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There was a noticeable wait when I arrived on a Sunday afternoon. After waiting for a while, I was finally seated. The tables were pretty close together and there wasn't that much room to walk around. I ended up ordering the pho chin ve don (number 10) small and it was very filling. The pho came out right away and was piping hot. The broth was flavorful and tasty and the meats were very tender. I wished the pho noddles were a bit firmer as I found them to be soft. Overall a very good meal and would definitely take my family here for a nice bowl of pho.
Got recommended to come try their pho by good friends of ours, This restaurant is kind of small but feeling cozy, it can get crowded during rush hours. We ordered pho #1 and the beef rib special. The meats are very tender and broth is very flavorful. Staff are very friendly and speak good English. Definitely a good pho spot. Will come back again!
Service was quick and friendly. Once we ordered, the food came out within minutes. Love that they have outdoor seating because it was really hot up there. We got 2 bowls of Pho tai, gau, bo vien (Rare beef, fatty brisket and beef meatballs). Everything was delicious Except their fatty brisket. Barely any meat on the brisket, fat wasnt rendered down enough so it was real chewy, and it came in tiny square pieces. Definitely different from your other traditional Pho places. Other than that, it wasn't bad.
Southern style Pho where broth is more flavorful with rich beefy aroma slightly on the sweeter side. It is worth the drive no matter where you are in the Bay Area. The large bowl is huge with generous tender beef. Customer is good and pay after you eat at the check-in typical of Vietnamese restaurant. You can order extra condiments like onion. This is my favorite Pho place in Northern California.
Parking: Large plaza with a lot of spots but quite packed. Interior: very viet authentic vibes, moderately clean, not that spacious. Good up to medium size groups or splitting up bigger groups. Wait Time: No wait mid afternoon weekend and food came in about 5-10min Items Order: 6/10 Dac Biet $17.35L - Some of the meats ran out but they're literally a pho shop?? Also it was during the day so dinner crowd did not even arrive yet. Noodles were very mid but there was no mention of fresh noodles options. It looks like they have it but you need to ask because not on menu. Meat was average but small portion. Broth was actually solid. Sriracha is knock off not standard. 2/10 Oxtail Soup $9.9- THEY FREEZE THEIR OXTAIL AND SERVE IT COLD!!! The broth from the oxtail soup was lukewarm when it arrived unlike the hot broth from pho! The meat inside was also cold. This means their oxtail was premade frozen and just defrosted with the broth. On top of that the oxtail portion is extremely small and tough meat. HORRIBLE QUALITY SO AVOID Card Fee $2.93 - no mention on menu either
Pho Papa gets a lot of hype, but my experience didn't fully live up to it. On the plus side, the outdoor seating is a nice touch, especially if you want a more relaxed, casual vibe. Service was quick and efficient, which I appreciated. The meat itself was tender and clearly good quality, so they're doing something right there. That said, the broth was a letdown for me. It leaned too sweet and had a darker profile than I prefer, which took away from that clean, balanced pho flavor you expect. The bigger issue though was the portioning. I ordered a special and it came with no meatballs which was odd for a "special dac biet", and the amount of meat was surprisingly small. It honestly felt like there was barely any protein in the bowl. You could clearly see a lot of noodles, which is not what you want with pho. At most other spots, the meat is layered generously on top to the point where the noodles are almost hidden. That wasn't the case here. Overall, it's a decent spot with good service and tender meat, but the broth and portion size need work. I'd come back if they fix the balance and start being more generous with the meat.
Finally tried this place an it's no for me. Menu is a one pager with a variety of drinks to choose from. I had the number 4 small with thin noodles. You can choose thick but there's no fresh option. Bowl was brought out super fast, piping hot. I don't mix anything into my broth at any pho place. I like to try the pureness of the broth origin. The number 4 with brisket and steak looked good but it missing everything. No love in the broth what so ever. No depth or flavor it was not good. It tasted bland and sad. I texted my husband and said I'm not bringing you here.
Everything was delicious, and the service was incredibly fast. I ordered my usual order, the #1 Beef noodle soup with the special beef rib, and it did not disappoint. The broth was rich and flavorful without being too salty, and the variety of beef cuts added great texture.
