On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Vietnamese [Edit]
Neighborhood: Green Lake
Loading...
I'm pretty sure I'm about to die of the black plague. On top of feeling like death run over, I'm going through caffeine withdrawal since I can't even stomach coffee. Sad, I know. The one thing I can usually count on to brighten my mood when I'm crazy sick (or hungover) is a big ol' bowl of Pho. It's so soothing and warm and comforting and surprisingly hearty.
While I got my Pho, it was only so-so. Service wasn't very friendly or attentive and the waitress hovered over me until I gave her my order. Awkward. I decided to go with a Large with Tendon and.... Brisket?... and extra noodles. My order came out in about three seconds which made me happy. I can get home sooner!
After dousing the soup with Hoisin and Sriracha and some lime it was much more to my liking. I couldn't get over how steamy and hot it was. Soothing for the sicko. There wasn't a whole lot of meat, and most of it was highly fatty, but the noodles were perfect and there were a ton of them!
Pricing is pretty decent. $7 or $8 for what I ordered. They charge a little extra for take-out though but thankfully, they accept cards these days. My one complaint is the amount of MSG in my Pho. A little on the intense side. Although for the initial comfort and low prices I'll let it slide.
You can basically get any combination of beef pho ingredients with different portion sizes of noodles. They're all pretty tasty - especially the tendon, eye round steak, and tripe. The beef brisket can be a little tough. The broth has good flavor and not so MSG ladden that I had to drink water for hours afterwards.
The cream puff dessert is cute. I'm not a huge fan, but it's a nice (and free) touch.
Prices are cheap, service is fast, and they now take credit cards on orders over $10.
The food here is good. Actually I really like their Pho. Both vegetarian and meat ones. They give you lots of meat or (tofu/mushroom). This place used to be super cheap but they have raised their prices, which is why I don't come here very often anymore. I LOVE their broth (it probably has msg, or some other deadly chemicals in it) but I don't really care. Oh, they also give you free cream buffs.
My biggest problem with this place is that it grosses me out. It just looks so dirty, no it is dirty. I don't care if the food is dirty (like their kitchen), but if the interior is dirty then I can't handle it. I mean, if the kitchen is dirty, I can't see that, and thus won't think of it. But if the table, chairs, and walls of their restaurants are dirty- that's hard to ignore. And what's up with all the mirrors? Mirrors and fluorescent lighting = horrible combo.
It's a cash only place.
2 years later in SF, still haven't found comparable Pho Ga. I had Pho a couple other places here and it is a simple dish - chicken broth, chicken, noodles and an accompaniment of sprouts, basil and sauces (sweet and spicy) to add to taste.
Than Brothers on Aurora saved me from many a cold, hangover and chill and is on my top 10 list of things I miss from Seattle. *sigh*
I've been sick with colds over the last several months and I have yet to be able to find pho ga in… Read more »
In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess that I was somewhat grossed out by the Than Bros in the U district. It just looked well, dirty. This is possibly because it IS dirty, I'm not sure. Also I had a horrific cold and it was tasteless to me. So I refused to go back, especially not when the incredible Curry Ramen at Lounjin was down the street. (Please people. GO EAT THEIR CURRY RAMEN. It will change your life. It is the best thing on a cold day ever.)
Anyway, I digress. What I meant to say is that after nearly a year, I gave in to Hapa Boy's repeated hints that it would not be bad to add Than Bros back into the rotation. So we tried the Aurora branch, and I'm happy to say, it was pretty good. Okay, it's not Curry Ramen at Lounjin. But it's incredibly fast, the broth has some flavor, the small is a satisfying meal, it didn't gross me out, and it was less than $5.00. After all, I like soup (who doesn't?), I like noodles, and boy howdy - I like a bargain. I'm not into cream puffs, but my plus one is fired up about them. He gets mine, too.
Way to bump yourself to three stars, Than Brothers. We'll be back.
The Than Brothers was one of the go-to places for my pho fix when I was at the UW. Despite the U District location always being busy, I always left satisfied.
