If it wasn't obvious from my picture, I am half Vietnamese and grew up in a heavily dominated Vietnamese community back in SoCal. I know my pho; pho broth literally runs through my body and I know how it should taste and what to expect. If I am just comparing it against the many other Viet restaurants in/around RVA, it's one that I probably won't go back to.. For their Pho, it ranks pretty low. I got the Super Bowl of Pho with beef brisket, flank steak, beef tripe and beef tendon. Take your normal size portion of pho and add another large bowl of pho to that and you get this behemoth serving of Pho (I was really hungry). Bowl came out piping hot and there were plenty of noodles; way more noodles than the amount of meat. Broth was a little on the bland side and I had to add quite a bit of Sirracha and Hoison sauce to it. I finished about 95% of it and was xtremely full and didn't want any of it to go to waste. Floors and tables appeared and felt a little sticky.. I don't think the Heat was on either as it was a little chilly in there when I arrived around 12.30. Service was pretty good even though there was only one waitress for the whole place. As for the atmosphere/decor it seemed outdated and not very welcoming. I'll stick to Vietnam one as my go to place from now on. read more

I crave a great many things in life. Food is usually number one on this list, leaving little room for much else. When I decided to pack up my city life and move to Virginia I was deeply concerned that satisfying a craving for pho would necessitate a plane ride back to my beloved San Francisco (yeah yeah, I know, I'm an obnoxious brat. It's unavoidable, my apologies). I went to Mekong. Meh. I went to a pitiable excuse for a Vietnamese restaurant on Grace. Double Meh. But then I stumbled upon pho 79 and my dreams, along with my cravings, were realized! Brothy heaven, I tell you. Brothy heaven. It may be out in the middle of nowhere but sack up and take a trek out to pho 79. It's a lot cheaper than a trip back to San Francisco. Hey! That should be their tagline...but I digress. I'd give this diamond in the rough 5 stars, but that's a big statement. Four stars is mighty and well deserved. In conclusion, it may be trite, it may be uncouth, but it's mostly just appropriate: this place is pho-king good! read more

Pho 79 - Vietnamese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This little place is easy to pass by. It doesn't look great and the inside is aged a bit and rough. But the food. The food is so tasty and quick. The staff is very nice and will walk you through add ons and other things. A while back before covid I had bronchitis and was feeling rough. Guy suggested not just the pho-ga (chicken soup) but they could jazz it up a bit. I had a bowl and felt better the steam and flavor was relaxing. He sent me out with a container of broth. Been going there over 5 years and they are still good and have been working through covid as best they can. read more

I recognized the Pho '79 name on Yelp from a same-named restaurant in Virginia Beach, where I lost my pho virginity. I guess they used to be owned by the same family but are now under new ownership/management and have renamed themselves "Pho." It's bright and clean inside and setup for serving pho. In fact, I could tell the tables had held thousands of bowls of pho goodness because there were bowl-shaped circles worn away at each setting. +10 for the pho vibe! I've been here a few times now that my office moved just down the street from them. My first visit I had a bahn mi. They aren't on the regular menu but on a menu board above the kitchen door. The grilled pork sandwich I had was missing cilantro, a critical ingredient in my opinion, but every other aspect of it was delicious. I hope it was just an anomaly. The pho is obviously the star here as they have a very large selection of ingredients and the broth is delicious! While I wish there was a little more meat, I always walk out full and satisfied. It's hard to ask more out of a $7 lunch in Richmond. read more

Some of the best pho I've had, very authentic and owned by the sweetest family. Atmosphere is also calming and the Vietnamese coffee is delicious. read more

Good spot for a quick craving for pho, very flavorful broth, decent size, quick service, good price. Will stop here again if I am in the area again. read more

It seemed dirty inside........eh Of course I had the pho, but it wasn't that great. They didn't have many vegetarian options. The service wasn't that great and it took quite some time for our food. (We were the only ones eating there at the time...) read more

