Pho Cali Vietnamese Restaurant Reviews

I recommend this restaurant for Vietnamese Pho in Chinatown. Excellent Pho soup for an affordable price. Ab unassuming exterior and not one of the fancier restaurants in Chinatown. Food and service, however, is in abundance.

Omg!!!!! We were here because I read a comment that some said on IG that this was the BEST authentic pho spot in Philly! So my husband and I had to check it out for ourselves. Let’s just say we will definitely eat here AGAIN when we are back in Philly. The place is very clean, the owners were very attentive and friendly. I had the chicken pho, my hubby ordered the well done beef pho. I think it was number 12 and 22 on the menu. Freaking delicious! We ordered two Singha Thai beers of course to go with our dishes. Plus I’m half Thai so I’m going to ordered us Thai’s beers! Lol the hot spicy 🌶️ peppers was the best!!!!! This place will be added to our Philly eat list for sure.

Had the Shrimp Pho and loved it! Also the Spring rolls were super fresh! Good prices as well! Most restaurants in the area are Chinese so this was a nice surprise to find! Not a whole lot on the menu other than Pho but if you like Pho, there are plenty of choices!

Went here off of a buddy of mine raving about the place. It was cheap, he got that right. The soup I had was ok, nothing spectacular. Service normal. I felt a little resentment after i showed up prior to my party arriving and asked to use the restroom but the guy at the cashier wouldnt let me... I was not dressed as a bum... Overall decent soup for cheap when you see the portion

I enjoyed a big bowl of Pho Bo Vien (Beef Meatball Pho Noodle Soup) at Pho Cali and it was delicious! The serving size was large (I was unable to finish it) and it was a good value for money! The service was friendly and fast. The restaurant is fairly small, but comfortable. The location is quite central. I really enjoyed my meal at Pho Cali.

This is a casual family restaurant. Our dinner was ok. I would have expected the summer rolls to have mint, as previously tasted in other similar places. Overall it was an ok experience. The place was full on Saturday evening, which is always a good sign.

This place was busy when we went in, but we were seated quickly. The food was great and very reasonably priced. I ordered the Vietnamese hoagie and my wife ordered some type of spicy noodle dish both were excellent. The kids split a plate of rice with chicken. When the bill came I almost thought they made a mistake, it was so cheap for what we got.

Mmmmm. If this restaurant were in my town, I would be there every week. The soup is delicious, to die for. Very clear, aromatic and elegant with a nice amount of noodles even in the large (smaller than the jumbo). Fresh herbs and hot peppers round out the dish. I ordered a combination of beef and tripe. Really a delicious and well done restaurant. As an added bonus, the service is kind and friendly. Make the trip to Chinatown if you want to try really outstanding traditional Vietnamese soup!

Been here several times. Consistently good Pho and friendly and efficient service. Will definitely return.

Good pho, good price. Friendly and fast service. We often stop there before a show. The pork cake is nice.

Small family run restaurant on Arch Street near the Convention Center. Many beef pho options, Vietnamese spring rolls and a single chicken and single vegetarian option. A plate of limes, sprouts and mint is brought to the table to allow you to customize your pho experience. Dinner for 4 including soda or tapioca smoothie drinks came to just under $50 including tax and tip.

Friendly, quick service. Good pho and a clean place. We stopped in for lunch and liked it a lot. Some seating is communal, and take out is available.

Depending on how you read the title you may notice I said a swear word legally on TripAdvisor!! I happen to think that my heart pumps out noodle soup broth instead of blood since I’ve had so much noodle soup in my life!! I went to the Lincoln financial field to watch the wannabe eagles (also known as the Temple Owls) play football!! The game made no sense to me and Temple lost and then after I went out for pho!! I got brisket and steak pho and it was a very good experience!! I went to an NBA arena last night to see Bill Burr and it made me feel like a new man afterwards and I realized only NBA arenas and noodle soup and also kickboxing make me feel very good about life!! The broth was very good and the noodles were cooked well!! I also got summer rolls and Vietnamese coffee which was very strong!!

