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Pho and I

3.5 star rating
based on 89 reviews

Categories: Thai, Vietnamese  [Edit]

267 Huntington Ave
(between Gainsborough St & Massachusetts Ave)
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 262-0011
Nearest Transit:

Symphony (Green)

Massachusetts Ave (Orange)

Hours:

Mon-Thu. 11:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Fri-Sat. 11:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Lunch, Dinner
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only
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89 reviews for Pho and I

Review Highlights   

user photo
"Moving along, I highly recommend the fresh rolls with peanut sauce." (in 6 reviews)
user photo
"If you go here, you gotta try the crispy chicken fried rice." (in 8 reviews)
user photo
"The mango curry, pad xieu you, crispy chicken pad thai, are all good." (in 7 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of nital p.

 

0

7

nital p.

Billerica, MA

5 star rating
11/29/2009

Had the "One in Paradise" and the Drunken Noodle.  The One in Paradise was good, it was a little too sweet for the mood i was in though.  You get the chicken, rice, and a very nicely dressing'ed salad.  The Drunken Noodle was excellent, I got mine with Chicken. You just get the noodle/chicken entree with this order.

Never had a problem with the food or service here. The restaurant is very cute and the ambiance is nice.  The food is extremely quick, too.

I would definitely recommend this if you're in the mood for some Thai food!

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Photo of Emily D.

Elite '09

15

71

Emily D.

Quincy, MA

4 star rating
Updated - 11/24/2009

I have to say that I've jinxed myself. The last few times I've gone..I've had a few little issues. I ordered the House fried rice for lunch a little while ago and it didn't have the yummy big pieces of tomatoes and the flavor lacked BIG TIME! This has never happened before.. I was almost shocked.

2 weeks ago I ordered the Mi Xao and was almost at the point of nausea at how strong the garlic sauce was this time. I could not finish eating it.

Listen.. I love you Pho... I've been a fan for years and have been faithful. Something's up tho.. pick up your game!!! I drop you down a star.. sorry! :(

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    7/16/2009

    I'm surprised I haven't yelped this restaurant sooner. I've been going to this place since it… Read more »

Photo of Jen S.

 

1

21

Jen S.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
11/21/2009

This is good takeout - order through Foodler, no extra charge. It comes in about a half an hour, and they don't seem to have any problems giving you what you ordered. I've never been to the restaurant.

I think at this point we've had pretty much everything on the menu and have never gotten anything bad. I could open up Foodler and see what I've ordered because they have a system where you rate what you got - which is surprisingly useful because after awhile all Thai takeout starts to blend together in your memory - but I'm too lazy.

If you live in the South End it really comes down to a choice between this and House of Siam, and we go through phases. It's nice to be able to order on the computer, because you know it understood you (unlike the guy who answers the phone at H. of S., who is very nice despite his lack of English).

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Photo of sabitha y.

 

3

2

sabitha y.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
11/18/2009

I give this place a OK. I go there once in a week to get my pineapple fruit shake with boba. It's the best boba drink that i had so far. Though pricey( 4.50) compared to other places, it's worth it. I also like their crispy chicked fried rice, spicy noodles and curry noodles.

Now coming to the worst part, their service SUCKS!! The waiters always almost take 40 mins to prepare my dish, don't listen to the instructions well and screw up my food ( I ask for extra spicy and they end up giving me the same old blant stuff), food portion is small and they are so busy with other customers that it takes a while to  get their attention to fix my food. By the time they fix it, i loose appetite :-(

Putting aside their bad service, food is good when they cook it as per your instructions. And don't miss their pineapple fruitshake with Boba!!

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Photo of Tiff D.

Elite '09

72

141

Tiff D.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
10/19/2009

So I was craving some noodles and I only had 30mins before class.  I stopped in Pho and I for some take out.

I ordered Spicy Udon noodles with Chicken and was walking out with a piping hot bag in 10mins.  Although the sauce was perfectly spiced and the veggies were plentiful and crispy, it was a bit greasy.  

Portions and prices were just right.  $9 and I ate it all. DELICIOUS.

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Photo of Alexis B.

Elite '09

12

55

Alexis B.

