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    Pho La Jolla

    3.1 (1.2k reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Pho La Jolla Takeout or Delivery

    Pho La Jolla Photos

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    PHO LA JOLLA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Pho La Jolla

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    Sarah K.

    If you're looking for authentic vietnamese food, this isn't the spot you're looking for. we got the bun bo hue and filet mignon skillet. The bun bo hue did not taste like bun bo hue. it kind of tasted like watered down broth with chili oil. we got it with rare steak and tendon and the rare steak had a funny taste to it. they also only gave us 2 pieces of tendon. it was really disappointing so if you are someone who loves vietnamese food, you will be very disappointed. the filet mignon skillet was questionable. there was no pate and the seasoning was not authentic. it was also a really small portion for the price. if you're in a pinch or looking for late night food, maybe this could be for you. but don't expect anything authentic or flavorful

    1. Pho Special Combination
    Wendy A.

    Cute little pho spot next to the Sheraton La Jolla. It's not busy so there was plenty of space. They provided water in a tall metal cup and the pho came out very quickly. I would say it's pretty good but nothing to write home about.

    Deluxe F2 Fried Rice - Special Combination
    allison r.

    Came here with my family after the aka Jolla Symphony. It was 430pm so the place was practically empty and parking was super easy. We ordered 15. Bún Bò Huế, two 7. Rare Steak & Beef Meatballs, the 14. Tom Yum & Veggie Soup and the Deluxe Fried Rice with Shrimp. All the food came out quick and hot with all the sides. Everything was DELICIOUS! I would highly recommend!

    Top is special pho, bottom is bun Bo hue

    Ok, so there are many mixed reviews about this place on all the platforms. Let me break it down for you: If you are American, or you are living near UCSD with no car and you need a Vietnamese fix: This is the not bad and probably the best for you, while having the pho fl. If you are Viet, or you have a car: This is not the place. Lower your expectations. The bun Bo hue had no pork blood, and the special pho had no meatballs. The flavor was pretty watered down, yet had the herby taste. You can decide if it is worth going.

    Sunny S.

    Food was pretty tasty. Their combination spring rolls were delicious. Service was self ordering on iPad and food brought to you. When paying they start with 22% tip, I was tricked paying that as there is not much of a service being provided that justify 22%.

    Matty A.

    My sister and I recently visited Pho La Jolla--it's become a cherished tradition to get Vietnamese food either right before or after she flies out of San Diego, and this is officially our new go-to spot! This restaurant truly is a cultural icon in La Jolla, serving absolutely phenomenal, high-quality Vietnamese cuisine. We were lucky enough to meet the owner, Tammy, and her husband, and sitting next to them and hearing about their 17 years of building this successful, fantastic business was such a highlight. We took their suggestions on food, and everything was fantastic! From the crispy fried spring rolls and refreshing fresh spring rolls to the perfectly seasoned wings and the truly amazing rib pho, every dish was a winner. It was all seasoned and cooked to perfection. Thank you, Tammy and husband, for the incredible hospitality and the wonderful food. We can't wait to come back. Everyone must try this place--it's more than just a restaurant; it's a staple of the community!

    Suite front
    Emmett T.

    Pho La Jolla is another one of the student-oriented businesses in the Villa La Jolla Plaza south of the UCSD campus. They close at 10 pm every day which is conducive for the night owls. If you come in the evening, then open parking spaces are likely, but forget about it during daylight hours. The seating capacity in the dining room was sufficient for around 60 customers. A limited time menu card along with a two-sided laminated menu sheet was placed at each table. Noodle salads (bun), fried rice, egg noodles, and beverages were listed on one side. The other side displayed the pho, appetizers, steamed rice, and banh mi sandwiches. The weather has cooled off considerably so on this evening I selected one of the 17 bowls of pho which was a Seafood mix of fishcake, fishball, squid, and shrimp. A standard platter of garnishments (basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos, lime) was provided on the side. My bowl took about 15 minutes to prepare which seemed long considering only two other parties were seated. The traditional rice noodles were clumped in the middle of the broth which was not appealing. There were two pieces of each seafood item. The broth didn't have a depth of flavor like other Viet joints in the Convoy District or Little Saigon. Prices were $16.95 and up for all of the pho varieties that contained a protein. That seemed high especially if the primary customer base is the campus residents. I gave three stars for the quality and price of my food at Pho La Jolla.

