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Pho Boston Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
144 Shield StWest Hartford, CT 06110
(860) 953-8678
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
111 reviews for Pho Boston Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Also the spring rolls are fantastic as well."
(in 25 reviews)
"I also highly recommend the thai iced bubble tea."
(in 12 reviews)
"Broth is thick and flavorful and noodles well made."
(in 28 reviews)
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111 reviews in English
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Review from Aimee A.
12/18/2011
I love pho boston! I always get the number 17, spicy beef sate noodle soup! I also love the vietnamese chicken salad. ambiance is not the best but service is very friendly and most of the time the food gets delivered quickly.
highly recommend it! -
Review from tricia z.
Meriden, CT
2/4/2012
Note: I have recently traveled to Vietnam, and I ate a LOT of Vietnamese food there.
Well, to be honest I was not expecting much for service. I was ignored the first 10 minutes but once I got the attention of "mr. grumpy" as I nicknamed him everything was great. I got a Tiger beer...which is much better in Vietnam so do not buy Tiger beer here. We had the Banh Xeo, Pho Ga, and a generic rice/veggie/chicken plate. The Banh Xeo was really good and their fish sauce to go with it was excellent. The chunks of pork and the size of the shrimp inside were impressive. The Pho Ga was excellent as well. The generic chicken/veggie/rice dish was nothing special but it was well done. The prices are excellent but the location is pretty shady. The inside needs a serious makeover. Oh and my stomach did not feel very good the following day. No surprise there though. -
Review from Huntting B.
Washington, DC
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is what a pho joint should look like. Cafeteria with mostly asian people, viet music in the background. Pho all around and no metal utensils on the table. Tea served up front.
They do the spring rolls with grilled pork. The fish sauce was still standard but plentiful at least.
Oh grilled pork how i love thee! The spring rolls were yummy! Mostly because of the pork. The wrapper wasnt great and the lettuce was less than ideal, but the pork! Yummerific!
The pho was decent. The broth was very good and they served serrano like pepper (gave me more when asked). The meat in a regular was a little on the small portion size but thats ok. The noodles were a bit thinner than they coulda been.
They do smoothies here, including jack fruit!
A solid place for pho-n times :)Listed in: Vietnamese Pho-shore
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Review from Jeremiah L.
Coventry, CT
2/8/2012
The dishes are decent and Pho is fine but the service is terrible. We ordered two bowls of noodles and a few other dishes. After an hours, we were still waiting for our food. I asked a waiter to check the missing dishes and he immediately lost his temper and started yelling at me giving me a lecture of the time it takes to make those dishes. I left with no tips and have never returned to this place.
No one, customer or otherwise, deserves such a treatment! -
Review from Special K.
West Hartford, CT
12/29/2011
Ive been a devoted Pho Boston diner for over ten years and it's rarely disappointed!
My usual is Pork & Shrimp Fresh Spring Rolls and a Large Combo Pho. Equally as good and very refreshing are the Vermicelli dishes, my fave being the one topped with the tiny fried spring rolls. -
Review from J J.
Manhattan, NY
11/5/2011
I love this place so much it's making me feel dumb.
Obviously they have really good pho.
Ask them to make it SPICY for you, it's definitely delicious.
Quick service.
Friendly staff.
I've ordered at least 10 different items from their menu, and they have all been EXCELLENT.
Another good thing about this restaurant is that, if you go with 19 of your cheap friends and they all want to pay separately, it won't be a problem.
They have great bubble tea selection too.
Just don't get Durian bubble tea if you've never had it before.
Your breath will smell like dog farts for at least 2 hours.
I cannot wait to go back. -
Review from Tommy Z.
Wallingford Center, CT
1/23/2012
I like the soup, but when I go there last time I had a shrimp roll smells extremely bad. I told them about it, they didn't bother to do anything. I am a repeat customer, I can't believe they just ignore the situation like that. Bad service!!!
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Review from Freesia S.
Meriden, CT
10/10/2011
I've been eating pho my entire life, and so has my mom, so it means a lot that she always suggests Pho Boston for lunch or dinner when we're in the Hartford area.
