After coming here for several more times, this place still deserves a solid 4. It's not the fanciest place, but the food delivers. It's a safe choice for pho. It has flavor and it carries through. The service isn't bad at all, but I can see it getting bogged down if it was a full house. I have never seen more than two people out in the front, but also, I haven't seen this place packed yet. Closet it has been was like 80%, but they did well. The summer rolls are rather regular compared to other places and there are better places out there. The real choice here is the pho and the soup. It just tastes fresh and full of flavor. It's not light as some places, but this is definitely the place to get some hot soup if you're feeling unwell (If you are really unwell, please only do take out). A lot of people do take out here and it's still good. Just reheat if it's a bit cold and let it sit a little bit to get the noodles separated. read more

It was really good My cousin and I went crazy with the pho #11 We also got the summer and spring rolls and it was *chefs kiss* read more

Pho 81 - Yummy - Vietnamese Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

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I'm not an expert in Vietnamese food but Pho 81 hits the spot! My family and I have been coming here for years and I was a little worried about the change of owners but I can't complain. Good eats with great service. For appetizer we ordered Cha Gio (Spring Rolls) and Goi Cuon (Summer Rolls). For the entree I ordered the Grilled Beef with Rice although a bowl of Pho soup was more appropriate for this cold weather. The only downfall was the meat portion. The rice overpowered the amount of beef it had on the plate but it was still marinated well! Lastly, for dessert I ordered Suong Sa Hat Lui (Tapioca Jelly with Coconut Milk). I wish I could have taken a picture but it was too late before I realized that the cup was halfway finished...whoops! Prices are very reasonable! read more

Pho 81 - Grilled Beef with Rice. - Vietnamese Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

Even though I do like to try exotic things it seems I always stick with the number 11 here, the large Pho with steak and brisket. Service is prompt and friendly even during the busiest lunch hours ingredients are fresh and they will bring you more sprouts or jalapeños if you ask. read more

Pho 81 - Vietnamese Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

Flavorful PHO with quick friendly service. They give the largest serving of meat (I usually get the Tai) then any other Pho place around. The soup has a slightly richer taste than some, but is not overpowering and is a lean authentic broth. Iced coffee is brewed table-side which is a nice plus. More places are starting to brew it ahead and just pour yours over an ice packed glass. You get more this way and it tastes better. There is a nice fish tank in the back for the kids to look at. They still seem to be slow on the table busing as there are more tables full of dirty dishes than other restaurants, but I don't have to wait long for a table if they have to play catch-up. read more

If you are looking for Pho in the Germantown/Clarksburg area, this is the one to go for. Top notch Pho with an exquisite broth and their great, quick service makes Pho 81 my top choice. read more

Okay....this review should have been posted sooner but I kept forgetting so here we go! Pho 81 is hands down, the BEST pho restaurant in MoCo. I say this with 100% confidence but before I do, just know that pho is subjective (as with any other food) and as such, people may disagree with my reasoning for why this restaurant takes the cake. Let's start with the atmosphere. Fairly simple and straightforward, nothing fancy. You've got easy going music playing in the background, a fish tank near the front door and some decor on the walls to stare at while you eat. The menu gets straight to business listing all the items in a easy to read format. There is not much else here to say. The pho is where this place shines. I said that this is the best PHO restaurant because I think they have THE best pho around. I am not referring to the rest of the dishes with that statement because I simply do not have much experience with the other ones. I've tried them in the past and they were great, but that is not what I am reviewing. With that said, the pho is quite simply nothing short of amazing. I usually order the #9 (Chin, Nam, Gau), which is by far my favorite order. The broth is fatty with this order, as expected with the types of meat. It has a deep, rich flavor profile that never really dissipates after a few bites. The flavor is beefy, yet delicate. Upfront but also has depth as you can taste the cinnamon and cardamom towards the end. The broth is magical here. The meats are of very good quality, thinly sliced and prepared as if there was someone carefully arranging the meat in each bowl, ensuring you get a good amount of every cut in the order. The noodles are also great, not much different than other places, but what really matters is the cooking time and doneness of the noodles. Most of the time, the noodles are cooked to perfection. I have been to many other pho restaurants all up and down the east coast that I've been told are the best and highly rated. Each one that I have tried, while good and tasty, still pales in comparison to 81's style. I have yet to have someone recommend a place that has taken my love away from 81. Seriously, I at one point came here with my gf almost every day for a whole month just because I couldn't get enough of it. There are good days and bad days for any restaurant so for the people who have had a bad experience, I urge you to try it again on a different day/time and see if it is better. read more

Yum, great food! My to go place when I want noodle Pho soup. Fast and efficient, good service!

