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Pho Sao Bien
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
1958 Garnet Ave(between Lamont St & Morrell St)
Pacific Beach, CA 92109
Neighborhood: Pacific Beach
(858) 272-9612
- 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:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
217 reviews for Pho Sao Bien
Review Highlights
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217 reviews in English
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Review from Ben L.
San Diego, CA
My favorite pho place in San Diego. The broth can be hit or miss sometimes, but the people that run the place are genuinely nice and make it a great experience.
Pros: great pho, great appetizers, fast service, fresh limes, plenty of basil
Cons: you have to ASK for garlic chili sauce, sprouts are not always fresh
Quirks: They sell "Co Pho" t-shirts for ~$15. I WANT ONE -
Review from Leah S.
San Diego, CA
Unfortunately I can't give this place a very high review. I've been here a few times and the soup is really good but that's about it.
I've tried the fresh spring rolls, the deep fried spring rolls and the pho. Typically the rolls are the same anywhere you go but the deep fried ones have a weird coating and it's not flaky like it should be. The spring rolls have something in them with a strange grainy texture, just not for me.
The service was mediocre to say the least but typical for a pho restaurant. I just don't get it though, I mean, come on! It's ok to smile once in a while. -
Review from Melissa Nicole J.
San Diego, CA
My favorite place hands down! It's inexpensive, it's filling, and delicious! I live close to downtown and I drive all the way to PB just to have Pho Ga at this restaurant...that's how good it is. And I always get a bowl of rice to finish the broth. My friend Pricilla introduced to this heavenly restaurant, and I have been well over 100 times.
It is small, but you honestly want to get in, get full, and get out...LOVE THIS PLACE!
Oh and the egg rolls and the spring rolls are the bomb.....oh and ask for the jasmine tea -
Review from Jessica L.
San Diego, CA
Pho Sao Bien is all right. Maybe because I am from the Bay Area, Vietnamese central, I have a different standard for Pho. The prices are a bit high for a Pho place and especially for their portions. I am used to my Pho coming in a sink sized bowl. The size is reasonable in that it will fill you up, but it is not as great as a deal that I am used to. I thought the main point of eating Pho is that its delicious and cheap.
Their Pho selection was small and so were their rice and vermicelli options. They also did not have the 3 combination drink that are served as most Pho places. It is family owned and I liked that about the place. The service was great, fast, and friendly. Its probably the best place to have Pho in PB. I was too lazy to go to Clairemont so I tried this place and it did not disappoint. -
Review from Lindsay M.
San Diego, CA
This place is wonderful! I've been here already like 20 plus times. The food is always excellent and fresh, the service is always friendly and so very polite, everything is clean including the restrooms, and its for a great price. Its totally my new favorite pho place here in San Diego. This place rocks!
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Review from Christiane D.
San Diego, CA
I LOVE Pho Sao Bien for my pho fix. I have tried other places and the quality of food in a quick time frame is really what wins me over here. The staff is friendly, greets you upon coming in the door and approaches your table within minutes with fresh water, menus and to answer any questions.
I typically get the pho with rare steak with a starter of fried tofu. The peanut sauce that comes with the piping hot tofu is awesome, great consistency and great flavor. There are about 10 pieces in an appetizer, so it definitely works for two. The pho itself comes in a giant bowl that looks like it could satisfy two people (which i'm sure it can). They provide you with the sprouts, jalapenos, basil, hot sauces and anything else you can imagine to put into the soup, meat included.
I find this place to have the best quality for what you pay, as well as being better than the rest around town. I would recommend this place to anyone. They do take credit cards, have a small parking lot out front and you can call orders in to-go!Listed in: Quick & Easy
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Review from Kelly G.
LOVE this PHO! This is such great food that is cheap, fast and awesome for cold days, but really it's great anytime.