I am no longer within walking distance of the one on the Ave, so we go to this location since it is closer to where we live.
I love all of the veggies that come on the plate and always look forward to the cream puff. The cream puffs were the added bonus that I looked forward to. Unfortunately, it may not be enough to keep me.
I don't have any issues with the taste of the broth because I squirt hoisin sauce and sriracha into the broth, to suit my liking. There is an adequate amount of meat in the pho, so no complaints there.
After going here a handful of times without any problems, our last pho experience left my tummy a bit sad.
Wanting to avoid the lunch crowd, we opted to go around 1:30pm so that we didn't have to wait for a table. Our order, like always, came from the kitchen pretty quickly. Unfortunately, unlike other times, the broth was warm and not hot like we enjoy it. While I'm sure we could have asked to have it warmed up, I still feel like it should come out piping hot, and not lukewarm like it did. If we do go back, I do think that I will request to have the broth extra hot, like I sometimes order my coffee, to guarantee that the broth is hot. I can blow all I want to cool it down, but no amount of staring at my bowl of pho is going to warm it up.
Good pho, cheap prices, huge portions. Don't look for extras or a beautiful setting, but it's a nice efficient place with good soup.
I like Than Brother's Pho in Ballard, and the Pho here is pretty consistent with that. The low rating is for two reasons: Horrible location to drive to and cash only. I took my children and we had to park blocks away and then run down to the market and buy a pack of gum to get cash. At this time in history, it's lame to NOT take cards-Especially when I bought $25 worth of their Pho. I won't go back.
Having said that, if I lived within walking distance, I'd probably go there a lot and just figure on having cash on hand. Like I said, the food was on par with other restaurants.
There are a lot of pho raves and rants out there, but I just love me some pho. I've never really had a "bad" bowl of pho, but I consistenly have good ones at Than Brothers on Aurora.
Here's why I like it:
1. Air Conditioning (I had a wicked hangover on a blistering day and really needed some pho, but did not want to eat hot soup in an oven)
2. Lots of meat, way more than other places
3. They fufill my request for extra cilantro and don't even look at me funny
4. The cream puffs are damn tasty
5. If I am driving, parking is not an issue (unlike the U-district or the ID)
6. It's the best substitute if you can't get to the ID
7. They clean the caps of the Sriracha bottles off so it's not all gooey and gross.
So I am already an establised Than Brothers fan. I frequent the Ballard most often. Normally, you get sat down and that's that with the service. This one didn't even have that.
We walked in and the lady barely nodded toward the seat she wanted us to sit in. I wasn't even sure she was working there. She didn't really speak to us the entire time we were there, but our orders were correct, so I'm sure she heard us order...
I watched one dude not pick up the clue, sit down at a random table and get ignored for nearly 20 minutes.
Love the food. However, the service at this particular location is rather sucky. I don't expect much, but a smile would be nice.
Tried the beef for the first time, but I still love the chicken much more.
I went here last weekend, with some friends that usually go to the one in the U district. The service was WAY fast with our food a little to fast I think. And their prices were ok. But after they gave us our food that was it, they didn't come back to fill our water, we had to ask for drink they never offered. I would never do it, but I almost considered leaving without paying because the service was so bad. The Pho Soup was so so I've had better they didn't give us much basil, or jalepenios etc. I don't think I would return to this location in particular.
Pho Than Brothers is a below average Pho restaurant. Their beef broth is very dark in color which to me, suggests, they've added canned beef broth (cheating in my Pho book). Their broth is very watered down and you can barely taste any of the spices.
On the up side - they did give me A LOT of meat. My boyfriend ordered extra meat with his - that was a mistake because the regular amount would have been plenty. I couldn't finish my Pho because 1. I ate all of my noodles and only had broth and meat left, and 2. the broth was just too gross.
Unfortunately, I had the bad experience of sitting down at a table that was wiped down by a moldy wash cloth, which, of course, ruined my entire experience.
The cream puffs were good. I've experienced much better Pho at Than Brother's UW location than this one, but then again, that was back in 2000.