Service is friendly, food comes out promptly and I return because it's true to traditionally tasty broth. Plus they have actual fatty beef not just the tender. read more

Most disgusting food that is tasteless and not like any vietnamese grilled chicken I've experienced. It was pricey at $12 considering how it was made. Looks like they are cutting back on the ingredients and but increasing the prices. I won't ever be coming back. read more

We have repeatedly tried ordering pick up from this restaurant by calling ahead. Every time we call, no one ever picks up. This isn't the first, the second, or the third time. read more

Simply Delicious ! Ordering over the phone is super easy, the staff is always helpful. I was worried that 6 different orders one would be bound to get messed up but nope everything was on time and accurate ! The portions are great for the price. We ordered the small Pho and it was plenty of it you would think it's a large! The spring and summer rolls are both delicious as well. The sauces that come with them are tasty! The toppings are fresh and they give a good amount. The take out bowls the noodles come in are perfect. Can't wait to order again! read more

Honestly I have no idea why I didn't give Pho81 5 stars in the first place. I think it's because the food is so good that I temporarily went mad from the deliciousness and hit 4 instead of 5. Updated accordingly. read more

The beef parts were nice and gelatinous. Very good broth could have been aged a little more.

The review is purely for the service. I ordered 4 items off GrubHub delivery (spent $35), but only two items came. The other two (desserts) were nowhere to be found. When I called the restaurant, they told me the restaurant had stopped making desserts, and that they only charged me $11 (which is also incorrect because even the two other items would have been close to $20). So clearly there is an issue with the online ordering through GrubHub. Instead of trying to help, the person on the phone just said "well it's not the restaurant's issue so I can't help you" and was going to end the conversation. I understand this is not a direct issue with the restaurant, but if the restaurant is going to partner with a platform, then it should make sure the menus are consistent, so that customers aren't paying for four items and only getting two and have no way of getting a refund. In addition, this is clearly a systematic issue for anyone ordering online that happened to order desserts. For the restaurant to just say "not our fault - can't help you" is highly irresponsible and unprofessional. Will not be ordering from here again. Food is fine - but if you're going to eat here, please eat in or maybe do take out and double check your orders (I saw some other reviews about take outs missing items). read more

This place is awesome. The people that work there are very nice. Clean place and very comforting. I got steak pho and it was amazing. Literally everything about it was perfect. From the noodles to the scallions to the onion to the garnish that comes on the side. Everything tastes fresh and really good. Definitely recommend this place. They will definitely be seeing me a lot more this winter. read more

Pho 81 - Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

Food is good .. waiting time long. Main things is Order is rude. Every time u order keep pushing " anything us" don't let u decided the food cannot ask questions ., so rushing . Owner should be train them. " anything els is not right to take order " read more

Walked in on a Friday night around 7pm and it was pretty full with the exception of one or two tables. We kinda stood by the door unsure if we just go ahead and sit down or wait to be seated. Since it looked like the people at the counter we're busy, I went ahead and sat down while my husband went to the counter to get some service. After a minute they gave us the menu and were attentive with us. Food came out fairly quickly and it was very good! I usually add fish sauce to my pho but the broth was well seasoned I didn't need to add anything. Everything is reasonably priced. Very casual environment. Great place to eat on a cold night! read more

I been to this place for the pas year and it's always delicious however this time I have concerns. The noodles seemed like they were moist prior to serving and became soggy fast. The broth was not as warm as usual. Their was a young male sitting in the front handling food and was picking his face while handing food and that was concerning. Thai tea is great and so is their soups but this time around It went a little left. I'm giving this a four because this place is really delicious just want to make the owners aware of what I witnessed. Cleanliness is important and I hate to see such a great restaurant have to deal with this. read more

Really great pho. Their broth is really good and they use great cuts of meat. The staff is nice and very fast. Will definitely go here over the other local pho places. The interior could use an update, but that doesn't matter. read more

I live in Los Angeles where there is a big Vietnamese community so I have tasted Pho at its best. I am not impressed by the Pho here. Ordered the Pho 81 special bowl and found the broth insipid and the noodles slightly undercooked and crunchy. Best to avoid if you are a true Pho lover read more

First of all the food was very much meh. Flavor was bland, chicken was over cooked and the rice was dry. On top of the food not being all that, when I went to go pay the cashier said that I couldn't pay cash then the rest on card due to a $5 minimum on cards?! Little do they know it's ILLEGAL to set a minimum on DEBIT CARD purchases so I will be reporting them for that as well. Overall just don't go here there are far better places in Germantown, Gaithersburg and Rockville which have far better food and service. read more

