Pho Cali

I came here when I had a cold, so my sense of taste probably was not the most acute, but I think the place is great! Extremely friendly and fun service from some very genuine people, pretty good phở, and a nice environment that isn’t too loud, nor quietly awkward like some other phở places can be. The only thing I would like to see is reusable bowls and spoons. The disposable plastic ones cheapen the phở and create waste. Sad day. This is the closest phở place to my house and I’ll definitely be back!

Overall just blah... Maybe half as good as Pho Bien Hoa. The chili oil here is more like a canned paste. The noodles are way over cooked. The rare beef is more like medium. But it is ok-ish.. Or rather it would be if it was 20% cheaper. The quality is simply not what it could be. The broth is bland, and I think the waiter must have eaten half of the meat from my pho on the way to our table. And nothing was really fresh.. The fried rice is over cooked and very greasy .. But what really stands out here is MEDIOCRITY... I will NEVER be coming back.. Even if someone else pays.

Don't be put off by the smell right before you enter. That's just the smell of the sewer, yes the sewer! Unfortunately the city decided to place 6 sewer manhole covers right in front of a shopping center zoned for restaurant. And pho California picked this spot for their establishment. I walked in from a nearby hotel because I love Vietnamese food. Ordered the same thing I normally do at every other place. Except for here it took a full 30 minutes to bring out a bowl of Pho. Yes. 30 minutes, it was remarkable. Never again will I visit this place, but not because of the time it took to bring my noodles, but because when they brought it the soup was an inch and a half below the rim of the bowl, and that's after I added the plate of fresh greens and bean sprouts. I was quite upset, but to their credit when I asked for additional broth the waiter brought it to me without hesitation. Needless to say that I ordered a large bowl and I received a large bowl with a small bowl portion. Not too satisfying. I have included 17 pictures of my experience. Hope this review is helpful.

I used to go every month and have raved about this place for a long time my whole family and friends go there up until recently. My parents eat pho twice a month but not since the remodel. The portions, the plastic utensils and the fast food window inside doesn’t help. The taste has suffered. I wonder if they have new owners? It makes me truly sad. This place used to be so good!

I have never tried Vietnamese food before. I Was a little nervous since I’ve never been here before and especially since one of my favorite places to eat was right across the street. They were not busy so the service was great for me. Very very delicious meal. I was very pleasantly surprised on how much I really liked. This will probably be my new soup place and I think since it’s winter I will be coming here much more often. Fantastic experience!

Just witnessed my server walk out because none of her customers were compensating her, and the management looked clueless when she was explaining it to them. If your customers weren't cheapskates that need to learn the American standard of tipping, you probably wouldn't have problems keeping staff more than a day or two. I sat for 10 minutes before another server finally came to take my order and almost was late getting back to work only to get a lukewarm soup. Not for me. This place used to be so much better!

HORRIBLE REMODEL. They have changed from a sit down restaurant to a fast food, order at the front then pick up your order. The bowls and (tiny) spoons are now one time use plastic even when you order in (Which is why we stopped going to Oh Mai). Portions are now one size, smaller and more expensive. Their menu is now half the size and several popular dishes are gone. Several people who came in after us were upset that their usual orders had been discontinued. We are so truly disappointed. This was our absolute favorite restaurant and usually come at least once a week. Now we have to find a new pho place. PLEASE do not remodel your other location. At least take the time to ask your customers what they think about the changes. The few tables around us were all talking about what a shame it was. Please tell us if you decide to go back to your old bowls, spoons, prices and portions and we will be back in a heartbeat!