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Pho Pasteur
Categories: Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants Chinese Vietnamese, Chinese [Edit]
682 Washington St(between Beach St & Kneeland St)
Boston, MA 02111
Neighborhood: Chinatown
(617) 482-7467
- Nearest Transit:
-
Kneeland St @ Washington St (504, 555)
Washington St @ Kneeland St (11, 191, 275)
Washington St @ Essex St (11, 191, SL4, SL5)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 10:30 pm
Sun 8 am - 10:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- 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
439 reviews for Pho Pasteur
Review Highlights
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"Also some nice crispy spring rolls, yum." In 62 reviews -
"I had the Beef Noodle Soup and it was FANTASTIC." In 9 reviews -
"The ingredients are fresh and the food comes out fast." In 4 reviews
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439 reviews in English
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Review from Alana L.
Watertown, MA
5/14/2012
I'm a bit picky about pho, admittedly, though I try to be forgiving. It's my go-to comfort food, especially when I'm trying to roll gluten-free. I've had some bad pho in my life, though.
Pho Pasteur is good pho.
I went with a couple of friends since we were looking for pho and it was the closest place. It looked busy and we almost skipped it, but we were tired of walking so we opted to wait. Great idea, as they're efficient here. We were seated in about 5 minutes and mostly knew what we wanted (I always go for the pho dac biet, which has the tendon and tripe in it). Our waitress took our order and we waited maybe 15 minutes, and there were 6 of us.
Their oxtail broth is the second best I've had (the first-place honour goes to Thuan Loi on the Cape) and the soup is loaded with all of the goodies you expect in a big bowl of pho. Their Thai tea is also pretty good, though a bit sweeter than I like. It's cheap, too.
I'd recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried pho, or has and is looking for a solid bowl in Boston. -
Review from Angel C.
5/15/2012
Some things here are good, and some are bad. Their vermicelli bowls and their lemongrass chicken are pretty good. Their stir-fried noodles are pretty bad. Last time I went, I had the seafood chow foon, and my gf had the pad thai. The dishes had no flavor! They need to make their sauce more interesting. My gf added sriracha to her dish, and she was happy. On the bright side, my dish was loaded with seafood, and I actually got 2 meals for a dish that cost me $9. They do serve a lot of food for cheap. You just have to find the good dishes. And my gf was very disappointed that they didn't have salted fish fried rice, which they do have at Le's in Harvard Sq.
They also do make awesome avocado and red bean shakes. -
Review from Mike K.
Vancouver, WA
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Pho Pasteur has the distinguished honor of being the first Vietnamese restaurant I set foot in. This is were the seed of my love of pho was planted and began to flourish. Stick with me while a talk about pho first and then I will get on to my latest bowl, this morning at Pho Pasteur. Please keep in mind I'm a white boy from Idaho and my pho experience is limited but growing.
There is nothing in the world like pho broth, nothing. The rich beefy stock with aromatic sweet spice of star anise, cinnamon and others is ambrosia to me. I know that's a bit romantic and over indulgent but it's just so damn good. Add the basil, some sriracha, and a drop or two of hoisin, oh, and fish sauce if you like, it makes every inch of my body smile. No matter how you like it, with raw sirloin, beef tendon, meatballs (a must), or tripe, they only compliment the foundation and that is the broth.
Now, onto Pho Pasteur, since it is the first place I entered the world of pho and vietnamese food, it has a special place in my heart. It is always busy so I feel comfortable that there is a decent turnover of ingredients which equals fresh. The atmosphere is very stark and the service is institutional, but I don't go to places like this for impeccable service. I want a hot, fresh decent bowl of pho quick and that is what you get at Pho Pasteur.
The broth is ok. It's flavorful, seasoned right ( not too salty) but a bit muddy. I have since had some fantastic pho elsewhere where the broth is rich and full like a good homemade stock should be. Pho Pasteur's lacks this fullness and so it is just ok. The vermicelli are tender, the basil and sprouts are quite fresh, and the tray of condiments are what one would expect in a decent Vietnamese Restaurant.
This is my go to place whenever I have a layover in Boston and judging by the popularity, most people are satisfied. -
Review from Misty P.
Kapolei, HI
5/2/2012
Don't laugh. Coming from Hawaii, the first time I tried pho and any type of Vietnamese food was *drum roll please* in Boston while I was in college. Maybe I was being not so open minded, but a friend dragged me here.
