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Pho Duy

4.5 star rating
based on 79 reviews

Categories: Vietnamese, Sushi Bars

Neighborhood: Southwest
945 S Federal Boulevard
Denver, CO 80219
(303) 937-1609
Price Range:
$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Private Lot
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Lunch, Dinner
Alcohol:
None

79 reviews for Pho Duy

Review Highlights   

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"slightly weak broth--so i can't give it a perfect 5 star rating." (in 42 reviews)
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"…soup (along with some flank and rare steak, great noodles, and myriad…" (in 7 reviews)
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"Didn't get to try the boba but next time definitely will." (in 11 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Scott H.

 

6

13

Scott H.

Denver, CO

5 star rating
8/7/2009

As there so many Pho joints in town, I go here: Pho Duy.
I have been to many cities, namely San Francisco and Duy has the freshest 'greens' and plenty-o-meat goodness of all the places I have dined at.
$5!
5!
Five dollars!
Yum.
Go to it.
Yum.

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Photo of Robin M.

Elite '09

83

115

Robin M.

Denver, CO

3 star rating
Updated - 10/25/2009

Well, dang, I am disappointed in my old favorite. Always before, the broth was amazingly good. The other morning when I went in for take-out pho, the broth was lackluster to say the least. I was forewarned by seeing a couple add huge amounts of hoisin and sriracha to their pho. I mean really huge amounts. Good broth shouldn't need that much. It should be better than the instant pho broth mix I have at home, and sadly it was not.

The meat and all the veggies were fresh, plentiful, and delightful. The noodles were perfect. But without a great broth, sigh, the love is gone. Will I give them another chance? Maybe. I don't know.

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2 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    8/9/2008

    I often go in after work and order a large to go. I should point out that "after work" for me means… Read more »

Photo of Caroline C.

 

35

350

Caroline C.

Denver, CO

3 star rating
Updated - 7/12/2009 8 photos

Finally got back to Pho Duy a couple of weeks ago, and I have to admit, I was rather disappointed. I ordered a small brisket and steak, and while the meat was just as delicious as I remembered, the broth didn't wow me at all. Hoping it was just an off day, I returned again last night, ordered the same dish, and, again, the pho really didn't excite me in any way. It's not that the broth is bad, of course, it's just rather bland and lacking that spicy, nose-tingling, simmering-away-all-day fragrance you get at, say, Pho 95. Last night I found myself adding way more lime juice, hoisin and sriracha than I have ever done before, and even then the flavor was just pretty blah.

Service was fast and friendly but like last time and the time before that, they forgot our bobas, eventually bringing them about 5 minutes before we'd finished our meals (we ordered a taro and an almond - both really delicious!). This isn't a huge problem but obviously a consistent one.

Maybe other places have improved, maybe Pho Duy was never quite as good as I thought it was, maybe my tastes have changed, but when compared to other pho joints in the area, PD gets 3 stars imo.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    11/8/2008

    Came home early from work still feeling like crap, and flaked out on the couch. Woke up three hours… Read more »

Photo of Jason S.

Elite '09

51

68

Jason S.

Englewood, CO

3 star rating
Updated - 6/2/2009

This update is confirm my switch over to Pho 95 as my new Pho spot!  I originally gave this place 4  and then 5 stars because the Pho is delicious!  No question about that, however I was ignorant to the land of the Pho.  After venturing to Pho 95, I don't think I'll go back to Pho Duy any time soon.  

Like I said, the Pho is delicious here..... However compared overall experience and menu to Pho 95 it doesn't stand up!  The atmosphere at Pho 95 is way more inviting and it's not so claustrophobic, the staff overall here is semi-friendly, but they don't go that extra mile, like boxing up your Pho when finished, which is a tricky task.  One other strike against Pho Duy is their limited menu selection.  I'm not talking about the Pho selection, they have that, but that's all they have; no appetizers, or any other dishes.  Sometimes you need some more options, you know?

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I'm glad that going here was my first Pho experience, and I feel having graduated from a Pho-novice I'm moving onward and upwards to bigger and better things!

