Pho Tan Mai

My husband, son and I went there to celebrate an early father’s day dinner which ended up being a disaster. We ordered the «fresh» spring rolls, the chicken vermicelli bowl, 2 specialty soups and 2 Vietnamese coffees. The «fresh» spring rolls were filled with old iceberg lettuce, vermicelli and 2 shrimp that smelt and looked very spoiled. My chicken vermicelli bowl was equally disgusting with hard, old pieces of chicken that also smelt and tasted bad.
Not wanting to ruin the evening, I simply decided not to eat my dinner and not complain. My 15-​year-​old son, in his honest and innocent way, told me that I should complain and talk to the owners. I thought he was right in wanting us to do the right thing.
I got up to ask for the bill (mind you, there was no one else in the restaurant at 6pm on a Friday night) since the female owner who was «waiting» on us hadn’t been by once to check on us not once, and had no idea we were ready to leave. I decided to tell her very politely about the spoiled food and she immediately became highly defensive, agitated and contentious raising her voice at me and telling me that this was a lie and how no one had ever complained about their food. I calmly explained to her that I was in fact a public health doctor and how I had good reason to suspect the food was spoiled and willing to contact the local health department to inform them of my suspicions. She continued arguing and I walked back to the table.
When she finally brought us the bill, I realized that she had not removed the food I had not eaten from the bill. I questioned this and told her I was not going to pay for the food I was returning. We were immediately confronted with a barrage of insults and threats that she was going to call the cops on me. Her husband who was sitting behind the counter soon chimed in and started yelling insults at me saying, «you not a doctor, you a fake doctor, my food not spoiled, you a spoiled woman, I hope I never see you ever again,» etc. We did not say a word, yet I stuck to my guns and ethically gave them $ 30 even when the total bill was $ 37.88… not even removing the full amount of one of the dishes I had returned. The male and female owners pulled out their phones and started filming us.
The owners of this restaurant do NOT behave or provide service like a friendly mom and pop business. They are rude, HIGHLY and scarily aggressive and their food looks, smells and tastes very spoiled. The place also looks quite dirty! We also took pictures of the un-​eaten food. It’s too early to know as I write this review, but I hope and pray we do not get sick. We will, however, be calling the local health department and feel it our duty to warn future patrons by sharing this awful experience. It is no wonder that there were no other people in that establishment during peak dinner time on a Friday evening!

The food is consistent and authentic. The feel is mom and pop. The prices are generous. There is nothing more to say except that the hostess and chef will take an order and personalize any of their dishes.
Favorites are: phở E2, Bahn mi pork, egg rolls. That is all.

Food was decent, but not very flavorful. My uncle and I had two banh mi sandwiches with two shrimp spring rolls. The banhi bread was crispy which was nice, but the meat left something to be desired. This location uses butter instead of mayo which I was not a fan of. Maybe it could be they didn’t use enough butter. The spring rolls were not made well. The wrapper was coming off and the shrimp smelled bad plus it had grit on it. Which made me scared to eat it. The problem wasn’t the food exactly, but the way I was treated for being a mother. There are no changing tables and I have an infant son whose diaper needed to be changed. I had to leave the restaurant to change my baby in the car. When I came back to throw the diaper out and wash my hands. She stopped me and said «don’t throw that out in here.» I told her nicely that I was going to the restroom to throw it out and to wash my hands. She said replied rudely «there is a trash outside.» So, she forced me to go into the side of the restaurant to their dumpster with rotting food. To throw out one baby diaper. May I add this is not the best part of the Houston area either. I have never in my life been treated that way by a restaurant employee/​owner. Not only was is rude it was down right disrespectful to someone who is paying to eat at your mediocre establishment. I took the classy route and told her I will never return calmly and gave into her demands. If you have a child. They are not welcomed into this establishment.

Simple and modest restaurant. Best Bun Bo Hue in Houston! The Phở, spring rolls, and chicken wings are to die for! This is my go to spot for good Vietnamese soup!

