Not too Impressed. What type of pho place doesn't serve basil? It's not bad but I wouldn't be coming here again.

Pre-Covid, this was one of the staples for Friday night dinners with the family. During the pandemic, we would order takeout and since quarantine restrictions have lifted, we have dined here a few times. Pho Element is solid place to get some steaming hot chicken pho to warm the soul on a cold night! The Hainan chicken rice plate, imperial rolls, and Saigon butter tofu are also family favorites. Sometimes we splurge and get the crab and add fried rice cooked with the crab paste. The staff members are friendly, quick and knowledgeable. read more

This place amazing. I usually don't like the thick noodles in my soup but this is place that changed my mind. They also have amazing shrimp fried rice. The food is all around delicious. Came here a few times in a short time span. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the middle of San Mateo on El Camino. read more

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Pho Element is better than Turtle Tower. There - I said it. I got a small Pho Ga, which was freakin' amazing. The broth was super complex and tasty. I would totally recommend this dish. The thick, flat noodles were also good too. However, please don't let the cute decor confuse you as service was terrible, lol. Our waiter barely gave us any attention. We had to wait awhile before getting our order in. And when we ordered an additional meal for take-out, it was sitting on their table for a good 5 minutes+ ... If you're ever in the area, I would definitely suggest stopping by Pho Element for a quick bite! It was relatively crowded for a Monday evening too, but getting seated wasn't an issue. read more

Pho Element - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Their Pho Ga is my go to for Asian chicken noodle soup comfort food! The five spice chicken is also really good and highly recommended. I can also recommend the chicken papaya salad as a really refreshing side anytime but definitely great in the summer. I don't eat red meat anymore but the wine sauce oxtail noodle soup is also rich and delicious. I usually end up doing take-out but the service is always friendly and welcoming. read more

Vegetarian critique: not many options. The one dish that was really good is their Saigon butter tofu. Crisp crunch exterior and soft tofu center. Very flavorful appetizer! I ordered their Pho Chay (veggie broth) and not impressed compared to other vegetarian Phos in the Bay Area. I missed adding basil and cilantro as they only provided a lime and pepper slices. It had disappointing 4 pieces of tofu with stringed cabbage, onions, and pieces of sliced tomato. The broth did have some flavor and I appreciated the thicker noodles. I'm glad I had the Saigon tofu on the side to add to the lacking tofu in the Pho Chay. read more

Pho Element - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Omg let's cut to the chase right now, FOOD TASTE AWESOME HERE! Tip to save yourself some grief: use the Yelp waitlist. Do also note that the tables and floors can be a bit sticky. Husband noticed funky smells around but you know what, THE FOOD TASTE AWESOME HERE! I've had my fair share of dives so it doesn't bother me. We ordered #29satay rare beef noodle soup $11.50, #1imperial rolls$8.50, #51side of five spice chicken$8.95, #52a:BBQ beef short ribs $12.95. Kiddo of course wants what everyone kid wants: #18chicken noodle soup $10.50. I believe they're chinese and not Vietnamese but they sure know how to make some good tasting food! I love their homemade spicy sauce. I was putting that sh!t on everything -- move over Frank! read more

This pho place isn't really your typical traditional Vietnamese pho spot. The noodles aren't vermicelli noodles. Its more a flat rice noodle, which isn't bad at all! It was very soft and abundant. The meats aren't sliced thinly either and its meaty. Server sat us down with a shared table and it was interesting because I guess this restaurant has minimal storage since I see a corner of tables that are used to store their inventory. Overall, I would go back just for the noodles if I an craving something nearby! read more

Love this place so much pho real. I visit at least 1-2x a month and only tell my closest friends

More like 4.5 stars. This was my second visit. By some miracle I got front parking. (Parking sucks). The first time I had chicken soup. This time I had regular pho with meatballs. I don't remember being wow'd by the chicken soup; maybe because I had a cold. But the pho this time was tasty. I appreciate the flat noodles instead of the vermicelli noodles for a change. The meat quality was higher than other pho places. I love when pho spots add a good amount of onion and cilantro & they didn't skimp. Everything here is slightly pricier than other pho places, especially the appetizers at ~$8 compared to ~$5.50. The server dude yesterday was quite a character. Worth the stop if you're in the area & get a parking spot. read more

