Pho 99 Vietnamese Restaurant

Great vietnamese food, really good Phở. Savory and perfect temperature broth. Nothing WOW hence the 1 star deduction but can’t ask any more from a local vietnamese place. If I lived in the area this place would be my go to.

We’be been here only once and tried the beef Phở. The broth was well made and the ingredients were fresh. The staff is very attentive and friendly. Much better than the Vietnamese restaurant at Quakerbridge mall. A minor inconvenience is a cash-​only restaurant. Wil come come back to try more food from menu.

Sadly, I’m not a proper phở-​hipster, and cannot tell you about the time I had way better phở at a tiny place in San Francisco that no-​one else knows about, and dude, you just had to be there.
However, I can tell you that this is my favourite phở in central NJ so far. The phở just tastes good, as do the summer rolls, spring rolls and everything else we’ve tried so far.
Yes, they only accept cash. Suck it up folks, the fees that credit card companies charge all of us (restauranteurs and customers) are pretty steep, they don’t need any more help. Get some cash out, and then go enjoy some phở.

I’m super basic when it comes to certain things, and phở is one of them. I always get the beef tendon or brisket phở and each time, this place never disappoints. Just remember that phở is (supposed to be) mostly water with noodles, meat, and veggies, so it may not be the best lunch or dinner of champions.
Their bubble tea is also amazing and they have some unique flavors.
Décor is quite nice for its size and they always have these t-​shirts on sale: «phở off» «what the phở» and the like.

have been 2x and really enjoyed the food. very simple, staple vietnamese food. will probably be back after likely trying some others in the area. had the pork vermicelli, and it was well done and not too fatty like some i’ve had in the past. strong reco for the beverages — mango for my daughter, thai iced tea for me. food wasn’t cheap, but everything but the entrees seemed somewhat reasonable.
only bummer is no credit cards so make sure you have cash on hand. also, there was only 1 waiter on a busy saturday night, and the poor guy was doing the best he could but was overwhelmed.

Definitely not one of the best viet restaurants around here. We ordered phở and although they gave us plenty of noodles, it barely came with any sliced beef and other additions specified on the menu. The broth had a bit of mint taste to it which I know is something that’s normal to them. But I’ve been to many other restaurants where they don’t add it to the broth because they know not everyone likes it. They give you the option to add some mint yourself when you get your noodles which I prefer.

We had the shredded pork roll appetizer which was delicious with red pepper. We each had the beef phở and it was great as well.

Excellent food, very authentic, friendly service. Definitely a great option. The spring roll is a must try! Very fresh, crispy inside, delicious.

I’ve been wanting to try Phở for quite some time now so I was excited to find a spot so close by.
The waiter who took care of us was great, he helped us pick out items based on what we liked and were looking for. Ended up ordering the combo Phở and the vermicelli with grilled shrimp.
The Phở was okay. It definitely didn’t live up to the high expectations I had built up about this dish. I thought the broth would have a more savory, meaty taste but instead the herbs were overpowering. On the plus side the serving size was very nice (we did get a large bowl) and it was more than enough for 2 of us.
The vermicelli was GREAT. The shrimp was seasoned deliciously and tasted like it just came off the grill. It was juicy and HUGE and we got a good amount of shrimp in the dish.
Pricing was decent, each dish was $ 10 which is not bad at all. Two of us were stuffed and we even took some leftovers home.
I’ll probably come back again when I’m craving Vietnamese food however I am really hoping Phở isn’t supposed to taste like the stuff I got here. I wanted to desperately to find a new dish to love and my hopes were really dashed when I had my first taste here.

Phở 99 is my spot during lunch when I am craving some Vietnamese food. I am Vietnamese and grew up with true authentic cooking at home. This place will never beat my grandmas cuisine, but it sure does try.
I’ve tried many dishes and absolutely loved all of them. I haven’t had the Phở, so I can’t speak to that. All of the vermicelli and rice bowls are delicious. The steamed fish (I think salmon) is to die for. The ginger chicken is amazing too. My favorite are the spring rolls and egg rolls.
As I type this I can’t wait for my next trip back. Only downside is its a cash only restaurant and they aren’t open on Mondays.

