they have so many vegan options! Spicy lemongrass with vegan beef and pork belly is my fave. But really, it's incredible to go to a pho place that has more than one vegan soup ?Also, the servers are always so kind and welcoming, every time I visit.Dietary restrictions: vegan options
Diego Diaz
Ordered a salad Blbowl with chili prawns and it was really good, as well as the coconut
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Pho
Myeshia Boston
Wonderful staff l, delightful food. Must try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oxtail Combo Pho
Bethany Thiele
Delicious pho, definitely an underrated place, there's always seating. Also a good selection of cocktails and other dishes!My only plea - please y'all, turn the heat up in this joint! In summer it's chilly and in winter I'm actually sitting at my table shivering.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Crissy Tomlinson
Holy guacamole this place rocks my socks off!!!! I came here for a steaming bowl of pho and was tickled pink. Get here get a bowl and get rocking!!!! Love, Crissy
Andrea M.
Holy basil, Batman!This restaurant has pretty good food, but the ordering system is whackadoodle. The vegan beef peanut noodle soup comes with veggie beef because it says "beef," but the vegan peanut soup comes with chicken because "it doesn't say vegetable." To get the chicken omittted, you have to pay to "add" vegetables. Keep in mind, that's just to get everything except the chicken, not to get anything extra. This is literally what the staff told me and the manager texted to me. I am imagining a cartoon arm just barely remembering as the chicken piece dangles dangerously over the pot). Some sanity to the menu could be another option and they did finally update it. Phew.The first time we ordered take-out, they put actual chicken, which I'm allergic to. (I know, weird). Thankfully, my husband was there to taste it before I did. The second time, it seemed like vegan chicken, but I was on my own and didn't feel like taking the risk. And the menu didn't say anything about any kind of chicken being in it at all. So I asked for a refund, which I hadn't asked for the first time when it actually could have made me really sick. Then the staff told me they couldn't call their manager to request the refund because they didn't get paid enough. This person also said they needed to make sure the kitchen was doing their job. Minimum wage: not enough to make a call, definitely enough to make sure everyone else is doing their job (cause they must be making all the bucks back there? Honestly, they're the only ones doing their job seems like.) Mathematicians, can you tell me if the $0 I made to contact the manager is less than minimum wage or is this a "vegetables" = "chicken" situation??)In the end, after 40 min of texting, the manager finally issued a refund for the item that she said wasn't listed on my order "as a courtesy" (not cause they almost killed me and then messed up the next order) . She showed me the item she was refunding (you know, the one that wasn't there... even though we could see it perfectly fine on the screenshot I sent her...but, then again, if it that item becomes invisible over the inter webs that would make all this make a whole lot more sense...Next time I'm going to Old Waeng Ping or Neecha Thai or Joe's Pho or Golden Lotus. ps Can't wait for the manager to deny this even though I have screenshots...
Nanette Mocanu
Happy Hour everyday!! This place is s neighborhood gem!Kid-friendliness: Yes!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Charles R Jones
Great food, personable and speedy service, and good vibes...Vegetarian options: A small but very good selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes.Kid-friendliness: My party of 5 includes a teen and an infant and were all accommodated to feel welcome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bowl of Pho, Vegetable Pho, Seafood Pho
Lavender M.
2 years in this neighborhood, I have a little Jem around the corner.I love the setup.
As a meat lover, the meat options here are below average. The noodles are not chewy, the soup lacks flavor, and the meat is tough. The only positive thing I can say is that they do not skimp out on the amount of meat they give you. However, my vegan friends loved their order. The service was good and the ambiance is very modern. I would only recommend this place if your looking to try some vegan pho.
Gina S
I absolutely love this place and their staff! Last night I ordered takeout 15 mins before closing, but shortly after ordering my street was shut down. I called them to let them know and they held the food for an hour! I still wasn’t able to leave my house because of the street blockade and they called me to let me know they would leave it at the next door bar for me. I was so moved by how compassionate and accommodating they were! On top of all that, the vegan pho is BOMB and I crave it regularly!!Vegetarian options: Many vegetarian options, including phoDietary restrictions: Many vegan options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bao Buns
O M G.
