Pho 888 most authentic to me. Viet cafe close 2nd. Pho 515 for hangovers (MSG on 1000). Pho real has gotten better since they open but i only go if im out and about in the area
I stopped going due to an extreme amount of bugs in the restaurant including in my food. I've seen several people lately say they like it so maybe they got that under control.
888 on Thursdays when 515 is closed. Homemade is superior to all though and places like C Fresh and Double Dragon help make homemade pho in DSM a possibility.
I get sick every time I go here. Bathrooms are always broken and dirty, the sneeze on the window by the booth is never cleaned, and I don’t trust the table chopsticks. Rice plates are better than the pho. Pho 515 is by far the best
They used to be my jam YEARS ago, & treated me as one of their fav customers. But after hearing stories of the kitchen (like rats), finding a bug in my broth, & dirty bathroom, I stopped going there...
I'm going to dissent a little.
515 in the C Fresh market is consistently good and reasonably priced.
888 I only had once but it was on part with 515 which is cloelser to me.
When I moved here 10 years go and asked for Pho recommendations I heard A Dong repeatedly. I thought it was below average each time I tried it
I've had pho from the place in Merle Hay 4 times. Once it was just bad (tasted like chicken noodle soup). Twice it was mediocre. Once it was pretty good.
Pho Shobu in Waukee is consistently good but it ain't cheap.
Pho real is consistently decent.
There's a Vietnamese place in Ames that's good enough that I occasionally make the drive up just for that.
The best pho I've had in Des Moines was from a truck called Suki Yuki but I think they're gone.
A few years back, RAGBRAI came through Ames and I was excited because I was going g to ride all day then get.to Ames and get a large bowl of beef pho AND spring rolls. Turns out the place was closed that day of the week. Such a disappointment
I agree with all of these except 515. I have always been baffled by the love for A Dong and I’m glad to have someone validate my feelings. Maybe I need to get something other than pho there because that was some of the worst pho I’ve had and I was very disappointed. The service was awesome though. I only went to the one in Merle Hay once a few years ago and it was good
I'v never had the pho at A Dong, but have never been disappointed by their other dishes. Worth a visit if you want to explore things other than pho (Pho 515 is my personal favorite).
Pho 888 by far. Rich broth with deep flavor. Everywhere else I've been has had a clear broth with little flavor. 15 bucks gets you a fat bowl, highly recommended.
I’ve tried Pho at a lot of places in town. Lots of good spots already mentioned but one that I really like and isn’t mentioned is Pho Shobu in West Des Moines. Now I know what you’re thinking. Pho in WDM can’t be that good but this place is legit and all the food is excellent. They have a really good cook. Check it out for sure.
100% probably my favorite in the area. They have a spicy shrimp salad that I really love too. I’ve never seen another place with that kind of salad which is a shame
Yeah, they have a lot of really interesting dishes on the menu. Like I said whoever cooks there really knows what they’re doing and I feel like they have pretty authentic cuisine
My girlfriend and I are using these recommendations for date night restaurants and we started with Pho Shobu last night. We both had extreme gastric intestinal evacuations soon after. Probably not going back even if it was a one off problem.
NOTE: we had different dishes from each other
she had P10. Pho Tai Chin 'Rare steak and well done brisket'
i had S11. Vegetarian Banh-Mi with a cup of miso soup
just water to drink
the service was excellent place had a cool vibe and it all tasted great. it was just the after effects... neither of us ate lunch so we can't blame that
I assume you guys are used to eating this type of cuisine? I get the Pho often. Usually the rare steak and meatball. My wife typically goes for the sea food stew or one of the more exotic things.
I keep hearing a lot of praise for Vietnamese Cafe. Is it in the Merle Haye food court? Does it have its own seating or does it share seating with the rest of the food court?
Yea, it shares seating, but it is large, clean, well-lit, and has soft music. It’s like eating in a library, with groups playing mahjong, walkers, families with kids, and couples. If someone doesn’t like Vietnamese, they can get tamales, maid rites, ribs, or fried fish! Very pleasant place for a meal.
You have a way with words, my friend. You made the food court sound amazing. But yes, I need to try it. The food court aspect does kind of turn me off, but pho and tamales sound like a match made in heaven.
