Pho Kai

I am Phở-​reak. With that being said, I have high expectations for phở.
A phở place should be a well-​oiled machine– quick, cheap, and delicious.
Phở Kai is not this place. Maybe I’m sadistic because I keep going back after being disappointed time and time again; but Port Orchard doesn’t have a lot of phở options and I keep thinking every past time was just a fluke.
I called in an order for a Steak Phở and Banh Mi the other day and was told to arrive in 15 to 20 minutes. Knowing that they tend to have long ticket times, I showed up at Phở Kai 25 minutes after I placed my order. When I arrived there were a total of three people sitting in the restaurant and three tickets in the window. My to-​go order had not even been started. I work in the restaurant industry, I understand when shit happens, but a 45 minute ticket time for a simple bowl of phở and banh mi is ridiculous. What’s more is that this is about the third time I’ve called in a to-​go order and had to wait more than 30 mins for my order to be ready. Yes, you can use the excuse that good food takes time, but if you’ve ever been to a ‘pro’ Phở place in Seattle you know that you can get in and out in under 30 mins with the right preparation from the crew.
The food is over priced and fairly bland for what you get. There are no choices on size of soup, each bowl averaging around $ 9-​$ 10, and meat portions are meager. The banh mi costs $ 6 and also lacks the quintessential pickled daikon and carrot that I crave desperately on my sandwich. For comparison, in the city a banh mi runs about $ 3 and a large bowl of phở about $ 8.
The portions, quality, and authenticity of the food is better across the water. Save your money.

I’d like to give a little background here to set realistic expectations of my review.
If you are a typical American restaurant goer, and love heavy, fried, greasy, salty, and super fast food, I totally understand and even agree to a point. But this joint will possibly disappoint you. Here they make fresh, light, healthy food from scratch at the time it’s ordered. This takes more time to get it out to you, and the flavors may seem a lot lighter than you may be used to.
Please don’t come to a place that advertises homestyle healthy meals and review them as though you expected typically excessive restaurant overload. While it is true that it’s not what you wanted, it’s not really a fair shake since they never intended to meet those particular expectations. I wish there was a better way for them to advertise to the general public that they are healthier option. I sure didn’t know it before going in. I bet some other people don’t know that even after going in.
We got the fresh spring roll appetizer, and it was spectacular. I’m a curry freak so I ordered their red curry, and while it wasn’t the best I’ve ever had (see the bliss point comment next), it was definitely commendable. Kind of like when I make it at home, without the extra oil and sugar… Even better, I didn’t leave feeling heavy or ill (ish) like I have from other places. Their peanut sauce is fabulous. The price was on par with most other places, and the serving size left me plenty of leftovers. There were probably 26 customers in the place, a full house during the busy lunch rush.
I recognize that the «bliss point» in food is a calculated balance between as much fat and sugar that can be added to food without causing a feeling of illness in the consumer. It’s called Bliss Point for a reason… its’ dang dang tasty. But this restaurant isn’t feeding you the bliss point, on purpose. This restaurant is feeding you less intense, fresher, healthier asian options. Go a little earlier to adjust for the slightly longer wait time.
So, feel free to say the food wasn’t to your personal liking, but it’s not fair at all to say it’s gross because you are acclimated to bliss point foods. I WILL be eating there again; there is a Phở Ga that is calling my name. It might be my first phở, so wish me luck!!!

I can’t really say too much about anything but the shrimp spring rolls and steak phở. It’s all I really had, but It’s so good. Full of flavor and great meat portions! Jenny and her husband do a great job, especially since a majority, if not– all is done from scratch. That’s a lot of work. Of course people won’t all be for this place for one reason or another, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a shot. It’s totally worth it!

I couldn’t decide whether I should give one or two stars. While I was eating, I couldn’t decide whether I would rate their Phở Ga C– or D+.
Went in there for lunch, background music was so low I thought it was weird being in there. Also, the music was being played through the laptop in the cashier’s and nothing coming out of the speaker in the wall.
Soup base didn’t have much flavor like I’m used to. The chicken was tasteless… They only have two different sauces whereas I’m used to adding 3 different ones.
Then again, I really didn’t expect much from this small city. Oh, out of all the Vietnamese restaurants I’ve been to this was my first experience seeing others eating their Phở noodle soup with… fork ^.^

My first and last time here.
Ive had my fair share of phở, including some amazing homemade phở from my in laws.
This place did not cut it, first off its expensive for what you’re getting, the staff seemed to be in their own little world.
My friend and i got ignored a lot. other tables getting their food before us when we were there first and had been sitting for a long time. They were rude, like they definitely didnt wanna be there.
Sad, i hope they can get better.

