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    Pho Star

    4.6 (48 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Pho Star Photos

    PHO STAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Pho Star

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    Reviews With Photos

    Seafood pho ($16) and Won Ton soup ($16)
    Angela M.

    Our usual spots are no longer favorites... so my brother and I ventured here in search of some decent pho. It is right off the freeway in a tiny plaza that can easily be missed - we missed it. The parking lot is pretty spacious with lots of open parking. We did arrive before noon so this could be the reason. The dining area within Pho Star has lots of bench style seating which we found considerably comfortable. The gentleman at the front was friendly upon entering, notifying us we could sit anywhere we chose. The menu offers something for everyone in food options, while the drink menu is quite limited to smoothie options (many flavors) and coffees. For our order, we decided on seafood pho ($15.95) with Vietnamese milk coffee ($6.50) and wonton soup ($15.95) with a mango smoothie ($6.50). The broth of the seafood pho had flavor but was lacking in intenseness. The crab was imitation lump (one lump, one small piece), one shrimp, no squid and plenty of fish balls. The Vietnamese coffee was really good, all ingredients portioned well with minimal ice without asking. My brother enjoyed his wonton soup. He drank majority of his broth and consumed the entirety of his dish. He said the mango smoothie was creamy and thick with lots of mango flavor. If we return, I would try something different. We will continue our search for pho without ruling Pho Star completely out.

    Chicken Seafood Soup
    Cynthia A.

    I was so excited to come here because they have chicken pho on the menu, and I loved it! It doesn't replace my favorite beef pho with tendon, but as someone who really enjoys chicken pho, this one definitely hit the spot. The jackfruit shake couldn't have been better. I enjoyed every sip. I'm not sure how new they are, but the service was great. Our server really tried hard to please us; he was nice.

    Combo won ton soup, pork spring rolls
    Catherine M.

    Came in on a Saturday around lunchtime, not very busy, got seated quickly. Restaurant was clean. Ordered and got our food quickly. Food wise, I got the wonton soup with egg noodle, medium size. The server recommended the combo wonton soup so I got that instead but was kinda disappointed because the photo had like 3 shrimp and slices of meat with the wontons and there was only 1 shrimp and like 4 wontons. The broth is very good though. My boyfriend got the pho star special with no tendon and enjoyed his food. He also thought the broth was very flavorful. Spring roll were also good. I do recommend this place, I would come back to try other things, including the banh mi sandwiches.

    Chicken bánh mì
    Elizabeth V.

    Craving some bánh mì so stopped by. Boyfriend came in and said it smelled like home (which is San Jose) so that's definitely a good thing! We did take-out for 2 bánh mì or Việt sandwiches and it was a very good price at $8.95 each. I got the grilled chicken and he got the grilled beef. I like the flavor marinade of the grilled chicken - it's the same as what would be on vermicelli. The beef was also tasty per the BF. Sandwich had a good ratio of veggies to meat (actually more meat than I expected!). Very filling and hefty. Service was nice. They replaced the other Pho restaurant here but quality is still good!

    My lemongrass bun
    Be J.

    People were friendly and nice. We ordered: 1) grilled pork fresh rolls - 5/5. Yummy flavor; 2) fish sause wings - 5/5 h said very tasty; 3) tendon & rare beef pho - 5/5 tasty broth and lots of melty tendon; and 4) lemongrass chicken bun - 4/5 lots of fresh herbs and veggies, very generous amount of chicken w the peanuts on the side so not sogged up. Marinade on ck had lots of lemongrass but not as good as my fav lemongrass chicken even tho excellent. We will be back to try more esp. Bahn mi.

    Fried chicken & fried shrimp
    Ayana K.

    I was in the area and decided I didn't want breakfast food at 10am I was greeted with a smile by the owner when I walked in. The place is clean and inviting. Has parking as well. The prices are reasonable. I ordered A5(fried chicken wings) & A6(fried shrimp). Everything was made to order, fresh and well seasoned. I didn't even need to use any sauces. I will definitely be back

    Pho beef brisket and flank
    Steve L.

    The food was great and the staff was very nice! The food is certainly better than the last pho spot that was here. We got the flank and brisket pho, the meat quality was good, but not great. We did ask for a side of cabbage and they provided that for us at no cost which was awesome. The tofu spring rolls were very good, but we didn't get those until we were already half way into our pho. We also didn't get our smoothie until that point either, but the food was really good so we didn't mind. The staff was very nice, but the service was a little slow once the place started to get busy. The atmosphere is nice, I like the decorative covers they put over the lights on the ceiling. The music on the tv was funny because they were showing girls dance around in bikinis in the islands - didn't seem like something I would see at a pho place in Martinez. I'd certainly come back and try the stir fry, banh mi sandwiches or one of the other soups.

    Won ton soup w/noodles.
    Dorothy W.

    Delicious won ton soup with egg noodles! Broth was excellent. Will gladly come back and try more food!

    Pho
    Robin W.