    brisket pho
    Fumie W.

    so happy they let me order brisket pho, although it's not on the menu. the pho is pretty simple, which met my cravings for a nearby pho spot. i think this is one of the only pho spots in UTC/la jolla. pho comes out fast.

    Sofie P.

    Le Tran + Thinh Tran: we had had about 20 people come and everyone thought it was absolutely phenomenal. The restaurant was nice with great ambiance, the food was out of the world, and the service was amazing. We ordered Bun Rep, Pho Suon Bo, Pho Ga, Fried Chicken, and more. The coffee and boba that they had were also very delicious. 10/10 highly recommend!!

    Rare and well cooked steak pho.
    Francisco D.

    Pho La Jolla is located down the street from UCSD. It might be the closest pho shop to the college campus students. I remember it used to be the pho shop all us students went to back in college. Its been many years since I ate here, so I decided to stop by and try it out. Oh gosh is it awful. So so awful... I wanted a shrimp and pork spring roll for an appetizer. Nope, they didn't have it. I looked around the menu and noticed many other dishes were missing. Ok... So i went right tonordering the rare and well done steak pho. The soup was barely hot enough to coook the steak. Still had a lot of red showing. The broth was tasteless and the pho, stiff. Not much to say about the staff and service. Not much to comment about the restaurant atmosphere. Its get in, eat bad pho, and out you go... Pretty bad...

    Zuli M.

    Can be busy during lunch time but service is always good. Food is good. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here but if I'm in the mood for pho and close by, I will definitely stop by.

    Vivian C.

    The pho was absolutely bland and tasteless. Real pho has visual oily in the broth, this didn't. The broth does not taste good and the meat is very greasy. They rely on the influx of college students for volume I think. To compare with pho in OC where I live , this pho restaurant only 2 stars especially it overpriced .

    Chicken
    Billy W.

    My wife and I have been dining here @ La Jolla Phò, for the past 15+ years. It is our go to spot! The ambiance is quaint, with a welcome home type of atmosphere. I promise, they have something for everyone! With a vast menu, that covers the absolute "Best" & "Colossal" bowls of Phó in San Diego county. So over the past decade and a half we tried every dish on the menu. Just when you thought, it couldn't get any better than this. Bam Tammy the owner launched "Cajun Seafood Boil" Now I'm a carnivore so I tried the New "BBQ Pork Buns" mmm.. pillowy soft buns filled with savory & slightly sweet bbq pork. Mouth watering! My wife the pescatarian ordered the "Bowl" she chose "Clams, Mussels and Shrimp" the set-up was priceless. Butcher paper for a table cloth, equipped with a bib, and gloves. (Definitely needed) she described the flavor as "Smoky, spicy, and aromatic, with a robust and complex flavor" but you can choose your spice level. She gave it her all and fell short to finishing it. All I can say is this "mom and pop shop" is a diamond in the rough!! Shame on you if you don't try it. Needed to add all of the photos!

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    Thy S.

    Thank you!

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    The picture looks good to me

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    Page 1 of 30

    Pho La Jolla Reviews in Other Languages

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    Viet Nom - Pho Nom Special

    Viet Nom

    4.6(1.2k reviews)
    1.6 miUniversity City
    $$

    Yeah sure 5 stars is fine I ordered the signature pho…read more The meat was good, ribs had good flavor. Didn't care for the meatball but all the other toppings were good. Soup felt different than usual. Tasted stronger use of spices and herbs, particularly anise. And a bit sour. I never had tangy pho and that was before I put the lime juice. I guess there are different variations to pho and I am just not knowledgeable.