What did I find? A whole new world of tastes and flavors I've come to love since then! A freaking explosion in my mouth!!! I even discovered what sirracha sauce was! (*shakes head*) Ever since, I have loved pho and most any type of Vietnamese cuisine. I remember that piping hot bowl of deliciously seasoned beef broth with the herbs that complimented the soup during a cold, snowy night in Boston. *sigh* Super cheap too for the college kid on a budget!
Ever since that day, I have loved Vietnamese cuisine so much, I have eaten it religiously and often. So much so, that I recently even came back from a trip from Ho Chi Minh City to experience what it had to offer culturally and through it's traditional authentic cuisine.
Thank you Pho Pasteur! -
Review from C D.
Boston, MA
5/19/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Yum! I have yet to try their pho but have been very happy with the tofu with greenbeans and the tofu chow foon. The food is tasty, prices are reasonable and the service it quick whether dining in or taking out.
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Review from Ryan W.
4/15/2012
Pho Pasteur, you have long been the yin to my yang. Your avocado shakes put out the fires within my soul. Your delicious, fresh pho quenches my thirst for warm, brothy comfort and my hunger for basil and sprouts. Your bustling but beneficent staff keep my water glass full, and bring the food out so quickly. Your Thai iced teas and red bean drinks have sustained me many an afternoon, especially in college, when my friends and I would stroll over here from Emerson to blow off steam between epic study sessions.
Some days, I wish to explore the world of other dishes on your menu, or even other Vietnamese restaurants in town. This is proper and good. But still, I find when my soul is weary, I come to rest upon your shores. After all, why mess with wabi-sabi: near-perfection?Listed in: Pan-Asian Adventures, Herbivore Havens
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Review from Tony N.
Boston, MA
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Really good Pho. Terrible service. Super cheap.
The portions are huge so I would advise getting a small soup bowl your first trip in. The sweet and sour chicken plate my wife always orders is decent but again, you come here for the soup bowls. Fresh spring rolls with chicken and shrimp are great. Tons of vegetarian options, (though who really knows what the broth base is). A lot of the seafood options look good but this place is too sketchy to order fish. I go with the beef soup-no tripe. -
Review from J W.
Euless, TX
5/3/2012
Our favorite restaurant in Boston's China Town area for years. Tofu Pad Thai, Seafood Clear Noodle Soup (except for the fish cake, anyway), Curry vegetable soup, spring rolls and fresh limeade are our favorites. It's making me hungry just thinking about it.
Great prices, you can feed a group for cheap.
Definitely recommend. -
Review from Amanda A.
4/6/2012
I visited the "upscale" version of Pho when it was in the Transportation Building over 10 years ago (anyone remember that??), but today, I finally hit up the original in Chinatown for lunch.
First off, this place is not into ambiance in any way. It's about volume. Let's get 'em in, get 'em fed and get 'em out! A lot of people fit in this space. They keep a stocked lazy susan on the tables filled with pho spoons, sriachi sauce, chopsticks, soy sauce, soy sauce dishes, etc.
While my two coworkers and I were there, I'm not sure the same person came to our table twice! I counted at least five. They initially brought us a pot of tea and two cups. We asked two different people for a third tea cup and never got it.
On to the food. We started with two orders of fresh spring rolls: one with chicken and one with pork. These tasted fresh, light and delicious. I ordered the Tofu Vegetable Chowfun dish. It was cooked in a mild sauce that was almost bland, so I kicked it up a bit with some sriachi. One coworker ordered the Chicken Noodle Pho and enjoyed it and the other had Pad Thai and liked that. My entree was HUGE! I felt like I ate a lot and when compared to the dish when it was first placed in front of me, it looked like I'd barely touched it. I wish that they would have cooked the tofu a more on the grill- it was a bit soft/mushy for my taste.
At least ten minutes passed between someone taking my plate away and my coworkers and I getting up to leave. I had to ask someone about my leftovers because they never made it back to the table!
Overall, I think you're going to Pho for the convenience, the prices and the classic pho. I'll probably end up back here for lunch at some point, but I won't be clamoring for it. -
Review from Hannah P.
Westwood, MA
4/19/2012
Better than most pho places, and much better than those in the suburbs, meat is fresh, BEAN SPROUTS are fresh, fried rice is obviously done in a real wok. Had a beef noodle soup, awesome portions, my bf had the seafood-very interesting broth I would definitely recommend this place over other places in chinatown.
only thing- don't expect exceptional service, just get your good and go! waiters/waitresses not the nicest people, but the food makes up for it. -
Review from Parul L.
