Both rolls I tried (mixed veggie and tofu) were warm. I was surprised, but pleasantly surprised because I like hot food vs. cold. So both rolls were a nice change from the traditional chilled version. I wish they had a vegan fish sauce instead of only sweet chili sauce for the rolls, but not a deal breaker. The veggie pho broth was hearty and made my tummy smile. It was so good, I couldn't stop eating it. Private parking lot make dining here convenient. The staff members were really nice and attentive. Prices very reasonable. I'd go out of my way to dine here again.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Quality/Quantity - Today I got: #49 Com Suon, Bi, Cha. Grilled Pork Chop, Shredded Pork, Egg Cake Over Rice - The pork chop was overcooked/dry. The shredded pork was the hit of the dish. And love that "broken" rice. Well, I did crave rice today. Next time I will get pho, as that is in the name of the business. Decent size menu, with decent options. See pictures. Atmosphere - Small local business. Mostly indoor seating and 3 small tables outdoors. Small private parking lot, important in this neighborhood. That alone might justify eating here, lol. Open 6 days a week from 9:30am to 8pm, closed Wednesdays. One clean unisex restroom. Service - I was greeted when I walked in, they took my order and I never saw them again?!?! Plenty of "family" employees, I counted 6-7 people. They outnumbered us customers. I asked for more fish sauce from the "bus boy" but he did not understand me. Finally one of the other 6 people overheard and came to help me. The busboy was the hardest worker. In summary, you get what you ask for, you just have to go out of your way to ask. Must pay upfront (counter service). Price - $16 + generous tip, reasonably priced for what I got. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2018. If your service improved, I can see how and why you have good ratings.
Pro tip: they charge a small fee (4%) for paying with credit card so bring cash! Loved my dinner at Pho Huong Que. My friend and I stopped by for dinner Saturday evening around 6 and it wasn't too crowded. The ambiance here is your standard no frills Asian restaurant vibe. It's clean and didn't feel crowded. We got seated promptly and started perusing the menu, which has many pages including two pages fully dedicated to vegetarian options. They offer a wide variety of dishes including pho and other noodle soups, vermicelli bowls, and rice plates. I had trouble deciding what to get and settled on the #65 com thit tom cha (grilled pork, grilled shrimp, egg cake over rice) for $14.25. This really hit the spot for me. The pork and shrimp were extremely flavorful, and I was in love with the egg cake and wish I had more pieces of it. Portions were good too; I was barely able to finish the whole plate and was stuffed after. My friend really enjoyed his B4 bun ga cha gio (grilled chicken and egg roll over vermicelli) for $13.95 as well. Would definitely come back here again next time we're in the mood for Vietnamese!
I love this place. Big bowl of pho with lots of meat in it for about $16 all-in. The broth is good but not the best I have had in the east bay - a little less rich and simpler than I've found elsewhere. The staff were great about filling my water, taking orders quickly, etc. and the space is a light airy dining area reminiscent of a lot of spots in Vietnam. Look forward to going back in the future!
I tried their Mango Salad and highly recommend it to open up your appetite and start your meal! I had their Special Combo - Pho Dac Biet, which includes rare steak, well-done flank, brisket, tendon, tripe, and meatball noodle soup. The broth has a unique taste, leaning towards the sweeter side compared to other pho I've had before. It's definitely worth a try! The portion is huge, and the price is really decent and affordable. There's a small parking lot behind the restaurant available for customers!
Pho to me is all about the broth, and Pho Huong Que makes an amazing broth. Savory, clean-tasting, fragrant, and infused with traditional spices such as cloves, anise, and cinnamon. Add some basil, jalapeno, and lemon, and *muah chef's kiss*. You better believe I leave the bowl empty. I typically go for the #1 Special Combo or #19 without tripe - regular size should be enough to make you full. Meat portions are good, and I like the textural contrasts between the tender brisket, chewier rare steak, and juicy meatballs. On occasion, or when I'm sick, I'll get the #36 Chicken and Shrimp pho, which is less aromatic than the beef pho but still great. I do wish they had a ginger scallion sauce like Pho Ga Huong Que, but this is trivial, especially when they have pickled garlic on the side! I've never waited for a table, even during the weekends, and service is fairly quick. Parking is also easy - mostly park in their lot or find nearby street parking. While there are many other pho spots to explore in east Oakland, it's hard to resist the deliciousness and consistency of Pho Huong Que.
If there is one thing you have to get here, it's the pho. The broth is clean, aromatic and flavorful. All you need to add are the greens and lime, and you're all set. This is saying a lot coming from a girl who loves her noodz with all the fixings (hoisin sauce, sriracha, chili oil, pickled jalapenos, etc). The broth was just so rich and delightful, it was the perfect thing to eat on a cold morning. If there's a second thing you need to eat here, it's the mango salad. Make sure you toss it together before you eat it, so all the sweet dressing coats the salad. It has a teensy bit of heat, but I would have liked it a bit spicier. I took this to go and it was delicious the next day The veggies really hold up even with the dressing. The pork rice plate was okay... it came with an egg roll but no egg? Maybe I should have went with the pork chop instead, because the pork I had was very lean, and thin.. They were pretty skimpy. Flavor was good though. They don't do combo plates here btw so if you're looking for the pork chop, egg roll, and wings combo (IYKYK), it doesn't exist here :( If you really want rice, this is a solid option but far from the best I've ever had. I love that they serve you the fresh coconut with a spoon so you can eat the inside when you're done drinking the juice. My avocado shake was perfectly blended, and not too sweet. Super creamy! Service is fine, just don't expect too much. The inside is medium sized, with lots of windows. They do have a little bit of outdoor seating but the view isn't great lol FYI - They have a small lot, and there's some street parking too.
Veggie Pho (C1) was sooooo good. Good veggie pho is hard to find because there is just something that feels missing sometimes. I really liked the broccoli and carrots, they were crunchy and soft and flavorrrfullll. Thai tea was sweet & really yummy as well. Service was quick and kind in a clean space.
I ordered a bunch of different varieties for my group. We all love our big portions and how tasty everything was. I order spicy beef noodle soup, and I'll definitely be coming back. They give big portions, very attentive and have their own parking lot.
One more (time - third time's the charm) This place does NOT miss. This is definitely a regular spot for my girlfriend and I now. Latest item to rave about is there coffee with condensed milk - iced or not (I got to try both as I prefer hot coffee and my girlfriend likes iced), it was perfection. Can not recommend this place enough. Do yourself a favor and go here!