Pho Saigon

Ordered take out from here last week and thought the food was awesome. Very fresh and authentic. The staff we encountered on pickup were very friendly. Definitely recommend this restaurant if your in the mood for phở.

5 star food quality but 1 star service. As my girlfriend and I were walking up to the entrance, the manager exited and flung the door open, almost hitting my girlfriend. He didn’t apologize or even look at us until I said something to him. When we got inside, the hostess was leaning against the bar and just pointed at a table where she wanted us to sit.
They’re lucky their food is cheap and so god damned good that I would come back even if that guy knocked my girlfriend over and flipped me off.

I had a great day yesterday with Asian cuisine in metro Baltimore. We had a large dinner at Shin Chon and a terrific lunch at Phở Saigon. Phở Saigon is in a nondescript shopping center, and would win zero awards for décor and ambience. On the other hand, the quality of the food would put it at the very top of phở restaurants in this area. The service was excellent too.
I had a grilled pork sandwich (banh mi) and a small combination phở (#1). My nephew had the same sandwich and then had a combination fried rice which included shrimp, Chinese sausage, and ham. The «small» phở was huge, I don’t think I will ever have a need to order the large.
I also ordered a «fresh coconut juice» which sparked a funny conversation with our waitress. I asked if this was actually coconut water, to which she shrugged and said, «I guess so. It’s fresh and has coconut meat in it.» This beverage was delightful, a little sweet, refreshing, and the coconut meat was excellent.
A few key points: the broth for the phở was superb, as was the bread for the banh mi. The proteins in the phở were very good, the rice noodles were okay, not bad but just okay. I might substitute egg noodles or clear rice noodles next time.
All in all, I would say Phở Saigon is an excellent choice if you are looking for a bowl of phở and the other niceties that would go with it.

First timer and definitely won’t be my last. Great service fresh food looking forward to try more.

My sister and I inevitably end up here when we meet people near Columbia. We get spring rolls and phở, which is always great.

Decided to take my wife here for a lunch date. It’s a small little place in a shopping center across the street from Walmart. We came in around 12pm and the place was packed but we got a seat. The food was fresh and no complaints on that. Really I can’t give this place a poor rating because service was friendly and the food was good but Vietnamese is not my calling. I am not the biggest fan of noodles and broth but it was good so let me say again. I am a meat and potatoes guy.

4.5-star. Best phở, best broth in MD. The broth was hearty, clean, and delicious. I used to be a frequent at Phở Pasteur, which is right beside H-​mart, but their broth isn’t the same/​good as before. I am glad I tried Saigon today because from today, this will be my most favorite Phở place. I took my grandma here, and she loved it. She didn’t say a single word while eating because she was devouring it & loving it that much. Now, I understand why their slogan is «Best Hangover Food». I believe their broth would be capable of curing that ill feeling after drinking a lot.

Some of the best spring rolls I’ve had. Even compared to a bunch of places in Chinatown, NYC.
The portions are good also.

I was visiting Baltimore for a few days and was craving some phở. I hear that Catonsville had a bigger Asian population so I searched for viet food in that area.
It was kind of tricky to find this place but you have to go to a complex that’s behind the diner. It’s a big empty complex area. From the outside it didn’t look so fancy which was normal for a good viet food. The inside was pretty big. Super clean and they set up the utensils really nicely. The sauce containers didn’t have grease on them like most places do, so you know they really clean up.
I had the phở and spring rolls. Probably the best spring rolls I have ever had. They were huge and crispy. They also have a challenge u can participate called man vs phở. You have to eat basically this huge bowl of phở which is about two large bowls combined within 30 mins. If you can do it, it’s free. If not, it’s 25 dollars.
Definitely recommend!

I had to drag my boyfriend out of bed on a Sunday afternoon (yes– don’t judge, but we love to sleep in) because I had an inexplicable craving for bun bo hue. So we made the trek from the city– Catonsville is about 20 minutes from where we live. On a Sunday afternoon around 2:30, it was PACKED. There were only two empty booths, but there were some seats at the longer middle table.
Bun bo hue: Thick round white noodles, and not like the thinner flat rice noodles in phở. I got the large. With tax, it was probably around $ 10. Such a great deal. The broth is spicy, savory, and actually sweet. I wasn’t sure where the sweetness came from, but it was definitely there. Not as much lemongrass flavor as some of the other phở places. There were cubes of pork blood, slices of steamed pork, slices of beef, and a giant meaty bone.
Pork over rice: The pork was thin and a little stringy. Pretty delicious. They give you a lot of rice and vegetables on the side. There’s also fish sauce to pour over top. My boyfriend said he was still hungry afterwards. Personally, I would stick with the noodles if you come here.

