Pho 900

 

2

34

Megan H.

Seattle, WA

This place is ok. I always feel a little bit like I'm bothering them by coming in. I'm sure they have better things to be doing.

The pho is just ok. I've had worse and I've had much better. After reading Kim-Au I's review, I may be moving on to try my luck elsewhere.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

2

45

Jessica H.

Seattle, WA

The food was a two star rating but the service and accommodating nature of the staff was definitely a four star, so I am going somewhere in between.

I ordered the pho ga and the chicken was the scariest chicken I have ever met! It was obviously very low quality and although I am not usually a food wuss, and love to try new things, I have to admit I almost threw up in my mouth a little bit.

This was so sad to me as my husband really likes this place. But I can honestly say it took some of the joy of pho away from me.

And after I ate there last night (I ended up paying both for the uneaten chicken and for a veggie pho instead) I was sweating and headachy from the MSG. It was so disappointing.

But the staff were extraordinarily courteous and even said "Thank you" and "You are welcome" which I have never experienced in a pho establishment before.

I don't think I can go back.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

3

4

Jerusha J.

Seattle, WA

This was the first place I ever had Pho, so it holds a special place in my heart. It decent, consistently good, but never drop-dead-because-I' ll-never-have-anything-bet ter pho. The people are always friendly and quick, even late at night.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

1

tam h.

Seattle, WA

Hi guys, after the review of Kim-Au on here i think i should say some thing that how can i take what you (KIm-Au) say on trust since i also work there for a while and i know a girl name 's Au been stolen (thier) monies and get food for your friends with out make a bill then got kick out of there. So dont mad at them because they treat you that nice .Be honest.
because i used to work at Pho 900 so i dont wanna say anything bad about this restaurant but for sure they  served one of the best and fresh food i ever have . friendly staff ,  and it's once of few nice and clean restaurants i been work for.
Student at SCCC

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

4

7

Brien H.

Seattle, WA

So far, I've tried the ubiquitous Than Bros, the spacious Pho Cyclo, and the more humble Ballet Restaurant- and now Pho 900, which  has the best beef Pho of them all.  The "well-done beef noodle soup" has meat that is more like thinly-sliced pot roast than roast beef, with lots of beefy flavor, and the "well-done" aspect is a good start for the rare-meat-phobic.  Noodle portions are just right- not shabby or overflowing, and the broth has a nice flavor before adding anything to it.  The staff are nicer than most Vietnamese restaurants, and of course you get the obligatory cream puff on the side.
Update: Taken down 1 star.  If my second experience with Pho 900 was my first experience, I would have given them 2 stars... the chicken was gummy-looking dark meat, and the well-done beef much less flavorful than the first time I tried it.  Beware- it's obviously a hit-and miss eatery.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

1

Kim - Au l.

Renton, WA

To tell you the truth, I worked there for a time and this restaurant's kitchen is really dirty. The tea they serve usually was used by 3 or 4 times before they threw it away.
Then there is a different chicken between what they serve for American and Vietnamese customer. The black chiken is the best one and it ussually serve for VNese customer. So if you order Chicken Pho, don't forget to ask them for this.
Overall, this place has its bad points and good points, but after working in here, i really don't want to come there again ^^
Then one more thing, never give a tip because the owner takes it. Don't waste your money for him ^^

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

11

70

Brittany B.

Seattle, WA

This is a great place to put an end to mid-winter pho cravings.  They have sumptuous amounts of basil, Heineken, and fast free wireless.  American Apparel is next door, what more do you want?

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

12

31

kelly c.

Seattle, WA

Yums.   After the weeks of grey skies, soggy socks and ho-hum, hum-drum dinners of pizza in front of the T.V., a walk over to Pho 900 for a bowl of noodly, vegetabley goodness is like magic.  And I mean the good kind of magic.

Let me tell you about what I order when I visit Pho 900: the vegetarian bowl.  The broth is flavorful without being overly salty.  The vegetables are plentiful and surprising (hello there, cauliflower!).  The tofu has excellent consistency.  The fresh toppings (sprouts, peppers, mint, lime) are really fresh and de-lish.  All this for around $6 (trust me, the small order is enormous).

