This place is what you'd expect for Newbury Street... convenient and overpriced. The service was standard and the ambiance was nice, yet casual. You can also order mochi donuts in the same restaurant! If you're looking for legit Vietnamese food, go to Dorcester. That being said, the Bahn Mi was still decent and had a nice flavor to it. The Spring Rolls were underwhelming and seemed a bit skimpy, but the peanut sauce was the hero! I don't think I'd bother to come back because there are some better options for Asian in the area, like Redwhite Boneless Ramen and Beantown Pho & Grill. read more

See all

First time for real at Pho Real!! From the outside it looks deceptively small but you go downstairs and it's a bigger space but it was quite packed which is always a good sign! But they had a table immediately for us. We ordered the pork dumplings and 2 pho ga (chicken) soups. Dumplings were great! The soups were good - piping hot, lots of broth, chicken and toppings. But tbh, something was lacking in the flavor - it seemed mild and we've definitely had better more flavorful pho. Service was attentive although they brought the food but no utensils which was rectified after we asked them. Also after we asked for containers to take home the leftover soup, they didn't bring the check to the table. We noticed others going over to the counter to pay their bill. So we did the same. Overall good to try it out once! read more

See all

I arrived during a weekday in the afternoon. It was pretty slow so I was able to place my order and go within minutes. It looks small from the outside but once you go downstairs there is a nice sized seating area that is decorated so cute. It's definitely a nice place for photo opps. I ordered the beef banh mi along with a side of fried chicken wings. Overall the food was great. The beef banh mi was smoked to perfection and it was very tender. The wings were your typical flavorful crunchy wings. I'd definitely recommend if you're in the area and looking for a bite. read more

Pho Real - Boston - Front entrance - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This place needs to get it together...The staff was clearly frazzled and it wasn't even a busy lunch time. It took 10 minutes for something to take my order and than other 15 minutes to get my bowl of pho. And when did a bowl of pho become $18? Thankfully the pho was tasty and hot. They skimp on the bean sprouts and thai basil and they don't have real sriracha, for those who need it. Everything else on the menu was so expensive. read more

This pho was alright. I was very hungry, and was hoping for something warm since it was cold out. Service was very fast, but I was shocked at how expensive this place is. Even for newbury street, I find $18 for a standard bowl of pho to be quite pricy. We also tried the fresh spring rolls, which were good but tiny and also didn't have much flavor. The quality of the meat wasn't super great, and while I left full, I probably won't come here again. Overall, it was cute but I also didn't love the vibes, and other pho places have a better feel. read more

Pho Real - Boston - Pho Dac Biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

3-3.5 stars - for the pho/service/experience. Pho basil still my fave, but that place is always packed so sometimes I do go elsewhere. read more

The food was good but not for the price. They charge so much for a gratuity tip and food in general. I have had much better pho and viet food for a cheaper price. In total for all the food I got, it was over $100. I do think the pho and the meat were good but I don't think I would go back because of the price. read more

See all

Just happened upon this great place by chance. It has a Very inviting patio, and I love love Vietnamese food. Tried the spring rolls with shrimp. Really fresh and delicious, although I wish they had mint or basil for an additional pop of flavor. For my entree, I had the vermicelli bowl with grilled pork. My oh my was this super freaking amazing! Very light and packed with crisp veggies and perfectly cooked generous pork portion. Very friendly service as well. You'll be super pleased with your experience here. read more

Pho Real - Boston - Shrimp spring rolls and vermicelli with pork and egg roll. - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I've been trying to find a good Vietnamese restaurant in the area that's closer to me. I've tried this PhoReal for the first time since they opened up this year. I ordered a special pho, but this is a huge disappointment. First off, the broth plays a very important role in Pho but this broth is tasteless. Also they have a very limited menu and without description. I'm not sure how non-english readers will understand this menu. Talk about the quality: The broth is standard, no taste. Pho is supposed to include thin beef slices however, I'm getting pork instead. The entire bowl is noodles, a few slices of pork, a few half-cut meatballs, and a very little beansprout with herbs. PhoReal is in a prime location, I'm really hoping that they can improve the quality of their food to attract more clients and also update the menu. Otherwise, they will not last long in this location. read more