    We hadn't been back to this location in quite some time because of our previous experiences, but…read morethis latest visit was actually a pleasant surprise. I'm not here to talk about ambiance, decor, or the overall dining experience -- this review is strictly about the food. The main reason we stopped coming before was because they changed the rib plate from two larger ribs to three much smaller ones. Personally, I wasn't a fan of that change. The smaller ribs felt noticeably fattier and didn't have nearly as much meat, so over time we just stopped returning. Recently, we decided to give the place another try and ordered the same dish again. To my surprise, the larger two-rib portion was back. That alone was a huge improvement. I've always enjoyed their pho here as well. The broth has a flavor profile that stands out from a lot of other spots -- rich and flavorful without feeling overly greasy or heavy. The bowls are also generously filled with quality cuts of meat, which is something I definitely appreciate. That said, I'm still landing at four stars because while the larger ribs returned, something else seemed to change. In the past, the ribs had this nice char to them, almost like they were grilled or pan-seared before serving. That slight crisp and smoky flavor was honestly what made this place stand out from other similar spots. The ribs on this visit were still good, but they didn't have that same finish that made them memorable before. Hopefully they bring that back, because I really think that detail was what separated them from the competition.

    Photos
    Viet Nom - The environment

    The environment

    Viet Nom - Grilled pork spring rolls

    Grilled pork spring rolls

    Viet Nom - Pho short rib - @rayz

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    Pho short rib - @rayz

    Menya Ultra  - UTC La Jolla - Spicy Miso Ramen

    Menya Ultra - UTC La Jolla

    4.0(308 reviews)
    1.4 miUniversity City
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Vegetarian friendly

    TLDR: It's good ramen at a respectable price. I think they understand what people want in ramen,…read morethe items outside of ramen, and what they're willing to pay for. Tantanmen: As a person who isn't a big tantanmen fan, I was shocked that I enjoyed this. The spice level was tolerable, and the saltiness level was okay, until you get to the bottom 3rd of the bowl. You get good portions and meat to noodle ratio, so it's worth it. Tonkotsu Ajitama: Creamy with a touch of saltiness. I love a good tonkotsu ramen, and I think this is a good introduction to tonkotsu. I'm glad that they have a bunch of options so people can customize how they want their tonkotsu ramen. Pork Paiko: It's not a katsu, but it gives that vibe. I think this is a good thing to pair with the ramen. I think the vibe is different enough from the chashu, where it's worth ordering. Chicken Paiko: it's chicken katsu with a different vibe. The batter has more body and is a different vibe compared to their fried chicken (karaage). Although I think the pork paiko is better, people who prefer chicken can rest easy knowing this is good as well. Fried Gyoza: I don't know what to say. It's a fried dumpling. It's not remarkable enough to be considered amazing, but it wasn't bad either. The good kind of average in general. Fried Chicken: It's a decent fried chicken at a good size. I just hope they can maintain the size, since many establishments have a hard time maintaining chicken quality after a while. Service: You pay first before being seated, and most of the stuff is self-service, so the interaction is really just when ordering and when they drop off the food. Ambiance: Classic ramen shop. Well lit, smells good, and located in an upscale mall.

    Menya Ultra, Many of…read moremy friends are frequent visitors here and I have seen so many posts on IG, TikTok and YouTube. This is my first visit and I'd like to point out a couple things; * The serving of Chashu (5pcs) is very good in size and portion. * The noodles are very well cooked. * The broth very light and rich, but not to my personal liking. * Spacious seating. It isn't a ramen I would be inclined to have often. Maybe 1 or 2x a year. The service is great though, very friendly! Can't give them more stars because it isn't nearly as good as Ramen Nagi which is in the same shopping mall.

