Number One Pho

This is my go-​to place for phở. The service is fast and the people who work there are very nice. I’ve never had a bad experience there and a couple of my friends are regulars.

Great atmosphere, spacious, perfect lighting…
And the food is full of flavor, inique, and sizeable portions. I plan to visit at least once a month with an eye towards the chicken and cabbage slaw with the most delicious dressing. Great place to bring children with quick and precise service.

Meant to go here last time, but ended up next door so I tried this place a week ago. Shouldn’t have bothered; everything was squished into a small Chinese take out box — when I peaked in the bag before leaving, I thought they had left something out, but was assured everything was there. Uh yea, everything was so tightly squished that it was too much effort just trying to peel the noodles away from everything else. And you can imagine the portion of ingredients if it all fit into that container! When I got home, I couldn’t find the meat and was so disgusted and irritated when I noticed the few pieces I was given had been haplessly floating in the hot liquid since I left the establishment. Needless to say, the meat had overcooked in the broth and was nothing more than thin strips of leather. When I called and inquired why the items weren’t put on the side for a take-​out order like MOST normal Vietnamese places do for Phở, I only received a response was that I needed to ask??? Amount of meat given was so not worth the $ 9.00, barely two decent sized servings. Also, what Viet restaurant doesn’t have the spicy peppered flakes oil/​sauce, apparently they don’t?!? I asked for extra and got some nasty mix that just ended up in the garbage. Broth was good, but not good enough to go back!

I went there for lunch today. It took a server 25 minutes to even recognize I was there. One seeded I told my server what I wanted. 20 minutes later she brought out the wrong lunch. I had explained to her that was the wrong lunch and took additional 20 minutes to get my proper lunch. As I was ringing out I had explained to the manager what happened. He got very defensive. To top it all off… They gave me some others leftovers.

We accidentally came in here thinking it was Superior Phở. I just thought the «#1 Phở» sign was to indicate that they were voted the #1 Phở place in the city. I only figured out that I was in the wrong restaurant after we had ordered. I logged onto my Unilocal account to check in, and I noticed there were two phở places on the same street. Tricky, tricky!!~
Anyway, I am always down to try a new phở place. The broth was good, the noodles were cooked well (not too overcooked, not too chewy), and the meat was actually pretty decent. Sometimes, the meat is «shiny» like the scales of a fish. That usually makes me feel a little icky inside what it’s like that, but it’s not like that here. It was pretty tender and not too chewy or fatty. Overall, it’s a legit bowl of phở and I would probably go here instead of Superior if I had to choose again. But I don’t live in Cleveland, so I probably wouldn’t have to make that kind of decision. But for those of you reading, I hope it’s helpful.

We came for a late lunch today and I would rather have had cup a noodle. We were seated immediately but then waited about 15 minutes before anybody greeted us at our table. If they were busy I could have understood but there was only 2 other people in the restaurant. Once the server arrived with water we were notified that they lost their liquor license. Oh well hot on cold day will work. We ordered a few appetizers to start and they were not good. The egg rolls were cold and tasted like they were made yesterday and crispy tofu was grossly under cooked and not crispy. I returned the egg rolls and they brought me back another order in 10 seconds. Can you say not fresh!
If McDonalds made egg rolls, they would taste better than these.
Next was the Phở which was okay. One order had a lot of beef and the other had very little. The broth was good but the meat is supposed to be served rare and you could tell it had been extremely over cooked. Check please!
I will not be going back. If you are looking for good Phở go to Bowl of Phở in Beachwood.

Feasted for a great price! The Phở was flavorful and the toppings/​Garnish was yummy and fresh. The Boba was outstanding and I was seated when I entered the restaurant.

