These 10 Washington Pho Shops Still Serve Bowls Big Enough to Fog Your Glasses for Under $15
A few Washington pho shops still slide a free cream puff onto your table, right next to the soup. Yes, dessert with your noodles, and nobody seems to think it’s strange.
I love that detail. It feels like a small thank-you from a kitchen that already gives you a bowl big enough to steam up your glasses.
Those bowls are the real story here. Across Washington, from Puget Sound strip malls to quiet corners of Spokane and the Tri-Cities, broth simmers for hours and still lands at a price that won’t hurt your wallet.
Some spots offer four sizes, and the largest might just test your stamina.
I can’t think of a better rainy-day plan than chasing one of these down. Fragrant broth, a pile of basil and sprouts, and maybe a sweet surprise at the end.
So which one is closest to you?
1. Pho Than Brothers
Four bowl sizes on one menu means you get to decide exactly how heroic you feel today. Small appetite or bottomless one, the Wallingford branch of this Seattle-born chain has a bowl with your name on it.
The headliner is the beef pho with round steak and brisket. You load it up yourself with jalapenos, lime, bean sprouts, and basil leaves, so the final flavor is your call.
Expect a clear, savory broth, lean meat, and noodles cooked just right. Service moves fast, which makes it a smart pick for a solo lunch or a quick dinner before a show nearby.
Then comes the famous part. A signature cream puff is part of the Than Brothers tradition, and it’s a sweet little finish after a salty, herby bowl.
Vegetarians aren’t stuck with a single sad option here. The kitchen runs a full vegetarian menu, so mixed groups can order without anyone feeling left out.
The room keeps things basic and casual, and that’s part of the charm. You come for soup, you get soup, and you leave happy and a little warmer inside.
Doors open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM, and reservations aren’t taken. Street parking is free but can be tricky, so a short stroll might be part of the deal.
Address: 2309 N 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103
2. Than Brothers Restaurants
Pho for breakfast at 9:30 in the morning? Along Highway 99 in Edmonds, that’s not a wild idea, it’s a schedule.
This Than Brothers location opens earlier than many pho shops. That makes it a handy stop for a weekend brunch or a hot meal before errands.
The formula will feel familiar if you know the chain. You get a flavorful broth, a generous bowl, quick service, and that little cream puff as a bonus at the end.
Small bowls here run comfortably under the fifteen-dollar mark. Portions are still filling, so plenty of folks never need to size up.
Vegan and vegetarian diners get full menus of their own. High chairs are on hand too, which helps when the youngest pho fan in the family tags along.
The atmosphere leans casual and quiet, a nice change from noisy lunch spots. Free lot parking is usually easy, so you won’t spend ten minutes circling the block.
Plan around the calendar, though. The shop closes on Wednesdays and wraps up at 6 PM on Sundays, with 8 PM closing on other open days.
Reservations are accepted, which is unusual for a pho shop this size. Dogs are welcome outside, so your four-legged buddy can wait nearby while you slurp.
Address: 22618 Hwy 99, Edmonds, WA 98026
3. Le’s Pho Restaurant
Hole-in-the-wall energy and huge bowls make a winning pair near the Everett Mall. Le’s keeps its look simple and dated, and nobody comes here for the decor anyway.
The real draw is the soup. Bowls arrive piping hot with a very generous amount of noodles and meat, so you may want a takeout box ready.
Free cream puffs show up here too, a sweet habit shared with a few other Puget Sound shops. It’s a fun little reward after you’ve worked through a mountain of noodles.
Plant-based eaters can go straight for the Pho Chay. The veggie pho is vegan, and the kitchen keeps a full vegetarian menu if you want more choices.
Families will appreciate the kids’ menu and high chairs. Tea lovers have something to explore too, since the tea selection gets plenty of attention.
Hours are refreshingly steady at 10 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week. Weekend afternoons tend to be the busiest stretch, while weekday mornings stay calmer.