Back Bay, Boston, MA
3/11/2012
This is one of my favorite spots for Pho in Boston. I usually order the curry noodle soup (vegetarian or with chicken) and find it soo delicious I tried to make it on my own. They also have other great noodle soups, and its always packed, so I think the locals love it. The service is typical casual Asian style, but they are fast and the food is always hot. They take requests - like no onions for me - which makes me think they make my food to order. I love this spot before a movie or on a very cold day...
I don't eat beef, so my reviews on the traditional pho are lacking, but I also really love the hot and sour soup. -
Review from Sticky T.
Boston, MA
4/3/2012
Hands down best cheapest dinner EVER!!
Seriously, where else can 2 people split an app and order 2 mains and the bill come to $17???
What to order:
Beef Teriyaki - amazing! The flavour..I have been known to eat this on the car ride home and not tell my husband I ordered it. Nothing like seeing a chick in a car ripping about beef on the highway!
Chicken Soup - I order the small and it's HUGE. The broth has great flavour, white meat chicken shredded, rice noodles, thai basil, lime wedges...my mouth is watering. So filling and good for you....and did I mention cheap.
This place is always packed and this is the reason. I only gave 4 stars as I haven't tried anything else on the menu..oh wait yes the chilled shrimp spring rolls and they were great with a peanut dipping sauce.
I only wish this place was in North Quincy rather than Chinatown as my drive would be so much shorter. -
Review from Octavio Z.
Boston, MA
4/6/2012
I frequent this place because it's good, and it's pretty cheap. I only ever order their pho, so I can't speak to the rest of their menu, but they have quite a selection. I do enjoy getting a bubble tea as my drink, and usually go with either taro or coconut, but they have tons of other flavors as well. I haven't had a bad experience here thus far, but it can get pretty crowded sometimes, so a wait at the door isn't unusual. Other than that though, I am usually seated right away, and attended to right after. If you order the pho, they will normally bring it out within 5 minutes of ordering it (no joke). All in all, I definitely think this place is worth a try. It's right next to the Chinatown stop on the orange line, so it's also quite convenient.
As a side note, they do have a vegetarian section on the menu with some intriguing sounding dishes. -
Review from Alee G.
Boston, MA
3/27/2012
2 stars b/c the food is actually pretty good. If it wasn't for that, I would have given it 1 star.
Why the low rating? Answer: Poor service. I liken it to a dingleberry ... bad. Just bad.
If you go here, be prepared to wait forever, and be ignored the entire time. Oh, and be squished against the back wall b/c of how crowded it is. -
Review from Edwin C.
3/15/2012
If you're looking for the cure, it's here. Not going to lie, there have been many times a cup of Dunkin Donuts couldn't do the trick after a wild not so sober night. It's something here though, maybe its the hot soup or maybe it's all the noodles soaking up all the alcohol in your body, but all I know is this does the trick.
I usually come here, if i'm in need for some hot beef noodle soup, yup Xue Lua for me, that would be an extra large beef special. The special comes with a variety of different cuts of meat, sometimes not as much as I would like, but it's enough to hit the spot. I know all of the other Pho Pasteur's around town has changed their names to "Le's", but I have some connection here. It's the broth I'll tell ya, maybe they boil it longer or maybe it's more MSG, but whatever it is, I like. Spring rolls are good fried or fresh, rice plates may take longer, but I'd go else where for it.
Good food at a good price. Take the cure challenge. It's easy down a dozen beers followed by another dozen shots, party it out, come here the next day and let me know! -
Review from Amy P.
Boston, MA
3/23/2012
This is one of my favorite spots in Chinatown. Great food, huge portions, fast service, and very inexpensive. The menu is enormous with lots of vegetarian options. The Pho is phenomenal and so are the stir fry dishes.
Like many others have said, the dining experience isn't anything to write home about. Its a fast-paced, busy restaurant with a handful of servers taking orders and running food back and forth at lightening speed. So, if you're looking for a romantic night out, get it to go! If you need to kill a half hour while filling your stomach, stop in! There's always something new to try. -
Review from Hien N.
