"The vegan pho is absolutely incredible! The broth is packed with flavor, and the tofu is thick and firm, maintaining its shape wonderfully. I often find myself craving it!"
Had a hankering for some Bahn Mi and I have to kick myself for not having tried Pho Play. I 've seen them being the one of the results on Yelp but thought that Castro Valley was just a bit far for a sandwich. I was in the area so I thought I give them a try. The place is in a plaza near a Safeway and other small stores. Plenty of parking and very clean. At the time of ordering, indoor dining was still not available (but it 's available now as of the writing of this review) but they have outside seating with heaters. I ordered the grilled pork Bahn Mi. I thought it was a bit pricey but was surprised when it came out. The sandwich was big! About 10 inches long, filled out with meat and veggies...
On Sunday, September 25th, 2022, I visited Pho Play and informed the woman at the counter that I was dining alone. She told me I could take any seat, so I picked a spot in the front row by the door. After waiting for eight minutes and watching other customers order and receive their meals, I started to feel confused and approached her again. She brusquely pointed out that I needed to order at the counter. There were no signs indicating this, and no one had mentioned that I should place my order upfront. I felt frustrated after sitting there for nearly ten minutes without any assistance.
I chose this restaurant because of its high Google rating. Being new to the area, I depend on reviews from others when selecting places to eat, so I wanted to share my experience to help future customers. My wife and I ordered a vermicelli bowl and pho, and both dishes were absolutely delicious. The pho broth was exceptional. We're really happy to have found this spot. The staff was friendly, the dining area was clean, and the restrooms were well-kept.
I really enjoy this restaurant; their pho and banh mi are quite tasty, though a bit on the expensive side. Unfortunately, during our last visit, my partner and I ordered the chicken pho and found it disappointing. The meat was incredibly tough. When we brought this up to the staff (since we both had the same dish), they didn’t take any steps to resolve the issue. I was quite let down by the experience and haven't returned since.
Réservez une table maintenant
The name of this place may sound cheesy but their food is actually really good! Of course they're known for their pho but the bao buns are pretty amazing too! You get a lot of food for your money, and every time I go the food is a good quality. I can get busy on some random evenings, but it's still worth the wait.
I had an amazing experience at Pho Play! The ambiance was fantastic, and they offer three vegan dishes on their menu, all clearly labeled. The vegan pho was flavorful and delicious, loaded with tofu and a variety of vegetables. Additionally, the portion sizes were quite generous for the price.
The vegan vermicelli dish is quite tasty and comes with peanut sauce. Although it might not be packed with intense flavors, it perfectly satisfies my craving for a healthy, low-fat, and low-salt option. This is an update from my previous review dated July 29, 2021.
The selection of vegetarian options is limited, and the flavors weren't as impressive as I had hoped. If you're in the mood for tasty vegan Vietnamese and fusion cuisine, I recommend visiting Golden Lotus in Oakland or Golden Era in San Francisco instead.
Réservez une table maintenant
I truly enjoy the taste of their soup and the generous portion sizes! We've visited this restaurant twice in our quest to discover the best pho spots in the area, and so far, this one is at the top of our list!
The vegan pho is absolutely incredible! The broth is packed with flavor, and the tofu is thick and firm, maintaining its shape wonderfully. I often find myself craving it!
