"Hubby and I are on a mission to try new restaurants in Waipahu. I suggested this restaurant today because of its high Yelp rating. I've tried the pho at another restaurant in Waipahu, but it wasn't too memorable for me. Pho Waipahu, however, stands out to us. The restaurant is located next to Pacific Supermarket and my favorite Filipino restaurant, Pampanga Kitchen!I seriously love pho. Sometimes, I prefer it over ramen! I've been a fan since my college days in San Diego, and I became a bigger fan once I've tried it at Little Saigon communities in San Diego (El Cajon Boulevard) and the Orange County! I have a favorite in Aiea, and another in Kapolei, but that's been hit or miss. My hubby and I really enjoy the ambiance of Pho Waipahu. The unisex restroom is also clean too, and like they say, a clean restroom is a good indicator of a clean restaurant. I ordered my usual at any Vietnamese restaurant--medium pho with brisket (and tendon) with steak on the side to make sure it's not overcooked by the time the bowl reaches your table. Tables did not have bottles of condiments, probably due to COVID, so my pho condiments of hoisin sauce, chili oil, and sriracha were served on a small dipping container. I love when a Vietnamese restaurant has chili oil available! The pho broth was a bit on the sweet side, and I've been to some other restaurants with that sweet broth. I'm more used to beefier, more savory pho broths, but what really stood out to me was the quality of the brisket and tendon! They were actually thick cut, flavorful, meaty, and neither fatty nor too gelatinous! The hubby ordered the BBQ chicken and spring roll vermicelli plate. The chicken was tasty, and the spring roll slices were still crispy. The fish sauce mixture added a nice touch to the bowl. If we're craving Vietnamese food while in Waipahu, we wouldn't mind returning to this spot!"