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2 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    4/9/2009

    I have yet to attempt to venture to another Pho place.... if it ain't broke then don't fix it.

    I've… Read more »

Photo of Trang P.

 

1

3

Trang P.

Morrison, CO

5 star rating
11/8/2009

Yes, indeed, as good as it gets! I can't wait to introduce Duy to my mom.  I'm sure that Pho Duy could beat any Pho in the Bay area and OC Ca.  We come to Duy's (Peoria or Federal) almost weekly, in the past 5 years: when I'm too lazy to fix dinner, or when I have a bad day at work.  
  Our usual order is small Tai-Nam-Ve Don (Rare steak-Flank-Crunchy flank); this is a rich and flavorful combination if you prefer Ribeye steak over Fillet Mignon.  
  I've learned to mix the dipping sauce for the meat from my mom - into the little dish:  Black + Red + little sugar + 2 wedges of lime .. then mix them up.
  If you haven't tried cooked (blanched) bean sprout, please try.  This is the Northern Vietnamese's style.  After all, Pho was the Yankee's dish.  The raw bean sprout has too strong flavor which could compete with the delicate anise aroma.  Plus, my mom said that the blanched warm bean sprout could help keeping the Pho warm til the last sip.
  Pho Duy is very consistent although it does have some bad broth days.  According to my theory, we avoid to go to have Pho too early or too late where the broth pot is either too young or almost empty - in Saigon, they rather close the shop, but here, the cook might add some caned broth.
  There are so many good Pho shops around Federal.  Where to go depends on how's the traffic, or if you want to turn left or right.  My wish list for Santa this year is.. Please open Pho Duy III near to South West plaza or Morrison area.

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Photo of Andrew W.

 

31

158

Andrew W.

Denver, CO

3 star rating
9/23/2009

Good, but I've had better Pho. Pho Doy is still in my top 3 places of all of Denver. I gave it a shot for my one visit, I have not gone back.

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Photo of Lacey M.

Elite '09

148

140

Lacey M.

Lakewood, CO

5 star rating
3/13/2009

SO PHO-KING DELICIOUS!  This is my favorite Pho place...so far...out of the 3 restaurants I have tried.  Once I had it here, I knew it would be a weekly (and maybe even daily) craving of mine.  It's day #5 since my glorious visit, and I have yearned for it every day... and dreamed of it every night.  

My husband and I made the mistake of going on a early Sunday afternoon... the guy running the joint even told us so.  Apparently we should go either earlier, or later...but not around 2pm.  Good to know.  So the place was a mad house...everyone packed in like sardines.  And the service was not the best, but to be expected with how crazy it was.  But, my god, it was well worth the wait.

I had a medium Pho with rare steak and well done brisket.  The medium was huge, and came with tons of meat.  I loved the steak, but was not a big fan of the brisket...a little too fatty for me, but my fault for ordering it, really.  The broth was absolutely divine...I could have drank the whole bowl at once!  Although I'm really glad I didn't, because the combination of flavors was spot on.  The noodles were perfectly cooked, but a little hard to eat because they were so long!  Our plate of goodies was full of fresh and delicious ingredients to doctor up our Pho...lots of jalapenos, sprouts, and Sriracha for me, please!

I think everybody should try Pho Duy, whether you've had Pho before or not.  Out of the Pho places I've been to, this one seems to have the most meat, the best broth, the freshest ingredients, and overall biggest bang for your buck.  What more do you need with your Pho?

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Photo of Julie A.

Elite '09

119

74

Julie A.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
2/17/2009

I have to admit, after my last Pho experience where there was nothing vegetarian and I ate a $6 bowl of plain rice noodles with no broth, I have not been too eager to try Pho again.  However my friend assured me that this place really did have a vegetarian broth.  

The small bowl of noodles I ordered, #21 Vegetarian Pho, came out a little bit later than everyone else's but was overflowing with noodles and all kinds of veggies.  I managed to add some Sriracha, jalapeños, bean sprouts, basil and lemongrass from the heaping plate of extras they bring out and the size of my meal looked quite intimidating.  The broth was tasty and the noodles and veggies were just right.  I slurped down half of it before I was completely full.  A great deal at $5.  