Maybe I came on an off day because it's not consistent with other reviews. Ordered chicken pho and beef pho with my sister. Both broths were seemed watered down and had MSG taste. I had an allergic reaction as if there was lots of MSG. Im usually okay with a little MSG. Service was fast but very grumpy. Sticking with my favorite pho place in Germantown, that has flavorful broth consistently, even though it's further out. read more

I stopped by here for a quick lunch to escape from work for a bit on a weekday. The decor was decent and the restaurant was clean. Service was provided by fully English speaking staff so I didn't have to speak the language of the motherland (even though most Vietnamese people think I look Korean and don't expect it). The broth, which is always they key component, was decent. It had the umami flavor that I seek when I want pho. Good thing was that even though their large costed ~$9, they gave a lot of meat and noodles. I have ordered large bowls of pho at other places and still had to order additional noodles and meat to feel relatively full. This place, even though the bowl looks smaller, gives you a decent amount of food for your large pho. Another positive: they accept credit cards! Long gone are the days where I have to go to the bank just to cure my hangover/satisfy my hot bowl of pho craving. I saw this artwork somewhere that said "Life without you is like pho without its broth." I wish someone would get me that. *cough hint hint* read more

Pho 81 - Large pho tai chin - Vietnamese Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

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This is my go-to pho place when I'm in Montgomery County or DC. The pho is some of the best outside of Falls Church. Plus, the staff is so cheery and provide such great service that I instantly feel refreshed after coming here. :) Food: I've been here twice. Both times I have ordered #14, which is meatball and steak. Last time, their broth was amazing! It was robust-dirty and flavorful. This time the broth was still full of flavor, but much more clean. No oils and not very dark. Even though I prefer my pho down and dirty, this was still one of the best pho broths I have enjoyed outside of Falls Church. The meatballs last time were moist half spheres of meaty heaven. Today they were dry. I was a little sad. But the steak wasn't so bad. On another happy note: their avocado smoothies (with pearls!) are sooooooooo full of yum! Service: Pho 81 has the best service I have experienced in the DMV, for an Asian restaurant. The servers are very friendly, peppy, and never fail to greet you with a smile. :) There are also rapid water refills- a major plus. Ambiance: Not much to look at here, folks! A typical pho place. read more

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I stopped in the other night with the hubby to warm up and ordered a nice steaming bowl of pho. I ordered pho #7 and found it to be delicious. I liked the broth and the meat was very tender. I ordered the small bowl and still had a little leftover to bring home. Their portions are generous and they offer quite a bit of meat in their pho! I imagine the large bowl would make for a delicious lunch of leftovers for the next day. To go with my soup, I ordered the spring rolls. Two pieces arrived piping hot straight from the fryer. It came with the dipping sauce (do chua) with thin strips of carrots and daikon radish! Slightly greasy but still tasty. I've certainly had better but this was definitely good. The service is minimal with what appears to be just two people working the front of house - seating people, taking orders, busing tables, and handling takeout orders. They were friendly and were sure to check on us shortly after we received our food. However, be sure to signal them over when you want your leftovers wrapped up and when you're ready for the check because these guys are multitasking big time. The dining area is clean and there was plenty of seating that evening. They have plenty of 4 tops and larger tables for groups. However, the seats themselves were very uncomfortable. They have a television in the front of the restaurant airing CNN so depending on what's playing (virtually non-stop), it can be a bit unappetizing. Overall, I'm happy with my experience, and I'm glad we stopped in. The food is a good value, and I'll be sure to visit again to try something new. read more

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I've been coming here a few times a month now to get my Pho fix! So far... loving it! Pro's: +Service is always friendly and attentive +Consistent good food (Garden rolls are always wrapped tightly and nicely) +Fast service +No frills +Pho broth is light and not too salty but I do end up drinking a ton of water after Con's: -The decor could use an update -Sticky tables at time Will return again and again! read more

I realized the last visit here 'twas the time my dad passed away (rip). And now we're back after my mom joined him (rip). This place moving forward has a comforting spot in mah belly. Oh, and apparently my bro's friends choose Pho 81 when in this area. Good choice. Good location - on opposite end of Great Wall supermarket (GW) so there's plenty of space. Their small sized pho bowl has more rice noodles than the average small of other MoCo pho spots. I can feel the extra stretch from my pixie pants so it's real. Nice bouncy noodles with familiar aromatic flavorful broth. Customary sriracha, jalapeños, basil, and bean sprouts complete my #12 eye round/fatty flank (no lime). The 2 spring rolls were classically greasy as hell so yes, they were tasty. I'm glad BroS shared the rolls with me (thanks for feeding me again, brah~ ^_^). Uber homey friendly staff. I'll definitely suggest Pho 81 for folks if on the northern neck of 355 towards Germantown. read more