For something that is at the corner, it definitely gets the college and white crowd who want the Vietnamese food. But for its seeming monopoly, its quality is not that great. The broth in the pho is too bland and the crowd here are mostly Americans and people who clearly don't visit Chinatown in depth to know that the locals and authentic people go to the one on 9th and Race right in front of Nineting. This place is overpriced for their quality. Bland pho for like 10$? Come on. The real deal is on 9th for 7$ and it's crowded and good in there. The spring rolls here were iceberg lettuce and shrimp. Kinda gross when it should have a sliver of basel and use more authentic ingredients.

The thinnest rice noodles swimming in bowls of fragrant broth with crisp slivers of beef & pork - to say nothing of the delicate shrimp rolls! Really with so many variations & combos on the menu it's hard to decide. What's lacking in atmosphere is compensated with authenticity & fast service.

Bottom Line: Nearly empty during lunch time should say enough. I'd look for something else in the area. Details: We stopped in around 1pm to a mostly empty restaurant. That should have been a sign to leave but we were hot and starving and this restaurant was pretty much where we decided to stop looking. Clean looking with a menu posted outside that seemed to offer a good variety. After taking our order we were set up with some bean sprouts and silverware that was obviously not cleaned as the spoon was still covered in some kind of sauce (gross). Combine that with my clear view in to the kitchen where I saw the woman who took my order (and just clean some things by the register) assemble our food grabbing and tossing in things with her (hopefully clean) hands. I say hopefully because she did just about everything and I don't recall seeing her wash them. In any case, the food was just ok...not great and not bad but considering that we were starving this should have tasted amazing regardless. Not going to be a next time for us.

Idk what people are complaining about. I've been to Vietnam. I lived in Houston where I ate in little Saigon all the time. This place was very good. The quality of the meats was good. The waiter was fast and spoke perfect English. It was clean. The bathroom was clean. I left my map on the table and when I went back the waiter cheerfully ran to get it for me. We had pho bo and pho ga. Both were tasty. I'd go every week if I lived in Philly.

I ordered a Rare Beef with Tendon Pho. Arrived quickly piping hot. Pho was nice. The broth could be a bit more flavorful. Staff were courteous. There's a clean bathroom. Cash only.

My husband and I went before a show at the Troc. Great food, good service, and great prices. I got the vegetarian pho and spring rolls and my hubby got the vermicelli noodle bowl with the pork. He loved his and I love mine, would go again .

I just went there for take out to my hotel they were very efficient and the Pho was excellent. It seemed to have a nice atmosphere and the staff very attentive

We ordered the crispy spring rolls and they were very good but small. The pork Bahn mi was delicious. We'd love to come back and try the pho. It was too warm out for us to have hot soup that day. Would definitely recommend.

We were in the city to see the Christmas Mart around City Hall. After doing some shopping, we decided to grab a bite before some of our group headed back to Virginia. I suggested Pho Cali and everyone was fine with that. Most of the group ordered the various renditions of Pho. Great food, great service. Very accommodating of large group at last minute.

3 of us ate dinner here prior to the Philly Flower Show. None of the dinner options exceeded $9. Soup dishes are huge and come with side of fresh vegetable ingredients that you can use as desired. I ordered the grilled pork (Item #45). Very small meat portion. Pork had good char but very little seasoning. Meat looked pathetic sitting on top of a big bed of rice. Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk was poor at best. I almost think it could have been a pre-made mix of some sort. Very weak with minimal coffee punch. Salted plum soda was rather unique. Unusual and actually quite good. The problem with this place is there is no consistency. Some dishes were reasonably seasoned. Others needed help. At best, this is a hit or miss place. One waitress for at least 20 diners. She was not very friendly, and we definitely had communication issues. Appears that she went strictly by numbers on the menu. The men's room was the size of a telephone booth. I have no clue how a tall gentleman could ever use it without blowing the door of the hinges. Plus the room had graffiti on the soap dispenser and door. One of my all time pet peeves. If they leave that crap in the bathrooms, what's left in the kitchen. This is cheap eats. Our total bill for the 3 of us was $34. Even though my daughter's shrimp were poor at best, I may be convinced to try this place again. It's sort of like that box of chocolates joke...maybe next time I will score something outstanding for really cheap.

