We have had pho in many places. California, Mississippi, Maryland, Florida, and other places in between. The pho is acceptable. Broth was decent meat was low quality and not much portions were adequate but not huge Low quantity of noodles If you want a decent pho meal, not bad. I wouldn't go out of your way, but you don't have a lot of choices in new castle for quality pho. The other place we tried was awful (this was pho restaurant 2 on our stay and experience). So far, this is the better of the two and saigon was closed. Want to try that before I leave here. read more

Probably the best option for Pho in the Wilmington area. Decent selection of other offerings. Unfortunately they are not currently selling Banh Mi sandwiches =( The service can also be lacking - hard to get a refill or any attention after your meal comes. Always Vietnamese coffee for the win! read more

Coming from NYC, I'd like to say I have had a fair share of good pho places so when it comes to pho I think I am pretty picky. It's all about the nitty gritty, borderline suspect, Vietnamese restaurants, that are always the ones with the best pho. When you first look at Pho Cali, the store front itself looks a bit suspect, and maybe the sparse furnishing within the restaurant continues with this, however, the place seems actually quite cleanly. It's a breathe of fresh air when you realize you can have good quality pho and not be scared to peek behind into the kitchen. As for the meat of the review, the Pho here is very flavorful, the soup is rich and not too salty with a great beefy taste that I've known to love. The meat balls are tasty and the beef (including all the random parts) tastes fresh as well. The price for the "everything" (No. 1) is $10 which is very fair for the large portion received, with the other styles that are a bit smaller at $9. Also they seem to have very strong/fresh jalapenos here which is perfect for me cause I love spicy, but just a warning if you aren't a big spicy eater. This place is definitely my go-to when it comes to pho in the Newark Delaware area and with the cold weather and flu season coming soon, I suggest any one coming down with a cold or even just on a chilly day to check this spot out. The pho is definitely worth the trip! read more

Delicious Pho! Order the rare beef noodle soup and add all the spices at the table for an amazing creation. The broth is full of flavor! The downside is the cleanliness, the place is filthy in my opinion especially the bathrooms which tells you the kitchen could be much worse Service is ok. One time thou I got the coup and the meat tasted strange almost bad like the beef was old I dunno read more

Thai ice tea was delicious Pho ga - it was pretty good, I've had pho with carrots, lettuce and broccoli in it which was a bit different. Only thing I didn't like they had fried onion bits in it. Wasn't bad just not traditional pho like I've had before. read more

I feel I may be overrating this place because my expectations where so low (Delaware isn't exactly know for its pho) but I did find everything to be quite good. The atmosphere and decor is bland, nothing pho-nominal there, but as one would expect. The waitstaff was decent enough and got the job done. I found ours to be quite friendly as he was impressed with my friend's Vietnamese pronunciations. We started with the summer rolls which were served with a peanut sauce and quite delicious. I ordered the Bun Ga Nuong chicken with lemongrass sauce which I found to have a good level of heat, though some would probably need to add some hot sauce. Portion size was acceptable to me and I was able to finish it off and felt quite satisfied. My friend ordered the pho with beef and was not able to finish it all. We agreed that the beef in the soup was not the most appetizing we'd seen. The prices were quite reasonable and all told our meal wa about $20. Great spot to grab a bowl of pho when in the Wilmington area. read more

One of the better Vietnamese resturants in the area. Actually has good favor compared to others that bland the food for the greater audience. However service is hit or miss. Go for the food not the service. read more

An average option for pho while in Delaware. I've certainly had better elsewhere, but for what it is, I'd still recommend it if you're in the area. I came for lunch with coworkers and found it was inexpensive and very filling - for $8.50 plus tip, I got plenty of noodles served quickly by friendly people. The menu is quite extensive, numbering somewhere close to 80 choices, with options for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. The facility is somewhat drab and could probably use a facelift...but it gets the job done. My vegetable/tofu dish was pretty average overall, but perhaps other choices are more flavorful. I'd like to try more of the menu. I'll be back if I'm at work and need a pho fix in the future. read more

We have been here a few times. The latest and last time the pho was ok but the noodle dish my wife had was just awfull. We also needed sweetener for ice tea. They offered sugar that because of medical issues my wife cant have. The wait staff (2 guys) just brought us more sugar. No one working that day could speak or understand english. We are sensitive to all people , my wife IS Asian also so we understand language issues but to have No one in the place that cant understand a bit of English is just poor service. This was an issue with the bill also. A new pho restaurant opened down the street so we'll give that place a try now. Good luck. read more

