Pho Viet Bistro

I don't know why this place got such great reviews.
As you can see, the place was practically empty when I visited, except for a few persons who were not customers, just persons sitting there as if the dining room was their home's living room.
The way these people stare at you, looking at you as if you were an intruder instead of a customer, makes you feel totally awkward from the moment you literally step into the place, like you broke into someone's house when you enter this restaurant, which is supposed to be a business open to the public.
Once I sat down, I was given a menu but was never asked what I wanted to drink and wasn't offered water (customary in all sit-down restaurants) until I asked for it when they brought the food to the table.
Ordering was one more awkward experience.
Those people sitting around yelled at someone in the kitchen to come out and wait on me.
This person, who I assume is the owner, came to my table, handed me the menu, and asked in a somewhat annoyed way if I was there for the pho, I said I wasn't that I wanted to look at the menu.
She left and came back a few minutes later.
I told her I wanted the spring rolls and the crispy noodle, she said they didn't have the crispy noodle, that they were out of seafood, and also that the dish required lots of vegetables and they only had a few.
She also told me it would take a very long time because she needed to cook the noodles.
I told her I didn't want any beef and seafood, that I would be ok with only chicken and the crispy noodles.
She replied trying to get me order the pho once again.
I explained that I cannot eat beef, that I only eat chicken.
She said she could fix pho with chicken.
I finally relented and told her I would have a large chicken pho and an order of spring rolls.
As you can see in the pic, the spring rolls ($7.00) was only one roll sliced in half with a splash of peanut sauce (it looks like it's more sauce on the pics because I had added Sriracha to it).
The large chicken pho ($16) came with 2 small jalapeno slices, a tiny piece of lime that was almost unsqueezeable, a couple of basil leaves, a couple of tiny pieces of cilantro, and some bean sprouts.
The pho itself was basically a glorified chicken noodle soup, it was ok like any other chicken broth noodle soup, but nothing extraordinary that granted paying $16 for it.
I was never offered a refill of the cup of water that I asked for when I ordered my food.
The vibe of the place was odd with these non-customer people sitting around watching tv and a couple more that entered the place and joined them while I was eating.
I was the only customer eating there the entire time I was there, which also felt weird.
As often happens when you are the only customer in a restaurant and all the staff is in the kitchen, when the time came to pay, I had to wait forever and finally had to tell one of those persons sitting around if I needed to ask for the check.
That same person came back with the check, I gave him my credit card but the whole thing was confusing because I didn't even know who he was.
I couldn't wait to leave the place and never come back.

This is our new go-to spot in Colorado Springs.
The pho is delicious and clean.
I have many food allergies and the pho is gluten, dairy, soy free, and chemical free (no msg).
You can TASTE the individual ingredients in the broth and it has so much depth.
I always feel so good after eating here.
The kitchen is clean, and the family who runs the restaurant is so kind and generous.

Owner response

Having moved from the authentic Vietnamese food scene in Southern California to Colorado Springs three years ago, I initially found the local Vietnamese restaurants a little disappointing.
However, my perspective shifted after discovering this gem of a restaurant.
While I only sampled the Banh Canh Cua (Vietnamese Udon Noodle Soup with Seafood/Crabs), its exceptional quality and rich flavor convinced me of this place's uniqueness.
Noteworthy is their commitment to using clusters of Dungeness crab in their seafood soup—a rarity.
Having tasted this dish across Vietnam and California, I can confidently say that this version surpasses all others.
It's my hope that more people will discover and explore this restaurant.
They’ve only been opened for 2 months.
For those seeking authenticity, look no further.
The family-owned nature of the restaurant shines through its owner, Lynn, whose warmth and attentiveness enhance the experience.
Her dedication to authenticity, even inquiring about ingredients, underscores the passion she pours into each dish.
I can’t wait to bring my family back here to try some more dishes.

Owner response