I still love going to this place. We order to go and would split it into two bowls because their portion is out of control. I'm talking meat, veggies, and noodles. If you're a sauce fiend, buy your own. They don't give a lot of sauces. I usually don't use a lot of sauce but the people I go with do. Over 10 years later, it's still a good place to eat pho. Their regular bowl is an actual large to me. Their large is like an extra large and a half. I like the broth. Some places can't get the broth right so I would douse it with hoisin and sriracha. The broth here doesn't require any condiment. I have to add that I recently went here and portion has changed. This usually fills me up the whole day but it left me hungry 5-6 hours later. Small parking lot but still accessible. There's only one handicapped parking. It's very old school with the interior design. Service is quick but nice. Don't expect a lot of talking from them asking about your day. A lot of outsiders would not appreciate this place like I do. It's been a part of the east side community for 30 plus years. read more

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An elderly resident needed some food so I picked the closest restaurant. Pho 54 did not disappoint. As I waited for the order I was invited to sit and they brought me tea. The staff were so friendly and accommodating. The food looked amazing and I'm sure my resident will love her dinner this evening. I'm not very adventurous with food but based on how I was welcomed and how the food looked I will go back with my daughter and give it a whirl!! read more

One of my family members said this was the best pho in San Jose and I had to take him on this and come here myself. Most of the time, there's not too many places that fall short for a pho restaurant but I think Pho 54 did a little. It's 100% a hole in the wall restaurant so I was excited, the owners/staff were so sweet and gave us good service. As for the pho itself, I thought the broth was watery and really underwhelming. I'm not sure what it was besides this but I wasn't feeling it. Maybe it felt a little dirty inside too. Seems like it's very popular in the Vietnamese community here so I respect it! read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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The best dishes we've had here is pho and hủ tiếu thập cẩm. The food here is comforting and tasty. read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

IMHO I haven't been to Pho 54 for years even though it is in my neighborhood. We used to bring our kids here on a regular basis. Now they are adults with children of their own. Today my sister had a hankering for pho, and the first place we visited was closed due to running out of their soup base early. Then I remembered Pho 54, just down the street! The small parking lot was full, but I was lucky to snag a spot. I was happy to see familiar service faces when we walked in! I think my sister ordered Pho Chin, well-done brisket w/rice noodle, $15.50, and I ordered the Grilled pork served with baby rice (what's baby rice?) and salad, $15.95. Food came out promptly and looked delicious! It was very yummy, and we both got leftover containers to take home. My hubby was very happy to eat those leftovers! We will definitely return again soon! read more

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My family and I have been coming here since the early 2000s and still keep coming back. We always order to go as the portions are larger than eating at the restaurant. The pho broth always hit the spot and the amount of vegetables given to each order is MASSIVE. Only downside is they take Cash only. read more

I pulled up to pho 54 after a rave and this food seriously saved my life. The broth was so good, clean, flavor bowl, and not greasy at all. They hook you up with so much meat and give you really good portions. I was hung over and this cured me. The service was so quick and on point too as they filled up my waters and gave me tea. Even though this place was super packed they brought everything out fast and were super kind. Only thing to know is that they are cash only so make sure you come prepared with that. read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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Stopped by for lunch based on the Yelp reviews and was not disappointed! We tried the special beef noodle soup and the beef ball soup along with the imperial rolls with salad. The broth for the soups were tasty and we really appreciated both the serving size and the freshness of the vegetable ingredients that were provided for each dish. This is a no frills location with a "hole in the wall" vibe although it's actually quite large with a good number of available tables. Service was extremely friendly and efficient. Give it a try! read more

Pho 54 - Beef Ball Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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Truly the best pho that I have ever had (and I've had ALOT). My husband's an East Side SJ native so he's accustomed to great Viet food. And this is our spot every time we're in town. The broth is always flavorful and we never have to worry about it not hitting. Sure, the restaurant itself isn't fancy but I look forward to this place every time we're visiting. I don't get how there are reviews other than 4 and 5 stars ‍. read more

Pho 54 is hands down my favorite pho place in San Jose. It's a small family owned shop with limited parking but the food is fantastic. The service is quick and efficient and the quality of the food has remained consistent throughout the years. Pho 54 is my standard go a bowl of pho, nothing fancy, just a savory light broth loaded with protein. read more

Pho 54 - Pho tai chin nam gau regular size - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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The food is as good as i remembered when i was a kid. This restaurant used to be my families go-to spot for Pho. I recognized one of their employee that's Been working there for 25 years! Great server. The blood soup on the side which not a lot of restaurants have is what I've been searching for the longest time. It's crazy that going back to my families go-to spot after years and years they ended up having that blood soup. It's GOOD! I'll be back often for sure. Brings back a lot of memories. read more

