Pho Kim Long

Vietnamese restaurant · Northwood

Pho Kim Long

Vietnamese restaurant · Northwood

3

2082 N Capitol Ave, San Jose, CA 95132

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Pho Kim Long by Pho Kim Long
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null
Pho Kim Long by null

Highlights

Authentic Vietnamese pho with rich, slow-simmered broth.  

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2082 N Capitol Ave, San Jose, CA 95132 Get directions

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$10–20 · Menu

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2082 N Capitol Ave, San Jose, CA 95132 Get directions

+1 408 946 2181
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$10–20 · Menu

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Aug 16, 2025

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Where to find the best Asian food in Chinatown | Eater Vegas

"Open 24 hours? Check. Inexpensive? Check. This reliable cafe satisfies every Vietnamese craving around the clock with dishes such as charbroiled pork and egg roll with vermicelli, pho, and spring rolls." - Janna Karel

https://vegas.eater.com/maps/best-asian-food-chinatown
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25 Best San Jose and South Bay Area Restaurants | Eater SF

"Today, San Jose has the largest Vietnamese population in any city outside of Vietnam. And here is where you’ll find Pho Kim Long, a no-frills pho shop that opened its doors more than 35 years ago. As one of the most long-standing restaurants in the South Bay area, Pho Kim Long remains committed to original pho recipes that were enjoyed in Vietnam. The restaurant is known for its hearty beef broth that’s simmered for more than 20 hours using an array of meats — USDA grass-fed filet mignon, tendon, tripe, flank, and brisket — all of which are delivered to the restaurant daily. The barbeque vermicelli bowls, sizzling grilled fish, and rice dishes are also frequently ordered options." - Octavio Peña

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-san-jose-south-bay-area-restaurants
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11 Best Bowls of Pho in the South Bay | Eater SF

"Pho Kim Long is one of the oldest pho spots in the South Bay and opened its doors 35 years ago. When the owners left Vietnam and immigrated to California, they aimed to bring a piece of home with them. To this day, the restaurant still relies on the same original recipes. The Pho Combo comes with a rich, beef-based broth that’s simmered for more than 20 hours and the noodles are topped with a generous array of meat – filet mignon slices, tendon, tripe, flank, and brisket. If you’re not feeling soupy, the barbeque vermicelli bowls, sizzling grilled fish, and rice dishes are also solid options." - Cathy Park

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-pho-san-jose-south-bay
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Ashly S

Google
I had heard a lot of good things about this restaurant and finally had the chance to try it. We ordered the fried fish sizzling plate and the crispy noodles with pork. Overall, the food was decent, but not particularly impressive.The fried fish sizzling plate is similar to a Vietnamese spring roll experience, but with a fried fish flavor. you get to make your own rolls, which is a fun touch. The restaurant itself is quite loud, so I’d recommend sitting outdoors if the weather allows. One thing that stood out (in a not-so-good way😬was the interior…specifically the white walls. If you’re going to use white walls, they should be kept clean. Sitting and staring at the stains definitely took away from the dining experience😞

Patrick K

Google
Came here solo for lunch around 12 on a Wednesday. The place was packed, so they had me sit outside. The is great and they have a of unique items on the menu, other than pho. It took a bit for someone to take my order, but once it was in, the food came out pretty fast. I got the bún bò Huế (large, $17.59) and the gỏi cuốn (2 rolls, about $6.50). The bún bò Huế had great flavor, but it came with this massive chunk of pork that was mostly fat, also there was not much beef either, which was kind of disappointing. The spring rolls were fresh, but the peanut sauce was way too sweet and didn’t really taste like peanuts. One thing to note: if you sit outside, don’t expect any kind of service unless you wave someone down. No check-ins, no water refills, nothing. Not sure if it’s different inside, but it kind of felt like they focus more on food quality than customer service. When you are done you also have to go up to the counter to pay and tell them your table number. No need to tip here honestly.

Angela Wang

Google
We came here late, 7:30th pm so we did not have to wait like everyone else. Service: you have to tolerate the wait as most of the employees just drop off your food and took off without looking or asking if you need extra utensils, etc. Foods: Com Suong Nuong Opla (Pork Chop with egg) - pork chop was not bad, a little bit on the salty side. Bun Rieu Oc - was alright. Too tomato-Y. Cha Ca Va Long (grilled fish with Tumeric and dill) - comes with herbs and rice paper so you literally have to make your own wraps/ rolls. Then dip in the fermented fish paste. Fish are very flaky and very good flavor but the mam sauce was just plain and nothing special. Nothing like Anh Hong’s yummy Mam Sauce. But then this is north V food. Same same but different. I would return for the grilled fish dunk it in the regular nuong mam (fish sauce) instead of the fermented fish mam sauce.

