Phở Duyên Mai

Pho Duyen Mai is an unassuming, spacious spot in Kearny Villa Square, great for accommodating both small and large groups. The service was quick and efficient. The food was the highlight. The filet mignon pho was served hot and steaming with tender, medium-rare beef and a rich, flavorful broth. A heartwarming dish on a cold, rainy evening. The charbroiled pork paste rolls were outstanding; the savory pork was balanced by the crunch of fresh lettuce and pickled cucumber and daikon. While the shrimp spring rolls were a nice bite, they were outshone by the pork paste rolls. The grilled beef vermicelli came in a generous portion with plenty of fresh vegetables, though the beef did have a few tough bites. Logistics: There is a large free parking lot in both the front and back. For the waitlist, check in on the iPad at the entrance, but keep a close ear out. The host didn't call out loudly and text notifications lagged a bit. When you are done, walk up to the cashier in the back left with your table number to pay. Overall, a great place to grab a bowl of pho with family and friends.

Great pho and a spacious, clean restaurant. Staff were helpful. - Filet mignon pho 4/5: while it had good flavor, I don’t think I would get it again. I didn’t care for the large cuts of meat and they were difficult to eat. Next time I’ll get a more simple pho tai. - Fresh rolls 4/5: good but a bit warm for my preference

Currently the best pho in San Diego. The broth is unbeatable. Highly reccomend their pork spring rolls. Will be trying a lot more items here, salt and pepper wings were amazing too.

This was my first time dining-in. The first time I tried food here was takeout. Shortly upon walking in and "checking in" on the iPad, I was greeted and led by a server. She placed a menu on a table, returning with an iced water and asking if I was ready to order. I asked for a large #29 (Tai gau; slices of rare steak + brisket), pointing at the number to hopefully avoid confusion since I don't speak Vietnamese. Instead, for some reason, I was given a #23 (House Special; slices of rare steak, well-done steak, briskets, flanks, tendons, tripe.) I specifically didn't order that one because I've never had flanks, tendons, nor tripe. And since I've never had them before, I didn't exactly realize/recognize them in the soup. It had plenty of meat, but I don't think I care too much for the texture of tripe. It would have been nice to get the soup I actually ordered. I only hesitated to say anything until I saw the receipt, because it's been a while since I've had pho, and I thought maybe I'd remembered it differently. But my receipt confirmed that my order was indeed wrong. Nevertheless, the soup was pretty good--piping hot, with lots of noodles--and the toppings were fresh. My server checked in once or twice, but was pretty hands-off. The other staff were observant, treating patrons decently. A very efficiently-run restaurant. Ambiance-wise, the tables were kind of close together, enough where you could hear your neighbors' entire conversations. There was gentle music playing the entire time, but pretty low in the background. So, I'd say noise-wise, it was moderate. Additionally, there was a small restroom (women's and men's) at the back of the restaurant. My server never returned with my bill, so I went to the front counter to pay (maybe this is standard practice in Vietnamese restaurants?). The cashiers (two guys working the front) were kind, and quickly accommodated me when I asked for a Thai tea to-go. It was pretty standard, but I would've preferred chewier/fresher boba, in a perfect world. Overall, it was an adequate restaurant, and I'd try it again, ensuring I got the right order next time.

Rating is just for the food. Some of the best filet mignon pho (soup) and vermicelli w chicken that we’ve had in San Diego area. Summer rolls (bbq pork) were also very good. There is a touch screen at the entrance supposedly to add ur name to waiting list. However, they didn’t use it because they weren’t full. We entered our name and almost walked away to wait somewhere else and would never have been called. Very basic interior. Basic service - take order at table and pay up front.

Pho Duyen Mai never disappoints! They open at 10am, which is perfect when you're craving pho early in the day. The service is fast and friendly, and the food always comes out hot and fresh. The pho broth is hands down one of the best in town—rich, flavorful, and incredibly comforting. It’s my go-to spot for authentic Vietnamese pho. Highly recommend! Update! Still the best broth in town but today's experience is would leave 0/5 stars. I ordered my usual Pho Tai and they brought me the house special which has tripe in it. Tripe disgusts me so that was unpleasant. I told the lady I want pho tai. I said it in Vietnamese too. They took it back, removed the tripe and sent back out to me. If I wasn't so hungry I would have walked out. I will return cause I know this is a one off. I live this place just wanted to vent.

