Better than what it looks like outside. There are usually a lot of people waiting to get in and it's small. You sit where you are told to sit. Period. Food is always good- worth the wait! The pho comes in huge bowls. read more

I'm not a pho fanatic but I really enjoy a big bowl when it's loaded with ribeye, brisket, ox tail, and especially beef tendons. We first stumbled onto Pho Long some years back when they just opened. It has certainly updated the internal appearance since then which is a wonderful thing. Previously we would get our pho fix at Monsoon Bistro as it is closer for us but after our visit this evening change may be in order. Two of us ordered the P9 house special and the third person ordered the chicken, shrimp and squid pho. Each stock was unique in its' own way and both were quite impressive. Service was good and the wait staff were friendly. Prices were very reasonable and serving sizes were typical. The only disappointment was the lack of WiFi. FYI, parking can be a challenge depending on time and day of the week. read more

Pretty authentic place I found near my house. I have been eating out a lot since moved to the area and busy discovering all the places to eat. lol Anyway, I loved the portion for bean sprouts and the basil that came with pho. I will probably eat there at least once a week. read more

I have visited many Vietnamese restaurants of all sorts, from small traditional pho house run as family business to fine upscale dining restaurants. Pho of Pho Long is by far the best I've ever had. The broth is fabulous, perfect texture and noodle cooked just right. High quality beef brisket, slices of round steak and ox tail. The tail is so tender the meat falls off the bone. We're now back for the second time. read more

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My coworkers come here every week for lunch, even though Mai Lee is just a few miles south. However, my heart has been stolen by Pho Long. The pho broth is much more savory and flavorful, which is crucial for a good bowl of pho. I would say PL's broth is very unique in flavor. I think they have some magical ingredients in the soup because I daydream about this bowl of goodness in the office.One thing I wished they had more of is the toppings. A few times they've skimped us out on the basil or cilantro. Regardless, I love the pho. Also their dry noodles is another great alternative if you want something that doesn't make you have a major food coma at your desk. The menu is limited and might not be as extensive as Mai Lees, but there's a reason why people come back every week for the pho. Also the staffs are rockstars. read more

I love pho. Its a love so strong it has ruined relationships, shattered my studies, and even made me miss the beginning of my own surprise birthday party by nearly two hours. Because of this, I tell you, do not go to Pho Long. I came here once, about eight months ago, and I don't remember having any real complaints--it was average pho in a town known for average pho. However, I went back yesterday, and it was not good. The broth was the oiliest broth I may have ever had, and there were literally three strips of meat in my dad's bowl. Granted, he ordered the "basic" pho, but anyone who knows anything about pho knows that pho bu (hell if I know how to spell it) is packed with meat, because its a fucking beef noodle bowl. The waitress was terrible and rude, and we literally waited 20-30 minutes for our pho. I really want to make a pun here regarding the name of this place, but right now creativity is escaping me; just imagine I said something witty like I normally do, and award me a "funny" vote. Do it. read more

I went there alone for lunch on 12/16 at 12:15 or so. There were two tables and about 4 seats available at the bar. I had not been there before, so I waited until the only young woman wait staff was available. I told her I was here the first time and not sure if I should grab a table or wait to be seated. She said she'd rather I sat at the bar as she'd keep the tables for bigger parties. I told her my back was hurt (and it's been bad still). Can I sit at this table (and I was pointing)? She hesitated and said I should sit at the bar. I replied well, if I'm not that welcome here, I can do a to-go order. As we both were walking to the bar, I thought to myself what a stupid thing I said! She handed me a menu, and then I said "you know what? I don't want your food anymore", and I left. I thought of a scenario if I had come with a cane or a wheelchair and was still a party of one, whether I would still be refused a table?!? Good luck treating customers this way. read more

This is one of my favorite place to eat whenever we stayed in St. Louis, we travelled almost 2 hrs away from home and our vacay wouldn't be complete if we don't drop by here at Pho Long! Unfortunately, just yesterday and our first time to eat on a Sunday, one of the server is such a B* with the teenagers that I was with! She wasn't nice and doesn't know how to give good customer service! And because of this it might be our last visit, thou I will miss the food but I'm pretty sure we could find another vietnamese restaurant in STL that we will always go back with! And will give us CUSTOMER SERVICE at it's finest! And in addition, after a week they add $5 on my card for their tip! Which they don't deserved at all! The manager needs to check on this! I'm pretty sure that's called STEALING!!!! read more