The pho here is a little different from what we make at home, and it's not my absolute favorite place to go for pho, but it's authentic, and it hits the spot when we're craving it and don't feel like boiling broth all day. I always get the regular beef pho, with just beef, and the portions are very generous for not very much money. Something different from what I'm used to at home, and from what I've had at other pho places: Pho Boston adds in some slices of raw tomato and cucumber, and the broth is thickened a little by the seasonings, but it's good. My mom has ordered other things on the menu, like some of the seafood noodle soups with different noodles, and they've all been pretty good.
I also enjoy the bubble tea. My boyfriend has said that he wants to try other things on the menu, but it's hard because we always want pho. Maybe someday. I'm sure it's good. 4 stars because I'm a fan.Listed in: Pho in CT
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Review from Kevin K.
The kind of pho broth that makes you wanna drink it from the bowl like no one is watching. What else can I add? This is the best pho in Hartford. It is the gold standard for Hartford area pho.
Listed in: Pho Finds
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/27/2010
I am still new to the Pho, but I must say this is the best Pho in CT. I always go with # 25 rare… Read more »
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Review from Weihao L.
Grand Rapids, MI
12/31/2011
This place is awesome, it's where our UConn Asian crowd used to hang out on weekends. They got a wide selection menu and the food is pretty consistent. My usual orders are beef pho, grill chicken leg over rice, pork chop over rice, yan chow fried rice and of course the avocado milk shake. Over the years I think their food quality has gone downhill a little especially when they get busy. Overall it's a nice Vietnam food joint with lots space for groups. If you're into viet food and havnt tried pho Boston, this is the best place in CT.
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Review from Aaron S.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2012
Great pho for northern CT. The place was packed with a line out the door on a Thursday at noon. It moves very quickly and we were seated in about 10 mins. Definitely worth a try since CT really lacks quality ethnic food of any variety (besides Italian).
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Review from Jason S.
Prospect, CT
11/16/2011
Good Pho for a decent price. Friendly prompt service. This is my "go-to" pho restaurant.
Order a #19 and add beef balls! It's delicious! Also, their shrimp spring rolls are top notch! -
Review from Josh S.
West Hartford, CT
11/11/2011
If you like noodles and you like soup and you're willing to try something new, then Vietnamese food is pretty good.
I recommend 31 if you like chicken. -
Review from Peter N.
9/12/2011 3 Check-ins Here
As a Vietnamese-born American who has lived in California (San Jose and Orange County reign as the largest concentration of Vietnamese people outside of the country itself) most of my life and as part of a restaurant family, I know the culture and cuisine well.
FOOD: the bun bo hue and pho are both quite good and they provide fresh mints and bean sprouts. The Vietnamese iced coffee is fine, while the che (3 color dessert) was slightly subpar. Their soursop smoothie with bob a was great, and not too many places serve it.
SERVICE: is prompt at first, but they can and will forget about you after a while. You have to pay for your check at the counter, even when dining in. I always find this arrangement to be less than classy. They do accept credit cards, though.
LOCATION/AMBIANCE: they are located in a pothole-ridden mall that has plenty of parking. The dining area is spacious and can accommodate all types of gatherings. It is basically clean and there is some Vietnamese decor.
VALUE: while the the portions are generous, they charge more than the average pho place. -
Review from Sanh A.
Pho Boston is the place I head to when I want Pho without the hassle of making it myself. The broth is near perfection.
Food/Menu:
I don't order much besides the Pho. For appetizers I have tried the fried chicken wings, shrimp spring rolls and Vietnamese crepe.
Chicken Wings:
The fried chicken wings come with the tip on. It's served pretty out of the deep fryer on a sheet of iceberg. Not full of flavor but I believe it's included on the menu for younger children. Whenever we have children with us that is what is ordered for them to nibble on.
Spring Rolls:
Two rolls overstuffed with iceberg and two shrimps. I never had rice paper that was torn or dried. The iceberg has never arrived brown. The sauce is decent but I've had better.