Mission Hill, Boston, MA

5 star rating
10/21/2009

We ordered SO MUCH FOOD!!! A few friends just came over. We got hungry. Started talking about noodles....then pho...then Pho & I. We grab the computer go right to http://Campusfoods.com. I have been craving Pho Dac Biet. I was kinda nervous about pho from delivery but I didn't care. I sucked it up and got the soup. (Rare eye round only...) Ok ready here is a breakdown of everything we got (there were five of us btw):

Fried Gyoza- AMAZINGGGG as always. As usual they cut little vents in the top so they stay nice and crunchy and don't get soggy. Great sweet dipping sauce.

Pho Dac Biet- This place really cares about their food and wants it done right. I received a large quart of shimmery broth. A bag with limes, sprouts, and basil in it. And a large take out container with noodles, thin sliced raw beef, cilantro and onions. Chili and hoisin on the side. Now if that isn't care I don't know what is. Delicious I added all the chili sauce and was in heaven.

Cripsy rolls- didn't try them but they looked awesome and our friends were pleased.

Grilled Steak Banh Hoi (ricepaper work)- also didn't try but I was kinda jealous. She let me try the steak and it was flavorful and perfectly seasoned.

Chicken & I- SOOOOO good. Crispy chicken in spicy sauce. Rice and veggies on the side. My roomie loves spicy and it's never spicy enough but this time it was. She also loved the veggies on the side since she doesn't eat 95% of vegetables. She is weird I know.

Chicken Drunken Noodle- not spicy enough but also great dish.

Finally-- Crab Rangoons- I usually don't like them, but these were less "fake." Like the crab wasn't flecks of pink that I am only to assume is seafood- it was real ok maybe not real but better quality fake!

The best part of this whole meal----- it came in under 30 minutes! Don't ask me how. I don't want to know. All I can do is thank the food delivery gods for being in my favor.
Thank you Pho & I. You rock!

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Photo of Craig S.

 

3

16

Craig S.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
11/3/2009

Tom YUM Soup is great! Most of the noodle dishes I've tried have been tasty and appropriately spicy (and if not they give you a bottle of Sirachia on your table--big plus). Good service -good price. Leftovers do seem a bit greasy but thats the nature of the food.

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Photo of Linh V.

 

5

88

Linh V.

Boston, MA

1 star rating
7/22/2009

I gave in to my late night craving for pho by ordering from pho and I off of foodler.

I got the country fried chicken, banh xeo, and dac biet. Everything was WEIRD. I was really confused by the chicken, picken a drumstick except the ends are shaved down? I didn't get it and it was drenched in some nasty corn starchy sugary "chili" sauce. The banh xeo tasty floury and the soup was just wrong.

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Photo of Mallory S.

 

1

33

Mallory S.

Tacoma, WA

3 star rating
8/21/2009

I was satisfied with my Chicken Drunken Noodles as they were spicy and delicious.

This place does have a hodge podge of Asian fare.. I was disappointed that there weren't many curries but there were a lot choices.

They charge for drink refills which still boggles my mind. Why not charge more for unlimited refills?

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Photo of sue n.

 

0

9

sue n.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
9/29/2009

I go here at least once a week.

A little overpriced, compared to what you can get at say, Chinatown, but hey, it's right next to the Symphony Hall, what can you expect?

I am utterly in love with their unseen noodles (I usually get fresh rolls too), but their lunch menus are great too. For about 8 bucks, they give you a nice sautee (choice of chicken, beef, pork). Very student-friendly!

Good for Northeastern-students because they take dining-dollars!

Try the mango-sticky rice for dessert too!

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Photo of Michael B.

 

0

4

Michael B.

Stoneham, MA

1 star rating
11/4/2009

Was never huge on the food here, but use to regular here due to convenience of location. Then one day when I ordered a drunken noodle, I found a giant wad and I mean a WAD of hair in it. It looked like the chef had spatula'd his chest hair and then touched the noodles with it. They offered me a free meal but I was no longer hungry. I will not return to Pho & I.

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Photo of Peter W.

 

1

72

Peter W.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
8/26/2009

I've been to this place twice for lunch after meetings at Northeastern Univ.  I tried the drunken noodles the first time and the pad thai the second time.  Both dishes were fine.  Service was good.  If you are int eh area for lunch then I do recommend this place.  One tip is to make the lunch a combo for $2 more (you get soup, small salad, and something extra).

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Photo of Anya F.

Elite '09

25

221

Anya F.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
5/24/2009

I like a good soup. I've been here a few times. Pho Ga is my regular order, although Ive ordered other things too. I recommend the mango fried rice.  The soups are okay. Nothing spectacular, just good, filling on a cold winter night you can warm up your belly and your soul with some soup.  