No more sandwiches - Boo! Truth be told, All the food is good but I am going to miss those Banh Mi read more

The pho is decent, but the banh mi is awful. By far the lowest quality, most disgusting deli meats I have ever encountered. I am surprised I am here to tell the tale. Stick with the pho or the summer rolls. read more

Good noodle... I ate it all.... The coffee is also very good too... Its so hard to find viet foods here in Delaware, so gotta appreciate them to open viet restaurant here in Delaware with lots choices of great vietnamese dish... read more

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Unassuming place, wholesome food. Large bowls of Vietnamese noodle soup, crisp noodles; friendly staff. Also tried their seafood fried rice. Delicious, very little oil in it. I shall visit again...thank you. read more

Pho Cali - Front in strip mall - Vietnamese Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

I rarely eat in, the floors are always so greasy doesn't feel like the cleanest place but the pho soup is always good and it has no MSG!

Vpho in Newark was so much better. Ok so this place was filthy to start, everything from the walls to the floors were nasty. The Beef Pho was marginal and full of meat with as much fat on it as there was meat. I went in the afternoon between lunch and dinner but as I was eating the staff all took their break and proceeded to play loud videos on their cell phones which at least distracted me from the filth I was surrounded by so maybe that was a plus. Do yourself a favor and pass on by and go to Vpho in Newark right down the road where it was clean and all around better. read more

Just went to pho cali today. I usually come here once a week because I love this place. Will never come here again ever since I was served a bowl of pho with a COCKROACH in it. The scariest part is when I told the owner about it and we simply said, can I get you a new bowl. He didn't seem surprised or worried one bit. Me and my friend, got up and left. Will NEVER EVER GO HERE AGAIN. I am working at uploading the picture of the pho. Instead of pho cali. call this place, pho cockroach. read more

Pho Cali - Cockroach in my pho. DISGUSTING! - Vietnamese Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Maybe the best pho place in Delaware area. Love this place and go often especially after I get hangover. Food is authentic, price is reasonable, good service, but need to improve with the sanitary. Love special combo pho!! read more

Pho Cali - Special pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

I've been going to this place for pho since moving to Delaware in 2012. I haven't wrote a review until now because I had no idea how good it is until I've visited several other pho places in DE and PA. I am so glad we have such an authentic pho place to go to in the small state of DE. The soup base I'd really the best around. The depth in flavor is what sets it apart from other pho places. The portion size is also what you would expect of a decent pho place. Huge bowls with good portion of soup and noodles and separate plate full of bean sprouts, and other ingredients that goes into the soup. There are so much meat in the special pho that finishing the bowl would be hard. The soup is so good though, I'd try eating as much as I can and drink all the soup. Rice dishes and vermicelli dishes are also very delicious. If you enjoy pho, live in the area or just passing through DE, make sure to stop there to satisfy the cravings! read more

I told the server that broccoli in my dish was black from discoloration and that he should probably let the kitchen know, and to my surprise his response was "I think the broccoli might be moldy." Ummm, if you think that it MIGHT be moldy than you should NOT SERVE IT TO CUSTOMERS. If the kitchen had just cut the florets off and discarded the stalk I probably wouldn't even have known, but they served it with the stalk unmistakably black at the cut end, also the stalk was sliced in the kitchen and served on the plate so that anyone could see immediately that the black discoloration went from the end right through the core of the stalk. What I love about Vietnamese food besides its flavors is its freshness . . . so my first visit here is also my last. read more

It's not clean and dirty atmosphere. The food is bluh they probably have different cook anymore d base soup taste fishy and smell dirty I wouldn't go back there no more. read more

This is the most disgusting place I've been to in a long time. To start, the doors, walls, condiment racks, the spoons and the forks at each table have probably never been cleaned. Sauce bottles, salt shaker and soy sauce bottles are so dirty you don't even want to touch them. Did I mention that the spoons and forks were dirty? How can they put bundles of those on each table for people to cough at or touch? Who knows what else happens to them before you grab yours and use it! The cleanliness of the dining area must be a good indicator of how the kitchen is run. read more

second visit wasn't so great, will keep updating.., A "Pho" specialist, not a wide ranging restaurant. It does very well with the soup, rice and rice vermicelli noodle (Bun) dishes it serves. At this writing, for about $7-$8 you get a bowl of Pho which makes a very satisfying meal in itself. Their Vietnamese Egg Rolls (Cha Gio) are a bit expensive but definitely worth the price. For $7 you get 4 piping hot and well prepared rolls. The service is fast but not rushed and the people are nice. read more