And the winner for the most delicious, hearty, plentiful, and cheap dinner with lightning fast service goes to....PHO THAN BROTHERS!!!
I love that the staff takes our order almost immediately, and our huge bowls of soup arrive just as quickly. I got brave and tried the tripe with the rare round steak. I like the tripe because it adds a bit of chewy-crunchy texture. The broth is always flavorful and the noodles perfectly cooked.
I personally don't mind that they serve the cream puff right away. I still save it for dessert, but my boyfriend always scarfs it immediately. It's also nice that they don't bring the bill to the table. This way you never feel rushed, but don't have to wait around for the server either.
I love leftovers so I always order the medium, which is massive. I eat about half of it and take the rest to go. Oh and also, get the iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk. It tends to be a little strong and a bit sweet so i always top my glass with a little of the water that's served. It's kinda like an iced americano!
A medium Pho is only like $4.50, and the iced coffee about $1.95. Don't forget to take CASH, that's all they accept. Get some cream puffs to take home too, at $1.50 for three, you can't beat it!
Yes you get a cream puff and yes there are many locations making Than Brothers easily accessible. However, with Seattle having a plethora of other Vietnamese restaurants to choose from I don't know why you would go here unless you were dying for Pho and were standing right in front of Than Brothers.
The broth is average...closer to mediorce. Nothing special and almost tastes like canned broth. When I went the noodles were under cooked and the meat was just bleh. The place had an odd smell...almost like a wet towel and I didn't even want to go to the bathroom so you will need to take other yelper's advice on that piece.
So many people rave about this place and how it is so good...but why? I just don't understand what is so great about Than Brothers. I would rather drive 5 minutes North and eat at Pho of Aurora for some great Vietnamese food.
How can you go wrong with a meal that starts with dessert?
Every meal at Than Bros (They have several spots around town) starts out with a tasty little cream puff. I always wondered why this was the case at Vietnamese restaurants until I got the back story... Vietnam was for a long time a colonial possession of France and has a rich French/Asian cooking history. So thats why the cream puff. Yea!!!
Tran Bros has the bomb pho. They do a great hearty broth, are generous with the "meats" and noodles, and have lightning fast service. There are parts of the cow that I have only had in Pho that I would otherwise never have tasted. "Tendon" not the first thing to roll off my lips when asked what cut I would like but in Pho - its my favorite.
The owners put absolutely no effort into ambience or asthetics of the restaurants. White walls, dirty, old, no music, flouresent lighting- that stuff doesnt matter - its all about the Pho. They got that right and its one of the best cheap comfort foods you can get.
Let's face it: I was ailing. Sore throat, congestion, the works. I knew I wanted hot soup, and I knew I wanted it with an Asian bent, so I wandered over to Than Brothers for a medium vegetarian bowl, extra noodles.
For a mere $7, I had enough carry-out to last me for two sick-day lunches at home. On day three, I am nearly cured. Coincidence?
In any case, I fell in love with the speed and simplicity of the service, the salty-sweet broth balance, the array of condiments they pack up for you to go (siracha, hoisin, green chiles, sprigs of Thai basil, bean sprouts), and an unexpectedly tasty cream puff.
What I like about the Than Brothers goes well beyond their amazing soup, which on its own stands among the best Pho houses in town.
It's the exemplary business model. Here is a business, presumably humbly founded by some enterprising immigrant entrepreneurs, that remains committed to its original business model, a model that in the food service industry is relatively rare: cheap, fast, and healthy (relatively speaking).
These guys keep their variable and fixed costs low (no credit cards, no cleaning service, little to no remodeling, narrowed selection of perishables, no advertising, etc.) and appear to pass the savings on to the consumer. If you don't think this is innovative, name one place (other than Arco) where credit card fees have been so aggressively excised from the cost model. Sure it's a pain in the butt to always need cash on hand. Sure I wish their bathroom was a bit more sanitary. But with food this cheap, this consistent, this good - one overlooks those minor inconveniences.
