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    PHOnomenal

    4.8 (490 reviews)
    ModerateNoodles, Soup, Cambodian
    Closed 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    PHOnomenal Photos

    Business Info

    PHONOMENAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - PHOnomenal

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sue D.

    We enjoyed our experience and the food: * The House Special ($18.95) 5/5 -- The pho had good texture and was perfectly cooked. * Shrimp & Pork Rolls ($9.95) 4/5 -- Fresh veggies and flavorful sauce. Service: 3/5 Pleasant, however, we weren't given menus when we were seated. A few minutes later, the waiter came by and asked, "Are you ready to order?!" Lol. Also, we ordered one bowl of Pho, but they brought us two. No problem though; they took it back with no fuss.

    Menu
    Suzette E.

    Back here again and this place never disappoints! It just gets better each time. Utterly obsessed!

    Spring Shrimp Rolls
    Thuy Dan T.

    This spot lived up to the hype for me. The pho was delicious and the service amazing. The ultimate comfort in a bowl. We were there on a Thursday at 10am in case they was a line. Luckily there was not but by 11am folks were waiting and by 1pm, they were sold out for the day. The Pho broth has a really nice beef flavor and the beef rib is definitely fall off the bone, but may need scissors to cut bite through some of the tendon. The noodles were bouncy even in the broth too. I ordered the vinegar white onions on the side and 100% worth it. We ordered ordered the spring rolls for a starter and they are densely packed with a good peanut/hoisin sauce. A lot of vermicelli noodles, but the lettuce was crispy and the shrimp are full pieces, not like cut in half like some other spots. Also their homemade chili oil is one of the best I've tasted. It really has the kick, has some texture/crunch, and just really good flavor. We bought one to take home too - just delish. The staff was incredible and super accommodating. We had some children in our party and were on toddler time so half of our group arrived very early. They allowed us to order for the first half and when the second half arrived, we ordered even more.

    Pho
    Tami N.

    Agree that this is definitely the best pho in San Diego! I can see why this place sells out quickly so recommend you call ahead to see if they're already sold out for the day. The owner and staff are very nice and attentive! The pho portion itself is hefty and comes with all the usual toppings and a rich yet clean broth. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE CHILI OIL, it's spicy and a wonderful pairing. Go easy on it though if you can't handle spice. We also enjoyed the THICKEST shrimp and pork roll if you're not still satisfied with your pho!

    House special
    Mirei K.

    They only have 2 items on the menu, the pho and the spring rolls, and it did not disappoint! The meat fell off the bone and the broth is one of the best broths in San Diego! I accidentally added too much chili oil in mine but the store owner offered to give me extra broth and made sure we were enjoying the food, which was great! The store was clean and parking wasn't too bad, the vibes were awesome!

    Nicole S.

    You know a place is good when they only have one main item on the menu. By the time our family got there, the spring rolls sold out. The broth is clean and tasty. I enjoyed the fall off the bone ribs. Service: they are busy and I wouldn't say they are speedy. It took a bit to seat us but that's ok. Ambiance: cool high ceilings. Nice large tables. Condiments and utensils all on the table. Parking: it's tight. Make sure you aren't taking resident parking!

    Ele S.

    "The Kuy Teav (Ka'thiew) was absolutely delicious. Our host, Sam, was incredibly hospitable and shared the fascinating history behind the dish, explaining how it uniquely differs from traditional pho. It was a wonderful dining experience."

    Pho (with and without meatball)
    Jessica S.

    At last, I finally made my way to this popular pho restaurant after failing twice! I was super excited to try their Cambodian styled pho as I heard AH-MAZING things about it and the beef ribs. Finally! It's located in the corner of a residential building on K Ave and E 8th St. There's a small designated parking area for customers in the back with, I believe, 4-5 stalls. If not, there is ample free street parking around the area. The menu was simple, with only two main items: beef rib pho (with the option to add extra ribs or meatballs) and spring rolls (shrimp and pork combo or individual protein). They also offered drinks and a la carte pho broth and noodles. Small menu, huge flavors! We all ordered a bowl of pho and a serving of the pork spring rolls. The spring rolls arrived first, and they were HUGE! What a great price for the portion size though they were mostly vegetables. They were cut in half and came with individual "peanut" sauces, which had a sweeter flavor than traditional Vietnamese peanut sauce. My cousin added quite a bit of their chili satay to his sauce, and it was incredibly spicy! The chili oil was very very very good, but extremely spicy. I almost made the mistake of adding too much to my pho. The star of the meal came out - the beef rib pho! The broth was very deeply rich and aromaticc, and I enjoyed it without any added sauces. But definitely had to add little drops of chili oil to make it spicier (but not too much!!). There were two beef ribs cooked perfectly - one where the meat fell right off the bone, and another with more cartilage, which made the meat stick on a bit more. Both were very delicious and tender! This meal really hit the spot. I can see why this restaurant is so highly rated. The broth and beef ribs were incredible! I will definitely be back, arriving early to make sure I don't miss out like the previous two times. P.S. It seems that they sell out within 2 hours of opening - be sure to arrive early!

