Pho Van Restaurant

I visited Pho Van in Portland recently, and my experience was somewhere in the middle. The restaurant looks clean and comfortable, with warm lighting and simple decoration. When I walked in, the staff greeted me, but the service felt a little rushed. I understand they were busy, but sometimes I felt they wanted me to finish quickly. I ordered the beef pho and fresh spring rolls. The spring rolls were pretty good, fresh vegetables and nicely wrapped. The peanut sauce tasted rich, and I enjoyed that. The pho broth had a nice aroma at first, but after a few bites, I felt the flavor was not as deep as I expected. The beef slices were tender, but the noodles were a bit too soft for my liking. The price felt a little high compared to other pho places I have tried in the city. I understand the location and atmosphere are nicer, but I hoped the taste would match the cost more closely. Overall, Pho Van is not a bad place. It is clean, the food is okay, and the staff works hard. But for me, it is not something very special. I would come again only if I am nearby and want something simple

The pho here is delicious and comes in a generous portion. They load it with plenty of tender meat, and the greens are fresh, crisp, and vibrant. The price feels well worth it for both the quality and quantity. The atmosphere adds to the experience too—lush tropical greenery surrounds the space, creating a relaxing, refreshing vibe.

The bathroom had a really airy feel and a nice scent. Clean with a nice atmosphere. The decor, pictured, is intentional. The toilet paper was reasonable quality but the toilet struggled a bit with it's delivery. 🚚 The floor was a bit sticky. Would recommend.

Beautiful restaurant with a vast selection of fresh Vietnamese food offerings. Our service was excellent and the prices ($$$) were reasonable for the food served. It was a lovely surprise on 82nd!

This place offers a spacious dining area, making it a comfortable place to enjoy a meal. The pho tastes good, with a rich, flavorful broth and fresh ingredients. However, the service could be improved, as it wasn't as attentive as expected. Despite this, the overall experience is pleasant and the food is worth trying.

First off, the atmosphere is just spectacular. Spacious and well lit, a lot of bamboo and wood and many living plants give it such a natural and beautiful vibe. Then there's the food and drink. I love the thinner rice vermicelli in the pho, and the brisket is always on point. They do a beautiful Vietnamese espresso that I can't recommend enough, and their salad rolls are the best I've ever had. It's a bit of a drive for me, but this is my go to when I'm craving pho. I've tried many spots up and down the west coast and for me, Pho Van is simply the best. A delightful experience every time.

Excellent authentic food. Pho and spring rolls were delicious. Great service and ambience.

It's not like we had the worst experience ever out anything like that but I'd suggest literally any other pho restaurant in the area. We got two small #1's and they were the smallest bowls of pho I've ever seen for $18. And all my wife wanted was tendon and they don't do tendon. They even snarkily replied that we must be new (which we just hadn't been in a long time) because they might be the only pho restaurant that doesn't do tendon. The pho was good but $42 for two of the smallest bowls of pho you can imagine and one bottle of beer was not good value.

Dear Non-Asian customers of PV, Do yourself a favor...call PV and preorder (you have to preorder it several hours before you eat or maybe the night before). the roasted catfish and split it with 1-3+ of your favorite friends, family, coworkers or whoever, and experience the bliss of the "Vietnamese Peking Duck" as PV puts it. If you decide to step out of your comfort zone and order this, you will be greatly rewarded with one of the best and most slept on meals in Portland (Our family of 4 got a XL sized fish). This dish is probably the closest thing we have in this city to David Chang of Momofuku's Bossam. You'll get a platter of herbs, lettuces, and other veggies, rice noodles, and rice paper and water to make your own DIY lettuce wraps or salad rolls. It comes with a very funky fermented fish paste with pineapple concoction that might be a bit too funky for y'all (it is almost too much for me), but never fear...just ask them for that awesome peanut sauce or just regular fish sauce (nuoc cham) and you'll be on your way to foodie heaven. TRUST ME ON THIS. I won't let you down.