Service- can be a hit or miss. Depends on who you get.  

Also, the last time I was there, it was a little dirty and a little dusty.  Perhaps they are due for a spring cleaning.

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Photo of Von S.

 

1

15

Von S.

Boston, MA

1 star rating
10/28/2009

More like "Foe & I."  Ha.

For a restaurant that has the audacity to name itself after the most popular Vietnamese dish, one would expect said dish to be their best shot. Unfortunately, audacity is all they have going on here. What I discovered was that this place knows little about their namesake.
In my experience, Pho is prepared like so:
1. Make broth (which, like all savory broths, takes hours of simmering and etc.--the likes of which I will not dwell upon here)
2. Boil a separate pot of water.
3. Place dry vermicelli noodles into strainer and dip strainer into pot of boiling water for 2ish minutes until vermicelli is supple but not mushy.
4. Take noodles out of boiling water and place in bowl. Ladle broth into bowl, add thin slices of brisket (which has been quickly dipped into broth) and other cooked meat things (shrimp, fish balls, tripe, even tendons)
5. Garnish with basil, bean sprout, chili and if it's really authentic, culantro (not to be mistaken with cilantro).

Well, it appears they skipped step 3 entirely. I ate noodles that were tough like dry hay which had been soaked by warm rain. It was extremely hard getting all of it down, but I loathe to see (overpriced) food go to waste. The broth itself was very bland and it seemed as if the brisket and fishballs had been boiling in it all day because both were very tough to chew. Compounding the horrible meal, I had asked for chili peppers and the waiter had the audacity to bring them out in a small bowl. In their whole unmolested forms. What was he thinking? This wasn't my mom's house--I wasn't about to bite the peppers bit by bit with my meal --- julienne that sheit!!! My god, man. I should have figured it was going to be a lame meal when they brought out the garnish bowl and it didn't have all the accoutrements.

Usually I will try a place twice. But nope, not gonna happen here. I could have forgiven the bland tepid broth but the uncooked noodles? I am quite surprised that there are people who like this place and I can only surmised that they are probably college students with underdeveloped taste buds or inexperienced eaters with low standards.

This place gets a hells no. Pho real.

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Photo of ben m.

 

1

34

ben m.

Needham, MA

4 star rating
10/28/2009

Fast and friendly service good prices....can never go wrong with Pad Thai (and fried tofu app to start would be wise)

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Photo of Greta K.

Elite '09

26

185

Greta K.

Marlborough, MA

4 star rating
3/15/2009

Pho and I is one of my friends' favorite restaurants in the area (we all went to Northeastern; they stayed and I dropped out of grad school), and today was my first time.  They have a very extensive menu of pho, noodles, rice, etc. and I had a hard time deciding my dish, but ultimately went with the Madness fried rice with seafood.  I wanted some spicy and flavorful and I wasn't disappointed.  This dish contained shrimp, scallops, and I want to say calamari, but I can't be sure.  Also, I received two surprise pieces of chicken in the rice, which I don't think was supposed to be there, but I'll let it slide.  Hey, it's better than having weird pork items in veggie fried rice, which has happened to me at Chinese restaurants.  My friend's crispy chicken on her pad thai was extra crispy and delicious, and my other friend had the regular pad thai, which she loves.  

The service was fine, nothing too outstanding, but nonetheless quick. Huge portions and fair prices, too.  The bathroom's paint job is wicked cute, with green and yellow flowers.  Definitely will be a repeat on my list.

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Photo of Scott B.

Elite '09

185

316

Scott B.

Somerville, MA

3 star rating
6/25/2009

I do love me some Pho, and this place provided me the necessary noodles, but everything was just average. I got the Pho Cao (shrimp, imitation crab, and fishcake). Decent amount of noodles, and it tasted alright, but nothing stood out. Two small shrimps, two small fishcakes, and four pieces of imitation crab... skimpy on the meat portioning. The prices weren't bad, and the atmosphere resembles an airport-sushi-sports-nouveau-sort-of-bar-kinda-pla ce. The service was just okay. There are plenty of other places to get pho in the city, and have a better experience...

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Photo of Joe F.

 

3

21

Joe F.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
2/4/2009

This place is good if you go to NU, cause it's close and not that expensive.