Located on College Ave. so I figured street parking would be tough. Holy Basil is next door to a library parking lot and I'm not sure if you can park there but library was closed and there weren't cars there when we went to the restaurant and when we left, there were several cars so... There's that. Maybe it's ok after a certain time? Idk.I think it's a nice restaurant. There's two floors but we stayed on the first floor. The host let us choose our table. The menu was vegan friendly and I had the Spicy Lemongrass Vegan Beef Soup. I realize some fake meats are made of gluten and it tasted very gluten here.. Sometimes you're like, hm...I wonder what this is made of. Not here. The soup was ok. The imperial rolls were good.. Service was exceptional. Because we ordered all vegan, the server let us know one of the sauces on the table was not vegan. I appreciate that. We didn't finish all the food and the server took our food and packed it for us. I like that as well. It's worth tipping extra for that because I rarely experience that nowadays and I love it so much..
Carissa C.
I will start off by saying the staff is really nice and I would give them a higher rating! But the food itself was so meh that I'm rating more for that. My friends and I went here to grab a few drinks and some food and all of us ended up thinking the food wasn't that great. The one thing that was a hit for everyone was the Java Fries appetizer! And the lychee martini was strong (compared to the other drinks we got) - this place definitely seems better for drinks and a few apps, but for a meal you'd probably be better somewhere else!
Claire LaFleur
Just ordered takeout here for the first time last night. I got the vegan beef peanut noodles and vegan Thai iced tea and everything was sooo delicious! The noodles were super flavorful and had lots of tasty veggies on top and the Thai iced tea was classic and perfect. I had no problems with ordering or pickup. I was super satisfied and 100% will be coming back to try out some of the other vegan dishes.Vegetarian options: So many great options on their online menu. I got the vegan beef peanut noodles and they were AMAZING. I also got the vegan Thai iced tea and it was also soooooo soooo good.
Best pho in the north East Bay area
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Holy Basil Pho Combo
they have so many vegan options! Spicy lemongrass with vegan beef and pork belly is my fave. But really, it's incredible to go to a pho place that has more than one vegan soup ?Also, the servers are always so kind and welcoming, every time I visit.Dietary restrictions: vegan options
Ordered a salad Blbowl with chili prawns and it was really good, as well as the coconut
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Pho
Wonderful staff l, delightful food. Must try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oxtail Combo Pho
Delicious pho, definitely an underrated place, there's always seating. Also a good selection of cocktails and other dishes!My only plea - please y'all, turn the heat up in this joint! In summer it's chilly and in winter I'm actually sitting at my table shivering.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Holy guacamole this place rocks my socks off!!!! I came here for a steaming bowl of pho and was tickled pink. Get here get a bowl and get rocking!!!! Love, Crissy
Holy basil, Batman!This restaurant has pretty good food, but the ordering system is whackadoodle. The vegan beef peanut noodle soup comes with veggie beef because it says "beef," but the vegan peanut soup comes with chicken because "it doesn't say vegetable." To get the chicken omittted, you have to pay to "add" vegetables. Keep in mind, that's just to get everything except the chicken, not to get anything extra. This is literally what the staff told me and the manager texted to me. I am imagining a cartoon arm just barely remembering as the chicken piece dangles dangerously over the pot). Some sanity to the menu could be another option and they did finally update it. Phew.The first time we ordered take-out, they put actual chicken, which I'm allergic to. (I know, weird). Thankfully, my husband was there to taste it before I did. The second time, it seemed like vegan chicken, but I was on my own and didn't feel like taking the risk. And the menu didn't say anything about any kind of chicken being in it at all. So I asked for a refund, which I hadn't asked for the first time when it actually could have made me really sick. Then the staff told me they couldn't call their manager to request the refund because they didn't get paid enough. This person also said they needed to make sure the kitchen was doing their job. Minimum wage: not enough to make a call, definitely enough to make sure everyone else is doing their job (cause they must be making all the bucks back there? Honestly, they're the only ones doing their job seems like.) Mathematicians, can you tell me if the $0 I made to contact the manager is less than minimum wage or is this a "vegetables" = "chicken" situation??)In the end, after 40 min of texting, the manager finally issued a refund for the item that she said wasn't listed on my order "as a courtesy" (not cause they almost killed me and then messed up the next order) . She showed me the item she was refunding (you know, the one that wasn't there... even though we could see it perfectly fine on the screenshot I sent her...but, then again, if it that item becomes invisible over the inter webs that would make all this make a whole lot more sense...Next time I'm going to Old Waeng Ping or Neecha Thai or Joe's Pho or Golden Lotus. ps Can't wait for the manager to deny this even though I have screenshots...