Lydia Chang

Google
Food: I have been here with my friends and family multiple times and it’s really good! The flavor never disappoints us. I love Bun a lot but I’ve also tried their pho and fried egg noodles. Everything is great and worth the wait! Service: they are super busy so make sure you get their attention if you need help. Ambiance: casual and sort of cozy. (The floor is a bit greasy)

Jason Hoang

Google
Wow they stepped up their game! Order this fish and pork wrap. The shrimp paste sauce is hyper authentic, the aromas from the dill on the grill take over the table and entice the senses. The fried fish stayed crunchy on the grill, the pork caramelized beautifully. 🤤🤤🤤😍😍😍

Alice Hou

Google
This restaurant has been on my want to go list for a while, and I finally got to try it! I ordered their No. 33 Bun Bo Hue, which is spicy round noodle soup with pork, beef, pork blood cubes, chả Huế (pork patties), pork knuckles, and some fresh herbs. The broth was flavorful, the noodles were cooked to the right texture, and all the ingredients were delicious! I also got their No. 15 Cafe Sua Da, which is iced coffee with condensed milk, which was amazing as well! One dish that I would love to try next time is the Bun Cha, which is grilled fish and BBQ pork with vermicelli noodles!

Elena Baruah

Google
One the best pho in town! Absolutely delicious. My favourite is with periwinkle and crab. The service staff barely speaks English, there are no smiles or pleasantries, the service is rushed. But you really come here for food. And you come back again and again.

__

Google
I went for beef Pho, the broth was delicious. Spring roll was fresh. I would absolutely recommend.
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Tom U.

Yelp
Go to spot by the edge of Great Mall, Milpitas. On a non-busy day, place got fast & easy service. On a busy day, it's busy busywork. Parking is easy for right now, just got to use across street parking. Pho is fast, refreshing, hot & on the spot. Everything in it is balanced. They don't have the hoisin and Sriracha bottles. A bit of a bummer. Place is clean & pay up front. It's on the table. Always been a go to spot for me. I want my sauce bottles on a table. I would recommend this spot.
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Lauren T.

Yelp
The food here is so good!! Highly recommend the star dish - Bun Cha Ca !! It's really delicious fried fish. The bun rieu and bun bo are also very good
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Tuan D.

Yelp
I have been to Kim Long many times since I have family in the area and they are big fans of the food. Over the years, the level of service has gone downhill. Before I get into details, let's get some disclaimers out of the way. Unfortunately, there is a definite lower service standards at some Asian restaurants, but I'm already taking that into account when grading Kim Long. I'm also not sure having no sauces and condiments on the table was a health precaution in a post-Covid world and/or if it was the owners' discretion. However not having sauces, salt, pepper, and napkins on tables mean your servers have to be extra attentive to guests. This is where the service at Kim Long was shockingly bad. I was here 2 weeks ago and chalked it up to maybe 1 server having a bad day, but today I observed multiple servers and confirmed that it was a pervasive issue. What I saw was  that the servers treated guests as transactions, and everything was approached with a let's get them seated, take their order, drop off food, and clear the table afterwards as quickly as possible. The servers around the dining room avoided eye contact with diners and rushed customers through the ordering process. I took my elderly dad here at his request, and our server basically rushed thru the order and mumbled to himself that my dad wanted the Chicken Pho, small size, regular noodles, skin on. Normally, you would hope your server give you (the customer) the options to choose from and not order for you. I did not want to ruin my dad's mood so I let that go. My dad had Pho and I ordered Hu Tieu Dai (clear noodles, pork broth). Only one plate of fresh vegetables was brought out but it was just Pho basil and bean sprouts. Hu Tieu normally comes with its own (different) vegetables. They also brought out hoisin and sriracha for both me and my dad. I wanted soy sauce and chili for my Hu Tieu and finally was able to flag down a server to ask for it after at least 5 mins of sitting there looking around. And my request, just like other requests from other diners, was fufilled with an attitude that we were inconveniencing the servers. Overall, food - above average, maybe even very good with the caveat that you will have to ask for whatever sauces you want. The ambience was busy and loud, and the lackluster service made it feel like a food court or cafeteria. Being busy is great for the restaurant, but when your service suffers, then your diners do not feel appreciated. I will probably be back again when family wants to eat here but I will not take anyone here of my own volition, and cannot recommend this place to anyone that has a standard expectation of what good restaurant service is, until they change.
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Linda M.