The restaurant is small (56 chairs) but cozy. There are about 10 diagonal spots in front of the restaurant, so parking could be challenging depending on the time of day. But I'm within walking distance, so rock on. They have beer by the bottle & soda in cans, plus various tea & coffee. I enjoyed the vegetable spring rolls. They are in the clear rice paper and served room temperature, so be ready for that if you haven't had it before. The peanut dipping sauce is really tasty. I had 1 extra and took it home in a box. They were nice enough to bring a small container with extra peanut sauce when they brought the box.
There are so many choices for what kind of meat you want and the pho has flavorful broth. Get creative with your Pho and add what you like: mint, bean sprouts, lime, jalapeño, brown sauce, chili sauce, brown sauce... Mix it up & find your perfect pho! I love mine with lots of lime, sprouts, a little mint and a good mix of the brown sauce. It's sweet and tastes like brown sugar.
The best thing about Pho Sao Bien is the service. They are so on top of things and want to serve you FAST. I watched regulars come in and have a bowl of Pho in front of them in less than 3 minutes. Crazy! They kept my water filled which can be hard since I drink a lot of water. It was pretty much if you looked up and made eye contact with the waiter, he was right there. It was also great to see so many regular customers be so happy. The walls with pictures of regulars is cute. It's no wonder that they are doing so well.
I'll be back for more PHO! -
Review from Steven L.
La Crescenta-Montrose, CA
This place really deserves a 4.5
This is my pho place in SD. This is probably my most favorite pho place ever, and trust me that is saying a lot.
First of all this place can be quite hard to find because it is somewhat of a place. But do not be afraid to come in. First thing you notice when you enter is the smell and the smell is pretty "dank" (use dank however you like). Also the decorations inside seem like you are in not those commercialized pho places like Pho Ca Dao. I guess what I am saying is that this place seems more authentic? (Dont take my word for what my definition of authentic is)
The pho is pretty good for its value. I basically order the number 1 (XL bowl with all the goodies like steak flank tendon etc). One great thing about this place is that the amount of meat that they give is more than generous. Usually at every pho place I go, when i finish my noodles there is basically nothing left. This place however, whenever I finish my noodles I got a good 5 or 6 pieces of meat left. BOOO YEAH! Also I have to mention that the broth that they serve can be a little too much for some people, but I prefer my pho with some pretty "DANK" broth. If you guys don't know what I am saying than I am sorry you dont know Pho.
The service I say is pretty good. I must admit the first time i went, I thought all of the workers got something against me. Dont be so shocked or what not if the workers dont greet you with a smile. They are actually pretty nice without the smiles and the body expressions. (Kind of confusing I know but I am pretty sure all the regulars know what I am talking about) I also have to mention that the food comes out SUPER fast. Its like I order talk with my party for like 5-7minutes and then BAM feasting time. I come here a lot with my friends so the workers know my order and the other stuff that I enjoy AKA extra onions, extra limes, and extra cilantro. Heck I even have 3 pictures on their wall!
Overall this is a great pho place and PRETTY CHEAP too. I have to say the best pho place i have ever been to.
PS: Order some spring rolls! -
Review from Adam G.
San Diego, CA
Food was okay. Spring rolls were good but the peanut sauce tasted slightly off. Perhaps it was not freash.
My pho was good. I had the number one on the menu. It was good and tasty. The normal pho presentation for here in San Diego.
The staff were very polite and helpful.
Now for the bad stuff.
The Sriracha sauce seemed lighter in color and rather funny, with a lack of taste. Someone had added water to the bottle to thin it out. Terrible.
The. Front door is a problem. It is rather warm here in San Diego...usually that is. Except the night I went it was a rather cooler outside then it was inside the restaurant. The door is not an elaborate one, and uses a tension bar to close. Except it doesn't close, leaving very cold breeze to send chills and goosebumps on me while I eat. Do not sit next to the door.
I hope that those negative items get fixed. So I can return and give a better review. -
Review from John K.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
It was really cold in the evening so me and my friend decided to get some pho. I wanted to try somewhere new and I found this place on yelp so I decided to give it a try.
First of all, the parking space is very limited. About 10 spaces I think? If you can't manage to park in the parking area, you'll have to find parking in the streets.
