Phở Five-o - Aiea

Overall, I can't be too critical about the food, but I did leave feeling satisfied. The summer rolls were generously packed, though I would have preferred them to be a bit sweeter and less bland. The dipping sauce had a richer flavor than most I've experienced, which I appreciated. The combination pho offered a good variety of meats, with the steak and meatballs standing out as the best parts. The broth was solid and had a decent level of umami, but it didn't have the boldness that some broths I've had in the past have provided. While I can't pinpoint anything specific that was underwhelming, I wasn't overly impressed, so I can't give it a full 5 stars.

One thing I did notice was that the spring rolls came with fewer pieces than I’m used to. Typically, you get six halves, but here there were only four halves for the same price. I understand that restaurants sometimes aim to cut costs, but this reduction was disappointing, leading me to give the overall experience four stars instead of five. As with many Pho restaurants, the customer service was good. The owner was very friendly and pleasant, creating a welcoming atmosphere for everyone. The restaurant itself was clean and felt safe, with neatly organized tables that didn’t come off as cheap. Would I come back? Definitely!

I kept my designs simple, and this restaurant is well-organized. I tried their bun bo hue, which had a beautifully rich red broth. I really enjoyed it.

First time trying this place out brought the whole family I always order the vermicelli w/egg rolls which was really good family ordered the kalbi/shrimp rice plate, wonton saimin soup, curry with tofu and shrimp pho everyone enjoyed there fish the portion was satisfying service was great and the atmosphere was really private how the tables are set up.

This review is just for the pho. Frankly, pho is the only dish I really care about, though I enjoy an occasional vermicelli bowl, summer rolls, or spring rolls. I 've been a pho natic since my college days, enjoying pho in San Diego 's City Heights and even Orange County 's Little Saigon. I love pho so much, I sometimes choose it over ramen or a fancy meal. I 'm glad my husband suggested this spot for dinner, allowing me to give it another chance a couple years after mistakenly thinking the pho wasn 't all that (it was actually my fault, I forgot to order the steak on my pho on the side, affecting the pho experience for me! You may be thinking, Aiea has lots of pho choices or all pho tastes the same. So how does Pho Five O stand out? CLEAN, BUT BEEFY PHO BROTH This restaurant must have taken my cousin in law 's Yelp review to heart because the pho broth wasn 't bland to me. The broth was actually pretty flavorful and CLEAN to me. Ample amount of noodles and meat in my medium bowl of steak and brisket, and I remembered to order steak on the side this time! My husband demolished his large bowl of steak and tendon pho. Standard condiments and side veggies were included. Vietnamese coffee was served in a styrofoam cup. CUSTOMER SERVICE No kidding, I observed three takeout order pickups in the time we dined here, and all three and the hostess were personable to each other, from I hope you stay safe to your son is big and just had a haircut! That told me these customers were regulars. The same hostess greeted my husband and I warmly upon entering, something you don 't always see in mom and pop Vietnamese joints. Ranking all the pho in Aiea, I 'd say this place is behind my other favorite Aiea pho by the skin of their teeth, all because the other place has a slightly beefier flavor, and more meat and size options, though the other place gets pretty busy. Pho Five O is still better than the rest of Aiea 's pho, though I haven 't tried the newest addition yet. Come here for a nice pho broth, nice customer service, and no wait times. Waimalu Shopping Center has lots of ono grinds, and Pho Five O is definitely one of them!