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I come here for quick bite. I always order a regular size pho and summer rolls. Sometimes it takes time to get my order despite not crowded in the restaurant. But over all it's a perfect place when you are in a hurry for a quick stop. During the pandemic, they seat us every other table. I felt safe dining in. read more

I only come here for one thing: Pho. If you're looking for the best pho in Germantown, this is the place. Broth is amazing and the meat actually tastes fresh. Other places, you can tell the meat has been frozen or sitting in the fridge. I would probably rank this place in my top 3 pho places in Montgomery County. It's that good. read more

I've been here a handful of times, mostly for lunch when working in the area. Their Pho is good. The meat selection is generous in portion. The noodles are al dente. And the broth is tasty. Summer Rolls - They are on point. Fresh, crisp vegetables, firm skin and the perfect combination of textures. Shrimp Salad - Delicious. Fresh vegetables and plump flavorful grilled shrimp! The only downfall is they don't have vegetarian options. The vegetarian Pho is just noodles and broth, which is disappointing. Prices are reasonable. Service is excellent. Parking is easy! read more

So far out of all pho places we've gone to in MD, their broth is the best. No one can't beat it for real! Light yet boasting with flavor. I ordered the small Pho 16, which is just the steak and for a pregnant mama this was perfect. As always, we always order the spring roll and asked them to leave it beansprouts because pregnant women can't eat them. I love spring rolls! I'd order 2 apps as a meal, and the peanut sauce is always my favorite. The pho broth here is the best I've had in MD. Light, flavorful yet not too overbearing with that saltiness. I drank more of it than I have at any other pho house. Plenty of meat to noodle ratio, I always seem to run out of meat before my noodles. This was perfect to the last bite. The honeydew boba was excellent too, a very sweet treat enjoyed and always love chewing the boba. If you aren't a sweet addict then honeydew isn't for you. By far I think this will be our regular pho house, but we will still try others too to see what else is out there. read more

Pho 81 - Spring rolls - ordered w/o bean sprouts - Vietnamese Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

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Just had to leave because I wasn't recieving service. I dont know if it was my brown skin, but every asian peraon who came in was severed in a timely fashion, and when we told the server we were ready he said hold on. Another severer jist stood and was texting on his phone Would never recommend goijg to this restaurant, EVER! read more

I ordered carry out. I asked for hot sauce the Vietnamese young lady said $1.00 extra and told me already have hot sauce inside. I got home there was no hot sauce... read more

Good and reasonably price basic Vietnamese noodles and rice place. For a few dollars more then a McDonald combo. It provide a better alternative. read more

i did not order pho so my review is for summer roll..?, #25 and thai tea lots of parking right next to honey pig and nearby yuraku (same shopping center) my friends order summer rolls? im not sure but its the rolls that you do not fry. it comes with fresh veggies and i think shrimp. it was so good! the peanut sauce. OMG addicted to the peanut sauce. def made it even better.. the thai tea is good! :) asked for no bubbles. came out quickly. strong tea taste. love it! my friend recommended #25 since i do not eat pho. i don't remember what #25 was but i got it with the noodles. they give you this sauce with carrots in it and you pour that sauce all in and mix it. the meat was delicious! wish there was more meat and less noodles. i think there was too much noodles but other than that it was delicious :) tasted fresh! also comes with 2 egg roll inside or it might have been one but it was cut in half (not sure cus i shared with a friend) :) read more

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Good food. Very reasonable prices on the food. Food is made fresh that day. Pretty friendly servers.

Yummy pho and summer rolls. Clean enough. Good service. Reasonable prices. Good service from Hieu, who was patient enough to teach me how to pronounce the dishes I was ordering in Vietnamese. read more

Pho 81 - Vietnamese Near Me - Germantown, Maryland

Good good and service, even during covid! Tasty spring rolls, pho, and vermicelli bowls. The have quite a few options, including drinks (love the iced coffee with condensed milk). Service is pretty quick, even when they have a lot of orders. Their staff wear masks and there's sanitizer up front as well. I mostly call ahead now, but it looks like they've opened up the dining area as well. read more

This is the only Pho place we have tried in the area because it is SO GOOD that we don't want to try any other place! We usually order take out which is always super quick. The restaurant is usually empty when we pick up our food. The spring rolls appetizer is delicious - get more than 1 order because it only comes with 2 rolls. The Pho itself is always SPOT ON! The broth, meats, and sauce are all full of flavor. We usually get the large portion and are very full by the end. Definitely our go-to Pho spot and is HIGHLY recommended! read more