Pho Vihn Vietnamese Restaurant
- El Maguey Taqueria
- Emelina's Peruvian Restaurant
- San Carlos Autoworks
Pho Vinh San Carlos, Vibrant Authentic Vietnamese Pho
Pho Vinh: The Best Pho In the Bay Area, According to Loyal Customers
If you’re searching for that soul-hugging kind of meal—the sort that warms your belly and heart in equal measure—look no further than Pho Vinh. This San Carlos local gem has quietly built a loyal following by doing one thing really well: serving up the best, home-style Vietnamese Pho with flavor that sings. Whether it’s a breezy lunch, a rainy-day dinner, or a nostalgic craving for broth done right, Pho Vinh hits the spot.
Pho Vinh is known for its generous portions, freshly made dishes, and consistent service. From regular weekday lunch-goers to weekend pho fanatics, this mom-and-pop spot has something that keeps folks coming back.
Ambiance
Pho Vinh keeps it simple and inviting — no frills, no fuss, just a clean, cozy space with hints of personality. You’ll find a few lovely aquariums bubbling in the corners, well-tended plants, and a soft hum of Vietnamese pop in the background. It’s a warm, family-style setup that’s easy to settle into whether you’re dining in solo or catching up with friends over big steaming bowls.
Service Quality
This place is all about heart. The owners are a lovely Vietnamese couple who treat guests like family. Review after review praises the fast service, friendly faces, and thoughtful little touches—like remembering your usual order or adjusting the spice level to your liking. Even when packed, they manage to get food out hot, fast, and with genuine smiles. That’s the kind of old-school hospitality you just don’t find everywhere.
Price
Prices are very fair for what you get. Most regulars mention big portions (seriously, one bowl can be two meals!) and consistently fresh ingredients. While a few folks note that Pho Vinh can be a bit more expensive than other pho joints, nearly all agree it’s worth it for the flavor and quality.
Top 7 Most Popular Dishes
Based on mentions across Yelp and Facebook, here are the fan favorites that have locals and visitors alike coming back for more:
- Pho Tai (Rare Beef Pho) – Thin-sliced beef and a rich, aromatic broth. A classic, done right.
- Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (BBH) – A fiery, deeply flavorful broth with vermicelli noodles. Loved for its heat and soul-soothing depth.
- Shrimp Spring Rolls – Fresh, tightly wrapped rolls paired with a peanut sauce people rave about (often asking for a second cup!).
- Imperial Rolls – Crispy and packed with flavor. Many say these are the best in the Bay Area.
- Chicken Pho (Pho Ga) – Clean, comforting broth with white meat chicken. Simple, satisfying.
- Seafood Noodle Soup – A generous bowl loaded with shrimp, squid, and fish cake in a savory broth.
- Egg Rolls – Classic Vietnamese crispy rolls served hot and crunchy, often mentioned alongside pho.
Final Thoughts
Pho Vinh is more than just a neighborhood pho spot—it’s a local treasure. From their deeply flavorful broths to the spot-on service, it’s easy to see why so many call it their go-to. Whether you’re after a warming bowl on a chilly day or the crunch of a perfect imperial roll, Pho Vinh delivers every time. You’ll leave full, cared for, and probably already planning your return.
Resources
Pho Vihn Official Yelp Page
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Top Reviews
Jason K. | Chicago, IL 
Best pho I’ve ever had. Rich, flavorful broth and surprisingly delicious noodles, which I never knew could be such a star of the dish. Will be back with my wife.
Luke S. | San Mateo, CA
This place doesn’t play when it comes to pho. I don’t get my pho anywhere else. This is my go-to pho place. The parking isn’t that easy, but if it’s difficult, you can just park across the street. I love the vegetarian options.
Jaky Y. | Burlingame, CA
Give this small mom-and-pop place a try! There are a number of parking spots in the plaza, and we’ve never had an issue finding parking.
Pho Vinh is owned and operated by a friendly Vietnamese couple. Service is always very prompt and welcoming. We’ve been seated immediately every time we’ve gone, and food comes out quickly and piping hot.
We’ve tried a number of items, from their pho to BBH to spring rolls, and everything is great.
The space is clean and tidy (and there’s a big fish tank at the front of the restaurant), the food and service are great, and it’s overall a great spot for a quick lunch or dinner.
Doug S. | Tracy, CA
We were coming into town to take our teenage kids to lunch and be able to relax and catch up. Most of us ordered the Pho Ga, which is the chicken pho, and it was excellent. Fresh food and the chicken was all white meat. The service was friendly and seemed to be family-owned. Great spot for some delicious Vietnamese food. Ordered the egg rolls as well, and they didn’t disappoint.
Betty G. | Antioch, CA
Service was lovely, the restaurant is so peaceful, and the food is perfect! 10/10 definitely coming back.