Second time at this spot. The pho is pretty good. Normally would have the wings which are tasty, i would put more wings on an order and charge double as the order is more of a teaser lol. We also do the fried dumplings or spot stickers. Today I had the P9. Came with tendon, meatball, steak and oxtail. Good broth. Overall a monster portion. I would come back and would recommend. read more

My husband and I just ate here and it was awful. My husband, who is Vietnamese, just said, "that is the worst overpriced pho I've ever eaten. I can't believe we just blew our money on that." Here are my thoughts: Pho broth should have flavor; cloves, ginger, anise, onion, cilantro. It should depth, sweetness, with a clean taste. My pho ga, was just chicken noodle soup. Chicken. Chicken broth. Noodles. My husband's soup was only marginally better with a little bit more flavor. His parting comment, "Always think twice about eating at a Vietnamese restaurant that doesn't have fish sauce on the table. It's a bad sign." Folks, we had to ask for fish sauce. Avoid! read more

So far my experience has been really great here. We have been coming here weekly. I get the vegetarian Pho and love it. We are talking a flavorful broth, bits of broccoli and cauliflower, vegetarian meat and fried tofu swimming with the noodles. It comes with a generous plate of Thai basil, Cilantro, bean sprouts, sliced jalapeños, and cut lime. There are four sauces on the table to choose from. Sometimes we get an appetizer too. Everything has been fresh and good so far. That's why they get five stars from me. One more thing. They have split hours with a break in the afternoon and are closed on Tuesdays. Check their hours before you come in. Enjoy! read more

Pho. There is no better hangover cure, no better comfort food than that of rice noodles, paper-thin eye-round steak, tender brisket, fresh basil, cilantro, jalapeno and lime all steeping in a steaming bowl of savory beef broth. After being introduced to the concoction by a family friend in San Jose, CA many years ago, I have fallen in love with the Vietnamese staple, seeking out the nearest pho spot at every city I visit. I can safely say that if there were one dish I had to eat for the rest of my life, it would be pho... bo tai, extra meat, extra noodle w/3 squirts of Sriracha. You must trust me when I say my dedication to the dish knows no bounds; I mean business when it comes to my pho. If you can't tell, these are words of an addict; I got broth running through my veins. Pho real. That being said, I currently live in St. Louis, so you know once I got here I had to try out all the city's off-pho-rings (ha!) While I admit it is not the absolute greatest pho I have EVER had, Pho Long certainly serves up the best bowl in town, in my opinion. And yes, I have tried Mai Lee's, Pho Grand, Miss Saigon, Kim Son... they do not hold a candle to this place. Why? Because Pho Long focuses on what's important: the pho. If you want good pho, go to the place that specializes in it, not the place that dilutes the menu with 487 different chinese-thai-viet combo plates. For one, the bowls are a great value. Every other restaurant serves pho either at the same price or 50 cents to a dollar more for 2/3rds the amount of noodles/meat that Pho Long does. And the best part is that, at Pho Long, the first round of extra noodles is free! FREE NOODLES! Now that's hip-hop. Second, the quality of the food is very good, especially the broth. This may be a personal preference, but I can't stand sweet pho broth (yeah, I know there are different regional variations). It just tastes so unnatural and unhealthy that it makes me not even want to finish the bowl (but I do anyways b/c I hate wasting pho of any kind). Luckily, Pho Long gives you a rich, savory broth with enough umami to make Morimoto salivate. And if you like sweet broth, you can just add sugar to your liking (cringe). Only on a couple occasions - and I go just about every week - has the broth been a bit too oily or not hot enough. No worries though, since the wait staff will not hesitate to get you another bowl of broth if you aren't satisfied initially. Aside from the pho itself, the spring rolls and other appetizers are excellent and the chicken pho variations are just as tasty. The Vietnamese coffee is pretty good and the beer specials on Wed & Thurs can't be beat. They also just recently upgraded to a larger space in the same plaza, which now includes a full bar, accessible bathrooms and a diner ledge facing the windows for when you're riding solo like all us other addicts. And, of course, the service has always been great. I usually like to order my food while I am en route so that it is ready when I get there. They always manage to time it so my order comes through just as I walk in the door. Props. I don't know why people have given such mediocre reviews to Pho Long, but it is definitely worth checking out if you haven't already. If you love pho as much as me and are in the St. Louis area, then this is the only place you need to go. read more