Pho Real - Boston - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Overpriced, subpar food, and stingy on herbs. If you're looking for Vietnamese food in Boston, don't come here. It's a disappointment. The soup is bland (missing the spices--star anise, cinnamon, etc. required for this to be "pho"), they're stingy with the herbs (they didn't even give us one sprig of basil per person!), and $18 for a vegetarian pho is absolutely ludicrous. The one good thing was the freshly fried tofu. Good on that. Everything else was less than mediocre. read more

Pho Real - Boston - Tofu Pho, veggie broth - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

I understand the need to charge more due to location but everything is overpriced and small portions. Please note that they charge extra if you pay with credit card so have cash ready. You go to the counter up front to pay. Happy to order one beef noodle soup with extra noodle to sample the food there. The noodle had a weird after taste (I think they forgot the rinsing part). It was not good. My server did not care at all and thought he was having a bad day. However, He was so talkative to the party next to us and even provided recommendation. He took our order and left us alone. I had to figure out how to pay on my own. Other staff were friendly to us - they gave us water finally after our meal. I would probably come back for the mochinut (one for $4.50) but not for the food. There are better dining options in the area. read more

Pho Real - Boston - Pho tai with extra noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I came here with high hopes and left disappointed. I was excited because it was beautiful Saturday afternoon and they have plenty of outdoor seats. They were playing top 40 music and I was vibing out before my server arrived. I ordered the grilled chicken over sticky rice. Maybe it's my fault but I didn't look at what's in the dish, I just assumed there would be more. The dish cost $18 so I assumed there would be more to it, but it literally was just a medium sized plate of grilled chicken and white rice. It lacked flavor, size and heart. I can't even say the dish should have been less expensive, I just wish it had more to it. I don't mind paying more to have a more thoughtfully prepared meal. Based on this meal, there's no reason for me to return. Servers were friendly though. read more

See all

Ordered the Pho Tai with extra noodles and it was absolutely amazing!! I also like that they have a barcode at the table for a menu and that theres payment at the counter, making things easier and more accessible. The servers are the kindest people, and it is family run so the environment is very kind and comfortable. They always play great music too (top 40 songs with the occasional TikTok remix)! Aside from all of this they have Mochi donuts that are to die for. They also have a bathroom that is kept really clean which is pretty hard to find in the area! Highly recommend read more

Pho Real - Boston - Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

I wanted to enjoy this meal but unfortunately I was not able to: Food: it was not bad but not amazing to worth 20 bucks plus another 2.4% extra charge for credit card for 1) 25min wait cause it's supposed to be fast; 2) the pathetic portion you got: 1 full meat ball, 2 slices of brisket and 3 slices of round rye beef; 3) they are also quite cheap for giving out the herbs Service: they're nice but really slow and not very attentive Ambiance: it def looks clean but I was freezing inside until the lunch was finally served Would not come back again, given there are so many other choices with much better price, quality, and portion. read more

Pho Real - Boston - Pho dac biet (special) - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

The highlights of Pho Real's Pho Dac Biet are the noodles and broth. Noodles are cooked very well and succulent. The broth is well balanced and enjoyable throughout the meal. However, the cons outweigh the pros. In terms of cons, the meat toppings are very subpar in taste, quality, and amount. The 3 types of meat toppings were all shockingly flavorless. Pair this with the high price of $20, and it becomes very difficult to recommend this restaurant for a bowl of pho. Considering the location, I can understand the justification for the price, but I expect more/better for a $20 bowl of Pho. 5 Stars: A definite recommendation and a personal favorite! You HAVE to try this place! 4 Stars: Great experience. A place I plan to frequent. Just shy of being a favorite. 3 Stars: Average experience. Great to try once but not a place I plan to frequent. 2 Stars: Poor experience. There were mistakes with the meal or it may have just been a bad day for the establishment. 1 Star: Terrible experience. Avoid at all cost. read more