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What a hidden gem! Hidden bc I've never been here before but it was definitely poppin' with people. Quick service and friendly. The food is so good! Dare I say, we love it more than Ben tre... The pho was tasty and I love their wide noodles. Hefty portions leaving you satisfied and even with leftovers. That's rare for us. The bbq pork spring rolls were on point. Tasty and beautifully made. Definitely coming back to be in my pho element! read more

Wow, I am impressed at the flat noodles, broth, and filet mignon meat! I always pass by the place because I thought they only served chicken pho. They serve both chicken and beef pho! read more

Pho Element - Filet mignon pho with brisket - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

New favorite pho place in San Mateo. Parking wasn't great but definitely worth it. Suggest adding yourself to waitlist via yelp ahead of arriving at the restaurant. There was a long line around 7 pm on a Friday night. We had the Pho Ga (chicken), Pho Bö Dac Biet (beef fillet with meatballs), Imperial Rolls (fried) (I think it was Cha Giö) and Vegetables on the special menu (String Beans and Okra mix), Hot Tea, Thai Iced Tea and Limeade. Pho Ga was really good if you want chicken. Pho Bö Dac Biet was really good once you add some of red hot sauce and some lime. Imperials Rolls was epic! Best fried rolls I've had yet! Vegetables on the special menu was epic! So freaking good if you love veggies. Hot Tea, Thai Iced Tea and Limeade were really good. Would highly recommend this place. The broth and noddles were on point. Different from other pho restaurants (northern versus southern Vietnamese cuisine). Staff were exceptional! Super friendly, attentive and fast service. read more

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Ordered hainan chicken rice, fried tofu, and satay beef noodle soup. Everything is big portion, great bang for your buck. came at an unconventional time 3:30 pm on a Saturday, the store has lots of availabilities but there are also a good amount of people eating there. Lots of people spoke highly of their chicken and rice.. The fried tofu is also big-portion and tasty for appetizer. The beef noodle is a bit spicy and the broth is on the heavier pasty side(since it's satay). The noodle is a bIt overcooked. Overall it's hearty comfort food. read more

Pho Element - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Hip places for Pho! The renovations inside are really nice, especially compared to other restaurants in the area. Bright lights, cool decors, plush seats. No wonder the place was packed! The food was good too. I got the hainanese chicken rice, which had fresh chicken. You can clearly see the chicken was hand pulled into small, uneven pieces by hand. The rice was nicely marinated too. The price is not bad. Pretty good compared to the friendly service and nice food + decor. Overall, a nice pho place to go with friends! read more

Pho Element - Inside - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I think it's about time I wrote a review for this place. I come here damn near every week. Must get: ~ Pho Ga (aka chicken noodle soup) This is probably one of the best pho ga I've had. Very flavorful chicken broth with plenty of tender juicy shredded chicken. Mix in some fish sauce, sriracha, hoisin sauce and a lime squeeze, the whole thing is a party In your mouth. I would be in trouble if this place was near anywhere I lived. I can't get enough of it!! ~ Hainan chicken rice plate This is another dish they are most known for as well. Same tender chicken used in their Pho Ga, this dish is served over flavored rice and a side of pickled veggies + 3 dipping sauces. I recommend ordering a fried egg on top! Appetizers that are also great: Raw beef carpaccio Fried imperial rolls Fresh spring rolls Shredding cabbage salad with chicken read more

Popular spot. Busy at lunch especially on a rainy day. Had the beef pho. Would i go back? Yes. The noodles are too large i like the skinny noodles. read more

Pho Element - Beef pho - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

This place isn't what comes to mind when I think of traditional bay area pho, this is tasty -- but reminded me more of Singaporean food (though I"m told this is Northern Vietnamese) - Wait: Weekend line took about 20 minutes for a table for 4. - Food: Hainanese Chicken (3.5 stars): soft and delicate, tasty and flavorful but the rice wasn't as rich/flavorful as some you'd find in Singapore. Didn't come with a bowl of rich broth to drench stuff in either. - Food: Pho Ga (4 stars): noodles are different than traditional pho, but came with quite a bit of pulled chicken that wasn't OVERly dry. TLDR: This place is pretty good/solid for what reminds me more of Singaporean food -- quality of their food is superior to most asian places actually. read more