I haven't been here for a very long time. It used to be a place when you walk in and it's mostly Vietnamese, now it's mostly Caucasians. I wanted to come here for that nostalgia. This was the original pho restaurant of Portland. Vietnamese restaurants with 3 color drinks are my favorite. Decor is very nice, one of the nicest looking Vietnamese restaurants in the area. They are known to have the duck dish, which most Vietnamese restaurants don't have. Their #1 beef noodle pho wasn't at its best so I took a star off. Also because service was mediocre. There is parking.

Overall, this place was really good! The service was decent, not bad nor great so okay! They have good memory on taking our order though so we can't go wrong! The ambiance inside is very calm (when not super busy) and makes you feel sort of outdoors at the same time. When it's busy it's kinda loud but that's expected from any busy and good dining place. The food was overall really good, we enjoyed all our meals and would definitely go back so it's definitely recommended!

This is our main Vietnamese spot, my hubs lives for the vegetarian curry. I've had lots of the noodles, pho, buns are my fave. Their fire grilled meats are excellent, their vegetarian offerings are great. This is where we bring guests, they're excellent for large parties, kids etc. If I ding them for anything, it's that they're often overwhelmed, short staffed, not sure but when they're good they're great. When it's bad, you'll wait awhile for everything. We still go though.

The pho here is delicious and comes in a generous portion. They load it with plenty of tender meat, and the greens are fresh, crisp, and vibrant. The price feels well worth it for both the quality and quantity. The atmosphere adds to the experience too--lush tropical greenery surrounds the space, creating a relaxing, refreshing vibe.

Service is ok, they are quick to seat you but after ordering and bringing out your food, they don't check on you. We had to go to the front to pay. The place is very gorgeous, lots of natural light, pretty decor & ceiling fans to immerse you in the dining experience Got the pho #1, it came with lots of meat which i appreciate. Noodles were a bit too soft but not completely falling apart. Broth was not very good, didn't taste very clean. I usually go to Pho Hung but wanted to try Pho Van's pho today. It let me down. I do however love their vermicelli bowls here, they're the best in town in my opinion. Their spring rolls are so crispy & always hit the spot. But their pho is definitely not their shining dish. Overall, a great spot for vermicelli bowls & have great spring rolls (crispy rolls is what they call them here) but pho is not good here. Broth is not very clean/light tasting.

Everything Y'pers have been raving about is true: Pho bowl packed with lean brisket and beef round. The brisket is succulent. Delicious broth; beefy flavor, herbal but not sweet.

This has been one of the oldest Vietnamese restaurant in Portland. The decor is great, do is the service. Come on weekends and enjoy the while fish dish that's only available then. Otherwise the pho is spot on. One of the best decorated Vietnamese restaurants in PDX and one of the best overall in taste and variety.

Maybe the nicest setting inside for Vietnamese restaurants in PDX, definitely unique decor. Large seating area so you do not feel crowded and it is never packed. Service is friendly and attentive. Large pho bowls come out piping hot and filled with fresh veggies. Normal noodles. Not sure why it is not more popular but would easily slurp here again.

Wow, this might be the nicest restaurant I've ever eaten at. Not as in upscale and spend a lot of money nice, but as in an oasis of greenery with friendly staff, that fur serves impeccable and delicious food for a reasonable price I lucked out because I just looked for something close and didn't even read the reviews. The parking lot was packed with cars, always a good sign, and the abundant and well cared for landscaping and building gave a welcoming and delightful vibe . Inside is a cavern environment, full of incredible plants so it feels like you are eating in a greenhouse . And yes, the food is the bomb. And it's quite reasonably priced. And the bathrooms are also lovely and the staff are very friendly. It was Sunday and they were slammed so it took a while for someone to take my order and for food to come, but other than that, I was very pleased with the experience. I'll be back. Frequently.

I have been trying the local Pho restaurants looking for the best spot since moving to the area last year. While Pho Van was not bad it was also not great. Also, this restaurant seemed a little overwhelming in that it's cluttered with mismatched decor. The service was not great, left unattended even though the restaurant was almost empty. However, there is plenty parking and seating though. If you are looking for a great Phõ spot I definitely recommend checking out Pho Hung on Powell as they have been great every time we've been there.

Love their Pho bowls and the variety of Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant diffidently has the Vietnam vibe

Premier Vietnamese Dining! My family and I have regularly dined here for more than twenty years. Always a delightful experience.