Pho Duyen Mai is amazing! My daughter ordered the pho with rare steak and I had the vegan fried tofu with lemongrass and pepper sauce. We also shared the vegan tofu spring rolls. Everything was so delicious. The portions were really big and we left feeling full and happy. The service was excellent too with friendly and quick staff. Highly recommend this place for great food and a great experience.

It was delicious! Nothing more to say! We came on a Friday and did have to way around 35 minutes but the service was fast and so worth the wait.

Busy place when you arrive at the wrong time but worth the wait if you can. Once seated service is quick! If you can't wait ...order it to go! Love the inside. Plenty of seating with great decor. You pay at the register in the back once you are done. That register is the same location you pick up to-go items. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the items on their menu. Rice dish, Pho, drinks, or appetizers. This might be our new go-to Vietnamese restaurant!

I usually have a favorite pho place in Mira mesa but my friend told me about this place and now it's my new fave! The service is fast and efficient! Lots of seating inside. They had salt and pepper wings here! It was sooo good. Forgot to take a picture of my pho but it was definitely 10/10

Came here after hearing about all of the rave reviews from my friends. There was about a 20 minute wait for a Saturday evening. The inside is very large, with plenty of seating. We got the pho and it was delicious. Would love to come back and try their other things.

The nem nuong goi cuon (pork paste rolls) are a must try!! I've never seen a restaurant include the fried wonton wrapper inside, so that was a treat and felt very home made. The texture was wonderful and the sauce was delicious with it. The bun bo hue was super flavorful. I do not prefer my bbh to have much sweetness to it, so this bowl was perfect--full of umami lemongrass flavor. If you've had Bun Bo Hue An Nam in the bay, I do prefer that, but this place was really really good! Lots of meat, including pork hock. No pork blood though, and I wish there was more banana blossom included in the fresh veggies.

Food: 3.8 Service: 4.2 Saturday night and my brother arrived before us and he was able to grab a table just before the dinner rush started rolling in. Once we were all situated, we were able to put in a drink order, then ordered: #13 shrimp spring roll, #16 pork & shrimp spring roll and fried spring roll to start. We also ordered our dinners too: house special Phó, Seafood Phò, Fried Noodle plate, and seafood Crepè. The service was so fast that all our food showed up almost at the same time; luckily we were all hungry so the food disappeared (just not as fast it was brought out to us, LOL). Their spring rolls sauce was more of a plum sauce than a peanut sauce (which I prefer). The fried noodle plate was HUGE, so my wife was happy for me because I get to eat her leftovers! The Phò was good but nothing special stood out. And their seafood crepe was super oily, but it didn't stop my brother from finishing it. Overall good value for the price, but I'll need to come back to try other items on their menu to really give a complete review.

Stumbled across this spot for Pho. Busy for a weeknight. I ended up ordering Canh cua ca aka sweet and sour catfish soup. This is my comfort meal growing up. While everyone ordered beef noodles soup, I wanted this fish soup. Haha Flavorful and the fish was fresh. I wished there were more fish but what can I expect if soup if $15. If I am in town visiting, I would def come back and try other items on the menu.

We've been here many times, and the Pork Paste Rolls are always delicious with very reasonable prices. Definitely a must-try when you visit Duyen Mai. Highly recommend!

Solid viet food. Service was good and the inside was nice. You may be able to get better viet food in San Diego but I would say this is a good choice.

I always see this place super busy and finally got to check it out. I went on a Friday evening and got seated right away. There are lots of tables inside and the servers were very attentive and quick. The menu is extensive featuring lots of Vietnamese dishes outside of pho as well. I ordered a large bowl of pho with some extra meat along with salt and pepper chicken wings. The wings came out piping hot and were really crunchy and flavorful. The pho was also really good and I really enjoyed the food. I will come back to try their other menu items!