The weekend pho cravings with the family. This restaurant has had many changes, and has improved over the years. They are one of the fairest priced, good amount, and decent pho places around. I feel that many of the pho restaurants in the RVA are either expensive but taste good or cheap but lack flavor/effort. Many also runs into the problem of not having a good serving portion. Here at Pho 79, they have the best price, huge servings, and pretty good taste. The broth is good and not too salty. They give a generous amount of noodles, which is the way I like it. They also give plenty of bean sprouts and basil, which I appreciate. Also, Viet coffee here is strong and potent, as any Viet coffee should be. You can't go wrong. I would highly recommend the pho as their name suggests (no surprises there). Try to avoid the egg rolls as they are super greasy and the filling is not that great. It also seems that their summer rolls' filling tends to change, but they remain as meh. Lastly, friendly and quick service as well as no wait! read more

Pho 79 has excellent Pho and Vietnamese Food here.... The service is right on, as they always come around to check to see if you are doing OK... I have on occasions ordered Pho, and they are very accommodating in how they will fix it for you.... As an example... I wanted Beef and Chicken Pho and they added the Beef to the Chicken... sometimes, I like the Beef and Pork, and again; NOT a problem. I always ask for extra Limes and slices of Jalapenos and they bring plenty..... IN addition, I feel they put MORE noodles in the bowl than the other popular Pho places I have eaten at around Richmond.... I NEVER leave hungry. On warm days here in Richmond, I enjoy their "Bun" dishes. It is not as heavy as the Pho. The Rice Vermicelli is light and the grilled Beef, Pork or chicken has a nice charcoal flavor to the taste.... I love Pho, however it seems to be like heavy "Comfort food" to me, and in the Summer months.... I want something light. This is why I go to one of the many "Bun" dishes they have on the Menu. Richmond has many good Pho places, however I find myself coming to Pho 79 more often..... Friendly Service, food is HOT and Good. I have uploaded some photos, and if you see me there on your next visit for some Pho.... do not be surprise and the food is REALLY Good! read more

The best whole in the wall ever! I have not found a pho spot that can pump their gas! Lol This place is in a old Burger King restaurant and doesn't even have Pho 79 on its sign! But the pho is everything! You are welcome for me letting you in on this secret. I have been going here for years with my cousin. The pho is so good you have to stop yourself from eating until you pop! read more

Uses MSG in their pho. I relocated from a state where there were many authentic and highly rated pho restaurants- there is no need to use msg in good quality, authentic pho. read more

I wish I could give them 10 stars!!! I've been coming here just about everyday for 3 years. When I walk in, the owner simply confirms my drink choice (I flip between hot tea, Diet Coke or water), I go wash my hands and my drink is waiting when I come out. Less than 2 minutes later, my food comes out with a smile. The female server doesn't speak English but we connect each visit. The owner (dubbed the Pho King) is very invested in your life and keeps up with current events. He's ALWAYS up for great conversation. I thank God this restaurant was spared through the pandemic!!! read more

Pho 79 - Chicken broth with shrimp - Vietnamese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I surprisingly thought this hole in the wall was pretty solid. This was one of only a couple in Richmond I hadn't been to, mainly because there are a lot of other really good choices in RVA and the reviews here aren't as stellar as others. This visit put to rest any doubt I had about quality of food. I found the pho to be very flavorful- perhaps not the best broth- but good. And the meat was very tender and plentiful. I like that they offer three different sizes of most types of pho, and I actually found the small size to be just enough. The fresh spring rolls were also very good, as was the coffee with condensed milk (they even brought me more coffee when I mixed my first cup before all of the water drained through). Anyways, definitely a dive. It appears that it was once a fast food restaurant. Decor is limited, that's for sure. But the food was good and the service was outstanding. Will definitely not rule this joint out when on Staples Mill! It's right on the way the Lidl. read more

Super fresh Pho & spring rolls! Decor is so cozy(plants everywhere) and beautiful teal. Might be our new pho spot!