This 5/5 review is strictly for the signature Chè Văn only! It's still the best all around both in and out of the state of Oregon! The price is now $8 during my recent December, 2024 takeout. Let's not get carried away by the $8! It is well worth it for Chè Ba Màu (3 colors bean dessert) lovers! The ambiance is pleasant and pretty for looking only! Their overall food quality has been going downhill. The wait for food is always longer than expected busy or slow. They are now mostly patron by non-Vietnamese customers.

Had to try this out from a strong recommendation recently. First off, large space and nice decor, somewhat unique for Viet restaurants but also welcome. Beef Pho was excellent. Great savory broth, not too oily. Large portions of beef. I'm a huge fan of this pho. Gioi cuon are large portions and peanut sauce was solid. Also got the bo la lot (ground beef wrapped in betel leaf, similar to dolma) that we hand wrap in rice paper. Decent but not something I'm familiar with (usually get other proteins). Fermented fish sauce for dipping was good and acquired test. It's a little pricey but would come back

We've had dine in and delivery from here several times with friends and each time the food is delicious. We typically order some crispy veg rolls, lemongrass chicken, and the ginger chicken and they are consistent and tasty every time. Service is usually friendly and fast. If dining in, cut your rolls in half and let them cool a little, they come hot! The restaurant is clean and spacious, a lot of natural light. Long table areas for big groups too.

Family has been going here for YEARS, easily some of the best Vietnamese food! Pho is great, Lemongrass pork amazing! Vietnamese Espresso always a must have! And finish with the Ginger Creme Brule! Phenomenal! Great staff, food, and ambiance! Keep it up!

Always the BEST Vietnamese restaurant, for over 30 years for me...as I've eaten here since they opened their 1st location in Portland, 1992! Known for their flavorful Beef Pho, with deep rich and clear broth, with the best cuts of steak, flank and brisket! Don't forget the lighter chicken Pho, with tender pieces of steamed chicken! Not in the mood for Pho, or try something different? Loads of options for soups, with a spicy beef noodle soup with bigger noodles, to yummy egg noodles with wontons and barbecued pork, all made in-house daily. A great surprise is the duck noodle soup, which comes with a light broth with sliced bamboo and vermicelli (thin) noodles. The side cabbage vinegrette salad with steamed duck on top is amazing! Not in mood for soup at all? Gotta hit the grilled meat and rice dishes, having your pick from honey lemongrass boneless chicken, to grilled pork chops or skewers of pork or shrimp. The in-house kimchee, is slightly different than traditional, with more hints of ginger and carrots, and very tasty! Splurge on the combination rice dish, which has all the meats (pork chop/skewers of pork/shrimp) and a cooked egg and shredded pork...can feed 2 people! The 'Star of the Show' is the whole Cajun catfish, that comes in different sizes to accommodate number of diners? (2-6 people). It's been grilled to perfection, then doused with hot oil to get the skins crispness that resembles crispy pork skin! The fish meat under remains succulent and moist. Served with a side of large vegetables (lettuce, sliced apples, cucumbers, basil/mint and other herbs) to wrap in rice wrappers you dip in hot water to moisten and then have a pineapple-infused fish dipping sauce. Don't forget appetizers! The most flavorful 'salad' rolls with pork and shrimp, dipped with the best peanut sauce in this world! There's also fried spring rolls, with a chewy outside wrapper and the most amazing honey garlic Vietnamese chicken wings that has no rival! Don't forget dessert: fresh banana bread pudding, served on a bed of coconut cream tapioca or the sugar glazed ginger crème brûlée, so creamy and smooth that melts in mouth! Then there's the ultimate Che Ba Mau (3-colored bean dessert translation), with in-house red/white/mung bean with tasty green/red tapioca and a light coconut base...to die for! If you like coffee, be sure not to miss the Ca Phe Sua Da, a triple shot of their secret coffee drink that is hands down the best! Served hot or over ice There are great vegetarian options, from noodle soups , to vegetarian salad and fried tools, and a great vegetarian dish of tofu/sautéed greens over rice! Always consistent great food and service, with amazing Vietnamese decor on SE 82nd location, avd there's also sister locations in downtown Pearl Portland and Beaverton.