Quincy, MA
5/17/2012
its been a while since ive had pho in chinatown. i am so disaapointed. the noodles in my pho tai sach were soggy and the service was horrible as i witnessed frustrated customers discuss it around me. the soda xi muoi i ordered was fizzy at least. and the tai iced tea my friend ordered was not too sweet. he got beef over vermicelli and the beef was a bit overcooked but still flavorful. i thought this place was good from what i remember but it's just like going to malden for pho. and parking is such a pain!
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Review from Leanne C.
3/9/2012 4 Check-ins Here
So I hear Pasteur derives from the Land of Falling cups. Waitresses are clumsy and talkative (amongst themselves) but the service is top notch.
The atmosphere of this place is unlike any Asian restaurant I've been to: its Diner meets Vietnamese. Its a refreshing change to the unnecessary niceness of most Asian cuisine locations..
I had the veggie pho (topped with tasty firestorm sauce), as did the boyfriend, which was amaaazing on a chilly day. AND! The grand total for our food was around $16.
As for the disappointments of the place: the only thing that stands out is a lack of beverages. We received our tea upon sitting down, and then they never inquired as to if we wanted anything else.
If you want a mad cheap meal, definitely drop in here next time you're in Chinatown! -
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
4/11/2012
The beef pho broth was oversalted and the meat wasn't cut well. The noodles came in one twisted clump and the whole bowl was almost lukewarm instead of piping hot. Throw in the godawful service (even by Chinatown standards) from surly waiters and you've got a place to never visit. One star for the fresh basil.
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Review from Nicole A.
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you are looking for a "dining experience" it will fall short - but if you just want pho, it will work. Definitely don't come for the service. We were vaguely seated, vaguely had our order taken, had food plopped in front of us, and the bill shortly after.
The person I was with had a seafood pho and finished it very quickly. I had beef pho (rare beef, well-done brisket). The beef was certainly rare when it came out, but was cut so thin it was well done by time I finished (I would consider these two aspects to be good things). The brisket was excellent. The pile of bean sprouts and basil was much bigger than we could possibly use.
I was vegetarian when I used to live in Boston, but now happily eat meat and sometimes make (Americanized) pho at home. It is good, simply food and if you are looking for something fancy you are probably doing it wrong. -
Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
1/27/2012 1 photo
boston pho man... aint got NOTHING compared to california. Pho pasteur is comparable to pho hoa.
Of the three pho joints in chinatown, pho pasteur and pho hoa are the better ones (xinh xinh's broth was overly sweet for me), but that's not saying much.
If you're CRAVING pho, I'd hit up one of these two joints, but if you're looking for a more legit, flavorful broth, you're gonna be disappointed.
If you order from here to go, it's cheap, served quickly, and still warm when ya get back home! OH, and if you need a cheap plastic bowl to consume your relatively bland tasting pho to go, ask em.. they're located right behind the register! -
Review from Evelyn S.
New York, NY
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good pho!
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Review from Robo t.
Rough and Ready, CA
2/23/2012
Pho Pasteur is a Boston staple. I've been eating here for years.
The service is brisk and brash. Interactions with the waitstaff are quick and to the point. Dishes are practically thrown at you. Basically, come to PP for the food and not the service. The food is solid, consistent and delicious. The Pho Ga, Bun Thit Bo Nuong, Com Ga Xao Ot are all decent although they could step up the lemongrass in the latter. -
Review from Ling Z.
Boston, MA
4/23/2012
The pho here is great and the service is quick no matter how crowded the place gets. My husband doesn't like pho, but he's always been able to find something he likes to eat here. I would avoid coming here for lunch with a big group unless you call ahead to reserve seating.
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Review from Celeste C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
3/20/2012 4 Check-ins Here
I finally understand pho! I like the fresh greens and sprouts you can put in the soup as it marinates and gets nice and supple. That sounds weird. But anyway, Pho Pasteur is nice and definitely hits the spot, pho-wise. I haven't tried anything.
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Review from Camille R.
Somerville, MA
2/6/2012
The lack of vegetable broth in pho makes it difficult to eat pho. But this spot claimed to use veggie broth in one of the dishes, so I tried it. First of all, I don't think it was veggie broth at all. And Second, the pho joints I've been to have been waaaaaay better that Pho Pasteur. Of course, these spots are in California and I should stop comparing the two because Boston will never up SF (except in Italian cuisine).
The point is, it's good if you haven't had pho in California. -
Review from Quang H.
Everett, MA
3/3/2012
Aight, here's the run down.
Warning: If you don't want to be bothered by the waiter guy with glasses who thinks he has huge mack skills, the only words you should utter to him are: your order, extra napkins, or extra water.
