Wen Liu
TL;DR – Great food and a super unique vibe, but the service was rough on my visit. If the kitchen keeps doing its thing and the service smooths out, this could easily be a regular spot when I’m in town.
I stopped by Pho Mekha, and the first thing you notice is the decor. You can tell the owner put a lot of thought into it—there’s a mix of Buddha statues, a motorcycle, photos of American Indians, pictures of Astoria, and more, all over the walls. It’s eclectic in a way that actually works, and definitely not your typical pho restaurant. For atmosphere and environment, I’d give it a solid 4/5.
When I arrived, the place was about 70% full, but I was seated almost immediately, which was nice. Unfortunately, the service went downhill from there. They seemed understaffed, and while I was able to place my order within 5–10 minutes, the waitress was noticeably impatient. She wouldn’t let me order an appetizer first and insisted on doing everything at once. Mid-order, she walked away to grab her tablet without saying a word, which was… awkward. Because of that, the service gets a 2/5.
Parking is easy enough—street parking with plenty of spaces around, so no complaints there.
Now, the food absolutely saved the experience. I ordered the caramelized chicken wings and the bun bo hue. The wings had a strong, mouthwatering fish-sauce aroma but weren’t overly salty. The bun bo hue was citrusy, spicy, and packed with flavor. Neither dish disappointed, and honestly, the food deserves a 5/5.
Overall, I’m giving Pho Mekha a 4/5, mainly because the food and atmosphere are strong enough to outweigh the service issues. I’m hoping the service hiccup was just a one-time thing—if it improves, this place would be an easy recommendation.
… moreJo Creyf
Great food.
Love their Pho.
Sadly not that many vegetarian/pescatarian options. Most dishes are with beef, pork or chicken. There are a few options with shrimp or tofu.
We’ll definitely come back!
Beautifully decorated restaurant and friendly staff.
… moreJess Fowler
Very yummy! I got pho and my husband got the carmelized chicken wings with some potstickers. The chicken wings were our surprising favorite, although as all the other reviews state you can’t go wrong with the pho. Also tried the salted kumquat drink which was delightful. Overall very pleased!
… moreSarah M
This is the best Vietnamese food I’ve had outside of Vietnam! We are visiting and only in town for the day or I would love to go back again. We had the vegetarian Bánh Tầm Thịt Nướng and the Bún Bò Huế. Both were delicious. Service and atmosphere were great too. Highly recommend!
… moreSarah vroom
such an amazing addition to Astoria’s food scene. i discovered my love of pho about 10 years ago and for a long time i wanted good pho somewhere close. and oh my god this stuff hits the mark, so filled with flavor and is always the perfect cure to any regular life ailment. and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. i cannot recommend this place enough !
… moreJessica Sandstrom
Came here off a friends recommendation and wow, what an incredible beef pho broth. I got the basic beef broth with tenderloin and went back 2 days later to get it again. This is a perfect beef pho in my opinion. The broth is so flavorful, the beef is tender, it is so good. The only other place who compares for a classic pho broth is Mekha on sandy in Portland, and then I realized they are sister restaurants when checking out and talking with the server. I haven’t had anything else here yet but will go back for more.
… moreJAMES LUTZ
Perfect spot for a nice meal to warm you up! The service was quick, efficient, and kind. The portions were great, and the food was better! Definitely a spot to add to the list!
… moreLiza Curran-Sejkora
Fresh, flavorful food. Cute atmosphere. Amazing service. I had a curry, my dad had a shrimp dish, and my hubs had beef phó. They have a great beer and wine selection as well. We will definitely be back soon!
… moreMorgan Thomas
Truly out of this world quality. Astoria is already so much fun and a unique energy but Pho Mekha sends it over the edge. Unbelievably cool vibe and decor, astonishingly delicious food, reasonable prices and just a great experience! I can’t believe this place doesn’t have more reviews and it’s averaged at 4.5 stars. This place is an unequivocal 5!
… moreDMG
What a fantastic addition to the Astoria culinary scene! My intent was to go in and try the Pho Ga, but I ended up ordering their Grilled Chicken Vermicelli Bowl instead. I was not disappointed! It was a fantastic choice. The bowl arrived with a HUGE portion of vermicelli rice noodles packed with expertly julienne carrots and cucumbers, bean sprouts, mint, and cilantro. The grilled chicken was plentiful AND delicious! The grilled flavor was perfect. An amazing sweet sauce tied all the flavors together making my taste buds explode with delight! My friend got the Tofu bowl and I could tell she thoroughly enjoyed it. We also ordered some Fresh Spring rolls with chicken. They were packed with vermicelli noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts and basil, accompanied with a thick peanut sauce. They were very tasty, with the peanut sauce tying all the flavors together nicely.
I can’t wait to go back and try the Pho. I can only imagine how tasty it will be! Such a great addition to the restaurant scene in Astoria. Definite two thumbs up!
Some reviews are making comments about the prices being too high. Honestly, everything is priced too high! They are no higher than any other restaurant in the area. Small businesses are struggling, and the consumer is absorbing the ridiculous taxes and product costs. (Remember this when you vote, cause that’s who’s to blame!) ♀️
Go check them out.
Update:
One of my top 3 favorite places in Astoria! I’ve yet to have a bad meal! Just went in the other day and had the Bánh Tầm Bì Thịt Nướng. Number 20 with pork. Oh. My. Word. I thought the Turmeric Rice Bowl was my favorite, but I think I’ve got to change it to this flavorful mouthful of deliciousness!! But I also have to add that their vermicelli noodle bowls and Pho Ga are mouth watering as well. Seriously. Not one bad meal!
Go! Don’t wait. Just go and experience a tastebud party!!
Same great and friendly service, as well!
… more