My favorite Vietnamese place, ever. I always compare every other place to this. We have been going here for years and it never disappoints. This place has a large dining room with lots of tables and booths. The menu is large with lots of yummy options. Service is always helpful and efficient. Food comes out quick and is always fresh and delicious. Bathrooms in the back. Parking in lot outside.

My go to for pho. I was sick and decided to grubhub some. Food came timely. Delicious as always.

It's rare to find a good Vietnamese place that puts a lot of effort into ambiance & decor, so I was a bit nervous at how nice the place looked. However, the food & service were both great! At first glance at the menu, I was pleasantly surprised to see labels for things that contained gluten & items that were vegan. My partner and I almost always have to ask about gluten free options at Vietnamese places because dietary restrictions are so uncommon in a lot of Asian cultures. It was nice that my partner could order most of the menu, as only a few things contained gluten. We ordered the veggie crispy rolls to share, then I had the pho chay (vegan pho) & he got the mi quang. The food came out without too much wait and the staff were very friendly. The pho itself was delicious! I appreciated the effort put into having a flavorful veggie broth as well as two types of tofu in the bowl. Many restaurants have given me bland broth with raw tofu cubes before. The crispy rolls were also one of the best things I've eaten in PDX! I can't speak to my partner's dish, but he seemed to enjoy it and it was nice to see something different on the menu when so many Vietnamese restaurants stick to pho, banh mi, & bun bo hue. Yes, the price is about $5 more than I usually pay for pho, but given the quality, effort, & portions, I didn't feel ripped off at all! We paid $44 for two entrees and an appetizer, with leftovers to take home. I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the menu & the desserts!

This is a wonderful restaurant: beautiful, and calm atmosphere. Delicious food; attractive food platings; and an excellent selection of various types of food, from noodles to soups, appetizers to main dishes. The service is always attentive. This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants and I continue to bring friends here.

Order Vegetarian Pho and a Classic Pho! Plus the Jasmine tea! Vegetarian Pho is great - I did no mushrooms and added broccoli. For sure top 5 pho place. The inside has such cute decor and the staff is super great. 10/10 recommend!

Pho Van was one of the first restaurants to serve pho. It is a staple in the pho industry. Inside the restaurant is beautifully decorated! The service is always great here. The food is very good but a little expensive for the amount of food you get. A large here is smaller than a large at most pho restaurants. At least the meat to noodle ratio is good though. Give this place a try! Thank me later

One of my family's all time favorite restaurants. Try the lemongrass chicken, any of the pho, and the ginger crème brûlée.

Started with veggie summer rolls. Excellent. Then went with the curried tofu with sweet potato. The curry sauce was perfect with both the tofu and sweet potato. As always, the atmosphere was delightful.

Pho Van is a regular stop for me when visiting a friend in the area and I wish I lived closer. Their food is so good and they have lots of great options. Last night I got the duck and bamboo with rice noodle soup, I will be getting it again, it was delicious! The bamboo was soft with a subtle bite but not stringy like it can often be, the duck came cooked in strips on a pile of cabbage and peanuts with a light sauce. The food arrives pretty quickly and portions are perfect. Servers are nice and generally speedy, there is lots of seating but usually a small wait on weekends (less than 5 min).

Been coming here and the one in Beaverton for a while now, great fresh food, never been let down with taste, smell or service. The Portland one hasn't the best parking. My favorite thing on the menu is the Che van drink/dessert!!!! Never found anything close yet anywhere. I go for special occasions and treats with family or just myself. Authentic staff that are efficient. Cool decorations, so so men's bathroom but I've seen worse. Decent price. Definitely in my top restaurants. Thank you

Stopped in for lunch today. I love the atmosphere here. Bright & clean with bamboo and plants. We were seated right away. We received a pitcher of cold water almost immediately. The server came right after. Today we enjoyed the salad roll's & chicken wings. The rolls were fresh with tasty shrimp & pork plus fresh veg. The peanut sauce is delish. The glazed chicken wings were moist & well cooked. Nice sauce. My hubby had pho with rare round. He liked it. Mine was meatball & fatty brisket. I love the flavorful broth & fresh Thai basil, jalapeños, limes & sprouts. The broth is not greasy. It has a complex flavor profile. Very satisfying. A small size bowl is plenty & cost about 15$. I enjoyed a hot espresso with sweetened condensed milk. They had a great sounding crème brûlée. I was to full today. Next time I'm going to get some!