Meanwhile this humble little place keeps expanding, a solitary success story in a down economy. The cheap food helps keep local family and individual budgets in check and gives consumers looking to downsize on eating out an option to the fast food world (which could learn from the Than Brothers what fast food really can be).
In fact, one of my conditions for giving any money to the auto industry would be to place the Than Brothers in charge of their operations.
Good work Than's!
Like someone else said, the place aesthetically is lacking, but after all, if the pho is quality, and the price is right, that gives you good mark. So I think based on the ambiance, I'll be a snob and knock off a star. I think I'll stay out of the bathroom though because my opinion of the place may change. My philosophy is that if an establishment can't keep their bathroom clean, that which is presentable to the clientele, than what does the kitchen look like, and how much do they care about the sanitary measures taken?
I've eaten there several times and always leave happy. The service is straight to the point. There not overly friendly, but their not rude either. The service is fast, there's not much waiting to be done before getting your food. But bring cash because they don't take credit cards.
Pho...a friend of mine, and a friend of yours. Bon' appetite!
When you walk into this restaurant, you will see the sign of "WE HAVE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO SERVE ANY CUSTOMERS."
As a customer, I find it very offensive when I see those signs.
Do not offer any side dishes like spring rolls or egg rolls
Pho only.
I don't know if it was the best pho like the other people said but it's edible.
The interior is nae. Looks like they have just moved into an abandoned house.
Make sure you have cash/check ready.
two words: FOOD POISONING!!!! Do not eat here! My gf and I did and minutes after finishing our meal we were face down in the toilet. NEVER AGAIN WILL I GO TO THIS DUMP. Worst of all, the place smelled like a urinal puck.
Try Pho So 1 in Little Saigon for the good stuff. Avoid this dishwater, if you know what's good for ya!
I'd never had PHO until I was invited to a girls night out at Pho Than Bros. I have to admit that the decor (or lack thereof) is a bit disconcerting.
Another review also mentioned the smell of a "urinal puck"... I don't know if it's that exact smell but you don't walk in expecting a 5 star restaurant when you know that you can get a HUGE bowl of soup (and a free tasty cream puff) for $5.
I did hear through the grapevine that their broth is NOT vegetarian so I haven't been back in a while. I hang out with a no-meat crowd and they were really turned off by that news. I usually ordered the veggie pho and even though I never felt like the broth had much meat flavor in it, I loved it regardless!
Also -- am I a freak or is the water they serve insanely refreshing? I know it's not fancy water but it's so cold that I can't help but guzzle the whole glass before I even get my soup. Maybe that's just me :)
If you're starving and broke this place is perfect. You get a lot of food for really cheap and the time it takes to order and be served is less than 5 minutes. Even when busy! It's almost as if they know your order before you walk in the door. Pretty handy. Oh - just make sure to use the Wells Fargo ATM next door because they only take cash. (and while you're at the ATM turn around and say hi to the cute black kitty that lives in the window of the locksmith. I wonder what his name is...)
Cream puffs=vanilla Honolulu Coco Puffs!(if any of you have ever been to Leilei Has spelling? bakery in Honolulu...they are the big rage over there)...I digress.
Pho is pretty damn good here...and phocking cheap! Service is fast. Get the regular pho though (beef)...thats the only way to go...otherwise its probably a no-go.
This place was my introduction to pho. I usually just order the pho ga (chicken) because some of the other meats scare me. It's a perfect meal for a cold and dark winter's day in Seattle.
Not much ambiance to speak of, but who cares, you're paying well under $10 for a filling meal and you're in and out in under 30 minutes. I also like how the windows get all steamed up because of the pho-ey-goodness.
I don't go here anymore since I moved to Capitol Hill, but I do go to the one owned by the same peeps on Broadway. Amazing how they replicate that hard-to-create atmosphere in both places (no, seriously, these things could sprout like wildfire based on how simple they are).
Oh, and cream puffs.
CREAM PUFFS! CREAM PUFFS!
I eat here several times a week. It is definately NOT the dirtiest Than Bros. by a long shot. The one on the Ave, the one in Redmond, and the one in Crossroads are all noticably grosser (esp. the one on the Ave.) The people at this one are nice, service is fast, and the soup is far less greasy than the pho on the Ave. They got new fish in the tank that look a lot more normal than the river carps or whatever those other things were.