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Closer to 3.5 stars but I'm rounding down because after living in the San Jose area for a very long time, I cannot say their Vietnamese food is above average. It is however well priced and the portions are large, just to be fair. Parking is usually a challenge as they're directly on El Camino and although there is a residential area behind the restaurant, parking is still scarce. The restaurant itself is clean and modern. On non-primetime days and times, there usually isn't a wait and seating is relatively ample. I have tried the Chicken Pho and the Hainanese Chicken and neither are worthy of bringing home to your Vietnamese mother's kitchen table. The pho broth is bland, almost like straight chicken broth from a can. The Hainanese chicken isn't the whole problem, it's the bland and plainly flavored rice and the 3 dipping sauces including a soy garlic dipping sauce that tastes exactly as it reads. When you've had hit you in the mouth fresh garlic flavored rice and 3 distinctly varied and zesty dipping sauces from other joints serving this same dish in San Jose, it is not possible for me to rate this dish or the pho as anywhere near exceptional. However for the less experienced, this isn't a bad option when you're in the area. read more

Pho Element - Pho Ga(chicken) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Always dependable and delicious! Love their oxtail and chicken curry pho, Hainan chicken and egg rolls! Not authentic Vietnamese flavor -- more like Chinese/Vietnamese fusion. Service is always on point. They messed up our to go order one time, we called and they promised a free pho next time. They kept their promise and gave us a free pho next time we mentioned the incidence. Fast, reliable flavor and good portions! read more

We greatly enjoyed the pho, vermicelli bowl and the fresh spring roll. The taste is spot in. The service was casual and friendly. The ambiance is typical Asian family style - casual and relaxed. Will come again. Allow time to find a parking. read more

Have been using this place for takeout occasionally for sometime now. The food is average and service is always good. I have found other places that seem to have more flavor in their dishes however the food here is always consistent which I admire. I have never eaten at the restaurant itself so would not be able to comment on the experience eating there but when I pickup, food is always ready on time. read more

I was surprised to find out that there is a northern Vietnamese type of Pho called Bac that is different than the Southern type called Pho Nam. The big difference is in the noodles. The southern style uses the really thin rice noodles that are almost chewy in texture and don't fall apart easily, especially when they are fresh and not overcooked. Most place you go to serve up the Pho Nam with the thin noodles. The southern type uses a wide and thicker rice noodle and at Pho Element this is the type they serve in their bowls of Pho. Came here after pretty late on a Saturday night after being at a conference all day and I was pretty tired and all I wanted was a beer and a bowl of Pho. Searched my Yelp app for veggie options and this place popped up at the top. Decided to give it a try and was surprised that the Yelp app was saying it was booked full but I could be wait listed. When I arrived it wasn't as full as they made it out to be so didn't have to wait at all. First thoughts were what a nice upscale feel the place had. I mean when it comes to Viet spots I think of numbers on the tables, bus boys and girls filling large carts of dirty empty soup bowls and lines forming to pay for their tabs. Not here it's nice and quiet and it had cool booth tables with nice upscale lighting. This was just the place I needed to unwind. One thing nice about his place is the staff here are not only friendly but they understand vegetarian versus vegan and what menu items have what in them. usually your lucky if they can even speak English let alone what's in dishes. Although the menu is somewhat limited on veggie items they do modify orders to your wishes. I saw they had a veggie pho on the menu and so that was going to be the ticket with a tsingtao beer. I also asked about the veggies in the pho and I was told it only comes with cabbage cucumber lettuce and tomatoes so I decided to add broccoli for an extra charge. Like I mentioned the pho here is a bit different. When I got my bowl I noticed how clear the broth was. Usually that means no flavor but one sip of the broth and I was like Marc Weiner on You Tube with crazy face and eyes rolling. Maybe I'm exaggerating because I was hungry but it had a nice flavor of spices and yet clean tasting. The noodles were perfectly cooked and very slurp-able. They also have this house-made hot chili sauce that is so good and when you add this to your bowl of pho makes it even more flavorful. Veggies not yellow but bright green and vibrant. Also the bowl was also large sized even though I got a small so not a bad price even with the additions. If you are looking for a clean upscale Viet spot and looking for a good bowl of veggie Northern style Pho this should be on your list to try for sure. read more