Food here was good, but the service is so terrible it's almost laughable and not worth our 140+ bill. We're from out of town and Viet, only a group of four. Getting a table was fine, but no one came to serve us or get our orders until half an hour in. We waited over 20 minutes for someone to finally get to us, even though A LOT of workers passed by us multiple times. When we first got a table our waitress (asian girl with glasses) dropped off our water and then left almost immediately afterwards. No refills on water, ngược mam, did not come to check with us about the food at all, etc. No one came to give us our bill either, so had to go to the front. As someone whose family has been in the restaurant industry for many years, you would think they would show more hospitality; but it was 1000% complete trash service. Avoid and only order the ca nuong if you can!

This is my go to place for pho. A friend introduced me to this place about 6-7 years back and now it's the only place I go to. If you come when it's not busy, you can get your bowl of pho in under five minutes. It does get busy here on weekends so be prepared for a little wait. They don't really come back to your table to check on you. You don't get sharing plates if you get the crepe dish or a knife or anything. We ended up waiting a while for boxes and containers for leftovers. Generally you go to the front to pay whenever I've gone but I'm not sure if we are supposed to. I've also had checkout at the table too. The pho here is always really good. This most recent time it needed a little salt but nothing that the assortment on the table can't provide. Sometimes the meat is a little bit fatty but not a deal breaker here. The bowls are huge. The inside is small but seats many. The interior is very pretty. There were several parties and big groups seated when we came for graduation celebrations. I wish service was a bit more consistent but it won't stop be from coming back again and again.

We've been coming here for the last 3 years. I can say the food has been great EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. We often come as a group of 6 or more and the service is great as well. Prices are decent not great but the food is fantastic. This is a big restaurant with a lot of seating area. Even when busy they turn tables pretty quick. If you haven't given this place a try yet, do yourself a favor and get some!

Hate to rave about a menu item one day and then come back a couple of months later and find the item drastically different and, to my taste, poorly made. Once again ordered the mi quang (tumeric noodles in a spicy broth with shrimp, minced pork, fishcake, and diced jicama). This time the mi quang tasted quite fishy. Not fishy as in shrimp. Fishy as in fish. A disappointing two- or three-star entree at best, and not close to the excellent bowl of mi quang I ate at Pho Van only a short while ago. What saved the meal from being a complete disaster was my partner's order, the bánh xèo (Vietnamese crispy crepe), which she found very good. So all in all our latest meal at Pho Van was passable but certainly not great. Great restaurants have kitchens that put out food with a reasonable degree of consistency. Sad to say, not the case here. Likely we won't be back.

Delicious Ca Nuong, crispy cat fish w/ veggies and fermented fish sauce. Now I'm craving it, darn it.

Pho Van is, in my opinion, one of the most beautifully decorated Vietnamese restaurants in Portland Area. Reminding me of Vietnam when I walk in, I love the ambiance and there's always large tables for group settings. Another thing I love is that their menu is HUGE and has so many different options that many other Vietnamese places don't have, such as the ability to make your own cuon yourself. The biggest reason why I don't like going here is that service is really bad. Like really really bad. Every time I've come, I feel like I've been seated in a spot where waiters/waitresses don't really come (but also, I've been seated in a variety of spots all over the restaurant, so maybe that's not a seating issue haha). It's extremely difficult to get someone's attention, and when I do, it feels like they don't even want to be talking to me. Not only that but food takes forever to come out AND the food is only okay. It's not bad, but if I wanted really good Vietnamese food worth paying for, I wouldn't come here.

2 stars because our family enjoyed the fish but that's it. Ambience was fine and service could've been better. my food was burnt, my cousin's was barely edible she couldn't eat it, food was bland and flavorless. Our server was rude, he responded with an attitude every time. Banh Xeo was soft, we couldn't eat it either. Personally I wouldn't come again. Hope you guys can improve your service!

Updating review! Not sure what's changed but went yesterday and was best bowl of pho I've had in Portland. So much meat. Friendly staff. Nice place. Nothing but great things to say.