It's nice to know this place is vegetarian/vegan friendly so I don't have to bail out on any more Pho outings!  Oh and I tried some of the Taro and Green Tea boba and they were tasty as well.

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Photo of Christina O.

Elite '09

37

135

Christina O.

Denver, CO

3 star rating
3/3/2009

Why people gotta be dissing on Pho 79? Pho 79 has been my main Pho destination for years and feel free to check out my review. I felt like I was cheating on Pho 79 with Pho Duy but Pho 79's recent price jack-ups and stingy noodle short-comings got to me.

So I tried Pho Duy. The Pho was much more salty than what I am used to but it was flavorful and still pleasant. Also, the Pho Ga (chicken) was more tender and moist than Pho 79's variety. At a great deal, the bowls were no more than 6 dollars a piece.

However, the interior of the restaurant was pretty dirty. It looked like they hadn't vacuumed for weeks and our table was sticky. And I don't even want to know what was going on behind the scenes. The only reason I even stayed after seeing the mess was the fact that in my experience hitting up Pho restaurants is an occasion for slumming it.

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Photo of Annette R.

Elite '09

27

74

Annette R.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
Updated - 3/10/2009

After a sadly fruitless attempt at visiting 99 last night, we headed back to Duy to get our fix as it is our second choice for Pho in Denver.

I got the small Pho Tai with the steak on the side and as usual it was delicious.  There was enough meat on the plate that I had to give some to my boyfriend as it would literally not all fit in my bowl.  Nice job, duy!

For those of you that want options other than Pho, I did hear them offering other menu choices to another table, so try asking.  I heard tell of a few types of fried rice and a shrimp plate.  It definitely would not hurt to ask, right?

Until 99 reopen, Duy will be our go-to.  And I am ok with that for now.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    11/24/2008

    I was all set to write a terrible review of this place when I realized that I had my wires crossed… Read more »

Photo of Kathleen A.

Elite '09

104

297

Kathleen A.

Denver, CO

5 star rating
3/6/2009

If you're craving Pho, don't waste any time and come straight to this place!  I am convinced now there is NO bad food on Federal, as shady as the street may seem! I haven't had much Pho to compare this place to but I DO know it is the best I have ever had. And this place was filled with Asians stuffing their mouths so that is also a good sign.  They serve heaping portions for $5-$6.  They only serve Pho, and I don't recall seeing anything else like appetizers on the menu. I had the well-done brisket and rare steak.  The broth was very flavorful and I piled my bowl up with the various veggies that were brought out.  Yum!

The Boba tea is also the best I've had yet in Denver. They aren't too sickly sweet, refreshing, and the tapioca balls are of the right consistency.  Give it a try, you won't be sorry.

Thank you again Yelp for coming through in a pinch to satisfy my crazy Pho craving!

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Photo of Heidi S.

Elite '09

143

146

Heidi S.

Denver, CO

3 star rating
1/5/2009

I know a lot of people love this place but...the broth was only OK, there was not a good balance of broth, meat (steak and tendon) and noodles.  I couldn't get a refill of my water to save my jalapeno/Sriracha stuffed face. I was ignored after my pho arrived. The veggie/herb plate was full and fresh. No chili paste on the table but all the other usual suspects. The fresh onions were in rings and very strong - almost to the point of overpowering.

Cheap napkins again.  

It is to the south of the A&W-kinda hard to find and the parking lot will swallow small cars.

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Photo of Melissa R.

Elite '09

19

50

Melissa R.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
2/3/2009

I have eaten here many times and every time I go, I am not disappointed.
The Pho is authentic and delicious and the portions are HUGE.

I don't know why anyone would spend $5 for a "Value-Meal" at McDonald's or the like when you can take that same $5 and get a nutritious and filling meal from a great restaurant like Pho Duy.
It always baffles me.....

