Pho Today - East Rutherford

This is one of the worst pho restaurants I have ever visited. They charged me five dollars just for mushrooms, and I can't believe it. The bubble tea was excessively sweet and not enjoyable at all. The chicken tasted processed and certainly wasn't fresh. In comparison, Saigon Kitchen in Fort Lee is far superior.

I enjoyed the Bun (rice vermicelli) with spring rolls; it was quite tasty. My sister and father also liked their Pho. However, I have two minor complaints. Even though the menu features a variety of Banh Mi sandwiches, they don't offer one with pate, which is the only kind I prefer. Additionally, the hot coffee arrives at an extremely scalding temperature and is served in a paper cup, making it impossible to hold right away. You'll need to let it cool for about five minutes on the table before you can touch it.

It's a great spot for a bowl of Pho. The atmosphere feels like a laid-back fast food joint; the staff takes your order, and then you don’t see them again until they deliver your food. They were quite polite, though not particularly engaging. However, when you're chilled and craving a warm bowl of noodle soup, this place really hits the spot. I usually go for the Combo Pho, but this time I decided to try the Seafood Pho, and it did not disappoint! I must say, the squid was tender—not at all like the chewy texture you might find elsewhere.

The veggie pho can be made vegan if you request vegetable broth, and it was delicious with a generous portion size. The variety of vegetables added great flavor. The veggie sandwich on a baguette was also excellent. They have Sriracha and other sauces available on the table. It's a wonderful place to dine, whether you're with friends or looking for a quick meal on your own. The food tastes very fresh. However, I did notice that the service could use some improvement; it felt a bit lacking.

I had the Oxtail Pho today, and unfortunately, it was tough and contained mostly bones. The broth also lacked flavor. However, the Bun Dac Biet was much better; it was well-cooked and came with plenty of pork, shrimp, and beef for two bowls. It seemed like perhaps the pho was prepared by a different cook, as my experience varied significantly. The service was slow, even with only a few tables occupied, but since the restaurant had just opened for the day, there might be more staff on later.