This place is fine. Nothing great, nothing terrible. Definitely not "authentic" Vietnamese cuisine in our experience. We got the papaya salad which was really bland and clearly hadn't been made with fish sauce. It was really odd. I also got the pho, and it was also pretty mediocre. Too sweet of a broth, not enough umami from the stock. There are other places that are better for the same price, within a few blocks. I won't go here again unless forced to, and even then I would just stick to the summer rolls. read more

I ordered Pho here. It was very good, and the ingredients were fresh. I also had summer rolls which were quite good and my friend had an apple salad that he said was delicious. The only reason I gave this 4 stars is because they use a really unusual bright red spray to clean their tables. When I sat down, I was wearing a white blouse, and I got red stuff all over the sleeves. I grabbed a tissue and wiped the table with it. I will try to attach a photo of what that looked like. read more

Pho Van - Reddish pink spray used to clean tables - Vietnamese Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Love it here. Clean and delicious. I normally get takeout and it is ready within typically 10 minutes of ordering - great for a hungry gal!! I get the rare eye round pho every single Monday - without missing! Will keep this tradition going for sure read more

My pho cravings were real so I was super excited to try this place. Unfortunately, my experience was was eh. Service was fairly slow. We ordered spring rolls as an appetizer and after taking a bite I noticed a small bug in mine. I was slightly bothered but I brushed it off. I ordered the 'famous' beef pho and there were probably like 3 thin small slices of beef which I thought was ungenerous and crummy however, that didn't disappoint me. What did was finding another bug in my pho; I was in disbelief so I had my friend confirm given I was more cautious with every bite since the first mishap. Unfortunately, it was indeed another bug. I don't know if it just landed in there or the vegetables weren't washed or what but it concerns me that it happened twice with different dishes. I definitely lost my appetite at that point. On a lighter note, the boba smoothie was pretty good and the waitress was nice. read more

My favorite pho place in Pittsburgh. I love the location of the restaurant being in the center of the Strip District with other shops and restaurants and cafe around. The newly renovated dining space looks modern and clean. I really like the Vietnamese themed art works on the wall. read more

I am not sure why this place has low-ish rating. I've always enjoyed coming here. Their pho is good-- the broth has depth and the toppings are bountiful. Their bahn mi is pretty great, it's probably the 2nd best bahnmi served in pittsburgh. The service is really fast. Seems that they have really revamped this place this year. The interior design has changed/ items on the menu has gotten fancier. This also means the items have gotten a buck or two more expensive on average, which is kind of sad since my joys of going to get pho is for a cheap, quick, filling meal. I do hope that they get more business with the renovations and I will keep coming back! read more

The best pho in Pittsburgh. Great service. Delicious vegan pho as well! Very good papayas salad. Go now!

Definitely the best beef pho you can find in Pittsburgh! Crispy tofu and shrimp rolls are also good.

I dont usually right reviews because i dont care, but this place really making me mad. Theyre just selling whatevers to us without even thinking how bad their business going to be. I decided to give this place a second try, last time my friends n I ate at this restaurant, we forgot that they included the tips in the check so we gave them more tips in cash.. which was almost $60 for 7 people they didnt even tell us. Honestly, this place rip people off paying too much for food with just little portion. And they taste pretty nasty. poor quality. PLEASE make the business better if youre running viet food for business!!!! read more

I'm Vietnamese and definitely would recommend this place. Staff is super nice and the pho is delicious. One of the things I judge most about pho is the broth as some places I have been to have butchered the broth. However, the broth is here is amazing. Warms up the soul. read more

Good soup for the price. It could have been hotter as surprisingly it was tepid at best. Service was fast and efficient. As there are not too many options for Vietnamese in Pittsburgh, you would be hard pressed to find another place better. That being said, the Pho was still tasty and the beef still tender. The spring rolls were also hot and delicious. It definitely is an authentic place, but they could do a bit more to make it even better. read more

good little place with good food and music. my favorite is seafood nudle soup mmm... clean and nice. read more