The service is what you would expect from a this kind of place-not overly friendly, but polite and efficient. What more do you need?

Please take note:

1) You must go get your bill from the cashier and pay there-they do not bring it to your  table

2) Same thing goes for to-go containers--you gotta go ask for them

3) The do not serve Liquor

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Photo of Jake R.

 

17

16

Jake R.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
1/11/2009

I lost my pho-virginity to Pho Duy in the winter of '02.  

This place has outlasted every other pho relationship I've had, I've tried other Pho, and this one won't be the one that gets away.

I love you Pho Duy, there I said it.  

Great iced coffee, excellent boba; my only complaint is the straws are too small and boba gets stuck in them and I think i'm going to choke and die on one.  

Love hurts sometimes.

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Photo of Kyla A.

Elite '09

105

70

Kyla A.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
4/3/2009

Pho duy has been my long time standby (until I experienced pho 95) and I can understand why it's popular with many people.

If you haven't tried a lot of pho, pho duy is pretty tasty and satisfying.  This place has been around quite awhile and I believe that's why it's reputation is a bit more widespread than other pho places.

The broth is pretty good, but it is very salty.  You can't help wondering to yourself just how much msg you're ingesting with each spoonful.  If you haven't tried a lot of pho however, you might not notice that until you try a broth that's more delicate in flavor.  

Basically, it's no longer my favorite pho place, but it's a good second or third in my book.

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Photo of Justin L.

Elite '09

70

137

Justin L.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
3/4/2009 1 photo

Who says you can't get decent asian food in Denver....and in particular, decent Pho?  Besides the fact that I hear most people pronounce it like 'FOH' here, the meal I had was actually pretty good and pretty comparable to pho in Cali.  

Me and my friends were craving pho after boarding one day so I 'yelped' denver pho places and found this place!  The pho was average priced, the portions were generous, and it tasted authentic...and they gave a lot of meat!  I was pleasantly surprised.  

Note: this place ONLY serves pho...so you won't find your eggrolls and spring rolls here, sorry.

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Photo of Jason A.

 

7

27

Jason A.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
1/20/2009

Since my ex-favorite, Pho 79, has let me down service and servings wise, i've decided to banish them from my mental Pho Philes and try another place. Pho Duy was 1st on the list. it was packt (good sign) and the service was very friendly (good sign), the portions were nice (good sign). it's gonna take a while to get used to the sweetness of their broth, but i'm willing to go back after i try Pho 95 across the street.

A couple of down sides were that this was the longest i've ever waited for a bowl of goodness, but it was understood due to the crowd. And the cashier is in an uncomfortable spot, which has you standing there while nearby tables on each side have to eat their bowls of goodness while yer crotch region is at their head level. But i've noticed that in a lot of Pho joints. There must be a checklist consisting of 3 things you need in order to open a Pho restaurant:

1. A number that hasn't been taken (which reminds me - don't eat at Pho 69, it taste like ass).

2. Put tables as close to the register as possible, so people have to eat while someone's front or back lap is staring at you.

3. ignore and/or forget to refill water glasses.

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Photo of Liz S.

Elite '09

27

72

Liz S.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
1/5/2009

Pho Pros:  
generous portions
generous with the meat
generous with the herbs and veggies
cheap prices
straightforward menu
fast service
fresh hot pho
boba tea heaven

Pho Cons:
slightly weak broth--so i can't give it a perfect 5 star rating

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Photo of marilyn h.

 

13

96

marilyn h.

Oxnard, CA

5 star rating
3/21/2009

So, two things, 1.) i live in california (which is kinda far from here)  2.) i'm vietnamese so i've had a quite an experience with pho, especially in cali, but this is the best pho restaurant I have ever been to!

They fill that bowl up to the top, and don't hold on back on meat or noodles. They give you a huge pile of basils and lots of lime (mmm lime). The msg is not overbearing.

Next time I go to Denver, I know where I'm going.
GO BRONCOS!

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Photo of Carina C.

Elite '09

22

31

Carina C.