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My girlfriend and I came here on Thursday night not knowing what to expect. However, we were extremely surprised by the quality of service and the speed that the food came out. After we were seated by our waiter, we ordered our food, which included 2 mains and 1 appetizer. I kid you not, our food arrived in less than 5 minutes! And the same happened to all the groups that were sitting by us. The food itself was pretty good, with each dish satisfying our stomachs. 5-Spice Chicken with Vermicelli: Pretty good dish, especially with the juicy chicken and the sauce that came with the dish. Chicken skin wasn't crispy, but more on the soft chewy side, which was unfortunate, but overall a very good dish. Pho Bo Dac Biet: The pho broth was really flavorful and nice! I could tell that the broth had been cooked for hours, and the beef balls and rare brisket were really delicious as well. The noodles were flat rice noodles, which was a bummer because I felt like they were too soft. However, for a cold late night noodle soup, this definitely hit the spot! Chicken Papaya Salad: Really refreshing and light! The tangy crispy papaya with the tender clean chicken provided a nice contrast to our savory meal. Even better, they topped the whole dish with peanuts and crispy onion, which just added a whole different depth of flavor. Definitely a must try. I'll definitely be back here in the future if I'm ever in the mood for some good Vietnamese food. For a sit down restaurant, I still can't get over how fast the food comes out. Oh, and shoutout to the tall Chinese waiter with glasses - he was truly a hustler, cleaning tables super quickly and helping explain the menu to multiple groups patiently. read more

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Great soups, could use more veggies in it. Service is good and we can always get a table.

I tried their butter tofu. It was great and crispy like everyone had mentioned. The salt & Pepper & garlic and chili they add makes it taste so good. I ordered the 29 my favorite but today but it was a thumbs down. The ingredients arrived upside down. The meat is usually on top but when it arrived it was at the bottom so the meat arrived cooked. & It actually really had no meat. It was missing the peanuts. It had bubbles which readings as weird. It missed its mark with me today. read more

Pho Element - Appetizer Butter tofu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Great service a good food . I love there Pho with ax tail , so yummy . That's my favorite .

Pretty decent pho in the South Bay Area. I wished they gave more sauce though if you were ordering to go.

I love this place!! We always get the same server, the guy with the glasses and he's such a character! (In a good way) - he's really loud and helpful and gives the best service! I've been here 3 times now, and here are the dishes you have to order: 1. Butter tofu - it's soft like butter 2. Fried rice - I think they douse it with MSG, it's amazing!! I've been dying to try their crab fried rice, but you have to order an entire crab and I can't eat that much. Basically everything on the menu is delicious! I still haven't tried their pho ga, pretty sure they're known for that. Love this place and will become a regular read more

Pho Element - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Not sure why they are receiving a high score. The quality and taste might be compromised since I had takeout. Nevertheless, the chicken pho was subpar. The noodle used was not authentic and soggy. The broth was bland. I tried their famous must try fried tofu and it was nothing special. There are definitely more tastier authentic Vietnamese restaurants in the San Mateo area. read more

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We've been meaning to try this place and were craving hainanese chicken and vermicelli. Ended up getting the BBQ pork with the imperial rolls over vermicelli, and the hainanese chicken rice for takeout. The food really hit the spot. I loved the hainanese chicken since it was so tender and flavorful and it came with small containers of sauce. Wished that they gave more sauce though and that the rice had more coconut flavor. The BBQ pork was flavorful but was a bit dry and the vermicelli was a bit bland. Again needed more fish sauce. I would rate this place 4.5 stars. However, both dishes had generous amounts of meat so I'm rounding up to 5 stars. The restaurant staff were also fast and efficient. read more