Vietnamese Crepe:
We always order shrimp. Portions are huge, it is an entree in portion. They stuff it with ample amounts of filling, enough meats and a decent amount of bean sprouts. The meat filling is not flavorful enough it is rather bland. I think they prepare it bland because they expect many people to down the crepe in the fish sauce based sauce.Its served with refreshing cucumbers on the side.
Pho:
The Pho is the main reason I go to Pho Boston. I stick to the basic combination # 19 or #17 the Spicy Pho Boston Special.
Pho # 19:
It's the traditional combo Pho. There is no need to get an extra large because the large is way more than enough for the average adult. Even when you order the extra large it still comes in the same size bowl they simply add a few more strands of noodle.
I love the broth. It comes out steamy hot. Not over powered with anise or cinnamon sticks. The broth isn't watered down and it doesn't smell beefy which means they strained the fat out properly.
Pho #17:
This is a favorite for days when you don't care for the authentic bowl. It's peanut based. On the spicy side but manageable as there is a sweetness to it. Never had a bruised cucumber in my Pho. I love the cucumbers and tomatoes because it helps cool down my mouth.
Oh with any of the Pho bowls, if you do not eat onions of scallions make it clear to the staff. I don't eat scallions and always order my Pho without the scallions, it's a hit or miss.
Extras:
Extra bean sprouts come at a price of $1.50 a plate. They normally bring out one plate for every two people. In my opinion that is simply not enough because I like lots of lime juice and bean sprouts in mine. In the past they have never charged for extra sprouts it seems to be a recent change. Mind you a veggie bag full of sprouts costs about $0.50 and that bagful can make up 7-8 plates.
Beverages:
They used to serve hot tea on the house but that practice seems to have stopped. If you're in the mood for something sweet the bubble tea is a must try. The bubble tea isn't anything special, the restaurant lefts their kit from the Calif based company and simply prepares it for you. As consumers you can order the same kit and reproduce the exact drink at home. The bubble tea is on the pricy side.
Quality for the Price: Best price for great Pho. Take out isn't shabby either. If you're ordering more than two Pho bowls ask for them to be bagged individually or else they will give you one bag of garnishing greens. It's hard to share when you're at work and eating at different times.
Atmosphere:
People who frequent Pho Boston are not there for the atmosphere. The place did freshen up a little and replaced their tables. Not known for cleanliness. Every table gets a quick swipe before rushing another group over.
Often I ask for an extra glass of water so I can clean my chopsticks and spoon as the utensils are often left on the table in a stack. A little dip in a cup of ice water usually satisfies me. I have seen the staff wipe down the each condiment bottle as they are refilling so I'm okay with touching it with my bare hands.
Service:
Sometimes the staff is friendly other times they can't be bother to even walk you to your table. The last time I was there the staff gestured me to my table with her head/lip movement. But our glasses of tap water did arrive promptly factory style.
If you order Pho that comes at lighting speed but if it's anything else besides Pho expect a little waiting but it usually not too long.Once the food arrives don't expect the staff to return. If you want something else either walk to the counter or grab a staff as they are rushing by your table.
Parking:
There's lots of parking because the restaurant is in the same plaza as a big Asian grocery store. Watch out for the potholes.
Recommendation :
Best stop for a quick bowl of Pho. Broth is consistently the same day after day. -
Review from Heather C.
Harwinton, CT
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Friday night I walked in a Pho virgin...and left totally in love.
Pored over the menu, had only a vague idea as to what I was ordering, so I referred to the reviews here. I settled for a #19 and the honeydew bubble tea. Both were delicious...and I was disappointed I couldn't quite finish the pho because the bowl was so big.
Clean, well kept place...no off smell that I could discern (as complained about in other reviews). The atmosphere is a bit lacking-tons of tables crammed into a fairly large, sparsely decorated room, but the food was amazing, and that's what matters.
I also noticed a fair few of the patrons were asian-which is always a good mark (in my book) for an ethnic food joint. If they (who surely know how to make bangin authentic pho) are willing to eat there, then the place has to be pretty legit.