Like I said: Yums.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

5

21

Jesse C.

WA

Had lunch here today. The pho broth had a very nice beef taste and was more lightly spiced than some I have had which I actually appreciated as I think sometimes places spice the broth to cover up otherwise week stock.

The meat toppings on the pho were plentiful and well prepared. I was a little surprised to see that their house special beef pho didn't include tripe but I am not that huge of a fan of it anyways. It is too often improperly prepared.

All in all a good deal and I will definitely return.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

14

22

Ian N.

Seattle, WA

This is a review i did for May Hong Billiards a while back, these are the same owners as Pho 900 on Broadway, they just moved their operation onto the hill. Since closing May Hong, they have begun to serve chicken pho in the style as described here:

It's kind of funny that there are such great pho places in one city, maybe its the cold Grey days, or maybe its the large contingent of Vietnamese people, regardless of this, May Hong's or also known as Pho Ga 900 is the home of the best bowl of chicken pho in Seattle, or better yet, the northwest.

Chicken pho is a subtle art, it dosn't have the bombast and muscle of a beef stock, basil, cinnamon, and anise seed, but where the lighter chicken stock seems to be detriment in flavor, allows for the other herbs in the stock to become more prominent, especially the ginger that gives it a keen sharpness. There are two options at the establishment, the standard chicken pho, or the "May hong" which has includes, chicken hearts, kidney, embryotic eggs, and gasp! dark chicken meat. The second option speaks directly to the aficionado, a peak into the kitchens and homes of Vietnamese people everywhere. It is quite an amazing experience.

Although they serve a multitude of other dishes, some which they do downright terribly at times, think beef at a poultry shop...The wait staff is fast and friendly and English speaking.

looking at its location and clientele, you would not be privy to this kind of experience easily, It is on rainier and used to actually be a billiard hall, almost experiencing no foot traffic whatsoever, it has built a large following in the community and among people really in the "know," but if you can make the journey off the hill or wherever you are, stop in and enjoy the American pinnacle of Pho Ga.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

76

108

Bryan K.

Seattle, WA

Pho reals?  How can you improve upon something already so wonderful?  Well, my friends, Pho 900 knows how to do it.  Went here today for lunch to beat the frozen tundra that is Capitol Hill right now.

First I was a dedicated Than Brothers guy and then I was shown the light of the Pho Cyclo.  Well, now that I know about Pho 900, I might be moving on to bigger and better things yet again.

What the pho?

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

5

25

Yoeun P.

Seattle, WA

I ate here only once. This was during one of my many angry periods where I would curse Pho Cyclo and their horrible service. Surely one of these other pho joints on Broadway MUST be as good if not better than Pho Cyclo.

I was wrong.

I should've taken the empty dining room as a warning sign. The broth was incredibly greasy and the meat was tough and fatty. It's like they didn't even try. Reading the other reviews, I wonder, did eat at the same place?!

I walked in cursing Pho Cyclo only to walk out cursing Pho 900 and becoming completely disillusioned by pho on Capitol Hill. Oh why am I always too lazy to drive down to the International District whenever I need my pho fix?!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

4

John K.

Seattle, WA

I have only been here once and that was enough for me. I asked the waitress if they had lunch specials and she danced around the question acting like she didn't understand me or something then said she didn't remember. You don't remember...it is your job to remember!
After the food came she never came back to check on us. I ordered fried rice and needed a fork, I had to walk to the back of the restaurant to get one. My friend got chicken noodle pho but only ate the broth. The chicken was all dark meat and didn't look so great. We had to flag down a different waiter to get our check then when our waitress came to collect the check/payment...we never got our change! I will not be going back.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

6

120

jasmine r.

Seattle, WA

It's about time to put something in here...

Been here about nine times over a six month period.

The pho is delicious *and*  MSG free!
The service friendly and fast.
And uh, cheap!