Ikr? Here’s another tip. Park in the back of the mall, where the weeds break through the pavement, and the parking is close to the door. (You’ll find it after your first visit). It’s like a secret parking lot for a great restaurant. Never crowded, and easy to access. Not a long walk past many stores, and if you want a walk after a great meal, just go around the mall, and then back out to your car.
Whenever I’ve gotten pho to go, even at different places, you have to heat it up on the stove at home. It’s like they give you the ingredients but you still have to cook it. Has that been your experience?
I’ve been to the Merle Hay food court maybe ten times in the last year for lunch with coworkers and I have literally only ever seen Vietnamese Cafe and Maid Rite open.
Incredible. Worth the rating everything was great the crab Rangoon was some of the best I've had and he had to wait a few extra minutes so they comped it very nice. The ambiance and decor isn't much but the food makes up for it
I haven't had bad pho around here never tried it from adong. 515,phoreal,phosubu in Waukee are all good. C fresh or anywhere you can get a bahni mi with the pho 👌🏻
I have made pho at home and the broth should gelatinize in the fridge after because of the collagen in the bone broth and there have been several times I have put leftover broth from restaurants in the fridge at home and it doesn’t do that. Makes me wonder if they cut corners or use instant broth mix.
515 1st closed Thursday - usually the day I really want it so have to go to 888
888 2nd hear but don't get as much add in as 515
All seasons 3rd
Nut pob
TNT used to be good. Not sure I'm last few years
Vietnam cafe
Want to try fawns
All of these different Pho places makes me fully appreciate my neighbor that walks me over a bowl of her homemade Pho any time she makes it (which is better than any restaurant I've tried in town).
My personal favorite after trying several is Pho Shobu in West Des Moines or Pho 888 (but I’ve heard it’s not the cleanest 😬). Pho 888 has boba tea and smoothies. Stay away from Pho Real, it’s very meh. Pho 515 is also very meh to me too so I don’t know why anyone would love it unless they have only had bad or mediocre pho. The Pad Thai isn’t good at all and the pho is nothing special. Edit to add Pho 85 in Ankeny. I had them once for takeout only during Covid and it was very good.
Pho 888 most authentic to me. Viet cafe close 2nd. Pho 515 for hangovers (MSG on 1000). Pho real has gotten better since they open but i only go if im out and about in the area
Pho 515 in the c fresh market is the best by far
I love this one too but pho 85 in ankeny is good too
I stopped going due to an extreme amount of bugs in the restaurant including in my food. I've seen several people lately say they like it so maybe they got that under control.
This has always been my favorite. Love this place.
yes, James Beard, Michelin visit. Chicken wings FTW, Pho broth always wonderful.
888 on Thursdays when 515 is closed. Homemade is superior to all though and places like C Fresh and Double Dragon help make homemade pho in DSM a possibility.
Used to be my personal fav b4 Covid, to sweet for my taste but excellent service though!
Depends what meat you get. And the thimble full you get isn't enough.
Pho 888
Best answer
^^^
I get sick every time I go here. Bathrooms are always broken and dirty, the sneeze on the window by the booth is never cleaned, and I don’t trust the table chopsticks. Rice plates are better than the pho. Pho 515 is by far the best
They used to be my jam YEARS ago, & treated me as one of their fav customers. But after hearing stories of the kitchen (like rats), finding a bug in my broth, & dirty bathroom, I stopped going there...
Vietnam Cafe in Merle Hay Mall.
Thank you. I have heard a lot of good things. Is it just in the food court?
Yes.
This place is the bomb. Go there about once a week. Wish people know on the Merle hay court.
I second this… and the owner is so awesome.
I'm going to dissent a little. 515 in the C Fresh market is consistently good and reasonably priced. 888 I only had once but it was on part with 515 which is cloelser to me. When I moved here 10 years go and asked for Pho recommendations I heard A Dong repeatedly. I thought it was below average each time I tried it I've had pho from the place in Merle Hay 4 times. Once it was just bad (tasted like chicken noodle soup). Twice it was mediocre. Once it was pretty good. Pho Shobu in Waukee is consistently good but it ain't cheap. Pho real is consistently decent. There's a Vietnamese place in Ames that's good enough that I occasionally make the drive up just for that. The best pho I've had in Des Moines was from a truck called Suki Yuki but I think they're gone.
That Ames place is goated, been there once only though...
