Pho La Jolla

Lorena Weinmann

Food “Neophobia,” is the fear of trying new or unfamiliar foods. Get out of the way and let your tastebuds try something new. Come on “live a little, taste a little.” At Phó La Jolla, I have eaten so many appetizing dishes. From Phò, Vermicelli Noodles, Bán Mì Sandwiches, to the array of their appetizers like Spring Rolls, Crispy Salt and Pepper Wings, or Steaming BBQ Pork Buns. Not to mention their New Cajun Seafood Boil Menu, where you choose the flavor and the level of heat. Just remember, you “feast” by the pound so bring your appetite. My mouth is watering as I am leaving this review. So, when “Tammy” the owner of Phó La Jolla mentioned the new dish “Bún Riêu,” I was eager with anticipation. “Bún Riêu” is a Vietnamese noodle soup, with a vibrant red-orange color from the tomatoes and crab paste, it’s aromatic and savory. Served w/ Vermicelli noodles and substantial amounts of Shrimp, Chicken and Tofu. Mmm…, it was delectable, a taste so unique and different. I asked Tammy what influenced her dishes, and she said “a replication of her mothers’ taste and her own innovation.” Take it from a “foodie,” @ Phò La Jolla, where every flavor tells a story.

Billy Weinmann

My wife and I have been dining here @ La Jolla Phò, for the past 15+ years. It is our go to spot! The ambiance is quaint, with a welcome home type of atmosphere. I promise, they have something for everyone! With a vast menu, that covers the absolute “Best” & “Colossal” bowls of Phó in San Diego county. So over the past decade and a half we tried every dish on the menu. Just when you thought, it couldn’t get any better than this. Bam 💥 💥 Tammy the owner launched “Cajun Seafood Boil” Now I’m a carnivore so I tried the New “BBQ Pork Buns” mmm.. pillowy soft buns filled with savory & slightly sweet bbq pork. Mouth watering! My wife the pescatarian ordered the “Bowl” she chose “Clams, Mussels and Shrimp” the set-up was priceless. Butcher paper for a table cloth, equipped with a bib, and gloves. (Definitely needed) she described the flavor as “Smoky, spicy, and aromatic, with a robust and complex flavor” but you can choose your spice level. She gave it her all and fell short to finishing it. All I can say is this “mom and pop shop” is a diamond in the rough!! Shame on you if you don’t try it.

Yvette Z

I’ve been here before about 15 years ago with my mother. I do not recall this lol They added a “Cajun Seafood Boil” and I happened to be here for their soft opening. The staff is very attentive (TY Jesus) 😊 and the owners made me feel very welcome asking me if I liked the food, almost like family 😍 I did not get the pho I was craving, but the Cajun seafood boil was delicious. I enjoyed the flavors and of course a lot of garlic. Thank you 🙏🏼 for this experience as I was having a bad day 😊🤤you made my day!!

kayla

I love this pho place so much! I highly recommended. I usually get the rare steak pho and mango boba smoothie!! It is soo yum and always comes out super quick. They also have amazing spring rolls and everything is really good. They even just expanded their menu. I usually go for lunch but I recently went for dinner with my mom and the female owner came out and gave everyone including us a delicious complementary dessert sesame ball. I love this place so much and will continue going here a ton!! They even just expanded there menu to have crab boil!!

Josh H

The food was pretty good and great for our late night cravings. It wasn't our favorite pho place, but the food was good and we were happy we went here. The portion sizes are great, and the staff were very friendly and wanted us, and everyone there, to have the best dinner experience possible. It's nice that this place is open much later than others, so it serves as a great place for those late night pho cravings.

Klaus Vaillant

The food and the attention was really good. The order came out within 5 minutes. Sat outside in the good weather. Nothing to complain about.

Bill Rhodes

This place was great! Food is fiiiire 🔥🔥Came in at 9:40 and they close at 10pm and last orders at 9:30, but they let me sit and eat quick even so. Bun no hue is next level here—the steak, fish cakes, and broth were amazing. Smoothies are really good, too. Really great spot!!

Eddie Feiner

Amazing broth, large portions, and the service was amazing despite there only being one person up front with a full house! 10/10 would come again

the frustols

Please do not let the negative reviews keep you from coming here. This is a humble Vietnamese restaurant that knows its flavors without needing to be anything fancy. If they aren’t busy, you can walk in to the front and they’ll let you pick your seat. There is a variety of options on the menu but we ordered the chicken pho and the number 4 pho. It came with a plate of jalapeños, bean sprouts and thai basil to accompany the pho. The serving size was really large and worth every penny. You get plenty of noodles and broth. The broth was SO flavorful and tasty and clean. You get plenty of meat in the bowl. We left feeling very full and and satisfied.