Friendly service and fresh ingredients! We look forward to returning soon!

Got some Phở and crab rangoons to go, and yum! Was spoiled by a great phở place in Silverdale (Heidi teriyaki) but can’t justify the drive every time I get a phở craving, so decided to try this place!
The waitress/​hostess was very friendly, and my order was ready when I got there and well packed up. The crab rangoons could have used more flavor, they’re just cream cheese in wonton wrappers. However they were nice with the sauce– which is a blend of Chinese sweet and sour sauce and sweet chili sauce. The way they fold them is better than the typical style too becuase it allows for more filling and less extra fried wrapper.
The phở is very yummy! I had Phở 3 (or Phở Tai Bo Vien, which is thin beef slices and sliced beef meat balls). They even give you little containers of sriracha and hoisin sauce (as it should be). Would recommend it! I’ll be coming back to this place again!

Had my first experience with phở today, always been a little unsure about eating soup as a meal but I’m always hearing about how great phở is and this place was in walking distance so I figured what the hell. Apparently I picked the right place (granted I’ve never tried it anywhere else). I got the chicken phở and it was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. Perfect combination of savory and spicy (if you like it extra spicy ask for chili oil) and it had lots of noodles and meat. The portion was way too much too eat for me in one sitting as the bowl was about the size of a sauce pot so I took the rest home. Looking forward to the leftovers tonight. The ladies that work there are really nice and the price was great for how much you get. $ 8.95 is gonna feed me twice.

When I lived in Port Orchard, this was the best by my house. Only place got closest to the real Phở soup taste.

First time in Phở Kai earlier this week… ummm…food was good. Just not sure we would return. Just as most other reviews state… the wait is long… a little too long given the competition in town for this type of food. Also… there were more than a few flies hanging around. I HATE that! Especially when I am having to swat them away from my food! That a real turn off anywhere I am, especially in a restaurant!
As I said the food was good. Just not worth the stop to feed the phở craving

Not bad, but not great. We just moved here from Hawaii and was needing my phở fix. Big change from what we are used to. The place was empty when we walked in, which made us Leary of staying. Think we will continue our search for good phở.

Do yourself a favor and get the tai tea… Absolutely amazing and authentic. This tea is brewed for hours to get the right flavor. And it’s perfect for these hot summer days because it’s always iced.
And if you’ve never tried phô but want to, this is the place to go. They will be happy to explain it and this is the best tasting phô in port orchard (Believe me, I’ve tried all of them…)!
Great service and happy employees, this place is obviously doing all the right things

Fast service. Ordered chicken pad thai. The worst I ever had. Pad thai is more like a soup then pan fried noodles. My son order the barbecue pork sandwich. Phở was ok. Had a weird taste. The biggie for the phở look like it’s been sitting out for quite while What he got was six pieces of pork with two sauce and a sesame seed on the side. Water taste like it is from the sink even with lemon in it. Never going again.

Update! Whenever we call to order to go we have to wait a very Very very long time before our food is done. It should not take 45 minutes to assemble two vermicelli bowls or 30 minutes for an order of phở. Once the cook in the back was making jokes about one of our orders not having peanuts saying «watch I’m gonna put them on anyway»…my boyfriend could die from anaphylaxis so I’m glad you think it’s funny you idiot because I don’t see the humor in it.

They have great Vietnamese food at this place. I have been eating Phở and Vietnamese cuisine since before its popularity 20 plus years ago. They have an incredible peanut sauce and storing rolls. The portions are not lacking either. I love to order the noodle salads with pork too. Friends I have taken here order the Phở and love it. There is nothing bad about this place. The owner and staff are friendly and very helpful. They have great customer service and the place is very clean. 5 stars!

Really good phở and I am very picky when it comes to having flavor. This was excellent ! The only reason I did not give a five star is because I had to ask for chili oil /​paste and they could give out a little more bay leafs with the soup. I would not have even known they had it if I did not read a past review on here. I will be back though when I am in the PO area.