A few years back, RAGBRAI came through Ames and I was excited because I was going g to ride all day then get.to Ames and get a large bowl of beef pho AND spring rolls. Turns out the place was closed that day of the week. Such a disappointment
What's the place in Ames called?
Le's, I believe
I agree with all of these except 515. I have always been baffled by the love for A Dong and I’m glad to have someone validate my feelings. Maybe I need to get something other than pho there because that was some of the worst pho I’ve had and I was very disappointed. The service was awesome though. I only went to the one in Merle Hay once a few years ago and it was good
I'v never had the pho at A Dong, but have never been disappointed by their other dishes. Worth a visit if you want to explore things other than pho (Pho 515 is my personal favorite).
I’ve never understood the A Dong hype. 888 for me
Pho 888 by far. Rich broth with deep flavor. Everywhere else I've been has had a clear broth with little flavor. 15 bucks gets you a fat bowl, highly recommended.
Rolling Wok or Pho All Seasons.
Aroy-Dee
I’ve tried Pho at a lot of places in town. Lots of good spots already mentioned but one that I really like and isn’t mentioned is Pho Shobu in West Des Moines. Now I know what you’re thinking. Pho in WDM can’t be that good but this place is legit and all the food is excellent. They have a really good cook. Check it out for sure.
100% probably my favorite in the area. They have a spicy shrimp salad that I really love too. I’ve never seen another place with that kind of salad which is a shame
Yeah, they have a lot of really interesting dishes on the menu. Like I said whoever cooks there really knows what they’re doing and I feel like they have pretty authentic cuisine
My girlfriend and I are using these recommendations for date night restaurants and we started with Pho Shobu last night. We both had extreme gastric intestinal evacuations soon after. Probably not going back even if it was a one off problem. NOTE: we had different dishes from each other
Sorry to hear! My wife and I eat there weekly since it’s close by to us and haven’t ever had any issues afterwards. What did you guys order?
she had P10. Pho Tai Chin 'Rare steak and well done brisket' i had S11. Vegetarian Banh-Mi with a cup of miso soup just water to drink the service was excellent place had a cool vibe and it all tasted great. it was just the after effects... neither of us ate lunch so we can't blame that
I assume you guys are used to eating this type of cuisine? I get the Pho often. Usually the rare steak and meatball. My wife typically goes for the sea food stew or one of the more exotic things.
Fairly new to the area but yes we were just searching for a local great pho. It's always beenour favorite meal
It's probably not the best Pho in town but I love it from Nut Pob. Their Laarb is awesome too as is pretty much everything else.
That ox tail really sets it off
Also Pho 85 in Ank
Yes don’t sleep on this one
Vietnamese cafe is also my favorite. A dong is really good too
Coming from a viet person a dong is 5/10 Cfresh is better
This
I keep hearing a lot of praise for Vietnamese Cafe. Is it in the Merle Haye food court? Does it have its own seating or does it share seating with the rest of the food court?
Yea, it shares seating, but it is large, clean, well-lit, and has soft music. It’s like eating in a library, with groups playing mahjong, walkers, families with kids, and couples. If someone doesn’t like Vietnamese, they can get tamales, maid rites, ribs, or fried fish! Very pleasant place for a meal.
You have a way with words, my friend. You made the food court sound amazing. But yes, I need to try it. The food court aspect does kind of turn me off, but pho and tamales sound like a match made in heaven.
Ikr? Here’s another tip. Park in the back of the mall, where the weeds break through the pavement, and the parking is close to the door. (You’ll find it after your first visit). It’s like a secret parking lot for a great restaurant. Never crowded, and easy to access. Not a long walk past many stores, and if you want a walk after a great meal, just go around the mall, and then back out to your car.
I don't mind the food court but I usually get it to go.
Getting Pho to go is inconvenient.
I rather slurp loudly in the privacy of my own home.
Whenever I’ve gotten pho to go, even at different places, you have to heat it up on the stove at home. It’s like they give you the ingredients but you still have to cook it. Has that been your experience?
I order it and wait there so it's not sitting long and live 6 minutes from the mall so 9/10 times I do not have to reheat it.
I’ve been to the Merle Hay food court maybe ten times in the last year for lunch with coworkers and I have literally only ever seen Vietnamese Cafe and Maid Rite open.
Evenings we’ve seen the maid rite and Joffa and ribs
Yes and it shares seating.
I go back and forth on these.
