Mama Pho

Reviews

• Gabe Q.

  star star star star star_border 31 May 2026

  Had dinner tonight with family, and we were in the mood for Vietnamese food (pho). The place from the outside looked nice, and inviting. We were greeted within the time we opened the door and was seated promptly.
  
  The ambience and decor was very interesting, but not many people were in the restaurant. When we opened the menu, we did noticed that the prices were a bit more expensive, however the quality was there. After we ordered our food, service went a bit slower getting drinks and refills.
  
  My overall impression of of dining experience was good (food wise) but the service needs more attention to detail.

• Ryan O.

  star star star star star_border 25 May 2026

  Though I typically associate pho with hole-in-the-wall, strip-mall locations, Pho Saigon on Kapi'olani Boulevard proved that pho can also work in a more upscale venue. Mama Pho takes it a step further by eschewing the mall food court for a dedicated, top-floor restaurant space alongside other casual dining mainstays. It's a huge space, bright and purple-themed, and was a nice change of pace on a busy day at the Ala Moana Shopping Center.
  
  The signature special pho was great. Not huge but not unsatisfying, with all the combination meats you'd expect. They weren't skimpy with the tripe, either, which is a plus for me.
  
  The bahn mi was decent, but definitely a smaller sandwich with a low meat-to-bread ratio.
  
  It seemed like a sharp operation overall, with servers all wired up and attentive (I liked the giant water glasses).
  
  Will definitely be back!

• Michelle W.

  star star star star star 23 May 2026

  I've only been twice so far, & had Summer Rolls, a Rolled Ham Sandwich & Pho.
  The ambiance is nice; it's spacious & clean since it's new.
  Service is very good, friendly & kind.
  The food is good; I think you could order anything on the menu & not be disappointed. It was probably the best Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich) I've ever had! Warm, perfectly toasted bread w/fresh ingredients.
  I think this will be my go-to for Vietnamese food; it's definitely my favorite for Vietnamese.

• Holland M.

  star star star star star_border 19 May 2026

  I love Vietnamese food. There is something about the fresh ingredients, shrimp, and spicy peppers that make Vietnamese food among my top food choices.
  
  Mama Ph is definitely on the pricier side compared to other hole in the wall Vietnamese places. It could be attributed to their Ala Moana location being incredibly expensive. At it shows in the price of their food.
  
  A Vermicelli Bowl with shrimp and Lumpia will run you about $17. A Vermicelli Bowl with Lemongrass chicken and Lumpia will be around $15.
  
  Their food is a bit lackluster. The flavor of their dishes are ok, it's not bad, but not enough to overlook their prices . There are definitely other places you can get your Vietnamese fix for a lot less.
  
  When my group arrived it was spacious, quiet, and had a very good atmosphere. The waitress was very attentive to our needs, and it was very pleasant.

• Tuyen J.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 14 May 2026

  The ambiance of this place was a five star. The decor, the space, the staff, all deserves a two thumbs up. The food on the other hand. I would say was catered more towards those that really don't know what Vietnamese food tastes like.  I asked my waiter what was the most popular dish served in the restaurant?  She pointed to #51 the spicy beef and vermicelli soup.  I ordered what she recommended. I added in the veggie that they brought out. Mixed it in with my noodles an broth and dug in. Something was missing. So I took a sip of the soup. It was spicy but there was no flavor to it. The iconic bun bo hue flavor was no where to be found. I was going to add in some fish sauce to give it a boost of flavor but fish sauce was not one of the condiments on the table. I ate enough to manage and left.