Pho Van - Vietnamese Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The food was okay. We ordered the Pho, which by the way was $11, they don't give you a plate of fresh vegetables and herbs per bowl, but one to share. The herbs is only basil, it would be nice to get a little cilantro as well. The sauces for the rolls are a little salty and not spicy, which I guess is fine for some people. We're from Houston and we're used to spice everywhere. Lol My biggest pet peeve was that the hot tea, jasmine, was not served in a teapot, they were individual mugs of hot water with a teabag and they charged $10!!!! For hot water and a bag of tea. I wish they would have chili oil at the table. The service was ok. We had to flag a waiter a couple of times. I'll have to be REALLY in the mood for Pho to come back again. read more

I was excited to try this place considering it advertises as being best beef pho 7 years in row. I don't eat beef but I was hopeful that chicken would be pretty good. It was not that good. The broth was not rick enough and the chicken was a tough and dry as jerky. A fellow donor had the traditional beef pho and said it was very good, so it would be a good meal for someone who eats beef. read more

In my opinon, Pho Van serves the best pho in Pittsburgh. The broth is flavorful, fairly priced, and the service is quick and attentive. A bit out of the way for me since it's in the Strip District, but sometimes I will go out of my way just for a visit. read more

Great food but disappointing service. I can't believe that four servers could be missing from the fundamentals of customer service. Brutally cold outside, we hunker in, there are a few empty tables that need to be cleared and cleaned, and we are told to wait. Five minutes later, we are still waiting and standing, apparently the four servers can't get their act together and are prioritizing into counting money and other business at the cash register. Having been before, I know the place has excellent food for the price, and knew what I was getting in for, but it is no point of eating there if the enjoyment is marred by such fundamental shortcomings, and when it can be so easily corrected. My advice: if you have tolerance for some customer dis-service, go there. The food and price is good. read more

I love this place, I go just about every time I'm in Pittsburgh. The pho is delicious, and so are their macarons. If you want pho go here.

Okay, before I add my review of the food... I want to comment on some of the reviews... the person who was upset her "to go Pho" was in separate containers is out of her mind! I have not had to go Pho anywhere which didn't separate the broth with the noodles... HELLO! Additionally, the guy from LA who says this place is awful and not on par with LA Pho restaurants.... Umm I agree! but you need to understand LA and Pittsburgh are worlds away in terms of having the cultural diversity... Pho Van comes close.. I wouldn't compare them to LA Pho Places. My review of the food. I always have Pho Ga, (chicken). The broth was good and the ingredients were really fresh. Did it taste as good as Pho in Los Angeles? No. Was it better then other places? Yes. Florida in my opinion has some of the worst pho i have ever had! plenty of chicken, so they didnt skimp. additionally the fresh shrimp rolls were great. fyi.. if you want AMAZING pho and in LA... check out Glendale Pho Co. in Glendale, CA read more

I went there for lunch around 1pm. Wasn't busy at all. I got the Vegan Pho for $11.50 and it was amazing! There was a lot to eat, and I couldn't even finish the whole bowl. It did not take them long to get food out for me and other customers coming in. I am definitely going to be coming back another time! The only thing wrong was I put too much Sriracha in my pho and I could barley handle the spice. read more

I have been to the Strip District so many times and have always wanted to stop in. After eating at Penn Avenue Fish Company one afternoon, I found that I was still hungry and decided to stop in for some pho. After looking through the menu and talking to the server, I ordered a modified soup that is not on the menu. Spicy Seafood Soup Pho Van's spicy broth is just so good. They really should put this item on the menu. I tried the regular broth and it is not as flavorful as the spicy base. I do wish that there had been more seafood present to balance out the price of the bowl, but overall it was a good experience. read more

Food and Service is excellent. The atmosphere is cozy and causal. Bathroom is clean.