Maybe I lucked out, but my waiter was pretty attentive...he asked if I was familiar with the menu & gave me more time to peruse before returning with ice water and tea.
Having read all sorts of reviews before coming, I knew about the "go up front to pay your bill" thing, so I wasn't waiting like an idiot for 20 minutes either.
Beware of the parking lot...craterous potholes galore...and when I say craterous, I mean craterous...but I can't deduct stars for that, I'm sure they only rent their space and are at the mercy of the plaza's landlord.
Also, I don't know if anyone else had this problem, but I plugged the address into my phone and it took me on Shield St. proper, which was wholly unnecessary...the plaza is called the Shield St. plaza and you can enter from New Britain Ave. (There's a fairly large sign...I went before it got dark, so I'm not sure how well lit the sign is at night)Listed in: This is why I'm fat.
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Review from PlumpyTheCat L.
Rocky Hill, CT
9/10/2011
Like many previous posters have mentioned, the parking lot for this restaurant is a disaster. There are huge craters in the parking lot, which makes looking for a parking spot a little like navigating a minefield. The location is a little seedier too, located next to a laundromat and a foreign video store.
The food is good and authentic. The pho (i always get the regular, i think its #19?) is very very good, with a very tasty broth. The pho also comes out very quickly, which is a nice perk. Another time i went i had the clay pot pork, which i did not enjoy. I don't know how its "supposed" to taste, but this was *extremely* salty. I couldn't eat much of it, and the little i did eat i had to eat with large amounts of white rice. I definitely wouldn't order that again.
A big downside to this place is the waitstaff. Like many authentic asian restaurants, their concern isn't hospitality. To get their attention is a chore, and often i would have to repeat my request numerous times in order for it to be done. At the end, you just bring your check up to the counter to pay - it makes things much easier and faster.
The prices are good for the pho, but a little higher for everything else on the menu. I am not sure i would risk ordering something other than pho again given my unappetizing clay pot pork, but the pho is definitely worth returning for. -
Review from Gary A.
San Diego, CA
5/11/2011
I just recently moved back from San Diego. Been wanting to go back here ever since I moved out of state. The food has always been good and I love this place! All the different types of dishes that I've ordered have all been delicious so it's kinda hard to recommend what dish to order. But if all else fails...the Pho is the way to go.
My only problem with this place is even though the staff is nice...they just seem to ditch you after they bring you your food. Once you get it, you will pretty much never see your server again unless you call him/her over. It gets really annoying.
Also, if you haven't been there before...if you want to pay your bill. You have to go to the front cashier and pay, they don't bring your bill to you.
All in all, this is probably the best vietnamese restaurant anyone in the Hartford county can go to.
PROS:
-Excellent food
-Menu is huge
-fairly inexpensive
CONS:
-Servers just forget about you after you've been served
-place smells funny
-no fountain drinks...so no free refills...soda come in cans only :/ -
Review from Mike R.
Hartford, CT
8/26/2011
My favorite restaurant in Hartford for three reasons:
1.) Quality of food
2.) Price
3.) Atmosphere
This is a really comfortable spot. I go to Pho Boston often, and never get sick of it. I can't say that about many restaurants! The pho soup is tremendous, and the bubble tea is always an enjoyable little treat. I highly recommend this spot. -
Review from Jon B.
Wilbraham, MA
9/7/2011
This is my favorite pho restaurant. This is my family's favorite pho restaurant. You want proof? We drive 47 miles each way to eat here. It's all about the food. The parking lot is disastrous (watch out for the gold Toyotas!!) , but don't be put off - the food is wonderful. I have tried for 3 years to replicate their broth at home and have failed each time. Eat here. You will not be dissatisfied.
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Review from Herb L.
Hillsborough, NJ
8/2/2011
This place is worth a try if your car can get there through the shopping plaza in one piece. Not just small pot holes, the plaza looked like it had been shelled.