Nevertheless, 4 stars because food is typical yummy Vietnamese grub. -
Review from Eric K.
Boston, MA
1/1/2012 1 photo
Unbelievable Pho. Whether its a cold day/night, didn't wake up quite right, or just jonsin for some authentic Vietnamese food; this is the place to be. Just about everything that I experienced here was what you should expect from a restaurant; quick seating, efficient ordering, very fast food delivery, and quick credit card processing.
Take note restaurant industry; these guys do it about as good as anyone for their establishment's niche. Maybe it's just me, but I don't really feel like chatting with the waiter or waitress while waiting for Pho. Luckily these guys know they'll be busy most times, so they get your food faster then just about any restaurant i can remember. Big plus in my book
The food itself? Worth 5 stars alone. The light chicken broth was the perfect base with plenty of herbs to really give it a mild but pleasant taste right off the bat. Add a little sriracha sauce and it really wakes you up! The rare beef is absolutely cooked to perfection, and will cook more when dunked into the broth. The right combination of beef and noodles/vegetables made this a heck of meal for myself and my buddy after a night of New Years Eve festivities.
In short; if you love Pho, go! If you have never had Pho, go anyway! I mean you like soup and love meat of any kind and noodles, theirs no reason why you wouldn't love Pho. I can guarantee I'll be back here as much as I possibly can! -
Review from A A. H.
Boston, MA
4/8/2012
Don't bother ordering anything other than the Pho. Fast, cheap and you get a HUGE portion for the price.
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Review from Henry P.
12/19/2011 4 Check-ins Here
It's a cold December afternoon and I'm craving for a nice hot, rich bowl of Pho, where do I go? PHO PASTEUR OF COURSE!
Walking in I notice, its cramped, tight, everyone is elbow to elbow with a huge line running out the door almost, waiters and cooks are shouting back and forth and across the room and people sharing tables sitting cramped as if they were sardines in a can.
I thought to myself, "WOW! I'm in for a treat!"
Waiter said I had to wait a bit to be seated, I didn't mind, The smell of fresh cilantro and mint floating all around me, the smell of the the delicious broth wafting before me beckoning me to its tantalizing soup based nectar, I couldn't wait!
Sat down and ordered their Pho Beef Special, Pho came piping hot with a side of fresh crunchy bean sprouts and aromatic mint and basil leaves.
Tender, succulent, thinly sliced beef mixed with the right combination of noodles and vegetables in a hot beefy broth during a cold December afternoon, I was in heaven! Definitely hit the spot and certainly did warm me up. -
Review from Tricia K.
Rio Rancho, NM
1/19/2012
At 5:30pm on a friday night this place was packed. I am a big fan of pho and have had anywhere from awful to very good. But never has it been decadent until I had the beef combination pho from Pho Pasteur. For me, the difference is in the broth and its fairly easy to tell if it has been made from bouillon cubes. I can't imagine that would be the case at Pho Pasteur as the broth was so light and fresh. The beef and tendons were falling apart tender. As in, you could eat them if you didn't have any teeth!
The only odd thing about this place had to do with the restrooms as the women's was out of order so everyone had to use the mens. Which would have been fine if the men's had a LOCK. But I walked in on a waiter using the urinal and then a women came out of the stall about 30 seconds later. -
Review from Chris S.
Manhattan, NY
1/23/2012
This is often my go-to spot after shopping in Chinatown, primarily due to all the space they have in there. I've never had to wait to sit.
I've tried a pretty broad range of their dishes:
-Pho: It's pretty standard broth, but I consider to be slightly above average. Naturally, their XL portion is a good deal. I like to substitute yellow noodles (really Cantonese thin lo-mien). I think it is less filling compared to the clear pho noodles.
-Fried noodles (yellow noodles): generally I've found them to be pretty bland and unremarkable. You can get better fried noodle in Chinese places.
-Fried spring rolls and fresh spring rolls: average.
-Grilled pork w/ rice: SO MUCH MEAT! they are really generous with the portion here and the meat is grilled to perfection.
Generally I alternate between the pho and the grilled pork. It works out well and the bill generally comes to $9 with tip.
It's honestly a pretty average place to get pho with the added attractiveness that it's conveniently located in Chinatown and it has so many tables.
For a tastier (and pricier, by a little bit) meal, head over to Xinh Xinh on the same block, just a few doors away :) -
Review from Esther Z.