Yelp
Ex-coworkers at my last job told me about this place. I never put much stock into it though. My boyfriend and I hiked Ed Levin and were in desperate need of a meal after a long hike. We were both craving Vietnamese food and I remembered that Pho Kim Long was in the area. It was pretty easy to find parking though the lot did seem small as it was shared with a lot of other businesses. We were seated right away and wow it was packed full of people. I decided on the bun ga nuong cha gio and my boyfriend had the com hai nam. I actually really liked it and regret not coming here earlier when I still worked in the area. I just assumed all the restaurants in North San Jose had to be good enough for a quick lunch for the workers in the area but didn't have to be super good. I was wrong. The ga nuong was perfectly seasoned and grilled. The cha gio was nice and crisp. Nuoc cham was yummy. I would definitely order this again. My boyfriend had the com hai nam which was nice and simple. Can't complain about the food or the service! Would definitely return.
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Arthur T.

Yelp
This used to be our go-to spot growing up. I've been a few times since, but this time was definitely a lot worse. The two of us ordered: BBH Pho dac biet Staff somehow brought out the wrong order for the BBH, so had to wait extra time for them to make a new bowl. I ended up finding some plastic in my soup...also had a stomach ache later that night. Pho Kim Long quality has definitely dropped a lot. It should be a 1 star experience, but bumping to two as it *should* be good, but with this recent experience, I think I'll stray away for the time being.
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Jann B.

Yelp
Hidden gem! Busy, no frills spot. Came here for lunch and had the shaken beef (bo luc lac). Food is delicious and served in a very timely manner. Service was decent nothong too fancy but still efficient and respectful.
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Jocelyn S.

Yelp
Pho Kim Long has been a long-standing go-to pho spot in San Jose for as long as I've known. Their pho broth is really rich and flavorful, and all the meats are tender. The ratio of meat to noodles to broth was great as well!A really solid bowl of pho. It did strike me as a bit pricy for pho ($15 for the #1 pho dac biet) but maybe I just need to get used to new prices. Service is very fast. It was rather loud and busy on the Sunday evening and we waited around 10 minutes.
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Lloyd C.

Yelp
My friends suggested trying the Bun Cha Ca La Vong: Grilled Fish with Vermicelli noodles and herbs. I've had it at another restaurant, but the first time, I tried it here. Big pieces of flakey fish, lighty coated and fried served on a bed of slivered brown onions, fresh dill, and roasted peanuts that came on a hot sizzling warming platter. Build your own roll by adding fresh herbs, Vermicelli, lettuce, along with a fish sauce dipping sauce. Other places offered a fermented pungent shrimp paste and gave a whole package of rice paper. At PKL, they will charge you for additional rice paper wrappers. This is a fun dish to eat with people! If you are not a big fish person, they do serve a combination of grilled pork with the grilled fish called Cha Ca Thit Nuong.
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Sujean W.

Yelp
We stop by Pho Kim Long often when we driving home from our trips down south. We stopped here just a week ago and the dishes all were delicious! We got here at 5:30p and didn't have to wait to be seated. The restaurant was getting full already but the service is always exceptional and super fast. We decided to order dishes we haven't tried before. We usually get Bun Rieu and Beef Pho. This time we decided to get the pho ga and bbq pork rice plate and spring rolls on the side. The Pho ga broth was just delicious and mouthwatering. The chicken meat was so soft and tender. It warmed my body in the chilly day and felt so good for my dry throat. The bbq pork plate was wonderful too. The pork had great flavor and amazing marinade that it was prepped in. Overall the quality of the dishes did not disappoint. These dishes were home runs and were just as good as our regular orders. We haven't had a dish we didn't like yet up to this point. We can't wait for our next visit back here!
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Selena S.

Yelp
this place was absolutely PACKED on a random tuesday morning. i'm not entirely sure why though, this might've been the worst pho ga i've ever had. maybe i ordered the wrong thing & they don't specialize in pho ga, but it was pretty terrible. it was bland, the meat was rubbery and the service was non existent. they were super skimpy on the garnish as well. you have to pay up front by the way & remember what your table number is. nobody will ever come around and you'll be waiting there forever. with all of the competition in the bay, i would definitely go elsewhere. especially for pho ga
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Lauren C.

Yelp
Looove the grilled fish + pork combo here! I came with my family for lunch on a Sunday - even though we came after 1pm, there was a still a line! The line moved quickly though and we didn't have to wait too long. We ended up ordering a grill item to make diy wraps and a large pho. The pho was standard, but the grill was the star of the show! Can't wait to come back to eat the grill again. All the sides they brought out to make wraps were delicious and so fresh! Service was quick and they had a lot of seating. They even had some outside seating which was nice (lots of families with their dogs).
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Ivan C.