The place has changed ownership. It is unthinkably bad now. Old ingredients, stuck up waitress who scoffs and rolls her eyes with any request THE CUSTOMER makes, total disorganization. I truly hope it goes under now. Maybe I'll report the place to the health department for dirty conditions... that would be just karma. Shame, I used to enjoy the place so much with the original, friendly owners. Food used to be fresh, delicious, and they'd welcome you with a smile as someone familiar, and welcome. read more

Here's the rundown on Pho Long: Prison commissary ambiance, + Surly waitress and super slow service, + Shrimp spring rolls that taste like they were made LAST spring, + Watery, flavorless Pho = Truly terrible meal. Best thing about it: I did not get the food poisoning I was expecting after eating that ancient spring roll. Go to Mai Lee and treat yourself correct read more

Pho Long is one of a few Vietnamese pho joints in St. Louis. Personally, I had never been to Pho Long as an undergraduate, but when I visited STL as an alum, a group of us went to eat here. They couldn't believe that I had never eaten at Pho Long. Why? Because the food is good, portions are large, and prices are decent. I ordered the meatball and eyeround steak pho. LOVE their meatballs. Very hearty. The broth has full flavor, but it isn't quite the same as what I'm used to at Mai Lees. FYI to pay, you just go up to the counter and give them your card/cash at the cashier. I was waiting for a while thinking that they would come to get our check, but realized that some Vietnamese restaurants the patrons pay at the counter. [28 of 100] read more

again, excellent pho and spring rolls. Service from Annie the waitress was attentive and quick. she never let my water glass go empty, which is good because i OD'ed on jalapenos. I never go anywhere else for pho, including pho grand, which is good but not great. Pho long always hits the spot! read more

Pho Long has been my go to for years for amazing PHO. The broth is always good and flavorful. I have brought friends from my workplace out in Fenton to folks in St. Charles to give it a try. They are all believers that Pho is really good. I always start with the fresh spring rolls. Those are always so super yummy. Just the right amount of noodle, meat, and shrimp. I always get the beef pho with eye of round. The veggies just add that additional heightened flavor. Great job keep it up. The only thing that could be better is the service. Recently it seems that its been slipping. read more

Found this nice little pho restaurant as we were leaving St. Louis. We were satisfied with most of our visit. The food was pretty good, however the chicken soup was a little too salty and the sauce for our egg rolls was....lacking in flavor? Aside from that, the pho was good, the spring rolls were amazing, size portions were perfect, and service was great! We're glad we decided to stop by! read more

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For its price range, this is the best pho restaurant in STL. Its pho is better-tasting than the more expensive Mai Lee by far. I always get the pho with meat balls. Also, extra noodle is free. read more

I've been here a few times and have tolerated their horrible service. It's HORRIBLE. The short girl does a decent job, but that brown girl is just a stuck up ass. The food there is served in small portions with extra charges (for extra noodles). Spring rolls are burnt and the dishware is dirty - literally, I had small things floating in my water right as it was served. I ask for a napkin or chopsticks then the brown girl just scowls at me and (with attitude) scolds, "I already gave you one." Uh, bitch, I don't care if you gave me 10 in the first place, if a customer asks for one you give them one. It's not like you do the cleaning - in fact you probably stick the used chopsticks back into its paper container. If you all want to go for some pho then try Mai Lee's in Brentwood. At least they're not rude to you. read more