Pho Element - 34 - BBQ Pork and Imperial Roll with Vermicelli - - Bn Tht Nng Ch Gi - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Just had their food the other day. I honestly did not expect much from the place, but OMG! It was mind-blowing!!! Loved every bite of food. Their five spice chicken is so juicy and flavorful. I usually prefer having beef over chicken, and ordered their beef short ribs. The ribs were excellent but the chicken was exceptional. It's a must try! Also, do not forget order those fish cakes. You will be pleasantly surprised :) read more

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Exceeded my expectations. Honestly everything we got on the menu were a hit. I didn't think that they could make pho that good but that was probably one of the best phos I've had. The crispy tofu was amazing as well! They served their food fast too read more

If you are looking for authentic Vietnamese food - this is not it. Chinese run pho place. There are peanuts in the spring rolls and it's not listed in the ingredients. I didn't realize and my 9 year old ate it. We were able to get him to throw it up without any intervention medically. My issue is that when we asked them about the peanuts in the spring rolls and asked if the ingredient was listed they acted very nonchalant. I told them spring rolls do not traditionally have peanuts within the spring rolls. And that perhaps a demarcation of a letter P on the menu is not enough. I Then the waiter or owner proceeded to lecture me about my parenting and that I should announce my kids' allergies to the restaurant ahead of time. On top of that he proceeded to tell me my child's life is more important than food. Nice. Nevertheless my mistake but I would avoid this place for its mediocre (at best) attempt at Vietnamese food. read more

PHO GA, BBQ pork spring rolls, and butter tofu for the win!! We were in the area and my sister's coworker recommended this place so we decided to try it out. I had the pho ga, my husband had the wine oxtail noodle soup, and my sister had the filet mignon noodle soup. We also ordered bbq pork spring rolls and butter tofu to share. The oxtail noodle soup was interesting! The broth was rustic red color (from the wine) and it had a unique taste. It wasn't bad but it wasn't sooo good either. My sister loved her mignon noodle soup. My pho ga though, was on point! Im glad I got the large because my son loved the soup! The noodles were nice and soft, and wasn't like some pho spots where they serve their noodles in a huge clump. My son liked the noodles but once he had the broth, there was no turning back. Dude almost drank half the bowl! The butter tofu was also pretty interesting. It was nicely fried and soft on the inside. Their bbq spring rolls was good! Pretty much a vermicelli bowl in a roll form. So if you're in a bind between getting vermicelli vs pho, you can jst order the rolls and get an order of pho- best of both worlds! Both appetizers were good!! If we're in the area, we will def come by for some good eats! Customer service was great. Only thing that sucks is parking! They do have a few stalls in the back of their business but other than that, you'd have to find street parking. read more

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The pho tastes like standard Chinese soup base with noodles, as many have stated. Owner and staff are all Cantonese. They claim to be "Northern Vietnamese." I spent months in Northern Vietnam and I can tell you this pho does not taste anything like northern pho. Service was good but the food was poor. read more

Pho Element has palpable Northern style Vietnamese food, everyday food. Pretty much every dish is delicious and full of flavor (mgs and all). Nothing a cold drink can not fix. When you are paying your tab make sure to check the item and tax calculations as this has become a cash business. Happy eating! read more

Great comfort food! It's our go to place for pho! We started going when it opened and after all these years, consistency and good service has been the theme!!! Number 20 is my usual order with rare filet mignon. Piping hot tasty broth!!! Everything is good. The curry is just right and not too spicy but flavorful, I ask for the boneless chicken since it does come with chicken chunks ( with bones) if you don't specify. Salads are light and refreshing but the price for salads has increased too much. read more

Absolutely horrible, do not order the beef pho. Not authentic at all. I asked for pho tai and they came out with a vegetable pho with carrots and cabbage in chicken broth. Asked if my order was right and they came back with another bowl, with tai and chicken broth. No onion or cilantro either. How can they call this pho? No one speaks Vietnamese here too yet their menu is in Vietnamese, I am offended. read more

Was very under-whelmed with the food here. First of all, you have to pay for condiments like bean sprouts??? Had to ask for hoison and sriracha which were the bootleg kind in packets. My pho came Luke warm and barely cooked the beef. The broth turned pinkish from the blood of the beef. The noodles were not your typical pho noodles. 1st time I have ever gotten spring rolls with no dipping sauce. Has this place always been like this? read more

Pho Element - Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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