Pho 1 Waltham

Visited for the first time recently with a friend who had been there before the renovation, and she mentioned there has been an improvement overall, both in terms of the space itself and the food. The interior is now modern, clean, and much more polished than what you might expect from the outside. It creates a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. Service was efficient, and all dishes arrived surprisingly quickly. We ordered fried rice, scallion pancake, gyoza, and two versions of the double-fried chicken (spicy and garlic). The spicy chicken was flavorful but closer to a medium spice level rather than truly spicy (I’m used to eating quite spicy food, including Korean dishes like strong kimchi jjigae, so I have a good reference point). The garlic version leaned slightly sweet, and the garlic flavor itself was more subtle than expected. The texture was very crispy, as expected from double-fried chicken, although not especially juicy. Those specifically looking for juicier fried chicken may want to try their Korean fried chicken instead. The scallion pancake was good, albeit more fried and dense than the lighter, flakier style some might expect. The gyoza were very enjoyable, with good flavor and texture. The taro smoothie was excellent: rich, well-balanced, and one of the highlights of the meal. They also appear to offer a full range of bubble tea drinks. Value was a strong point. The total came to around $50–60 for two people, including drinks (a Saporo beer in addition), and one of us is a big eater (me 😳), and we still had leftovers. Given the portion sizes, quality, and setting, the pricing felt very reasonable. Overall, a very solid experience. While a few flavor profiles could be slightly more pronounced, the atmosphere, efficiency, and value make this a place worth returning to. It’s also nice to see how much effort they’ve put into improving the space. Well done 👏

super yummy !!’nnnn their menu is a bit too big for each dish to have the same quality, and the pho was ok. however, the vermicelli noodle dishes were reallllyyyy delicious !

The pho was fine; nothing special but solid. I got the pho dac biet and got lots of tripe and not much else. We tried the Korean fried chicken as well and it was forgettable - the sauce was not glazed onto the chicken very well and the texture was very chewy. Overall this is a serviceable option if you’re feeling pho but nothing more

The chicken wings are the best in Boston… I tired pho for the first time here. Very good food!

The food selection here was amazing, I had a hard time choosing what to order! I ended up getting a Vietnamese iced coffee, an appetizer of takoyaki, and the Dac Biet pho. Everything tasted really good, I need to come back here!!

Pho 1 Waltham serves decent pho and bun bo hue. The broth is good, though not exceptional. Service was attentive, and the fried tofu appetizer was just okay. Overall, it’s a solid spot for pho/asian food in Waltham, and I’d visit again. REVISIT: Dropping one star. I revisited Pho 1 Waltham this week and noticed a nice makeover, but unfortunately that’s where the positives end. I ordered the pho again, and it was SO diluted... virtually no flavor. It felt like I was eating plain noodle soup with only a faint hint of pho. Considering the name of the restaurant literally includes "pho," it really should be their strong point, and the broth is the foundation of any good pho. The pad see ew was good, but the pho has declined significantly since my visit earlier this year.... disappointed....

Been going to this restaurant for close to 10 years I know there’s been new ownership over the past year or so. Unfortunately, the quality of food has declined to the point where I will not go back. I can tell the difference between real pho Even the appetizers were not good quality. We got the shrimp fresh spring roll and there were no shrimp in it none.