This is my first time to this restaurant. Checking it out because a few people I know come here and it’s been recommended. I arrived and someone was ordering when she was done she looked up to me for my order I asked for 2lbs crawfish /8.99lb 3lbs are 6.99lb so I said I’ll take 3lbs with 1 corn and 1 potatoe then. Payment was collected at the time of the order even though I was dining in. I asked for 4 limes and she said it would be 75 cents that’s interesting to me since that is a garnish but ok. Let me see what this crawfish is about. They were a pretty big size, tasted good and were very fresh.

I do not review much here so when I do I try and make it count. I work in the area so I hit many of the Phở places in the local area. This one has to be my favorite. Solid menu — with great flavors — small family ran business so the husband and wife team wear many hats yet do it all with a smile and amazing customer service. I enjoy their A2 /​E2 /​D2 combos usually — sometimes there sometimes to go — ALWAYS know what to expect and get. If you want simple — solid Phở so if you are looking great Phở with a small business attitude that truly cares about their customers — you have found it!

I have to say that all their food is tasty and really good but man you have to try their crawfish. It’s incredibly delicious. I have been to la crawfish, crawfish and noodles (considered the best crawfish places in Houston) but this place has huger standards. They have the best crawfish I’ve tried so far.

Crawfish! Crawfish! Crawfish are The Bomb! Can’t wait until the season starts!!! I definitely need to try other menu items. I’ll be back very soon.

My first time at this place and I can’t complain. They have affordable prices and food taste better of what I thought.

FOOD SOOOO GOOD!!!
Being new to the Stafford area I was looking for a good phở restaurant mainly for the crave of spring rolls. But I came across this place and must I say I am very pleased… I ordered chicken spring rolls, got their specialty wings and the chicken vermicelli. All so flavorful and freshly cook A+ in my book. And the owners customer service was great I love the lil hole in the wall feel I will be back to eat from here.

Very enjoyable. My wife had the Phở with chicken and I enjoyed the lemon grass charbroiled pork with steamed rice. Limited menu but worth a try if you enjoy authentic view food.

One of my favorite place in the area for Vietnamese egg rolls — you wrap them with lettuce, stuff it with veggies, and dip it in the sauce. This place’s rendition of the egg rolls are worth coming back for.
Have it with Vietnamese coffee, and some char-​grilled pork, or even banh mi (which is what I did) and you’re good to go.
Nice to see that this mom & pop place can make a good business out of a great product.
Price: good
Atmosphere: clean hole-​in-​wall
Service: friendly, family-​owned

This is one of my husband & I’s go to spots for Vietnamese bahn mi /​phở in the Stafford/​Mo-​City area. This is a family owned Mom & Pop restaurant; Right when you get in, expect to meet a lovely lady in the front who will more than likely greet you with a welcoming smile. Orders usually quick and efficient especially during non-​peak hours. I almost order to-​go because I lived farther away. Since the owner is familiar with me already, I am able to just call in my order when I am on the way home and it’s always ready by the time I get there.
FOOD SUGGESTIONS
Pork-​bahn-​mi (banh mi thit nuong) (sandwich) If you’ve never had a bahn mi, this sandwich is basically french bread with slightly sweetened char-​grilled meat of your liking. The sandwiches are stuffed with a good portion of meat, veggies and isn’t lacking at all. I don’t do well with too much spice, so I always ask for my jalapeño on the side.
Char-​grilled pork with steamed rice meal. This comes with the delish orange dip, veggies and an egg roll.
Vietnamese eggroll– you taco wrap the eggroll with lettuce, put some bean sprouts/​veggies in there too and dip it in the pool of orange.
Vietnamese Coffee– really strong ice coffee sweetened with condensed milk
Try them out if you’re in the area.

Hidden gem serves the best crawfish around! We are come here at least twice a week to get our crawfish fix. Run… run and try some!
The bun bo hue is also very tasty. And chicken wings are also our family’s favorite.
This restaurant is family owned. The couple that owns the restaurant are very nice.

