by Bulldog
Doesn't really apply to Pho 777, but its successor, New Saigon, has closed too. The location has a Mexican restaurant in it now.
- 1541 6th Ave, River Bend, Des Moines, IA 50314
- (515) 244-7999
- Restaurant, Vietnamese
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Average Rating
(9 ratings)
by Bulldog
Yes, it's true -- Pho 777 has closed. I have yet to try the New Saigon that opened in its location. Big shoes to fill.
by mh
Some of the best Pho I've had in Des Moines. If you're going to eat here, do it ASAP -- they'll be closed 3/23/2007 and there will be a change of ownership. It might be a little slow due to a lack of employees, but make sure you get a last bowl of pho or some noodle dishes while you still can.
by Kemlyn Tan Bappe
I love the Laap Nur, Egg Roll & Grilled Pork Bun, Pad Thai and of course, the Pho broth is full-bodied. This is my favorite Vietnamese Restaurant in town. Nga is a warm person and an accomplished chef. She has many specialties that are not the menu, do ask her about it.
by Dana
Great food! The restaurant has one cook however she is very fast in getting meals prepared. She makes everything from scratch - even her famous crab ragoons. The food is awesome and they cater to any dietary need.
by Courtney
The pho here is awesome. I'm not a regular but even when I do come here, the service is great! Only having one cook the service may be slow but, it's worth the wait. The food is excellent and taste like no other. Stop by anytime.
by Bulldog
I first enjoyed pho at Pho75 in Arlington, VA, which I understand is the first place ito serve it in the US. So I have some gustatory provenance to allow me to say that the pho at Pho 777 is by far the best I have ever had, bar none! The broth is the key -- and Mrs. Tran's is so beefy and delectable, but not oily or greasy. The spring roll is superb as well. It is served ice-cold with an exquisite satay-style peanut sauce.
I look forward to eating there many tines to come.
by CARL (6'8'') BURTON
Simply THE BEST Pho in Des Moines!! When it comes to food this good, NEVER judge a book by it's cover... you won't be sorry you stopped by the 777. A Dong has NOTHING on the food here. And yes... the spring rolls are as big as a burrito, and be sure to ask for the Mrs. Tran special spring roll sauce!
by Cedric
It is almost hard to try every Vietnamese place in town, I keep finding more. This place is definitely worth checking out, though. When "pho" is in the name, you have to expect some good noodle soup, and Pho 777 will not disappoint. They have an extensive pho section on their menu, and the specialty actually has tendon and tripe in it! For those of you (and me) who might not be that adventerous, there is a regular sliced beef and meatball soup, as well as a chicken pho and a seafood pho with a few variations. The appetizers are awesome, too. Unlike A Dong, the spring rolls here actually have mint in them.
We tried Pho 777 to get a break from our standard pho visits to A Dong. You may not have heard of Pho 777 which is probably because they just opened their doors in 2004, aren't downtown or on the west side, and haven't gotten much attention from local media. Hopefully we can help change that.
When we first entered Pho 777 we were a bit skeptical. We were literally the only customers in the entire place at 7pm on a Friday night. The decor was also sketchy; it looked like an 80s dance hall or bar. Complete with pool tables, big speakers on the wall, and of course, the 777 slot machine.
We soon found out that Pho 777 is a family business, ran by Nga Tran, her husband, and kids. Nga does all the cooking herself while her husband and children wait on the customers and/or help in the kitchen.
Being that she is the only cook, service can be a little slow, but just relax and enjoy the "homemade" food. In fact, when she's not busy, she makes sure to come out and visit with customers and make sure everything is ok. Pho 777 offers a truly welcoming atmosphere.
We started our meal off with some spring rolls which were huge - it was seriously like eating a burrito. We were also surprised to find that mint leaves were in the rolls - a nice, fresh touch. In addition to the rolls, they have a great variety of pho - much more than other places in the area. The bowls we had were very flavorful.
By the time we finished our meal, more customers had shown up and Nga was in the dining room visiting. I went to pay with my debit card to find that their credit card machine was not working. I asked if there was a nearby ATM and Nga replied, "Oh that's ok! Just write your name down on your receipt and come back again! You can pay then." I was amazed. We offered to mail a check and she quickly answered back that she was more concerned about seeing us again than our money.
When in Pho 777 you really feel like you're a guest, not just a customer. The service can be a bit slow, but it's easy to get over if you just relax and enjoy the company; not to mention, the food is definitely worth it - and you feel good about helping out a great family. The only thing I'd like to see is more customers, then a slight makeover.