Located within Chinatown, my wife and I tried this place because we like Vietnamese food. Both the interior and exterior are very unassuming. Seating is somewhat limited, although there was no wait for seats for lunch on a Monday. Seating has some elements of family style, as if you sit at a long table, you could be joined by others who sit at the other end. Good selection of food, from soups to sandwiches, and appetizers. Food is very affordable. I needed to spend a minimum of $15 to use a credit card, and it was a challenge! Sandwiches are big and very cheap. I had the fried spring roll appetizer and it was fantastic. Sandwich had good flavor, and was about a foot long for under $5. Their bubble teas - drinks with tapioca pearls - are very refreshing. You can even get one to go. This is the kind of place that blends in and you could walk right on by. Don't make the mistake.

Small, busy Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown . Quick service, good spring rolls and great Pho. I enjoyed the beef, & my husband had the chicken. Broth was delicious. It was a good meal on a blustery winter day!

After a day of touring museums and the 2015 Auto Show, and feeling rather bloated after an unspectacular Malaysian lunch, I needed a quick snack for a two hour ride home. ( it became three hours, we missed rt. 55 south ). Enter the Dragon, oh sorry, Phoo Cali is 100 % Vietnamese, skip or Slay the Dragon part. Since I just paid $ 25: 00 dollars for all day parking, I felt rather weary of pocket and tired of heart. Yes, that's right. Time to economize ! # 67 drew me in “ Banh Mi Thit Nuong” or press 2 for English, “ Charbroiled Pork Hoagie. I must admit , highly recommended by our friendly waiter. I was skeptical. Charbroiled usually has the flavor of charcoal briquette, over cooked meat, and the delicious sensory deception of fake wood smoke, also known as liquid smoke, which makes me gag. Perfectly cooked pork with a slight char finish, but not over done or charcoal-ed to embers . Sliced cucumber, grated carrot, grilled onion, flavors of fresh cilantro and lemon grass, with a dressing of, I'm guessing, red vinegar reduction with fresh oil and herbs. Served on a ultra fresh South Philly hoagie roll with a slight bite thru the crust and nicely textured bread. It was... SPECTACULAR. Pho Cali has a nice selection Rice soups. Soups appear to be their claim to fame. Steamed broken rice platters, and vermicelli very thin rice noodle platters are served in many combinations. This is authentic food taste's as good as home, judging by the Asian clientele. Try Pho Cali and tell me of your experience.

This place does not look much, but the food is flavored authentically and the service is fast and friendly. The prices are gentle for the quality of the meal. My husband and I were shopping in Chinatown and needed a quick bite. This restaurant, conveniently located on the corner of Arch and 10th Streets, caught our eye. I had the grilled pork chops over broken rice, which came with a salad of grated carrots, lettuce and a wedge of tomato. My husband had the roast chicken over rice. Both were extremely tasty and the portions were generous. I have a fondness for Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk, and their version hit a good balance between the flavor of deep roasted beans and the sweetness of the milk. It hit the spot! We will be back!

A little authentic gem on the corner. A bowl of Pho on a rainy afternoon hit the spot. Owners seem to do it all, serve, cook, and clean. Service was fast, even though they had a large quantity of food being picked up for take out.Yummy and fresh!

Great food, delicious pho, friendly family and friendly prices. If I live here, I would certainly come back. This is the food I loved so much in Vietnam!

