I came here on a rainy day with my partner. I've been here before, it's a family staple for pho and it was my partner's first time. The service was fast. We ordered, and in less than 10 minutes, our food was at the table. I went with the P9, which has sliced rare steak, well-done steak, and flank. We also added egg rolls to our meal. The pho was solid. The broth was flavorful, and I was able to adjust it perfectly with the spices provided. Definitely a reliable pho spot and one I think is worth trying. read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - P9 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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My partner suggested this place on a cold day it was the best decision to come in for lunch! It was my first time here and it is a very fast paced turn around quick service spot but so so good The broth was perfect and they have plenty of choices in meat combination for your pho as well as other options if you aren't feeling pho I got rare steak and brisket and my partner and I shared some egg rolls which were super hot, flavorful, and crispy! Will definitely be adding this spot to my pho spot rotation! read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

If you're looking for sanitary or flavored food, do not come here.. The worker standing directly behind me, blowing his nose and spitting out boogies while I'm eating my food, then wipe his mouth with his gloves that he does not change and continues to work while wearing the entire time .. The food had no flavor at all. Everybody was rude and had an attitude. They were mad that we didn't like the food, but this was the last time I will ever come to this place definitely not worth it. Save your money. !! read more

Very reliable, solid pho. Always quick service, reasonable pricing, lots of available parking. It is probably our favorite of the 3 locations we go to. We usually order pho tai- with brisket. Sometimes spring rolls too. The lemonade is great as well- very sweet and tart. read more

Very few places around SD opened for Asian breakfast. They offered egg rolls and pho only in the early hours. I ordered pho tai gau which is rare steak and brisket. 10/10 would do it again. read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - P12. Tái, Gầu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

Came back to one of the most viral pho spots in San Diego! My husband got the rare/cooked steak pho and it was fresh, and made very well. I got the bo kho (vietnamese beef stew), I thought it was good but I wish it had a bit more flavor! Of course we'll be back! read more

This place is top tier comfort pho. The service is direct, there never seems to be a wait, you seat yourself, and the food comes out in the blink of an eye. Portions are massive. There are few place I will eat alone at, and pho ca dao is one of them. read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - P12. Tái, Gầu add meatballs - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

Reliable! Not my favorite but not the worst. Fast reliable and the same every time! The broth is a little watery for me I like it more rich like bone broth, but that's the only reason I change it to 4 stars! Other then that it the same for years super reliable! read more

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Doordash picked up this order. Said the food would be ready and when I got there the pick up time kept going back farther and farther. Took 15 minutes additionally past the original pick time. Came home ate the food and found a fried bug in it. read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - K3. Spring Rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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No frills, straight-to-the-point pho spot. Pho Ca Dao reminds me of the pho restaurants I'd go to in Westminster/Garden Grove growing up. Slightly unkempt, very minimal pleasantries, but who cares because it's all about the food. The price, size, and amount of meat I got in the Pho Dac Biet was well worth it. It was a rainy day so it just tastes that much better. Service is quick and took about 10 minutes for our pho to come out. Once you're done, you go up to the cashier to pay. Overall this is a solid bowl of pho. It hits the spot if you get that craving. I'd hedge it closer to a 3.5 star bowl of pho in the grand scheme of pho I've had, but with the price and quantity, I'm happy to bump up. When in a pinch, I'd be happy to stop by Pho Ca Dao. read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - P1 Pho Dac Biet - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

On the search for the best pho in San Diego! Expectations are very high and they weren't too bad! As of right now, pho ca dao is at the top. But everything else we have tried has been just subpar. Their pho broth is very clean and has a great beef flavor. However it is lacking some spice (star anise, cinnamon), which some may prefer. The noodles were thin which I prefer, however slightly overcooked. The beef had a little too much fat to meat ratio for our liking for a fatty brisket. The rice dish was great! It was such a huge portion. The fish sauce lacked some sugar, but I appreciated the chilies. The pork had great flavor. We were slightly disappointed that the table next to us order the exact same thing after us, but received their food way quicker. It was a busy day, but they were moving pretty quick. The restaurant was very clean. We would come back! They're definitely in the running for our favorite pho spot right now. Our favorites are still obviously home cooked or back in Seattle! read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - Com tam and pho - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