It's a decent spot to get some pho in San Jose! Seating is pretty cramped and there can be a long waitlist on the weekends, but it's worth a visit! The broth can be on the oily side, but the flavor is good! Light and not too salty. They are really generous with the portion of beef! Almost more beef than noodles!! The beef rib special is yummy and high quality! The two of us shared this and it was FALL OFF THE BONE tender!
My and my parent's favorite pho spot in the bay and SJ. Always go to 1. Phở Đặc Biệt for them and 9. Phở Chin for me. Best broth with easy service and nice interior and exterior seating. Also large servings for the price point and never disappoints, I always look forward to this coming home.
Growing up, I've usually had Pho Papa as take out but for this visit, I dined in with my friends. I ordered a small (#4) Pho Tai, Chin with flat noodles. The broth was good and clear, but nothing spectacular. I liked that they were generous with their meat though! The sizing was also the perfect portion for me. The restaurant is pretty small/cramped, I think I elbowed the people behind me a few times (sorry!). There were a lot of little flies flying around and a few spiders/cobwebs in the window corners.
Pho Papa is good! But..... I got the #1 and wanted to sub the tendon with the meatballs, and didn't know I was going to be charged a sub fee. I know you could add it for additional price but damn! I should just said no tendon. It would've been nice for the server to ask. They also charge a 3% fee for card so cash is preferred for this place. I got an order of the hanh dam which I like putting sriracha over it. Super good. Besides the substitution issue, everything was fine. Didn't realize pho got super expensive over the past couple years. After paying card for 2 small bowls of pho (1 with substitution) with the hanh dam, the total after tax was $43.24! Without tip! Wow. I tipped $8, but but no pho is ever worth paying over $50.
13 days ago
Pho Papa is my favorite spot for pho in the Bay Area! I have been coming here for years and they are always consistent. They have both indoor and outdoor seating with lots of natural lighting. When I entered, my family got seated immediately and we placed our order. I got Pho Dac Biet and the food came out not long after. The pho is fresh, light, and flavorful. I love how tender the meats are. They give ample amount of noodles too. This is on par to the pho I eat in Vietnam! The che desserts here are also so good, I love Che Ba Mau. I will always come back here! read more
There was a noticeable wait when I arrived on a Sunday afternoon. After waiting for a while, I was finally seated. The tables were pretty close together and there wasn't that much room to walk around. I ended up ordering the pho chin ve don (number 10) small and it was very filling. The pho came out right away and was piping hot. The broth was flavorful and tasty and the meats were very tender. I wished the pho noddles were a bit firmer as I found them to be soft. Overall a very good meal and would definitely take my family here for a nice bowl of pho. read more
Got recommended to come try their pho by good friends of ours, This restaurant is kind of small but feeling cozy, it can get crowded during rush hours. We ordered pho #1 and the beef rib special. The meats are very tender and broth is very flavorful. Staff are very friendly and speak good English. Definitely a good pho spot. Will come back again! read more
Service was quick and friendly. Once we ordered, the food came out within minutes. Love that they have outdoor seating because it was really hot up there. We got 2 bowls of Pho tai, gau, bo vien (Rare beef, fatty brisket and beef meatballs). Everything was delicious Except their fatty brisket. Barely any meat on the brisket, fat wasnt rendered down enough so it was real chewy, and it came in tiny square pieces. Definitely different from your other traditional Pho places. Other than that, it wasn't bad. read more
Southern style Pho where broth is more flavorful with rich beefy aroma slightly on the sweeter side. It is worth the drive no matter where you are in the Bay Area. The large bowl is huge with generous tender beef. Customer is good and pay after you eat at the check-in typical of Vietnamese restaurant. You can order extra condiments like onion. This is my favorite Pho place in Northern California. read more
3 days ago
Parking: Large plaza with a lot of spots but quite packed. Interior: very viet authentic vibes, moderately clean, not that spacious. Good up to medium size groups or splitting up bigger groups. Wait Time: No wait mid afternoon weekend and food came in about 5-10min Items Order: 6/10 Dac Biet $17.35L - Some of the meats ran out but they're literally a pho shop?? Also it was during the day so dinner crowd did not even arrive yet. Noodles were very mid but there was no mention of fresh noodles options. It looks like they have it but you need to ask because not on menu. Meat was average but small portion. Broth was actually solid. Sriracha is knock off not standard. 2/10 Oxtail Soup $9.9- THEY FREEZE THEIR OXTAIL AND SERVE IT COLD!!! The broth from the oxtail soup was lukewarm when it arrived unlike the hot broth from pho! The meat inside was also cold. This means their oxtail was premade frozen and just defrosted with the broth. On top of that the oxtail portion is extremely small and tough meat. HORRIBLE QUALITY SO AVOID Card Fee $2.93 - no mention on menu either read more