My 2nd Vietnamese experience; dining with co-workers. Though we were a large group, service did not suffer. Food was good. Lots of choices - shrimp, chicken, pork or beef - over rice, or vermicelli, or noodle soups, or Vietnamese hoagie, etc. Very affordable. I recommend to call for reservation if with large group.

They had vegan options. The phone was alright, but nothing special really. My friends chicken version wasn't good, she couldn't eat the chicken.

We enjoyed a delicious vietnamese meal with the four of us. The spring rolls are really nice. The grilled beef on vermicelli was a good size portion and we liked it a lot. Very friendly staff, quick and service with a smile. We can highly recommend this place.

Walked out of the Phila. Convention Center and wandered towards the Chinatown area and looked in the window of this place. Not very crowded, but took a chance and have no regrets. Had a satisfying bowl of pho with beef and an order of spring rolls that all together were more than enough for one person. Quick service and a nice "just a place serving some Vietnamese food" vibe. Glad to have stepped in and would go again if in the area.

This is some of the best Vietnamese food in the area, very reasonable priced, and with fast and friendly service. Tried and true. Highly rated.

Great soup, bun, and broken rice dishes. Friendly service. Flavorful pho. With a small number of eateries open for eat in lunches in Chinatown we went back to an old standby and we were not disappointed. We introduced two new colleagues to Vietnamese cuisine and they didn’t know what to expect. They are now ready for their journey…

Perfect pho soup with fresh fixings. Family owned so be patient and extra friendly. Good for takeout too. Business was booming.

Excellent pho. Quick in and out. Service was quick and soup was hot. Would recommend. Good spring rolls too.

I've eaten Pho at various restaurants in Philly. Pho Cali ranks near the bottom of my list. I will not be going back. The Pho was just ok.. Probably average or worse then average tasting.. The service was terrible.. But one good point was that our meals arrived very fast.. But that probably means that the Pho just sits there in a pot boiling all day ..

When you are in the mood for Pho and in the area this is a great choice. Pho is such "comfort food" and really warming on a cold day. Very bare bones atmosphere but good service, good food, and super cheap prices make this an excellent choice if this is what you are looking for.

I order delivery from this place often. My boss goes in to eat. Food is consistently good. Service is fast. If it's much cheaper than this place, stay away.

We stopped here after visiting the Flower Show. It isn't a huge place but there are enough different table arrangements to work for any size group. We were seated immediately at a small table for two and given our menus..........plenty to choose from. We started with spring rolls........we ordered 8 (we were hungry!) and they were brought very quickly. Very tasty. We then ordered our meal - dh ordered a charbroiled beef hoagie and I had pork over vermicelli. The hoagie was a normal size - and only $4.50! My dh said it was excellent. My meal was the perfect size for my smaller appetite and very good. There was enough to fill a small box to take home leftovers. If you're looking for good food, with pleasant staff and quick service, don't pass this by!

Full on authentic Vietnamese food. Great service and mellow atmosphere. Both Seafood & pho were delicious and expertly prepared. We sat looking out on arch street, lots of people watching and eating delicious hot food. Great afternoon meal.

Good portions for the price (10 or less per person) but taste is average quality. Pork chop needs more seasoning, only could taste the char, and soups had a plain broth. Standard, but nothing special.

This place has very good food quality! Many choices!!! Prices are great!!! This is a must do if you are in the area and craving Viet food!!!!

It’s all good here. If you want pho and are in Philadelphia, it should curb any cravings. Service was efficient. Prices reasonable. Clean and typical atmosphere of pho noodle restaurants. Convenient location. I personally wouldn’t make a special trip to Philly to have pho.

Good pho. I would say the broth is a little on the weak side - I don't know how they are cooking it but it is not as rich as some better pho restaurants that I have been to. Nice fresh lime and thai basil, and good beef.

Waited 45 minutes to sit. We waited at the bar area and no one even came over to ask if we would like a drink. When we finally sat, we waited and waited for service. I asked for 5 egg rolls ( one for each of us) and they brought us 5 platters of egg rolls. They were cut in little pieces and had no taste at all. My Pad Thai was mediocre and so were everyone else's entrees. Not much more to say...

