These days I need to plan tings around JJ's schedule. Recently, after a jaunt to the farmer's market, well JJ had burned up a lot of his puppy energy. So, I thought I'd go ahead and grab something to eat. Of course it couldn't be too far, it was still fairly early for many places, and most of all, I didn't want to leave him too long before heading back to feed him lunch.
Suddenly, Pho Hoa Linda Vista came to mind. Remember when I declared them the "fastest pho in the west"? Duh…… Of course, things have mellowed over the years, but based on my last visit dining in, back in February 2020, when it took 3 minutes and 45 seconds to get my bowl, well, it was still amazingly fast.
My last visit was for takeout during Covid. Yes, it's been that long. So much has changed since then. It left me wondering how things were these days.
Well, it started pretty much the same. I walked in, a table was pointed to me. A nice woman brought me the menu; she actually smiled and said hello. The other woman returned less than a minute after the menu was provided, which was fine since I knew what I wanted.
The place wasn't very busy and it was 10am on a Saturday. And my bowl of #4, now $12.25 ($10 on my last visit) hit my table in 4 minutes 10 seconds…hmmm…… a whole 25 seconds slower than on my last dine in visit, it seems like they are slipping, huh?
The bean sprouts were starting to brown, though were acceptable, those leaves on the basil were huge, but there was no ngo gai! A sign of the times I guess?
The soup was lip meltingly hot, with mild anise-beefy tones, but it had that attribute of a lot of the pho in San Diego; the "mild sweetness". It was msg heaven cause I was chugging water like crazy when I got back home.
The well done steak and brisket were really tough and dry, the tripe had a nice crunch and the flank was beefy and decently toothsome. Sadly, tendon was MIA.
I liked that the noodles weren't in the typical clump at the bottom of the bowl, but was a bit overcooked and heading toward "mushy land", so I tried to eat it as quickly as I could.
Overall, definitely not as good as I recalled, though the price is quite reasonable for these days. And I was out of the place in 20 minutes and made it home to take JJ for a nice walk and rest, before making him lunch.
Still, not as good as I recalled, and not what I expected from one of the "OG" pho shops in San Diego. I guess I need to start making my "rounds" again!
Pho Hoa Linda Vista
6921 Linda Vista Rd.
San Diego, CA 92111
Current Hours:
Daily 830am – 830pm
Yes, Don Quixote tilt your lance (I mean chopsticks) at the Pho windmills here in San Diego! Hoping it’s not an exercise in futility. I guess that makes JJ your Sancho Panza?
Wow, that is a low price for pho! Haven’t been here in absolutely forever, but I remember when the customer service was pretty non-existent 🙂 which was fine you need a quick meal.
Have not been here in forever. The price seems very good
Lol Kenneth! I guess I gotta get back on Rocinante!
Yes, it’s quite reasonable for these days Sandy! Service is a bit better these days, but it’s all relative! ;o)
Yes, quite reasonable ST!
nice price
They used to be my go to spot for pho in that area. But lately have been slowly going downhill. They actually got shut down by the health department last week. That might be the nail in the coffin for me.
Pho Hoa Linda Vista Restaurant (6921 Linda Vista Road, San Diego CA 92111) – Ordered closed on January 14 for Holding Temperatures – Minor and Vermin – Major.
It is Kat!
Oh man…..that’s horrible Junichi!
Still one of my fave Pho places, especially since it’s the closest to me. I always see the nice man serving and always been fast and attentive. Bummer about the health violation. Oh well, probably hasn’t stopped people from going to Las Cuartas Milpas (I think they were shut down for 3 weeks). Probably the best time to go now since every should be much cleaner now hehe
Lol Denver…yes, the place might be less busy now! Great to hear from you; hope all is well!