The pho was good. It didn't taste like msg like the other places I've been to. The spring rolls were good, but I don't recommend the egg rolls. I prefer my egg rolls to be crisp but the ones here were not. Anyways, I enjoyed this place and will definitely come back soon. -
Review from John G.
Satisfying, but not memorable.
Yes, I'm spoiled because I've had many a great bowls of Phos in the Bay Area, especially in San Francisco and San Jose, where the Vietnamese population is ginormous. So yes, I would have to compare this Pho from that Pho...that's Pho sure.
Again, have to quickly mention that this was the wifey's pick as she found the spot via Yelp app on the iPhone. It looked promising enough with plenty of good reviews and a 4 star average rating. This was strictly a spur-of-the-moment decision as we were enjoying Ocean Beach.
Traffic was pretty congested on a Friday and it took us a while to get here since it's located on a busy strip of Ocean Beach. Upon arrival, we thought the place was closed since the parking lot was bare. But quickly figured out it was still early so the lunchtime crowd hasn't materialized yet. Twas to our advantage as the place wasn't packed.
First impressions were cute, quaint and promising. The colors were bright and not your typical colors you'd expect from a Vietnamese joint. I guess it blended well in this neighborhood. Noticed the wall of pictures from locals and regulars, I assumed. They must have something great going on here, I thought.
Service was friendly and efficient, but only from the younger gentleman working here. The older gentleman was grumpy, deliberate and inattentive. You ask him a question and the reply is crickets. AWKWARD! Maybe he didn't speak English, perhaps?
On to the Pho since that's what we ordered.
The broth is different from what I'm used to and it has a lot of tanginess and sourness to the flavor. There's a hint of Lemongrass and a vinegary kick that's a little off-putting for my tastebuds. My youngest son had the same reaction so I wasn't the only one. It's definitely a sharp, strong bite that is not what I typically expect from a Pho. I usually slurp my broth empty which is a sign of a good broth, but I couldn't finish this one.
The noodles were satisfactory and the meat did their part. Like I first mentioned, satisfying but not memorable. It's a cute, little place though; but the Bull won't be back here. -
Review from April M.
POP QUIZ: Name 5 ingredients in the pho @ Pho Sao Bien.
1.) Beef steak
2.) Rice noodles
3.) Onions
4.) Fresh mint, bean sprouts, lime, chili
5.) 2 flies
Wait, what? Holy sh*t! Baaarf!
FINAL GRADE: F+Listed in: I just threw up in my mouth a…
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Review from Teddy Z.
San Diego, CA
This place is awesome. Fast service, great tasting food, big portion.
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Review from Mark H.
San Diego, CA
I eat alot of pho in alot of spots. This place is my favorite. Very flavourful and lots of noodles meat etc. I always get the #1.
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Review from yours' t.
La Jolla, CA
Long time Patron, first time reviewer.
I've been eating here for over 4 years. Long before the green chopsticks (lol).
scanned the previous reviews and I'd like to address a few re-occuring items.
The grumpy man is freaking awesome. Truth is, he's not grumpy, just grumpy looking. He is very nice and he still remembers my wife and I when we moved away for two years.
yeah, his english may not be the best, but he is a person and he understands all of you negative things that (stupid) people say to him - TO HIS FACE. Shame on you people who are so ignorant to think just because someone doesn't have the best english means that they must be stupid.
Skimming the scum and grease/oil off the top. In the four years I have ate there (often every week) I have never encountered this.
Ingrediants- This is not traditional recipe, but that is what is so good about it. The Cilantro is my favorite variation of this.
NOTE: I always take the first few sips of the broth with out any additives to judge the flavour. I'm always impressed that it tastes like it has no canned elements or msg in it.
this place is my favorite Pho place and I've eaten it in multiple places in Houston, New Orleans, Boise and San Diego.
No comment on the rest of the menu, the Pho is too damn good for me not to eat only the Pho. -
Review from Stella A.
San Diego, CA
I liked the fact that I could get a table quickly and the food was pretty decent. The service staff was nice, but I guess I didnt get that much of a wow-factor going on...