I truly adore it! The beef salad is outstanding, with tender, juicy pieces of beef that perfectly complement the crisp, fresh greens and vibrant veggies. It's hands down the best I've ever tasted.

The food was delicious and came out really fast. Inside is really nice as well and our server/host was nice

The restaurant is spacious and well-decorated. Our server was friendly and attentive. Bun Bo Hue: this was just ok. The broth had a little too much lemongrass flavor for my taste. Pho Tai: my husband got this but I tried the broth. I personally didn't like it because it just tasted ... I wouldn't say "off" but it just wasn't the usual pho broth I'm used to. It had a very tart flavor like they put in lime juice, but my husband definitely didn't add that. A bit underwhelming.

I came here for lunch with my friend. I'm visiting from California, and have been wanting some authentic Vietnamese food, as I am a little homesick. It was actually my friend's friend who suggested to come here. I am Vietnamese, so of course nothing says home like a bowl of pho. I order Pho Tai Nam Gau. Perhaps I'm just spoiled because I am from the Bay Area of Ca, but I was slightly disappointed. The broth was good, it was dark and cloudy or greasy, but lacked a little bit of the "pho" flavor and and noodles were undercooked. The meat however, was probably one of the better qualities I've ever had. We also ordered spring rolls, and those weren't bad either.

We came here for the Roasted catfish. We called an hour ahead, and they had our table ready and set with the accompanying veggies (basil, mint, cilantro, pickled daikon and carrots, cucumbers, apples, and bean sprouts), sauce, and rice paper wraps. The fish was nice and moist with a nice clean flavor. The skin was not as crispy as I would like, I guess because it's roasted--not fried? It was definitely a fun group dining experience where everyone builds their own wraps with lettuce or rice paper. It gets a bit messy, and they're not super generous with napkins. It felt really good to wash my hands afterwards. The ambiance is very nice. It has the feel of an open air cafe with high ceilings, skylights, and real plants.

This is probably one of the best Vietnamese places to eat in the Portland area. You can order a combination plate and try many different items at one time. The shredded pork, shrimp skewers, pork chops and chicken skewer which also comes with a Vietnamese patty which is very good. Its all serviced with fish sauce on the side and a generous portion of rice. Spoil your self to the whole fried catfish which is served with lettuce and other fresh vegetables and rice paper and a sauce. Its available in many different sizes based on the size of your group. I never knew how much I loved catfish. Its not easy to find a Vietnamese restaurant that serves this dish. The restaurant has a nice charm to it. They have plenty of parking and seating.

We really enjoyed our meal. Authentic and yummy. Prices are high, but going to a nice restaurant you pay for the ambiance and the food. It's a big restaurant with pretty decorations too.

Lovely atmosphere, efficient waitstaff, consistent, we have been going for years, great pho and salad rolls. Never a bad meal.

Restaurant looks clean. Food portion was small. Disliked how they brought out the entrees first and we were half way done when the appetizers came out (fish sauce wings and salad rolls), really?! Do not go here if you have a large party (6 or more?), you get less than mediocre service, they don't check in to see if you need anything. 18% gratuity added by default; good strategy though as they get tips for doing nothing more than dropping you the food. I been here several times before with a party of 4 or less. I'd never take a large group here ever again.

Absolutely ridiculous! This entree is 17.50 to begin with and you don't even get a full chicken breast! I Do not recommend getting anything to go, they cheap up and give you less food and cold food. Very disappointing.

For Portland this is definitely one of the best viet restaurants. But I don't know why service is always slow and bad.

Ive been going here for years and the food quality remains great! I do however have one complaint about the last time I was here a few days ago. And judging by some of the other reviews I'm guessing this wasn't a one off experience. My server was very rude and seemed as tho she couldn't care less about helping us. She rolled her eyes when asked for "extra limes" gave us two slices and charged us for those 2 slices of lime... this has never happened to me before at any other pho place. Overall the customer service was lacking and we were 2 people out of the 6 customers that were there so it wasn't during rush hour. I will give this place another chance since i love the food and maybe the server just wasn't having a good morning that day. But the feeling remains the same that we did not feel welcome