Pho Thaison

Pho is okay. Cuts of meat and portion were good. Location is very convenient and on a chilly day like today, it was packed. I had to ask for Thai basil as they didn’t give it by default. Because they were so busy and understaffed, I got my basil when I was almost done with my meal. You can see pictures for reference.

I was in town for Austin city limits and we really wanted some pho and so we were able to walk here from the AT&T hotel that’s located on the campus. Once we got here we were able to sit immediately because they have a lot of seating inside and it wasn’t that busy. Once we ordered all of the food came out relatively quickly. The broth really hit the spot so I really enjoyed my combination pho. The staff was very kind and refilled our waters every time our water was low. They might not always have the Sriracha sauce on the table but you can definitely ask for it. We had the Vietnamese coffee, which was really strong and tasty. In my opinion, the spring roll could be a little bit better and I wish the sauce was a little bit more chunkier with peanuts, but it was fine. It’s right next to a thrift shop at a gas station so you can do a little bit shopping on your way in or on your way out.

Reasonable price and the portion is huge. The restaurant owner is kind, friendly and supportive. I tried lemongrass chicken with white rice today, turned out it was better than my expectation. Pho was good, meat and broth were pleasant flavor. I hate the fact that many Pho restaurants overuse cinnamon in the broth, it smells awful. Thankfully this is the one where I can enjoy the broth completely with a hint of sprouts.

TLDR: Great food, a blessing for anyone struggling to find well priced Asian cuisine in Austin that isn't some form of fusion. Hefty servings, simple but thorough menu, and great owners. I started going here a few years ago, in the midst of COVID 19. It quickly became a weekly visit, a stop to cheer myself up on the way back from a difficult study session at the library. The owners always welcomed me with a smile, and the food was always quick to come out. The food was exactly what I was looking for. There's nothing wrong with fusion foods, but in Austin it's so hard to find just straight, simple, and genuine Asian food. What I got here was exactly what I'd expect of any Vietnamese restaurant, and I loved that their pho can come with tripe as well (too many places don't offer that). It's not trying to be upscale or fancy, the place's main purpose is just to serve good Vietnamese food without all the bells and whistles. The portions are great, as I always have to take some time to sit and relax after ordering something because there is no way I'm walking all the way home after that. Their pho bowls are massive, with hearty amounts of meat and noodles. Their vermicelli bowls are also a favorite of mine, particularly the pork. One of those is enough to fill me, but I'm always tempted to grab an appetizer as well (and sometimes do). There's nothing there I haven't liked yet, and I always know what I want before sitting down at this point. I've since moved to South Austin, but I'll still make an effort to get over to the campus specifically for this spot. Either that, or I'll doordash when I've had a rough week. The owners are super nice, and I've quite literally never even had an ounce of a negative experience here. They're attentive and do well with juggling all the doordash orders and sudden large parties that walk in on top of their patrons. They're simply the best, and have consistently remained my favorite spot in Austin. Always a favorite of mine, and definitely my number 1 go to out of all the Vietnamese places in all of Austin.