I have to admit, there are a lot of phở restaurants in this area, but if you’re looking for one with more Vietnamese food options, this is the place for you.
For appetizers, I had their spring rolls and chicken wings. The spring rolls were the best I’ve had– perfectly deep fried and large in portion size. And the chicken wings were nice and crispy and flavorful! For my meal I just had a small bowl of phở– pretty large for a small too.

This place is the best. Stop whatever your doing. Go grab a bowl of Phở (spicy broth) and some crispy spring rolls. This place gets super busy. So you might have to wait. So go… go now !!!

OMG that was good phở. Usually, the noodles and additions are relatively on par among the phở places in Baltimore. Usually, the key is in the soup base, and there are no words for how well flavored this soup base is. It’s light and complex, and the broth base has less sediment at the bottom of the bowl.
Personally, I don’t think that the other dishes are particularly interesting at Phở Saigon. The portion sizes aren’t as generous as the phở, and I feel that they are more on par with what is available at other phở places.

My wife and I have been coming here phoever and it’s always the best thing we’ve ever eaten it seems. Make sure you get the spicy beef broth, phonomenal..

Phở — large bowl was a big bowl! Fried spring roll looks good but it tasted really dry in the middle.

Now this is what I’m talking about! Phở is really some of the best we’ve ever had! Original dishes and you are welcomed to mix and match whatever you’d like.
Huge portions, well-​priced, clean place, great service (despite being overwhelmed with customers).
Tried phở and rice dishes and we tried to eat it all — and we came very close, as it was so good.
I’d drive well out of my way to go here, which we did, and would do it again in a heartbeat. A worthwhile destination!
This little place doesn’t look like much from the outside, and the neighborhood, but we were there an hour after they opened the doors in the morning and I’m glad we did, as we were leaving you could not find a seat — the locals all seem to know!
We’ll be back here again!

Phở is excellent! Even the small bowl is quite big, and the large bowl is enormous! There is the Man vs Phở challenge, which honestly is very intimidating, and probably way too much for what I need. The broth is very smooth and flavorful.
In terms of selections, they have a lot of choices, not just in terms of phở, but also in terms of other Vietnamese specialties such as bun (which I have yet to try). Smoothies look good. Summer rolls were decent. Also tried the Vietnamese wings, which were tasty.
Warning: apparently this place is popular for brunch, but that’s a testament to how good this place is!

I just moved to Baltimore and my new coworkers are slowly introducing me to all the great lunch spots in this area of town. We went to lunch at Phở Saigon around noon and there were about 6 of us. We were seated right away. But we definitely got there at the right time as people began having to waiting shortly after. The restaurant itself is lined with booths on both sides of the restaurant and a long table down the center. While the restaurants has about 10 – 12 booths and the center table, they are ill prepared for when people have to wait. There isn’t really enough space for people to wait. The day that we went people were essentially holding the door open which was just letting cold air in every couple minutes. But hey, maybe that was their tactic… freeze the people who are seated to make them leave sooner!
5 of the 6 of us got phở. I got the small shrimp phở. The small is HUGE. The large is RIDICULOUSLY big. I would say most people could get the small and be more than satisfied. The phở was absolutely delicious, and every one of us was happy with the one we ordered. You really can’t go wrong with any of them. The other person got some kind of noodle or rice dish (no broth) that also looked really good and came in a huge bowl as well for those who don’t like phở. I would definitely consider venturing outside of the phở menu next time.
The service was quick and friendly.

I’ve been to a million and one phở places, and lemme tell you. This phở place is as good as it gets. You will never find portions like this for the same price. I’m speaking strictly about the phở. I have had their summer rolls as well, and they’re pretty good, but I think you could find that anywhere. The other dishes are a bit lackluster. I’ve had the korean bbq here and the portions are small. Go to another phở place in the catonsville area if you’re looking for other dishes.
I always get a number 1 small every time, and usually my stomach is bursting before I finish. This is the most satisfying bowl of phở I’ve ever had, and you should definitely go.

This place has one of the best deals on phở you can find! The large bowls for almost $ 10 are GIGANTIC!
Boyfriend and I have only tried their phở #1 and their bun bo hue (#21) in both of my visits here. The broth for the phở is good. It’s flavorful and relatively clean, although I am still reaching for my water. After we got back home, I was absolutely thirsting for water, so MSG levels are still somewhat there. You do get a decent amount of meat (I love their tendons!!) and noodles (and you can always add more noodles for $ 1). You can actually make the phở base a spicy beef soup for an extra $ 1. I’ll def be intrigued to try this. We would have tried, but we were worried that it would be the same broth as the bun bo hue and we didn’t want to have 2 of the same soups.
Bun bo hue is pretty good here. You get pork blood in the soup! Yay, that made me happy. You don’t get as much sliced beef, but you get a large pork bone instead! Yum. This time I thought that this soup could have used some more noodles. I’m not sure if that was just a fluke or me being super hungry.
I still love the atmosphere it. I love the colors, the colorful bowls, the bright green chopsticks!
Decent food, great price/​food! Def one of the to go places for phở if you’re up closer to the baltimore area.