Food here was bleh. Springs rolls were okay. My phở was MUCH too salty (#P10 — Hu Tieu Bo Kho). The broth was too meaty and just not good. Also, I didn’t get a separate plate of vegetables or the different sauces to add to the broth. I think this is because what I technically ordered is not traditional phở, even though it was listed under the heading of «Phở — Vietnamese Noodle Soups», so very misleading and disappointing. Plus, the dish was advertised as being spicy on the menu and there wasn’t an ounce of anything remotely spicy.
Positives for this place — prices were good, food came out fast, and atmosphere was surprisingly decent. Not one of those small and skimpy Asian diners with fluorescent lighting and cheap tables/​seats, but on the bigger size with nicer furniture and lighting. Someplace you’d actually want to sit down for dinner.
Service was fine throughout dinner. However, our table did get the stink-​eye towards the end of the night around 9pm when we were the only ones left and they clearly wanted to close, even though the restaurant was technically open till 930pm.

This place never disappoints. My wife and I have been coming for years and we always leave satisfied. The service staff is wonderful and always remembers our orders. We love A8 spring rolls! I always get the rare beef and meatball phở while my wife enjoys the phở chicken. This is a great stop for a rainy day or just to enjoy some delicious phở.

Number One Phở on Superior Avenue is so superior to Superior Phở on Superior Avenue that they should consider asking Superior Phở to change their name.

I came here with a craving for banh xeo. I left wondering if I would ever love banh xeo ever again. If only other Viet places served up delicious banh xeo, then I wouldn’t have had to suffer through my lackluster meal here…
Banh xeo is essentially a crêpe filled with bean sprouts and meat. Oh and p. s. I LOVE BEAN SPROUTS. I have been asked more than once «Would you like some phở with those bean sprouts?». But anyways, their banh xeo was just… limp and sad. Rather than nearly exploding my stomach with delicious bean sprouts, it left an empty hole in my craving for banh xeo. Then my phở tai came. Personally, I consider the broth the most important aspect of phở. This broth was… just no good. After I finished what I could, I let the leftovers sit. Slowly but surely the broth began to separate. Yuck. This always makes me suspect that a broth flavoring packet has been used, rather than the broth being made from scratch. What is my support for this reasoning? Absolutely nothing, it’s just a gut assumption.
So anyways, in the battle of Cleveland phở spots, this place is low on my list. The only thing they’ve got going on that Superior Phở (which is right across the street) doesn’t is the fact that they are open later.

I go there once every other week and had enjoyed it immensely, however their latest server, youngster, that I haven’t seen before has been giving me and a few others for being rude and looks angry all the time. If you get that server be warned, your dinner will be least to desire.

There are few things in life that I totally crave– that I dream about… However, the chicken phở from #1 Phở is one of those items. :)
In my opinion, good phở is all about the broth-​the long cooked bone broth, balanced and subtle flavors… This place nails it! It’s the best phở place in Cleveland. Hands down.
You can probably tell that I’m always ordering phở, but my boyfriend has ordered everything from the seafood soup to the fried noodle dishes, and he has enjoyed them all.
It’s a great spot for a quick lunch or dinner. The food comes out of the kitchen in just a few minutes after ordering.

We came here thinking it was Superior Phở. It wasn’t. We realized that after.
However, Number One Phở was delicious. it was our first time having phở and it was a great experience.
The portions here are huge and the service quick. For the phở, you can choose between a small and large bowl. Go with the large – it’s only a dollar more. And it is LARGE.
You really get to customize your phở. You can add bean sprouts, herbs, and jalapeños to tweak the taste and texture. Additionally, you can add siracha or hoisin sauce to make your phở more spicy or sweet.
We had a lot of fun and plan on having many more phở dates in the future.
Minus one star though for the horrible apathetic server. We weren’t greeted when we walked in. The server looked and acted as if he didn’t want to be there and as if he didn’t want us there either.

I’ve been here a few times and I have to say the food is really good and always consistent. Never very crowded and we always get fast service as soon as we sit down. I have to say the restaurant itself is a bit run down and not very fancy but we come here for the delicious food. I love their pork and shrimp spring rolls to start. They have a wonderful peanut sauce and chili sauce if you like it spicy.
I’ve had their soups and noodle bowls and they always hit the spot! Fresh ingredients make for a very satisfying meal. I highly recommend the vermicelli. The chicken, pork, beef, or shrimp vermicelli, they are all very good! The Vietnamese noodle bowls are very filling and delicious too. The large portion is only $ 1 more than the regular portion and it’s worth it. You can definitely take home left overs.
On the bad side, They don’t really serve any alcohol. We wanted to order beers but they only had bud light so we passed. They don’t have any wine or liquor. However, If you’re looking for some authentic Vietnamese this should be your first stop. It’s #1! :)

