Pho Fast

While it is definitely nice to have phở fast as an option, but it was a disappointment that it did not deliver.
First off, I noticed that the noodles were already pre-cooked…a big no-​no as the reheating process destroys the much desired, springy yet tender texture of the noodles. Instead you get mush and strands that break apart too easily.
The meat was alright. It was definitely tender and was in thick cuts which are a bit non-​traditional. I like the thicker cuts, and it is often the way I make it at home.
The soup was decent, though overly spiced… all I could fast was the star anise. Another big no-​no was that the soup was not hot enough. When you add the cold vegetables and pre-​cooked noodles to the mildly hot soup, you get lukewarm phở… sound tasty to you?
I really hope that phở fast could make some changes to how they deliver the phở. I think some minor adjustments, such as cooking noodles to the order (which only take a minute) and making sure the soup is piping hot, we might have good phở from a cart! Nonetheless I suppose if you are really needing the phở, especially now when the weather is not so delightful, at least you can get something…

They were the guest restaurant at our employee café yesterday. I have never had phở before, so I was excited to try it. I had the lamb with no hot peppers or hot sauce. Overall it was a very tasty soup. I am not a fan of chop sticks, so my plan was to use a spoon. As soon as I saw the «big gulp» style cup it was served in, I knew I was in trouble. The spoon was not long enough! The veggies were fresh and the lamb was well seasoned.
It was still the most expensive soup I’ve had in a while. I hate to knock of the fifth star for price, because it was so good. As an occasional treat, I can justify it, but to expensive for a daily lunch for me.

Nine dollars for a bowl of noodle soup? You guys are losers for paying that. What other soup for lunch is nine dollars? Do you know what this costs to make? It’s a joke… Not to mention you’re eating your lunch a seven eleven big gulp cup not a bowl.
Joke will be on you if you keep going and paying.

My review is based on their service at both Chase and Nationwide. The serving of phở is huge, at least 3 cups of soup. The chicken and tofu proteins are both great, as are the vegan and chicken stocks. The available toppings are always fresh — bean sprouts, jalapeños, cilantro, lime, and scallions. Their house made chili pepper sauce (similar to Shiracha but better) is amazing. Overall, a great deal for less than $ 8.

Ehhh. I get this inside the Nationwide building sometimes for lunch when they are a guest restaurant. My review is based upon the NW food court location.
I have had it twice now and won’t get it anymore. It’s really just sub-​par phở that carries an abnormally high price tag for a dinky CUP of soup. This is not a bowl, its a cup. I do like the main guy that runs the place. He’s nice and talkative. But it needs more than that to get me to go back.
Although the broth actually has pretty good flavor compared to many other phở places in the local area:
(1) the meat is extremely questionable. It looks gross. It is is a grayish color to start, not brown, not red, not pink — gray. It tastes gross. Despite being placed in a broth it still tastes dry. Its too processed, and its way overcooked. I like beef phở with rare beef. What you get here is EXTREMELY well done meat that is once again cooked even more once placed into a hot boiling «cup» of soup.
(2) The togo containers they serve the food in are not adequate. They are also small and do not allow room for the toppings (not enough bean sprouts, etc.).
(3) They charge way too much — around $ 9 for what would probably be considered an extra small serving of phở at any Vietnamese restaurant in the city. It could be SLIGHTLY bigger. If you pay that much for phở it should taste better AND be bigger. They should allow you to have all the toppings you want in another container to accommodate their high prices.
The phở place inside the North Market down the street is better. Additionally, CHOPSTIX inside of NW is substantially better. Although CHOPSTIX is not phở, its similiar and it hits the spot and satisfies my craving.

Get the lamb phở, it is incredible.

One of my student workers came in the other day raving about a phở food cart that had been around campus lately. I’m hardly ever on campus during the lunch hour (yeaaaaaaaaah second shift!) but the words «phở food cart» were enough to get me up and hiking up Neil during a time when I’m usually just starting my day.
The cart is set up at 11^th and Neil, and if you don’t work/​live on/​near campus, it may be tricky to find parking (your best bet is probably the meters along 11^th). Make sure to check their Facebook or Twitter page before heading over — I missed them the first time I went over because it was too cold for them to operate. The folks running the cart are cheerful despite the cold, and recognized several regulars and return customers. While I was there, they also mentioned that they’ll only be on campus now Wednesday through Friday as they start expanding to other locations.
I was looking forward to trying the lamb phở which their Facebook fans rave about, but by the time I got there, they were just about out of lamb, so I got the last scraps of lamb tucked into a regular beef phở. The noodles are put into a large cup along with sprouts if you like them, after which you are allowed to add as much or as little as you like of green onions, cilantro, jalapenos, and lime. Your cup is then topped off with broth — which is quite excellent, and not excessively salty as many tend to be.
The cart does accept credit cards (but no BuckID), which is great for those of us who rarely carry cash anymore. They were having a little trouble with their card reader when I was there, but there is an ATM just across the corner by Boston Stoker. Also, kudos for using paper instead of styrofoam or plastic containers.
You won’t get beef balls, tripe or rare steak in your phở here (the beef is the well-​done brisket style), but a steaming hot cup of beefy (or chickeny) goodness will set you back $ 8. The tricky part for non-​campus-​ites is going to be finding a place to park and then driving away with a cup of hot phở balanced in your lap (I’d suggest walking a block up to the library and eating in there. Bring me a cup, too, while you’re at it.)
EDIT: I thought this over a bit and it’s really more of a 3.5 stars given the slightly steep price. But I reaaaaaaaaally want them to do well and then be able to lower their price a dollar or so.
EDIT 2: Make sure to check their website for details on where they will be serving. As of the end of March, they were not scheduling any days at OSU, and instead are serving at the Nationwide cafeteria.