Pho Ba Reviews

Pho Bac, or "Pho Ba" as their sign says, if the best pho in the city of Seattle. There are actually 2 other "Pho Bac" restaurants, so make sure that you check the address of where you are going. This place has the best broth around, and be aware that they only accept cash.

Great Vietnamese food!!

We had a quick meal - just a fried rice which was really tasty - quite outstanding. Plus a beef chow menu - very nice with a great tangy taste. Prices are reasonable , tax included. Friendly service. Unlicensed

I'm a huge fan of South and/or East Asian soups, and have eaten tons of them from London to LA, and this is easily the best pho bo noodle soup I can remember eating. The broth was a medium brown and almost crystal clear. It was well balanced; an initial slight hit of sweet and then savoury delicious fat drawn out to a very slight hint of sour for a finish, with an earthy beef backbone through the whole bowl. Just enough lip smacking fat to lightly coat your tongue. Broth-wise, I would prefer a bit more aromatics for the nose, to enhance the taste when I'm almost face down in the bowl. *disclaimer: I added some Thai basil, 1/8 of a lime, and a nice dollop of the chilli oil - pepper flakes and all. I could see a minority of people wanting/complaining for more meat, but I think most people will be happy with what's typically given. And hey, pho soup isn't meant to be a prominent meat dish anyways. The pho noodles were near perfect as well. They were the vermicelli type, but not so fine they clumped together and become a thick long gob to chew through. Each noodle carried itself and provided texture to each mouthful. They were perfectly cooked, just al dente enough, and maintained their consistency for the short time they were in the hot broth. The CASH ONLY & TAX INCLUDED prices are now $8 for a "small" bowl and $9 for a large. Decent value if you're just looking at volume of food for the price, great value for how damn good a bowl of it is! I'll need great discipline to keep my lunch visits here to an affordable amount.

Here everytime I am back visiting Seattle. Have the #10 (large if I am extra hungry, regular if I am not). The broth is flavorful, the meat is just right. If you have a pho craving just go here

This is a great place for Pho although there are other options. We also tried the noodles, the stir fry and the vegetarian option. The sign now says Pho Ba, but the broth is still delicious.

We really enjoyed the beef brisket pho-- much better than the pho place in our hometown. The food came quickly, and the prices were very fair in this quaint joint. This place isn't flashy but is focused on the food. Would recommend!

If you don't mind sitting in what amounts to a hovel lit with Christmas lights, you are going to enjoy the Pho immensely. Seriously, seriously good food.

Don't be put off by the exterior or the lack of posh tablecloths or fine dining....this is an authentic family run PHO restaurant. Let the food speak for itself. Good selection to choose from and food is freshly cooked with care and passion. Fantastic value and good size portions $8.50 for mains you can't go wrong... go in sit down and enjoy tasty authentic food or carry on and eat in a restaurant with fancy surroundings and ambience and the food won't be as good and you will pay more...

Good food and for Seattle a good price eith big portions. Meals are 10-11 dollars. As you can imagine little atmosphere but the food is wonderful. They do not take credit tho

Pho bac is my favourite vietnamese restaurant in Seattle. They moved from the 7th Ave to 1809 Minor Ave (few minute by foot far). The pho is very good and the service is perfect. The restaurant is bright. Prices are low

Superbly fresh, plentiful. Lots of side sauces and extras. Banh Mi sandwiches also top notch and inexpensive! Service was polite and unobtrusive throughout.

This place has been there ages. A flatiron shaped building rigged out like a ferry (hence bac - vietnamese and French for ferry). The building even has a bow on the piinty end to simulate the boat. Kitchy but great. They only do pho but that's why you go there. Not fancy but based on the mountain of bones in the dumpster, all the food is from scratch. It's as good as the stuff I had in Vietnam

My favorite pho in Seattle. Can't go more than a few weeks without it. I'd feel like a cheat if i were to have it anywhere else. I really do think they are the best (and I can name a half dozen people who think the same!)

Not in the mood to cook and didn't want to dine out. Struck by an unknown inspiration we drove to Seattle's International District on the advice of a friend to get take out from Pho Bac. (The "c" on the sign has disappeared and on some websites it is called "Pho Ba".) Two delightful ladies were operating the restaurant -- one came from the kitchen to take our order "to go". We had tofu spring rolls (orders of two) and spring rolls which included shrimp (orders of two rolls). The rare sliced beef pho is wonderful. The beef is paper thin and raw. At home, when one puts the noodles in the bowl, the beef with herbs on top, and then pours over the hot broth the meat cooks before one's very eyes. (Just as intended). The broth was delicious and did not rely on "over saltiness" to have flavour. The accompanying basil, bean sprouts, jalepenos, sauces, and lime were all very fresh and made for a wonderful meal. We also had orders of vermicelli noodles with stir-fried shrimp and vermicelli noodles with stir-fried chicken. All fresh, good portions, and great julienned carrots, basil, cucumbers as an accompaniment for this dish. Fish sauce was very good. Take out comes in compostable cardboard containers and is packed with necessary chop sticks, napkins, and American cutlery. Nice to be able to sit at home and have a great meal. Well worth the money.