This is a rough one because I like frequenting this Pho spot but the loss of stars is for the plastic red piece I found in my Pho Ga. I mean talk about ingesting micro plastics in food this was a macro plastic. You know this place is not known for its service but the food has always been good. My kids love the egg rolls and the way everything comes out hot and fresh is important. They took away the plastic part before I could snap a picture. But here is receipt proof of them taking off the Pho Ga below They were apologetic about it and said it was the ties for the noodles. For the 4 of it would of been over $70. Don't know if I'll be back soon.

Pho Duyen Mai is tucked within an area with industrial warehouses and a little bit off the main road. The GPS will most likely take you to the back side of the restaurant so enter from the back and head to the front to put your name on the waitlist. As for food this is a no frills Vietnamese restaurant. Food was good and consistent to everything you would expect out of vietnamese cuisine. The nem nuong here was surprisingly good. In fact I would even say they resemble 95% of the early day Brodards before they let their quality fall. I wish the nem was just grilled a tad more but it was fresh and delicious as is, highly recommend. For the pho there was not too much to speak more about. The broth was clean and the tai was cooked perfectly. It was much needed after days of heavy eating elsewhere. Overall if you're looking for a place that serves fresh food with ample amount of veggies, I would highly recommend Pho Duyen Mai. Staff was courteous and sweet.

My favorite pho spot in San Diego!! The filet mignon pho is my go to order. I always go here after a weekend out to help me recover. I ask for Sate which is a chili oil to dip my meat into or add a bit to my bowl. I also tried the coconut coffee which is like a coconut freeze with Vietnamese coffee? It was really good and I would order it again. Not pictured but I also like to order from here are the egg rolls and the shaken beef which comes on a hot skillet plate. So yummy!! When you enter the restaurant you add your name to the waiting list on an iPad. We got there around 6:30pm and were seated after 15 min. We went to the spicy Lao kitchen at the corner of the plaza to grab beef jerky.

This review is just for the banh xeo and goi cuon! I was craving vietnamese cuisine that was not pho and saw Pho Duyen Mai had a lot of street food/specialties so I decided to come here. Easy to find and big parking lot. Staff was friendly and service was quick. There was no wait at 8pm on a weekday I like that they have the option of mixed goi cuon (1 shrimp paste and 1 grilled pork roll) Banh xeo came with lots of side veggies and lettuce which I appreciate as someone who loves her veggies. Most places that have banh xeo that I've been to don't give enough lettuce. It was crispy but not excessively oily. The filling had a good amount of shrimp and bean sprouts too. Recommend to try out if youre looking for some vietnamese specialties in San Diego area

My boyfriend and I came here around 6:30pm on a Sunday night and it was packed. Signed myself up on the wait-list and waited about 10 minutes or so? We ordered an Ube Vietnamese Coffee which I took to-go to drink the next day. The melted ice to dilute the drink is a must for me, the drink as-is is too strong and bitter for my liking. For appetizer we had the Pork Paste Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon Nem Nuong) half order (qty 2) which I feel are comparable to Brodards in OC since they include fried eggroll paper in the middle. For entrees my boyfriend ordered #23 House Special Pho Dac Biet Large and I ordered the same thing in Small (minus tripe) to see if they just gave more noodles or if the ingredients would be proportional. Confirmed, it was definitely proportional because the meat to noodle ratio was consistent. My boyfriend said this is his new #1 favorite pho spot (and he's definitely a harsh food critic) so that's saying a lot!! The broth is way better than other pho spots we've gone to recently. It has more depth, it's packed with flavor, and honestly I feel like they give more meat in comparison to other pho restaurants. Would definitely recommend this place

What a diamond in the rough! We got inside, put our names down, and waited about 10-15 minutes--which is always a good sign! We were seated after two parties ahead of us. My boyfriend wasn't feeling well, so we went for some pho for the soul. I'm so grateful he suggested this place because I haven't had pho like this in the area yet. I always get beef stew with egg noodles wherever I go, and to my surprise, I was actually slurping the broth and eating the meat too! Usually, I avoid the meat and broth because it's too fatty, but this bowl was perfect. My boyfriend finished his bowl as well--he loved it. For appetizers, we got the surf & turf rolls--10/10 in my book! My boyfriend wants to try the pork next time. We also loved the wings. Def going to order it again. The place was busy, with lots of tables. Some people shared big tables but were separated, which is normal for pho spots like this. Service was fast, though friendliness wasn't as strong, maybe because it was busy. One downside: they closed the bathroom even before closing time, which was a bit weird. Either way, this might become a staple for us because we both really loved it here.