Somerville, MA
3/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
The place is cleaner than most other restaurants around and the service is also above average. The food can be considered decent, but not the best Vietnamese around. Go there if you have a crowd though as they have more space. If you expect the best Vietnamese food in Boston, this isn't your spot.
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Review from Damien S.
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Of all the pho I've guzzled, this is certainly some of it.
Opted for the the Spicy Beef and Lemongrass with vermicelli. The cow stewed sparse but tender; the noodles played their pimp hand strong and the mildly piquant broth bathed it all. Being a fairly (and begrudgingly) translucent puddle in comparison to Xinh Xinh, I did see the pho's delicates - sorry Mrs. P!
For $7.25, the large is a decent serving of soup, but for adequate bovine, you may want to opt for a $3 side. The abundant mountain of accompanying basil, bean sprouts and limes is incredibly fresh, punching up the fragrance, texture and (in the case of my only slight lemongrass back) citrus tang to the bowl.
It's a sold offering, served lightning quick and will cure what ails ya. I'd swing by for seconds, assuming Xinh Xinh's closed for the night.Listed in: Big Trouble in Little…, I'm Souper, Thanks Pho Asking
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Review from Helen M.
Boston, MA
1/23/2012
Love this place for their food, not their horrible service! But I'm Asian so I'm used to poor service in Chinatown...
Let me start off with their service. Horrible most of the time. They'll seat you, take your order and then serve food sporadically. One person will get their entree, wait another five minutes, then another entree will come out. One time my entire table got their food while I am sitting there starving. It turns out they forgot my order so it took over 30 minutes from ordering my food to eating and this is super long for an Asian restaurant!
Their food is what keeps me coming! Pho is great (although I must admit that Malden's Pho Hoa has them beat!) and their bun bo hue is the best - totally comforting and so spicy that it's a kick in the face!
So come here and eat hot soup and you'll leave forgetting about their poor service! -
Review from Meredith K.
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2011
YES, to asian employees, because in a packed place, no one does it better. It didn't matter that my soup came a bit after my companion's. I got it within 10 minutes of being there.
I don't eat Pho so much anymore, as I prefer other Vietnamese noodle soups. Vegetarian Hot n Sour Soup with Pineapple and tomatoes. Perfect for my slight hangover.
WATERCRESS SOUP IS DELICIOUS AND NOURISHING!!
We were in and out! -
Review from Hieu P.
Malden, MA
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
The broth was not so boiling, therefore my beef was still raw when brought out.
I like the big portion. It makes you feel you're paying a good price for it. -
Review from Wendy L.
Boston, MA
12/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Pho pasteur has one of the best pho in Boston. I think the best dish on their menu is their pho noodle bowls - get the large it's worth it for an extra 50 cents.
Their service is always extremely fast but not always efficient. The waiters get it wrong every time I try to customize my order, even simply asking for no onions in my soup. The restaurant is not very clean but you can't really expect anything more for a $10 meal plus it's in Chinatown.
4 stars for food and 2 stars for service/atmosphere...overall 3 stars. -
Review from David P.
Cambridge, MA
11/8/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Love coming here to get my weekly fixin' of Pho. The ingredients are fresh and the food comes out fast. The place isn't the fanciest but what Vietnamese place is? They have a large table in the back if you have a big group - just call ahead and they can hold it for you.
For those who have had pho before. The best way to eat it is to add some of the hoisin sauce into the broth itself. It's the brown sauce they leave on the table. Then add some sriracha sauce if you like spicy food. Then take a soup spoon and make a mixture of hoisin and sriracha in the spoon. This way your soup is super flavorful and then you can dip the meat into the sauce mixture in your spoon.
If you're looking for a cold dish for summer days, try then bun thinh nuong. It's a cold noodle dish with fresh veggies and grilled meat. Get it with the grilled pork and add in the eggrolls. (They cut up an eggroll and add it into the noodles). The dish comes with fish sauce that brings everything together. Also add some sriracha if you like spicy food.
For an appetizer, try the grilled pork summer rolls. Get it with the peanut sauce to dip it in. Yum!
Note: Pho Pasteur (Chinatown) and Le's (Harvard Square) are sister restaurants. The atmosphere is slightly better at Le's but the food is great at both. -
Review from Oz L.
Cambridge, MA
3/11/2012
If you like Pho and inexpensive delicious Vietnamese food then this is a must. Downtown near chinatown!
