Comments on: Pho Hoa Vietnamese Restaurant, El Cajon Blvd – Still Serving Great Pho

By: john

john — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 02:36:42 +0000

@Cuong: Good Idea Chuong but like I said my heat tolerance has gone from non existent to extreme thanks to my love of pho and rationing my little water glass. Now I don’t touch my water until my bowl is empty. At home I laced my sriracha with 1 million scoville capsaicin extract which is funny because i used to think sriracha was super spicy. I can eat habanero’s now without cooling agents. I’m thinking about making sriracha out of habanero or ghost peppers.

By: Cuong

Cuong — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 06:18:01 +0000

@CARL and @John: Great idea Carl. Or why not order two glasses of water as you order your pho? Or three glasses? I don’t know, they may finally get it. It’s still hard for me to believe a situation where a dining customer is being ignored like yours.

By: CARL

CARL — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:01:23 +0000

John:

How about asking for a second glass of water when your pho is presented?

By: Cuong

Cuong — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:35:25 +0000

@John: In San Diego area, you may want to try these below.

Pho Hoa Linda Vista
6921 Linda Vista Rd
(at Ulric St)
San Diego, CA 92111
Neighborhood: Linda Vista
(858) 492-9108

Pho Ca Dao
8373 Mira Mesa Blvd
(between New Salem St & Reagan Rd)
San Diego, CA 92126
Neighborhood: Mira Mesa
(858) 564-0917
Read my post on Pho Ca Dao.

Pho Cow Express
9170 Mira Mesa Blvd
(between Rickert Rd & Black Mountain Rd)
San Diego, CA 92126
Neighborhood: Mira Mesa
(858) 271-8341
Read my post on Pho Cow Express (formerly Pho Hoa Cali Express.)

By: John

John — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:07:11 +0000

Yes I can’t get enough of it. I’ve gone to about 10 places in SD for pho but this place keeps me coming back. Do you have any recommendations that are as good, better, or a must try? I feel like there might be a diamond in the rough I’m missing. Yelp is littered with people giving good reviews on something they aren’t qualified to review, not that i’m a pho pro or anything.

By: Cuong

Cuong — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:19:52 +0000

@John: It’s unfortunate that this happened to you. Maybe the next time you go there, or any other Viet restaurant, have a quick survey. You may notice that most if not all non-Viet guests will leave tips; many Viet guests will also leave tips; but still a few Viet guests will not. So my own take is, yes tips are important, but the expectation of it may not be as strong as you may think from the servers’ point of view. Again I’m not disagreeing with you or your situation, I’m just saying. I must admit John, the food must be so good that you put up with this For me that’s what Viet restaurant service is all about: none. But it’s okay… guess people like me are used to it.

By: John

John — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:56:31 +0000

I almost had to shoot flares in the air. I looked over in their direction, slid the glass towards the end of the table to no avail without hand signals. One time I got up and started walking towards one of the servers. Like I said I’ve learned to manage my water wisely now. I do understand tipping over there(vietnam) isn’t expected but we are in the states. I don’t like anything about the institution of tipping but I feel like everyone is watching what I throw down and if I don’t then I be forever on the spit-soup list. To feel put on the spot to leave a buck for a dude that served my food(which is his job anyways) is wrong in so many ways. I can’t even go to the bathroom without someone giving me the evil eye for not tipping. I got to pay $15 for a haircut and give the dude a bill on top of that? ughhhh It drives me nuts

By: Cuong

Cuong — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 05:27:08 +0000

Hi John: So what really happened? can you elaborate on your situation? Did you call them and they didn't come, did they see you but ignored you anyway, did you expect them to check on you regularly but they never did? etc. I mean, if you really had to have water refill then there are ways to get it, including getting up and taking your glass to them, which is the extreme case. I'm not defending their service at all. In fact 'm just pointing out the obvious fact that many Viet and pho restaurants are quick cheap eats, and service (as Westerners know it) is not to be expected. In fact tipping was never part of the deal. Americans actually taught the restaurant workers about receiving tips. Read more on Pho Etiquette.

By: John

John — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:57:13 +0000

wow i’m surprised to find this place on here. Pho Hoa is so my favorite pho place that i’ve come across only thing is it’s a nightmare trying to get a refill of water. The first three times I left $1 tip on my dac biet that cost $6.70 but I stopped leaving tips on the 4th visit. Am I wrong for this? I mean seriously if i’m taking on chile and sriracha laden soup I need WATER. On the plus side my tolorance for spicy has increased as I’ve learned to ration my little glass of water but I feel since i’m a regular they are spitting on my food because they know I don’t tip. Last time I went the guy knew my order “to dac biet with the beef on the side”. I felt guilty and tipped a buck but i’m conflicted because there isn’t any real “service”.