Definitely my favorite place to get pho in DE. The portions are generous and inexpensive as well. I've been coming here for 3 years and even though I've tried other places here in DE I still keep coming back to this place. Like one of the other people said, you come to this place for the food and not necessarily for the service. They hardly come over while you're eating but I can honestly say that I've never had bad service here. They're actually really nice but you do have to call them over if you want anything other than what you ordered. read more

Delicious Pho served by folks who will get to know you and your order. I found this place while desperately looking for some Vietnamese food in the Wilmington area. I had low hopes; I'm from Philadelphia, where Pho restaurants are on every corner. I have learned from living with a Vietnamese roommate in college and from eating for the last 20 years since college a LOT of vietnamese soup. When I found this place, tucked into a busy strip mall on Kirkwood highway, I wans't sure what to think. Then I walked in the door, and my senses entered heaven. The scent of freshly cooking pho fills the air as you walk in. The help is all Vietnamese, and the customers are an 80/20 blend of Vietnamese/non-Vietnamese folks. The menu is focused on Pho, appropriately. They offer a wide variety of the things that go in Pho, including tripe, steak, raw steak, meat balls, tendon, etc. Be adventurous--get the tendon. It is delicious. The bowls of Pho are big, as I expect from a Pho restaurant. I can barely finish a bowl if I am starving. Usually i have to leave some behind. The broth is flavorful and savory, with a lot of delicate notes to it. It is always piping hot and absolutely incredible. Noodles are in quantity, and there is plenty of meat included. We typically also order spring rolls (crispy rolls of heaven), summer rolls (fresh and tasty, with a delicious peanut sauce). We often order pan fried noodles with seafood/pork on top. INCREDIBLE--absolutely bursting with vegetables, meat, and a delicious sauce over crispy crispy hot noodles. WONDERFUL. I ordered their vietnamese sandwiches once--I liked them, but I love Pho so much that it is hard to order a sandwich instead. The wait staff is always kind, quick, efficient, and eager to please. After a couple of visits, they began to know our order and ask us if we want our usual. They always get it right. Atmosphere is what you'd expect--not much. That's ok. The scent is heavenly and makes up for the utilitarian furniture. This place is a GEM and a must visit for anyone with a hankering for delicious Pho. Perfect on a cold winters eve! read more

(Since Yelp will not allow me to add half a star, I will do it myself. This is a 3.5 star review.) I've been here about 5 or 6 times in the past 6 months after a fellow Yelper convinced me to give it a try. Pho Cali has all the makings of a great ethnic restaurant, but in the end does not fully produce. The ethnic restaurant checklist has all of the correct boxes filled. Located in a strip mall tucked away in the back, CHECK. Very Asian clientele, CHECK. Bare bones furnishings, and decorations inside, CHECK. Proper condiments on the table, CHECK. Somehow though, Pho Cali, just doesn't bring itself to the 4-5 star level it should be. As far as I know, this is the only Vietnamese restaurant close to Wilmington, so the choices for eating Vietnamese are pretty slim for me. I know other reviewers have compared it to some restaurants in the Newark/Bear area, but I just don't make it down that way, so Pho Cali has to do, and I judge it by all the other Vietnamese places I've been to in other cities ie. Philly, San Francisco, London, and Sydney. By no means is this restaurant not any good, I've had some great dishes here, but it just lacks in some areas. THE GOOD- On a whole Pho Cali has a decent bowl of Pho, and great prices. I like the portion sizes, and the array off condiments to spice up my dishes. I have never ordered a dish I didn't like, and most dishes have been above average, especially the lemon grass chicken. All staff have been friendly, and the restaurant is clean. THE BAD- The standard of service is spotty. I've been completely ignored with an empty water glass, and have had to wave the one and only server on duty down many, many times. Also, I am not sure if the idea is to pay at the counter, but practically every time I have been here I've had to just walk up, and ask to pay. That doesn't bother me at all, but it is never stated anywhere to pay at the counter, and I have watched people both pay at the table, and the counter. I am still confused. Anyway, I have also found the Pho is a bit bland. The stock is missing something, and I am not exactly sure what it is, but I think its that there is not enough depth of flavor. In the end, I will be back, but will be dreaming of the long lost Ong's that used to reside in Chinatown in Philly, as I slurp my Pho. read more

My husband and I lived walking distance from Chinatown in Philly and got hooked on Vietnamese food from Vietnam Palace and Vietnam Restaurant. When we moved back to Delaware, it was one of the things we missed the most. We tried a couple of local Vietnamese places before finding Pho Cali, but they paled in comparison to our favorite places in Philly. Pho Cali is the closest we've found. Don't expect a fancy ambiance, this place is about the food, not the decor. We like to share a big bowl of soup and an order of fresh spring rolls, and of course pho. If there's a better place for Vietnamese in Wilmington, we haven't found it. read more