Great Food, greater cream puffs. just remember cash only it is a long ways away to a ATM.
I've been to this location at least a dozen times over the years. It's probably the dirtiest of the Than Bros restaurants. Really. It's filthy. Yet I find myself continuing to return b/c no other place outside the I.D. is open at 10am when I'm hungover and desperate for pho.
My most recent visit was about two weeks ago. The broth, as usual, was bland and insipid. Had to add tons of condiments to make it taste like something. The noodles weren't overcooked for a change though, which was, well, shocking.
Pros: The pho comes out lightning fast. They offer the most variety in sizes too. I always get the small, which is the perfect size when hungover. Also, I like that the menu is on the table itself, obviating the need for actual menus. Somehow, I like the efficiency of that. Think of all the trees that were saved!
Yes, the bathrooms really ARE that disgusting. So pee beforehand!
And remember: CASH ONLY
Consistency is the name of the game...
Good, hot pho in five minutes or less - every time I've ever been there (which is a lot, like, 57or 112 times.) My last visit included overcooked noodles - a little soft - but I was still able to choke them down.
And in case you haven't heard - free cream-puffs. I probably wouldn't buy 'em if they were on the menu, but they're not. They just show up. And they're free.
How has someone not written a review about the flagship Than Brothers? I mean, ya, it looks just like the other 10 (yes, there are 11 in total at this moment in time), but I really get excited about telling people that this, my friend, is the headquarters. It's where the Than Brother's pho, in all its deliciousness, started. It's where the cream puff was born!
And it's on Aurora. Pho reals, kids.
It is worth knowing that if you come here when it is cold outside, the nail salon next door may be blowing solvents into the restaurant via the shared ventilation system.
Pho with carcinogens and a headache isn't my idea of a good time, so I was forced to go elsewhere.
If you want average Seattle pho, this is, I'm sure, a place to get it. Just don't come here when it is cold and the salon is open.
I wish Green Lake had better restaurants in the neighborhood.
I return from thanksgiving with a cold and have had take out pho from them everyday except today. I couldn't agree more with Janeane S.' review about the place...dirty and the general blandness of the broth is spot on. Fast service. I don't call in advance for take out orders...wait is always less than 4-5 minutes.
It's the closest Pho place to my house so I still go to this place. I never sit down...you might want to bring a couple of wetnaps to disinfect the walls and table tops. Paint the walls and it'll perk the place up. I'm always surprised by seeing people sitting down to eat there.
I generally prefer the veggie pho over the beef or chicken. Sizes are big. Small pho is a good sized meal. Cheap eats too.
CASH ONLY.
I've been a fan of Than Brothers for years, but it's time to throw in the towel. The last two times I've been there, the place has smelled, well, like urine. I took my wife last week and my daughter this week and both commented on it, so it's not just me. It's tough to say "oh don't worry, you won't smell it as soon as the pho comes..." I need a new pho place!
My buddy took me here for the first time several years ago. This one is almost within walking distance of his house and he eats here a lot.
I thought the pho was pretty good, but the cream puffs are what excites everyone. Of all of their restaurants, I think this one is the best. The broth seems to taste a bit better.
The insides of the place could use a little redirection. It's kind of dirty and steamy inside. Not some place you want to spend a summer afternoon, but probably good during the winter time.
Best of all, the food is cheap. But it is definitely no frills eating!
This is my bf's favorite pho place. I swear he comes here more than he talks to me on the phone. He LOVES this place. So I walk in and I'm a bit skeptical as to why he would like this place, it seems like a normal pho restaurant, nothing unusual about it. We get seated and and the menus are right under the glass tabletop (thumbs up). I ordered #8 beef round with well-done brisket and tendon. I love pho, but OMG this place was just as good as the one I frequent here in SF. The soup was so good and steaming hot.
Did I forget to mention how the cream puffs were calling my name throughout lunch? They looked sooooooo good. =x I was tempted to ask my bf if I could have his, but I refrained lol. SO good!!!