If you go here, you gotta try the crispy chicken fried rice. It's so gooood.
Thai iced tea also real good here too.

Waitresses are nice too, they chased me all the way to Mass Ave. once cause I left my iced tea in there.

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Photo of Theresa J.

Elite '09

65

153

Theresa J.

Malden, MA

1 star rating
6/22/2009

Their food is just not all that by far.  They have the nerve to charge a few dollars more per bowl of pho than most places in Chinatown and their soup is weak.  They did not even provide the same accompaniments you get with your soup elsewhere.  My friend ordered a shrimp dish that was about 12 or 13 dollars and it had 3 shrimp.......are you kidding me.  Do yourself a favor and go to Pho Basil if you are in that vicinity and you want good food for your money.

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Photo of Brian D.

Elite '09

137

368

Brian D.

Roxbury, MA

4 star rating
10/25/2008

Increase, star, rating for Pho...and....I. I know not of their Pho but the delivery is consistently on time, hot when it gets to my place and most importantly not expensive and DUNHHH DUNHHH....good. I can't.....complain. I can......order......more......curried beef and....spring rolls.

-------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
Whisked away to the exotic Orient on a tide of lemon ginger....errrmmmm not quite. Ok, ok how about 'reminiscing of my days in the steamy jungles of Asia' no, no, no.

How about 'Pho and I' has some pretty darn tasty stuff and they have the decency to offer service through Foodler and will deliver to Roxbury? Yeah, that's right to the point.

I like this spot, I've never dined in but I have ordered a few times and it has not disappointed. I usually play it safe with stuff that will survive the grueling 15 minutes in a Toyota Corolla on the way to our place, you know, simple Hot & Sour soup, some Ginger & Scallion Beef with extra Chili's and maybe some Pad Thai. Typically the delivery is right in line with as long as they say it will be. Last night the poor driver got stuck down the bottom of our hill at a police road block and he was nice enough to walk all the way up and around the block to us.

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Photo of Amanda H.

Elite '09

198

666

Amanda H.

Brighton, MA

3 star rating
9/22/2008

As some of you may know, I love Pho.  A lot.  I would have Pho, every day for every meal if I had the choice.  Sometimes, I like to have my Pho with friends and sometimes, I like to spend some quality time alone with my Pho.  So I thought that Pho & I would be the perfect place.

It has some good qualities about it.  The inside is chicer than most Pho places I've been to.  They have a vast assortment of dishes that range from Pho to sticky rice to Pad Thai.  I noticed they lacked some of the more traditional Pho dishes; however they did have some interesting Pho creations.  I went with the sweat and sour soup base with chicken and shrimp, with vermicelli, and veggies.  At first I couldn't get any quality taste out of it.  But after awhile, the broth really warmed to me.  However, what was seriously lacking was the shrimp.  I literally got two pieces of shrimp.  Two! What the hell!? There was a good amount of chicken, but I asked for chicken AND shrimp, not chicken and maybe shrimp.

Let's talk about the Bubble Tea.  Again, love it.  Would have it every day (sometimes I do, don't judge me).  This Bubble Tea was terrible.  First of all, it was almost $5.00!!!!!!! WHAT?!?!?! The Bobas themselves were $1.00 extra.  And let me tell you, I did NOT get $1.00 worth of Boba.  The Boba were hard, and generally unappealing.  The shake portion itself tasted like powder (even though I could see tiny chunks of strawberry in it).  Do not have the Bubble Tea, thinking about it right now makes me sad.

Overall, 3 stars.  I would come back for the interesting Pho soups, but only if I had time in between classes (which I usually don't).  Otherwise, I wouldn't make a special trip out here.

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Photo of Joe L.

Elite '09

56

143

Joe L.

Brighton, MA

3 star rating
11/24/2008

With it's neon signage and difficult to see through windows, Paul S. put it aptly when he asked "What is this, a strip club?"  The inside is clearly a restaurant, however, with its tables and even a counter by the kitchen.  No naked women, so take that how you will.

The night several of us came here, I was just about dying of a terrible cough, so I was all too happy to be somewhere that served large bowls of noodles and meatballs in a steaming broth.  What I received, however, wasn't quite what I was hoping for.