Pho 54 - #1 regular with blood soup on the side - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Pho 54 is a hole in the wall establishment easily passed by because it's somewhat hidden unless you stumble upon it. It looks to be a family business. Inside and outside seating available for table service. Maybe it can accommodate a couple of 10+people in a party. I only got a drink, so take my review with a grain of salt. *Vietnamese Ice Coffee $6.80 - strong, bold, yet creamy and sweet enough. I didn't see any sign of it being cash only as this time I paid with cash. I'll be back to try their food next time. read more

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This is a quantity over quality type of Pho restaurant. The portions are huge. The food does taste good but if you're picky on quality you will see where the cut corners. Mainly lower quality meat and adding more msg than other Pho restaurants (most do it even if they say they dont lol). Everyone working there is nice and reminds me of grandma's house. They still serve free tea which is nice. The interior gives a 90's vibe. In summary, its truly a budget oriented Pho restaurant. read more

The place is not fancy but serves great Vietnamese cuisine particularly Pho and Noodle dishes. Prices are fair and staff were efficient. The place was clean during my visit. Parking can be a bit of a challenge during busy hours. read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

I came here with my mom, SO, and baby. As soon as we walked in, an employee asked if we wanted to sit in the corner furthest from the door "to keep baby warm" from the draft of the front door. I thought that was really nice of them to think about that cause I didn't! Now onto the important part--the pho! We all ordered different pho's and we all enjoyed it. Did we think it was the best pho ever? No. But it definitely satisfied our pho cravings. I did feel insanely thirsty after the meal but it was worth it. My mom says that their regular bowl of pho is a dollar cheaper at their other location lol They give you a huge plate of veggies, which I feel is rare these days. We got a few orders of com tam for the road and although it didn't look like much at first glance, the portions were great! I would definitely order again. One of the employees was taking their lunch break at a table next to us and despite her being on break, she still helped us when my mom kept asking her questions. (facepalm) Sorry to that employee! Don't forget-- it's cash only! read more

Pho 54 - Regular Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Pho 54 is a San Jose staple and overall a gem in the Vietnamese community. Eating pho here means curing your weekend hangovers, mending that broken heart of yours, or it just feels like an everlasting comfort as if you're in the arms of your grandma. The broth is rich and full of flavor and they give a great portion too!! I couldn't even finish a regular but then again I am pretty small. All in all this is the place to go to when you're craving a place that reminds you of being at home or just simply I just feel like having some pho. & also the staff is very accommodating & is really interactive with their customers Huge plus read more

Pho 54 - my son loves it here - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

The only pho place I've been to that has ngo gai (culantro). They give a lot of veggies. Came with my mom and bf and we all enjoyed our pho. Viet moms are picky iykyk lol and my mom liked it so def will put on my return list. Flavor, portion sizes and price were right. Service was quick. Laid back ambiance. Will be back if I'm back in SJ and craving pho again or to try their other dishes. Also cash only! read more

Pho 54 - Top right is #1, bottom is #2 and a heaping plate of veggies! Including culantro! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Best pho in San Jose. No debate. Pho 54 nails everything that matters. The broth is deeply flavorful and loaded with a proper mix of meats--tripe, tendon, flank, and brisket--exactly how pho should be done. Service is consistently great, fast, and efficient. Pro tip: get extra white onion--it makes the bowl even better. Another big plus: they serve beer. We always get Heineken, and it comes in an ice-cold frosty glass, which pairs perfectly with a hot bowl of pho. The egg rolls are solid, prices are very affordable, and they now take credit cards (used to be cash-only). Simple, no frills, and executed extremely well. If you're serious about pho in San Jose, this is the spot. read more

As some have already mentioned, a downer is this place is cash only. It's located in a small strip mall with three other tenants but there's ample parking. There's limited varieties and minimal appetizers. We tried their friend spring rolls, and the spring rolls shell were cracked (almost felt as if it was previously fried and then re-fried when you order). The Pho soup was pipping hot with plenty of condiments. One annoyance was lot of flies that want to share our food. read more

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I placed my order over the phone. The food was fine, but the woman who took my order got my order wrong--though it wasn't a big deal.

Always been and always will be my favorite pho place in san jose. Flavor portion and price is unmatched.