Straight up addicted to this place cash only and never had a bad meal. I get tofu in chix stock with extra noodle and hot tea always wonderful.

First things first, the phở is DELICIOUS. Until last week, my dad only brought home take-​out (which, as phở eaters know, can be a pain in the butt.) I went in alone to order a Phở Ga (chicken meat in chicken broth.) The waitress who was clearly not Vietnamese asked me repeatedly what I wanted. She sent the owner over to «translate,» and owner immediately knew what I meant. The staff was very kind, and even when the waitress brought out my soup, she said «Here’s your ‘Fung Gung, see, I’m learning!» That, I have no problem with, but I’ve lived all over America, and all other Vietnamese shops offer different prices for different sizes, and Phở 99 charges $ 8.50 for a somewhat paltry serving. And, they are cash-​only, so make sure you hit up the ATM first.

Used to love this place. But today the broth sucked so hard. It was like night and day the difference. The broth today had an oil slick on top. Felt like they cut corners and didn’t take time to make the broth correctly. It was also dark & cloudy. Real phở broth has fat globs from roasting bones and marrow and is beautiful and nuanced and clear. The broth today felt like they poured vegetable oil on top of store bought beef broth.
Please shape up or I’ll take my patronage elsewhere. It’s already a nuisance that you’re cash only !

Phở is okay, not the best I have had, but the service was what got me. Waitress did not help when placing our order, she used the I don’t speak English card. Waiter and bar maid, were very nice and presented great service, would recommend only eating the phở. Pork chop was previously cooked and was very tough, hard as a rock to be honest.

Run of the mill Vietnamese food that’s CASH ONLY!
Food: I ordered the extra large combo phở (P1) and a small order of vietnamese egg rolls (cha gio).
Phở — Good — They definitely give you a significant portion of meat with your noodles. The broth itself lacked a little. I tried really hard to discern any distinct meatyness/​herbaceous flavor to it, but I just got the same flavor every time I sipped it. To me, that awesome phở broth hits you with something different every time you taste it, star anise in one sip, meaty/​marrow-​y goodness in another, etc.
Cha gio — Solid — nicely fried, good flavor from the filling. The vegetation lacked a little. I had several sprigs of wilty brown cilantro, but overall the dish was fine.
Service: Very good. The waitresses were attentive without being overly pushy. Everyone down to the runners were VERY nice. The service puts this place in the 4 star category for me.
Bottom Line: Come here if you’re in the area, but its not worth a separate trip. Good thing I’m only about 15 – 20 minutes away, so I’ll definitely be back.

I don’t go eat phở much often so i really don’t know how a really good phở tastes like but i was really mesmerized by the taste of phở from pho99 when i went yesterday. I ordered the Phở #2 (small bowl of Rice Noodle Beef Soup w/​well done beef, beef tripe, tendon & sliced beef) and i regretted i ordered the small bowl instead of the large but it was delicious. Everything there was fresh, the broth tasted perfect to me, and the rice noodles were also cooked to perfection. The only thing is it’s cash only but luckily, i had some cash on me yesterday. Oh yeah, and lychee shake is something you should try. It’s shaved lychee and ice but it’s delicious and very refreshing! I want to go back for boba drinks next time and of course, the fresh spring rolls!

Stopped in at Phở 99 for dinner last night. It is in one of those strip malls on Rt. 27 in Franklin Park, which are impossible to tell apart.
The room presents well — Clean, attractive, cool lighting. The owner acts as host, bringing menu, first drink, and suggestions. I sat at a midfloor deuce, facing the kitchen and bar area, which seemed to be only a prep area these days. Although originally in the mood for Phở, after reading reviews of those I know and respect, I opted for the Grilled Pork, Lemongrass and Broken Rice.
It arrived a few moments later in the hands of kitchen worker, rather than the husband/​wife owners. The platter was a large white rectangle, with a small dish of clear sauce on the side. Everything was pretty good. The Pork was well grilled and had a mild crunch and good taste. The table bottle rockets of Hoisin and Sriracha were put to use for dipping the meat and added complexity and heat. Small point was the absence of a separate dish for holding/​mixing these additions condiments, but the plate had enough room. The side sauce had a slightly sweet taste, but was lost on the pork. The Rice was good and picked up the left over sauces and spices from the platter. The sliced Tomato and Cucumber were nice, but did not really contribute to the experience.
The CASH ONLY approach to restauranteuring is a negative aspect that is difficult to comprehend, and an annoyance. It would not keep me from returning if I had the bills in my wallet, but if I was driving by with low cash on hand, I would not consider making the extra stop at an ATM.
When I am in the area again I will give the Phở a try, assuming I had the jingle.