Rough around the edges but tasty, fresh, and reasonably-priced. The chicken pho was fantastic - such a chickeny both that didn't over-do the star anise - and the small is really quite large. The grilled pork bun was good too but it would have been nice for it to come with a spring roll. Dinner for four was about 60$ usd. read more

This is by far the best Pho I have found in the Richmond area. We found it searching and we were not let down. The flavor is amazing and the meat was tender! I all but licked the bowl clean! This place is Pho King Good! read more

I absolutely loved loved loved my pho tonight! If I lived closer I'd eat here once a week! Thank you for the wonderful service and above all the best pho yet!! read more

Why isn't this place busier? Yeah, it's not the prettiest building but of the 10+ pho places I've tried since moving to Richmond, this one has the best Pho. Will be driving past at least 5 to come to this place from now on. read more

My favorite gritty Vietnamese restaurant. The pho is delicious and the pork and broken rice is my favorite. A great location and a friend family environment. Pho is my favorite bar night recovery meal read more

Just couldn't stop eating. Have enjoyed the fresh spring rolls, fried spring rolls, beef vermicelli bowl, chicken vermicelli bowl, shrimp vermicelli bowl, and pho #2. The fresh spring rolls are unmatched in flavor. The vermicelli bowls are fresh and delicious. The pho is incredible. The broth is awesome. I ordered a regular, think I received a large, and ate the entire thing. Amazing. read more

My favorite lunch spot in henrico! Their pho is phenomenal! I call in and he knows exactly what I want. Perfect every time. Inexpensive too!! Great portions! read more

A hidden treasure! It isn't very aesthetically pleasing inside or out but the food is fantastic! Staff is quick, friendly and accurate too. Our favorite new pho spot. read more

These folks do a great job! More importantly, they care about their customers and go out of the way to make a good meal great. I have had quite a few of the items on the menu and have yet to be disappointed. Try them out; they are a family-owned business. read more

Best pho place in Richmond- we go here allllll the time - so good I'd recommend to everyone read more

The "Super Bowl" is the main reason we go to this spot. Yes the Pho is actually amazingly good, traditional, and authentic, but it's the size that counts here. For just around $10 you get a bowl too big to finish (unless you are my Asian friend Andrew). I'm still battling with myself over this though, most of the Pho here is traditional with tripe, ligament, and forms of steak. I'm not a huge red meat lover though so I still prefer the seafood alternatives which are limited here. Either way I would never say "don't go here"... it's truly outstanding. read more

After going to Mekong's last night and reviewing it, I felt I should give a review to Pho 79 since they have better food. Pho 79 on Staples Mill across from the library is great. I frequent the library often so I ended up going to Pho 79 for the first time a few weeks ago. I now go there on average once every two weeks. The food is great, has large portions and is reasonably priced. While I'll go back to Mekong's for beer, I'll come here for Vietnamese food. I've read a few of the reviews that talk about the ambiance. If you want ambiance, go to Arcadia or any other place with table cloths. If you want great Vietnamese food, come here. The pho is traditional and you can opt for beef tendon or tripe, which is delicious. The broths would impress any chef. It reminds me of places I've been to in Hawaii or San Francisco. I work about a mile away so come here for lunch from time to time. They have sandwiches too. I have yet to have one, although they looked good. And they're only $3.50! My wife was skeptical because she doesn't see people there often, but the majority of their business is take-out, so do not let that deter you. read more

I had a jonesin' for pho on this rainy November night, so I consulted the Yelpian Oracle for advice since I know nada about Richmond. Thanks to Rebecca M.'s recommendation (I spent some time in San Francisco myself, so I know where her pho bar is set to), I hit Pho 79 and was super-happy. Sure, the place has diddly-squat for atmosphere, but that's pretty standard for pho places. Since I was dining alone (yay, business travel is such fun), I sat next to the fishtank and was very entertained as the owner fed some shrimp to the giant fish in there. You could practically hear the fish going OM NOM NOM. Anyhoo, I kept things simple with a bowl of pho tai and a cup of ca phe sua (hot coffee with the condensed milk). Both were very tasty, though I am sure I am going to be regretting the latter when I'm trying to sleep in an hour. The pho broth was brothtastic-- really complex flavor, super-good. They gave a generous portion of cow, the veggies were fresh and good. I will definitely come back to Pho 79 next time I'm in town. read more