Ordered the pho dac biet, and the broth was flavorful. Meat portion was decent, though I would have liked a bit more. Wish they included meatballs and tendons. They served plenty of side vegetables and hot tea. The customer service was friendly, and the bathroom was clean. The restaurant itself was well-maintained, however the ceiling vents are dusty. Parking is limited and cramped, which can be a hassle. Cash only!! read more

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The pho does have a lot of msg and it broth itself is bland..services was nice and those old people been working there forever. The dining area is very dirty...I believe it's time for a remodel at least? read more

Tonight, I felt like doing some Phở Bò. But not just any Phở, I'm here at Phở 54 in the South Bay Area tonight. This is a No-frills type of spot, but it goes back to basics, and more traditional. Nothing is like a Classic Phở Tái Nạm Gầu Gân. This place takes me back to like '96, it's been here forever. This is perfect on a cold day. It was better than expected. It arrived scorching hot. The broth was deep, clean, and flavorful. I was thinking this was going to be a 3.9-4.3 stars, but I give this 4.3 stars. I had a lot of Phở in my days, and this is really up there. read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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Things went back to the way it was again and I hope it stays that way from my last review. Been coming to pho 54 because they keep it like it was 15 plus years. Well ballon service is gone lol. The sauce bottle are still out not like the other shops that decided to small container it when you order your bowls. The price is still low compared to all the other ones charging 18-20 for their bowls. If pho hits $20, I'm eating at home but don't because Pho 54 got you. read more

Pho 54 - Number 1 combo with beef balsa added - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Thanks to my boyfriend's friend, we had some of the crispest, most pristine bowl of pho ever! The soup is clear yet hearty and flavorful, and the amount of meat they provide is GENEROUS! You can expect to walk out with a full belly! The service is also very quick, we ordered and barely waited until the bowls came out. I recommend everyone order a small bowl because the large is an absolute Olympic swimming pool. You'll probably end up rolling out of the joint. There are plenty of seats so it would be nice to go with a large group, no problem. read more

Pho 54 - #12 small - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

This place has been around for quite a while and I've been going since the early 90's. It's gone through a bunch of management changes but the flavor remains authentically Vietnamese. The broth is very good and is not overly flavored with MSG. I know this because I get very thirsty when they add too much MSG. All good Pho will have some degree of MSG in it if it is authentically Vietnamese. The service is typical of any authentic Vietnamese Pho Restaurant. If you want decor and ambience, don't expect to get it here. If you want a n above average bowl of beef pand chicken pho, come here. Having said that, the aunts and uncles that were running the restaurant were above average in terms of service. The service might be due to the fact that we came here at 230PM on December 24, 2025, and the crowd has died down. Local customers seemed to still trickle in while we were there dining. We had the Pho Ga here as well. The broth is clean and flavorful. They did a really good job of making the broth. I would say that it is above average even better than the restaurants that specialize in Pho Ga like Pho Ga Nha. The Bun Cha gio is decent but nothing to rave about so average for the dish, but what do I expect from a place that is named Pho 54. Overall, I had a good experience and would recommend this restaurant for their Beef and Chicken Pho. You won't be disappointed in my opinion if you stick to the Pho. read more

My go to spot for pho. Food is consistent and service is fast. Broth is flavorful and doesn't taste bland like how other pho places have become. They always give plenty of veggies. What stands out for me is they have meat blood cooked in the broth. I usually order an egg yolk along with the cooked blood broth. All the workers here are nice so I hope they do get to keep their tips. Ambience is pretty normal. No music or anything there. read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Terrible pho in town. Worst pho in the Bay area. They only accept CASH to avoid tax. It is an illegal business. The lady owner is impolite and rude. She never respects clients. Table, floor, spoons, cups... everything in this restaurant are dirty and old. The soup is not hot and very terrible. The parking lot has only a few spots. Please do not come here. Ghetto and terrible read more

Top pho in San Jose period. Broth is thin, well balanced with a beautiful aroma. None of that sweet, overly clove cinnamon flavor. Perfect amount of noodles, quality meat and a few spoonfuls of nauc beo adds the perfect amount of silky onion mouthfeel. Will always be back. read more

Pho 54 - Restaurant front - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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I am a pho snob and as of the last couple of years have tried higher end or fusion pho places (ie. Gao Viet, Pho Hanoi, Cowboy Pho). This place is the exact opposite of Cowboy pho. Everything here is traditional and a pho purist's dream pho. The pho both is on the lighter side. It's clear in appearance without the richness of some of those others I mentioned. The meat and noodle proportions are just right. I love how the large is served on a really large bowl unlike pho Hanoi who lately has felt like their bowls shrunk. I'm discovering myself to be less of a traditionalist, but if you're into the classic pho comfort food this is surely the place. read more

Pho 54 - #1 large is bigger than it appears here is very good pho for $16 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Classic pho place that is cash only (bank next door if you need an atm). Ordered the number 1 and god a large filling bowl with lots of meat and veggies. Good broth and clear flavors. There was a bit more tripe than I'd prefer and service was a bit slower than I expected. Otherwise really solid pho place with good options and filling comfort food. read more

Pho 54 - Number 1 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Very bad i can't chew chicken Egg noodle soup is not cook yet can't even chew Taste very bad read more

