it was 47, but don't quote me on that). LoML had his usual chicken pho. For me, the vermicelli was actually damned good. It was a bit tart and vinegary with a hint of spice. I would have liked more meat, however, and there didn't seem to be a lot provided. I tried a little of LoML's pho broth, and.... I don't know, but it just tasted kind of "off" to me. Now, LoML puts NOTHING in it - no sriacha, no hoisin, nothing - so maybe it was just a matter of personal taste. The spring rolls were... okay. After having the ones at Mekong Delta (which still trump all of the others I've ever had), it seemed a little like a letdown. Prices were still good at 20 bucks for the two of us, so that's at least something. The choice of background music is still horrific, heh. This place, however, has nothing on the pho restaurants in the D.C. metro. I still maintain that I've never had better Viet food than that place with the screwy name in Rockville, heh (I think it was Pho Nom Nom. Heh, heh.) We'll come back if we're in the area but we're not going to be making any special trips out here. I hope it improves. Tip for Diabetics: Pho spikes me high and spikes me hard, so I don't get it for myself anymore. The vermicelli didn't seem to hurt as much, so maybe that might be an option for you. But be warned - noodles are noodles no matter if they're in soup or standalone or what, so I would recommend a lot of walking around and/or heavy exercise to counter the effects. Or a big-assed bolus. Just sayin'. Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor. YMMV. Seek medical advice and tailor my review to your situation. I simply provide opinion. read more

I used to like this restaurant, but today (May 15, 2019), the chicken my Pho was mostly old-tasting dark meat that looked slightly green,mixed with old-tasting white meat. The summer rolls had grit (like fine sand) in every bite and I had to spit it out. What a waist of money. I couldn't even eat it. I won't go back. read more

Pho 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

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I would say this rest they hire 90 % worker inside and out ! They did pretty good job so far ! In Maryland we got large population of Spanish people ! They working very hard for their family ! This is a good example ! Good job ! read more

Pho 1 - Happy Chinese New Year ! - Vietnamese Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

I love the pho here. I usually get the seafood one. Comes with shrimp, scallops and imitation crab meat. I also like the spring rolls and Korean BBQ. read more

I usually visit a few times per month. The PHO is always good...chicken to noodle ratio is on point and the broth is tasty. Plus they serve beer...two thumbs up. read more

Pho 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

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The food tasted like Chinese food didn't really taste like authentic Vietnamese food at all.

If you're looking for some good Vietnamese food, other than pho, check this place out. They have lots of seating and can accommodate large parties, if needed. They could update the booth seatings since they're starting to wear down and tear. Other than that, the service here is great. Most of the servers are hispanic and you'd be surprised by how much Vietnamese they actually know. They know that menu inside and out, so don't be afraid to ask for recommendations! The food here probably tastes the closest to home-cooked compared to nearby pho restaurants in Catonsville. I usually steer away from the pho because it's broth isn't hearty and flavorful enough. I could be just picky. But here are a few dishes I highly recommend: - Canh ga chien nuoc mam (houston style wings) - Ca kho to (claypot fish) - Canh chua (sour tamarind soup with fish & veggies) pair with claypot fish - Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepes) - Bo luc lac (french styled, marinated diced beef) read more

I was really excited to try Pho and was highly impressed. The wait staff was very friendly and described the food choices. When delivered to the table the size was impressive and the smells. It was like being in someones home. The ingredients were fresh and that made a difference. Will be back for sure. read more

Pho 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

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For starters this place has LOTS to choose from. The hubby and I decided to share the Thai Iced Tea which was amazing!!!! I order the shrimp egg rolls that came with a small salad on the side. The egg rolls were good but I realized not all of them were shrimp. I think their was some pork in two of them which has made my tummy a little upset considering I'm not much of a pork eater . Overall, the food was good and the service was pretty good - this is coming from a girl who is not a Pho fan at all. If your in the area and looking for a cheap, yet fulfilling eat, be sure to stop here!!! read more

Pho 1 - Shrimp eggroll platter - Vietnamese Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

Although prices have inflated since the pandemic happened, I totally understand that they have to make their bread too. As a viet myself, I've been going here since I was 6 and personally, this is the best and most sanitary place to go to in the Baltimore area. And they have banh xeo too so that's that lol. They're waiters also get their well deserved tips unlike some other pho places in that area so, yea highly recommended. read more