Best Pho in Richmond. Yeah, I said it. Pho So 1 is a close second, but this place edges them out with their larger noodle proportions and tastier broth. To me, broth is key, and Pho 79 nails it. Very savory, and you can taste the star anise and oxtail. The wait staff is always super friendly and attentive and they also have Banh Mi sandwiches. From having the privilege of eating in Vietnamese noodle houses in various spots in metropolitan cities on the west coast, I can vouch for Pho 79 being, still, one of the tastiest. read more

Best pho I've ever had! I always get the #2 under the "beginners pho" menu. Not the most appealing atmosphere, but the food is worth it. Great service, friendly staff, ample parking. Pho is served with basil, limes, jalapenos and sprouts. This is one of this area's best kept secrets if you ask me. read more

This is our go to Pho place. We eat here almost every Thursday night. Owners are awesome and accommodating. Food is awesome! They will cook to order anything. Have fun! read more

Best pho we have ever had. Amazingly delicious. Friendly and helpful service. Cannot wait to go back.

We have been to a Pho 79 in Virginia Beach and it is pretty good. The food is probably a 4 star, but the place was filthy, bathroom disgusting, and service lacking. This location is near the Amtrak train terminal. We just got back to pick up our car and this place was close by. The noodles were fine and the spring rolls were awesome. I think that I could just eat the spring rolls and be happy. It is really a shame that the bldg is sort of dumpy. I also wouldn't let my son son sit on the toilet there, gross. The waitress was in lala land the entire time. We had to ask numerous times for the check and she would just stare at us. I would say try the Pho 79 in Va Beach before going to this one. read more

Love the environment , loved how zen it was, and loved the service. Came in with a hangover left happy and full. Husband tried Vietnamese for the first time and was surprised read more

This place is a typical Vietnamese restaurant where service comes last. I had a taste of the goi cuon, cha gio, and the Pho special combination. Goi cuon - way too much noodles Cha gio - old and overcooked. I bet they didn't change out the oil b/c it came out really brown and unappetizing. Pho - Had better, almost everywhere else I've been here before and it didn't seem to suck so much. Unsure of what the deal is but I won't be frequenting this joint for a while. read more

Consistently Great food. I would highly recommend. This is authentic pho and is the real deal.

Perfect hole in the wall for your pho cravings! My husband and I were visiting Richmond and felt the sudden urge of having pho! This restaurant had great reviews so we decided to give it a try. The place looked quite deserted and rundown from outside. My husband ordered the small beef soup, while I got the large chicken. The broth was full of flavors, the accompaniments were fresh and the servings were generous. We were pleased with the whole experience. read more

Hands down the best pho in Richmond. Don't let the outside fool you. I really enjoy coming here, also the service is great

The Pho here is consistently good! The ingredients are fresh and plentiful and the broth is the best!!! They give you more than enough noodles, bean sprouts, lime slices, onions etc. Don't let the exterior of the building nor the location fool you! This place has some of the best pho in Richmond. read more

This place is amazing. Super fast and friendly service. The "Super bowl" is massive and will provide delicious leftovers for days to come. Highly recommend this place for a pho fix! read more

This place has become my go to for comfort food. When I am sick, feel down, a nice steaming bowl of their Pho or Hu Tieu Tom Thit fixes you right up. There's LOTS of pho in our area, but these folks consistently make my favorite. The owner is just the best guy ever too. He knows it's me over the phone by my order! 2 orders of the soft spring rolls (divine), one order of Pho Tai for my wife, and one order of Hu Tieu for me. I've NEVER EVER been disappointed by them. Ever. read more