The rating is for just the food though. I got #19, their classic pho. I like my pho. The broth was very flavorful. I like how they had tendons in it. 3.5 for their pho. She got #71, grilled pork slices & egg rolls on vermicelli. I thought it was just ok. Maybe I'm spoiled by a great Vietnamese restaurant that's near me. -
Review from R Breeze W.
Brattleboro, VT
3/31/2011
Everyone reviews the Pho and I agree that its great.
This review is just to send a shout out for their vegetarian pad-thai. It is good. In fact, although I am not a veggie, I love their vegetarian dishes. They are flavorful and cheap, and they allow you to avoid the dirt-cheap and kinda nasty meat that is used.
Go get yourself some. You won't be disappointed. -
Review from Rolf L.
Hartford, CT
Number 36 and number 55 were great. The duck was tender and mushroom and broth were delicious. The chicken pad thai was excellent as well. A good place to pick up dinner or sit and have a quick but good meal. I have eaten here multiple times!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/15/2011
In a hole in the wall plaza in "West" Hartford, but it feels more like the ghetto end of Hartford.… Read more »
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Review from Audrey F.
Southington, CT
3/28/2011
Last week we wanted Vietnamese. This is my favorite place to chow down on pho (Vietnamese soup). It doesn't matter if the waitstaff are from Indonesia, Nepal or Phillipines and the cooks are Chinese, and the owners are Vietnamese....The food is delicious and cheap ($7 for a huge bowl of pho). This place is usually full of hungry American and Asian diners every day.
My hubby-san knows his usual order in Vietnamese: bo tai chanh (beef carpaccio with peanuts and shredded basil) and sate dac biet (spicy beef noodle soup). The appetizer highlight was the jelly fish and fruit salad. Not the freshest jellyfish but the sauce on the shredded veggies was juicy. My two friends enjoyed their rare steak pho with beef balls. I liked the whole steamed mystery fish with garlic, scallions and cilantro. Not the freshest but tasty with rice. (Almost like mom makes.) My other friend wanted the whole fish head so I gladly obliged. I watched him slurp his way through it- eyes, cheeks, brain and all. More power to him. He liked the spicy tofu served in a clay pot too. it was funny to see him eat exotic things like fish heads, but he could barely finish his durian milkshake with tapioca pearls (bubble tea).
For those who have not had durian fruit, it smells like stinky feet, skunks and sulfur combined (just ask Andrew Zimmern). But if you have a bad sense of smell like me or just hold your nose, it tastes like an acidic creamy custard. He still can't get thru the whole durian sitting in his freezer at home. Now you know why they keep it in a freezer at A Dong Supermarket. -
Review from T L.
Middletown, CT
Updated - 10/14/2011
I thought I was in the wrong place, the parking lot has finally been fixed! I tried the Pho and it was exactly as many of the rave reviews have indicated....tasty and filling. The service was quick, and polite. Can't wait to go back.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/4/2011
Disclaimer - this was my first foray into Vietnamese food, so i'm by no means an expert. Only… Read more »
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Review from HeartBeat Radio F. M.
Berkeley, CA
12/30/2010 3 photos
Harford is not exactly a mecca for quality Asian cuisine, but Pho Boston is one of the few places in the area offering more-than-mediocre Asian food.
Unfortunately, most Hartford- and West Hartfordites don't necessarily think of Pho Boston when they think of going out for Asian food--in fact, sadly, most don't even know it exists. And while this humble little restaurant is located a little off the beaten path in the somewhat run-down Shield Street Plaza, it is a diamond in the rough.
Pho Boston features a wide array of traditional Vietnamese dishes, but is invariably most renown and most frequented for the large, steaming bowls of noodle soup for which it bears its name. While traditional pho (Vietnamese-style noodle soup) is perhaps the most popular dish, I recommend branching out and trying any of their soups, including canh chua (hot and sour soup, pictured) and sampling an appetizer (we tried the bánh xèo chay, a light and crispy crepe filled with bean sprouts and tofu...unbelievable!!!). In the midst of a cold Connecticut winter, a bowl of soup at Pho Boston hits the spot.