I went this morning place was clean as always everyone is so friendly ready to make your tummy and you feel like very well taken care of I had a large bowl of tendon with beef my son had the beef flank and another type of meat and as always they give you lots of both meats and the broth is sooo delicious I make pho from scratch I have the authentic receoie but when I don't want to wait hours for the process of home cooking here we are Thiers few pho spots I frequent and this spot never fails I was thier today fir breakfast soooo filling as people starting comming in my son and I were on our way out ‼ read more

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I've heard great things about Phở 54 through word of mouth so I was excited to try it for the very first time last Saturday. I ordered a regular phở tái nạm sách for $14. The broth was very hearty and flavorful. The meat was very tender and they don't skimp on portions. The noodles were great. I was so full after finishing my bowl. I'm Vietnamese American so I've eaten at a good amount of phở restaurants over the years. I appreciate the fact that Phở 54 serves sawtooth herb with the garnishes, onions in the fatty broth, and hot tea for free. Not all phở restaurants do that. I was pleasantly surprised to see how clean the bathroom was. It looked like someone's home bathroom. Overall, I had no major complaints with my meal. The only gripe was that there was a fly hovering around our table, which was annoying, but didn't take away from how good the meal was. I would definitely come back! read more

Pho 54 - Phở tai nạm sách - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Food and services were excellent!! Had my 2yr old with me and they knew exactly what to do haha !! They gave us balloons and provided the right silverware for here (small bowl , plastic utensils, and scissors to cut the noodles ) definitely recommend:) read more

Food was great, the Service was excellent. Definitely coming back to try some more. The restaurant make you feel at home.

This place is CASH ONLY but it's one of the best places for noodle soup in the South Bay. I would even go as far as to say it's currently THE BEST imo. I can't even name a place that comes close at the moment. I tried their pho and I was blown away. It's a clear soup but so hearty and FULL OF FLAVOR. It's the type of soup to heal your sickness or hangover. They also do not skimp out on the meat. The quality of meat here is good too. They pack your bowl with noodles, meat and soup. LITERALLY THE MOST PERFECT BOWL OF PHO imo. My favorite is number 34) Mi Thap Cam (shrimp, pork, and squid with yellow noodles). The soup just hits the spot EVERY single time. Again packed with so much flavor. I love that they give you enough to definitely feel full. For both of these in the large size was about $35. Such a good deal for such a wonderful bowl of soup. It really feels like the food here was made with love and they care about how much the customer enjoys it. Service here is so nice too. I got my food to go and they brought me an iced tea to sip on while I was waiting. Will definitely be back as the food is so good! read more

This place in my opinion got better. It was always a bay area staple for those that know Eastside SJ. Recently i had a craving for pho somewhere i havent been in a long time. The lot was a MESS. looks like they were working on fixing piping or something but that didn't deter me from a soul-healing bowl. I get Dac Biet of course and the broth JUST INSTANTLY HIT THE SPOT. You ever tasted something and just started unconsciously smiling? yeaaa.... that happened.. The pho here today was amazing and to be honest I really enjoyed the hospitality of the server. If you seen my old post about here, PROPS TO BEAN SPROUT LADY! YOU REALLY BE OUT HERE ALL DAY!!!!!! ITS BEEN 13 YEARS SINCE MY FIRST POST!!! The one gripe I still have about Pho 54 is they STILL haven't switched from Cash only. I mean its 2023 guys.. Almost all the other restaurants that I love that were cash only have switched! The server was telling me there is still a lot of places that do cash only. Either Im looking in the wrong places or blind because it really takes me effort to actually FIND a cash only place to try to align with what the server said.. I mean to each their own and i respect your decisions, but at 2023- put a Venmo QR up AT LEAST. Luckily i was able to Venmo the server directly. But not going to lie, the cash only realization mid-meal really diminished the experience. The fact that they are Cash Only is really the only thing that had kept me from the past of consistently coming here. I liked it then, I'm loving it more now, but I just simply don't like carrying cash and wont change that for the 1 restaurant that does cash only. I am BEGGING this place to at least make Venmo a valid payment method; I SO WANT TO COME BACK HERE OFTEN. I will be patiently waiting for the day they start taking cards/ Venmo on the regular. This will be the day I become a regular. 3 stars for great food, 1 star bean sprout gang. read more

One of the best pho places in the Bay Area! The service was prompt and friendly. The broth was rich, fragrant, and clearly simmered to perfection. The noodles were cooked just right and generous portions of meat. The best part was the plate of veggies- they give you an enormous portion so there's plenty of veggies to go around for each bowl of pho. I've been searching for an OG pho place and Pho 54 is the winner! They do not take credit card, so bring cash! Will definitely be back! read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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