I've heard many great things about pho 54 so I gave it a try the other day. My food arrived quickly and it was accompanied with a large helping of mint, bean sprouts, and lemon slices. The pho itself was delicious! The broth was just right. The noodles weren't overly squishy like at some other places . The pieces of beef were so tender yet flavorful. Pho 54 isn't in the most glamorous area but the pho is worth it! read more

Pho 54 - #17 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

I don't know how Pho 54 still has customers because everything is wrong with this place. I used to like pho here but I hadn't visited for 2 years. I took my family here last week and it was a really bad experience. The pho itself was tasteless. Their cook either overly waters down the broth or lost their taste buds after covid. I had to add three spoonfuls of hoisin sauce and Sriracha but still couldn't taste the spices signature of pho. Also, the rare beef was overcooked and chewy. My mom ordered Hu tieu kho and its dipping sauce tasted like a bowl of sugar water. To add insult to injury, their customer service was non-existent. We didn't order tea but they brought us a pot of tea with 4 cups so we assumed they do that for every table. Then they charged $4 for the tea. Mind you, it was over 80f that day so we totally didn't need the hot tea at all. Also, my mom asked the owner lady for a small bowl of extra hu tieu broth and she straight up asked us "if you want broth why did you order dried hu tieu then?". My mom had to explain to that lady that the dried hu tieu was so sugary that she had to add broth. I have never seen any restaurant owner as hostile to customers as this lady. And she's mean to her staff as well. We sat really far away from the kitchen but could hear the owner yelling at her staff in there. Having worked in food service myself, I really don't want to talk badly about restaurants because I understand food service is very hard work. However, this place is not worth the headache and money. If you really hate pho and want to experience some top-notch rudeness, Pho 54 is the place for you. read more

Food is and always on par, service is awesome, greet you at the door seat you and before you know it tea is at your table. You don't have to wait long before you hot Pho and all the trimmings are at the table. You have indoor and outdoor seating and it's wide open and friendly inside. read more

We have visited this place a number of times over the last 20 years. Although ambience doesn't lend much to a quality establishment, they serve some of the very best Pho in the valley. There are only two or three other places that can compete with great food and true old school Vietnamese service. They are one of the few places to serve culantro as a part of their pho garnishment greens. Delicious! read more

Super delicious food every single time. Just don't look at the floor. It needs to be mopped or cleaned more often. Otherwise, staff and food are always consistent. Will definitely be back again soon. read more

Great, delicious feel-good Pho. The egg rolls were surprisingly delicious as well. My friend wanted to order chilli oil but our server said there wasn't any, although I had seen on one of the reviews here that someone had ordered chilli oil, but I digress. Workers were nice. read more

Pho 54 - Egg Rolls with Salad - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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You gotta stop here for the pho. Dine in is available. Highly recommend to try it all. One of the best broth out there and you get free tea read more

Pho 54 - Pho was amazing - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Went in today to grab some Pho to go since I was feeling under the weather. Everyone was really nice and they offered tea while we waited. Our soups came out quick. Friendly service! read more

CASH ONLY! extremely worth it, food taste very authentic. This place has been around for years, it definitely has that homey ambiance to it. I had the number 12 and let me tell you they are very generous with the portion, so you get your money's worth! Staff is very friendly, will be coming back soon :) read more