It was hot and steamy, yes.  The noodles were there and were simply normal, thin, round white noodles; nothing special there.  The 3 or 4 meatballs were pure balls of meat, unlike other pho places where little bits of gelatin or something are often stuck within it.  This may be a plus or minus to you; it didn't really matter to me.  The yellowish broth, however, was where this pho lost much of its appeal.  It was, unfortunately, much too salty.  It reminded me a lot of canned/pre-packaged chicken broth, both in color and saltiness, but without much of the chicken flavor.  The whole bowl was kind of like if Campbell's made canned pho, I guess.

If you're in the area and could go for some decent pho, skip this place and head up Mass Ave. to Pho Basil.  However, Pho & I has a fairly extensive menu of other Vietnamese and Thai food, something I might have to head back here and try.  All I know is that when I do return, I'm taking a pass on the pho.

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Photo of Diana M.

 

1

13

Diana M.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
8/4/2009

Good place to go if you don't want to travel all the way to Chinatown or if you don't want to be rushed out quickly by the waitstaff.

Very very cute decor and happy environment, nice servers, good food, decent price.

The serving sizes seem to be smaller here than most other places just FYI.

I have tried the the Pho and tum yum soup. It was yummy. Not to die for but very convenient for me! The food itself may be a 3.5 star but the decor and convenience makes it a 4. =)

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Photo of Angie G.

Elite '09

81

110

Angie G.

Brookline, MA

1 star rating
11/13/2008

Wicked unimpressed.
I can't believe I haven't yelped about it before. Timing was awful. They took FOREVER. it was hot. food wasn't that great. buh. whatevs.

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Photo of Brian B.

 

2

11

Brian B.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
8/28/2008

After eating pad thai from 4 other places and basically being ready to give up and let Michigan (blech) win this battle, I met Ben at 647.  He suggested this place.  Well, emphatically recommended it.  Or really, almost blew his wad over it!  

And he was right!

The pad thai (both delivery AND in house) was great - the sweetness of it was perfect.  

They are the first place to do tofu right!  Crispy outside and perfectly mushy inside!

The drunken noodles are great!

AND special treat: GET THE LOBSTER RAVIOLI!  Who knew pasta medallions stuffed with lobster could make me tear up?

Seriously, if people didn't like this place, they ate somewhere else and were too drunk to realize it.

THANKS BEN!

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Photo of Liz E.

 

4

133

Liz E.

Jamaica Plain, MA

4 star rating
2/18/2009

Went here tonight for the first time and had a good meal.  I had the curry noodles with tofu, my friend had drunken noodles with tofu.  Both were good.  My curry noodles were supposed to be spicy and weren't at all, but the curry was really nice.  Great service- very attentive with the water which I SO appreciate.
It's not the absolute most incredible food I've ever had, but it's just fine, thank you very much.  Good value, too.  Dinner for 2 for $20- not bad.
I have to say thought, I do miss Taste of Asia for nostalgia's sake....

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Photo of Rachel S.

Elite '09

39

207

Rachel S.

Boston, MA

2 star rating
Updated - 8/12/2008

WTF! I got takeout (2 pad thais- one veg, one regular) and they both seriously sucked. The noodles were flavorless and the vegetables were gross. :o(

Will I go back? Maybe to eat-in if I'm on campus and hella lazy,

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    7/8/2008

    Woohoo! A good on-campus eat. REALLY good, in fact. The service was fast and for two huuuge meals… Read more »

Photo of Randy W.

 

14

81

Randy W.

Honolulu, HI

1 star rating
10/4/2008

Don't get the pho here. It's greasy, with cheap meat and few noodles, and often served lukewarm. The rest of the foods that I've had (curries, pad thai, drunken noodles, pad see yew) suffer from similar problems: greasy sauces, small portions, served lukewarm, overpriced by a few bucks.

This place used to be called Taste of Asia, I think you'll agree with me that it should've been called "taste of ass".  A more apt name these days might be "Woe and I"--the 3 times I've eaten pho here, I've gotten stomach aches on account of the soup grease! Yuck!

Another annoying thing is that, if you're short on cash, you'll have to purchase a few other things to make the credit card minimum. Take the T to Chinatown or walk to the newly-opened Pho Basil.

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Photo of Adam E.

Elite '09

69

105

Adam E.

Portland, OR

3 star rating
5/16/2008

Pho & I House of Noodle and Rice.  Let's start with the blatant false advertising.  This establishment is in fact NOT constructed out of rice and a single noodle as advertised; rather it is glass and metal and all that boring shit.  That kind of thing works for the International House of Pancakes because everyone knows way back in medieval times the first IHOP was actually constructed from stacked pancakes.  That's one of the first things they teach you in high school history class.