Pho Papa gets a lot of hype, but my experience didn't fully live up to it. On the plus side, the outdoor seating is a nice touch, especially if you want a more relaxed, casual vibe. Service was quick and efficient, which I appreciated. The meat itself was tender and clearly good quality, so they're doing something right there. That said, the broth was a letdown for me. It leaned too sweet and had a darker profile than I prefer, which took away from that clean, balanced pho flavor you expect. The bigger issue though was the portioning. I ordered a special and it came with no meatballs which was odd for a "special dac biet", and the amount of meat was surprisingly small. It honestly felt like there was barely any protein in the bowl. You could clearly see a lot of noodles, which is not what you want with pho. At most other spots, the meat is layered generously on top to the point where the noodles are almost hidden. That wasn't the case here. Overall, it's a decent spot with good service and tender meat, but the broth and portion size need work. I'd come back if they fix the balance and start being more generous with the meat. read more
19 days ago
They remodeled so it is cleaner, the food is still great and the service is much much better read more
Finally tried this place an it's no for me. Menu is a one pager with a variety of drinks to choose from. I had the number 4 small with thin noodles. You can choose thick but there's no fresh option. Bowl was brought out super fast, piping hot. I don't mix anything into my broth at any pho place. I like to try the pureness of the broth origin. The number 4 with brisket and steak looked good but it missing everything. No love in the broth what so ever. No depth or flavor it was not good. It tasted bland and sad. I texted my husband and said I'm not bringing you here. read more
Everything was delicious, and the service was incredibly fast. I ordered my usual order, the #1 Beef noodle soup with the special beef rib, and it did not disappoint. The broth was rich and flavorful without being too salty, and the variety of beef cuts added great texture. read more
It's a decent spot to get some pho in San Jose! Seating is pretty cramped and there can be a long waitlist on the weekends, but it's worth a visit! The broth can be on the oily side, but the flavor is good! Light and not too salty. They are really generous with the portion of beef! Almost more beef than noodles!! The beef rib special is yummy and high quality! The two of us shared this and it was FALL OFF THE BONE tender! read more
My and my parent's favorite pho spot in the bay and SJ. Always go to 1. Phở Đặc Biệt for them and 9. Phở Chin for me. Best broth with easy service and nice interior and exterior seating. Also large servings for the price point and never disappoints, I always look forward to this coming home. read more
Growing up, I've usually had Pho Papa as take out but for this visit, I dined in with my friends. I ordered a small (#4) Pho Tai, Chin with flat noodles. The broth was good and clear, but nothing spectacular. I liked that they were generous with their meat though! The sizing was also the perfect portion for me. The restaurant is pretty small/cramped, I think I elbowed the people behind me a few times (sorry!). There were a lot of little flies flying around and a few spiders/cobwebs in the window corners. read more
Pho Papa is good! But..... I got the #1 and wanted to sub the tendon with the meatballs, and didn't know I was going to be charged a sub fee. I know you could add it for additional price but damn! I should just said no tendon. It would've been nice for the server to ask. They also charge a 3% fee for card so cash is preferred for this place. I got an order of the hanh dam which I like putting sriracha over it. Super good. Besides the substitution issue, everything was fine. Didn't realize pho got super expensive over the past couple years. After paying card for 2 small bowls of pho (1 with substitution) with the hanh dam, the total after tax was $43.24! Without tip! Wow. I tipped $8, but but no pho is ever worth paying over $50. read more
I came here on weekend since I wanted some pho. It was a good sign when I saw on the menu they only serve pho. I got the small Phở Đặc Biệt which came with thinly sliced beef, brisket, flank, tendon, fat brisket and fresh noodles. I also got a side of their beef rib. The food came out pretty quickly after ordering. The broth itself is a little sweet for me on its own, but they have fish sauce and lime to help balance it out. The meat quality was good and a big portion for a size small. The beef rib was much bigger than anticipated but it was also delicious. Overall, this is good pho. Will come back here again. read more