Its bustling. See lot of Vietnamese folks. So I know pho is authentic. Idk about ordering to go since its so busy. I would just eat here and enjoy the restaurant. The soup was bold and tasty. They gave u lot of meat. Not too greasy but soup is on the thicker side. Compare to more clear broth. The noodles were cooked perfect. Not soggy not too hard. Seems they got the system down. I would come back. The menu had more authentic Vietnamese cuisine which I liked. I would say this is one of top pho place read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been to a diff location but tried the North park one while in the area. I was surprised by the big serving container for my vermicelli bowl/bun. However it was ... mid... the restaurant seemed bustling and authentic viet place but the tofu roll was stale/soggy/dry. Didn't seem fresh :/ . The nuoc mam was watered down - no flavor. I dumped the whole thing and needed to make my own nuoc cham. Otherwise service was fast and my food was ready for pickup. Restaurant seemed clean read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - D5. Bun Cha Gio Chay Dau Hu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a great spot to have your Vietnamese pho fix. The broth is very savory and rich, the meats are fresh and tender. And the veggies were fresh and aromatic. They brought out our food very quickly, and for dinner at 7 PM it was very packed with plenty of families. If your favorite Vietnamese place is closed early for the evening, I'd suggest coming to this location! read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - Pho dac biet - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here because we heard about the pho, and we were not disappointed. Speedy service, and the quality of the food stayed in tact. I especially liked the Surf and Turf House Special rolls, which was a delicious new variation of fresh spring rolls. The ambiance is very casual and typical of a comfortable vietnamese spot. We also love that there's a big parking lot! I will be back :) read more

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I haven't been in years and finally got to come back and enjoy some delicious pho on a rainy weekday! I tried their rare steak pho, beef rice plate, and Thai tea boba. Everything was as yummy as I remembered and the portions were good for sharing. The ambiance was super busy so the servers weren't very attentive. I had to go to the kitchen for an extra bowl after asking two waiters for one which was kind of disappointing. I would recommend checking them out when they're not too busy. read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - Rare steak pho and beef rice plate - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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One of my go to spots because parking is easy and service is quick! I always order the number 12 which is the rare thin steak and brisket! read more

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Just an overall solid bowl of pho. Rich broth, flavorful meat, and fresh garnishes. I'm not the most adventurous when it comes to pho so I went for the "Chien" with sliced well done steak and it was fantastic. Perfect for a cold day. Will return! read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - P17. Chin - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

Fast food pho restaurant vibe. Flavors in the broth were very muted. The sriracha was certainly repackaged with a different sauce that tasted more like ketchup and had little to no spice. Even the chili oil and the jalapeños couldn't bring this soup to life; this soup had as much life as the little robot bus boy that brought it over. Unimpressed, there's much better pho restaurants everywhere. read more

This is one of my favorite pho spot I highly recommend I always get the p12 beef and brisket pho the service is good and they are quick to come out with the food read more

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Beautiful!! Me and my friends went there during Chinese New Year, and it was amazing. They were one of the only few restaurants that were open and during our time there, the staff were respectful and friendly. The customer service was a 10/10. The food though... absolutely worth every cent. The broth was delicious and the toppings were great. Highly recommend!! read more

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Yummy yummy in my tummy. I have tried a lot of dishes here and have not had a bad dish. I wish I lived closer I would eat here all the time. The amount of food you get for what they charge is amazing and everything always taste fresh. read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - Rice combo plate don't remember what number it was - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

The pho there is great. I really enjoyed the vermicelli and chicken dish. They give you a good amount of noodles and big pieces of bbq chicken with just the right amount of lettuce and sauce. The service is fine, just very standard Asian restaurant service: not very friendly but simply to the point. Get the job done without any frills. Ambiance was nice. They played music in the background that sounded like it was probably Vietnamese. I like when places do that- play the people's music of wherever they are from. I would definitely go there again and try some different dishes. Their chicken with rice is really good too! read more

It's decent pho. A bit salty, but overall good. the way it is in this game i feel the most important part is that it has the ability of to make the most out on a game read more

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Super homey Vietnamese spot! We walked right in and were seated immediately. We ordered the pho, egg rolls, and bun cha. Everything was incredibly fresh and felt like it came straight out of someone's kitchen. The service was excellent, and everyone was really friendly. I'd definitely come back--I'm already craving the fresh veggies in all of our dishes. The pork flavor was fantastic too! read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - Egg rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