I like the spicy soup! It has ingredients (like sea food) that other Vietnam places usually don't put in spicy soup~ Only thing I don't like is that they don't take discover card, only visa and master card.. read more

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Pho 1 is located in an outside-facing storefront in Catonsville's Westview shopping mall. It has lots of convenient parking and nice, comfortable interior. It has an attractive and extensive menu featuring all the dishes you would hope to find at a Vietnamese restaurant. Prices are comparable to other local Vietnamese restaurants. However, despite high hopes for this restaurant, my wife and I were shocked by the staff's rudeness. We arrived on a weekday for lunch. Three of us were seated at the table, but we only had two menus. We asked for, but never received a third menu. We asked twice for utensils and finally the waiter pointed at an adjacent table as he walked by telling us to get them for ourselves. When the waiter brought water to the table, my wife asked for a water without ice. The waiter returned with the original glass, minus the ice, and only half-full. Our waiter was Hispanic, so my wife couldn't order in her native Vietnamese. While ordering in English, the waiter told her to stop repeatedly because he couldn't understand her. He finally stopped, laughed and asked me, "Does she speak English or what?" I responded that she was speaking English. He rolled his eyes and made her repeat the order several times. He seemed to be trying to make her uncomfortable and told her to repeatedly point at the items on the menu! He repeated the table's order . . . none of us could understand what he said! I ordered a soda . . . it didn't come when the meal was brought to the table and I asked the waiter twice as he passed. A busboy eventually brought it out as we were finishing. My wife asked for a small, empty bowl. The waiter held his hand up to her face to gesture her to stop talking and asked me what she wanted. He didn't understand why she wanted one, asked for details on why and how it was going to be used and then refused! (Her daughter wanted to try some of her mother's Pho.) The busboy who overheard us apologetically brought one out soon after. As far as the food goes . . . we ordered spring rolls for an appetizer. What appeared to be imitation shrimp made these spring rolls no better or worse than what you would be served anywhere else. The peanut sauce was tasty. The quantity of meat/noodles in the Pho was good for the price; however, the broth was disappointing. My wife asked for a small plate of steamed spouts for her Pho. We didn't understand the waiter's response, but I am assuming he refused because we never received them. We requested the check twice. Luckily, the same busboy was aware of what was going on and brought the check. In short, our waiter was the greatest disappointment at this restaurant. His shocking behavior turned what would have been an average meal into a shocking experience that has become the subject of many conversations with friends and family. The Pho was not the worst I have eaten, but does not compete with other restaurants in the area. There are several excellent Vietnamese restaurants in Catonsville and the surrounding area (Pho Van and Pho Pasteur to name two), so we won't be returning to Pho 1 in the future. read more

This is an authentic Vietnamese spot. It's in the cut so if you're unfamiliar with it or Pho, you'll miss some of the best food in your life! I love the spring rolls in the clear rice paper vs the fried ones. Fried is so great but takes away from the fresh n clean feel of the spring rolls which come with fresh basil leaves, sprouts and nicely cooked shrimp along with peanut sauce. You can truly eat just one and be full for a while. Ordering is easy because of the numbering on the menu. I love the veggie Pho but not enough tofu so I'd recommend adding extra. I've gotten the chicken pad Thai there before and will never do it again but that's probably my mistake in the first place as I should've gone to a Thai place. Respect. But you'll never be disappointed in the Vietnamese foods offered here. Spacious and clean as well. read more

This is my first time here and I must say it's one of the best I've been too. I lived in Staten Island but moving to Maryland next month. I told my fiancé I've been dying to have Pho for a while so we went to some other restaurant and it was ok. The broth wasn't as tasty but it was still good. Saturday I told my fiancé I wanted Pho and he said let's try a different one. We decided to come to this one and I'm glad we did. Not only does this restaurant has tons of parking but the soup was to die for, at least it was to me. I will definitely come back here.. read more

Pho 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

Pho #1 is in fact #1! We've tried all the pho spots around town and always come back to the best and this place is it! The veggie tofu pho is loaded with veggies. The little mini corn is my favorite part. The spicy broth IS way spicy, even for me and that's saying something so be cautious when ordering it spicy unless you're feeling dangerous! The summer rolls are excellent, the fried alligator is surprisingly delicious! Give it a try! The staff is always friendly and courteous of any special requests. We will definitely be back and highly recommend! read more

10/10 recommend ! I love absolutely everything about this place. The pho, the service, the drinks, etc.