Happy Hour everyday!! This place is s neighborhood gem!Kid-friendliness: Yes!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, personable and speedy service, and good vibes...Vegetarian options: A small but very good selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes.Kid-friendliness: My party of 5 includes a teen and an infant and were all accommodated to feel welcome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bowl of Pho, Vegetable Pho, Seafood Pho
2 years in this neighborhood, I have a little Jem around the corner.I love the setup.
Restaurantji Recommends
As a meat lover, the meat options here are below average. The noodles are not chewy, the soup lacks flavor, and the meat is tough. The only positive thing I can say is that they do not skimp out on the amount of meat they give you. However, my vegan friends loved their order. The service was good and the ambiance is very modern. I would only recommend this place if your looking to try some vegan pho.
I absolutely love this place and their staff! Last night I ordered takeout 15 mins before closing, but shortly after ordering my street was shut down. I called them to let them know and they held the food for an hour! I still wasn’t able to leave my house because of the street blockade and they called me to let me know they would leave it at the next door bar for me. I was so moved by how compassionate and accommodating they were! On top of all that, the vegan pho is BOMB and I crave it regularly!!Vegetarian options: Many vegetarian options, including phoDietary restrictions: Many vegan options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bao Buns
Located on College Ave. so I figured street parking would be tough. Holy Basil is next door to a library parking lot and I'm not sure if you can park there but library was closed and there weren't cars there when we went to the restaurant and when we left, there were several cars so... There's that. Maybe it's ok after a certain time? Idk.I think it's a nice restaurant. There's two floors but we stayed on the first floor. The host let us choose our table. The menu was vegan friendly and I had the Spicy Lemongrass Vegan Beef Soup. I realize some fake meats are made of gluten and it tasted very gluten here.. Sometimes you're like, hm...I wonder what this is made of. Not here. The soup was ok. The imperial rolls were good.. Service was exceptional. Because we ordered all vegan, the server let us know one of the sauces on the table was not vegan. I appreciate that. We didn't finish all the food and the server took our food and packed it for us. I like that as well. It's worth tipping extra for that because I rarely experience that nowadays and I love it so much..
I will start off by saying the staff is really nice and I would give them a higher rating! But the food itself was so meh that I'm rating more for that. My friends and I went here to grab a few drinks and some food and all of us ended up thinking the food wasn't that great. The one thing that was a hit for everyone was the Java Fries appetizer! And the lychee martini was strong (compared to the other drinks we got) - this place definitely seems better for drinks and a few apps, but for a meal you'd probably be better somewhere else!
Just ordered takeout here for the first time last night. I got the vegan beef peanut noodles and vegan Thai iced tea and everything was sooo delicious! The noodles were super flavorful and had lots of tasty veggies on top and the Thai iced tea was classic and perfect. I had no problems with ordering or pickup. I was super satisfied and 100% will be coming back to try out some of the other vegan dishes.Vegetarian options: So many great options on their online menu. I got the vegan beef peanut noodles and they were AMAZING. I also got the vegan Thai iced tea and it was also soooooo soooo good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bao Buns