PD
Phở Duyên Mai
Authentic Vietnamese flavors with a rich, unbeatable broth in San Diego.
4.4(5 reviews)
restaurant
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Authentic Vietnamese flavors with a rich, unbeatable broth in San Diego.
Phở Duyên Mai is a highly-rated Vietnamese restaurant located in Kearny Villa Square, San Diego, known for its exceptional pho and flavorful dishes. The spacious, clean establishment offers a welcoming atmosphere for both small and large groups, with efficient service and ample parking. Specializing in traditional Vietnamese cuisine, it features a menu highlighted by filet mignon pho, pork spring rolls, and grilled beef vermicelli, all made with fresh ingredients and a heartwarming broth that keeps customers returning.
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A steaming bowl with tender, medium-rare beef in a rich, flavorful broth.
Savory pork rolls with fresh lettuce and pickled vegetables for a crunchy, balanced bite.
Generous portion of vermicelli noodles with grilled beef and fresh vegetables.
Fresh spring rolls filled with shrimp and herbs, served as a light appetizer.
Crispy, flavorful wings seasoned with salt and pepper for a tasty side dish.
Refreshing Thai tea available for dine-in or to-go, with optional boba.
Pho Duyen Mai is an unassuming, spacious spot in Kearny Villa Square, great for accommodating both small and large groups. The service was quick and efficient. The food was the highlight. The filet mignon pho was served hot and steaming with tender, medium-rare beef and a rich, flavorful broth. A heartwarming dish on a cold, rainy evening. The charbroiled pork paste rolls were outstanding; the savory pork was balanced by the crunch of fresh lettuce and pickled cucumber and daikon. While the shrimp spring rolls were a nice bite, they were outshone by the pork paste rolls. The grilled beef vermicelli came in a generous portion with plenty of fresh vegetables, though the beef did have a few tough bites. Logistics: There is a large free parking lot in both the front and back. For the waitlist, check in on the iPad at the entrance, but keep a close ear out. The host didn't call out loudly and text notifications lagged a bit. When you are done, walk up to the cashier in the back left with your table number to pay. Overall, a great place to grab a bowl of pho with family and friends.
It was delicious! Nothing more to say! We came on a Friday and did have to way around 35 minutes but the service was fast and so worth the wait.
Great pho and a spacious, clean restaurant. Staff were helpful. - Filet mignon pho 4/5: while it had good flavor, I don’t think I would get it again. I didn’t care for the large cuts of meat and they were difficult to eat. Next time I’ll get a more simple pho tai. - Fresh rolls 4/5: good but a bit warm for my preference
Currently the best pho in San Diego. The broth is unbeatable. Highly reccomend their pork spring rolls. Will be trying a lot more items here, salt and pepper wings were amazing too.
This was my first time dining-in. The first time I tried food here was takeout. Shortly upon walking in and "checking in" on the iPad, I was greeted and led by a server. She placed a menu on a table, returning with an iced water and asking if I was ready to order. I asked for a large #29 (Tai gau; slices of rare steak + brisket), pointing at the number to hopefully avoid confusion since I don't speak Vietnamese. Instead, for some reason, I was given a #23 (House Special; slices of rare steak, well-done steak, briskets, flanks, tendons, tripe.) I specifically didn't order that one because I've never had flanks, tendons, nor tripe. And since I've never had them before, I didn't exactly realize/recognize them in the soup. It had plenty of meat, but I don't think I care too much for the texture of tripe. It would have been nice to get the soup I actually ordered. I only hesitated to say anything until I saw the receipt, because it's been a while since I've had pho, and I thought maybe I'd remembered it differently. But my receipt confirmed that my order was indeed wrong. Nevertheless, the soup was pretty good--piping hot, with lots of noodles--and the toppings were fresh. My server checked in once or twice, but was pretty hands-off. The other staff were observant, treating patrons decently. A very efficiently-run restaurant. Ambiance-wise, the tables were kind of close together, enough where you could hear your neighbors' entire conversations. There was gentle music playing the entire time, but pretty low in the background. So, I'd say noise-wise, it was moderate. Additionally, there was a small restroom (women's and men's) at the back of the restaurant. My server never returned with my bill, so I went to the front counter to pay (maybe this is standard practice in Vietnamese restaurants?). The cashiers (two guys working the front) were kind, and quickly accommodated me when I asked for a Thai tea to-go. It was pretty standard, but I would've preferred chewier/fresher boba, in a perfect world. Overall, it was an adequate restaurant, and I'd try it again, ensuring I got the right order next time.
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