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Pho South King
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
8 reviews for Pho South King
This place is a little disappointing, considering how authentic it looked when I walked in.
I ordered the vermicelli w/ BBQ pork and BBQ beef. The meat wasn't really barbecued or grilled the way it is in California. It was more like... sauteed in a pan with onions. This took away from the flavor.
This was a nice place to try, but I don't think I'll ever come back.
Generally, prices are a lot better than most Vietnamese places I've seen in Honolulu, though.
I was expecting more from this place. I loved the noodles in the pho, it was balled up tightly and looked like they were hand made, unlike other places that I've had here in the island. The brooth here is extremely greasy. It does taste light, but not very flavorful. Not the worse pho I've had, but I've had a lot better. I give 2 stars, because this place feels like a sauna while you eat. They do have air conditioning, but it wasn't on.
When I attended UH Manoa in the Spring of 2007, Pho South King was the place I went for hot, filling, south-Asian soul food. It was an escape from campus-life and all the other things that can ruin the experience of island living (which tends to happen when you spend months in that spiritless death/tourist-trap known as Honolulu; I love Hawaii, but when any city caters strictly to the tourist industry at the expense of its spirit and sense of hospitality, it's all downhill from there).
Pho South King saves you from that negative junk! The decor is beyond simple; there is nothing extravagant or pretentious. Everyone is welcome!
I wish I could recall the many dishes I had, but my staple was, of course, pho. Servings were always large, filling the bowl, and plenty of veg was provided. I usually had veg pho, but I was always pleased with the chicken, as well. The amount of meat was fine, just enough to compliment and not so much that it dominated the meal.
Aside from the low prices and great, simple food, I returned frequently to PSK mostly because of the owners. They recognized me after a few visits and were always friendly and welcoming. After having lived in large cities for several years, this experience was like being back in a small town.
Last note on the quality of food: when my mom and her partner came to visit, we dined at some of Honolulu's most expensive restaurants, but when I brought them here after all that, they said this was their favorite. As Lynn said, "this was the most comforting and quality meal we've had yet, and the cost for four of us eating was the same price of the tip at any of the other places."
Skip the long lines, the high prices, and the faux "atmosphere" of the tourist restaurants, and just go eat where the locals eat. Best food available.
I came here for breakfast to cure my hangover from last night's activities. I ordered a medium #9, special combination with sliced steak, brisket, beef ball, and tendon. The beef portion was slightly skimpy, but the broth more than made up for it. This was the clearest broth I'd ever seen, with no hint of fat at all. The flavor was very clean, just beef stock with the subtle essence of onions. I told the owner how much I liked his broth and he proudly mentioned that he cooks it from 6am-6pm, extracting the maximum flavor from the beef bones.
I guess getting a hangover wasn't so bad after all!
I was so freaking tired that I picked up the fiance, drove a few blocks and parked in the nearest open spot on the street, which happened to be in front of Pho South King, which we hadn't tried before. It looked kind of like a crap-hole, but we figured sometimes crap-holes have really good food.
About the food:
The VEGGIE SPRING ROLLS satisfied my fried-food craving, but they seemed like they weren't homemade and were served with iceberg lettuce and thai basil. Where's the mint? Where's the romaine? $5.25 for 5 rolls.
The fiance ordered SUMMER ROLLS (frickin' cheap: $2.95 for an order of 2 w/ shrimp, but veggie is also available). He said they were good, but not special. He said it's the sauce that makes the rolls, and it was fine.
We both ordered PHO, medium size (there's medium and large). I really liked the soup. I didn't like the beef that was in mine, $5.76. The fiance said his beef balls were good. I didn't try them. Looked and sounded too scary for me. I was sad that the pho was served with basil, beansprout, and lemon, but not that cool Vietnamese cilantro that looks like a wing bean.
I would order pho here again. Skip the spring rolls. The owner is really nice. Tip big.
Hours:
9 a.m. - 9 p.m. M-Sat
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sundays
"Parking in rear".
---
6/4/07
Got the vegetarian pho. It was really good. Had cilantro this time, but not the wing bean shaped one; rather the regular Chinese/Mexican parsley. But "YUM!"
The broth isn't memorable and they kind of skimped on the meat, but for a small hole in the wall joint, the pho here is alright. They gave me orange slices instead of lemons/limes. That was kind of different. I liked how there were lots of different types of hot sauce on the table.
Service is quick and the older man who works there is super nice. Good place for a quick, healthy lunch.
i love the pho at pho south king almost as much as i love the little vietnamese man that serves it to me! i love that he's small because it means that he can move faster maneuvering around this little pho shop always getting me my pho in 5 minutes.
i also love that they have MY condiments. Hmmmmm... pho is not pho without lemon slices, plum sauce, hot cock sauce (dirty), fish sauce, and salty chili oil. i like it when the hot cock sauce isn't on the table and i can ask the little vietnamese man for it. i think he loves it too.
best pho-king pho. promise.
(sorry, i had to.)
I agree that the broth here is ONO. I like the spring rolls too, better than the other reviewer. The owner is real nice. It helps too that Pho South King is just a block from home.