Note: all dishes are made to order, so when it’s busy there might be a little wait for your food. But your patience will grant you a delicious meal!
Now in its new location, this restaurant has found its stride. Been here a couple times since opening and it has been solid each time. I wasn’t completely a fan back in the old location, but I’m on board now!
Phở is easily the most delicious in town — and without MSG! It is phở sized — BIG like most phở. You can ask for a second bowl if you’d like to share with a friend. It’s the right temperature: boiling hot. Not like other places that will microwave the broth, this is the real deal.
Our go to is the Kee Mao, a wide noodle — it rivals restaurants in Chinatown with this dish. Very fresh and tasty!
Portions are generous and the price is right. Service is friendly. I definitely recommend giving this place a try!

First of all, this and one other place in town (located far away from me) are the only places that serve bun (vermicelli bowl). It is my absolute favorite Vietnamese dish and I used to have to go to Silverdale for it. I have not tried the other place in town to gauge whether or not their bun, which is cheaper, is just as good, better, or worse than Phở Kai. But that’s okay.
Thing is, the service here is pretty good, the portion sizes are great, and it’s conveniently located very close to me, so I’m willing to spend $ 1 more for something I know I love.
We came here when it first opened and admittedly, I was a bit underwhelmed. My other half ordered 2 sandwiches, and I tried the pork bun. He received his first sandwich. They’re on the small side, so he inhaled it. About 10 minutes later, I received my pork bowl. About 10 minutes in to eating it, he received his other sandwich. Even if there’s only one cook in the back, and everything being made more or less from scratch, sandwiches should probably come out at the same time, and it should be coordinated so people can eat together. There’s nothing more awkward than one person eating and the other people of the party not.
Since then, the delivery of food has been better. I chalked it up to re-​opening woes. I have noticed a distinct difference in food between the two cooks, however. When one is there, my meal is perfect. When the other is there, while all the ingredients are present, it feels lacking. The noodles are stuck together, the pork (while 100% cooked), feels more like it’s boiled than grilled. It sort of feels like the latter doesn’t care as much.
Whatever the case, the food is still very good. My other half finally tried the phở and really enjoyed it (he said it gave Super Wok — our phở go-​to — a run for its money). We’ll definitely be back again. Can’t beat inexpensive, good food close to home.

First impressions almost made me leave before ordering. I expected Vietnamese with a name like Phở Kai, but the menu was definitely Pan Asian, with Chinese and Thai as well. The phở section was lacking — Only one size four standard combinations, and $ 1 extra each for tendon and tripe.
We both ordered the #2 and I asked for mine with tendon and tripe. Also got a «Vietnamese coffee», after verifying that this was actually café sua da and not plain coffee. Table sauces were sriracha, plum sauce, and soy — no chilli oil.
A few minutes later, I’m informed they’re out of tendon. Bummer, but we’re already committed. 15 minutes later, our coffee is done… Still no phở. We’re brought plates with sprouts, lime, pepper, and roughly four tiny basil leaves. Waitress asks if we’d like chop sticks, but doesn’t mention any other fixings.
Around 20 minutes after ordering, the phở finally arrives. The broth smells amazing and the meat is generous. The portion is roughly the size of a wash basin. We dig in and it’s absolutely incredible — all three stars are for the flavour.
When we’re almost finished, another woman (the owner?) asks us how it is. I mention we were surprised by the lack of chilli oil. She tells us you have to ask for it, since they make it fresh and it goes sour if it’s left out. Would have been nice to have that on the menu or even mentioned by the waitress.
Overall, the taste was the selling point. We’ll probably go back (and ask for the chilli oil). I’d like to see more sizes (the standard size was WAY too big for either of us), more meat combos (without the upcharge for tendon and tripe, making it the world’s most expensive bowl of phở), and more generous portions of basil. Also, the wait seemed excessive, given that there was only one other family eating and they’d already been served when we arrived.

I’ve been a big fan of Phở Kai since they opened at their original location. While the other dishes are quite good, I think Phở is where they really excel. While I usually get the Tofu Phở, all the other are good as well. They have an option for vegetarian or the traditional beef broth, which I really appreciate. I’m not hardcore vegetarian, but I appreciate the options, since both taste good.
This is the best phở I’ve had in Kitsap, and in my top 5 for tasty Phở ever. Service is quick and friendly, the new space is inviting. I have high hopes for their continued success at the new location.