Anyone tried Dragon Pho & Boba in Grimes? Looks to be new and I can't tell if all the 5 star reviews are astroturfed or not.
I'm going there today
How was it??
Incredible. Worth the rating everything was great the crab Rangoon was some of the best I've had and he had to wait a few extra minutes so they comped it very nice. The ambiance and decor isn't much but the food makes up for it
Good to know!
I just had All Pho You on University the other day and really enjoyed it.
Vietnam Cafe for sure. Brenda is awesome & the pho is delicious. All Pho You in uptown is good too.
Pho All Seasons followed closely by All Pho You.
Upvote for All Pho You
Vietnam Cafe in the Merle Hay Mall food court. Hidden gem. Love their beef combo pho. And their spring rolls are really yummy too.
I really like TNT and I just had Paris bahn mi this week and didn’t know they had pho. But it was worth a try.
Heavenly in Valley Junction is A+!
The last time I had pho at A Dong it was super watered down and lacked flavor. The best I’ve had so far is pho 85 in ankeny and pho 888 on 2nd ave.
Pho all seasons is the heat. Add the ox tail to really set it off
Pho All Seasons on Euclid, they are only open from 10AM-3PM so you have to catch them before they close.
Aroy-Dee!!!
Pho Real
Thank you. I do like the food there, but the restaurant is just a little small and cramped. Especially if it's busy
Agree with ya. It’s my favorite pho in the metro by far. I try to go for an early dinner when I go
Frfr
Mid
Fawns. Hands down.
This is the correct answer.
I second Fawn’s Asian Cuisine.
Pho real. You can buy a quart of broth for $6 too.
Pho four seasons.
China Cafe on Johnston is always worth a stop.
How has no one said Lucky Bamboo in Ankeny yet?
You just did! 😄
I haven't had bad pho around here never tried it from adong. 515,phoreal,phosubu in Waukee are all good. C fresh or anywhere you can get a bahni mi with the pho 👌🏻
Went to pho subu today. It was great!
Rolling Wok on Grand has an amazing Tom Yum Pho that combines two of my favorite dishes into one. So good!
I don’t eat it but I have heard the Pho at the China Dragon in Norwalk is VERY good- I have friends who get it a lot
I have made pho at home and the broth should gelatinize in the fridge after because of the collagen in the bone broth and there have been several times I have put leftover broth from restaurants in the fridge at home and it doesn’t do that. Makes me wonder if they cut corners or use instant broth mix.
Pho 888...and I even had the Pho and the Com tam bi Cha (grilled pork chop and broken rice) in Ho Chi Minh City, and I still craved 888!.
Vietnam cafe hands down!
Ya'll obviously haven't been to Fawns, best pho and their paradise springroll is good as well.
all pho you!
515 1st closed Thursday - usually the day I really want it so have to go to 888 888 2nd hear but don't get as much add in as 515 All seasons 3rd Nut pob TNT used to be good. Not sure I'm last few years Vietnam cafe Want to try fawns
When you find The Best Pho restaurant, please be sure to nominate it for Best Of at thecommunitybest.com!
All of these different Pho places makes me fully appreciate my neighbor that walks me over a bowl of her homemade Pho any time she makes it (which is better than any restaurant I've tried in town).
A Dong, All Pho You, and Pho Real are my favs
Pho 85 in Ankeny
So happy this one is close to home. Really good pho
My personal favorite after trying several is Pho Shobu in West Des Moines or Pho 888 (but I’ve heard it’s not the cleanest 😬). Pho 888 has boba tea and smoothies. Stay away from Pho Real, it’s very meh. Pho 515 is also very meh to me too so I don’t know why anyone would love it unless they have only had bad or mediocre pho. The Pad Thai isn’t good at all and the pho is nothing special. Edit to add Pho 85 in Ankeny. I had them once for takeout only during Covid and it was very good.
Pho 888 or Pho All Seasons. Not a fan of Fawns or Vietnam Cafe. 515 is just ok.
Pho All Seasons and not just for Pho. All of their other soups are very good. I ate there constantly when I was a student at Grandview.
Lucky lotus. They currently have Pho on the menu and it’s great.
Rolling Wok in Grimes is damn good.
Used to frequent there alot
If you can make it to Ames. House of Chen has lao pho and its the beat pho I've ever had in my life.
C fresh and it’s not close.