Unfortunately as the star ratings states, I've experienced better. This was possible one of the most underwhelming experiences for pho I have ever had. Their only redeeming factor here is the portion size, it's generous and it's a pretty good price. Their broth here was very one dimensional and lacked the flavor I have experienced at other pho restaurants. It just felt very heavy and just overpowered by a beef flavor - I know it's a beef based broth, but I have tasted GREAT pho before and this place compared to any of the places I've tasted back at home cannot even measure up in comparison. The portion sizes were great, the beef was good, and the spring rolls may have been this place's redeeming factor. Unfortunately I will not be frequenting this place again because I felt like there are better pho restaurants in the STL area. read more

Can't beat an original Pho. Would recommend to anyone that is looking for traditional pho.

Only one of two places (the other being Phuc Loi) where I can enjoy a good bowl of Pho Dac Biet. The decor is nothing special... located in a plaza with a few other ethnic restaurants. Small space, a little crowded but not tiny... there is a table for seating outside that usually fits enough for about a group of 4 or less. They have a very friendly staff, in which I see regularly, three familiar faces. Only thing is the prices did raise a little, but who can blame them for such a good product they were under selling? read more

Sorry but I have to give this place 2 stars because they can't even do the 2 most basic dishes a Vietnamese restaurant should be able to produce. Some background: In an authentic viet restaurant there will always be a huge pot of beef broth boiling day after day with new water and charred beef bones, ginger, onions, other spices added to keep the original broth going. That is how you get the super deep rich flavors in a good bowl of pho. We had the combination pho with all the parts - the broth that came with the soup tasted too new/clean. It was like they started their broth that morning. The color was also all wrong too light and a little murky, and of course as expected the deep rich beef flavor was no where to be found. The rest of the ingredients were as expected, but the broth killed it. We also had the other classic viet dish - combination pork chop plate. Classically to be paired with a char-grilled pork chop, the special egg cake made of meat and other great things, and shredded pork. What we got was soooooo different. The pork chop was dry from overcooking, artificially colored pink (gross) and also did not have any grill flavors to it at all. The egg cake was replaced with a fried egg. read more

Ok so I don't technically skip past any pho place to get here, as this place is the absolute closest pho establishment to where I live. BUT. I choose this place over most other pho places because of just one thing: ox tail. Their broth is... meatier than other places. Other places have a lot going on in their spices, but here, beef is the prominent flavor in their broth, in my opinion. The most annoying thing, however, is that they are frequently out of ox tail. On top of that, when they DO have ox tail, I happen to have the bad luck for when they're like oh shit we don't have ox tail ready cook some quick in the pressure cooker. Now start offering the banh mi that you had at Hooked, dammit. read more

We were in the mood for Pho on a Monday. Usually we head to Mai Lee's but it was closed. So we looked around and found that Pho Long was open. We headed over and were pleased to find we could be seated right way, which, for anyone that goes to Mai Lee's, you are used to at least a 20 minute wait no matter what time of day you go. The pho here was OK. Not fantastic and certainly not terrible....just a good solid tasty soup. The Avocado Milkshake was REALLY good. I'd go back again just for the milkshake. My only issue with this place concerns my gluten-free needs. Right at the bottom of the menu it stated something to the effect of 'most of our items are GF, ask the server' blah, blah, blah. Great!! FANTASTIC!!! I LOVE when I find acknowledgment of "gluten" on any menu because that tells me the kitchen knows how to handle my food. Well... the kitchen may know how, but the server did not. I asked if the egg rolls were GF. I got a "I don't know" and she just stood there. Me: "umm...could you find out?" Server: (sigh) "OK, I'll be right back". They weren't gluten-free. Quite a few other things on the menu were not GF as well. I'm really not sure why they had the GF thing on their menu. Let me be clear, after a bit of discussion with the cook I was able to have a safe meal. But to me, if you have something printed on your menu acknowledging a food allergy, the serving staff should either a) be knowledgeable about it b) be patient. I'm not sure we will be coming back, the Pho at Mai Lee's is a lot better (in my opinion). But, I give this place a solid three "A-OK" stars on the food. You will not get a bad meal here. read more