Pho Real - Boston - Pho Dac Biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Glad I ran into get mochi dough when I smelled the pho! It's a strong alluring aroma! The staff was very friendly and nice! The pho broth was very deep and flavorful! I loved that they had mochi donuts connected to the restaurant The restaurant it's self was cozy and whimsical. I just wished they had more meat options, and fill the hoisin sauces up. All the tables had empty ones. Soup dumplings 4/10 (4 small pieces for $12???) Pho flank steak 9/10 Pho with meat balls 8/10 Chicken wings 7/10 read more

my bf and i got the Grilled Chicken with Rice Plate & Grilled Pork Vermicelli Bowl w/ egg roll. we both cleaned the plate!! not a lot of veggies for rice plate, but it was still good. vermicelli bowl was really good, my fav so far. 10/10 would recommend read more

Pho Real - Boston - Grilled Chicken with Rice Plate Grilled Pork Vermicelli Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

A little overpriced diner with good broth. Walked in Friday evening and the diner was packed. All tables were extremely close to each other leaving little private space. The waiter was really busy so we had to wait. The menu was simple and the pho had great broth--a plus at a chilly winter night. However, items we're overpriced as $18 pho tai only contains 4 slices of almost paper thin beef. And salted edamame cost $9 dollars? I guess inflation has to be real. read more

Pho Real - Boston - Pho tai with vegetables - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I don't typically rate restaurants so low but honestly. This was a very disappointing experience. One of my to-go dishes in Viet restaurants is the grilled pork with rice or vermicelli and so I ordered it thinking it'd be a nice filling meal but when the waiter brought my dish and I saw how bare it was... wow did I regret coming here. Barely any veggies. No fish sauce (the major red flag) and just a crap ton of rice. The taste was just OK. The pork isnt bland as it was marinated but its not the traditional grilled pork. Really disappointed in the meal and the fact it costed me $18 total. Service was alright but it took a long time for them to bring our bill, and they didn't seem busy that day either. I would not come here again unfortunately. read more

Pho Real - Boston - Grilled pork - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food (0.5/2): Ordered their mixed-meat bowl (brisket, "steak", meatballs). Broth was sufficiently clear but was quite bland--the typical beefy aroma and flavor was lacking. The noodle was decently cooked but nothing amazing. Meat were subpar. Brisket was slightly undercooked though it is still soft and tender. Steak slices were decent, but a bit more on the chewy side. Meatballs felt "airy" and lacks the typical density that a pho-meatball would have. Flavor was also so-so. The dish itself is basically average (i.e. supposedly 1/2 rating). But what made it worse were the extremely meager meat portion. The bowl would've typically been a "large" bowl but what I got was just 1.5 meatballs, 2-4 slices of steak, and 2-3 slices of brisket. This is less than half of what I usually get in other pho restaurants. Service/wait-time/cleanliness (1/2): Service was decent; to be expected. Wait-time was relatively fast, though slightly on the slower side when it comes to pho, especially considering the relative emptiness of the place. Cleanliness was quite spotty--tables were clean but some of the "sofa-chairs" had some leftover liquid substance (like someone's sweaty bum). This could be some cleaning-liquid or it could be "dirt" but either way, shouldn't have been left that way. Price (0.5/1): For the price they charge ($20 base), I consider it incredibly overpriced. I've had better-flavored, more-meat pho for less than this--some even cost only half. I gave a slight benefit of doubt that this may be due to their location (Newbury St). read more

Awesome pork bowl and the mochi donuts are Super friendly staff and cozy feel. Definitely coming back. read more

An ok pho place on Newbury. The broth is ON POINT. However, for a $20 dollar bowl of noodles, they were a bit stingy on the meat. Service was good and the shop offered boba and mochi donuts as well (which we didn't have). read more

Unfortunately very disappointing. The food (we tried the classic pho dac biet) wasn't *bad* in and of itself, but if you've had good pho before you'll probably be disappointed by this. Aside from the flavor, the noodles are flat, rather than the classic thin round noodles. On top of that, as others have mentioned, the portions were both small and overpriced ($20 for the equivalent of a medium size at other shops). On the plus side, the interior was nice and clean, and the staff was friendly! However, this is certainly not enough to make it worth a trip back. If you're looking for good pho relatively close by, try soup shack, or if you're willing to go a bit further, go to one of the authentic places in Dorchester! read more