Cant really go wrong here.

My only gripe, the other non-pho dishes can sometimes be not as exciting, but what the hell, I still love this place.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

22

69

Naoko S.

Seattle, WA

For some reasons,,,the food seemed to take forever to get to our table.
Is it because we sat by the window and the kitchen was 100 feet away,,,? I don't know.

But I was not in hurry so it was fine.

Good part.
Those dishes are pretty. Matching and clean.
The table is clean, too. Things were tidy and clean.
which is nice, I like it.
Food tasted clean, too. The veggies for my Pho were fresh.

Not so good part.
Noodles were stuck together and it took me two minutes to un-tangle them.
Maybe that's why my rare beef wasn't rare,,,,? (no,, i never saw red in my bowl,,,)
or again the kitchen is 100 feet away that can turn the meat done by the time the waiter got to our table...

It makes me feel very weired,,, the long rectangle dining space,,, I should sit in the middle the next time,,, if I ever go back again..

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

1

8

greg m.

Seattle, WA

First I am writing this as an honorary fob (fresh off the boat) so my judgment is a bit biased ;) I love this this freakin place! First the service is freakin speedy fast, two I've never ever had noodles that stuck together in a big clump like Pho Cyclo, three the freshest veggies for my rare beef pho, four I've been in there so much they already know what I am going to order, a small rare beef with veggie pho and five the cream puffs! I HEART CREAM PUFFS!!!  Now get off your round eye bums and get over to Pho Ga 900 and get your pho on!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

238

233

Katie S.

Seattle, WA

yes, Yes, YES!

Open until Gawd knows when.. (yes, I was with Gawd B.), it was around 10:45pm Sunday night. We seated ourselves in the spacious, nicely decorated room. Wood chairs and wood tables, people.. in a Pho restaurant!?? The waiter was very polite and accommodating and the food came quickly! I loved their expansive Vietnamese menu.

I had the veggie Pho; it was chock full of broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, snap peas and tofu. The broth was tasty- roasted garlic!- and the portions huge! We app'd it with some fried Tofu, which was great with a peanut dipping sauce.

Gawd partook in the lemonade, to which she is a connoisseur. She took a sip and exclaimed, 'Cane sugar!' Well.. maybe she didn't quite 'exclaim' it, but she was happy with it nonetheless.

The bill was $20 for two huge bowls of Pho, and app, and a drink. Excellent..

The service was great, the food was awesome, and they were still serving people when we left at a little after 11pm.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

1

6

Tanya a.

Seattle, WA

Best vegetarian pho I've had in Seattle.  If you are ordering a drink, order the coconut juice.   They bring you a large young coconut and you pierce with a straw to drink straight out of it - absolutely delicious.
Their fresh spring rolls are also REALLY good, and this comes from me, a portly woman who prefers everything fried.

Whenever I want pho, I head to Capitol Hill to Pho 900.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

6

44

turtle j.

San Francisco, CA

Yum, Pho is the perfect meal for Seattle. nothing like noodles in broth to cure the many rainy days of Seattle.

my first Pho is Seattle was here and I have to say I'm looking for better.

I order beef pho with rare and well done beef but what I got was all well done. I know it sound like a little thing but there is something so nice when nearly raw pieces of thin beef are dropped into the pho and the broth "cooks" them. The broth was also not as strong as I am used to having. For less than 6 bucks I did get a nice big bowl of noodles with six slices of beef in a mild broth so it was a good deal.

The wife had their vegetarian shrimp dish and eat about half of it. She liked it but probably wouldn't order it again.

It was clean atmosphere and totally reasonable prices.
will I go back. since it's in my neighborhood, I might. If I find another pho place in Capital Hill/Central District, then it's doubtful

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

187

229

Diana L.

Seattle, WA

Went last Saturday night with people other than my husband and child for once -  I wish I wouldn't have wasted that rare event here!

The only reason they are not getting ONE star is because they didn't cheap out and disconnect the free WiFi that was installed by the Internet Cafe people.  The reason for the smidge of stardom?