You’ll find counter service and table service, plus delivery and takeout. The free parking lot usually has room, which is a gift near a busy mall corridor.
Address: 500 SE Everett Mall Way a1, Everett, WA 98208
4. Pho King
Yes, the name makes people grin, and the kitchen backs up the joke with serious broth. Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood has a pho shop that’s easy to remember and hard to forget.
Even the small bowl is known for being very filling. That’s good news if you’re hungry but watching what you spend.
Brisket pho is a menu highlight, along with the Pho King Special Pho. The chicken version comes with white meat and plenty of veggies for a lighter feel.
Not in a soup mood? Lemongrass chicken, the Pho King Special Plate, Vietnamese sandwiches, and fresh spring rolls all fill out the menu.
Vegans get real options, including a vegan vegetarian pho and Phnom Penh noodles. A full vegetarian menu means nobody has to settle for a side salad.
Wash it down with bubble tea, since the tea lineup is a strong suit. Free Wi-Fi makes it easy to linger over a solo lunch.
The space is casual and no-frills, and takeout is a popular move. Delivery and dine-in work too, depending on your mood.
Hours run Monday through Saturday, 10:30 AM to 8 PM, with Sundays off. Parking can take a little hunting, so give yourself a few extra minutes.
Address: 1020 M.L.K. Jr Way, Tacoma, WA 98405
5. Pho Bac Cafe
Bring cash, because this Tacoma storefront keeps things old-school. That’s one small step for you and one big bowl of soup in return.
The shop sits in the Courtney Building on South 11th Street. It’s simple inside, quiet, and focused on the noodle soups that give the place its name.
Broth is the star here. It has a clean taste with a nice touch of richness, the kind that keeps your spoon moving.
The Combo Beef Noodle is a menu highlight. Expect tender slices of beef and a large portion with plenty of meat in the bowl.
Want a little crunch on the side? The vegetarian spring rolls make a fresh, easy starter while you wait.
Gluten-free noodles are available, which is a welcome detail for diners who need them. The grilled pork bowl is another hearty choice if you want a break from soup.
Hours are generous, from 9 AM to 7 PM daily. That early start makes a mid-morning pho run totally doable.
Counter service and table service both work here, and takeout is easy. Parking nearby can get tight, so a short walk may be part of the plan.
Address: COURTNEY BUILDING, 1115 S 11th St, Tacoma, WA 98405
6. Pho Lynn Vietnamese Restaurant
A fish tank, a fireplace, and views of wooded hills make this one of the more scenic pho stops on the list. Olympia knows how to set a mood around a bowl of noodles.
The menu goes wide, from raw beef pho to fatty flank pho. Number 20, the brisket pho, is a highlight worth circling.
Even the small combo pho comes with a generous amount of well-cooked meat. The large bowl is big enough that taking half home is a real strategy.
Plant-based diners can order a vegan pho with vegetables. Full vegan and vegetarian menus give you more room to explore.
Bubble tea and vegan spring rolls round out the order nicely. The tea selection is one of the shop’s strong points.
Kids are welcome, with high chairs and a kids’ menu ready to go. The fish tank alone might buy you a few quiet minutes with little ones.
Service moves quickly, so it works for a lunch break. Outdoor seating is also available when the Washington weather plays nice.
Check the days before you head over. It’s closed Tuesdays, open 10 AM to 7:30 PM most days, and closes at 7 PM on Sundays.
Address: 1600 Cooper Point Rd SW #620, Olympia, WA 98502
7. Ruby Pho & Deli
Soup and a sandwich, Vietnamese style, is the whole idea behind this Vancouver favorite. Banh mi shares the spotlight with pho here, and both deserve it.
The pho comes fresh and filling, with an aromatic broth and Thai basil on the side. Portions are very large, so hungry diners get their money’s worth.
Shrimp pho, called Pho Tom, is a menu highlight. It’s a nice switch if beef bowls are your usual habit.