Finally got to try Pho Papa in January. When my dad was still alive he raved about this place whenever he went up to SJ to visit. My partner and I finally got to try it and it was very good. Broth and meat were good and the fresh noodles were yummy! Store was clean and staff was fast and efficient! Simple, delicious and yummy! Highly recommend! read more
10 months ago
5*! Food was great! I got the small size #1 and there was generous amount of toppings. The portion was more than enough. It was flavorful and soup was very warm. Perfect for cold weather. I love the tendon a lot. They only serve pho and not a lot to choose from. But I think their pho is really good and that's all we need :p Service: fast and casual. Typical pho place. The food came pretty fast after ordering The shop has tables inside and outside. Everything was pretty clean and tidy when I visited. Will return! read more
11 months ago
WOW. We were craving pho and a friend recommended this spot. We didn't really know what to expect but once we tried the first sip of the broth - WOW! There was so much flavor and we loved that there were soooo many green onions! Since we went on a Saturday - it was busy. We waited for about 30 minutes for a table for 2 but it was definitely worth the wait! Once you're seated - the menu is simple (which makes it so much easier to decide for those indecisive like me!) read more
3 months ago
I decided to try this place only because pho #Y across the street is closed on Tuesday. Pho Y is my usual go to. I would rank this a 3.5 stars but there's no half star so I'll round up. They only have beef here and I'm really a chicken pho person. The beef broth was good and flavorful but not the best I've had. Would I be back? I'm glad I tried this place but I'll stick to my go to place across the street. This place does seem cleaner than Pho Y but I'm nostalgic for the classics. read more
11 days ago
Hubby and I were craving PHO and that's all this place serves so headed over for lunch. He ordered the #15 Pho Bo Vien (Beef Balls Noodle Soup) and I ordered the #9 Pho Chin (Well Done Brisket) - both were delicious especially the broth - just what we needed on a chilly day. Service was quick and efficient, lots of seating but a little cramped for the tables in the middle, and parking might be hit or miss as it's in a very busy plaza. Will definitely come back if in the area. read more
4 months ago
This place is the GOAT when it comes to pho. All the Viet aunties and uncs who know their pho come here! Pho Papa is a completely hidden gem I always recommend to friends. I'm Vietnamese and San Jose native and I've tried pho all over San Jose and the Bay Area. Their quality is incredibly consistent and they are not stingy on the meat! Such a rare find! I have been consistently going here several times a month since 2020! read more
1 year ago
Truly one of the best pho places to exist, no exaggeration. Ive grown up in san jose and just found out about this place!! Idk why ive ever gone anywhere else Authentic pho with great broth, great price, plenty of meat and noodles read more
1 year ago
Pho Papa only sells one thing, but they do it exceptionally well. It's probably my favorite pho restaurant to date, taking over the top spot from Kevin's Noodle House. Parking (3/5): Although Pho Papa is located in a plaza, parking can be tough if you want a spot close to the restaurant. You're sharing spaces with several other businesses, including Target, so it can get crowded, especially during peak hours. Ambiance (5/5): Systematic, minimalistic, and clean. There are both indoor and outdoor seating options. If you sit indoors, you might get a view of the open kitchen at the center of the restaurant, adding to the experience. Service (5/5): Quick, friendly, and efficient. The staff works fast to get you seated and served, even during busy meal times. Food comes out promptly, and the team keeps things moving smoothly. Food (5/5): Pho Papa focuses on one thing: solid pho. Despite the limited menu, you can customize your bowl with options like small or large sizes, different cuts of meat, and thick or thin noodles (note: thick noodles are limited and may run out later in the day). When your steaming bowl arrives, it's generously topped with green onions--they definitely don't skimp on that. My go-to order is the Pho Tai. Pho Papa uses a tender cut of rare steak--the best I've ever had in a bowl of pho. The beef melts in your mouth, and pairing it with hoisin sauce makes for the perfect bite. The broth stands out with its unique, slightly sweet notes while still being rich and beefy. I love adding a squeeze of lime for balance. What started as just another pho spot has quickly risen through the ranks to become my family's favorite. The next time you're craving pho, make sure to give Pho Papa a try! read more