One of the best Vietnamese places in San Diego. The Banh Xeo is better and cheaper than Quan Mi in Westminster tbh. Every time I come for dinner it's always packed but you get seated rather quickly. I love the Buon Thit Nuong Cha Gio here and the Pho Tai Gau is another favorite of mines. This place rarely misses and if you are looking for a go to, look no further.

I googled best pho in San Diego and this was one of the top 3 and closest to where we were driving from so we checked it out. It's tucked into a strip mall, plenty of tables, nothing fancy in terms of ambiance. It was pretty crowded on a Thursday night, but we got a table for two right away. I really liked the multiple spring roll options. We went with surf and turf (filet and shrimp). Neither of us liked the peanut sauce--it was super thin and not super flavorful. We both got the house special pho and it was delicious. We got size small and it was PLENTY! I couldn't imagine eating the large. We really liked the broth, it has a gentle spice I haven't had before. We both missed the chili crunch that is available at most other pho restaurants. This place offers sriracha instead. For two house specials and the spring rolls we paid $43. This is about $10 cheaper than other places we eat at where we get the same meal.

Pho was good and the goi cuon were fresh tasting. Overall a good meal and helped me recover from the late night I had before!

Amazing catering Service! They were very prompt and they helped cleaned up so much. I appreciate the pricing and all the food was prepared so that it was an easy for our guest to navigate and help themselves. Highly recommend going to their restaurant because the food is consistent!

I come here at least once a week. This place is my go to whenever I don't want to cook at home. The food is always delicious. The service is quick and no-fuss which I love. I order and within five minutes the food is already out! After travels or even when I'm feeling under the weather, this is my go to stop!!! Makes me feel like I'm eating at my mom's house

Amazing pho! We went around 12pm on a Saturday. We ended up going through the back entrance and realized there's more people in the front so we cut through. There were a lot of people waiting but we were able to be seated fast. We both ordered the well done steak pho and it was so good! The meat was very tender and the noodles were chewy. It was very filling. Overall it was great pho! I highly recommend if you're in the Kearny Mesa area :-)

I've heard raving reviews about this spot for years and I have to say what people say is true!! They have the most flavorful pho. I don't need to put any hoisin or sriracha in my pho at all. It was so fragrant and it had the perfect amount of seasoning too. I ordered a large of the filet mignon pho yesterday. The staff were lovely, the restaurant is clean, and service was fast. Can't wait to come back. I will say that for a large bowl of pho, it was mostly noodles, and there was not much meat in my bowl. I'll ask for extra next time.

friendly service , there seems to always be a line out the door for this place . egg coffee was amazing , bun bo hue was delicious . place is also good for larger groups . highly recommend!

Came in from Nashville straight from the airport, and tried 4 times to place an order and the first guy that answered hung up on me 3 times, the 4th person acted like he was being bothered. The worst customer service. Even with the good food, I'd rather go somewhere else and give my money to a business that appreciates their patrons.

We want some Pho and looked up and there it was. Zero knowledge of the place, first impression "wow its packed " ( good sign) i It was a little later and they sold.out on a few dishes (good sign) Service was quick and friendly. The broth was spot on,not to greasy but still flavorful.

This still my favorite pho place but yesterday when we came a lady server took our order, when she got our order my wife ask a different server if he could ask if they they could get our drinks first because she wants to get her coffee fix first because she is very sleepy. The food came and the drinks still came in last. My favorite here is the rib pho because it has a lot of meat and kinda like braised short ribs or lamb shank. Food here is always spot on and a lot of people come here that sometimes the wait gets longer. Will be back again next time.

Amazing staple items...combo pho, combo rice plate and chicken salad All were delicious. The combo plate had a lot of variety. Definitely a spot to return again

This place has great food. Service is what you would expect at a pho place, straight to the point, cut and dry. Parking is easy to find. Great broth on the pho. Their spring rolls are delicious. I can't wait to try more of their menu. Definitely worth the drive.

The service is always so fast here. The pho is some of the best in the city in my opinion. They have the small bowl and regular/large bowl. The ingredients are always fresh and the broth is so rich. Anytime I'm feeling down, under the weather, or just down right sick I come here!