This place was a disappointment. They charged too much for the little portions they served. When I asked the owner about it, he shied away and told one of the waiters to speak to me instead. Avoid this place and go to Soup Shack for good pho noodles soup. read more

Pho Real - Boston - This was $20. Disrespectful amount of noodles and meat. Left hungry. I should've made ramen at home. - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Mediocre vietnamese food. The banh mi had way too much bread for the filling. Special pho (with all the beef types) was just a ton of noodle and bean sprout, very few pieces of meat. Should just order from another vietnamese place (I recommend Le's in Harvard Square). Worst part was the wait. We waited some times in store for a table, then when we were seated, it wasn't until another 15 minutes before someone took our order(we had to flag down a server taking neighboring table's order) and another 35 minutes before our food came out. I saw a customer who came in after us, finish his food and was paying to leave before I even got my order. Horrible experience of waiting almost a hour for food. read more

TLDR: slow service and sub-par pho - will not revisit. I went to Pho Real after seeing the line at Santouka Ramen, hoping I wouldn't have to wait as long to get food. It was 2:30pm (on a Saturday) and I got seated right away so I was hopeful. After waiting for 15 mins, nobody came by to offer me water or take my order. They seemed busy so I went up to the front to save them a trip and put my order in. Once my order was in, I didn't get it for another 25 minutes. I noticed that people that came after me had already gotten their food. And for such a simple order (I got special pho), it really shouldn't have taken as long as it did. When the food finally came it was another disappointment, there was very little meat and the beef brisket was dry. read more

Sad proportions of pickled veggies to protein in a large but still unsatisfying and overpriced sandwich. They have very few vegan options, and the banh mi was the cheapest thing in the menu. You can get a much better sandwich for half the price in Allston, but I suppose the Newburyport location is included in the price. Still, if I'm going to be spending $15+, i would much rather go to another restaurant given all the amazing options nearby. The picture makes it look much better than the taste. My friend also said the meatball pho was pretty plain (and it was $20+). Still, service was decent and there were plenty of empty seats on a Thursday evening so if you're looking for a less crowded casual dinner, this could work for you. read more

This Pho is literally HEAVENLY! It's so perfect for a cold day outside!!! The people who work here are so sweet and the service is extremely fast! The Bahn Mi is also FANTASTIC!!!!!! read more

Pho Real - Boston - Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Where do I begin, these service and ambience is really good! The pho prices definitely are on the pricey side but definitely worth it! It's pretty big with a lot of space and great staff! Bonus: they have mochi donuts in the store and we're amazing! Super fresh, soft, and airy and not on the super sweet side! It was just enough! I had the pleasure of taking to the honor and I swore there was a grandmother cooking in the back because it made you feel at home. The owner had mentioned that the recipe has gone down 4 generations and has never been changed. The egg rolls plus sauce were super tasty and flavorful. The outside was golden which was nice to see. I will definitely go back again! read more