Pho!! We ordered # 9 with everything in it. Wow, besides the raw beef and everything else. They got the ox tail in the soup. I love it! Soup was a bit too sweet. But, i think their main focus is the americans. read more

Pho Long - #9 it has everything. - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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For pho in St. Louis, Pho Long is my go to. The price is right and the quality is good. I usually order pho with rare eye of round and brisket. Meat is consistently of good quality and broth is tasty. The vegetables and herbs are always fresh. Tip: You can ask for a second round of noodles for your pho - free of charge. read more

If you are Viet, this is not the place for you. The pho, does not taste like pho. It's bland and is not flavorful in my opinion. Seriously I came with my group and none of us liked the pho. It has a weird smell like the leaves weren't rinsed all the way. After we left, we all ate gum because we couldn't stand the smell. I mean, If you want authentic food, Kim Ngan's the way to go. This place, not so authentic. read more

I've dined at Pho Long maybe a half-dozen or so times since it opened, but my most recent trip will be my last. When it opened, I would have given it a reluctant 3 stars, since there are no half stars available. The pho was tasty but on the weak side for me. The service was attentive, though not overly friendly. As the years have gone by, the place has slowly deteriorated, perhaps a victim of its modest success. It has been busy the last couple times I've visited. They've added a counter along the window for single eaters. I hate sitting at high counters. I hate "communal" dining, especially when you have to reach across each other to get at the sriracha or hoisin. It's just not comfortable. This is partly why I've stopped going to Mai Lee: Ever since they moved into their swankier digs off of Laclede Station, they try to get me to sit at the bar, even when the dining room is completely empty. Back to Pho Long. I don't know if this was just because they were busy that day, or short-handed, but they have added a food runner, separate from the person who takes your order. I noticed the guy next to me ordered after me, but got his food before me; I was annoyed but just went back to staring out the window. A couple minutes later, the runner comes out and asks me what I ordered. Then he looks over at the bowl in front of my neighbor, exchanges some words with him, picks that bowl up and puts it in front of me! Now, it hadn't been that long since he had been served, but long enough for the guy to have eaten out of it. I wasn't sure what to do. I asked my neighbor, the former owner of the bowl of food now sitting before me, if he had eaten any of it. He said, "no," so I went ahead, though I wasn't 100% comfortable. As for the food, the pho used to be bland but passable. This bowl tasted like a lukewarm bowl of dishwater and had about as much charm. It was kind of cloudy and almost gray, not that deep amberish-brown of good pho. It was really unpleasant. I didn't even finish it, which may not mean much to you, but if you knew me and my eating habits, you would find that extraordinary. I was never a huge fan of this place, but I'm finished now. No more second chances for Pho Long from me. read more

Went there yesterday for dinner. Staff was great, got us seated and took our order promptly. We ordered pho and spring rolls. Spring rolls were average, the lettuce felt old, no crunch. Peanut sauce was watery. Pho was average as well. The soup lacked flavor. We had steak, which had a weird smell. Wont be going there again! read more

This place is very no frills, so don't go for the ambience. I kind of like that it doesn't have an 8 page menu - just two pages with maybe 20 items total. I had the beef brisket pho and it was very good for only $6.95, which is about as cheap as anywhere I've been in St. Louis. If you work near the inner belt, this would be an easy place to grab a good healthy lunch for a good price. I'll be back for sure. read more

The best place for pho in St. Louis hands down. After growing up in the Northwest I was disappointed with the pho places when I moved here. The broth at other pho places was always oily and the portion was fairly small. At Pho Long the broth isn't oily, the portion is great, and the only place I've been able to find that serves it with tendon. Tips: tendon is not on the menu, you have to ask for it They charge a very nomial fee, if any, for extra noodles! read more