    It's soup season, and I love a great bowl of Pho! After getting my nails done in Martinez, I decided to try Pho Star on Alhambra Ave. It was my first time visiting, and I wasn't disappointed. I got a B9-Pho Tai Bo Vien and an order of fried egg rolls, and everything was delish! I really enjoyed the broth; it had great flavor without any single ingredient being overpowering. The restaurant was really clean; even the bathroom sparkled! Service was great. I asked for a box for my leftover egg rolls, and the owner started packing new egg rolls for me. When I asked him why, he told me he thought my order was a little overcooked and that I should have a fresh batch. Wow!

    Spicy beef noodle soup. The bomb!
    Phil S.

    Absolutely obsessed with the Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (Bún Bò Huế)! This bowl is a flavor explosion, the broth is deeply rich and beefy with just the right amount of spicy heat from the chili oil that builds nicely without overpowering everything. Tender slices of beef, perfectly chewy thick noodles, and loaded with fresh herbs, onions, and cilantro. The side plate of bean sprouts, lime, and jalapeños lets you customize it perfectly. Way more exciting than regular pho if you're craving something with a kick! Generous portion, super fresh, and the service was quick and friendly. Best Vietnamese comfort food in Martinez. I'll be back soon!

    Bum Bo Hue
    Annandstan W.

    Looking for Bun Bo Hue? Come here!! It was absolutely delish and comforting! The noodles were fresh and the broth was on point! We shall return to try other menu items soon!

    Pho
    Jonathan O.

    New Pho Spot opening up in Martinez and I can't be happier. Classic Pho and sides you will not be disappointed by anything on the menu. The service was top rate, literally made my young child his own plate without hesitation. I love the spot, the location is easy to get to and the place is exactly how you would want to eat your pho. Great little restaurant with a great relaxing and welcoming ambiance.

    Pho with Brisket
    Mintu V.

    Delicious food, great service, and very hard not to sing along to the songs. The Bún bò Huế and pho were rich, aromatic, and full of fresh herbs. Fast service, generous portions--definitely coming back to try the other menu items! The bánh mì we took it to go but it looks delicious! I'm too full to even try a bite now.

    The spices were perfect and the shrimp large.

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    14 days ago

    Pho Gai with rice noodles and a mango smoothie. If you are sick or pretending to be sick, this will cure you.

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    5 months ago

    The pho was delicious and full of flavor. The fried egg rolls were just okay, but the staff was very pleasant.

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    4 months ago

    Amazing pho snd good vegan options and amazing service, the restaurant has an amazing ambiance and is very clean!!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Pho Star

    Is this the same locale where old Vietnamese restaurant was found?

    Yes, old one was called Pho May

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Kyoto Ramen Hawaiian BBQ

    Kyoto Ramen Hawaiian BBQ

    4.5
    (335 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$
    Free parking
    Kid friendly

    Delicious food & great deal with the family meal #2! It feeds 6-8, but we end up having a lot…read moreleftover. We ordered chicken katsu, bbq beef, and teriyaki chicken. It also comes with rice and mac salad. Everything is tender and easy to eat, my favorite being the sweet bbq beef. I would recommend this to anyone looking for yummy Hawaiian food with a good price!

    I just had a good dinner until one mistake just ruined it. The worker ended up charging me for…read moresomeone else's check which was double my bill then instead of refunding me the difference, he moved super fast and refunded the whole amount instead of the difference. Then he told me to tap my card again. I wasn't about to be charged another $60 so I told him no, I'm not doing that. This created a whole scene that other customers eating there got involved making it look like I was the bad person. He ended up just telling me that it was on them. Which all could've been avoided IF he had listened to my solution. I don't care about the 'free' meal at this point. It was so embarrassing! Word of advice, if you're ringing up a check, make sure you ring up the correct bill! Other than that, the food was good. One of the best Hawaiian food in the area. I do recommend the Aloha plate. It's just very unfortunate that one mistake caused me to never want to come back.

    Photos
    Tonkotsu ramen
    Tonkotsu ramen
    Original and Thai boba
    Original and Thai boba
    Original milk boba

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    Original milk boba
    Tasty Szechuan

