Pho So 1

Phở So 1 is a Richmond staple for hangovers and the random pangs of Vietnamese food cravings that seem to hit me hardest on Tuesdays when they’re closed. Any given Saturday or Sunday morning, you’ll see at least one table college students slurping up noodles after a long night out amidst the tables of families.
Notable dishes aside from your usual bowl of phở and spring rolls include broken rice with grilled pork, vermicelli bowls with grilled pork and egg roll, and bun bo hue which is a spicy beef noodle soup. Everything here is portioned well and seasoned just right. If you’re feeling adventurous and have never tried any Vietnamese dessert, try the che ba mau (tri-​color dessert) made with mung bean, red bean, jelly and coconut milk. I always order mine to go and eat it during the car ride home.
The servers may not look the friendliest here but I’ve never had to wait longer than 10 minutes for my food or to be seated. I’ll always be partial to this Rigsby Road location over their second W Broad restaurant. It has a homier, more familiar vibe.

In this little corner of the county that’s full of great Vietnamese choices, Phở So 1 is tops. This place is amazingly delicious. Possibly (probably, almost definitely) the Best Phở in the area. If you eat in, the restaurant is big and square with tons of tables and chairs (but still plenty of room to move). They could likely accommodate very large groups. It’s clean and friendly and insanely efficient. You’ll never have your order taken nor your food served more quickly than at Phở So 1. The bowls are wide and deep and brimming with aromatic broth. The veggies and herbs are fresh and bright and generous. The meat is always so thin and melty. They serve so many noodles, don’t be a doofus like me and order extra noodles– you won’t ever be able to finish it all (if you can even fit it in your bowl!).
I’ve had the fresh spring rolls and the crispy egg rolls– both were great (though the spring roll sauce could be spicier and I’d like it even more).
If you choose to take out, it isn’t really necessary to call ahead (though maybe more polite?). Anytime I’ve driven by and thought «boy, that sounds good!» (Which is anytime I drive anywhere near it) — I’ve popped in and had my order in my hand in less than 10 mins, even when all the tables were full.
This is one of my new favorites in RVA and I’ll eat there so much I could keep them in business alone so you don’t have to… but you should.

Food is great. Vegetarian crispy rolls and the vegetarian phở are my go to! Very good after a night of drinking.
The staff is very blunt but it’s actually quite humorous… They may not respond when you say anything but they always come back with what you asked for. Very quick service.

The Phở here is alright because of the broth, very tasty. Not the best it’s just okay. The summer roll was neatly wrapped and very fresh. What sucks about this place is the customer service. The waiters are all snobs, I’m not sure if they are playing deaf or just plainly ignore paying customers. At least that’s my experience at Phở So 1. They need to work on customer service. It could be as simple as being felt welcome in the restaurant.

Decent phở. I’d say like a 3.5.
The small bowl is pretty little but it’s usually enough for me. Decent phở broth, and comes with all your typical dressings (decent enough to not need to add any hoison). Bun bo hue is also decent, missing the shrimp paste though, and they don’t offer any on the side. Vermicelli bowls are usually a decent size, could use more toppings. Everything to me is «decent» because I’ve had better, but I find myself coming here a lot because it’s convenient and closer to me than some other phở restaurants.
Some things that might be better: tofu phở. The tofu is so thinly sliced it becomes extremely mushy after sitting in your soup for a couple minutes. I wish they gave bigger chunks or just cut them into thicker slices! Also the large is not really that large a bowl.
Don’t expect great service here, but I usually don’t at most asian places! Many times I ask for a dipping bowl or something extra, and they walk away without saying a word… makes me wonder if they heard me or not, but they usually return with what I asked~

Their beef broth is quite simply superior to any other Vietnamese/​Phở place I’ve been to in 4 different states.
I have a sneaking suspicion that much love, care, and passion go into the broth.
I love the no muss no fuss attitude of the servers.
Great place when I can make the schlepp from the southside.

This place never changes. I swear the same guy has owned this place for years. What’s good is nothing has changed. I’ve been coming here since I was in High School. Whenever I visit the area I try to stop by.
The phở comes out quick and the fried egg rolls are always great. Food is never bad and always on point. I say try coming here if its your first time in Richmond! I think there’s a location somewhere in the West End. Not sure if it’s the same owner, but the food doesn’t taste as good as this location.
It might be me and nostalgia or it might be be the food! You judge!

I was in the area and search for good place to eat of course this was a hig

This place is no frills, just plain old good Vietnamese food. The new location is good, too. I’ve eaten at both and the quality is the same in my opinion.
I always get the same thing every time that I come here. I get #15– round eye steak phở. The beef is sliced thin and cooks in the hot broth. It doesn’t start as spicy but I add plenty of chili oil and sriracha to spice things up. They also bring you all the fixings– cilantro, jalapeños, thai basil, bean sprouts, and lime to get things exactly to your liking. The small portion is plenty of food for one, but they offer a small and large. I always start my meal with the pork and shrimp rice paper roll. You get two rolls per order.
I have little experience with Vietnamese food, but phở so 1 is the best phở I ever tried. I have also tried and enjoyed the pork rice vermicelli from here. It’s hard not to get the phở though because it’s the bomb.
Do not come here for a fancy meal, but as hangover food or on a cool, rainy day, phở can’t be beat!

A little hospitality would go along way! If it’s an inconvenience to take my order must be an inconvenience to do anything for me. In a service and hospitality industry one would think this would be a customarily no matter what kind of cuisine. The Phở was ok but I guess I am so thrown off by how I was treated if I didn’t know what I wanted to eat within the first two minutes of sitting down and it was going to be a good 15 minutes before anybody else would come to take my order. So I say don’t go here when there is a Better phở right behind it!