Food : B+ Service : A- Ambience : C Parking : F Again, the food was good and my order came out accordingly and promptly. This place is a great hole-in-a-wall place and so food quality is above average however you don't expect top-notch ambience in the place. Anyhow, moving on the parking situation. I went to this restaurant on 1/22/2022 at 7 pm-ish and so it was dark. When I parked my car and was ready to get out of my car and then there was a guy with a baseball hat, coming to my car, and started knocking on my side window. I thought he was a crook, trying to rob me or something. Again, it's freaking dark outside and there is a Citi bank next to Pho 54. I was somewhat scared. I rolled down my window a bit and I looked at him. He asked me where I am going, of course, without introducing himself. I told him I'm going to Pho 54. He then said he is just looking for parking-spot-thief who is not supposed to park at Pho 54's. He walked away. Wow, how un-nice he is. Whatever. I went into the shop and enjoyed my meal and paid my due and I got into my car. I turned on my engine and was putting my next destination on my phone. And guess what? The same guy with the baseball hat approached my car again. And sure enough, he knocked on my side window. Ok, so I wondered what he wanted this time. He said 'Where are you going?' I said to myself 'Is this some sort of a joke?' Anyhow I said 'Sir, you asked me 20 minutes ago. I finished my meal at Pho 54 and now I'm going home' I bet he felt stupid because I could tell that he remembered my face. There wasn't any apologies. He just walked away. So basically he thought I just got there. Still, I was pissed. Am I obligated to disclose where the hell I'm going after the restaurant? The most interesting thing is he only manages 6 to 7 parking spots and he still had to ask twice for the same customer. I thought I was watching 'Finding Dory'. You know what? Maybe I'm just having a bad day or maybe it was the 1st day of his job. Anyhow I had to look like a parking spot thief twice in a day for Pho 54 and it made me feel like I wouldn't want to go back there. read more

This has been my local go to pho spot since moving to San Jose. The first thing I'll mention is that their portions are huge. They are very generous with the amount of meat and noodles that they put into every bowl of pho. I just got back from eating there. We started with some Vietnamese egg rolls. The egg rolls come out piping hot and I love that they included the veggies on the side. That way you can roll them up in the lettuce. Tonight, I had the steak and tendons. In addition, I added beef balls to my order. I will say that the tendons here are cooked perfectly. They have the perfect amount of chew and will melt in your mouth at the same time. The employees are all very kind and they are very quick bringing out food. I think we spent a total of 30 minutes there. Now that indoor dining has resumed, bring a sweater or jacket as it can be quite chilly. I highly recommend this restaurant if you want a solid pho. They are a no-frills kind of restaurant. They don't add crazy ingredients to stand out from the rest. It's a really good basic bowl of pho. read more

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This place have horrible services waiter just don't come and take your order and I have to go to the counter and order my order. P Food was okay and waiter was borrible read more

Pho 54 has been my favorite Vietnamese restaurant for over 10 years. I've eaten a number of dishes on the menu, all were very good. But, 95% of the time, I order the No. 1 Pho. The regular size is just right for me, although I've ordered the large when I've been really hungry. Even then, I can barely finish it. Both sizes are equally good. The most important component of any Pho, regardless of the style/regional type is, of course, the broth/soup. In my opinion, the broth is among the best I've ever eaten. Well-balanced with a marvelous synergy that is developed by the correct proportion of the traditional ingredients that creates a truly delicious Pho. The aromatic vegetables that accompany the Pho are always fresh. The mung bean sprouts and generous sprigs of holy basil are invariably excellent, the saw-toothed cilantro (a nice variation from the usual variety) has a slightly bitter but pleasant flavor. The vegetable plate includes good amounts of lime slices, and jalapeños. The wait-staff will bring additional lime and peppers at your request. The service is always good, even when the restaurant is busy. I've never waited more than a reasonable 10 minutes for my food. Refills of drinks, tea, cafe-sua-da, beer, and others arrive promptly after request. The interior of the restaurant, though plain and functional, is always clean. The atmosphere ranges from pleasant to noisily jovial. There is always sufficient staff to meet customer requests at any time before, during, and after your meal. Always bring cash, the restaurant doesn't accept checks or credit cards. Enjoy! read more