My sister and I recently visited Pho La Jolla—it’s become a cherished tradition to get Vietnamese food either right before or after she flies out of San Diego, and this is officially our new go-to spot! This restaurant truly is a cultural icon in La Jolla, serving absolutely phenomenal, high-quality Vietnamese cuisine. We were lucky enough to meet the owner, Tammy, and her husband, and sitting next to them and hearing about their 17 years of building this successful, fantastic business was such a highlight. We took their suggestions on food, and everything was fantastic! From the crispy fried spring rolls and refreshing fresh spring rolls to the perfectly seasoned wings and the truly amazing rib pho, every dish was a winner. It was all seasoned and cooked to perfection. Thank you, Tammy and husband, for the incredible hospitality and the wonderful food. We can’t wait to come back. Everyone must try this place—it’s more than just a restaurant; it’s a staple of the community!

I'm glad we stopped in Pho La Jolla. The food was excellent and the server was responsive despite working the dining room by herself. People unfairly complain about the prices but they absolutely normal, especially for the portion size and quality. I commented that there were a LOT of noodles (and there were) but this is the first time I've run out if noodles before I ran out of meat. The flank and meatballs were excellent. My wife's bun bo hue was perfectly spicy and very flavorful. When we return, we'll take the opportunity to split the pho and then something else off the menu so we can try another dish. I'm looking forward to it.

Joel Jenkins

I'm glad we stopped in Pho La Jolla. The food was excellent and the server was responsive despite working the dining room by herself. People unfairly complain about the prices but they absolutely normal, especially for the portion size and quality. I commented that there were a LOT of noodles (and there were) but this is the first time I've run out if noodles before I ran out of meat. The flank and meatballs were excellent. My wife's bun bo hue was perfectly spicy and very flavorful. When we return, we'll take the opportunity to split the pho and then something else off the menu so we can try another dish. I'm looking forward to it.

Matty PoshLife

My sister and I recently visited Pho La Jolla—it’s become a cherished tradition to get Vietnamese food either right before or after she flies out of San Diego, and this is officially our new go-to spot! This restaurant truly is a cultural icon in La Jolla, serving absolutely phenomenal, high-quality Vietnamese cuisine. We were lucky enough to meet the owner, Tammy, and her husband, and sitting next to them and hearing about their 17 years of building this successful, fantastic business was such a highlight. We took their suggestions on food, and everything was fantastic! From the crispy fried spring rolls and refreshing fresh spring rolls to the perfectly seasoned wings and the truly amazing rib pho, every dish was a winner. It was all seasoned and cooked to perfection. Thank you, Tammy and husband, for the incredible hospitality and the wonderful food. We can’t wait to come back. Everyone must try this place—it’s more than just a restaurant; it’s a staple of the community!

shennie

Pho La Jolla was amazing! We ordered the seafood clam boil with a bowl of pho and it was the best! You guys should definitely come try this awesome delicious restaurant! :3

Daniel Llamas

I was just telling someone that the best pho I've ever had was in my hometown, but then I met Pho La Jolla. The aroma coming from outside is amazing. There is a healthy and youthful scene and their menu is well versed. The service there was also great.

Food is so so. The pho broth had a sour taste, and the fried beef noodle was too sweet. The prices are overpriced, but I understand because the rent in La Jolla must be very high. The service was good.

Pho La Jolla is a great spot for a quick and satisfying meal. I placed a takeout order, and they prepared everything impressively fast—just about 10 minutes. The Special Combo Pho came loaded with tender beef in various cuts, some tripe, and a generous portion of noodles. Another dish, the Egg Roll and Grilled Noodles Salad, was also generously portioned, with extra noodles on the side. While waiting for my order, I noticed the dining area had TVs showing sports games, which added a fun vibe. I later dined in and tried the Pho La Jolla Noodle Salad—a unique mix of pho noodles, fresh veggies, grilled chicken, and shrimp. It was a protein-packed, flavorful dish. The staff was friendly, though their English communication could be improved. One downside is that the facility is quite old; the restrooms are on the second floor, requiring a key, which may not be ADA-friendly. Despite that, the food quality and service make it worth a visit!

Scott L

Pho La Jolla is a great spot for a quick and satisfying meal. I placed a takeout order, and they prepared everything impressively fast—just about 10 minutes. The Special Combo Pho came loaded with tender beef in various cuts, some tripe, and a generous portion of noodles. Another dish, the Egg Roll and Grilled Noodles Salad, was also generously portioned, with extra noodles on the side. While waiting for my order, I noticed the dining area had TVs showing sports games, which added a fun vibe. I later dined in and tried the Pho La Jolla Noodle Salad—a unique mix of pho noodles, fresh veggies, grilled chicken, and shrimp. It was a protein-packed, flavorful dish. The staff was friendly, though their English communication could be improved. One downside is that the facility is quite old; the restrooms are on the second floor, requiring a key, which may not be ADA-friendly. Despite that, the food quality and service make it worth a visit!