A great spot for casual and comforting pho! I ordered the large #27, which came with a huge bowl of pho with plenty of noodles, I especially liked the brisket. It was only around $15, which is very reasonable for the amount of food. The broth was very flavorful, but a little bit on the salty side. Even though we had 12 parties ahead of us in line when going at a Friday on 7pm, the wait was surprisingly only 10 minutes. Our server was also very nice and constantly came back to refill our water. The checkout system is also very efficient, as they have a cashier in the back corner that you can just walk up to.

First time coming to Pho Duyen Mai. Pros: -free parking lot -came on superbowl weekend around 7:30pm and had no issues getting seated right away -generous portions. I was able to take away some left overs -on their menu it states they can split the bill 3 ways -their beef rib slides right off the bone Cons: -none Overall, solid place.

I've been to several pho spots in San Diego, but I was pleasantly surprised by the food at Pho Duyen Mai. We arrived during peak dinner hours on the weekend, but luckily we were seated fairly quickly regardless. For our appetizer, we ordered the salt - pepper chicken wings, and I ordered the rare filet mignon noodle soup. The appetizer arrived fairly quickly. The wings were very crispy, and the meat itself was very tender. The salt/pepper mix complemented the wings very well. The wings were so delicious. Shortly after, we got our noodle dishes. The noodle soup did not disappoint as well. The broth was savory but very light and refreshing. The meat was also very tender and easy to chew. Overall, I had an excellent experience at Pho Duyen Mai. The service was also very quick. I would definitely recommend this place to people in the area craving some good pho!

Pho Duyen Mai is inside of a strip mall. The restaurant is a good size with front and back entrances. The wait for 3 ppl was about 5 minutes at 6 pm on a Sunday night. The whole place was packed with ppl. I got the large #40 and added 2 beef ribs. The large bowl wasn't that big and looked like a regular bowl. They don't give the sauce dishes for your sauce so ask for it. The broth wasn't that oily and had good flavor. The beef ribs were on the salty side but good when dunked in the broth. I liked that they give each person a plate of bean sprouts, jalapeños and basil. Service is typical of any pho place. Pay at the cashier, card or cash

Our new go to place for Pho. It's a bit far of a drive for us, but it's worth it. Their service is efficient so keep that in mind if you are looking for friendly service. They have a lot of people to serve in a short amount of time so niceties take a back seat. The dining room is clean and tables are cleaned quickly for fast turnaround. Their pho is on point. Close to northern style pho that can find in SD. Their banh xeo and char pork spring rolls are also delicious. We have yet to find a dish that we didn't like. Their soups are worthy to serve to your Vietnamese mom. (She approves). Parking can be a challenge at times but they also have spots in the rear if things get too busy. The wait times can be long if you go during peak hours. They will have their ipad on during peak hours. Just check in and they will text you when your table is ready.

The house special pho large bowl was a mid nothing too special. It didn't have that home flavored taste not to mention the bowl seem skimp out. Viet Huong located in El monte still number 1 on my books with Golden deli located in San Gabriel being 2nd and will be Thien Huong located in Chinatown Los Angeles being 3rd. Service was good server was nice enough to recommend the chicken curry for my lady, which was really good I would give that a 5 since I'm doing pho review I give it a 3 star. The place had that simple long tables per section nice roomy and simple.

The food here is pretty good. I had the pho and the spring rolls. It's the closest I can get to "good" Vietnamese food when I miss really good Vietnamese food in the Bay Area. I'd say the last time I was here the pho could have been a bit hotter. I felt like the broth cooled off quick. Overall service was quick and there's decent seating inside.

Get the chicken wings in fish sauce! It's fried chicken wings covered in "chili" fish sauce (I don't think it's spicy at all, but I do see chili flakes in the sauce). The wings were crisp despite being covered in sauce. The umami bomb was incredible. There are only 6 pieces for $13; it is pricey but man these wings were so delicious! They also have a variety of Vietnamese coffee, but I got the classic this time. I'd be curious to try others next time. Next time? Of course! This place seems promising; the wait staff were efficient and you can tell that they get a lot of regulars (they asked me if I needed the menu when I got seated). With that kind of patronage, you know the food has to be good!