But let's talk food.  It's not bad, which is almost criminal considering the plethora of fantastic Thai restaurants in the city.  If Brown Sugar is a mystical sparkly unicorn, Pho & I is just a brown pony.  Everyone loves ponies, but wouldn't you rather hang out and smoke a joint with a cool unicorn?  Of course you would.  Unicorns have all the best weed.

...where am I going with this?  Whatever.  Pho & I is alright.  Nothing special.  There's better food.  Unicorns, ponies, etc. etc. etc.

XOXOXO
Love,
Adam E.

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2

29

Samantha D.

Boston, MA

1 star rating
4/5/2009

For the record, we ordered off Foodler.  Its possible the quality is better if you eat in, but DO NOT get it to go.  This was the worst Vietnamese food I've had in a long time.  I had fresh spring rolls and bun.  The rolls were the best part of the meal, but that does not mean I thought they were very good-- the tofu in the rolls was skimpy, and the peanut sauce was just terrible, seemed like it was made from a powder.  My bun was with shrimp--cooked to a crisp and barely edible, they were so dry.  And the noodles were soo runny, they were  sitting in a pool of water.  Ugh.  And my boyfriend said his Pork mix and match was completely wrong, he didn't even get what he ordered.  And the shrimp toast is a waste of money.  Actually make that the entire meal was a waste of money.  The only good thing was the soup--Tom Kah was decent, but seriously, how can you mess that up?

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Photo of Alyssa F.

 

21

33

Alyssa F.

Cambridge, MA

4 star rating
1/11/2009

I haven't tasted anything extraordinary at Pho and I, but what I have tasted has been good and the staff is always pleasant.  
I eat lunch here on a fairly regular basis because it's so so close to work.
My usual meal is the eye round pho and I haven't been unlucky enough to run into any greasy broth or live floating pests.    Occasionally the broth could use a little more flavor, enter sriracha and lime.
The mix and match lunch menu offers good options and the vermicelli dishes are pretty tasty.  A colleague of mine swears by the drunken noodles.   Vietnamese coffee will nicely complement the meal.  
I really wanted to give it 3.5 stars, but I'd rather add a half star than take half away.

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Photo of Steve L.

 

2

31

Steve L.

Cupertino, CA

1 star rating
9/16/2008

This place sucks. Pad thai is WAY too sweet and salty. Crispy chicken is overdone and dry...

The pho sucks too -- the noodles have no texture and the broth has too much MSG. Trust me on this one.

I used to live in the area so this was the best default. Sad. It's too bad.

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Photo of Morgan F.

 

245

207

Morgan F.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
4/16/2008 2 photos

This is my go to "nice lunch meeting/cheap meal" location in the symphony area!

The lunch specials are $7/$8 for some rice and your choice of curry w/meat (yes they have tofu). I usually get Yellow Curry with Tofu. Need more? For an additional $2 you can bump it up and get a miso soup and choice of fresh roll, or gyoza. You will be surprised when you plate arrives, how much you are getting for under $10!

SPLURGE and get a refreshing but sweet Jasmine Limeade or choose from their variety of smoothies with fruits from Strawberry to Avocado between $2/3!

The decor inside is modern nice and clean with fun accents like the colorful thai photos on the wall or the fun colorful hanging paper in the opening doorway. Its a great place to come for meetings because the tables are far enough away from each other and the room is quite enough that you can easily discuss just about anything.

Its great because after the delicious meal if I offer to pay the bill, people assume I must be spending so much on them. In reality I have never spend more than $25 for two people at lunch :)

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1

17

Alejandra D.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
4/24/2009

Like the flat noodles from this place. Haven't tried all of them yet but Ihave tried a few. It's not an amazing place but at least you can sit down at a table and enjoy a nice dinner. It's a quick fix for whenever I'm really hungry and don't want to cook.

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3

52

Steve R.

New York, NY

3 star rating
7/30/2008

I used to really enjoy going to Pho & I.

See, I love those gigantic noodle soups. I first experienced them at Ollie's in New York City, and I was delighted to find a place in Boston that could satisfy my cravings for a steaming bowl of broth and noodles.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meal, and that it always seemed to come in record time. Perhaps it was because I was blinded by good soup that I never really let the disorganized staff bother me. "I can get over this," I told myself, as my eyes scanned the waiters, looking for the one to bring me my meal.