Upasana Shrestha

Great place to dine in. Affordable Vietnamese dishes and foods were satisfying. Must try their spicy beef pho. Service was great though you have to wait 10-15 minutes for the food to get on the table. Can be seated outside or inside depending on your choice. Covid safety measures were implemented wisely in this location.

Pho was decent but quite overpriced. Service took way too long (>35 min) and the server quietly added a generous tip for herself before simply telling me to tap my card with no receipt or check.

Derek Li

Pho was decent but quite overpriced. Service took way too long (>35 min) and the server quietly added a generous tip for herself before simply telling me to tap my card with no receipt or check.

I visited San Diego for the first time in a long time and went to a Vietnamese noodle place without much thought and sat down. The most ordinary #1 was &18.99. How could this be!! The taste was ordinary, the tables were narrow, the taste was nothing special, and the price was probably overpriced because of the location. I paid $23.48 including a 15% tip.

We were on a lunch break from a conference and ventured here. I wanted to love it as we have many Vietnamese places in Hawaii. Sadly I was disappointed. Service was slow and there was no ac. Eating phõ in a hot restaurant is horrible. My tofu bahn mi was good though I only wanted the sandwich and not meal which seemed to be an option according to the menu. I was already ordering phõ so would not need another soup nor rolls. The server did not seem to understand and brought me a meal and charged me for it. The phõ was plentiful. However, due to the uncomfortable atmosphere, I could not enjoy my food. The sandwich was more than enough therefore I could not indulge in the phõ so that was a total waste. The bbq pork was like char siu and a huge disappointment that my brother just left it. The workers seemed friendly, just slow to arrive with food or replenishing drinks.

Kyle Lee

I visited San Diego for the first time in a long time and went to a Vietnamese noodle place without much thought and sat down. The most ordinary #1 was &18.99. How could this be!! The taste was ordinary, the tables were narrow, the taste was nothing special, and the price was probably overpriced because of the location. I paid $23.48 including a 15% tip.

ann narimatsu

We were on a lunch break from a conference and ventured here. I wanted to love it as we have many Vietnamese places in Hawaii. Sadly I was disappointed. Service was slow and there was no ac. Eating phõ in a hot restaurant is horrible. My tofu bahn mi was good though I only wanted the sandwich and not meal which seemed to be an option according to the menu. I was already ordering phõ so would not need another soup nor rolls. The server did not seem to understand and brought me a meal and charged me for it. The phõ was plentiful. However, due to the uncomfortable atmosphere, I could not enjoy my food. The sandwich was more than enough therefore I could not indulge in the phõ so that was a total waste. The bbq pork was like char siu and a huge disappointment that my brother just left it. The workers seemed friendly, just slow to arrive with food or replenishing drinks.

Unfortunately, my experience here was quite disappointing. Even though we ordered before the table next to us, they received all their food first while we waited endlessly. The staff spilled soup on the table and seemed confused about everyone’s orders. It was so disorganized that I eventually had to leave and grab a takeout burger from Chick-fil-A just to get something to eat. Such a shame—this could have been a nice dinner with friends, but the chaotic service completely ruined the evening

Lucia Si

Unfortunately, my experience here was quite disappointing. Even though we ordered before the table next to us, they received all their food first while we waited endlessly. The staff spilled soup on the table and seemed confused about everyone’s orders. It was so disorganized that I eventually had to leave and grab a takeout burger from Chick-fil-A just to get something to eat. Such a shame—this could have been a nice dinner with friends, but the chaotic service completely ruined the evening

I've been here twice and both times there was only 1 server for the whole restaurant (5-630pm). The owner needs to hire more people. I couldn't even write a review on the food because I left twice. The first time I wasn't even seated. They need 3 servers minimum. The poor girl is being over worked. Poor service because there was no service.

I agree with everyone saying the PHo is water and just msg. Not real beef at all and very little meat. 25 for pho and one soda. Never again. Go to Viet Nom, same price but they use real ribeye and real hearty broth. And they have fruit flies in the bean sprouts!

Yitro Yasharahla

I agree with everyone saying the PHo is water and just msg. Not real beef at all and very little meat. 25 for pho and one soda. Never again. Go to Viet Nom, same price but they use real ribeye and real hearty broth. And they have fruit flies in the bean sprouts!