Simply put, their dishes are flavorful and showcase quality ingredients which speak for themselves.
Portions are large and are best eaten fresh within the restaurant (takeout not really recommended here). But part of the experience is sitting in the restaurant itself, which offers kind and attentive service, and all of the accoutrements typical of a noodle restaurant, including a condiments lazy-susan on each table.
I was lucky in that my date happened to know more than a thing or two about Vietnamese food, and he gave Pho Boston two thumbs up. =]
Move over Butterfly, Chengdu, and (sigh) P.F. Chang's. Pho Boston puts all of these tried-and-true Hartford-area haunts to shame! -
Review from Niamh O.
1/24/2011
I ate here with friends over the Christmas holiday. First of all, the environment is downright ugly. This is definitely a hole-in-the-wall, strip-mall joint. The room is cavernous, with spindly tables and uncomfortable chairs that look like they came from your grade school cafeteria. So you don't go here for the atmosphere.
That said, the food was great, the service friendly and quick, and the pricing excellent. I had "spicy pork in a clay pot" (no, really, that's what it was called), and it was a massive dish, completely delicious, and not overwhelming on the spicy end (I could have actually gone for spicier). The menu was vast, and my dinner pals ordered huge vats of pho, which they declared delicious. The various sauces available with the egg rolls were particularly lovely, too.
Overall, it's a good, reliable place. Great for large groups and budget-friendly. Just not the best dining experience I've had. But if you're looking for speedy, good Vietnamese food, I recommend it! -
Review from Rach K.
1/17/2011
Yum!
Came here for lunch on a chilly Saturday afternoon with three other friends. We walked in to find a cafeteria-style looking room (simple/cheap looking tables crammed into a huge area). We were seated immediately and handed menus. Two of our party ordered standard pho, the least "adventuresome" of our group of diners ordered chicken fried rice, and I ordered vermicelli with pork and spring rolls (no peanuts please - I'm allergic). I was starving, so in my head, it was taking forever for the food to come out, but in reality, it came out in a snap.
My vermicelli was delicious and came with the standard side of fish sauce to drizzle over top. I prefer to move all of my spring rolls to the side (so that they stay crispy) before I douse my noodles. The spring rolls were indeed crisp and delicious, the pork was seasoned pleasantly, and there was plenty of shredded lettuce and cucumbers for a nice crunch. All in all, standard vermicelli done right.
I took a sip of the pho broth and have to say it was really good. My standards on pho are as follows: seasoned well, though not too salty, has a good tang (from the lime and cilantro) and must not leave a film of grease on my lips - all criteria were satisfied.
I didn't try the chicken fried rice, but it looked good (nothing too special about it, but then again, it's just chicken fried rice).
Oh! And I tried a sip of my companion's salty lemonade. It was okay, but not my taste. It wasn't really salty, but more herby and sort of cloudy. (To be honest, the first time I heard 'salty lemonade,' I thought it sounded like a euphemism for pee and I haven't been able to shake that thought).
Like most Vietnamese places do, they had "self-serve" utensils, sriracha, chili sauce, and black bean sauce in containers on the table. Sometimes I get a bit germaphobic and fear that some disgusting, booger-crusted child pawed at all of the silverware, but my hunger usually trumps my desire to be snobby.
The weirdest part was when it came time to pay. We flagged down a waiter and asked for the check and a container (for the chicken fried rice chick's leftovers) but when he returned, he had a to-go container but no check. We ended up sending up one of our party to pay at the register. -
Review from Bryan R.
1/13/2011
Spring rolls are first class, on more than one occation my wife and I have got a couple order of fresh spring rolls and had as our meal. This location is always busy even at 2 in the morning. Located adjacent to a Chinese grocery store and consignment shop, sharing a lot, in almost a strip mall fasion.
The parking is ample but the lot is busy enough that it makes me a little nervous. This place is a little run down but is kept up pretty well other than the rug which should be replaced. This place is a little musty so we prefer take out orders. Unlike most places I actually think that you get more food when you get to go and always in a neat and clean packaging with plenty of side sauces.
