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    Pho Hoa

    4.3 (1.6k reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese
    Open 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Pho Hoa Photos

    Business Info

    PHO HOA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Pho Hoa

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    Ayham D.

    Where has this place been all my life? One of if not the best bowls of pho in the are. It's a no frills type of place. Real hole in the wall type. Broth, meats, veggies-all outstanding. Service was quick. They brought out our chili oil fast and brought two even though we asked for one (two was definitely needed). Pho lovers must visit.

    Dessert
    Ashley N.

    To all PHO-AHOLICS, whether it's pouring rain or sunny skies, this is our favorite spot to grab a bowl of pho. It's always packed but don't worry, you'll always find a seat because the service is fast. The menu isn't huge, but their specialty is pho--delicious and always served hot! This place has been around for ages. We're always here, either coming home from the airport after a long flight, recovering from a hangover, or just craving pho on any given day off.

    Flank and brisket pho!
    Mikey H.

    Craving pho and the only place worth getting it at is here! This is a no frills, eat and go place that attracts locals and the curious. What keeps me coming back is the broth. I always finish it all. I don't know what they make it with, but it is a bowl of love! Brisket and flank are my go tos. This time I added siracha since I was fighting a cold. Don't pass this place up!

    10/2025 the menu was clean
    Henri V.

    Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup. Hoa means harmony, balance or peace. Phở Hòa: Combines the two words to represent the harmony of flavors and balance of ingredients in the soup as defined by Google. This Vietnamese restaurant in the City Heights area of San Diego was listed on Yelp as among the list recommended with high reviews. Over two weeks ago, I was feeling under the weather. I had to slowly reintroduce my body to wholesome foods and I was craving an aromatic pho broth. This restaurant opens earlier than most at 07:00a and that's when I visited. The surrounding area is rough, but there's parking in their lot steps from the entry, and I appreciate the convenience. The host/waiter spoke little English but the menu with the numbered list of selections makes it easy to point and order. The menu was clean, almost newish and ONLY offers various Pho soups and a drinks menu. Ordered number 17, the Pho Chin which is the beef broth noodle soup with rare slices of beef and slices of lean brisket and wanted very minimal noodles. I was only interested in this authentic Vietnamese broth and enjoyed this version of pho very much. I packed the remaining portions of meat and herbs to go. My little baby loves the meat slices especially with the herbaceous taste. Service was cordial, efficient and accommodating. While this restaurant is not fancy, zero ambiance, I appreciated the cleanliness of the menu and surface areas. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Be aware they only accept CASH!! No ApplePay, No credit cards, just CASH. The hot clear aromatic pho broth with its balance of ingredients and harmony of flavors did work its magic to help heal my body and makes this restaurant worthy of a visit, Pho Hoa...recommend.

    Matthew C.

    This Bò Kho was ok. The broth itself was decently seasoned but felt too light for my personal taste. WAY too light. This even had a rain buff. Stick to the Pho here.

    Brisket, Rare steak, and tripe pho
    Christopher G.

    Phò Hòa in City Heights/Talmadge is a classic, fairly authentic Vietnamese pho dining experience. I give this spot a solid 4.4/5 stars. It's not the greatest I've had, but it's definitely up there. The layout of the restaurant, the busyness, and the carts they use remind me a lot of being on the train in Vietnam. To say they're on top of the tables is an understatement--the staff are constantly available, cleaning, and ready to take your order at any second. My friend and I ordered brisket, rare steak, and tripe pho. We loaded up our bowls with basil, jalapeños, hoisin, sriracha, and chili oil. The broth was good, the meat was tender--particularly loved the brisket--and the portions were good. For some reason my bowl had a smaller portion of noodles, but there's plenty of meat, so I'm not complaining. I think that the broth could use a bit more complexity, perhaps more anise and a longer steeping time with more bones. All in all, it's a solid pho though. Lots of seating, fast service, a range of meat cuts--basically a no-frills, classic pho eatery with good prices and a no-nonsense atmosphere. If I had to choose other pho places to rank above this one, I'd say Pho Sao Bien or Pho Minh are slightly better in terms of broth quality.