Denver, CO

5 star rating
9/1/2008

I go here everytime for Pho.  I get my yummy Meatball Pho.   I also order Salty Lemonade which I LOVE!  But everyone I've made try it, they tell me how disgusting it is.  I don't get how they can dislike one of the most wonderful beverages in this world!  They also have a variety of Boba on the back of the menu...and sadly, I've never tried it.  Tonight I noticed there was about 16 flavors...one being Avocado!  If any of you yelpers try it, let me know how it tastes!

***I also saw Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails dining there (tonight actually!).  If this place was recommended to Trent Reznor, it must be pretty damn good!***

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Photo of Martha L.

 

1

29

Martha L.

Fort Collins, CO

3 star rating
7/18/2009

After reading the reviews, I was a bit disappointed when I went to Pho Duy for a quick lunch.  No complaint about the service or speed.  It was unfortunate that the only thing on the menu was pho.  I was looking forward to some Vietnamese spring rolls.  The pho was just ok.  It wasn't as good as some people said it was.  Maybe I was unlucky?

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Photo of Alicea W.

Elite '09

30

269

Alicea W.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/17/2008

10 years ago, when I first told a Vietnamese friend I've never had pho, he was like, "What???"  I suppose it's like anyone telling my Chinese self that they've never had rice.  I like beef, noodles, limes, mint, and soups, so why not put them all together?  I liked it the first time I tried it, and have been in search of the best pho in Denver ever since.  I finally found it at Pho Duy.  The broth is so tasty, but doesn't leave my mouth dry like some Asian soups seasoned with MSG.  I usually get the #11 (with rare steak and well-done flank), because I'm too chicken to try out some of the more authentic ingredients like tendon, tripe, and intestines.  For drinks, I like the Vietnamese coffee and the 3-colored drink (green jelly, yellow bean paste, and red sweet beans in a coconut milk concoction).

This place should be called Pho King, 'cuz it truly is.  I brought up the name change once, but I don't think the owners were as enthusiastic about that name...

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Photo of Sara H.

Elite '09

24

115

Sara H.

London W4

UK

5 star rating
8/9/2008

HOLY COW, thank you Yelpers!!  You couldn't have been more right.  This really is the BEST Pho in Denver.  I thought I had my favorite Pho place, but it has been out done by Duy.  Not only is the Pho fantastic but the staff is really friendly!   Our waiter even stopped by after we were done to see how we enjoyed our meal.  I think the empty bowls showed him how much we liked it.  This place hands down gives you the most meat, the most noodles, the best broth and over all the most bang for your buck.  

We will be back again, and again and again.  YUM!

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Photo of matt p.

 

3

81

matt p.

Boulder, CO

4 star rating
2/20/2009

Wow that was good! Just got home from here and had to write about it.

$13 for two people?! Vegetarian and beef were equally good. Had the medium and could not stop eating it now I feel like I am going to explode but it was so good.

Always had this  bad misconception about pho after eating some terrible pho in Tucson. I leave Denver Friday and will definitely be eating here again before I move!

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Photo of Andee H.

 

139

200

Andee H.

Brighton, CO

4 star rating
8/23/2008

My first authentic pho experience. Good stuff.

The menu scared me a bit. Tendon and other parts I am not ready for. Yikes.

I got the beef and it was tasty and there was a lot of meat! I am used to getting tofu pho. So this was also my first meat pho experience.

The service was way quick and the price was unbelievable. The bowl was FREAKING HUGE and I got the small at $5. I can't believe I have been wasting my time eating Top Ramen to save money.

The neighborhood was entertaining and it was a bit tricky finding the place considering there was only 15 other pho places in the surrounding blocks. Whoa. What have I been missing all my life?

Pho. Thats what.

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Photo of rhondita j.

Elite '09

104

90

rhondita j.

Denver, CO

3 star rating
10/17/2008

After attending the beer fest, I had a major craving for some pho.  

With that lead-in, you know everything should  have tasted amazing.

I thought it was decent.  Not bad - nor outstanding.  The broth was decent and the ingredients were edible.  