Woo, this place finally got a little makeover. New paint, got rid of the tiki-lounge look, and the menu has been updated. A lot more options for entrees and appetizers, but the prices have gone up here and there. This place is still my favorite spot for my pho fix. It's a bit sweeter than Vietnam's Pho down the street... but the portions here are smaller too... and still costs more... -__- read more

Ok.....there is a decent chance that the cooks at Pho Van are squatters. At the very least, they aren't too concerned with the "High School Cafeteria Chic meets Tiki bar meets Semi-Demolished Room" look. That's probably because the food is pretty damn good. I've tangled with Pho before, with Tram's being the big dog on the block. But Pho Van manages give Trams a run for its money. If you've read other reviews, you already know the fresh Spring Rolls are amazing. If not, read those and come back....I'll wait.... That's right....awesome Spring Rolls. And the peanut sauce is good enough to make you want to lick the bowl. Portion sizes are big at Pho Van, like so big that they are less trying to satiate your hunger, and more trying to punish you for daring to bring your pathetic appetite into their house o' noodles. But with nothing on the menu over $9 dollars, you're getting your money's worth times five. Broth is the key to Pho and Pho Van has some of the best. My lovely partner is a soup hater to the degree that you'd think it used shove her into a locker in junior high, but even she gave a begruding thumbs up to the broth. Combine that with dead on perfect noodles, and you've got a meal for a cold, rainy day. But if glorified noodle soup doesn't get you motor running, you can still get a dirt cheap meal that's 4 star worthy. While it comes in a bowl, the Grilled selections are all of the tasty bits of a pho bowl, without the sloppy broth (sloppily delicious). Unlike some other Vietnamese restaurants who make similar entrees, Pho Van keeps the vinegar based sauce on the side, which you'll be thankful for moderation when you get near the bottom of the bowl. With a prime location in the Strip District, Pho Van has alot going for it. Now, if someone would explain why there is a tiki awning on a solid wall, inside of the restaurant, it would help me get over the fly by night feel of a restaurant that I hope is here for the long haul. read more

Pho Van is always my go to for some authentic Vietnamese pho. Every time I go to this place it reminds me of the pho my grandma makes!

We moved to the Northside, so the Strip is on my way home. The hubby suggested picking up some food from the strip on my way home. I came across Pho Van first, and so I went took a gander. They have their menu outside, which is good, because the hubby is picky, and I needed to be sure there was something there for him before I committed to actually walking in the door. So I found something, went in, ordered my meal, ordered some spring rolls, then was told they don't make said dish that hubby was supposed to be getting. (Fried noodles). !!!!! Well, I felt bad bailing at that point, but seriously, there was nothing left on the menu that hubby would want to eat. So I went with beef and rice. It's simple, at least. Review of the food: My pho soup was pretty good. It was prepared 'to go' somewhat weird - it was separated into broth and everything else. I mean, I understand the noodles makes the broth weird if kept together too long, but I'm not getting this 'to go' to eat tomorrow. As for my husbands food, it was AWFUL. The meat was shriveled up overcooked in too much ginger and salt. It wasn't just not good, it was nauseating. I wanted to spit it out. We won't be going back. Lulu's has good pho, and that's where I'll get it from now on. read more

I have to go with Teresa T on the whole experience as well. The place reminds me of a cafeteria, (which works if you have awesome food like Salem's farther down the strip) it doesn't work for this place. Just boring and blah. This was actually my first venture into Pho, so not realizing what good Pho is supposed to taste like, I thought it was OK but nothing special. Well...when I ended up at Vietnam's Pho weeks later this Pho didn't even hold a candle to their Pho! First off, the broth is nothing I'm going to suck down to the last drop (like I do at Vietnam's) and there wasn't as many ingredients in their seafood Pho like their is at Vietnam's. I also eat my weight in sprouts and not offering any is a travesty here! The absolute only thing I did enjoy were the egg rolls. They were adequately crispy and the slaw and shrimp inside was a nice mix. But good egg rolls alone doesn't get you to a 5 star status! What does is a tasty meal, and this one just fell flat! read more

Here's the thing: I'm not entirely sure I didn't like this restaurant. I think the problem might be that I don't like pho. Id' never had pho before. It's apparently like fancy ramen noodles? I ordered the vegetarian curry and what came out was curry flavored soup with noodles. It was just ok, but not good. Fortunately it was not expensive at all. The fresh and crispy spring rolls were fantastic, and the service was great. I dont have anything bad to say about this place, but it was not outstanding. read more