The fam and me been going here for years. Best pho ga aka chicken pho in SJ! They pack the bowl up huge. Like so much food. It's good here. One of my fav soups for pho. I love it. Good service and food always good. One of the more authentic Vietnamese spots in SJ. On the East Side too; that's definitely a sign it's gona be good. Highly recommend for all the pho lovers! Check them out! read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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Came by for breakfast the other day and it reminded me of Vietnam with a decrepit parking lot and a super warm restaurant with a couple fans. I was seated upon arrival and ordered #1 regular with the steak on the side. As others have pointed out, their broth is very clean...bland too in my opinion. ... previously their #1 I thought came with beef balls...but not today. Portion size was decent but eating wearing my long sleeve shirt made it quite difficult... The iced coffee with condensed milk was delicious and probably the highlight of the meal. Staff was friendly. They are cash only and hand write their receipts. ...I'm pretty sure I got undercharged... $13.75 after tax and gratuity. read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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I have no clue why I find myself still coming to Pho 54... I kick myself in the behind each and every time I make this dreadful decision. Anyone who knows wassap with a good bowl of pho will tell you that it all starts with a delicious, hearty broth. This is something Pho 54 can't deliver on. Although this pho location used to be my all time favorite location to satisfy my Vietnamese noodle soup cravings, within the past few years the quality and taste has taken a dive. The broth is not what it used to be- very lacking in what normally used to be complex flavoring. Without the hoisin and sriracha condiments, the soup is bland and unappealing. One added star simply because the customer service is usually pretty good. The workers will offer you iced tea or water as you sit waiting for your togo order to be assembled. Take my advice and spare yourself from eating mediocre noodle soup by heading to one of the many pho location that San Jose has to offer. read more

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This has been my goto place for the longest time. My friends have been coming here for years and introduced me a while back. For my opinion this is the best Pho place you can get your money's worth. It's cheap, consistent, fast, and tasty. There's nothing fancy about decor, you come here to fill your stomach. Especially with covid, the staff take their time cleaning the table and the utensils. The saricha and hoisin sauce bottles are clean and you can tell by the nozzles. Some places don't care and there's build up. You can tell difference between this restaurant and others that take the time to clean. The side dish of vegetable for the Pho is very very fresh and plentiful. I never had no complaints about the staff and they are always helpful. You see all types of people walk into this business from white and blue collar. All the ethnicity walk into that door because they know where good food is. read more

It's so nice to be home for a little bit and to be eating at the pho I grew up on. Having moved away from the Bay Area and coming back, I realize how special Pho 54 is. In Hawaii, I end up paying over $20 + tip for a bowl of pho, and that doesn't even come dac biet with all the tendon, tripe, flank, etc. Here, the pho is a steal for the price. Now I'm back and am so grateful. Don't take your pho for granted, ya'll! read more

I've been going here since I was a child. The pho is solid but the service is pretty crappy which has been a deterrent of my visits. The portions here are pretty big. So if you are ordering the XL bowl, be prepare to unbutton your pants to make room for all that noodles. Their bun thit nuong is also one of my favorite, the noodles to meat to veggies ratio is perfect. And not to mention, the meat is pretty tender and not dry. Again, food is solid it's just their service that semi-sucks. read more

Pho 54 - The XL pho bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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I'm sickened by what just happened. My family haven't been back here for 5+ years and decided to go back for a visit. We came for dinner on a Saturday night at 7:30pm. The waiter (an older gentleman) took our order and sounded off since the start. My mother asked for a togo container since the store was closing soon, the waiter did not reply to acknowledge, so my mom kindly asked him again since she thought he didn't hear her since she was wearing a facemask. The waiter yelled at her "Ok got it!" as he yanked the menu from her hand. We are proud Vietnamese Americans who grow up very traditionally and respect our elders...so I did not tell the waiter off although I really wanted to! We got up and left. I told the manager what had happened, and he didn't seem to care and asked "ok so you want to cancel the orders?" Never again. read more

Pho is not exactly rare in San Jose. I'd bet a bowl of pho that if you look search for a pho shop in SJ, you'll find one within a mile radius regardless of where you are. However, not all soups are created equal. Given the high quantity of shops here, it's safe to say that the bar for quality pho is pretty high. That begs the question; does Pho 54 meet that standard, or does it fall short, like an Olympic high jumper tumbling to the ground? The short answer is yes, but it's not breaking any records in doing so. The service is amiable. Every time I've come here, the staff is cordial with smiles on their faces. I don't come to Pho restaurants for service, but I thought it was worth mentioning. Your money is going to good people. Speaking of good, Pho 54 is good. It won't blow your mind, but if you want a quality bowl of pho at a decent price, then by all means, come here. I had a #3, which comes with well done flank, brisket, and tendon. The brisket and flank were tender with a good bit of flavor. The tendon was just the right amount of softness. Some places have tendon that feel like chunks of half solidified lard in your mouth, but you won't have anything like that here. Now, I'm giving 4 stars because while I think this is a respectable pho joint, it doesn't go beyond what I expected. This doesn't mean the place is bad. I've come here more times than I've been to any other pho restaurant. Having said that, I expect more from a 5 star Pho restaurant given the inundation of pho shops that characterize SJ. Maybe I'm chasing ghosts, because I haven't found a 5 star yet. But until I do, I will continue coming back to Pho 54 for a taste of home. read more