Yelp
First time ever going here. I got the number 1 combination pho. The broth was ok. You can taste the fish sauce that they added in the pho. The portions are a lot and 1 large pho can fit 2 people. Service needs improvement. Not the worst but can be improved. The place is huge. Can sit big parties. Lighting is perfect. Very modern.
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Nancy H.

Yelp
Came as a party of 2 at 12 PM on a Saturday. Fortunately, we came right before the lunch rush. The restaurant is quite spacious, so don't expect to wait too long. We were seated within 5 minutes of arriving and we got our food quickly as well. The interior is fantastic, everything is remodeled and modern. The restaurant is located in a plaza with a decent amount of parking. The pricing is fair, as the average for a regular was $15 and a large was $16. They have a very extensive menu so I would be happy to come back again! #8 Pho Tai Chin Nam Gan - 8.5/10 #26 Bun Thit Nuoung Tom Nuong - 8/10 Bun Rieu - 7.5/10 - not the best I've had but was okay!
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Dalengua T.

Yelp
Service is fast, prompt, and no BS. Waited less than 5 mins and we were sat as soon as tables were available. Place is clean and neat. Egg rolls - crunchy Spring rolls - very fresh Pho - good size Lots of ingredients Soup was hot Spouts, basil, pepper were clean and fresh (-1) star for the whole family was super thirsty Maybe lighten the MSG from the soup. Will definitely go back.
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Henry T.

Yelp
Just as how I remembered as a kid - I love the more modern renovation they did in the interior. The space feels much more open and inviting I must have came during a slower lunch because I was expecting more of a crowd but I wont complain! Service was fast and servers were quick with requests I had. Food was solid - great portion for the prices and taste just as I've always remembered. There are arguably better Pho places in San Jose but I can always rely on Pho Kim Long if I ever crave Vietnamese food (menu options are quite large)!
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Phuong D.

Yelp
We discovered Pho Kim Long after having a disastrous experience at Thien Long. Craving for Cha Ca La Vong, we came here just for that dish. Pho Kim Long seems to have undergone renovations cause the inside is modern, nicely lit, and honestly larger than I expected. *Cha Ca La Vong ($36): Crispy fish fillets on a bed of dill and onions, topped with peanuts. Arrives on a hot plate that stays hot for the majority of your meal. Dish is made to share for 2 people. Comes with vermicelli noodles, assorted veggies, rice paper, and fish sauce. The staff was nice and pretty attentive given the dinner crowd and tons of takeout orders. Our experience went smoothly. Big plus here: They take credit cards! I've began to dislike (and avoid) cash-only establishments. Parking: Shared parking lot with multiple shops. Finding a spot can be difficult during peak hours. Overall, I will definitely be back next time for their popular dish!
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Jenirae H.

Yelp
This is the boyf and I's go-to for pho when we need to recover (from a hangover or cold) or even just because we're craving Vietnamese food! You can expect this place to be packed on the weekends. Parking is limited too so if you're going with someone, I'd drop 'em off to the front to wait in line while the driver parks. There's hellaaa tables inside and of course it has the fast-paced, busy and popular volume to it. During Lunar New Year / Tết it was a full house of families for sure. Glad that even though it was just the 2 of us, they sat us at a table meant for 6 just to get us seated ASAP. Sometimes Asian restaurants are picky about that. For such a busy restaurant, I'd say the wait is fair. Even with big groups of 10 that we ate lunch with never waited ridiculously long. I do have to say that sometimes it is weird that they bring out the pho bean sprouts / garnishing plates and appetizers first, yet the water will come out at a random later point of the service. ??? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FAVES: 19. MI GA DI BO LONG Egg noodle soup with free range chicken meat --- This became my favorite kind of pho combo EVER. PERIODT. The broth is flavorful and not too salty. I run into the excessive saltiness problem at other spots with this particular dish. I love that you can choose between white or dark meat. Bonus option? You can add organs! 40. COM GA HAI NAM Hainanese Chicken Rice Plate --- Days that I don't crave a large bowl of soup but still want chicken- I get this! Our best friends let us have some of theirs last time and taught us to dip the chicken in fish sauce + black pepper. It was a game changer for us! I enjoyed the pickled veggies that came in a tiny container. In case you did want a little bit of soup- it does come with a side of broth!
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Mel B.

