The call
Start with pho, and check the restaurant’s current menu before you go.
What to order
- Pho
Best for
- Quick pho in PB
Vietnamese
Pho Sao Bien
Roger rated this 4 stars, calling it decent pho with quick service and, at the time, the only spot in PB for it.
Source-backed notes
Visit history
2008-12-03day precision · source explicit
“Decent pho, quick service and only spot in PB for some bomb stuff :P”
Roger called it decent pho with quick service and, at the time, the only spot in PB for it. (From an unpublished Yelp draft review, never posted publicly.)
Stay in the neighborhood
More in Pacific Beach.
RecommendedPrice varies
Pacific Beach
Sushi Ota
JapaneseSushi
A Pacific Beach sushi counter Roger calls the most authentic Japanese spot in town, praised for reservation-only demand, sushi-bar seating with the chefs, and standout sashimi, chirashi and uni.
- From the order notes
- Chirashi bowl · Sashimi · Uni · Sweet shrimp (grilled head after)
- Go for
- Sitting at the sushi bar · High-end sushi worth booking ahead
Latest recorded visit2014-03-10
RecommendedPrice varies
Pacific Beach
Kono's Cafe
American
Roger rated this 4 stars, admitting he'd passed this Garnet Avenue breakfast spot for years -- by car, skateboard, and on foot -- always wondering about the long line, before finally trying it for breakfast.
- From the order notes
- Breakfast
- Go for
- Classic Pacific Beach breakfast
Latest recorded visit2010-01-04
MixedPrice varies
Pacific Beach
Santana's Mexican Food
Mexican
Roger tried the Pacific Beach location of this SoCal taco shop chain for the first time, waiting in a long, bar-crowd-heavy line; his carne asada fries were decent but too soggy, with bland meat that didn't measure up to the chain's El Cajon location.
- From the order notes
- Carne asada fries
- Go for
- A late-night bite near the PB bars
Latest recorded visit2008-09-17
Keep exploring
More like this.
Browse the Vietnamese page, or continue to another place with a matching cuisine.
Roger’s pickPrice varies
Kearny Mesa
Mien Trung Restaurant
Vietnamese
One of Roger’s favorite spots for bún bò Huế and bún riêu, with seafood dishes he says you rarely see at typical pho houses. Cash only.
- From the order notes
- Bún bò Huế with everything · Bún riêu · The clam dish with shrimp crisps
- Go for
- Getting past the default pho order · A hot, spicy bowl
Latest recorded visit2019-08-25
ClosedPrice varies
Hillcrest
Saigon on Fifth
Vietnamese
A longtime late-night default that lost Roger after new management: a bland $13 noodle soup and frozen fish sold as sea bass.
- From the order notes
- Go for
- A cautionary tale
Latest recorded visit2018 · approx.