I went to the potty before my meal.  

To get there you walk down a hall to the back of the restaurant - there are doors open where you can see directly into the kitchen.  There is a little old lady squatting on the floor with a cleaver.  She is hacking away at meat on the floor that is littered with veggie bits and other unidentified pieces of trash.  I try not to let this get to me as I eat because it is 9 pm and I haven't eaten since 2.  The image haunts me. I had Pho Tai with meatballs.  The noodles were way overcooked - it was as if they had been sitting in a nice hot bath all day.  I am  guessing they were, I am thinking about all the germs that can fester in a warm bath.  I am unable to eat my free cream puff.  I have a bad tummy later that night.  

Have some other mediocre Viet Nam food down the street.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

21

144

Bryan M.

Seattle, WA

I've eaten here a dozen times and probably always gotten a tofu green curry. I've always been happy with it except once I found the plastic lid to a plastic container in the bottom of my bowl. I have to assume they didn't make this on the spot or something and accidentally lost the lid into my bowl. I didn't care really, as it was clean and everything. Bizarre though.

We've gone with an 8+ group a few times and it's always been accommodated well.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

5

19

Nikki T.

WA

It's my boy friend's favorite Vietnamese place.
They have decent food for a reasonable price range.

I kinda like their chicken salad. It have a lot of chicken for how much you pay. My bf got a pork steak the other night, and it was good too. Their pho is pretty decent. Nothing super complimentary, but all veggies are fresh and broth are rich and taster than the brothers.
Plus, you still get a cream puff lol

When I first went there, they had a lot to improve. Mainly their service was not very nice. Overall, they were not used to do a restaurant business, I think. Recently, their service is getting better since they opened the place about a year ago.
4 stars for their progress.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

1

3

Chris B.

Seattle, WA

I really can't ever get enough pho.  I'm completely addicted to it.  I need it several times a week.  Thankfully, Pho 900 is right around the corner from my apartment and also happens to be one of the best pho restaurants I've been to.  Their broth is flavored just right and tastes much more natural and subtle than that of Than Bros.  They also load up each bowl with lots of meat and noodles. The service is kind of spotty - I often find myself having to flag down someone to get my check.  In general, though, thumbs up.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

24

62

Sarah M.

Seattle, WA

Michelle B., I really don't know if we've ever disagreed before! But if there ever was a time to speak up, it's now.

Pho 900 is my new favorite on the hill. The broth is more flavorful than the Than Brothers or Pho Cyclo, and the place is cozy and quiet, at least in comparison to the other two places. My problem before I found Pho 900 is that I would crave Pho but I wouldn't really want to go sit under flourescent lights to eat it. Now I can eat it in a more ambient atmosphere.

Oh, and they do have cream puffs! Yum.

Reasons to eat Pho (as if you needed them):

1. It's inexpensive ($5ish per person).
2. It's delightfully exotic.
3. It's healthy and low calorie (as long as you can have sodium).
4. It makes you look smart if you can pronounce it right (Fuh, rhymes with Duh!).
5. It tastes wonderful and is quite filling.
6. Free cream puffs.
7. Extra cream puffs.
8. Cream puffs (to go) for later when you are reading Glamour while wearing an acne-clearing masque and bunny slippers and crying yourself to sleep.
9. Kidding.

Pho ordering tips:

1. Say it right. Duh!
2. Be daring. Try a strange cut of meat, or tofu for a change.
3. ORDER A SMALL. Trust me on this one. The large is bigger than your head.
4. Okay, I guess I only have three tips. Lame.

Pho 900 - try it. I like it. I'm going there tonight!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

147

666

Mitzie H.

Seattle, WA

One of the most blah Pho Ga's I have ever had.  At first I was excited I had both white and dark meat in my bowl.  The 'accessories' were all fresh, no brown on the basil I thought was a good sign but than I dug in.  The noodles were a clump all stuck together no matter how much I tried I couldn't get them separated.  The broth was nothing great I had to put extra siracha in it to give it some flavor.  I thought they were redeeming themselves with the free cream puff but when I bit into that it was stale.  I will say the service was great but the food didn't do much for me, next time I want Pho I think I'll stick to what I know I think.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

6

54

Jon E.