    Indoor
    David L.

    Came on a Friday evening craving pho. There were a number of pho spots all in that same area but we chose this one. We both ordered pho. Service was incredibly fast! After we placed our order, it seemed like it was only 2 minutes before our food came out! Ambiance is decent- it's a massive dining room and great for larger parties that aren't looking for a fancy ambiance but rather some authentic pho. While it wasn't the best pho I've had, it was good and definitely satisfied our pho craving.

    Organized Utensils and Sauces
    Caitlin D.

    I've actually never been inside Pho Hoa. Their menu is quite simple as they only have different varieties of Pho. Although they do have Bo Kho-- but that was the only different item I saw. Their drink menu is nicely priced or so I thought as I saw cups are on the smaller side. After seeing the size, I'd actually prefer if the drinks were $1 less, but then again...they are making most of the drinks fresh and with quality ingredients it seems so understandable for pricing. In all honestly, for 2025 especially, the pricing for the entire menu is fair! I think, their prices went up maybe $2-3 from before. The interior of Pho Hoa is super spacious, I think it's bigger than Pho Ca Dao. And there's a lot of workers, but I guess they have different tasks. We would ask one worker for the menu and he would relay to someone else to bring the menus, the water, etc. The inside of the restaurant is very clean! All the sauce bottles and utensils were clean and well stocked. I wish they had some small plates so I could mix the hoisin and sriracha for my bo vien (meatballs). I ordered their #18, Pho Bo Vien, Size Small Bowl, $14.50. After Pho Tai, this is my next favorite to order. Here at Pho Hoa they give you large pieces of bo vien and it was a tad darker in color than I usually see it. It had good flavor though. The broth was piping hot and had a nice fragrant taste. It had thinly sliced onions and green onions as well. They used thin pho rice noodles & it was slightly in a lump at the bottom of the bowl at first...which is why I recommend lifting it up and down to loosen them. They gave us 2 plates of pho basil, beansprouts, jalapeño, lime, and even sawtooth herb (ngò gai)! Rather than refilling the glasses of water they come out and give entirely new cups which means more for them to wash. The small size was honestly the perfect size for me to eat. At other restaurants, I usually share with my mom and even then sometimes we wouldn't finish a bowl. This one was delicious and I'd recommend stopping by for lunch if you're in the area and want some pho. The drinks looked good too-- Thai tea, lemonade, ca phe sua da, and if you get the iced tea lemonade maybe ask for more tea. They even had che ba mau, sam bo luong, salty lemon/plum drink, and sua dau nanh!

    Fatty Brisket Pho

    We tried coming here on a Friday a few weeks ago, arriving almost an hour before their posted closing time of 8 PM (as listed on both Google and Yelp), but were turned away and told they now close at 7 PM. That was pretty frustrating and unexpected. I'm not sure if it was just for that specific day, but if their hours have changed, they should really update their online listings and we ended up having to go elsewhere. We decided to come back this past weekend to give it another try. Overall, I thought the pho was just okay. I honestly don't understand the hype around this place. I ordered the fatty brisket pho, and my boyfriend got the #1. My broth was very bland it lacked depth and flavor, though the meat itself was good. I ended up adding salt and pepper, but it still didn't make much of a difference. My boyfriend's pho was also just okay. It was noticeably oily, with a lot of yellow oil floating on top, and despite having a variety of meats, the broth still lacked flavor. Maybe my standards for pho are just higher since I grew up near Westminster and also lived near San Jose, where there are a lot of great pho spots but for us, this place was just average.

    Outside seating
    Susie T.

    Still the best pho in the world even after eating here close to 30 years. Fastest service, and still that good ol hole in the wall with the most authentic pho flavor. Best lazy Sunday feeling and good vibes every time I go.

    Willie L.

