A mix of rice, rolls, noodle soups & veggie options served in a compact strip-mall spot since 1989.
Wendy L
Pho Cow Cali Express is located in Mira Mesa just a few blocks west of the 15 freeway on Mira Mesa Blvd. I’ve been here numerous times purely for nostalgia and because my family likes it here.
Sometimes you’ll see a line out the door so you’ll need to sign in. The wait time is typically quick unless you have a huge party.
My order usually consists of their Grilled BBQ Pork Vermicelli (Bun Thit Nuong) and their Egg Rolls (Cha Gio).
This restaurant has plenty of seats and the ambiance is very casual. There are TVs around and it’s mid-noisy inside.
The service is pretty quick given that the menu isn’t as large as other Vietnamese restaurants. There’s prices are also decent and competitive for the area. The servers are really just there to take orders, bring out orders, etc. – very casual dining.
One thing to note: The aroma will stick to your skin, hair, and clothing! And it’s pretty intense. It should definitely be your last stop of the day. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Overall, Pho Cow Cali dishes out simple Vietnamese food, where the service is quick and dining is casual.
… moreK K
We’ve been coming here for years. Quick service and the pho is good. Price however has gone up like everywhere else.
We the chicken vermicelli this time instead of shrimp. I still like the shrimp better.
… moreK
Food was excellent and it came quick. They have a process of doing things here quickly/efficiently. The type of place you stop by for a quick bite and head out. Floors were slippery. The atmosphere was really loud and not relaxing. You don’t get checked on so just stop someone walking by for help. I’m unsure if it was just the time we stopped by, but several times while eating someone would walk up with replacement bottles of condiments for you to help them swap out. Definitely something to do between tables and not something I enjoyed. They don’t take plates/trash as you eat. The table bussers are very loud when clearing the table. Since they’re quickly getting people in/out you hear it several times while eating which hurt my ears. The Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk was delicious. I would order here again but not dine in.
… moreShai-Shai
This place is hella poppin on a Monday. this is my go-to I just wanted to review how Pho Cow Cali beyond having the best pho, has the best vegetarian egg rollls ever ! hands down! No contest. 10/10. Don’t question it, just order them.
… moreVadym Shapran
Decent place with a sweet vibe. It can get packed, but it’s generally worth the wait since it’s one of the best pho spots in the area. The chicken pho and beef pho (Filet Mignon) really hit the spot, delicious balance of the meat and broth. Overall, great food, good service, and a welcoming atmosphere.
… moreWandering in Paradise
Delicious Vietnamese cuisine at Pho Cow Cali in Mira Mesa! We enjoyed the house special pho filet mignon and #3 Rare steak, flank, brisket, tendon & tripe pho. The service was friendly and the food came out quickly. We went at 11am and did not have to wait but when we left there was a line outside. Recommend!
… moreAuntie next door
filet mignon no soup noodle my fav. generous meat portion, no fat, slightly chewy, but its fine to me, ~$14 before tax. soup noodle was ok, similar to other viet restaurant. the viet coffee with condensated milk was very rich in flavor, be aware if u are sensitive to caffeine bc i stayed awake until 3am after that, still it was good coffee. i love coffee. ststaffwere very efficient and cooperated vy well, they drove the F1 cleansing cart to t
table immediately after customers leaving. expect ~15 mins waiting time during weekend lunch hour
… moresham kumar
Pho Cow Cali is absolutely worth the hype.
While they’re known for their pho (and the prices are amazing), I almost always go for the grilled rice plates—especially the chicken—and they never disappoint. The food is fresh, flavorful, and super satisfying without leaving you feeling heavy or gross afterward. I’ve waited in line for 25–35 minutes—even in the rain—and honestly, it’s always worth it.
The service is incredibly fast once you’re seated, and the inside of the restaurant is surprisingly nice and clean for how busy it gets.
One heads-up: they have a unique reservation system. You don’t just line up—you have to walk up, write your name on a waitlist, and then wait to be called. If you didn’t know that, you might be standing around for nothing. A small inconvenience, but worth mentioning so others don’t miss out.
This spot has easily become one of my go-to places for comfort food that actually feels good to eat. Highly recommend.
… moreHenry J
For just around $12.50, you can get a huge bowl of Pho with so much meat inside. Definitely the best Pho I ever had! Even their broken rice dishes were so delicious, try one of them for takeout like I did. It’s very much worth the wait. I’ll be coming back next time for sure.
… moreRCS
Great pho, super fast service, like 2 min fast. Could use a little more meat but the flavors were awesome. Rich, little fish saucy, but hits the spot.
… more