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Review from MooShell H.
San Diego, CA
I didn't think it was possible for a Vietnamese restaurant [with the word "Pho" in their business name for goodness sakes] can screw up pho, but ooooo-eee...they sure did! The broth had no flavor---kinda like sipping on noodles and hot water. You could tell the meat was frozen and thawed out right before they served it. It was horrible. Never again.
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Review from Kate W.
San Diego, CA
I love coming here with friends. You can get lots of food for very little. The servers are very friendly and the food comes quickly. The only problem is the parking isn't very good, but it's not horrible. I highly recommend coming here. My favorite pho place in the area,
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Review from Sophia Y.
Came here on a lunch break from work. When I came in, the place seemed very lighted by the window, but we were seated by this dark little corner in the back of the restaurant
I ordered the usual pho and steak and brisket and it was okay. The soup tasted a little off from what I usually eat but It was edible. It wasn't bad but just not the same as other pho places.
Maybe I needed to try the chicken pho. I heard it was the best one around.. -
Review from Angela H.
Concord, CA
Parking was rough, but once you got inside it smelled soooo delicious!!! Def couldn't wait to try out the food!
Nice broth! I like that the menu tells you there is the option of "build your own" pho. The beef balls were a little rubbery and the well-done steak a little too crumbly, but all in all it was a yummy meal. -
Review from celeste b.
San Francisco, CA
I'm actually writing this review from a few months ago that is way long overdue. This place was my very first pho experience after a ridiculous hangover. i'd heard from one of my friends that the broth is supposed to be helpful in re-hydrating you after a night out drinking and I was willing to try whatever it took.
I've got to say, the meat was fresh, the herbs were very green, the noodles were soft and delicious, and the broth wasn't overly salty as expected. I love that they serve limes with the Pho (some places serve it with lemon which i'm not a fan of) This place is where my love affair with pho began, the price is right, the food is good, portions are large, and the service is very quick. I'll be back again and again when in San Diego! -
Review from jayme h.
San Diego, CA
Love this place! Fast, friendly service and delicious food. My favorite dishes are the grilled pork broken rice and the pork & egg roll rice vermicelli.
Everything there is absolutely delicious and the pricing can't be beat. Parking can be a little tricky, but it's definitely worth it. I just finished lunch there and it's taking everything in me not to fall into a blissful food coma! -
Review from Benji L.
San Diego, CA
I saw this place as I was about to leave PB. I needed to eat so thought I'd stop in and try it. I was helped by this younger guy that was working at the register. I think his name was Enzo. To my suprise this wasn't like any other Pho place I've been to. It had a relaxing feel to it and the staff was super friendly. They had this cool little wall with photos of all the people that ate there. Enzo told me I could have my photo on there but the camera wasn't working. I'll be on next time. Well I order the #1 with a side of spring rolls. What can I say....... DA BOMB! The spring rolls tasted super fresh like Enzo just went to his garden in the back of the restaurant to pick me some lettuce and mint leaves. And the bowl of pho was HUGE! I didn't think I would be able to finsh it but the broth was so delicious I couldn't stop eating. Whatever they put I that broth I want it so I can put it in everything I eat. Hands down one of the best Pho I've had in San diego. Definetly coming back. Enzo better have his camera ready because I'm getting on that wall.
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Review from Katie L.
San Diego, CA
Best pho in San Diego hands down!!!! This place is the best, we eat here at least once a week. And you can get in and out of there in 20 minutes if you need - I always get the #15 and #27, I've never been disappointed :)
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Review from Tim S.
San Diego, CA
Their services leaves a bit to be desired, however- the food is really good. Fried or fresh spring rolls FTW, rare steak pho is bombin too...
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Review from natasha g.