I'm Vietnamese so I have pretty high standards when it comes to pho. It's hard to compare restaurant pho to homemade, but Pho Van's is pretty decent compared to other pho joints in Pittsburgh. The ingredients are fresh and the price is affordable. Slightly smaller portions and slightly higher prices than its competitor, Vietnam's Pho, down the street. However, the restaurant decor at Pho Van is more intimate and inviting. One thing I noticed after eating pho here, though, is that it left me incredibly thirsty which can only mean one thing: lots of msg. So if the idea of msg doesn't bother you, this place has decent soup for decent money. read more

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I recently discovered this gem and man am I glad I did. The menu was very vegan friendly and the waitress was so sweet and helpful. She even went the extra mile to tell me about the gluten items as well. The fresh tofu rolls were perfect and the peanut sauce was so delicious I wanted to take a spoon to it. I cannot wait to go back for soup. read more

Oh My! I love this place! Every time I visit Pittsburgh now this place is on my list! My menu favorites; Papaya salad Chicken salad ANY and all the pho soup bowls! They are huge too! Enough for 2 people to split one bowl. Atmosphere is clean, classic and decorated nicely. read more

Pho Van rocks! Not sure what's up with other reviews, but I've been there several times and it's my favorite Pho in the city (thought I've not tried them all, yet). I guess it's a "your mileage may vary" kind of thing. Went for a quick lunch and got the standard Pho with rare eye round beef on the recommendation of the waitress. It comes out in usual fashion, with a steaming broth, and the basil leaves, sprouts, lime and jalapeños on a side dish. "Just let me know if you want more veggies" said the waitress. We're off to a good start. The Pho had thin slices rare beef on top of the noodles, as advertised, and it slowly cooked to a very tender doneness from the heat of the broth. And the broth.... That's what it's all about with Pho, and this is just right in my opinion. Really flavorful, without being over-seasoned, a hint of anise and when you add the jalapeño slices, the flavors just come together perfectly. This is a place I need to bring my veggie spouse, I thought and I asked to see the menu again. No veggie Pho on the menu. I asked. "oh yes, we have a great veggie Pho" she said, " just ask for it. I snuck away for another lunch, with the same happy result. Next would be a trip to try the veggie Pho. So, now my wife has what is possibly her favorite Pho. Not just in Pittsburgh either (we lived in Boston for years, so take that for what it's worth). Really, the veggie Pho is very, very good. The broth is not trying to emulate a beef or pork-based broth, but rather stands on its own as one of the best veggie broths either of us can remember. Let me take that back. One of the best broths we've had, veggie, or otherwise. And with the addition of the basil, sprouts, jalapeños and lime, just another level from what you'd expect. Everyone who likes Pho, will have their favorite. This is ours, and by a big margin. Caveats, haven't been there for dinner, haven't been there when it's super busy, haven't ordered anything but he Pho. Still, sticking with my 5-star. read more

After eating at many legendary Vietnamese restaurants in Albuquerque, I came back to Pittsburgh and this was my first trip for some Vietnamese food. Pho Van didn't disappoint! My friend had their Pho, and I went with the crispy tofu vermicelli dish. It was brimming full of amazing veggies, crispy tofu, beautifully sweet/sour sauce and even a salad on the side. I also liked their generous spring rolls and delicious peanut sauce! My only disappointment was that they didn't have any sandwiches, even though their yelp photos seem to suggest they have them. So if you are looking for Banh mi, you won't find them here. Otherwise, dig in with chopsticks into these great dishes! read more

The best Pho soup I have tasted in Pittsburgh the soup is very savory, the meat was extremely tender, and the fresh herbs and bean sprouts where bright and fresh. The feeling is very laid back but at the same time elegant just strikes a perfect note. The drop ceiling was dated and dirty though. I would like to see it opened up more. But that is not a reason to stay away. I would highly recommend it to anyone. read more

Pho Van - Vietnamese Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I was looking for a quick fix of pho on a cold day on the strip in Pittsburgh and saw Pho Van. Broth was kind of light, not bland, yet neither packed with flavor. Having had murky yet flavorful pho being the standard in Seattle, this place was the definition of okay. The beef was notably tender, soup came warm, and the portion was small for Pho Dac Biet $9.50. Quick service, decently clean restaurant. read more