    Tasty Szechuan

    4.5
    (92 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    I had to take the time to write a review about this restaurant... because we were so impressed by…read morethe food, and we can't wait to go back! The TLDR report is: Fantastic, delicious, plenty of high quality ingredients... and big servings! Here are the details: Last week, we popped in to get take-out for the first time. Many people may realize that this is the space that 'Los Panchos' inhabited for literally decades, so having gone there for so many years I have to say that it was a bit surreal to enter the space we'd known as the former eatery - now transformed. This new-(ish) Chinese food establishment definitely specializes in SPICY. My gosh, it's so good! As we walked in, we were greeted enthusiastically by the hostess. We planned to order food to go, we explained, so she had us get comfy at a table and we were served hot jasmine-scented tea and a dish of tasty salted peanuts which we were thankful for! The hostess had such an air of sincere hospitality. The floor-plan in the space has been completely redesigned, and now there is a ton of indoor seating for diners. The overall ambiance of the establishment is bright, acoustics are a tad loud (but fine), and there is what looks to be a little private room for banquets which I'm sure will be a hit for big groups. A TV on the wall was showing videos of food being enjoyed. So, the menu is extensive and leans wonderfully towards spicy options. Do not expect Cantonese food; that is not what they do. There are plenty of items that are less common, and there are also dishes that will make a more adventurous eater cheerful. One thing that's interesting about how the menu is organized is... there is a menu category called "Chinese-American" dishes. Most of the dishes in this category (such as Kung Pao Chicken, General Tso's Chicken, etc.) are normal to see at lots of Chinese food places, so getting a reminder that "these dishes only exist outside of China" is honestly pretty neat. We ordered Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce & Dry Cooked String Beans, plus steamed rice. The pork was such good quality -- tender, plentiful... there were tons of slivered wood-ear fungus which I LOVE... and the dish had a vibrant 'Medium' spicy level. A level of spice that will make you pay attention! The string beans were succulent! Not 'saucy'... and I mean that in a good way, for sure! So much flavor, and each bean was trimmed with care. They were tender/al-dente and bursting with concentrated goodness. It's been a week since we were there and we can't stop thinking about how good everything was. Mmmmmm. Don't expect elegant ambiance... just phenomenal food, and friendly staff! We will be back OFTEN.

    Authentic Chinese Szechuan food at the most unlikely place. This restaurant located in a little…read morestrip mall in Pacheco and I passed by it so many times and didn't even notice it there. The food is excellent. Highly recommend the hotpot for $20, you get your pick up three meat and three veggies and it's good enough for two. Steam soup dumplings and mapo tofu were awesome as well. Service was great, the ladies who worked there kept checking up on us to make sure we have everything we need. Served us tea, water, a little plate of peanuts without even asking. I think it's safe to say you can order anything on the menu and be happy with it. The only downside/tip I have is to not sit by the door. Their door slams super hard every time someone comes in and it's very distracting, other than that fantastic place to come back

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Tasty Szechuan
    Lamb with Cumin

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    Lamb with Cumin
    Yin Ji Chang Fen

    Yin Ji Chang Fen

    3.7
    (146 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    Service is slow and must be prompted to get any attention which is fine but different from other…read morelocations. The food is better than Berkeley and congee was the right consistency and my kids liked the food. Would be a great location if service is better. Still prefer the San Lorenzo store but wouldn't hesitate coming back when in the area.

    We decided to give Yi Ji Chang Fen a go tonight. My group was feeling varying degrees of hunger, so…read morethis was a good place to share some small plates. I've heard of Yi Ji Chang Fen but only tried it today. I've eaten so much dim sum in my lifetime, so my standard for dim sum may be higher. We came around 5PM on a Saturday and there wasn't anyone really there. It could be because dim sum feels more like a morning or lunch thing, or it could just be because we were there for a very early dinner. Between our party, we shared: - Marinated Chicken and Mushroom Rice Roll - Stuffed Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf - Steamed Chicken Feet w/ Black Bean Sauce - Black Gold Egg Custard Buns - Chicken Feet with Herbs - Dry Style Beef Chow Fun And one Honey Lemon Tea for me. The honey lemon tea was a comfort for the cold day. Maybe a bit too much honey, but still good for the throat during the dry season. The chow fun came first and surprisingly it was not bad. There was a bit of 'wok hey' there and it stands out as one of the better dishes we had. As for the rice roll - I wanted to try something less conventional and I've never seen chicken in rice rolls, so I thought it would be interesting to try. It was quite disappointing though. Their rice roll was bigger than normal in width so with rice rolls being a struggle to pick up already, the bigger size made it an even bigger struggle. Everything just slipped out of the rice roll and it wasn't evenly wrapped. There were some bunched up layers on the edges. I think the chicken just didn't pair that well either and it was lacking in ingredients. Maybe the more conventional rice rolls would be better. For the two types of chicken feet, I normally like the one in herbal soup. If made well, the chicken feet has a nice flavor to it. For Yi Fen's herbal chicken feet, their portion was pretty good, but flavor was less prominent. I enjoyed the chicken feet in black bean sauce more because the flavor was better. Lastly, for the stuffed sticky rice and black gold egg custard buns, I suspect that these are not made in-house, but rather store-bought. The sticky rice lacked ingredients and the rice was a little harder than if made fresh. And the perfectly shaped black buns with a golden brush stroke on top (which I've seen all over the internet) seemed too elevated-looking compared to everything else. I'm not the biggest fan of molten lava buns, but they came out nicely. I didn't have any, but the molten lava custard was pretty runny. All in all, an okay experience. Service was a bit lacking. I don't recommend the dim sum dishes, but if I happen to want congee, I may give this place another go. Apart from the dim sum and rice rolls, the noodles I glimpsed from other customers looked not bad. I wonder if other locations are better.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Beef chow fun.  On point, but can use a bit more  wok-hay  ;)
    Beef chow fun. On point, but can use a bit more wok-hay ;)
    Front of restaurant

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    Front of restaurant

    Pho Star - vietnamese - Updated June 2026

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