Pho99 is a hidden gem. Have been going here for years and never leave disappointed. The place is nicely decorated, very clean and the owners and their staff are extremely friendly. We can go a couple months without dining here and the owner still recognizes us when we come in and strikes up a conversation.
For starters, both the egg rolls and shredded pork rolls are great choices. For beverages, I personally enjoy the avocado shake or a choice flavor of boba tea. YUM!
My favorite phở choice would be the P8 but there are plenty different varieties to choose from depending on your preferences. If you want a different soup, the hot and sour soups are exceptional. These can be enjoyed over broken rice. If you’re not interested in soup, there are lots of grilled options as well. Lemongrass chicken, pork or shrimp over rice with veggies is very delicious.
What I love about this place is that there are a lot of fresh veggies, herbs and other ingredients incorporated into each dish. Aside from the likely high sodium content and the fried stuff, most of their menu is actually pretty healthy and rather affordable. Go a few times and you’ll start craving their phở on cold or rainy days. :)

Phở Anh Dao and this place are the two main places my family goes for Vietnamese food. Definitely go for the grilled pork with lemon grass, but they also make a great bowl of phở.
Our staples:
A1 Cha Gio (Fried Vietnamese Egg Rolls) — Super crispy, yet not too greasy. I could eat a whole order of these if there wasn’t everything else to eat. Always preferred Vietnamese egg rolls to Chinese ones. The skin and ground up meat inside just tastes so much better somehow. Maybe it’s the fish sauce.
A7 Papaya Salad — Nice healthy starter. Lots of shrimp and the green papaya is fresh and crunchy. Make sure you pour on all the sauce they give you for extra flavor.
P1 Combination Extra Big Bowl (Rice Noodle Beef Soup w. Well Done Beef, Beef Tripe, Tendon & Slice Beef) — The broth isn’t as clear as Phở Dao’s, but they give you more meat. It needs more of the tripe and tendon. The more squishy parts, the better in my opinion. Still, a really good bowl of phở in general.
C5 Com Thit Nuong (Grilled Pork with Lemon Grass on Broken Rice) — Phở Anh Dao is best for noodles, but Phở 99 is best for their rice dishes. They serve broken rice whereas Phở Anh Dao serves regular rice. If you’re not used to the way they grill it, you might think the meat is a bit tough, but I like the way they make it. The meat is also well marinated and in larger portions.
Try to sit away from the door during the winter. They try to block it off with this large wooden wall thing, but it still gets drafty. Ask for tea because sometimes they might not bring it out for you if you ask for water. They also have a TV, which at the time was airing Food Network. After eating go next door to the Chinese supermarket to buy more food: D

Vietnamese is some of my favorite Asian cuisine due to the o-​natural nature & simplistic presentation w/​out gelatinous mess. Delighted to Unilocal this place in Kendall Park after an event. 10 or 12 small 4 tops with relaxing light yellowish walls but small slightly cramped feel. They do not speak English well.
Very limited menu (next to NO seafood), nothing extravagant what so ever your very typical Vietnamese menu. Watery brewed tea boo. Ginger chicken over rice was OK. Amazing spring rolls some of the best I’ve had. Pork with vermicelli & lettuce wrap was standard. The multiple ingredient phở seemed on the small side and just OK.
The service was average at best, we had to request and re-​request multiple items such as plates, water, tea and chop sticks. There’s next to no competition within a close radius, so they’ll exist.
I really wanted to be blown away, but there’s nothing special to rave about (I burped up garlic all night long) other then the spring roles. Cash only isn’t cool in this day & age. OK just doesn’t cut it in Central NJ with much better options just a lil north of here for significantly better Vietnamese in Edison, Sayreville & Marlboro/​Englishtown.