this is my favorite spot too go too in baltimore!! service is ok but the pho makes up for it , affordable and healthy

I came here at 9:09 I knocked on the door to come in to get food to go and a $500 gift card I was trying to buy and they decided that they were closed but yet the time says they close at 9:30 so I drove an hour to get here to get the gift card for $500 for the holidays I need it to get $500 in gift cards and I couldn't even get in they would not let me in Very disappointed with this place if you're trying to leave your house at 9 o'clock then you should probably go before 8 PM because they always close early read more

I only go here because it's the closest pho place to my school. If I had other options (like my usual Pho Real), I wouldn't be going here. The pho is mediocre, I can eat it, so it's whatevs. What drives me to hate this place is the owners. There are two men who are completely cold and snobby. If you the owners are reading this: take a tip. Don't yell at your new employees so harshly in front of customers. Learn some professionalism. And when people ask why is the pho taking so long, be polite! Don't need to shake your head and reply with an attitude. Anywho, they offer all different sorts of dishes that are pretty good from what I tried. I just wish their service didn't SUCK. read more

Really had high hopes for this restaurant. Service and atmosphere were great. The grape leaf wrapped beef appetizer was good. Then we ordered a large number 1 pho and were disappointed by how bland it was. The rice noodle with BBQ beef was delicious except the lettuce + basil leaf ratio was way off. read more

I had their iced vietnamese coffee. Can someone tell me if I was drinking sewer water? Pho was bland...and so greasy that your lips would be smacking on their oil. I could only finish few bites of it. read more

Great food and great service and fare price. No complaints and tolerance for children and always warm smiles. Pho is real

Food was ok but the staff is horrible!! My bill came out $15 but they charged me $25 on my card!! Stupid i will never go back again!! read more

Boo. Disappointed yet again by the lack of great Vietnamese food in Baltimore. Been here a few times and had good memories so headed back for some body-warming pho and was punished with burping up pho smell for the rest of the evening. Sorry to be so graphic. Despite the lackluster pho and egg rolls (where are the imperial rolls that other places have?), the Thai Iced Tea was amazing. Probably will look for another pho outlet instead of trekking back here. Update 1/21/09: Unfortunately, there are hardly any other places for pho in Bmore (I believe there are two: Baltimore Pho and Minato), so we ended up back here tonight. Satisfied though! I ordered pho #27 (bbq pork, crab, and shrimp pho with egg noodles) and the broth seemed to house less MSG than usual and the flavor was good. Best part: I didn't feel sick after I ate here, a very good sign. :) BTW, Tony R., I think this place must have on and off nights and I hope I stumbled on an off night when I had that awful experience at Pho #1. You must have lucked out on your visits, but I have to tell it like it is. No sugar coating it here. read more

Pho in a strip mall, why would I expect more than 2 stars. The food was decent but figuring out what I wanted was a bit of a task. The menu had pictures and some descriptions. When you're a pescatarian like me or have a dietary restriction, it's important to know what is in your food. My server seemed annoyed that I was asking what kind of broth was used. In fact I had to ask him to not rush my order. I was starved so I did eat all of my meal. I'm in no rush to return. read more

This restaurant serves an excellent delicious bowl of Pho tai. This is my third time here with my family, and I am so impressed with the hot savory beef broth, soft noodles, and the tender beef slices. My family likes to have our side plate of bean sprouts cooked (out of preference), and they were able to accommodate us with no problem. Besides pho, there is a huge variety of Vietnamese specialty dishes to choose from in the menu, with pictures along the side to give you a sneak peek of what the dish will look like. Super helpful if you are feeling like trying something else besides the Pho. My favorite second choice would be the Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio. The service is very friendly and welcoming, and if you go with someone who speaks Vietnamese, that's always a plus when ordering. The booths are quite spacious with plenty of seating available. If you are looking for a restaurant that knows how to make an authentic bowl of pho, this is hands-down my go-to place for dinner. Highly recommend! read more

Went here for the first time today. I ordered the pho ga. To be honest I didn't like how I got the ugly pieces of chicken lol. The chicken kinda had a strange taste. It just didn't sit right with me. The broth and noodles were good though! So were the spring rolls. I enjoyed eating those! Hated it when they were gone lol. The pricing of the meals were pretty fair. My meal was around $13.00. read more