NEW comment -
PROBLEM - the bathrooms are really dirty. Gives me concern every time I go there. After washing my hands, I use by jacket sleeve to open the door.
I do not mind bad colors, etc, as this is common. But keeping the place clean is a must.
Great Food. I go there often.
Hope everyone comments on the bathrooms. They may listen to lots of us.
The place looks like a dump, the bathroom is scary and during the winter it gets kind of humid mixed with blasts of cold air. Oh yeah don't look in the kitchen.
But the pho is great. Excellent soup base, good selection, fast service.
They have great coffe with the condensed milk.
One of my favorite pho places.
When the weather gets just like it is right now -- cold, rainy and just plain nasty -- my coworkers and I get a hankerin' for some pho. Then we argue about who's gonna drive (not it!) and eventually make the short drive over to Than Brothers on 99.
Yes, it looks like a total dive from the outside, and the inside isn't much better, but no one cares. It's always packed. They take your order about half a minute after you sit down and you get your food about one whole minute after that. It's super fast.
I always order the same thing every time: veggie pho. It has broth and noodles (duh!) with delicious tofu and mushrooms. I add the sprouts, basil, peppers and lime and I've got a stew goin' on, baby.
We top off our meal with those wonderful cream puffs and typically someone will order a tray to take back to the office.
Makes for the perfect lunch on a rainy day.
This location is the original.
Fast service.
Cheap food.
Cream puff!!!!!!!!!!!
Hot and steamy inside. The windows fog up.
Seated right away.
Quickly pay the counter.
The best broth out of all the restaurants.
A small parking lot in the back. Street parking isn't bad.
Available to-go for 25 cents more.
YUMMM!!! Sodium!!!!!
Went there tonight for dinner. It wasn't a great experience. We both ordered the small pho with extra chicken. Well, it really didn't seem like they put the "extra chicken" in there, and when we asked the waitress if they forgot to put it in, she called to someone in the back, and then came back a minute later and said that no, they did put in the extra meat. And then she scowled at us. Bitch. Aren't you supposed to try and make your customers happy? Whatever happened to "the customer is always right"?
I really wish this Pho Than Bros restaurant was like the other ones. This location is fitting for the neighborhood, though, I guess. Right next to a sketchy-ass nail salon. They probably use the same cleaning equipment, judging from the state of the bathrooms. I made the mistake, again, of going to the toilet before my meal. Not exactly appetizing. But if you can sit facing in the opposite direction of the kitchen, you can forget about the crappy interior and focus on your delicious bowl of Pho.
I hate the mirrors. I hate them. Why are there mirrors in this place? I don't want to watch myself shove a fork-full of noodles in my mouth, thanks.
However, this is the best Pho I have ever had. Best place to eat Pho, period. This was their first location and the one I frequent most often. I like the one on Market street over this one but only because its cleaner. I generally stear clear of the meat Pho and stick with tofu... tastes better to me for some reason. Broth has lots of MSG and salt but it's so yummy... especially on a winter evening. Big portions... I usually just go with a small.
The cream puff caps off the soup although I usually eat mine at the beginning of the meal. :]
Good soup especially on a cold rainy Seattle day. If you don't mind a table you almost always have to wipe down since there is a perma film on it and a somewhat dilapidated interior then you areokay. I mean you can't complain too much since you get so much for just 5 bucks! Their cream puffs are super good and well...creamy...
I like this location and the one in Lynnwood, University District and even Capitol Hill. MY LEAST FAVORITE IS THE ONE IN BALLARD. It seems like they hired the RUDEST teenagers there. The Ballard location is clean but it's almost like you trade cleanliness for smaller portions, rude staff and they are always out of side stuff like cilantro...
Stick with the locations I listed above and stay away from the Ballard Than Brothers
Edmonds, WA
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Northgate
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Bitter Lake
Category: Vietnamese
Shoreline, WA
Category: Restaurants
A list of places that serve great food from around…
Great places to visit for good food and fast…