They really do have the best Pho in Philadelphia. I lived here for a year and frequented this place. The owners are kind and service is prompt, but don't expect them to hover over you the way American waiters do. It's got a pretty view of the Chinatown Arch, the portions are genorous, and it is reasonably priced. How much do I love this place? I now live in DC and anytime I have a few hours in Philadelphia on an airport layover or anything, I go here. It is that good, and I miss it being so close.

This is my favorite place to get Pho in Philly Chinatown. The service is always very fast so its great if you're in a hurry. AND I think they have the best spring rolls in Chinatown (that I've tried.) Yummmmm.

Nothing spectacular about Pho Cali, but definitely worth a visit. Seems like a family owned and run kind of place, offers tasty food, and at good prices.

Impromptu date night in Philly. Was in the mood for Pho and Pho Cali did not disappoint. Delicious Pho, good service and atmosphere. Will return!

Food is great but restaurant is nothing special. Looks like a café. Service is fast . The servers don't speak English well so have to point out what you want on the menu

I love this place. It's family owned and operated. The pho is consistently great. I've bounced around the menu but have landed on #2, the smaller of two house specials. When with a friend, a pair of spring rolls is a must. The shrimp rolls are delightful if you're fixing for fried goodness. They also serve beer if you're thirsty. Be aware that English is definitely a second language. The friendly woman is in charge and she understands more than she can return. It's ok to point at what you want on the menu. As it gets colder, check out Pho Cali for a steamy bowl of pho (they are open until 10 PM)!

So the food here is good, and cheap. However, the service is not good. The service is slow and not very friendly. If you are looking for proper Vietnamese food, go here, but prepare for service that isn’t interested in customers. At that, the place has a unfresh look.

Across from the famous Philadelphia Chinatown this Philadelphia Vietnamese restaurant does pho right! Great location with a large dining room and friendly and efficient staff. I had the vegetable pho, it starts out some bland but you can add your hot sauce and jalapeños to it to make it as spicy as you like! Good fair prices for large bowls of pho.

affordable, menu with pictures but still not 100% what its. good original beer from Vit. good location but the sidewalk where the kitchen entrace was nasty. Assuming that they poul out the grease or whatever into the street. Probably need soap and water to clean up. Food is good.

Found this place using reviews on Trip Advisor. We were here during COVID so it was really empty and maybe not like normal. Shrimp spring rolls were really sticky and fishy 👎🏻 and the spring rolls weren’t that great. The chicken and tofu pho was quite good - fresh and had flavor and we really liked how the tofu was prepared. Great selection of Asian beers.

Located on a corner the Pho Cali restaurant from the outside is not very appealing, but if you go in the food is GREAT. Atmosphere is a bit dark and it is small but they make up for it. I would definitely come back YUMMMMM

We dropped in for lunch before a walking tour and had a great lunch. I had the Shrimp and Broken Rice and my wife had the Char Broiled Pork Po Boy. Both were fantastic. Good quick service too.

We happened in this relatively small restaurant by chance as we were looking for an inexpensive place to eat something close to the hotel after we had visited Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. I was a bit reluctant but overall I had great noodles, with a great selection of how to compose the dish. My kids loved it and we are looking now also at home for a comparable place. The service was a bit messy, having forgot the dish for my son, but quickly recovered... Prices are ok, on the cheap side.

Stopped here for lunch with my wife. Great food, great service. I had Pho Ga, my wife had the shredded pork over broken rice. This will be one of our stopping point each time we come back to Philly.

My Philly pho go to! Right around the corner from the greyhound station and always makes for a quick meal getting off your bus or right before you leave. They're quick so you'll be in and out within half an hour or less, depending on how fast you eat. My #1 spot is still on Washington Ave but if you're looking for something that's not as out of the way, I'd recommend Pho Cali for sure! It will not disappoint!