    Beef Bone In Spare Ribs Pho
    Patrick P.

    PHOnomenal specialises in spare ribs pho. Their menu is very simple and small. Just spare ribs pho, spring rolls, and some drinks. I've been here several times and tried both spare ribs pho and spring rolls. Their pho is very rich in flavour and the spare ribs are very tender. The spring rolls are very fresh and delicious. The portion is huge. They have a good space inside and it's very neat. All the staff are very friendly and welcoming. The spare ribs pho sells out fast so you should go as early as you can. Even if it says it's closed early due to their pho sold out, you can still go in and check with staff. There are few parking spots reserved for the restaurant or you can park on the street. I'd highly recommend PHOnomenal if you love pho.

    Pho
    Melissa L.

    I understand the hype. It definitely deserves its spot on the Yelp list and it's for sure best pho in San Diego. The ribs definitely had tendernism! And the servers were so kind and helpful! We came right at open and got seated right away but at the end of the meal it got really busy. The restaurant is pretty small maybe 10 tables total so come early. Not a lot of parking either. Only street parking

    Menu
    Norma D.

    It's pouring down rain so a great day for pho! Broth always makes the difference my pho had so much meat. So tender it fell off the bone. Bad day to drive but a great day for pho! It gets super busy here and they serve till they run out.

    House Special Pho Bowl! W/ hands down best ribs!
    Phillipjan C.

    Thursday November 6th, 2025, Around 1130AM I came here hearing about it being in the Yelp Top 100! The FOOD. The spring rolls are springs rolls. Nothing too special about them. But the House Special Pho.. was absolutely PHOnomenal! (Pun intended!) The two big ol ribs were fall off the bone, super juicy, and tender! Sided with a refreshing "Fresh Sugar Cane" juice was top notch! The SERVICE. Thank you SAM!I loved the homefelt HOSPITALITY! We came in, put our name down, and was seated within minutes! Everything was just amazing. The server mentioned putting some of the chili oil into the side of peanut sauce and it did not disappoint, it was such a great recommendation! The AMBIANCE. It was very modern and hip, yet simplified! I loved it. Not too flashy, not too much. I liked the high windows! The CONS: there is no designated parking, so street parking it is. The parking lot directly behind the establishment is private property to the apartments. The bathroom is a single person unisex. I wouldn't say it's Top 100, mainly because that's an understatement. After eating at many other PHO restaurants, this is definitely in my TOP5, maybe even my No. 1!!!!!!!! OVERALL RATING: 9.5 of 10!

    Spring Shrimp Rolls
    Jeannie B.

    We've been wanting to try this place for a long time! They make enough for each day so when it's gone it's gone! There are only two items on the menu: spring rolls and pho. We had both. Shrimp spring rolls were filled with lots of veggies & less noodles which I liked. The peanut sauce was amazing. The star is the Pho. The broth was tasty and full of flavor which matters the most. And what makes their pho stand out is the 2 beef ribs that are placed meat still on bone. But don't let that fool you. The meat just slid off the bone. Service was fast and friendly. We were greeted right when we came in and for us the wait was atypical. I think we just got lucky waiting 15minutes. There are lots of tables for people to have their own space to talk. I get a sense they do not rush people out rather stay and enjoy good conversations and great pho! Highly recommend! If you want to increase your chances of getting your hands on this special pho, head over at opening during a weekday.

    Pho

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    11 days ago

    The Pho was amazing along with the great customer service. Must try pho in San Diego without a doubt

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - PHOnomenal

    What if I only want the ribs not the meatballs can I do that & is it the same price as the house special even tho I don't want meatballs or do I just get more beef ribs?

    Yes, and the price is a few $$ less.

    Do I need to make reservations?

    Reservations are not required.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Came here for a Birthday Lunch and was soo excited to finally try this place out!…read more The menu is huge so try to take a peek at it before coming because we sat there for a good 20 minutes deciding what to order haha The service was ok I mean it's that hole-in-the-wall feel so don't expect too much they were attentive with the water though and answered our questions thoroughly Seating was ample and there's parking in the back and 2 hour parking across if you're lucky Now onto the food It was amazinggg We ordered the Fried Rice with Fish they'll asked if you want it Thai or Chinese style the difference is beyond me I'm thinking it's the spice level but we said Thai Style and spice level 7 had a good kick but nothing too crazy I ordered this the Fish Basil it was these crunchy fish nuggets and had basil and bell peppers it was beautifully seasoned had that with Steamed rice 10/10 And finally a yellow noodle stir fry dish with beef and it was amazing as well 3 for 3 ** Bonus PLUS ** you can also buy scratchers from here !! from the vending machine and you can order the Lotto with Cash at the cashier which I thought was so cool lol Can't wait to come back here dude just try it !

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