I wasn't in love with it like I was the 2,000,000,000,000 beers I had tried that day.  (that's brazillions, dude)

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Photo of lillian w.

 

0

6

lillian w.

Denver, CO

5 star rating
11/11/2008

The second the weather drops I instantly start craving soup, and broth and noodles soaking in a soupy broth. Well, actually, I crave these things year round. But the NEED for them becomes intensified with the cold scarf inducing weather. Last night my roomie and I who are both Pho virgins made our pilgrimage to Pho Duy in the pitch back light of 5pm. Even at a time like that the place was a fun mix of singles and families all head down in the soothing hot broth before them. I loved the rustic mix of add ins and sauces they give you.
After our first few noodle twirlings splattered our shirts and each other we spyed on the others around us to impersonate technique. Dashes of fish sauce, cock sauce, and tears of basil. Be sure to leave a big tip because you'll be coming back here often (once a week).

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Photo of christine h.

 

1

25

christine h.

Golden, CO

5 star rating
11/29/2008

I first found this place almost 12 years ago when a friend took me and taught me how to add the ingredients and sauces. I have been hooked ever since.

I took my sister-in-law who grew up in Taiwan and knows a good thing when she sees it.  She was so excited to see that I was taking her to a real ethnic pho restaurant and not just an Americanized asian want-a-b.   She was very happy with the flavor and now trusts me to take her to out to eat.

Then a couple of years ago for thanksgiving we decided to get Pho from this restauant.  All the ingredients were in separate "to go" containers so that when we were ready to eat, each individual could pick the items they wanted.  It was one of the most memorable thanksgiving meals ever.  Although I don't think I got my italian american brother-in-law hooked but he said he really liked it as well.

I have rarely gone to any other Pho place. Would rather stick to what I know is great.

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Photo of Graham S.

Elite '09

4

39

Graham S.

Boulder, CO

4 star rating
1/20/2009

Busy busy restaraunt, so much so that last time I tried to eat here I turned around at the sign of 20+ min wait and went to Pho Van (awesome).

Anyways, I ate there Sunday morning about 10:45 with no wait and a half empty dining room.  Pho was good, no real complaints, but I think it could be better here and elsewhere.

Lychee Boba though, one of the best drinks I've ever had!!!!
Get it next time

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Photo of Neal T.

 

13

13

Neal T.

Denver, CO

5 star rating
5/7/2008

Roll in. Get pointed to the one empty table. Have your order taken real fast. They drop your plate of fixins (how do you say fixins in Vietnamese?). Pho arrives. Hit that shriracha, decide it's not enough and add way too much (as if there was such a thing). Fall in love with the ridiculously large bowl of broth and meat and everything. Suspect that your friend got more noodles than you. Sweat. Pay six bucks. Leave full.

Normally, I'd beef over no booze, but it keep the wallet full and allows for a no-issue drive back to Cap Hill.

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Photo of kym b.

Elite '09

135

293

kym b.

Wheat Ridge, CO

4 star rating
5/10/2008

Remember CupcakeGate 2008? Remember the Tacopacolypse? Well my friends, I have something new for you. Are you ready?

Friday Night Phoights.

For the uneducated masses who think Pho is pronounced like it's spelled and should rhyme with "dough," it's not and it doesn't. It's like the first two letters of that famous Four Letter F-Word... so actually, "Friday Night Phoights" is some pretty damn awesome wordplay if I do say so myself. And I do.

There seem to be two major contenders in these Phoights, Pho 79 and Pho Duy. I'm ready to throw a third (and in my opinion, the best) into the ring. Stay tuned for that one though... because this one's for Pho Duy.

It's good. It's not the best, but it's good. A couple things could've been better. I always get my Pho To-Go (looks like it rhymes but it doesn't! ha!) because I live a five minute drive from Federal's Silk Row. If the broth isn't hot enough to cook the raw steak by the time I get it home, we've got issues. I don't like having to nuke my Pho. Pho Duy's was barely tepid (granted, I DID make one stop... but still... should'a been hotter).