I'm not sure why this place doesn't have better reviews. A few years ago, my buddies and I used to come once every other week months at a time. We took a hiatus, and started my pho infatuation again. 1) place is really clean 2) staff is friendly and efficient 3) fried spring rolls- crispy and tasty 4) salted fried shrimp- served with jalapenos/sauteed onions- perfectly crispy and head to tail edible. 5) pho 1- a true pho-natic understands the broth is the key. I find their blend of spices perfect. I'm sad by the mediocre reviews, but they will always be my favorite place in Baltimore (next to Mekong Delta) read more

My girlfriend introduced me to this place during my sophomore year in college. It was the first time I ever had Pho, and I loved it! We've since been back to this place countless times, and it's obvious from the other reviews that this place is definitely hit or miss. There are some nights that the soup is fantastic - sweet, salty, rich, plenty of noodles, tender meat, and piping hot. Other nights, the broth can be a bit bland, the meat can be mostly fat, and the noodles can be quite lacking. I will say that I've never left the place unhappy. The owner is very approachable and can always be seen behind the bar making drinks. I sometimes get his coconut boba tea drink, and it's great! I always make sure that he makes it, though. There is a mysterious closed off room in the back, and you can sometimes smell cigarette smoke, despite their efforts of concealing it. I'm not sure what is going on back there, but it always sounds like a party... The waitstaff is straight-forward - they come to take your order, they serve it to you, and they make sure to come back to refill your drinks. I can respect that. Anyway, overall the place can be hit-or-miss, but even on their off nights, it still tastes a lot better than the other restaurants around here. The prices have gone up, but it's still under $10 after tip for a bowl of their soup. read more

My favorite place to go to, Pho or otherwise. Exceptional service (maybe because I've been here like a hundred times). Pho is always great, beef broth/chicken broth or veggie broth. Smoothies are thick and delicious and filling. Coffee's great too. Is a hair pricier than other pho places, but I feel worth it. read more

We like this place for a cheap meal out. The soups are good and are the noodle or "bun" dishes. The menu is a little hard to understand by the staff is patient. The Thai Ice-T is worth the trip! read more

Pho 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

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Excellent pho noodle soup. Can be a little tough to spot from the outside, as it's in the corner of an outdoor shopping center. Seat is drab, but they have tables and booths and TV's overhead if watching the game is your thing. Our noodle soups were great. Appetizers of spring rolls and imperial rolls were tasty with plenty of dipping sauce. read more

They have vegetarian pho!!! Seriously, I think it's easier to find a unicorn than finding a good authentic place that has a fully veggie option. Too many places will call something a "Veggie Pho" but when you ask about the broth, its still the beef broth. This comes with vegetarian broth, lots of veggies, chunks of fried tofu and of course, the noodles. My fiance is Vietnamese and even he said the veggie broth has all the usual pho spice flavors just lacks the meatiness. The service is extremely fast. I'm taking off a star because there is not a single vegetarian appetizer. Sometimes watching my fiance munch away while we wait for our dinner gives me serious food envy. read more

Slightly weird smell but oh my god these egg rolls are my favorite. They're really flaky and crunchy. The sauce is amazing, and the pho has good portions with a good balanced broth. It's my fave pho place. Seriously though, try the egg rolls, but not the bubble tea read more

I've been coming here for a few years now, and it never fails to please. Their broth is sweet but salty, the veggies are always crisp and fresh, and the chicken wings are absolutely incredible (they're not on the menu, be sure to ask for them). The bartender always has new concoctions, but if you want to play it safe the shakes are always a win. The people are friendly, the service is quick, the food is exquisite, and I honestly can't find a single thing that I don't like about this place. Also, for the adventurous types, they have some more traditional (define: things we used to eat when we had NO options) fare such as blood and knuckles soup. Just sayin'... read more

It was delicious! Best pho in the area that I have had. I had the #15 and the meat was very well cut, and the broth was perfect. read more

Pho 1 - Number 15 - Vietnamese Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

O so I had an awful experience a couple nights ago at Pho Dat Thanh in Towson. Mann, the food here is definitely authentic. Its actually owned by a Vietnamese owner and has Vietnamese cooks. I did my research and Pho Dat Thanh in Towson, MD is owned by a Korean and has a Chinese lady owner and mexican cooks! aiyahhhh!!!! Anyway, this place is the place to go to for authentic PHO! Love it! and the Thai Ice Tea here is great! Ciao! read more

I had the Bun Bo Hue. It tasted great. The broth was very good; the meats were very good; the vegetables were very good.