This location is Pho Ba, not Bac. What it lacks in ambience it makes up for in flavor. Great pho with tasty broth and great meat too. They also make a good ban mi. Family run with friendly service. *cash only*

This place serves a nice bowl of Pho and also has a better menu than most Pho places with lots of Asian favorites. Easily spend under $10 per person with tax.

Short ribs were good as well. Kids really liked the basic pho. Decent prices, good food. Would recommend.

For some reason, it tastes the best. Love it. Check out http://www.yelp.com/biz/pho-ba-seattle-2

I wouldn’t be drawn to enter this restaurant if I was just walking in the area. That being said go in and enjoy a simple pho lunch. Food - 3 The pho is decent, broth is very beefy and more of a southern Vietnam flavor focus. The difference between a large and small bowl is the amount of noodles. The rest is pretty much the same. The amount and quality of meat in the pho dac biet is great. The meat was tender and tasty. Unfortunately, the egg rolls were less than average, skip it if you can. Service - 3 Must have been the owner or owners wife, she was quick but not very friendly. At least she leaves you alone to slurp down your bowl of noodles. Atmosphere - 2 Has a hole in the wall feel but a dirty and weathered one. Dirty walls and old metal/pleather seating with wobbly tables. I would say just focus on you meal and get out. Will return if I am in the area and hungover.

Down at heal sort of place in a down at heal part of town. All very Hanoi. But visuals are deceptive. Great pho to be had. The beefy broth with brisket very umami (the veggie pho, full of crunchy carrots, broccoli and cabbage, was served on a beef broth, as it should be!). Freshly squeezed lemon juice spot on. Reasonably priced. (Definitely) don’t come for the way it looks, but rather for the way it tastes!

After visiting Vietnam earlier this year, my family and I have searched out good Pho wherever we go. Pho Bac doesn't disappoint. We visited Seattle over Christmas week and on the recommendation of a friend tried this '' grimey hole in the wall with the best food ever ''. His words not ours. In fact it's actually a small clean retro style joint in the shape of a boat. like an old 60's diner. We took a cab from our hotel downtown ( about ten minutes or ten dollars) and the owner called a cab for us to return. We tried a beef Pho, Chicken Pho and Shrimp vegetable Pho, all were delicious and served with hot green tea. Small bowl $ 6-50 and Large $ 7-50 total for dinner for three about twenty five bucks. not bad for seattle. I highly recommend this restaurant, good food with nice staff, Bring a phrase book, no english except for the owner.

A nice, clean place in china town. The soup and stir fry were just so good! I can't wait to go again

Each time I'm in Seattle, I make a point of visiting Pho Ba. I either have their vegetarian pho or their tofu banh mi. They never disappoint me. Last week I had their pho, and as usual it was very flavorful, full of perfectly cooked vegetables and (fried) tofu, and with the added beansprouts, basil and chiles and hot sauce I was one happy camper. They are a small family business and deal only in cash, so if you visit, make sure to bring cash with you. Prices are very reasonable.

Don't let the store front scare you away. The pho is good. Fast, friendly service and reasonable prices. The decor and furnishing are well used... We always start with fresh springs rolls..Tasted great. I normally order the beef pho, but switched it up for chicken. It just was not the same.. stick with the beef. They provided lots of sprouts, lime and jalapenos ( more than than normal).. Service was friendly and quick.. In the area and hungry for Pho.. this is a great place to stop as you head to Century LInk or Safeco field.

I ordered fry rice noodle with beef and veggies. Waiting more than 40min. When it came, it was over cooked and mushy. So disappointed and will never EVER go there again. The service was pretty slow

Simply terrific Pho. My wife and I seek this dish out for lunch whenever we travel and it is available, so we have had it across the country. The flavor was somewhat unique and different in a good way. Can’t use the word “authentic”, as I did not have it in Vietnam, but it was delicious. My wife had the regular size and I had the large for a buck more ($10/$11), but the only difference I could tell is that I had more broth (that I couldn’t finish) and we both had the same amount of everything else. So if you want plenty of broth pay the dollar more.