    This place is a place where my friends and I frequent when we get back from fishing. It is one of the only restaurants that is opened at 7am. Breakfast pho after getting off multi-day fishing is super satisfying. I usually get pho dat biet with an iced Vietnamese coffee. The food comes out super quick, which may be because we usually come here way early in the morning. The restaurant is basic in the decor where it is not anything fancy.

    Exterior
    Ashley F.

    Pho Hoa is a pho specialty restaurant, only serving up the best Vietnamese noodles in SD. I was amazed with the 2. Specialty Dac Biet. I normally dislike Tendon but it was soft, and thinly sliced savory collagen goodness. Their broth was full of flavor. I am so happy to have had their pho and now can frequent this place instead of driving to OC. 100% would recommend!!!

    No. 11
    Sarah W.

    [Taste: ] the broth was very tasty, clear, and hot! Good selection of protein and portions. Very satisfying! [Service: ] very good, got our food super quickly [Comments: ] Everyone was right, phenomenal Thai tea. [Parking: ] lot parking [Bathroom: ] most likely

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    Page 1 of 41

    Pho Hoa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pho Hoa

    Do they sell the broth separately?

    Yes, they will sell you the broth separately if you ask! Just ask!

    I really want to find a great pho place that doesn't use MSG cause I react so badly to it. Please tell me they don't use MSG here!?

    Do you react that way to tomatoes, cheese, cabbage, or any meat too? Many foods in our regular diets have msg naturally occurring.

    Are they reopened for dine in?

    Yes, they are! :)

    As on May 25, is it open for dine in yet? I have been craving for Pho for months and carry out is just not the same!

    Hey guys anyone know if their broth is beef or pork?

    beef.

    Are the noodles gluten free?

    Pho noodles are made from rice flour, which should be gluten free.

    Do they have chicken pho?

    I don't think I've ever seen chicken pho there and I've been eating here for nearly 30 years. This is a legit authentic pho spot and I think chicken pho is something that businesses sell to attract a wider audience

    Is this place vegan friendly?

    Yes they have bowls with no meat or broth . I don't know how the broth is made but I'm sure they use some kinda meat bones.

    Is this part of the chain?

    Absolutely not. Can't find pho like this anywhere else :-)

    Do you tip here? There's really not any kinda service happening.....

    Of course. Still a service . I always do.

    View All 11 Questions

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    Goi Cuon

    Goi Cuon

    4.5
    (908 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Vegetarian friendly

    First time here. Found them on Yelp. Giving them 5 stars because for simple reasons…read more They catered to plant-based/vegan and vegetarian options. We phoned in before driving there and they answered all our concerns and questions. The staff were all very friendly, very accommodating, and the place was organized and decorated. The plating/presentation was nice, and the food was decent. The pricing was also reasonable. The only thing to keep in mind is that parking is a bit limited, and was a bit busy and not as easy to get into--also, the restaurant has you order up front and they'll bring you the food to your table. The water is self-serve. Overall, a good first time experience. We're not from the area but would definitely come back to try more items on their menu.

    such an amazing selection of high quality, fresh and delicious spring rolls! i absolutely loved it…read morehere. the worker/owner? was super sweet and handled almost everything FOH by himself. i got combo 1, which included crispy shrimp rolls, 2 spring rolls, a dumpling, soup, jasmine tea(!) and the most delicious sauces i've ever had. whatever the garlic sauce was i continue to dream about it to this day. I can't wait to come back to SD for another amazing, affordable and refreshing meal at Goi Cuon! It would be so perfect for this hot weather

    Photos
    Eggs Sandwich
    Eggs Sandwich
    Shrimp sugar can rolls, beef rolls, crispy Vietnamese crepe rolls
    Shrimp sugar can rolls, beef rolls, crispy Vietnamese crepe rolls
    Chicken salad bowl add avocado

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    Chicken salad bowl add avocado
    Ngon Ngon To Go