San Diego, CA
I just ate here for the first time last week. My first recommendation is if you dont plan on eating there, then call ahead. It was a little awkward when we walked in because it has a sit down feel when I thought it was more of a fast place. When we were waiting about 5 people came in to pick up their orders, so I guess thats the best bet if you want to take it home. The pho itself was actually very good, but my major complaint was how it was set up for take out. They basically give you a bowl of broth, then all these boxes of sides and the noodles and chicken were seperate. It just gave me the impression that it wasn't fresh and it got extremely messy trying to add everything into the to go bowl. Besides this it was great soup that satisfying.
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Review from Jesse I.
San Diego, CA
Their 2 Secrets to a 5 Star Review?
1) Bomb Broth (true). Family Recipe dating back centuries to when the Asian Land bridge was still intact. Indo's (owner) great grand pappy and mammy would hunt wild buffalo in the snow with no shoes on for months without fire until finding stalking and taking down the only white buffalo that ever lived. They have used this one buffalo rationally ever since, wooing customers for generations with their secret recipe. I just happened to overhear all this talked about in the back one day....and I speak Vietnamese so...you know...I know (allegedly).
2) Fresh Spring Rolls in that peanut, plum sauce concoction are straight redic. -
Review from JJ R.
Rowland Heights, CA
This place would be a 4 or 5 star if I was a drunk ass San Diego State kid. Bottom line, they can't skim the fat and oil off the top of their broth it is not going to be good. This place is the dive of pho places!
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Review from Joshua F.
Fruita, CO
Insane fast service and the food was fantastic. It wasn't the best Pho I ever had, but I would definitely eat here again when in San Diego.
The cost was super cheap but the food was worth a lot more.
Definitely eat here if you get the chance. Only downside tonight was getting lemons with the meal instead of limes. -
Review from Rob D.
Oyster Bay, NY
Colorful green chopsticks, large portions, great flavors, and helpful waiters, make Pho Sao Bien the perfect lunch spot.
Never had Pho before so I'm not going to be too critical (not that I should be, I just don't know what it's really supposed to taste like). I Ordered the beef and shrimp Pho and it was filling and delicious. The broth isn't as hearty as a ramen broth, but it was refreshing and properly seasoned. In the soup there was flattened beef, shrimp, scallions, bean sprouts, jalapenos, and scallions.
The noodles were good, but they did stick together a little.
I also ordered the Banh Mi which was pretty good... not as good as the Banh Mis in NYC... but for $3.50 I wont complain too much. I think I prefer my Banh Mi to have pork meatballs as opposed to flattened and sauteed pork. Also, I thought the sandwich was a little dry... it needed some sauce, so I dipped it in the Pho to liven it up... it worked out pretty well. The bread was also a little too big for the amount of food inside... but it absorbed the soup nicely and I kind of liked that effect.
I added the beef balls to my soup... but when the soup came and I saw the balls, I thought they were actual testicles. My nerves were eased when the waiter informed me otherwise. Honestly though, even after he told me they weren't my first bite didn't make me feel any better... don't get me wrong, it tasted great, but the size, shape, and texture just gave be the heebie jeebies.
I had the Thai ice tea which was unbelievably good and by the time the waiter put it on the table I think I already finished it.
Bottom line: This is a really solid place to come for lunch. It's fun, it's good, it's fast, and it's dirt cheap. Get the thai ice tea, all of the phos looked good, and if you have room in your stomach try the Banh Mi. -
Review from Charles B.
Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA
Their are def better places in SD to get your fill on pho. I'll give PSB props though for holdin it down in PB as the only Viet joint for as long as they have. If you're looking for more variety and bigger space, check out Pho Time down the street.
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Review from Denise E.
San Diego, CA
Went here during lunch with some of my coworkers. The place is pretty small.
The pho was pretty good, but when I first tried it a month ago, it tasted different. I'm guessing they use a different kind of "pho" recipe since other pho places usually taste more "brothy" and light. Overall, it was good. The tendons were a bit tough to eat though since they weren't boiled long enough. I ordered the brisket, steak and tendon combo. The price wasn't too bad either. -
Review from jamah d.
San Diego, CA
I love Pho and this place is great. The service is not necessarily the friendliest, but it is definitely fast! I typically order the spring rolls and the surf & turf (shrimp & steak) pho. The BBQ pork Vietnamese sandwich was also really good. YUM
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Review from Joshua C.