I love Pho Cali. I have been eating there for years. Me and my sister are regulars. And I have brought a lot of people there with me that now love them!!! The food is delicious and always comes out super fast. I have one complaint and I am not one to disagree with tipping well, as I have done a lot of serving. There is a new sign up that asks for 15% or more tip. Etiquette on this sign aside, the service does not warrant this type of tipping. Someone takes your order and delivers your food. No one checks on you, refills your drink, clears tables or delivers your check. If you need something, you get up and ask at the counter. If you are expecting tips at full service restaurant rates, you need to step it up. I will be back but I will not tip 15% or more based on the service! read more

Probably the best pho I have ever had. Got the basic pho ga, #12, and it was a lot more than I expected in terms of flavor, freshness and content. Free hot tea too; you won't be disappointed here. read more

This is one of the best values in Delaware, I can never understand why the Italian Restaurant in the same shopping center is always packed while Pho Cali never has a wait . I asked the owner one day if he ever thought of fixing the inside of the place up and his shrug sort of said it all , you was good food at a more than fair price ? Or you want good food in a fancy place and pay more? I'll take the former . The Pho ( pronounced Faa , Jules) is always wonderful wirh either egg or rice noodles , the grilled pork chop always has that carmelized crispy bite to it that you wish your meat tasted like when it comes off your grill , all in all it's time and money well spent read more

I've been a few times now and the pho is really reliable, and the spring rolls (get them fried) are addictive. The portions are massive, at least three meals from a bowl of pho or a vermicelli dish for me, which works out to $3/serving. Plus, it reheats well for leftovers. The iced coffee is really delicious and has a great kick. Good comfortable food. Only downside is that you have to ask for water, and sometimes it can take a little while to get your check. This also means no one hovers and keeps asking if you are done and want the check, which I really appreciate. A leisurely meal experience! read more

First time Pho/Vietnamese. Had the brisket Pho and the wife had the Shrimp. Very good. Careful the Shrarachi is very hot. Waiter was not very cheerful, but would go again. read more

Pho Cali doesn't disappoint, and I'll return for the same piping hot bowl of goodness.

One of my friends from Taiwan invited me to have a dinner in this restaurant. He told me they had good beef noodles than Taiwan beef noodles. But I found it was not regular noodles not rice noodles instead, which is originally from southwest China. The soup was wonderful, which was the soul of the noodles. But I found some pork in it besides beef. It would be much better without those pork. read more

I really always give this place the benefit of the doubt... but it always disappoints me. First and foremost, the food is lacking a lot! Like their broth to whatever the hell it is I order always just taste like hot water. I really don't understand how they're in business but whatever. Second, their staff are so rude.. I was there with a friend one night and it was 8:30pm, mind you they closed at 9. 2 other people came in waiting to be seated, the lady said they're closed can you just ordered out... ummmm our food didn't even come out yet! read more

Reasonble prices, modest atmosphere, and great cultural addition to the food scene in Delaware (Kirkwood Highway). Great Pho packaging / portions on take out as well. read more

Ate here twice (good food, no complaints) before I saw the cook or whatever he is smoking a cigarette and picking his nose outside the front door. The cigarette I could've ignored..the knuckle deep nose diving I couldn't let go. It wasn't pretty and he gave not two shits that I said "Ew!" about four feet from him. Uh yeah....won't be back. read more

I love pho (Vietnamese meat soup), and the pho here is OK. This place is not as good as it should be but it is authentic and cheap and the food is OK. It is not to be compared with the pho places in Philly or other cities but it is probably the best we have in Delaware at the moment. read more

Great pho, no atmosphere. Every time I go here I order a bowl of pho, and every time I am not disappointed. The soup is wonderfully flavored, in copious amounts, and very reasonably priced. I always leave wondering when I'll come back next. I am a long time repeat customer, and will be until the day I relocate elsewhere, simply because it's the best bowl of pho around. I'm not rating this place 5 stars simply because of the atmosphere. It could use a lot of work - but if you're simply looking for a bowl of awesome pho, look no further read more

Absolutely great service. I highly recommend that you try the ban mi sandwich and the pho soup. The sandwich is made on fresh French bread and the sandwich is always made to order. It is pretty inexpensive to eat here. read more

Great and authentic. It's not at all fancy but food is great. Highly recommend.