    Ngon Ngon To Go

    4.8
    (250 reviews)
    11.0 mi
    $$
    Catering service
    Locally owned & operated

    this time we got the garlic wings, which were still super crispy & garlicky…read more this was my first time trying clay pot rice - like the coveted toasted rice at the bottom of a rice cooker, but a whole dish. they brought it out sizzling & the rice was perfectly crispy, not hard. we got it w beef, which was super tender. & it was a good portion - the pot was deeper than it looked the soft-shell crab plate came w 2 crabs, which didn't seem like much at first but it was filling. again they had the perfect texture, crispy without being hard. they were big enough to get a good amt of meat & yellow crab fat, & they were tasty & well seasoned. they came w a lil drizzle of a sweet brown sauce, which added contrast without being overpowering. & the masago rice had enough flavor from the roe without being fishy. (on the side came a random salad of just lettuce, grape tomatoes, & raisins in a sweet dressing - it didn't rly add anything but i was happy to have some veggies.) the tables were p full this time but service was just as fast. all 6 dishes we've tried so far have been great!

    Located inside of Vinh Hung supermarket. Super small with only a few dine in tables, with some in…read morethe hallway/walkway of the building that connects with other businesses. We had the canh ga chien bo toi, nui xao bo, nui xao tom, bun cha Ha Noi, and bo luc lac. The wings were nice and crispy with a lot of fried garlic topping. I wished it somehow coated the batter, though, because I think that would've been better. The nui xao weren't for our likings, as it was strong in tomato based flavoring. I felt like I was eating noodles with ketchup. The dish looked appetizing, though. My guests said they enjoyed their bo luc lac and bun cha but wouldn't say it's the best in town. I'd still like to return to try something else next time.

    Photos
    Ha Noi grilled pork & patties vermicelli 
Bun Cha Ha Noi
    Ha Noi grilled pork & patties vermicelli Bun Cha Ha Noi
    Clear Vermicelli w/Shrimp and crab meat
(Mien xao tom cua)
    Clear Vermicelli w/Shrimp and crab meat (Mien xao tom cua)
    Masago Egg Fried Rice w/crab meat

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    Masago Egg Fried Rice w/crab meat
    Kingfisher

    Kingfisher

    4.4
    (697 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    Kingfisher has become more than just one of our favorite restaurants--it's our son's favorite place…read moreto eat, and every visit feels like coming home. The food is consistently exceptional, but the duck and the pasta are absolutely must-orders. Every bite reminds us why we keep coming back. What truly sets Kingfisher apart, though, is the people. Rick and Jennifer always go above and beyond to make us feel like family. Their kindness, hospitality, and genuine care make every meal special, and they always make our son feel so welcome. Great food brings you in, but it's the incredible staff that keeps you coming back. We can't recommend Kingfisher highly enough.

    Came here on a Friday with a reservation for a party of 4. There is no parking lot available so you…read morewill have to find street parking. The restaurant is very trendy and a perfect spot for a date or intimate dinner with a small party. For appetizer we ordered house-made baguette and French butter, duck liver pate, and kanpachi crudo. The baguette with the French butter was so fresh and tasty. It was hard to stop eating it. The pate was also delicious and the kanpachi crudo was one of my favorite dishes of the night. We also ordered the crispy chicken wings, house made egg noodles and smoked dry aged duck for entrees to share. The winds were very flavorful and the sauces that came with it were a great pairing. The noodles the smoked duck was a great size for sharing and came with lots of veggies and sides. The duck was perfectly cooked and delicious. The noodles were yummy but were outshined by the rest of the dishes. We ordered the pickled papaya and marinated cucumbers for sides. In hindsight we definitely had too much food and probably didn't need the sides but both were great compliments to the other dishes. For cocktails I ordered the nuoc mami but ended up preferring the water buffalo. Both were good but I did really enjoy the clarified pho reduction in the water buffalo. Service was friendly and attentive. They packaged up our menu nicely as we were celebrating birthdays. Overall I had a great first time at Kingfisher and would definitely recommend a try.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Hokkaido scallops $39
    Hokkaido scallops $39
    Crispy chicken wings

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    Crispy chicken wings

    Pho Hoa - vietnamese - Updated July 2026

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