Got hung up on by the lady on the phone for my togo order. They did place my order surprisingly but they didn't even give me a bowl like they usually do. Everything was in bags and the broth was in a deli container. The noodles they gave me were also raw which i've never received from them before. Hope it was just a one time hiccup. read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - raw hard noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

We decided to try Pho Ca Dao after church since it was close by and we felt like trying something new. This isn't our usual pho spot, but we came because it was featured in a YouTube video by Gareth Eats. In the video, the portions looked generous and it seemed like a must-visit. The atmosphere was good--clean and welcoming. When we first walked in, most tables were taken but not completely full. As soon as we sat down, more families started coming in and before long, there was a line forming at the door. That gave us hope that the food would live up to the popularity. Service-wise, it was just okay. Our server seemed a bit impatient, like he didn't have the time or patience for us to give our order, which made things feel rushed right from the start. We ordered: * 1 large House pho * 1 large vermicelli with pork * 1 kids beef pho * 1 broken rice with pork The large pho was disappointing. For something labeled "large," the portion was underwhelming. Honestly, it felt like a medium at best, and for the price, I felt kind of robbed. The kids pho came with only one slice of meat and a drink--definitely not worth the price. We would've been better off just ordering a regular pho. The highlight was the broken rice with pork--my daughter really enjoyed it, and the portion was solid. That dish saved the meal from being a total miss. Overall, while the atmosphere was nice and the restaurant seemed busy for a reason, our experience didn't live up to expectations. Based on what we saw in the YouTube video and the prices, we expected more. I wouldn't come back. read more

Great pho but could do with less hair! I've been here 6 times and every time without fail there was a hair. This place would be my go to pho spot if it weren't for the hairs read more

Our go to for pho Good broth Generous in the protein Pork and shrimp spring rolls Steak, Brisket and Flank are the best VERY quick service We've been in and out in less than 30min! Highly recommend this place :) read more

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My to go to place for Pho. They never let me down. Food is always consistent. I have introduce friends from all over to try their food and to their surprise it was delicious. read more

As straight forward as it gets best pho i've tried in san diego great taste a lot of steak.

I called to order 15 minutes before when I got there my food was still wasn't ready... which is fine but then when it was ready, and I brought it home, I realize that they barely give me any steak and no sauces. Just really underwhelming probably wouldn't come back read more

Had a craving for Vietnamese Food, came here because we used to come here when I was younger and it's always been a solid spot. I have to say this place was lacking sadly! While it was clean (floors, glasses, tables, silverware) and the workers were very friendly and talkative. The food came out looking pleasing to the eye and filled (abundance). The taste of the food was lackluster. I ordered the bun cha gio thit nuong. The nuoc mam that came with the dish was lacking in the fish sauce and sweetness. It had a hint of lime, but was quite bland almost like water. There wasn't any pickled daikon sadly and that's my favorite. Too many carrots. The thit nuong was... texture like no other! I thought I was eating one of the pork chops. It was thick and originally I thought this was that egg like mixture you get on top of com tam. In the bowl, I liked the julienned cucumbers it had great flavor, but I wish they squeezed the water out of it because it was quite wet. The peanuts added a nice crunch. There were lots of carrots. The egg rolls tasted more like lumpia but that's okay since it was yummy and hot! They loaded this bowl sooo much that I couldn't mix this without spilling it. Remember to mix your noodle dishes! My mom ordered the pho tai nam. The rare beef was perfect consistency even after waiting a bit to eat it. I want to say that it didn't over cook because the broth wasn't that hot at all. The flavor of the broth tasted muddled and not very tasty. They gave us a good amount of toppings: sliced onions, beansprouts, herbs, lime, jalapeño.. but the pho just couldn't be saved. Because the broth is usually what makes it delicious. I wouldn't get the pho here again. During the time we came, the workers were refilling all the condiments and utensils. I think that was nice that they were attentive and kept things refilled. My water was even refilled! The slice of lime was a great and refreshing touch. After the subpar food, would I come back here? Possibly. And why? Because the menu is a large one and while those two dishes were really lacking-- maybe I just chose the wrong thing! Next time, I want to try the Bun Bo Hue or ask for a recommendation of what is popular there. Last time I came, I had the iced Vietnamese coffee and it was pretty delicious. (: highly recommend grabbin one with your food! read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - V5. Bun Cha Gio Thit Nuong (Vermicelli with Egg Roll and Grilled Meat) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ordered delivery and everything was packaged very nicely. Would not order the pork spring rolls again because the rice paper was too thick for my preference but the broken rice plate and vermicelli plates were delicious. read more