I remember hearing that this place was good, but having ordered it togo, it definitely isn't worth coming here. The broth tastes like none of the aromatics just beef fat. read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Mixed reviews about this place. Coming from Southern California I haven't really found many good Vietnamese places that live up to my expectations. I thought the pho broth wasn't as bold and flavorful as I'm used to but I wonder if I went on an off day since there are so many glowing reviews. It's rare to find a pho place offers saw tooth mint for pho and broken rice in the com tam so this place is pretty legit. The large pho was actually huge so we had leftovers to take home. The com tam thit nuong which is pork with baby rice was cooked well and flavorful. I didn't care too much for the egg rolls but appreciated that it was served with fish sauce dipping sauce, lettuce and cucumbers. I can't put my finger on it but it seemed to be missing something flavorwise. Might come back if in the area as it was a good bang for your buck wouldn't seek this place out. read more

This place has gone downhill since the passing of the original owner. The restaurant is dirty, the tables are dilapidated, the overall condition of this restaurant has seen better days since I was a kid going here. This used to be my absolute favorite place, but that has since changed. The removed a ton of items off the menu. They no longer serve a full traditional Vietnamese fare. There are no more spring rolls, no rice plates, just Pho. I understand that this is indeed a Pho place. But it being dedicated to only pho, you'd expect it to be a lot better. When you get your bowl of pho, it's small, even for a large. You get barely any noodles and barely any meat. The only generous thing is the side plate of veggies they give you. It's a complete shame that this restaurant is only a shadow of its former self. I'm disappointed in you, Pho 54. read more

One of the best pho restaurants around San Jose. I have been going here as a kid and the taste doesn't change over the year. Fast service and nice staff members. Similar to any viet restaurant, the ambiance is nice not a lot of decor read more

this will always be my go to pho spot in ESSJ. it's great quantity for price. cash only. parking is small lot FYI

My grandpa used to be a regular before he got dementia. I vet on behalf of him. 10/10 for price.

I came here for lunch. It was my first time here to Pho 54. I was excited since my co-hort picked this place who comes here on a regular basis. When the Pho came out, it was pipeing hot. I immediately noticed how clean the broth was. After adding an assortment of veggie, it was time to taste the broth, wow, it was good and tasty. Noodles were on point. I usually get the regular size, but I wish I gotten the large, thats how good it was. The meat was pretty good quality and the brisket was nice and tender. I'm pretry picky when it comes to Oho. Pho 54 is one of the few places I will go eat Pho at. read more

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Like they say, if a restaurant isn't dirty with rats or flies flying around then it must not be authentic. As delicious as my bowl of pho was, it was hard to enjoy it while fighting off the flies who also wanted a taste of my pho. You really get a bang for your buck here, a small is $9.60 and it was huuge. Despite its small and ugly restaurant and awkwardly designed parking lot, this place is one of a few authentic pho places in the bay. Tip: Eating in is a lot better than taking out. My take out order for my dad had barely any broth in it. read more

Really delicious. If you got a porkchop over rice craving. A pho craving. An egg roll craving. Just come through here. The porkchop was juicy and the pho was huge. Yuggeeeeeeee. Expect a pho place service. If that makes sense lol. Overall: will return from Vietnamese lunch read more

Pho 54 - Pork chop plate - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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This place never fails to serve you, meals are always on point to what I want. If they see hair or a fly that fell into your food, they will immediately replace it for you. The staff here has been here for a long time and I appreciate their hospitality. Parking sometimes gets full but that depends on what time you show up. read more

Their pho used to be really good but I recently went back and it tasted different. Service was fast though. Lots of parking.