Pho Real - Boston - Pho ga - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Oof. I'm Asian, so I hope y'all take this review to heart. My wife and I wanted pho (and a rice dish) because we were getting a little over the amount of lobster/clam chowder we've had on our trip. We eat a TON of pho. This meal made us homesick. PS IF YOU'RE HANDICAPPED OR HAVE A STROLLER, they charge 20% gratuity for sitting outside, instead of their humid downstairs indoor dinning room. It's insane, I don't even know if it's legal to do? 20% forced tip for sitting outside? Doesn't matter if you're 1 or 2 people. 20% tip. I'll try to keep it brief and break it down quickly: The good: -Relatively clean patio/table -Nice host/hostess -The pho tasted good (but see below) The BAD: -slower service than you'd expect for 20% forced gratuity -$9 for 2 small egg rolls, cut in half. I was SHOCKED. Literally your average size egg roll is $4.50 EACH?! Dude, what?! I'm down to splurge on nice meals, but 2 regular size egg rolls for $9 is wild. -shrimp with rice was $20, we got 6 relatively smaller shrimp that were SUPER OVERCOOKED. Shell-on. One tiny napkin. We asked for more napkins, she brought 2 more tiny ones out (lol). My wife left 2 shrimp behind, it was THAT bad. I tried one, it was like chewing a rubber band. They gave like 7 strands of radish and 2 carrot strands on a little piece of lettuce. A pre poured small serving of soy sauce, and some less-than-fresh rice. -pho tasted good, but this was a child-size portion of noodles. There was like 4 slices of thin meat, 1 small beef ball cut in half, and 1 piece of brisket. It was a disrespectful dish. Tastes were good, but this was about 6 solid bites of food. We had to get dinner after what was supposed to be our dinner! Save your money, go somewhere else. This place won't stand the test of time. I wish I could show their cook how to properly cook shrimp, and that adding more noodles/a couple pieces of cheap meat you get in bulk won't sink your business, it'll help it, and make people happy to leave healthy tips. The forced tip takes away their care for whether you enjoy their food or service. They are swindling. Wont be back. Worst meal I have ever had in Boston, and I've had some crap meals I still tipped well on, and don't leave bad reviews for! Yours truly, Scorned Asian guy read more

If you see a restaurant having a score below 4, you should better trust the score and walk away! Average food with high price, terrible service and environment. read more

Find the hair... It doesn't taste bad but my order came with a hair... I wanted to leave but I stayed and they given me another bowl of chicken pho... read more

Pho Real - Boston - Find the hair... - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Nice to sit outside and pho presented well along with the broth. Give it a try when on Newbury. read more

See all

I never have less than a positive review of most restaurants, but unfortunately this restaurant would make the cut. The first time I came here, I was blatantly ignored while waiting to be seated. The servers looked at me and ignored me while there was a mix of others also getting ignored and people coming in later who got attention fast, so I ended up leaving. I gave it a second chance and was able to eat, but unfortunately it wasn't worth it. The food is overpriced and the pho was lacking a good amount of items in it to justify the price. I got tofu pho and there was just a little amount of tofu squares in it. The beef broth was tasty, but overall it wasn't a meal to be starstruck about. Some of the employees are nice, but some of them are also visibly disinterested/annoyed. The atmosphere is decent. read more

We waited half and hour for our drinks, one hour for our food . The food didnt arrive to every one at the table at the some time. One person had to wait until after everybody else finished their food to start hers. The food was also nothing interesting, okay but certainly not worth any wait. They also charged us the full fee after we waited for this obscene amount of time. Do not recommend. read more

Very delicious, great service all 6 plates. Pho tai and rice an pork are delicious. Also the owner introduce himself very recomended read more

Pho Real - Boston - All 6 plates amazing - Vietnamese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Reliable and casual neighborhood destination for pho and banh mi. The place can get super packed on nice sunny days but we went on a quiet rainy afternoon. You order from the table (menus are accessed via QR codes at the table) but you don't need to flag a waitstaff for the bill because you go up to the front counter to pay when you're done eating. If you forgot to order donuts with your main meal, you can walk over to the mochi donut counter (connected to the restaurant) to pick out dessert. The taro/ube donut had my top vote, but the other flavors (matcha, fruity pebbles) were tasty too. read more

Great service, great food. I went with my kids and we had a wonderful time. It is on Newbury street so I expected it to be a little pricey but all the food was excellent. The service was timely and what else is better than spending time with your family and great food. We will go again. Loved the donuts also. JR, from Boston, MA read more

the only empty patio on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Newbury st. with reason. No one is attending the patio. Server gave me a menu then showed up again after 20min. Had to wait for the only other table to receive their food so I could ask for napkins (not on the table or anywhere else), same for a glass of water or to ask about check. Meanwhile I counted 4 different waiters. The place downstairs was empty, so not sure what were they busy with. Someone looking like a host appeared at the patio, attended for 10min. then disappeared. They are not going to last longer with such a service. read more

So delicious! Vegan options! Great service! The man who owns it is so sweet and you can tell the kitchen pours love into the food. Amazing ambiance! It's really cute inside and you can sit on the patio and people watch. I love it here read more