Also, no cilantro. I have a freakish devotion to that herb, and I miss it when it's not there. Please, enough with those weirdo sawgrass leaves or whatever the heck they are. They taste like nothing. Bring on the cilantro! Or at least more basil...

My husband griped about the paltry amount of onions, but I hate raw onions (they taste like B.O. smells), so that was all good with me.

One more thing... nothing on the menu but Pho and Bobas. Yeah yeah yeah... I know it's a Pho joint. But sometimes you just need spring rolls too.

Other than that, it was good! The broth was tasty and the meat was high quality. Also, no ants roaming around in the bean sprouts like the one we found in our take-out from Pho 79 that one time. I don't like stealth proteins.

Not the best, but not the worst. I've yet to come across a Pho I don't like, and Pho Duy does it solid. Bonus: you can now get Vegetarian Pho and Shrimp Pho there! I'm going to have to try it next time... and yes, there WILL be a next time.

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Elite '09

70

179

Lauren D.

Denver, CO

3 star rating
1/24/2009

This place is definitely a bang-for-your-buck kind of place because you get such a load of food for such a reasonable price. We even took leftovers. The service we got was so-so, and it wasn't really even busy. I had to get up and run around and flag down a server for to go containers. But since this is my first pho experience I don't have any other phos to compare it to? I actually had to text message my yelpfriend because I wasn't even sure how to eat the pho after they bring out a heaping platter of sprouts and fresh spice leaves. I'm sure we'll be back again when we are feeling cold and el cheapo and I'm gonna get what my boyfriend had, the rare beef pho cause the meatball one didn't cut it for me.

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3

6

Joe K.

Denver, CO

5 star rating
6/8/2008

Best.  Pho.  Ever.

A medium here is a large, meat that covers my bowl to the point where I can't even see the noodles, and everything else you could ask for when eating Pho.  

I have seen the light and I thank God that I have.

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Photo of Justin W.

Elite '09

18

66

Justin W.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
6/2/2008

Best Pho in Denver, by Pho-arrr!

Add my vote to the long list of raves for this pho-nomenal establishment.  I love it when a restaurant knows who it is, knows what its customers want, and just does it well.

Pho Duy is successful because it does just that, and nails it consistently.  For me, the secret to good pho is in the broth.  If your base isn't good, it doesn't matter how much crack you mix into your soup, it's not going to satisfy.  The broth here is the best I've ever tasted.

Other bonuses: Extra meat for $1.00 (my wife can't resist), and a good variety of bobas and drinks (I like the three-colored drink, although I'm still trying to figure out which of the six colored items in it are officially part of the supposed three).

For the ultimate comfort food, a healthy and filling meal for under $6, and the best pho you've ever had, you have to come here.  Pho-tastic!

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2

7

Benjamin Y.

Lakewood, CO

5 star rating
10/9/2008

Though you have to brave some serious Federal potholes and dubious signage to find this place, it is so very worth it.  I've been searching out a great Pho dive for awhile now, and I found it (through Yelp) in this place.  

In my mind, good Pho is judged on a few specific criteria:

- is the broth clean but richly flavored?
- Are the toppings ample and fresh?  
- is it cheap, quick and consistent?

Now, I can't speak for consistency, since I've only been once (so far), but on the other categories Pho Duy hits the ball out of the park.  You won't pay more than $6.50 for a huge bowl of noodles and meat.  Plus, service was quick and pleasant.

go to this place.

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4

12

Bryan J.

Rowland Heights, CA

4 star rating
6/25/2008

After reading the great reviews of this place, I had to try it. As a native of Los Angeles, you grow up spoiled with all the great food. Did it meet expectations?

Heck yea. This place did not disappoint. The place was busy with the 6pm dinner crowd - families with their kids and lone eaters packed the place. I made eye contact with the waiter and I was seated, with a glass of water and menu within a minute.

