“ So glad that I found this pho restaurant last Sunday when I was feeling down with what seemed a cold. I saw so many people in line that thought this must be good! I have to say I only went there because it was the closest pho from where we were and we ordered 2 different soups, not really knowing what exactly was going to be in them. Huge sizes, so I had 2 more soups from the 'mother soup' at home. Very satisfying and large quantity of meat. Love it! Also, fast, efficient service. ”

“ Pho Duyen Mai came recommended on Reddit and also by one of my friends. So on a "cold" night in SD we decided to pay a visit for some pho. First off, it's in a strip mall right off the freeway, not your typical Convoy location. There is a parking lot but it fills up fast. The restaurant itself is pretty large and as you can usually come to expect, the service is quick and efficient, but don't come here expecting a lot of pleasantries. You come here for the food and it did not disappoint! The Food: Large diverse menu and the prices are decent. We ordered 2 appetizers and 2 pho which in hindsight was way too much but still tasted good the next day. - Bahn Xeo: I may be a little bit of a bahn xeo snob after my friend introduced me to it in the Bay Area, but this one was very good and large and had both pork & shrimp. - Surf & Turf Spring Rolls: Again, love surf & turf combo and these were pretty delicious. - Rare Steak & Flank Pho: Broth was rich and flavorful, large portion. - Seafood Pho: Impressed at how much seafood was in it and was pleasantly surprised that bok Choy was also in it. The broth was good but not as savory as the rare steak pho. I could've used a tad bit more broth but otherwise very solid. I definitely recommend and I will return when the pho craving hits one again. ”

“ Truly a blessing to live 5mins away from this place. This is my husband and I's go to Vietnamese restaurants after a cold tiring workday! Beware there is always a small line even on weekdays though. They have an electronic waitlist system at the front of the restaurant where you can put your name down upon your arrival, so you can stroll the plaza abit and won't miss your place in line! Defintiely worth the wait. My personal favorite is their Bo Kho beef noodle soup and Cuon Pork & Shrimp combo! So good! ”

“ Pho Duyen Mai's transformation from a small, under-the-radar Vietnamese restaurant to a bustling success is a testament to their exceptional cuisine and outstanding service. Their dedication to quality has truly earned them a reputation as one of the best.   Food: Every single item on the menu is a standout. My favorite appetizers are the pork paste rolls and the salt & pepper wings. For pho, my go-to is #33, tái chín. Their bún bò Huế, vermicelli bowls, and cơm tấm (broken rice plates) are also phenomenal. When I'm traveling and missing San Diego, I'm dreaming of eating here first thing! Their pho is excellent--piping hot, and perfect in every bite. Sipping their broth brings back memories of every bowl I've had here, and each time feels as special as the first. Their salt & pepper wings are hands down the best in San Diego. No competition. They also offer egg-foam Vietnamese iced coffee, which is fire. This style of drink is finally getting the attention it deserves, and, like everything else on their menu, Duyen Mai makes it an absolute knockout.   Service: The team here feels like family. I've been coming for at least eight years, and seeing the same friendly faces only adds to the experience. I have to shout out Terry--he's a pillar of this place! He always checks in on me and my friends (also regulars). One of my closest friends, who moved out of state, used to eat here with me, and Terry still asks about her every single time. His kindness is genuine, and his dedication to his work is admirable. People like Terry are rare, and his warmth makes dining here unforgettable. The other servers are just as wonderful, and in nearly a decade, my order has never been wrong.   Ambiance: The restaurant is always clean, even when it's busy. They've implemented an electronic queue system to manage the crowd, but even when it's packed, you'll be seated quickly. The tables turn fast, and your food arrives almost immediately. Whether I come alone or with a group of ten, the service is always impeccable.   Location and parking: Parking has never been an issue. There are plenty of spots in the lot, but here's a tip: park behind the restaurant, where there are always open spaces.   Pho Duyen Mai has my heart. After nearly a decade of dining here, no other restaurant has given me the same feeling of comfort for my favorite cuisine and meal. This place will always be why San Diego feels like home.   5/5 ”

“ Our quest to find outstanding Pho brought us to Pho Duyen Mai. Without a doubt the best pho we have experienced in Southern California. We are simple and therefore gravitate to our default which is Pho Ga. This soup is outstanding. The broth is bursting with flavor although does not overtake the other ingredients. Chicken is plentiful, no skin, fat or gristle to contend with and the noodles are perfectly prepared to round out the best bowl of soup in Southern California. We started with shrimp spring rolls but my picture did not come out. The rolls were indeed outstanding and the peanut sauce was to die for. Service is efficient and friendly and price is very reasonable for the quality of food we received. Pho Duyen Mai is worth the trip. World class Pho and outstanding service equates to 5 stars in this review. ”

“ TL;DR: Noodles and apps were good. Probably going to try to Banh Xeo next time - drooled each time a plate passed our table Ordered: - #10 Mixed order rolls (3/5): Both the shrimp and the pork paste were good but definitely opting for only pork next time if the table wants it. Happy to skip and grub harder on the entree. more hype than value - #50 Vermicelli Egg rolls and Pork (4/5): Juicy pork but the egg rolls were overhyped. Would've liked more flavor/funk in the fish sauce as well - #3 Bun Rieu (5/5): normally I get the Bun bo hue but felt like going a little lighter and very glad I did! Would absolutely get this again - super deep broth and loved the proteins throughout the noodles. The chew to the noodles were perfect! Service was a bit of a hassle - brought out the wrong dishes several times and forgot beverages until the very end after multiple reminders. Not a deal breaker but just a heads up going in Be prepared for a line especially around standard meal hours but it's worth it for sure Cheers, Pho Duyen Mai! ”

“ The place is located in a small plaza, it's decent size. The service is good. The food is ok for me. The stir fried beef vermicelli I ordered, too much oil. The sauce for the spring rolls is kinda salty. The waiter couldn't answer the question that I was looking for about the food and the recommendations. ”

“ This very well might be my new favorite Vietnamese spot in central San Diego! Even though my dad and I met up here for lunch with the intention of getting banh mi, we were absolutely blasted in the face by the pho broth aromas, so we couldn't resist getting pho! It even felt special that we each got our own plate of toppings, so we didn't have to fight over the jalapeños Honorable mention (not pictured) ~ fresh combo spring rolls, with one of the best peanut sauces I've ever had Even though we were stuffed, we had to try the egg cream iced coffee, and an iced coffee with boba! Absolutely phenomenal, bursting with flavor. Great service, craveable, cute and simple interior with plenty of seating. Highly recommend!! ”

“ Really great service by Lu (?). I stopped by for a quick early dinner after the gym and thank goodness the restaurant had plenty of a/c. There was plenty of seating in the large restaurant. I've eaten here before when it was very busy. This visit I tried: Pork Paste Rolls $6: - $3 per roll seemed ok. I requested the rolls without the crunchy fried rice paper inside. The rolls are made fresh to order and served with a side of their warm dipping sauce. It was a nice appetizer HOUSE SPECIAL COMBO $14.50: - Grilled pork, chicken, shrimp paste in bean curd skin, pork rinds and steamed meatloaf . The pork and chicken tasted dry. The shrimp paste in bean curd was best part as it was freshly fried and delicious. Pork rinds were a good portion and enjoyable Lu would stop by and make sure all was good. You pay up front once you're done so it's a quick process. I'd be back if I was in the area. ”