Update: Shortly after I wrote the review, I received a long and very detailed email from the owner describing how the pho was made and how its flavors have developed over the years. I do think pho is a matter of personal preference and perhaps the pho I had here just did not suit my personal preference. This aside, I appreciate the personal response and explanations and I will drop by for another visit sometime. * * * As much as I love small, family-owned restaurants, I don't have very good things to say about the pho here. I have had it three times so I know my verdict is not based on a fluke in the kitchen. So what's wrong with the pho? 1. So much damn noodles! Every time I ate here I had to scoop big chunks of noodles out of the bowl. They soak up a huge portion of the broth instantly. If you are gonna put a crap load of noodles in the pho, use a bigger bowl and give me more broth so I don't have to slurp liquid out of a soggy noodle mess. 2. The broth is just not potent enough for me. The flavor doesn't have enough complexity. 3. $10 bucks for a bowl of pho is pretty pricey, but I wouldn't have cared if only it tasted better. What I don't have a problem with was the service, the atmosphere (the renovated space is clean, efficient, and actually kind of cute with the plants by the windows), and the quantity of meat in my combination pho. At end of the day, I visit a Vietnamese restaurant for its pho and as long as I can find better pho somewhere else in this town (and I can at Mai Lee, Lemon grass, and Truc Lam), I would not come back here again. read more

Great Pho! Horrible service!!! Ordered and pick up for years and tonight was our first issue. We ordered delivery and got the wrong order. The manager or whoever was in charge was just a HUGE disappointment. I called three time trying to find a solution after they admitted making the mistake and got hung up on every single time. She didn't listen to me at all and said she couldn't talk because they were TOO busy! I'm all for finding a solution but this was just beyond horrendous! Do not give these people your money. Hopefully a Costco will take over- jeez read more

My family and I were referred to this restaurant by Yelp! Yes, I used my yelp app and Pho Long showed up as a good pho place. We arrived right when it opened. We pretty much ordered everything on the menu. Get the avocado smoothie. One of the best "sinh to bo's" out there! The price was reasonable and the staff was very friendly. My mom tends to be picky when it comes to Vietnamese food. She had the tom rang muoi (lightly battered shrimp on a bed of lettuce). My mom enjoyed the shrimp dish. My shrimp noodle soup was also good. Go here if you want freshly made Vietnamese food that is tasty and reasonably priced. read more

I have been to Pho Long over a dozen times in the last 6 months. Maybe more? I'm not ashamed. Hot, well-seasoned broths surround tender rice noodles. I usually order the N4, which is a clear, onion-y chicken broth w/noodles & shrimp. I also enjoy the beef noodle bowls, which comes with a spiced broth with notes of anise. Generous, filling bowls of steaming goodness. Add fresh sprigs of cilantro and basil, bean sprouts, jalapeno, and squeeze fresh lime juice on top. Warm and comforting! Spring rolls get a thumbs up, too! read more

Happy belly, happy life. This was our ahhhh moment of the day. Great atmosphere and very low key music that wasn't cheesy or too loud. The Pho we ordered came timely and was absolutely delicious and oh-so-savory. It's all the little details that makes this place so good: the chopped green onion, the authentically hot and hotter pastes, and the great feel of a restaurant where food and dining experience is well loved by the staff. The pho came with more than basil, it was served with cilantro and sliced jalapeños and those delicious little fresh and crunchy bean sprouts. The imported beers are great too, our waitress was so kind she even confirmed our choices. We won't forget this incredible place, great atmosphere and next to at least 6 restaurants within walking distance and it was full, so you know it's good. read more

My new favorite place for pho. I used to go to Mai Lee but Pho Long is closer to my house and a little better priced. I like the fact that unlike Mai Lee their pho has no cilantro in it to start with, that way I can add as much or little as I like. The broth is very rich and beefy and I love that they offer iced jasmine tea. read more

Pho Long - Pho with rare beef and brisket with iced jasmine tea. Food nirvana. - Vietnamese Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This is hands-down the best pho in all of St. Louis. I've tried them all, and tried them again. This is it. It's no frills, straghtforward, heart warming goodness. To the reviewer who said the broth was hot water - you are taste blind. Seek medical help. The broth is what makes Pho Long such a quality affair. This broth has depth and smacks of slow simmered flavor. And the noodles are always well cooked and toothsome. Sometimes service can be a little slow, given that the menu is small and the soups are relatively simple. Nonetheless, Pho Long is real comfort food, and if you're in the mood for pho, this the place. (Except not on Tuesdays when they're closed.) read more