The wonton soup has pineapple and mint in it, a little weird for me but the wontons are still good. The broth sort of tastes like it was an experienment gone wrong. I had a friend that once made spaghetti with peanut butter, I think she had about as much success as they did with this broth.
You can't go wrong with the beef and pork dishes. I am not a big fan of the noodle soups but they are a hit with the locals. The seafood dishes are typically on the pricey side and aren't worth the risk of getting something that you think tastes weird. I would reccomend sticking with the beef dishes. The biggest problem that I have with this place is that I never remember what the names are of the dishes I like and usually just call them by my own name. I like the beef with rice and the fresh spring rolls the most. Luckily my wife knows what that means. -
Review from Teddie W.
Middletown, CT
8/24/2010
The foods are OK and the price is right, it needs more cleaning and more organized. If you just want to eat something very quickly at a low price, it is your choice.
Something bothers me is that the check is always mis-calculated the total amount. If you are not carefully calculating the total yourself, you will end up paying more than you are supposed to pay. My friend had the same problem in this place. It seems to me that they are playing a little trick to charge a bit more on the total amount of foods you ordered. If you discovered it, you would get your money back; but most people never do the math themselves, they just pay without questioning. If most people never bother to check the total amount of money they are supposed to pay, think about how much more this restaurant will make? It is like a gas station gives you a smaller amount of gas at a slightly cheaper price per gallon. -
Review from Lauren R.
I've been back to Pho Boston multiple times since my last review...I just love it.
I know what to expect, the service varies at times, but I know I am going to get a delicious bowl of soup so I am ok with it. I usually get the pho with rare steak, you can't go wrong with it.
I have yet to have a bad experience here. I wish I could give more than 5 stars.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/6/2009
Finally made it here after reading all these reviews.
My brother and I split the fresh spring rolls… Read more »
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Review from J R.
Central Manchester, CT
2/1/2011
This place rewards adventurous ordering. The best dishes involve intimidating meats like tripe and beef tendons. Even the vegetarian meals, which I must grudgingly admit are awesome, often involve fermented fish paste and unusual combinations of vegetables. (I know that fish is not strictly vegetarian, but I'm counting dishes in which tofu is the only discernible protein as vegetarian even if they including some meat or fish flavoring).
As usual in the Hartford area, bravely digging into foreign food at some hole-in-the-wall joint in a strip mall yields food which is comparable to or better than the knock-offs being served by mainstream chefs at fine-dining restaurants at FAR greater cost. -
Review from Marisa B.
Hartford, CT
9/9/2010 1 photo
Dó là nhng ngi canh!! Th giãn
Translation: "It's soup people! Relax"
As mentioned in other reviews, the immediate service was sub par, however we were not in a high$$ priced restaurant, its located in a strip mall/plaza, during a busy time and as Americans we've grown too accustomed to our Mickey D's fast food lifestyle we forget that waiting is "normal" in most societies! Besides we waited maybe 5-10 mins, however used this as an opportunity to fully review their rather larger menu of many many options, which is a plus!
When the server came to our table, I had some restrictions, no meat, vegetable based broth, veggies with shrimp and tofu; see photo of what I had and you 'will' understand that I am a fan of this Pho and their Shrimp Spring rolls, my good friend had their 'spicy pork roll and fell in love'.
Would I rate this the 'best I ever had', No...but then again, I have only been to 2 Vietnamese restaurants; so I will not pride myself on being an expert.
What I will tell the curious/interested few: Is that it's a good place to eat for lunch or dinner, makes you want to go back for more and the Spring Rolls (Pork or Shrimp are delicious). They are willing to accomodate any changes; which is always a good sign, customer service, means "the only thing that comes back is the customer "and I will return. -
Review from ashley r.
Newington, CT
9/14/2011
I am an avid pho lover, and have tried almost every pho place in a 10 mile radius from Pho Boston. I have always found their soups to be average, but do commend them for having lots of menu options, particularly for people who may not be familiar with the cuisine or not interested in pho.