Absolutely delicious and plentiful. Loved the flavor.
The service was ok; made up for by the quick service and deliciousness of everything.
I had the Bun Bo Hué — the small bowl was gigantic! I can’t even imagine ordering the large. Fresh, flavorful and aromatic.

The food was decent. I ordered the summer rolls (5) and Thai iced tea to start out. The wrap for the summer roll was a bit chewy and hard to bite and the peanut sauce was more sweet than savory. The best thing was the Thai tea! My chicken phở was mediocre. The noodles had a strange texture.

4.5 stars.
Phở Saigon is probably the best phở I’ve found near Baltimore. Too bad it isn’t closer to the city, otherwise I’d be returning more often.
The Food:
I came here with my wife and we each ordered a bowl of phở with some summer rolls. I also got a Thai iced tea which was good (but this is difficult to mess up).
-#5 Tai nam gan sach — steak, flank, tendon & tripe: This is my favorite combo. I’m a big fan of tendon and tripe so this combo is right up my alley. The small bowls are enough to be very filling. The broth was great. Plenty of sprouts, jalapenos, basil, and lime was also given. The meat portions also did not disappoint. The noodles were chewy and not overcooked.
-#21 Bun bo hue — spicy beef & pork noodle soup: My wife ordered this. This comes with a different type of noodle than the typical flat phở noodle. The broth is also slightly different and seems more hearty than the typical phở broth. It comes with pork knuckles and pork blood which I also enjoyed, but might not be for everyone. Overall, this dish was executed well and is a nice addition to the standard phở options. As a note: the previous time we tried ordering this, they didn’t have the broth/​ingredients prepared yet so they told us it was not available (we came right as they opened).
–Summer rolls: These seemed a bit smaller than your typical summer rolls. They also had more veggies and less noodles than other places. However, they still tasted good. The peanut sauce was also nice.
The Service:
Service here was good for a phở place. I’ve been to other Asian restaurants where the waiters/​waitresses don’t provide very good service, but the staff working here are great. Our wait for food was slightly long for phở, but pretty standard for any other restaurant (about 10 – 15 mins). The first time I was here, I mistakenly ordered «fresh spring rolls» when I meant summer rolls, and the staff were more than accommodating when I realized my mistake after the food came. They also will bring the check over to your table, instead of you needing to go up to the counter, unlike most phở locations.
Overall:
A solid place serving delicious phở. The only thing I wish I could change about Phở Saigon would be to move it closer to the city where I live! Their great phở, good prices, and friendly service earns Phở Saigon 4.5 stars, and they round up to 5 stars on Unilocal

Very authentic Phở experience, price was right just PERSONALLY wasn’t a huge fan of the summer roll, felt it had more lettuce than others i am used to but shrimp and pork was very tasty.
Was in and out for lunch in about 40 minutes which is a great if you are in a rush.

They are conveniently located near H-​Mart! I ordered take out and I thought they did a good job of packing everything — I’m always a bit weary of ordering takeout soupy dishes because inevitably something will tip over and I’ll be left with a soggy mess and only half a container of soup left. This wasn’t a problem.
Now onto the food: I ordered a Phở #6 and the Bun Bo Hue. This is my first time eating Bun Bo Hue. I thought that it was good. Could have been a tad bit spicier, but the broth was pretty flavorful and very rich. The phở broth was also really good! The noodles were the perfect texture, and the meat was sliced really thinly and tasted pretty fresh. Their garnishes also seemed very fresh. Overall, very delicious! I’d be inclined to go back and eat there before or after shopping at H-​Mart. Yum!

Very tasty Phở restaurant, good portions and decent prices. The tofu is cooked well and they do give a variety of options. Do yourself a favor and avoid the spicy beef broth, it’s «spice» is akin to a stick of big red gum, sweet and cinnamon. Egg noodles are not bad but are out of place in Phở, aside from my gripes I would definitely suggest Phở fans check it out.

Pretty spectacular selection and environment. This place was buzzing and very busy for a Thursday night. The servers were attentive and very helpful. The Thai tea was really yummy and the steak phở was super hot and full of flavor. The large size is a huge, next time I’ll get the smaller size. Can’t wait to try more on the menu like the stir fry.