Though I don’t have many places which I liked during my stay in Cleveland but this was an exception. Visited this restaurant during extreme cold and to get better food as downtown does not have good options.
Located in an industrial area this is probably the only restaurant in the area. The place itself is very spacious and had ample seating available for patrons. After my initial visit I came here a couple of times. My favorites here are the Phở and chicken cabbage salad. The phở broth is so good I can eat it all day along, definitely a must visit place when craving some good authentic phở.

My first trip to Number One Phở left me happy with a belly full of warm goodness on a cold night. But it also left me troubled… do I really have to choose? Can’t I love both Number One Phở and Superior Phở?! WAH!
In my opinion, these two restaurants serve two different kinds of phở. Superior’s broth packs a big punch with spices. Number One’s broth hangs out in the background with a much milder flavor. At Superior I stick with just brisket because I found their regular beef phở a little chewy. But at Number One their regular beef cuts were super-​tender and tasty – no brisket needed. In fact, with their lighter broth and super-​skinny rice noodles (think angel hair-​esque) they really let the meat of this soup dish shine. While Superior Phở’s broth really takes over all other flavors.
I liked…
… that it wasn’t super busy and we could just come in, sit down and be served without the hassle of huge crowds or waiting
… that our phở was served within mere minutes of ordering it, pipping hot – beef perfectly prepared
… that it looked a little more like a restaurant, a lot cleaner and less scary than it’s competitor
… the thinner phở noodles were a great change of pace!
… that it was easy to find and get into. Better than a hidden maze through other businesses.
I didn’t like…
… that it was so dead I was wondering if something was wrong with this place!
… that there was no Sriracha or hoisin bottles on the tables for you to use yourself. Instead they give you a small bowl with both condiments pre-​rationed for you. I want to make my own call on how much I use.
… the measly one plate of fixings for two orders of phở. Each person should either get their own plate, or a much larger portion for two
To sum it up, it’s going to be really tough to choose now between these two neighboring competitors. So maybe I’ll just make whoever I’m dining with choose instead.

This restaurant has received many mixed reviews but I like it here! The food is good and the prices are awesome! A whole meal under $ 9 that includes 3 types of meat? SOLD!
My waiter was polite and quick and my food was delicious! I will be back soon!

I have enjoyed the wonderfully flavorful, piping hot, and infinitely customizable dish that is Phở Ga at multiple restaurants around Cleveland. However, Number One Phở (aptly named) holds the top honor in my heart. Number One Phở’s spacious and clean layout, friendly staff, and convenient location make for the perfect casual date night/​girls lunch/​etc…
The Phở Ga (Chicken Phở) is fresh, flavorful, and extremely addictive. The rich broth, savory chicken, delectable rice noodles, and side dish of add-​ins (bean sprouts, Thai basil, sauces, and jalapenos…) make Number One Phở’s Phở Ga an A+ dish.
In my humble opinion, Number One easily trumps nearby competitor, Superior Phở. If you are looking for fresh and flavorful Vietnamese cuisine, make your way to Number One Phở!

Number One Phở is my number three phở. When Superior Phở and Saigon Grille are closed, I go here simply because it’s in the same area and I’m already there. The prices are about the same if not slightly higher than the other two restaurants.
Let’s start with the phở. The broth is a lot saltier and tastes more MSG-​y than the other two places. Also, this place doesn’t have bottles of sriracha or hoisin sauce readily available at the table. Instead, they provide little bowls with both in them. There is also no basil in the side dish of veggies that come with the phở. Overall, the phở is so-​so. I’ve also tried the crispy pork egg roll vermicelli. The one here is a lot smaller in portion than the one I’ve had at Saigon Grille. The egg rolls were also really salty. I don’t recommend getting this!
Let’s talk about the service. I came here on a weekday for lunch and my party and I were the only ones in the restaurant. However, the service was still really slow for some reason.
I probably won’t be coming back again!