Ordinarily, I would probably give Pho Boston a 4 of 5 stars, but on my last visit I discovered something that changed my opinion of them forever.
THERE WAS A ROACH CRAWLING ON MY TABLE. It was not just a bug that happened to wander in and flutter down. It was a cockroach. To think that there were not more roaches in the building would be foolish. Where there is one roach, there are always more. I'm sorry, but I refuse to patronize restaurants with roaches -- at least roaches I can see. At least maybe if I didn't see it, I wouldn't know any better, but that was disgusting and I absolutely did not finish my soup after seeing that. Unless you like dining alongside roaches, please visit another shop like Pho Tuong Lai or Pho 88!! -
Review from Donna R.
Northampton, MA
3/23/2011
Ate here a few weeks ago and loved it. Had the Boston Pho and ordered another dish from the vast menu that turned out to be shrimp cake and generous accoutrements for building one's own spring rolls at the table. A little work since you have to soften the rice wrappers in the hot water they bring to you, but worth it for the freshness and the opportunity to have it just as you want it.
The pho was similarly well-appointed with plenty of goodies to add as you like it. I agree with other reviewers who have said there is better broth to be found elsewhere, but on balance it was authentic and delicious.
The atmosphere is reminiscent of large dim sum places that you find in Chinatown in Boston, Chicago, or LA - a bigger floor than expected in a strip mall, bustling with many tables that turnover quickly... a welcome attribute because there was a line when we entered well after the Saturday lunch rush, but we were seated relatively quickly. -
Review from David M.
Newington, CT
3/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've only had the soup here, and it is excellent. However, the menu has a very substantial selection. I'm still trying to work up the courage to venture away from what I know though.
Good service, nice prices, awesome soup! -
Review from Justin G.
San Diego, CA
8/21/2010
I want to thank the staff and bowls of noodles which i have consumed over the years.
Quote me on this. Best pho is CT. thats right
broth - bomb and full of body
sriracha - topped off and full
spring rolls - tasty
noodles - not shy on portions
Taste - SupER!
they have even stayed open for us. My friend and i alllways went to this place.
in response to Prince P. this place is always poppen. i have seen friends from Uconn here all the time. Thats a 40min + travel time.
JG approves and I acutally miss it. dont believe any ratings below 3 stars. Your taste buds will be happy! heehehe weeee -
Review from Sarah B.
Rocky Hill, CT
9/26/2010
I've been coming here since I was a kid so maybe this review is slightly biased but I love the food here! As long as you don't do something silly like order fried chicken (your at a vietnamese restaurant not KFC, order something vietnamese) you'll be golden! My favorite dishes there are the pho (of course) and the bun thit nuong cha gio (yum). The restaurant is a family run and the staff is very friendly. Location and decor are typical and not that great but who's going to notice that when you have a giant bowl of delicious pho in front of you?!?
They also serve bubble tea and are located near a large Asian food store (A Dong) bonus! -
Review from Jen C.
Hartford, CT
3/20/2011
I only tried the pho bo when my fiance and I dined at the restaurant. The broth was so-so and the flank steak was tasty. Also, I felt that the portions were not worth the price we paid. I'm used to XL bowl of pho bo (even in the area!) being priced around $7, it's around $10 at Pho Boston! Not a big difference, it's just something I noticed.
I gave the restaurant 3 stars because we had a RUDE waiter. If we ever go back, I think we'll just order the food to-go... -
Review from Taryn M.
8/18/2010
Great to go for authentic Vietnamese pho!! Very inexpensive, huge portions, and a very attentive staff.
I recommend any of the tofu meals -- I particularly like the curry with vegetables. I do wish this place had brown rice, but alas, you can't win 'em all.
I also highly recommend the thai iced bubble tea. That beverage is reason enough to stop by this place!
It's not in the greatest neighborhood, so be prepared for that... but there is a great Asian grocery store in the same plaza that has all kinds of interesting fare.