La Jolla, CA
I came here after a long, cold, and tiring day showing my fob cousins Sea World. We were looking for a restaurant to have some noodle soup to warm ourselves up, and a friend helped me Yelp this place.
I thought it was really good at first, but that's probably just because of the cold and tired condition I was in. My senses weren't all there.
I came back a second time, and I realized it wasn't as great as I remembered it to be. The texture of the noodles was horrible (complete mush instead of the slight chewiness it's supposed to have) and the soup was murky in the end. Only positive I'd have to say is the large portion of meat that they give you.
If you think this is good pho, you're seriously missing out.
Parking is REALLY bad here too. Only a few spots. If you choose to eat here, be careful on your way out of the parking lot and go slowly onto the street so you don't end up scraping the bottom of your car. -
Review from Hehe T.
San Diego, CA
Since Pho Time opened up down the street., I've distanced myself from Pho Sao Bien. I've noticed that their noodles are always overcooked and clumped in the middle of the bowl. Also, the service is lackluster.
Pho Time is bigger, brighter, friendlier and yummier (not sure if that's a real word but you get what I mean).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/14/2009
the bf and i frequent this place many a times after a night of partying. it's our go to place for a… Read more »
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1/14/2009
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Review from Heather W.
San Diego, CA
given san diego is---as of the last few years---perpetuity stuck in may/gray, june/gloom, july-gone-awry....[enter witty rhyme for whatever is the next typically warm month to betray us]...the pho businesses must undoubtedly be thriving.
i mean, who knew katy perry was actually the oracle with her hot n cold song? we sure were all sucker drones chanting those catchy lyrics for months - never expecting it to foreshadow the schizophrenic meteorological doom that would ensue.
luckily, whenever a random downpour or soupy fog rolls in after a tease of beautiful sunshine, there is PHO to ease my pain. as it was a few weeks ago when i...once again...underdressed for chilly beach weather.
im kinda exaggerating though, because really, my visit to pho sao bien was only my 4th consumption ever. so i do not claim pho-connoisseur-ness by an means. but the rare beef pho was good...the shrimp spring rolls were good...the price is good. im gonna take a stab and guess the pho-snobs will still lift their nose to this place and say you have to head to convoy for proper cuisine (please chime in if ur out there, heh), but given PB is one of my closest destinations this place was a welcome find.Listed in: pho bliss
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Review from Andrea C.
San Diego, CA
If you're looking for Pho in PB Pho Sao Bien is you place. Great service, delicious Pho and the prices are very reasonable for the portion size.
I highly recommend it. -
Review from Iliana E.
North Hills, CA
Thank you Yelpers! This place was GREAT! Cheap, FAST and YUMMY. I never had the pho, (Not really a Soup person, I had a noodle entree, and egg rolls and my hubby tried the curry (NOT very Spicy). Fantastic, filling, and they have plenty of parking, street or private lot, but We went at 6, and things were filling up quick. It looks like they do a LOT of take out orders too. I will be back!
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Review from Trang L.
This place is good.. for the area since it's only 1 of 2 Vietnamese restaurants in PB. I'm not impressed.. then again they are catering for the folks of PB.. and lets just say there are not a lot of Vietnamese people who live here.. if any! I only went here because this place was walking distance from where I had lived. It was cheaper than most restaurants in PB but still a bit pricey for a Pho place.. but whateves. Cheaper than driving to El Cajon blvd for really good pho. Anywho.. The Pho is aiiiiight.. but their rice dishes are pretty good.
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Review from Josh G.
San Diego, CA
There are places that serve pho, and there is Pho Sao Bien. For pho, this is the place to get it. If I am sick or had a rotten day at work, I can think of no better way to make me feel better from the inside out than to have a nice steaming bowl of pho from this place in front of me. One valuable tidbit I've learned is that pho is an EXCELLENT hangover cure--TRY IT!!! Parking is actually a bit tricky, but well worth the reward of pho goodness.