Seattle, WA

I've eaten here three times, and it's just about your average Vietnamese place.  Most people come here for the pho, but I'm more of a vermicelli eater.  So I've gotten that twice, and curry chicken once.  The vermicelli is of course delicious, but nothing made it stand out.  The chicken curry was disappointing -- it just wasn't yummy.  I don't know if it was the unremarkable curry sauce, the lack of veggies, or the boring rice, but they all played a factor.

I would give this place a 4, since I love Vietnamese, but the decor is plain, the room is unimaginatively lit, and the bathrooms are pretty inconvenient.  So come here if you're hungry -- there's nothing bad about it -- but don't go out of your way for it.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

5

22

Charlie T.

Seattle, WA

Oh lord how I loves it!  NO MSG.

My body does not like MSG and the other two pho restaurants on Broadway have MSG in their broth.

I eat hear three or more times a month. The quality of veggie pho is great filled with fresh vegetables.  They also have a great veggie curry that has little vegetables but packed with faux meat and tofu.

All around tasty food for a vegan on the hill.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

55

167

sarah l.

Bellevue, WA

after the reviews on here, i was really against coming in here. i mean...meat on floor?? what??
but-i can be a team player and my friends had decided this is where we should eat. i ordered my usual (small pho ga with less noodle more broth) and waited.

the pho took awhile, which was surprising, but the service we got was helpful and pretty fast. not attentive mind you, but always came if we called out and got me my extra bean sprouts fairly quickly.

the broth was really really good. i was surprised, but it was almost like a korean short rib soup broth. really good broth.
i gave almost all my noodles to my friend because he enjoys extra noodles, while i really just enoy chowing on broth. there were no problems from him or his wife on the noodles-and they are very finicky about their pho...broth, meat, noodles, cilantro (or no cilantro), etc all being right.

sooo the pho was good and the decore was pleasant. i would say not too shabby.

also, the cream puffs tasted lighter in the breading than other cream puffs around. it was pretty delish.

all in all, pho 900 exceeded my expectations.
next time i have a hankering for pho on broadway, i will probably head to pho 900

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

876

899

Michelle B.

Seattle, WA

What do the good folks who live up on Capitol Hill need? Hmmm...they already have two mediocre Vietnamese restaurants.  Let's make it an even three!

Yeah, that doesn't make sense, and neither does Pho 900. I just don't understand why someone would open up a restaurant without some form of a compelling value proposition. I mean, at least if it was bad I could chalk it up to simple failure, but Pho 900 isn't bad, it isn't really anything. They do try to sweeten you up at the end with a free cream puff, so I guess they have that going for them, which is nice.

Guess I'll keep going to the ID for Vietnamese, unless I'm being lazy, and in that case I have two other mediocre Vietnamese restaurants to choose from, this feels like circular logic.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

3

Janette F.

WA

True, this place is no stand-out Vietnamese.

BUT:
1. The vegetarian Pho (I heard from my dinner-mate) was much better the other 2 places on B'way - filled with veggies and tofu.
2. they offer a fuller menu than Than Brothers, AND a cream puff (which Pho Cyclo does not)
3. they have wine and beer
4. they're close, and they're cheap. (definately not something I would travel to Cap Hill for though.)
5. service is really friendly.  

If the place added wi-fi I'd go here to study/work.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

16

73

Sara E.

Seattle, WA

Maybe something changed drastically within the past two weeks?

When I went there last week, the pho was excellent, fragrant and layered. The only disappointment was that they do not serve tripe... but that's to be expected due to its location.  

There was no cream puff.

There was, however, wonderful tea that smelled and tasted of violets.  

It's weird that my bowl of pho was so delicious and that there was no complimentary cream puff.  It's also weird that I went in here at all - I am completely disillusioned with Broadway Pho.  But it was great!!!!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review