Yelp
#2 for 2024 The restaurant is huge in an L shape with an ATM in the center right but next to the cash register. Like many Vietnamese restaurants the food is served fast and quick so there's not much line to wait in. However there may be a line to wait to pay for your meal. Be prepared to take your bill up to the register in the middle of the room if you're tired of waiting. If you're visiting you may find the drive out of the way. It is not centrally located to down town San Jose where you have several good choices there all ready. There are many servers who will greet you as you come in and get you seated. They totally understand time is money. The faster they can get you seated and out the faster they can seat someone else. And of course the more covers they serve the more money. It is a processing line of efficiency rarely seen in an Asian restaurant. I absolutely love it. Rest assured they give a good amount of basil, and extra noodles if you like, with your pho. Something that seems to be a shortage of at more pho restaurants these days. That's a big plus for me. I like to start with the Bun Bo Hue. The main component to this soup is the congealed blood. I'm not a fan of but in this dish it is delicious. However, I'm not sure that was in here. Certainly there was something missing. The taste wasn't what I was familiar with. It was good but because it was lacking to my expectation it didn't satisfy me. The Hui Tien was also okay. The broth again seemed to be missing that richness we were so using to getting in this soup. The meats and vegetables were great. The spring rolls were good. A little pricey. I did like the thickness giving me a big mouthful when i took a bite. The spicy vinegar sauce went very well. I did ask for more so I could drench it and get more spicy flavor. I would give it another try. Maybe this was an off day and had to use a different cook.
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Mike S.

Yelp
Came in for lunch on Saturday and apparently this place has been remodeled. Very modern and nice inside. This place can get busy and parking can be a bit challenging in this strip mall lot. Ordered an appetizer of grilled shrimp and this was a tad pricy for 4 shrimp @ $12.50, but they were good. I also ordered the #7, Pho with filet mignon and well-done brisket. The meat was tender and they gave you quite a bit. Both seemed to be missing something, but overall it was ok... I have had better broth at other places. Service was quick and friendly, but beware, the floor is super slippery for some reason.
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Hanna L.

Yelp
Interesting culinary experience on Vietnamese food. Went here for a lunch meeting and shared a grilled fish with rice wrap - which seems like a special menu. You have to DIY rice wrap with a variety of vegetables and herbs, with either pork or fish (we ordered fish only option). There was onions and fennel layered on the bottom of the grill pan for extra flavors. The taste was great, but wouldn't say it's exceptionally unique so I gave 4 stars.
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Alayna K.

Yelp
Wanted to try this place because I've heard great things about it! it was busy and full. Food: The bun rieu (crab noodle soup) wasn't great. The crab wasn't flavored and the soup broth was super salty. The crispy noodle w seafood was the best thing here! Even though it was pretty salty. Didn't love the chicken + egg roll with rice -- the chicken was raw. The egg roll was crispy and great but couldn't eat the chicken. Vietnamese coffee was super super sweet and thick, tasted kind of like a sugar smoothie. Service was on & off so not sure I'd make a trip back.
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Kaitlynn T.

Yelp
My uncles and aunts like this place for Pho. I didn't know what the hype was, it was okay for me. We were here on Sunday noon for lunch and there was already a line. Inside tables were all occupied and we had to sit outside as we came with a large group. I ordered the special noodle soup (#1) with rare flank on a separate plate. I always requested for blanched beansprouts and a side of fatty broth with scallions. Talking about customer service, expect none here.
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Andrew T.

Yelp
It's been over 10 years since I've eaten here and it is still good as i remembered. A whole new remodel for the restaurant which adds a more modern look compared to mom and pop Vietnamese restaurants. Pho Kim Long is now accepting card! PSA for all, taste the pho broth first before you devour it with hoisin and sriracha! The broth was amazing and brought back memories. Oh boy! Bun thit noung was good as well. Can't go wrong with the pho or noodle dish. There is a private parking lot so there's no issue parking. The service is fast. Almost as if you need to know what you want as the server is ready to serve you. For those with a 30 minute lunch break, you're good to go here.
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Michael G.

Yelp
First restaurant review for 2024. What a good time to do a review during a cold wet and rainy day. If you love Pho, this place specializes in this Vietnamese specialty having an extensive menu on pho possible! This is a hidden gem out in the outskirts of San Jose closed to the Milpitas Great Mall and BART station. About my experience. Flavorful and generous portions. All the locals were there and loving it -- it was a packed house! Service could be improved more helpful in understanding the culture and the menu. Meaning the English breakdown is very small to read. Also a smile would go a long way. When it came time to pay you have to walk to the front say your table number. At the end of the day. This place is by far if not best PHO restaurant I experienced. Beef Pho
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Elaine C.

