Pho Mi - Dayton

Pho Mi is my go-to spot whenever I don't feel like cooking or dealing with cleanup. I can easily place my order over the phone and pick it up just 15 minutes later. While I usually enjoy dining in, I often opt for their takeout option. They are incredibly accommodating to my preferences, allowing me to request no oil, no salt, and no tofu, which is fantastic. My usual choices are the summer rolls without tofu and the veggie pho, also without tofu. Just because they don't have a specific vegan option on the menu doesn’t mean they can’t whip one up; just ask for no meat, substitute tofu or ask for a sweeter version, and request no fish sauce while swapping out for rice noodles. If you enjoy Linh’s, you will definitely appreciate Pho Mi.

Despite feeling uncomfortable about this interaction, I went ahead and ordered the bun cha gio chay (vermicelli with spring rolls). My bowl looked good when it was brought to the table, but guess what? When I took my fork and dug in, the woman returned and realized she had mistakenly served me a roll with meat instead of the veggie one. I then had to wait an additional 10 minutes for them to prepare a proper veggie spring roll to add to the same bowl. As for the dish itself, it was just okay—not spectacular and lacking flavor, even with the sauce it came with. I might have ordered the wrong thing, but being served meat by mistake is enough for me not to return here. Oh, and there's no soy milk available. I asked for a soy milk option for my bubble tea, but the woman informed me that they only have regular milk.

This is a small Vietnamese restaurant located on the south side of the Dayton Mall. They offer a fairly extensive menu, though only a small portion is dedicated to vegetarian options. While this might not be extraordinary in many other cities, Dayton has limited choices for vegans, making this restaurant a good stop for those traveling on a plant-based diet. One positive aspect is that the staff is knowledgeable about vegan options and takes care to ensure that vegan dishes are prepared properly. This is a significant advantage, as many so-called vegan-friendly places often overlook these details in their food preparation. Although the description mentions various dishes with "seitan," I didn’t notice any seitan on the menu—only tofu is listed.

I wouldn't recommend returning to this restaurant. The staff seemed completely unaware of what vegan options are! I chose to try Pho Mi based on previous reviews and my love for Vietnamese cuisine. The waitress was very friendly, but gave me a blank look when I mentioned needing a vegan meal. She eventually directed me to the vegetarian section on the last page of the menu. I asked if the veggie spring roll contained eggs, and she wasn't sure, needing to call another employee to verify, who then assured me that it did not. I was already feeling uncertain about the whole situation, but decided to order the Bun Cha Gio Chay (Vermicelli salad with a spring roll). When my dish arrived, it looked appetizing, but just as I was about to dig in, the waitress hurried over to remove the spring roll from my bowl, claiming she had mistakenly given me a pork roll. I then had to wait another 10 minutes for them to prepare a veggie spring roll to add to my dish. As for the food itself, it was decent but nothing remarkable and lacked flavor, even with the provided sauce. It's possible that I chose the wrong dish, but being served meat by mistake is enough to deter me from returning. Also, a heads up: there is no soy milk available. I inquired about soy milk for their Boba Tea, but the waitress informed me that they only offer regular milk.

Pho mi is my go to. Anytime I'm just not feeling like cooking or cleaning, I call in my order and pick it up 15 minutes later. (I dine in too, just more frequently use their carry out option. They are completely open to my requests of no oil, no salt, and no tofu which is awesome. I usually get the summer rolls with no tofu and the veggie pho no tofu. And just because they don't have a menu entree listed doesn't mean they can't make a vegan version. Just request no meat, sub tofu or more veggies and ask for no fish sauce and sub out for rice noodles. If you like Linh's, you'll like Pho Mi.