I had the spicy garlic crawfish Fri night. Absolutely some of the best I’ve ever tasted. Cost is $ 5.99 per lb if you order three or more lbs… otherwise $ 8.99 pp. So order three! I will definitely be returning soon and I love that it’s pretty close by. Place is nice and clean and the staff are very friendly. You won’t regret your trip.

IMO, best crawfish in town and at only 5.99 a pound! The crawfish are a good size, with most of them ranging anywhere from 4−6″ in length. The sauce and spices they’re cooked in are just right, fragrant and flavorful with an almost creamy buttery consistency that acts as the perfect dipping sauce for the tails. And the heads, my god the head fat is bright yellow and savory and rich, how crawfish head fat should be!
I haven’t tried the phở or banh mi here but the eggs rolls are definitely worth mentioning. They are freshly fried to order and are scalding hot and crispy and meaty with a side of very fresh vegetables to wrap them in (not like the vegetables at some places where it looks like it’s been sitting around for a bit too long).
Anyways it’s worth mentioning that they don’t serve crawfish everyday so it’s best to call ahead if that’s what your planning on getting. And when they sell out for the day, that’s it that’s all folks. They only offer crawfish if it’s fresh enough and large enough for their standards which I can appreciate. But when they do have it, theirs really can’t be beat!
This place is run solely by the lovely couple who own the place so service can be slow at times if things are busy. But for me that just adds to the charm of the place, and really the couple who own it couldn’t be more nicer or friendlier people. The restaurant is always nice and clean with plenty of seating too.

I love coming here for lunch since it’s never too busy, and they give you your food pretty quickly. It’s a mom and pop kind of place so it definitely shows in the food.
The place it kind of older looking but it’s clean and the condiments on the table look fresh and tidy.
I usually go for the Phở or the Bun Bo hue both are tasty. Very generous portion for the price and good amount of meat!
The counter can be a little slow when paying but they usually only have one server so all is forgiven. It’s my go-​to spot for phở in Stafford, TX. Support the locals and pay them a visit!

Family run so you might not get that overbearing attention or obnoxiously insincere service one might expect at pop restaurants. And the menu is tight with just two pages, not a massive listing of all things «Asian». Had some bahn mi on there (no pâté)… it would probably be tough to expect authentic bahn mi with pâté.
The spring rolls were big and fresh. Peanut sauce was good and not too sweet. The phở was solid. That opinion is based on the broth that was savory and not sweet. The meats were great with a good balance or tendon, fatty brisket, and meatballs. It was missing tripe though and some of the brisket looked like it had a touch of freezer burn. Had to ask for some pickled red chile sauce (not sriracha) and could have used a few more jalapeños on the side.
Overall, we liked this place. Though not perfect, the flavors were solid, and df the places we’ve tried in the southwest side of town, this is the best food by far. We will be back.

Phở was kind of bland. All I could taste was the star anise and fish sauce. But the wings were good.
I have driven by this place several times, and had it not been for a recommendation I would have never tried it. It’s decent.
Owner greeted us.
If I was in Stafford or at HCC Southwest I’d consider coming back for a quick lunch. But it’s not a place I’d make a special trip for… Or recommend.

I only tried this place out because it’s the only phở place anywhere near my office. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!
I went after what I assume may have been a lunch rush and there were only 2 people there (one of whom I felt like had some affiliation with the restaurant). The proprietor was in the kitchen and it took her a little bit to come out. The tables are teeny tiny, like 2 tops with 4 chairs. It was clean enough overall, with the typical mash up décor — a little modern stuff, a little traditional Asian stuff, random color scheme, etc.
I went for a basic phở tai to get the best idea of the food quality. The broth is a little thin and not quite flavorful enough. There was a good amount of meat and noodles. I also went during the time of the great lime shortage, so I received a LEMON instead… no bueno.
The owner was very nice, but kept disappearing for long periods of time, so I made sure to catch her so I could pay ahead of time. I probably wouldn’t come back here unless I was in DIRE need of phở while at the office.