Yelp
Long awaited review for Pho Kim Long. I came in yesterday for lunch and parking was not friendly! I ended up getting out of the car to line up while the boyfriend drove the lot over just to find parking. There were easily 15 people in line and they don't have a sign up sheet. The line does move very quickly so that's a plus. We did feel rushed to order! Three different workers stopped by within two minutes of each other asking if we were ready to order. We got the chicken pho, beef combo pho and egg rolls to share. Everything came out very quickly. The soup was very good and they did not skimp out on the noodles. I'll be back!
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Katharine Y.

Yelp
Definitely our go to pho restaurant. authentic tasting dishes. Fast service, but don't expect to get warm greetings, only nods when requesting items, not even a thank you. I understand this place can be very busy and they are great at moving tables quick. Uhm as far as ambience, the place is clean, just wear anti slip shoes because it can get slippery specially when trying to make your way to the restroom.
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Kevin M.

Yelp
It was an average pho experience. The small parking lot and frequent crowds added to the challenge. While the outside may seem outdated, the inside was modern and inviting. The pho doesn't particularly stand out in a city rich with options, but the taro drink is a notable highlight, suggesting that while Pho Kim Long may be a decent pho place, there may be better choices for pho enthusiasts.
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Bruce W.

Yelp
The food and service are great, and the price is reasonable. The only issue I have is that one time I found a bug in the noodle soup after I was almost done eating it. It was gross, but I hope it was just a one-time thing.
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Elizabeth L.

Yelp
Pho Kim Long is located in the Northwood Park Center. This is a pretty busy and cramped parking lot. This restaurant seems to be very busy, but the wait for a table was minimal. The restaurant here looks pretty spacious because there is more seating in the back end of the store that leads to the restroom, but the actual seating is pretty cramped and closed together, so it gets a bit claustrophobic and uncomfortable dining so closely to others. The customers dining next to my mom and me were coughing the whole time, so it was not the best or most pleasant dining experience for us. Service is eh and it took awhile to just get water, utensils, sauces, etc. and we finally got everything after multiple attempts, but it is expected from a pho restaurant - they did not have the utensils/napkins and sauces on the table like the other pho spots. My mom and I shared a large combination pho with a side order of spring rolls. It was a good amount of food for 2 people to fill us both up. The broth for the pho was a bit salty and I felt like they could had gave a bit more meat for a large bowl, but I thought the meats/noodles were good. My mom thought the pho was just okay, as the salty soup kind of killed it for her. Both of us did not like the spring rolls, as the shrimps tasted a bit fishy and old, while the rice paper wrap was super greasy/oily. Overall, it was like 2.5/3 stars.
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Angela W.

Yelp
I've heard that Pho Kim Long is a Bay Area classic, but in all my years of living there I have never gone. I recently got the chance to try them on a weekend, between the lunch and dinner periods. Despite the odd timing, there was still a line two doors down. The restaruant is huge and utilitarian, full of tables, and the workers are very efficient about seating, so the line moved relatively quickly. The restaurant was packed with families and overhead snippets of conversations told us many of them were regulars. Many ordered a large, elaborate fish dish and summer rolls, and I think that's one of the dishes this place is known for. I did not order those items. I ordered the small beef pho with tendon, tripe, and brisket, and it fell a bit short for me. The portions were huge, noodles were al dente, bean sprouts and jalapeno were fresh, and the meat was plentiful. However, the broth was not that flavorful. While it was quite beefy, I don't think it was seasoned enough for my taste. Additionally, I don't think my bowl was cleaned enough because there was a faint taste of dish soap. Unfortunately, due to the sriracha shortage, they only give each person a small sauce cup of half sriracha half hoisin. If you ask for additional sriracha they will give you packets of a knockoff. While my pho was just ok, I think I would like to come back in the future to try some of their other dishes. Maybe I will give the pho another try as well, as the dish soap might have just been a one-off. For the price, this is certainly a bowl that gives you bang for your buck.
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Chris B.

Yelp
This place seems to be favored well by its customers. I came on Sunday night at 6pm and from 6pm until past closing at 9:30pm there was a steady line of customers in and out and packed to the brim. I very much loved the decor, although it was a mom and pop place, it is very elegant and has a great vibe. There is even outside seating although on a cold night like tonight it was not ideal. Surprisingly there were a few brave soles outside enjoying their bowls of pho. Which is a testament to their food. For a place this size and with the volume of customers I was a bit upset with the restroom. If you can, go before going to eat. Even in the men's room there is only one toilet and one urinal and one sink. Thankfully the door can lock. Now to the real deal, their food. I ordered a number one bowl of pho and it delighted my taste buds better than I could have imagined. The broth was full of flavor, meat packed to brim, and piping hot. I know this isn't popular but I need tendon and tripe. I judge a place on its authenticity on its meat offerings for its pho. They also offered chicken pho too, which I can't speak to. I did order an appetizer as well which was their jumbo bbq shrimp. They were pretty good, but not as huge as you might hoped or believed. But the flavor profile was more delicious than I could of hoped. If you are in the area and looking for pho, or a taste of Vietnam check them out.