Decent Beef broth in the Pho plenty of yummy sprouts on the side, limes and Thai Basil plus fresh cilantro in the Pho. Yes thats thai basil and cilantro in your Pho not Mint. Its the layering of flavors that I love with vietnamese and thai dishes. The spice level is maybe medium but I add a little hot sauce to make mine warmer. If you like the beef in your Pho pink order the rib eye instead of flank beef and ask for it that way they should be able to accomodate. The beef broth has a simple base here but I like to make my own Pho by adding lime sprouts etc so this works for me. If you like a lot of kick without playing with your food you may not enjoy it as much! Ive never had slow or bad service here in the couple of times I went and I always get enough PHO for two meals at 7$ for PHO thats a great deal. Spring rolls are ok fresh I did not try the fried ones. They are different from fresh thai spring rolls so dont be expecting that. I think the decor is fine I mean its a PHO joint not the Westin. Have you looked around the rest of pittsburgh lately, shit is old and ugly. And there is still beauty in all of that if you want to see it........ read more

Very delicious! Portions are on the small size for such large bowls of soup. And I can definitely see there is a lacking in the meats. But overall food came out fast and was very delicious!! read more

I've had my share of bad pho, but the pho I had tonight at Pho Van was not one of them. The broth tasted better than a lot of other Vietnamese restaurants I've been to. The spring rolls were super. My husband ordered the chicken and vermicelli and thought it was delicious as well. For a nice and simple meal to satisfy my Vietnamese food craving, I thought Pho Van did pretty well :) Prices were fair and they accept credit card!!! read more

Black in the hat here. I'm not a food reviewer just a dude who randomly like to try foods. Sooooooooooo BACK STORY!!! I first had Pho in Chinatown in Montreal it was cold outside (duh Canada weather) and I told my friend that I just wanted something quick that will keep me warm and fill me up. So we walk into this little shop and I have him order me the beef pho, because I don't speak any language besides Pittsbughese but I'm working on it. Anyway this Pho reminded me of that cold day in Montreal, warm full of flavor and spicy!! I have only had at one other place in Pittsburgh, down the street from this place. But this Pho was more flavorful to me, even tho the other place was cheaper. FINAL Grade: I grade on a scale of "Naw Son" to "You got to try this" Pho Van: Get it, Get it read more

Um. Um. Good. The Pho was delicious and the spring rolls were made perfectly. My buddy tried the chicken curry and that was very well done too. The right mix of spices. The only negative was the adequate wait staff. They were not busy the night I went but only came back once at the end of the meal after our food came to give us our check. Never stopped by to check on our drinks or anything else. Not unusual for a Vietnamese restaurant but I'm still holding out hope that I will one day find that Vietnamese restaurant that knows a little about customer service. read more

We finally made it to Pho Van to use our Groupon, just two days before it expired! That's how we roll, last-minute style. We moseyed in on Wednesday around 7 pm - about half the tables were full, and two tables were set up for outdoor dining for those of you who like to people-watch in the Strip District! We chose a table inside, in the "spartan" dining room, as my boyfriend called it. There isn't really much decor or atmosphere at all - just a simple room with tables and chairs - nothing to focus on but your dining partner and the food! We ordered the crispy rolls first, which arrived hot and with their texture as advertised. You can taste the meaty pork inside them! Then we got bowls of pho - mine with rare eye of round, my boyfriend's with brisket. My meat did indeed arrive rare and red, but after a few minutes swim in the broth, it continued to cook and developed a more uniform brown color. The bowls were huge and just full of noodles! We took a few sips of the hot broth and instantly, any stress or pain melted away. Wow, that stuff was lovely. Aromatic, herbal, delightful. I doctored mine a little bit with basil leaves and bean sprouts, but surprisingly we didn't add any Sriracha at first. I love spicy food, but the broth tasted so lovely on its own, I didn't feel the need. We ended up adding some later, which did add a nice kick but it changes the flavor slightly. The food was so inexpensive - $7 for a giant bowl - we each took half home for lunch the next day. So that's basically $3.50 per meal. A steal! And it was such a pleasure to eat - it was....peaceful food, if that makes any sense. Our server was also friendly and fast. We both felt like this was a great use of Groupon - we tried a new place, and liked it enough that we plan to come back! Everybody wins! read more