Pho Exeter Review: Vietnamese Comfort Food in the Guildhall

In the middle of Exeter’s Guildhall Shopping Centre, just off Queen Street, Pho Exeter brings the flavours of Vietnam to the city centre.

The last time we had Pho, it was for late lunch in London, over at Cafe East Pho in Holborn.

We visited Pho for dinner over the Easter bank holiday weekend, and the restaurant was understandably busy. Even so, we only had to wait about a minute before being shown to our table.

Inside, Pho Exeter has a dark, atmospheric interior with graffiti-style artwork, hanging lanterns, neon lighting and rustic wooden furniture. It feels modern and lively while still carrying a touch of Vietnamese street food style.

Quick Service and a Welcoming Atmosphere

Once seated, we ordered a portion of prawn crackers to nibble on while we waited. They arrived quickly with a side of sweet chilli sauce and disappeared just as quickly too.

We skipped the starters and went straight for the main event: pho.

The service was friendly and attentive throughout. Our server was a law student studying in Exeter, and we ended up having a lovely chat while she looked after us. Despite the restaurant being busy, the food arrived at roughly the same time for all three of us, which meant nobody was left waiting.

What is Pho?

Pho, pronounced “fuh”, is Vietnam’s national dish: a fragrant rice noodle soup served with fresh herbs and condiments that you add to taste.

At Pho Exeter, each bowl comes with a plate of herbs and garnishes, allowing you to customise the flavour. On the table you will also find:

• Chilli flakes in chilli oil
• Chopped chilli and garlic in vinegar
• Sriracha sauce
• Fish sauce

Adding a little of each is part of the experience and lets you tailor the broth to your own taste.

Beef Brisket Pho

We ordered the Beef Brisket Pho (Phở chín), made with slow-cooked beef brisket in Pho’s signature broth.

The broth was rich and deeply aromatic without feeling heavy. The brisket was tender and full of flavour, and the flat rice noodles had the perfect soft but slightly chewy texture.

With a handful of herbs and bean sprouts stirred in, it became exactly the kind of comforting bowl you want on a cool evening.

Beef Combo Pho

Our second bowl was the Beef Combo Pho (Phở bò combo), which includes steak, brisket and meatballs.

This was perhaps the most satisfying of the three dishes. The rare steak softened gently in the hot broth, the brisket added richness and the meatballs brought a different texture and flavour.

Again, the broth was excellent: savoury, fragrant and well balanced. Pho clearly takes its stock seriously, and it shows.

Crab Noodle Soup

For something different, we also ordered one of the house specials: Crab Noodle Soup (Bún riêu).

This Hà Nội-style dish comes with vermicelli noodles in a tomato and crab broth, topped with wafer-thin steak and tofu.

The flavour was very different from the classic pho bowls. The broth had a richer tomato base and a more pronounced seafood flavour. The steak and tofu worked well in the soup, and it was interesting to try something less familiar.

Our only criticism is that the broth was a little too salty for our taste, and the portion of vermicelli noodles felt noticeably smaller than the generous amount of flat rice noodles in the two pho dishes. It left us wishing for just a little more substance in the bowl.

Dessert

Although we had come mainly for the pho, we could not resist finishing with dessert. From the dessert menu we chose the mixed sorbet, with coconut and mango as our choice. It proved to be a simple but refreshing way to end the meal.

The coconut sorbet had a creamy, natural flavour with tiny pieces of coconut running through it, while the mango sorbet was bright, fruity and packed with real mango flavour. Both tasted as though they had been made with quality ingredients rather than artificial flavourings.

The staff kindly brought us extra spoons so we could share, which was a nice touch.

We did not order any drinks during our meal because our waitress kept our jar of water topped up throughout the evening, something we appreciated, especially on a busy bank holiday weekend.

Why People Keep Coming Back

Pho Exeter has built up a loyal following, and it is easy to see why. Many customers praise the food, especially the flavour of the broths, the freshness of the herbs and the generous portions.

Others mention the warm service and welcoming atmosphere. Several reviews single out staff members for going above and beyond, while a few note that service can occasionally be slower during busy periods. Judging by how full the restaurant was when we visited, especially over a bank holiday weekend, that is perhaps understandable.

Still, our own experience was very positive. The staff were helpful, the food arrived together, and the atmosphere struck a nice balance between busy and relaxed.

Other Mains to Try

Although the pho is the obvious reason to visit, there are plenty of other dishes on the menu that are worth trying on a future visit.

One section that caught our eye was the Curry Noodle Soup menu, which combines Pho’s fragrant Vietnamese curry with a steaming bowl of noodle soup. Each comes topped with fresh herbs and slices of red chilli, with a choice of flat pho noodles or thinner bún noodles.

The beef brisket version sounds especially tempting, pairing slow-cooked beef with the rich curry broth, while the chicken option would probably make a comforting and slightly lighter choice. There is also a king prawn version for seafood lovers, plus vegetarian and vegan options including tofu and mushroom and three mushroom.

Rice Dishes

Alongside the noodle soups, Pho also serves Vietnamese curries with either broken rice or cauliflower rice. The classic curry is described as rich and fragrant, served with vegetables and mushrooms, while the spicy version adds fresh red chillies and betel leaf for more heat.

Several regulars seem to rate the curries very highly, with more than one person describing them as one of the best dishes on the menu. If we return, the spicy beef brisket curry or the curry noodle soup with king prawns would definitely be near the top of our list.

There are plenty of other alternatives too if you want something different from soup:

• Rice bowls topped with chargrilled meats, vegetables, herbs and peanuts
• Wok-fried rice with chicken and dried shrimp or shiitake and Thai basil
• Wok-fried noodles with chicken, beef or tofu and mushroom
• Room-temperature vermicelli noodle bowls with grilled meats or spring rolls
• Chả cá Lã Vọng, a Hà Nội-inspired dish of turmeric-marinated grilled fish with dill, noodles and peanuts

Final Thoughts

Pho Exeter offers exactly what you want from a Vietnamese restaurant: flavourful broths, comforting noodle dishes and a lively atmosphere.

The Beef Brisket Pho and Beef Combo Pho were both excellent and easy to recommend. The Crab Noodle Soup was enjoyable too, although a little saltier and smaller than we would have liked.

If you are shopping in Exeter, catching up with friends or simply in the mood for a warming bowl of noodles, Pho is well worth adding to your list.