I found this place by searching on google and I am so glad I found it! After reading the reviews on Unilocal first, I decided to take my boyfriend with me and give this place a shot. We were not disappointed!
The phở is delicious and the broth is so tasty! The eggs rolls are really good and so is the Thai tea. Pretty much anything you order (like the egg noodles) is delicious!
The waiters are pretty nice and it’s always busy when I go in there. Still, they are pretty fast on serving tables. It’s decently priced and the portions are pretty big!
I definitely recommend and I go out of my way to come here when I go to Maryland!

There are a bunch of phở places around the area, but Phở Saigon is definitely near the top of the list.
The phở here is really good. Being Viet, I’ve had my fair share of bowls of phở, both good and bad. The broth is flavorful, well-​seasoned, and not too oily. The noodles are also a good texture, with just a little bit of chewiness to them (which I love!).
You can also get bun bo hue here, which is one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes. It’s okay here, but the heat is more mild and the meats aren’t very good. If you’re looking for bun bo hue specifically, I’d drive a little down Rolling to Phở Pasteur, next to H Mart.
I always get a couple of rolls as appetizers too. Avoid their spring rolls – the thin slices of shrimp are easy to miss when combined with a few rice noodles and a mouthful of greenery. Instead, go for their summer rolls. These seem to have shrunk in size since the last time I visited, but they are mouth-​watering, deep-​fried, crispy, hot deliciousness.
The best thing about eating at Phở Saigon is that they’re very generous. Whether it’s the plate of bean sprouts or the amount of noodles or meat in your phở, you’re going to get a lot more than at most other places. As one other reviewer mentioned, the small size here would be a large at most other places, and the large size is likely bigger than your face. If that’s STILL not enough for you, check the menu for more details about their Man vs. Phở challenge – maybe next time, I’ll see your framed picture up on the wall.
It’s hard to get a better bang for your buck than at Phở Saigon.

I have been here more times than I can count. So many times that I am on a first name basis with big boss man and that they ask me how school and exams are going. And they know my order and special requests. :) This is my favorite place in the state of Maryland.
Being a Vietnamese girl from San Jose, California, I can tell you that I am very picky when it comes to my ph. This place has good broth and great meat (especially the tai [aka steak]).
Their bun (vermicelli) dishes are all wonderful and really good if you want to buy some to-​go for the day after.
If you’re willing to try something else, their hu tieu Nam Vang (clear noodles in soup with seafood) is also fantastic.
Although, I must say, I’m not a huge fan of their bun bo Hue. :/​It was far too salty the last time I had it.
Tip: don’t go in at noon on a Sunday because you’ll be waiting for a good minute. Try to get there a little early if you’re trying to get lunch.

Amazing. just wonderfully amazing. Everything here was great. Went with a group so I was able to try many different dishes. The lemongrass soup, wings, stir fry vegetables, shrimp and vegetables and a lemongrass basil chicken dish maybe. And Thai iced tea. just great.
The servers were very knowledgeable and helpful. I was overwhelmed with the menu because there were so many choices and I didn’t know what to pick. I wanted everything!
The noodle bowls were huge. Very good sized portions. I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just hope it stays the same.

Another solid phở choice. There are three of them now, clustered in a quarter-​mile radius around Rt. 40 and N. Rolling — Phở Van, Phở Pasteur, and Phở Saigon.
I like Phở Pasteur’s meats, but Phở Saigon’s staff and broth win me over. They also do a righteously spicy bun bo hue with pork blood cake and pig knuckle (though, I have to admit that my white-​boy self doesn’t get much love from pig knuckle). Phở Saigon’s menu also has a wider choice of non-​soup dishes than other local Vietnamese places.
And yeah, the website, staff t-​shirts and social media accounts all say «Man Vs. Phở», and that’s printed on the receipts as well, but the signage still says «Phở Saigon». You go looking for a place called «Man Vs. Phở» from the road, you’re not gonna find it.

SURROUNDING: Large empty shopping center, plenty of parking. I don’t even know if other businesses nextdoor are ever open.
SERVICE: They recently changed their name to Man Vs Phở. Fast service, ideal for a hungover Saturday morning. They also accept cards! Their large bowls are extremely deep and for some reason, very fun to eat out of. It’s like a colorful trough of phở.
FOOD: Heavy on noodles, light on meat. Decent broth, biggest upside is the large size which is very fairy portioned. If you are feeling adventurous, they offer $ 30 man vs phở challenge, which isn’t a bad deal because you will have plenty to take home. For their takeout though, the portions do seem smaller than what you get for dine-​in.
PRICE: ~8/​small, 10/​large
BOTTOM LINE: Not a knockout punch, but it gets the job done.