Then there’s the Special Sandwich, Banh Mi Dac Biet. Pair half a sandwich with a bowl and you’ve got a feast for a modest price.
Salt and pepper squid and vegetarian salad rolls make great extras for the table. A full vegetarian menu keeps everyone in the group happy.
The dining room is clean and calm, with relaxing music in the background. Friendly, fast service makes it easy to slip in for a quick bite.
Doors open at 10 AM and close at 8:30 PM, seven days a week. Weekend evenings are the busiest, while weekday mornings stay pretty mellow.
Reservations are accepted, and the free parking lot usually has space. Delivery and takeout are options if you’d rather slurp on your own couch.
Address: 12004 NE Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98682
8. Phở Lao Laan Xang
Laotian cooking brings a fresh twist to the pho scene in the Tri-Cities. This clean Kennewick eatery serves pho alongside a mix of Southeast Asian dishes you won’t spot everywhere.
Size up only if you mean it. The regular bowl is big, and the extra large is downright gargantuan.
The broth leans robust and zesty, with tender beef and fresh vegetables. Beef noodle soup with chili oil is a highlight for anyone who likes a little kick.
Combination pho, chicken pho, and classic beef pho give you plenty of directions. The curry has a following of its own, too.
Vegan fresh spring rolls make a light opener before the main event. Full vegan and vegetarian menus mean plant-based eaters can order freely.
From the outside, it’s a strip mall storefront that’s easy to miss. Inside, the room is casual, quiet, and spotless, a calm spot for a weeknight dinner.
Service is quick, and the tea selection is worth a look. Dine-in and takeout are available, but delivery isn’t part of the plan.
Hours run Tuesday through Sunday, 11 AM to 8:30 PM, and Mondays are off. Free parking is usually plentiful in eastern Washington fashion.
Address: 5610 W Clearwater Ave # B, Kennewick, WA 99336
9. Pho Thy
Family recipes passed down through generations are the backbone of this Spokane kitchen. The owners say so proudly, and their pho is homemade from the ground up.
You might remember this spot by an older name. It was formerly known as Three Sisters Food ToGo before becoming Pho Thy.
Bowls arrive hot and full of flavor, with generous meat. For many Spokane diners, it lands near the top of the local pho conversation.
Craving something spicier? Bun Bo Hue is a menu highlight, a bold noodle soup with its own personality.
Com Bo Nuong and potstickers give you options beyond the bowl. A full vegetarian menu covers plant-based cravings, too.
Save room for a drink, because the brown sugar boba milk tea is a favorite. It’s a sweet, chewy finish after a savory meal.
Breakfast and brunch are on the table here, with doors opening at 10 AM. The casual room is also handy for catching a game while you eat.
It closes Tuesdays and wraps up at 6 PM on Sundays. Reservations are accepted, parking is easy, and dogs are welcome outside.
Address: 4003 E Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA 99202
10. Vien Dong Restaurant | Vietnamese • Chinese
Old-fashioned in the best way, this family-owned Spokane institution has been feeding the neighborhood homestyle Vietnamese and Chinese dishes. One menu, two cuisines, and a lot of happy indecision.
Beef pho comes in generous portions with plenty of flavor. You can adjust the spice level, so timid tongues and heat seekers both win.
Not a beef fan? Pho Khong, a vegan noodle option, is a menu highlight.
The lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowl, Bun Thit Ga Nuong, is another big draw. Stir-fried noodles with vegetables give plant-based diners one more hearty pick.
Drinks get attention too. Vietnamese coffee and Thai tea are both standouts, and the tea selection runs deep.
The dining room is clean, well-lit, and quiet. Friendly staff and free Wi-Fi make it easy to settle into a long lunch.
Catering is available if your next gathering needs a pho-powered menu. Delivery and takeout cover nights when leaving the house sounds like too much.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday until 6 PM. Mondays are off, and on-site parking is usually plentiful on this side of Washington.
Address: 3435 E Trent Ave, Spokane, WA 99202