Vanesa C.

Yelp
I recently ordered two soups via Uber Eats from this restaurant because my boyfriend has COVID-19. I specifically requested that all meat be cooked well done and even called to confirm this. A man assured me that my request would be followed. When the order arrived, the meat was completely raw and the soup was cold. This is unacceptable, especially given the clear instructions I provided. When I called the restaurant to address the issue, the man who answered hung up on me twice, claiming he was too busy to talk. He told me to come in, despite me explaining that my boyfriend has COVID-19 and that I could potentially expose the staff and other customers. He showed no concern and continued to hang up on me. This experience shows a complete lack of care for customers and their well-being. I will never order from this restaurant again and strongly advise others to avoid it as well. Terrible service and blatant disregard for customer requests.
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Connie M.

Yelp
Come here for the grilled protein dishes! Grilled pork, grilled seafood, grilled fish they have perfected the flavors seriously. My favorite is the bun Cha Ha Noi and the cha ca La vong. Just so juicy and delicious and flavorful and smoky. It's usually very packed on the weekends so you know it's a local favorite!
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Felix D.

Yelp
My family have been going to this restaurant for a few decades. The restaurant started off with a much smaller space but over the years they have expanded the restaurant so there is plenty of seating. Some of the usual dishes my family likes to order is the bun rieu oc, com ga hai nam (chicken rice), pho ga, or pho bo. Tried their bo lac lac recently and it was delicious as well. Recently, the restaurant started taking card so don't worry if you don't have cash. One of the places I recommend for Vietnamese food.
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Ashley Y.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I came in for dinner and it was full but we got seated right away. They offer hot tea in addition to iced water for free! The pho came out right away and we both really liked the broth. Portions were also large for a regular. Overall, we would come back but it was nothing extraordinary.
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Jose G.

Yelp
Came back to Pho Kim Long after a few years because wife was craving their dry noodle vermicelli. Since I was feeling under the weather, I wanted to get some pho too! Anyway, the food didn't disappoint. Pho was very yummy. The vermicelli was pretty good too. I could have given five stars but the service is where they take the hit. Everything seems rushed. It was busy, but not overly busy. When my wife asked for an extra bowl, the request was never fulfilled. Place is pretty cool. Spaced out nicely.
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Learnee L.

Yelp
Expect a line to get in especially during lunch even early lunch. The line goes quick so that's a good thing. The place is huge and there is outside seating as well. Service is quick. Once you get seated there is a server who comes up to you to help. You also do not need to wait that long to get your order. Food: ordered Bun cha ca la vong: fish was cooked well. very light and crunchy. meat was very flavorful. The dish was supposed to be good for 2 people but I think it should be for 3 people. I've also tried their beef soup. It was delicious but I've had better. Felt like it's missing something. I would give it a 3.5 star but that's not an option.
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Di H.

Yelp
Just tried the fried fish and grilled pork combo. It's amazing, they bring out a vessel with warm water so you can dip the rice paper and make your own roll. The fish was gently breaded and fried with aromatic veggies (don't know the English name), and was really good (I don't generally eat fish, but this was amazing). The bun oc was good as usual, was a bit light on the tomatoes but good nonetheless. The
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James A.

Yelp
I have been a fan of this place since 2005. The food is always fresh and tasty with a consistency. Service is good and the interior update is a plus. I like trying other pho places whenever I have a chance but I never had any pho place better than Pho Kim Long for the price, quality, and taste. My favorite pho in this world.
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Jiamei L.

Yelp
One of my favorite places for Vietnamese food! I always get the #1 beef pho. It's big and soo delicious. This time, I ordered the bun rieu and bun cha. I enjoyed both the ideas so much! They bring herbs, dipping sauces, and rice paper to wrap the fish and grilled meat. The fish and meat paired with the fresh herbs complement one another soo well! It is such a fun activity and experience to be wrapping your own rolls. I definitely recommend the #1 beef pho, bun rieu, and bun cha!
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Edwin D.