Quick and good service! The taste wasn't really authentic but the nem nuong rolls sauce was pretty darn authentic. My favorite here was the catfish and then the nem. The sauce tasted a bit bitter to me. It's not quite brodard, but Broward isn't the best either. Pho bosa makes the best sauce!! The pho lacked flavor. My com thit nuong dish also lacked flavor but better than most places, but for the nem, I'll definitely come back! Yum!

Came here last night around 530pm for dinner and it was perfect. No wait. Got their pork roll (?) and beef rib pho. Perfect meal to end the day. The pork paste roll has the perfect crunch and their warm dipping sauce goes AMAZING with the cold roll. The beef rib came with so much meat I couldn't finish all the meat. It's a clean pho restaurant that serves bomb food. 10/10.

There are so many things on this menu that I wanted to try! But instead I just got a classic house special pho that usually has a combo of meats and tripe. The broth in this pho was very good and probs some of the best pho I've had in San Diego. I got the small portion and it was perfect because usually pho places have such huge bowls and I can't finish and have to take out. The prices are very reasonable here as well. Definitely coming back to try their vermicelli noodle bowls and nem nuong rolls

Was craving broken rice and had a good meal My friend ordered pho and I was a little surprised at how light the broth came out to be, but it was delicious and complemented our palette that night. Service was also great! However, we did wait for the bill for a while before realizing we had to pay at the register. Not sure if that is communicated to customers?

I came here for the pork paste rolls (goi cuon nem nuong). Service was very fast and attentive. Prices are reasonable too. For the pork paste rolls, you have the option of 2 rolls or 4 rolls. 4 rolls $12 which is soo cheap because it was packed!! Some other places skimpy on the portions. The dipping sauce was almost as good as brodard. Very addicting! Would totally come back for some more! Cravings satisfied.

Pho Duyen Mai is a solid spot for Vietnamese cuisine. One of my favorite meals here is a bowl of their delicious pho, (rare steak is my favorite) with the 3-bean dessert. On a warm day, a bun bowl with vermicelli, egg rolls, and grilled shrimp is a delight. Prices are right, service is quick and the atmosphere is modern and clean. This is the only place Chun P's picky Vietnamese-Chinese parents enjoy for pho in San Diego.

I was craving some Vietnamese food and remembered that this place serves Nem Nuong!!! The Pho broth was a little heavy on the star anise for my taste, but the meat was excellent. The tendon was a little too chewy compared to other places around town. Overall this place is great and I will be visiting again soon.

Probably the best pho I've had in San Diego! Popped in on a Sunday around lunch time and the place was PACKED. Now I know why! The second you walk through the door you're hit in the face with the undeniably mouth-watering aroma of well-seasoned, simmering pho broth. They have an easy electronic wait list that you can put in your number and you'll get a text once the table is ready. For our part of 3 we only waited about 10 min. They move fast here! The menu is extensive and has all the Vietnamese favorites: pho, broken rice plates, vermicelli, etc. The pork paste spring rolls and they were as delicious as they looked! There's a "sausage" inside with fresh herbs, veggies, and a crispy fried eggroll skin that gives every bite a satisfying crunch. (If you've been to Brodard's in OC, it's like that). Pho was fantastic and served with generous portions of noodles and meat. If beef isn't your thing, they also have chicken pho and veggie pho as well! I also spotted bo luc lac (shaking beef) and suong sa hat luu on the menu - which I will 100% be coming back for next time!

My go to Vietnamese spot in San Diego!! Whether it's pho or a simple rice plate- they haven't disappointed. Service is quick and food comes out fast. There's also a lot of seating but it can get busy at peak hours.

This is my go-to pho spot in San Diego, based on proximity and deliciousness. Nothing else in the area compares. A TIER.

Love their bún bò Huế (lemongrass beef noodles) It's very yummy. Service is very good. Food comes out pretty fast.

We got spring and egg rolls. We got the pork skin thinking it was like chicharrones. It was very much not. They were very kind and took them off our bill even though it was our fault. The shrimp, bbq pork and egg rolls were all delicious. They have so much on their menu I can't wait to come back and try. Nice open restaurant with a lot of seating options.