I have been going to this pho spot for DECADES! Now that I've moved very close to this place, I'm usually coming here every week, when I'm feeling a little under the weather or hung over. I swear, this place is my cure. The main reason why I love coming here is, the food is perfect every time! I always get a ton of meat, never skimpy at all! The service is truly fast also! Majority of the pho spots now a days are very overpriced, especially for combination bowls, they range about $10-$15, but here it's so cheap and worth the price! I definitely recommend coming here! read more

My friends would say this is one of the OG pho houses of SJ, I've always had a good bowl of soup here and the son of the business is always good with the service. One thing you'll notice is the amount of fresh ac·cou·tre·ment ouii. (basil, sprouts and limes) they give you here. Not sure if you love adding as much fresh herbs and citrus to your pho as my friends and I do, but this is one thing i love about this place. Not sure if its on the menu or if we ask for it from the server but I always go with the Tai, Chin, Nam bowl here. Noodles always seem to have good texture when served. Their broth is also very flavorful from the times i've gone. One of my friends has had a hit or miss experience with their broth though, but they tend to end up coming back here. This spot def ranks in my top 5 pho spots of san jose, and SJ has the best pho spots in the bay area. read more

Great Pho! We chose #1 choice (I forgot its name; it's the store special one). The serving is quite generous. Everything looks and feels clean. Remember to bring cash! read more

Not good.PHO..bad waiter....so grumpy....The cooked meat was old..The owner should try out the food to see the quality before serving to customer. read more

**Cash Only** Large dining room with high ceilings, and cafeteria style tables and chairs. The waiter puts down the menu at your table and then immediately pulls out his order pad and asks if you're ready to order. OK, things are starting out good with authentic décor and service ;-) I got the #2, no cilantro, rare steak on the side. #2 has all the goodies you want in your pho (tendon / tripe) sans beef balls. Less than a minute after ordering I got a heaping pile of herbs on the condiment plate which turned out to be a waste of good ngò gai' (sawtooth herb which tastes like cilantro (soapy) to me and is not often provided http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pho-54-san-jose?select=mipLW5Tex4zN992Hz8nduQ#mipLW5Tex4zN992Hz8nduQ). 30 seconds later my bowl of pho arrives. Oddly there was a sprinkle of pepper flakes that I don't see in other pictures (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pho-54-san-jose?select=mipLW5Tex4zN992Hz8nduQ#EM6VRa4LHZtA8hzJ7ca2MA) along with five thicker than typical slices of rare steak that was more marbled than most (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pho-54-san-jose?select=mipLW5Tex4zN992Hz8nduQ#GnawBcTfJNmgyI1webHpqA) The rare steak was the one protein I didn't enjoy as it was chewy and tough. Generous amount of the cooked beef, tendon and tripe. Pepper flakes aside, the broth was beefy, but it was also heavy on the MSG. My mouth got cottony after about 1/4 of the bowl and I only finished 1/2 the soup. I ended up with a pounding MSG headache while driving home after dinner. read more

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I came here for lunch with a group of friends, and it was super packed. We had to wait a few minutes before we got seated. We had to put down our name on the clipboard and wait for a table to clear up. I noticed a line constantly forming out the door, too. I ordered the regular Pho #1, which had tendon, tripe, flank steak, and rare steak. The service was pretty fast. We got our food within 5 minutes. The pho was very tasty! The broth was flavorful and the noodles had a nice chewy consistency. There wasn't a lot of meat toppings though. I think there was only 2 pieces of each type. Overall, Pho 54 has really good pho. The portion size is a bit smaller than other locations. I wish there were more meat toppings in the pho. The parking lot is kind of small, too. read more

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

I had a great time eating here with my friend. The pho tasted very good and is really high quality. The waiter was very kind to us as well. I highly recommend everyone to come eat here sometime for some delicious pho. read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

As much as I want to hate on Pho 54 because they gave me a fork and gave my Asian friend chop sticks...I can't , cause their pho was pretty good. But seriously, who the hell do I look like using a fork in a Vietnamese restaurant. It's not their fault though..they don't know me. I'll let it slide this time lol read more

Pho 54 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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