Was craving pho for breakfast and like how this spot opens early. Service was fast. The broth of the pho and grilled pork were flavorful. Will definitely come back in the future for a quick meal. read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - Marinated charbroiled pork broken rice - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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I wrap the fresh lettuce around the homemade Egg roll and dip it in the house made sweet and sour sauce. It's to die for! They have been awarded by Urban Spoon, San Diego Magazine, Pennysaver, A-List etc. The family is truly resilient, experiencing the challenges faced with Covid and ups and downs of 24 years in the food industry. At Mira mesa location they are equipped with Daash Robotics servers for a futuristic Jetsons vibe to your dining experience.... Read more on my blog post - https://mitchells-chronicles.blogspot.com/2025/03/foodie-review-pho-ca-dao-grill-san.html read more

Pho Ca Dao Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

I went here with my friend two nights ago and was enjoying my meal until the server or one of the men working there decides to hawk a fat loogy, spit out of his mouth with mucus in it in the near by sink. That killed the appetite and had led me to leaving this one star review. Super gross Not going back read more

No chopsticks, soy sauce, leaves, sauces or anything else. Just a shitty broth with some reheated noodles. Arrived 40 minutes late. Crap.

Great quality, great quantity, and great value. TIP: Ask for the scallion oil as it will add so much flavor and aroma to anything you eat; especially the pho! Also, don't neglect putting the thai basil and mint into your broth! The Pho Ca Dao on El Cajon Blvd is still my go-to pho spot is THE gold standard that I compare every other pho restaurant in San Diego to. I've been to this location countless times and the quality and quantity always amaze me. On my most recent visit, my girlfriend and I ordered the following: Pho Dac Biet Xe Lua: Aromatic, bright, warm, filling. This is THE bowl of pho that hits a little extra after a long night out or a cold cloudy day (or honestly any day). This order features the bright and aromatic broth with a filling volume of vermicelli noodles and a little bit of every meat: brisket, steak, tendon, and my favorite: tripe! On the side, comes a plate with bean sprouts, thai basil, and mint with some jalapenos. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND plucking the thai basil leaves and also tearing up the mint into smaller bits to throw them both into the broth. This adds so much more aroma to the broth you WILL feel like you are in heaven. I also personally really enjoy adding the bean sprouts into the bowl and letting it sit to soak up the broth and soften. This adds a subtle bit of crunch and snap. I have been ordering this dish all my life and this Pho Ca Dao location meets every expectation that I've built up from childhood until now. There is no surprise that this is the signature dish featured at every pho restaurant and acts as a litmus test to how skilled their kitchen is. Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio (Vermicelli Noodles with Grilled Pork and Egg Rolls): Cool, crispy, crunchy, sweet, tangy. If you aren't as into noodle soups or warm broths, this is the perfect dish for you. San Diego has been especially hot these last few weeks and I couldn't stop thinking of this dish. On top of a bed of shredded lettuce and a heaping mountain of vermicelli noodles are the meats of your choice. Thit Nuong (grilled pork) and Cha Gio (egg rolls) were my add-ons of choice as they both add some fatty and meaty taste on top of a flavorful crisp. This dish is also served with some sweet, tangy, and spicy fish sauce on the side which I pour all over my dish. This dish is my alternative whenever I'm not in the mood for a warm bowl of Pho but still want to eat something filling. The service at this restaurant is always consistent and standard. To be honest. I don't think the service is necessarily excellent but I can definitely say they have never disappointed me and that consistency is an important thing for me. I am always tended to and help is quick to come as soon as my hand is raised. The atmosphere at this location is what you would expect from a casual family dining experience. Chatter and joy fills the air and the dining experience is full of good vibes no matter if you come alone, with a plus-one, or a large party. read more

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Best place for pho! I've come here many times over the past 7 years and it never disappoints. The portions are huge & healing. They also offer different cuts of meat which is cool if you're into that! I tend to get the chicken or veggie pho and both are delicious. The beef spring rolls are also delicious and the lemongrass flavor stands out. I usually order for pickup as this place tends to get very busy inside, and it's always ready within 20mins! read more