My New Favorite Pho Place 🍜
Pho 2000 has the best southern Vietnamese style Pho
I wrote an article a while back on my favorite Pho restaurant, Mộng Thu Cafe, but I found its greatest competitor. My new favorite place is Pho 2000 on Larkin. I now have to change my stance on best Pho restaurants. Mộng Thu Cafe still holds the title of best Bun Bo Hue, but Pho 2000 now holds the title of best traditional southern style Pho. It’s so good I go there on Mondays every other week.
Pho 2000 feels very homey. The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the aunties in the first floor kitchen with their massive pots stirring up some delicious broth. There are two floors to the restaurant where people eat, and the service is chill.
What I love the most about Pho 2000 is how affordable it is. I usually order the Pho Dac Biet, or the house special Pho, and it costs me $16 tips included. The noodles are chewy, they have good meat portions, and most importantly their broth is so rich in flavor. Any order of Pho also comes with the traditional toppings like bean sprouts, jalapeños, and basil leaves
Restaurant Recs
Keep it simple, just go with the Pho Dac Biet, or house special combo. Most of the Pho options are all the same beef broth, just different meat combinations. The combo pho does include ligament, so if you’re not into that, then I’d recommend the rare steak / beef ball option.
I’ve had Pho 2000’s Bun Bo Hue and would not recommend it. It’s still decent, but you can find better Bun Bo Hue elsewhere like Mong Thu. At Pho 2000, I would stick to what they’re best for, which is their traditional Pho in my opinion.
Vibes
Restaurant is small and homey. The staff is nice and the place just feels authentic, like they put their energy on the food.
This stuff is rejuvenating. I love going there right after work to replenish, and it’s usually not that busy. I’ve been there on the weekends where it’s a lot busier.
The restaurant is in the tenderloin, so I would recommend taking the bus to the closest station to avoid walking through there. I don’t know what it is about Tenderloin Pho but it’s so gas (Little Saigon is in the area).