    Photos
    Menya Ultra  - UTC La Jolla
    Menya Ultra  - UTC La Jolla
    Menya Ultra  - UTC La Jolla - Nagoya Karaage 5pc

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    Nagoya Karaage 5pc

    Sipz - Clairemont - California roll

    Sipz - Clairemont

    4.1(1.7k reviews)
    4.3 miClairemont
    $$

    Here for work from NJ and bookmarked this place for the plethora of vegetarian options…read more A friend and I were the first ones in and after deciding on a few dishes to try, the friendly staff were more happy to answer questions. Firstly- the portions are huge! Salt and Pepper Tofu - Crispy chunks of tofu and broccoli with lots of flavor. This is a dry dish so the tofu stays crispy all through. Mongolian Crispy "Beef" - Amazing umami flavor. I got halfway through eating top to bottom before I realized the crispy short rice noodles were at the bottom! Advice: Mix it as you get it before eating. As we were finishing what we could of the meal we could smell fresh baked goods. I went to get a box for leftovers from the back counter and saw trays of fresh baked cookies on the counter. Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, and the one that had my attention- Funfetti with an Oreo in the middle! When I asked if they had any ready up front they insisted I have one of the hot fresh ones out the oven! No pic of the cookie, it didn't make it far! Wish we had places like this near me in NJ.

    I love sipz, but this review is for the pad Thai. The fake beef on it is delicious and there is a…read morelot of it. But the rest of the meal was not so great. The noodles were clumpy and also thinner than the rice noodles I expect with pad Thai. There also were no vegetables unless you paid extra for broccoli. So basically, awesome veggie beef... and noodle noodles that were not so appetizing. Plus onions. And they're great for flavor, but not the vegetable I want to be devouring by itself! I love sipz and there are plenty of other dishes to get here instead. I also got the sticky mango with rice dessert which was delicious as always. And very large! Looking forward to ordering something different next time.

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    Sipz - Clairemont - Counter area

    Counter area

    Sipz - Clairemont - Ube Cake

    Ube Cake

    Sipz - Clairemont

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    Mongolian Hot Pot - Sesame Pancake

    Mongolian Hot Pot

    4.2(2.5k reviews)
    3.5 miClairemont
    $$

    I've been to Mongolian hot pot before years ago with my kids and ex-husband, and it was always a…read moregreat experience--even with a mix of different tastes and diets at the table. Going back recently with my oldest son (now 24) brought back that same energy, but honestly, it was even better than I remembered. At first, I'll admit the price--around $40 per person--felt a little high to me, especially as someone who's vegan. I assumed this would be more of a "meat-lover's spot," but I was completely wrong. The vegan options were abundant, fresh, and incredibly satisfying. I left absolutely stuffed. While you're waiting, there's a self-serve bar with salads, sauces, and add-ons. The cucumber salad stood out immediately--so unique and flavorful that I went back for seconds. The wood ear mushroom salad was another surprise favorite. On top of that, there's a wide variety of sauces you can mix and match, which makes the experience feel really customizable and fun. We each got our own hot pot since I'm vegan and my son isn't, but we still shared some sides. The selection is impressive--tons of vegetables, plenty of plant-based options, and, of course, a wide array of meats for anyone who wants them. It really feels like there's something for everyone. What I love most is the experience itself. It's interactive, relaxed, and a little more personal since you're cooking your food right at the table. I went for lunch this time, but I can already picture coming back for a date night--it feels like the kind of place where you can slow down, connect, and enjoy the process together. Honestly, it might even replace our usual ramen nights.

    Our family's favorite hotpot place in San Diego! Great variety of meats, seafood, greens,…read moremushrooms, and more! We love the cold dish and sauce bar. Their beef pancake and fried steamed bread with condensed milk are excellent, and there's also ice cream included for dessert. Go for dinner--it's so worth it. It's very roomy and brightly lit, great for family gatherings big and small. Very kind and accommodating staff.

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    Mongolian Hot Pot
    Mongolian Hot Pot
    Mongolian Hot Pot - Hefty servings

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    Hefty servings

    Pho La Jolla - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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