I was craving pho today, so without looking on yelp, pho papa was a random first thought. Maybe because I haven't been here in ages when I usually go to an another spot. I forgot what it look like from the inside because of the amount of years that it's been since I've been here, but my first thought was the fact that it was really well maintained and clean. I like the furniture set up in here and calming music. On another note, it was not busy, which I low-key appreciated because I my food was served very fast. I also like the fact that they put their chopsticks in paper folders for cleanliness reasons. I ordered a rare beef steak pho small. The steak was good, not too fat, which is needed because I am watching my nutrition. Unfortunately, I can't sip or enjoy the broth because of the amount of sodium pho usually carries. Noodles are good. It doesn't taste like it's been sitting out for a really long time. Despite the odd reviews, I think this place is great if you just wanna relax and eat some pho. read more
11 months ago
Its pho at breakfast time! What's not to like about that? The service was fast and the food delicious. The only complaint is how the seating arrangements were placed. I was elbowed in the back twice, by accident, by the person directly behind me ( if we had both leaned back, we would have flunked heads due to the lack of chair backs). read more
Service was quick! Restaurant is huge We walked in and were seated right away. Nice little cute wooden tables all around the restaurant. They have a little outdoor seating area as well. Food came out hot and aromatic. I love green onions so I didn't mind it at all. The meats were nice and tender. Definitely the perfect spot for a quick bowl of hot noodle soup. Staff were very friendly and they played good music! read more
1 year ago
Oh Em Gee. One of the most satisfying tasting Pho I've had thus far in the Bay Area. I am giving you all a major pro tip: EAT HERE ON A WEEKDAY! I went on lunch last week March 26th, 2025 around lunch time. I took a table outside as I wanted fresh air for dining. It was slightly windy, but that was not an issue at all. And I have to be honest and say that I was in and out of here in literally about 30 mins which was perfect for my lunch break after back to back meetings. The broth actually had flavor. Granted this is only the second Pho spot I've been to in the Bay Area since moving here (2 years ago). *Face Palm* The broth was my favorite. Much better than the Pho I've had in Houston/NY and Jersey combined. Meat was tender and excellent. The only thing I do wish was that there was tripe. I love me some tripe. The service was quick and the gentleman serving me was super friendly. This will be one of my go to's moving forward. read more
2 years ago
Pho Papa is a bustling restaurant that offers large and hearty bowls of pho. We came here on a Saturday morning for brunch and this place was super busy! You write your name on a waitlist. I enjoyed the option to mark if I wanted to sit inside or outside. We only waited about 10 minutes for a table. The service was fantastic the whole time and you can tell they run a tight and efficient ship. Be prepared to know what you want to order ahead because they come take your order right away. The first thing I noticed was that they use really high quality meats. Filet mignon and I'm pretty sure they make the meatballs in house because... they were DELICIOUS! The broth is very clean with a lot of spices and a slight bone broth taste. It was relatively flavorful and the best I've had in the bay but it doesn't compare to Pho 79 down in OC. The pickled onions are a great side although a tad price-y to add. We also tried the Ox tail side and was slightly disappointed. The meat was soft and tender but not fall off the bone. And we only got 2 pieces and it was around $7ish dollars so it didn't feel worth it to me. Parking in this center is super hectic as it's all one way lanes. The bathrooms are super clean! Overall I would say Pho Papa is the best pho in the bay I've had so far. I would come back when I'm craving pho and it will definitely hit the spot. read more
3 months ago
I don't usually leave negative reviews, but this experience deserves one. I found a hair in my pho broth and let the server know. Instead of apologizing, they casually said, "Yeah, it happens sometimes," and walked away. I later found an ant in the broth as well. Mistakes happen, but acting like it's no big deal and expecting a customer to keep eating is unacceptable. read more
Delicious pho! The coffee was also really strong. My Vietnamese friend recommended this as her favorite SJ pho and we loved it! We were seated and served pretty quickly and the portions are huge. The restaurant and bathrooms are pretty clean. The food was so good that we sat there eating in silence. read more
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More info about Pho Papa
1611 E Capitol Expy
Ste 206
San Jose, CA 95121
Evergreen
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(408) 270-0600
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Ask the Community - Pho Papa
Do you have any vegetarian pho and vegetarian options?
No. This place is not vegetarian friendly.
What's the best soup I am sick so that's why I am asking?oh sorry to be pacific for cold and fewer?
they put so much MSG not good for your health ok
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