Indeed, I enjoyed Pho & I for many delicious meals.

Until I found bugs in my soup.

Yes, sadly for me, I was sitting at the counter in the back with my girl, and as I'm halfway thru the soup, I noticed something that certainly didn't belong amongst the noodles and wontons.

A pair of lovely little ladybugs had chosen my soup as their final resting place.

I don't know if they were dead before they hit the soup, or somehow got mixed in off the counter, but these things looked somewhat exotic. Not your typical red things, mind you.

Anyway, after complaining to the server, the manager came right over, apologizing profusely. Evidently, the bug discovery didn't deter other diners from their soups. Our entire meal was comped, which was quite nice considering I'd ordered alcohol. But then again, I wasn't paying for bugs anyway.

3 stars because yes, I do love the food there, and because they took care of me and admitted fault when I found creatures in my soup. Minus 1 star for the bug incident, and minus another star for somewhat disorganized staff.

I'm not ruling out going again to Pho & I completely, but for now, I'll find somewhere else.

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Elite '09

7

72

Casey Z.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
9/29/2008

I like this place. It's the best Thai and Vietnamese food I've found around these parts. I personally like the pad Thai, but i know it's a bit sweater than most people are used to. Their other dishes are really good too. I recommend the drunken noodles and the tum-yum soup (or something like that). mmmm now i really want some.
There are a few things I'm not a fan of about it. The people there aren't very nice, i dont know why they always seem so pissy when they're the ones who chose to be around a college campus. Their delivery takes a ridiculously long time, so order when you think you're just starting to get hungry, cause you'll be starving by the time it finally gets there.

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4

31

Amanda A.

Cambridge, MA

4 star rating
5/14/2008

This place is a no-brainer because it's sooooo close to where I work. Thank god the food's fantastic.

My two favorites: Pad Thai and the Pad See Ew. It's seriously the best pad thai I've ever had. For real and for serious. I get the original with shrimp and chicken. The pieces of chicken are lean and yummy. There's ample crushed peanut and one of my favorite features of this dish, the scallions are cut in long pieces so they're easy for me to pick out. (Yes, I'm that kind of eater.)
The pad see ew is made with big wide flat noodles, "chinese broccoli" (a leafy stalky kind green) and the sweetest most delicious sauce evah. I get it with tofu.

There's a ton on the menu, but I just can't seem to stray too far from my first loves. The appetizers I've had are great as are the desserts.

It's my go-to when I don't know what to get for lunch. One of my favorites will cost me around $9, but it lasts me for two meals, so it's a deal.

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9

38

Laurie C.

Roxbury Crossing, MA

4 star rating
6/30/2008

I just went to Pho & I for lunch with a friend and I thought it was a great spot.  I had lemongrass tofu with vegetables (very good!) and an appetizer of fresh rolls (ehhh, getting the crispy rolls next time).  

Check this place out if you're in the area looking for a quick bite.
Fast and friendly service, pretty good food, wine list, vegetarian/vegan options, low prices...  what else can you ask for on your lunch break?  I'll be back, I'm sure.

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Elite '09

84

138

Tony S.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
3/29/2008

I rate this place 4.5.

I've walk by this place every Saturday after posting bail, and it was so damn windy today I decided to stop in for some Pho.

I was pleasantly surprised that the place is really clean compared to a lot of other Pho places I dine at, but then I immediately recognized some of the staff who used to run the old Pho Paster on Newbury Street (that is no longer there due to rising rents).

There were only 3 in my party, so we only sampled a few dishes. 2 got the beef Pho, which was quite decent. Not a 5, but a good 4... say 4.3 (note, the only '5' I've given pho in the world was in Hong Kong, and not even in Vietnam). One of us also had a recommended favorite which is the crispy chicken on fried rice. It really was surprisingly tasty, another 4-4.3

Service is an absolute 5. Having run the Newbury restaurant, the proprietors know how to cater to a wide range of guests, and I have NO problem coming back here again.... possibly every Saturday on my way out after making bail.

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Elite '09

14

76

Jessica C.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
2/17/2009

Pretty standard pho, good service, and reasonable prices, especially for students. It seems like a pretty large restaurant, so it can probably accommodate a good-sized lunch crowd. Come by for a warm bowl of pho, no frills, just delicious food.

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