03/02/09

average average average

by ais4amelia

The ambiance is typical american pan asian - black gloss carved wooden structures and fishes. The food while cheap is average, not bad just unremarkable. Service was polite and average. If i lived in the area I would go back for take-out when I couldn't think of anything better.

• Pros: Average
• Cons: Average

02/20/09

Great Pho

by charmrose

Super good pho. Great service and I think well priced. A huge bowl of pho for $7 is a great deal if you ask me. My husband and I both ate till we were full and spent less than $25. I will definitely go back.

• Pros: Good portions, great prices
• Cons: Bathroom could have been a bit cleaner.

01/21/09

everything but the food

by trieuhoney

the only thing about this place is the service, ambiance and three color drink, everything else is overpriced and below par. my sister and i ordered a pho and some other dishes like salad and rice. starting with the pho, it was raw, which is expected, but the soup was cold! how can you possibly enjoy a good bowl of cold pho?

the rice dish was good, but the meat was on the chewier side with LOTS of char marks all over. it was "blackened" above and beyond the norm for our tastes.

the best thing was the three color dessert, but even that was super sweet. at nearly 4 dollars a cup, you are definitely not getting your money's worth.

01/13/09

Great food and so-so service!!

by MommaPanda

Food is very good!! I don't care much for "some" of the waitresses. I can think of maybe 2 waitresses that are very nice and on top of there jobs!! The other girls!! Forget about it!!! I'm lucky if I get a refill!! Or just to be checked on!! I feel like I am always flagging someone for more water or a refill on soda!!! My family has been going to pho van since they were off of Glisan on 82nd!! I have seen the positive and negative changes that the restaurant has endured!! I think that the restaurant is very clean and I like that they serve wine!! Not to many pho restaurants serve alcohol!!

I was incredibly offended by one waitress about 2 years ago. I was about 8 months pregnat and I was a little selfconcious due to my pregnancy. As our waitress was about to seat us she took a few steps and then stopped and turned around, looking me up and down and asked very puzzled "can you fit in a booth"??? I looked at her turning 10 shades of red "Yes'!!!! Then she had the nerve to say "well I didn't know"!! I just think she could have asked if I prefer a booth or table!! Or if she didn't think I could fit in a booth sit me at a damn table!!

Why do I go back?? Food is very good!! Try the creme' brulee!! It is wonderful!! It is clean!! and It is worth the bad service!! Sorry to say!!!

• Pros: Food is great and the serve alcohol
• Cons: Very bad sevice!! slow, lucky to be checked on!!

10/05/08

Poor customer service

by nangchan

The service was extremly poor and seemed like only catered to the white people. I'm not a racial person but they were giving all the white people there better service. I was blown aways since i'm asian myself and I would never treat any customers differently. I would never go back there. I felt very alienated there. Would never recommended this place to any friends or family. There are so many other Pho places in portland that is cheaper and the food at "Pho Van" was not tasty. Very over priced and over rated.

• Pros: none
• Cons: Poor service

10/03/08

Quit Complaining about a DOLLAR

by FoodDelight

Let me Defend Pho Van against all the negativity by the "ethnic pho eaters". I keep hearing complaints about about the prices. Essentially it comes down to paying 1$ more for the price compared to other Pho Places in town. However, keep in mind the $1 difference one is paying for, in return you are getting a nice, clean atmosphere, adequate service, and consistent food without the "THUMB SPECIAL" (Food servers bring your pho bowl out with a thumb or two in your bowl, Pho Oregon is notorious for this). The other sour point from many reviewers is the poor service. I find the service adequate. Personally Vietnamese and Chinese restaurant's have a bad to adequate service in general, so any service is usually a plus.

Personal Favorites:

Best BUN MANG VIT in town (Duck with Bamboo Shoots)

Best Egg Rolls in town

• Pros: Nice atmostphere, good food
• Cons: Entrees a dollar more compared to other Vietnamese Eateries

08/02/08

Great food

by Angelita007

Highly recommend the sugarcane shrimp hand rolls, and green papaya salad. I have always been satisfied and come home with lots of leftovers. On weekends I recommend early dinner (5-6 pm start) for best service and quick food.

01/25/08

Consistently great

by papayamaya

I just read the last review before me for this restaurant and I find it quite baffling. We can't possibly both be talking about Pho Van. I think this customer must be angry and dillusional. At any rate, I just wanted to say what a wonderful restaurant it is. Always good service, and fast. Also, the main courses are under $10 a piece. I feel like I am getting excellent food when I am there but am not paying an arm and a leg. The decor of the restaurant is also quite nice.

11/30/07

POOR SERVICE, HIGH PRICES but good food.

by lovepho

Extremely distasteful service each and everytime I'm there. Servers are rude with extremely poor customer service. Unfortunately, what keeps drawing me back once in a great while when I can tolerate the prices and service are the excellent rice plates. Caucasion's are preferred there no doubt. Next time you're there, look around you and you'll notice native pho eater's are scarce. Prices are way too high. However, I will admit food is delicious and like no other. BUT, you can get tastier pho for a cheaper price without discrimination many other places in Portland. I recommend Pho Vietnam or Pho Hung. It's better to order to go should you need that rice plate from Pho Van.

• Pros: Vietnamese rice plates
• Cons: Service is slow and poor

10/12/07

Great customer service and delicious food.

by antonio97b

First off, great customer service. The waiter was prompt and polite and the food was good too. We had the Bun ga (honey lemon grass chicken) and Mi Văn (pork and shrimp noodle soup) with lotus tea and a mango black iced tea. All of it was great and it was in large portions, leaving plenty of left overs. The soup alone is enough to feed two people. I am defiantly coming here again and again. The waiter was so good at his job, I hardly knew he was there. At the same time, I had my drinks refilled fast and felt like we were well taken care of. Not only that. It was a good price also! Two entrees, two types of tea, and a side of rice all for under $20!

I would take these over cheese burgers anyday.

• Pros: Delicious food with large portions , great customer service, and a good price.
• Cons: None.