Daron N. | Redwood Shores, Redwood City, CA
I’ve been coming here for years and this is the best pho I’ve had in the Bay Area. Nowhere has broth as flavorful as here. The staff is incredibly kind and hardworking to get your food as quickly as possible. A little bit more expensive than other places, but none will be as good as Pho Vinh!
Raelene H. | Redwood City, CA
I used to come here for the pho and their yummy broth. I don’t eat a lot, and one day years ago, I stumbled on the shrimp spring rolls. I just love them and always order them these days. I’ve gotten friends on board and we all get them now.
Fresh. Nicely made. Simple. Satisfying and adore their peanut sauce (usually need two for an order)!
The pho is very good too. As noted, their broth is quite tasty. I prefer the thin-sliced beef in my pho. They do a good job on the lean, thin cut.
I can’t do cilantro, and these folks are respectful of that quirk. And don’t make mistakes.
Overall, my favorite place for shrimp spring rolls. Not even going to try anyplace else. I did once and was disappointed. Why mess with success?
My friend thought the shrimp would be more expensive, so ordered the grilled chicken spring rolls. She said they were fine but will order the shrimp next time. The price is the same. She also loves the peanut sauce.
Parking can be tight. But persevere. The plants are well tended and clean and they make the rather bleak location nice.
Maybel M. | Waiʻanae, HI
Great food and service! We ordered pho and the broth was flavorful, ingredients fresh, and good portions.
Food came out quickly, staff was kind and attentive. We would definitely go back.
Samuel R. | Kaneohe Station, HI
I haven’t had that good of pho in a very long time. This place brought the standard back up for me. 10/10 recommend.
Roma H. | Fremont, CA
Service with a smile and amazing food—couldn’t ask for better. I had spicy beef noodle soup with rice noodles and asked them to make it extra hot. Typically pho places ask me to add spicy sauce on the table to do so, but the staff here obliged. It was perfect spicy for me. I will definitely come here again when I am in the Redwood City area.
Kalyan W. | Belmont, CA
It is just amazing and simple. The imperial rolls are exquisite and combined with the beef pho is the best thing I have had.
Anna R. | San Francisco, CA
Delicious food. Ordered pho with beef. Huge portions with great quality ingredients. Highly recommend this place.
Richard S. | Foster City, CA
This is our go-to pho place for our family. We have been coming here for almost ten years and the food is always consistently good. We love the imperial rolls, calamari, and of course the pho tai. The owners are a wonderful family and always very pleasant. They greet their guests with a smile and are always very polite and gracious.
Kristen S. | New York, NY
Great pho with fantastic broth, good serving sizes, and friendly service. Exactly what I needed on a rainy day! (Also, ambiance-wise I loved sitting next to their fish tanks, which look very well taken care of.)
Tiffany O. | San Mateo, CA
The food here was SO GOOD. It’s pretty cold outside so the soup was great for this kind of weather. Service was very fast. Highly recommend.
Kim C. | East Oakland, Oakland, CA
My family’s go-to pho spot. We at least come once a week and always leave so happy. Their iced coffee is definitely my favorite!
Howard T. | Fremont, CA
I’m Vietnamese and I grew up having pho Sunday morning every week with my family. This brings me back to my childhood and the service is quite nice. We all had a bowl at the same time, so they definitely tasted their food before selling it to you.
Gina N. | Pacifica, CA
I love this place. The pho is fresh and hot. I come here regularly and it’s always good. It’s a plus that the owner is very nice. I would recommend this place.
Ireland S. | Los Angeles, CA
I loved Pho Vinh! Greeted with genuine smiles and warmth from everyone inside. It’s a cozy, clean, and charming spot, and I’m excited to go back 🙂
The portions are very large and came with plenty of toppings and chicken. The chicken was cooked well too. Thanks Pho Vinh for a lovely meal!
Linda G. | Redwood City, CA
Best pho and other food plates in the Bay Area. We are regulars and always come back. Love this place and the service.
Lucas B. | Belmont, CA
This is a hidden gem. The pho and everything else we ordered were all amazing. The portions are very generous as well. The owners are extremely friendly and provided awesome service, always making sure none of our water glasses ran empty. Support this mom-and-pop shop! Best pho I’ve had in the area.
JJ C. | Palo Alto, CA
This tiny place doesn’t get enough praise! Food is amazing, the woman who works here is SO FRIENDLY, and the three aquariums in the restaurant are beautifully maintained.
Besides the pho, I’ve gotten the imperial rolls which came with loads of herbs (which I love), and the Vietnamese noodle wrap which was great too and so unique!
Jess H. | Santa Clara, CA
Best pho we have ever had! We love the family too! Super sweet, kind, and best customer service!
We usually don’t like pho to-go but they changed our minds! It’s hard going out to eat with a little one so we decided to give their to-go pho a try and we are so glad we did. They even give you cute little pho bowls to-go!