After glancing at the Pho only menu, I decided on trying the simplest bowl possible - Pho Tai - rare steak. I also added the extra meat for $1.00. The mint leaves, jalapenos, and bean sprouts arrived shortly with my soy bean milk and I was setup to eat.  

Fair warning: BIG portions. When the steaming bowl of noodles, beef, and broth hit the table, I was ready to go. The broth was great, not oily and not watered down - it really hit the spot. You could tell that the broth took hours upon hours to make. I couldn't finish all the food, so I ended up just looking through the bowl and eating the beef... and more beef.... and more beef... it was impressive how much there was.

Definitely a recommended place.

Best Highlight: No frills and solid pho.
Low point: None.

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Elite '09

9

108

Dave H.

London W4

UK

5 star rating
8/9/2008

We had reservations going in as some friends had said it was OK but not the best in the area let alone Denver.  Well, they are WRONG!!!  this is the best that i have had in Colorado ( I have tried a few:))  I had the number 14 (Raw Steak and Brisket) and it was divine.  So much meat you could barely see the noodles and as you stirred them up the brisket started to breakdown and made the broth a truly delicious meaty experience.  
The parking lot is pretty small, but there is plenty of side street parking.
The staff were great, the food was fantastic an overall wonderful dining experience.
I now have a new Pho favorite, I will be going back, but I will also keep exploring.

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15

9

Chris F.

Atlanta, GA

5 star rating
8/17/2008

Awesome!  I'm a total n00b when it comes to Vietnamese food, but I decided to go here because my fellow Yelpers couldn't say enough good about it.  I'm glad you did, because it was excellent.

As long as you don't expect ambiance, appetizers, or a very elaborate dining experience, you will not be disappointed.  I had the marinated steak / cubed flank Pho - it's basically a ton of meat in a big bowl with a delicious broth, and some thin white noodles at the bottom of the bowl.  You have to really dive for them, it's nice that they don't skimp on the meat.

They also bring you a plate of 'extras' to put in your bowl - bean sprouts, leaves (basil I think?), lime wedges and jalapeno slices.  We also had the Boba - this is a very sweet frozen drink that comes in 20ish different flavors (we had the Mango - yummy!).  It has a large straw in it, which is necessary to suck up the strange little black balls of tapioca I think.  They are a little chewy, which is admittedly strange the first time, but it's so yummy you just keep going.  Like an ethnic slushee of some kind.

I also had an espresso with condensed milk over ice - they bring the psuedo-french press to the table and let it drip into a normal coffee cup.  They bring you a glass of ice to pour it over.  I thought they had forgotten the condensed milk, but it was just in the bottom of the glass.  YUM!  If you like espresso, you will love the sweet treat.

Very fast, and cheap to boot!  Go there to try something new if you've never had Vietnamese :)

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3

13

Amanda T.

Denver, CO

5 star rating
3/27/2009

Wow I am in love, I had the medium pho with rare beef and meatballs. Holy crap it was like perfection of noodles and broth and yummy goodness in my mouth. The broth was such a perfect work of art nice and salty and spicy and sour some fat floating on top...ohhh yeah. The meat was amazing and those little meatballs are fatty and beefy and too damn good. I walked away with ten less bucks in my pocket a very full tummy leftovers and a bobba tea. I will be back maybe daily...

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Photo of Yvonne C.

Elite '09

101

210

Yvonne C.

Denver, CO

4 star rating
5/13/2008

Pretty good!  It's the best Pho I've had in Denver so far (keep in mind I've only tried 1 other place).  I'm a big fan of actually seeing other Asian people, you have to know the food is good.  And nothing says authentic than the old Asian lady burping out loud next to you.  But I have two concerns...#1 what's with the lack of elbow room on the tables against the walls?  I know I'm not petite, but seriously???  Thankfully I was only there with one person so there was plenty of room, but if we had added two more guests to our dinner - my elbow would have been in the other persons soup.  Maybe it's because I'm an elbowy eater, but come on.  There's plenty of extra walkway space to move the tables out just a little, don't you think?  Concern #2-what's with the music?
Other than that I really liked the place.  The menu is simple and the food is good.

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