Yelp
This restaurant left me with mixed feelings after my dining experience. The bun rieu was just okay, lacking the bold flavors I was hoping for. Additionally, I noticed that there was more tofu than crab and pork meat in the soup, which was a bit disappointing. On a positive note, the BBQ pork chop and sunshine egg over rice were enjoyable. The pork chop was well-seasoned and cooked to perfection, making it a tasty choice. However, the wait time during lunch was quite long, approximately 20 minutes, which can be a bit frustrating, especially during a busy weekend. The ambiance had a casual vibe, but it got quite noisy as the restaurant was packed with diners. It may not be the best place for a quiet meal or conversation. The service, on the other hand, was good. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring that guests were well taken care of. One of the main challenges was the private parking lot, which was always busy, making it difficult to find parking easily.
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Valerie L.

Yelp
There was a really long line when we came, but the line went by relatively quickly. There are lots of tables inside and the service is one of the fastest I've seen. Although the service is quick, the food is still really tasty and at a pretty reasonable price too. The pho dac biet has so much flavor and really hits the spot when you're craving a bowl of pho. The peanut sauce that came with the spring rolls was also so flavorful and love that they added peanuts to it for the extra crunch! It's located in a lot, so there are plenty of parking around.
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Susan T.

Yelp
Came here with a friend to eat some yummy food. We heard that it was super amazing. We order the Spring roll. Tbh the food was pretty amazing. We just honestly didn't like the service or how we were treated. I don't know if because it's so packed that they sort of neglect us or what.. but we went up to pay and the lady treated us really poorly. We wanted a box and she's so offended that we were asking for a box, she told us if we get more boxes we would have to pay. Yeah I don't know about this place.... Are yo
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Anna C.

Yelp
Still the best Pho place in South Bay Area. With their renovated space, it feels more comfortable to dine in. Just remember to come early (once they open) otherwise by noon the line would be very long.

S L.

Yelp
The pho is excellent. There are many varieties. The service is below average. The servers are rude. Try to avoid peak hours.
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Doug C.

Yelp
Landmark restaurant for Pho. Been there many years, 30+, not as popular as Pho Ha Noi or as large a menu. Many families in the local area frequent this location over several generations. They have an extensive menu as a result to allow different family members different choices. They consistently provide better value for the money. The large is hard for 1 person to finish. Perfect for growing teens with large appetites. This business famous for providing large portion sizes for same price at competing restaurants. The large pho is $1 more than the regular but 30% bigger. Families can get the large and split it between 2 people. They also serve pho using the Asian free range chickens in the Asian markets, the skinny chickens with head and feet. More expensive than an American supermarket chicken bred for large chicken breast meat. The free range chicken meat much tougher. They don't charge extra for free range chicken unlike most US corporate based restaurants. Incredible pho value. Larger than pho ha noi. Large difficult for 1 person to finish. The Asian free range chicken comes in brown vs. white and male vs. female. The commercial chicken operations for Supermarkets mostly sell hens and process them after they are done laying eggs. The Asian markets in Oakland and SF still sell the Asian chickens live like live fish. The Asian markets like Lion and R99 sell the black silkie and free range chickens with head and feet for soup. Much better flavor. The pho versions at home have combinations with rau ram, waxy corn, yama imo. etc.. which you never see in restaurants but this place can customize different variations if the ingredients are in stock. Male chickens have no value for commercial chicken operations but make a tastier broth. Pho Ga has added fish sauce making the broth difficult to drink. OK in small sips. Salty. In the old days you would add this yourself. Those days long gone. No more condiment bottles post covid. Transition to cups with hoisin and hot sauce. People probably stealing the hot sauce bottles now because of the shortage. They have above average quality and cover everything from fried fish with turmeric which Thien Long made famous to beef noodle soup with ox penis. Large togo business now. People taking their food to eat off premises. This is new. Used to be it was hard there was a big difference between portion sizes between dine in and togo. They seemed to have fixed this.
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Michelle C.

Yelp
This is my dad's favorite pho restaurant. It is spacious and the workers are nice. We normally pay at the front to help with reducing the workload for the servers. The pho is flavorful!
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Jeremy M.

Yelp
This is the best pho restaurant I've been to. Getting pho here is a must but they also have good bun Bo hue and the rice dishes are decent (although they aren't the star of the place). You pay at the end at the cashier desk and be prepared for quick moving service and if you're here during busy hours like weekend dinners, be prepared for a slight wait. If you haven't been here and you like pho, this place is a must.
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Cynthia C.

Yelp
I feel like I just won the jackpot! Been coming here for years but didn't know you can get the thicker "fresh" noodles when you ask for it! That was a game changer since I love the broth here but always want that thick noodles walked by someone eating it and decided to ask the server for it. totally made my day!
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Jessica L.

Yelp
I recommend trying the boba smoothies! They were on the thicker side (which I love). The mango smoothie was my favorite and the strawberry smoothie was okay.