By Abby Rosenstock

Tucked behind several restaurants off of Horsepen Road lies a hidden gem of Vietnamese cuisine in Richmond. Although not visible from the main road, the large, bright red lettering on the roof reads “Pho Thien Phat Vietnamese Noodle House.” The menu includes an array of Vietnamese dishes that will lure you back, wanting to try more. 

I vividly remember my first visit to Pho Thien Phat. It was a cold, rainy afternoon, and I was just recovering from sickness when my mother, Cathy Rosenstock, suggested we try pho, which is a traditional Vietnamese soup usually made up of rice noodles, meat, bone broth, sprouts, and more. 

Photo credit: Amy H. via Yelp.

I had never had pho before, so I found her suggestion questionable. Upon arriving at the restaurant, I felt welcomed by the homey and friendly environment. The waiters and waitresses were especially kind and walked us through the menu, as it was our first time at the restaurant, and most of the menu was not in English. The waiter suggested pho, as that is their primary and most popular dish. Given the cold weather, I was influenced to order something that could warm me up. 

I ordered the “Tai, Nam, Gau, Gan, Sach Pho,” which is, according to Grubhub, their best-selling pho. This pho contains slices of “eye round steak, well-done plank, fat brisket, tendon, and tripe.” I did not know what to expect from this dish; however, my standards were surpassed. The noodles were perfectly cooked, as was the thinly sliced brisket included in the dish. The pho was delicious and just what I needed on a cold, rainy day. My mother ordered the same and was also very pleased with it.

Photo credit: Danny J via Yelp.

Aside from the delicious food, the atmosphere and environment contributes to the restaurant’s comfortable and hospitable vibe. The layout of the tables felt more like a homestyle diner than a typical restaurant. You can either sit down and order, order from the bar, or pick up a take-out order. I cannot attest to the rapidness of the pickup or take-out orders; however, the service is generally quick when sitting down to order. 

According to the nearly 600 reviews of Pho Thien Phat on Yelp, the restaurant has a solid 4.1 out of 5-stars rating. According to a 5-star review from Ellen H. from Richmond, it only took five minutes to order and serve her food. Kiley W.’s Yelp review states, “The portions are excellent.” I completely agree, as the size of the pho bowl was plentiful but not too large to the point where it felt wasteful. You can pop into Pho Thien Phat for a quick, pick-me-up snack or a filling meal. According to Tripadvisor, Pho Thien Phat is ranked the 11th best Vietnamese restaurant in all of Richmond. 

After visiting Pho Thien Phat for the first time with my mother, I knew that it was somewhere I needed to visit again. Like me, most people I talked to, including family members and classmates, did not have much experience with Vietnamese cuisine. I was able to vouch for the pho and take another trip to try out other options on their menu and get some other reviews on the food from different perspectives. My younger sister, Helen Rosenstock, said, “I really enjoyed trying pho for the first time and will definitely have to come back to try other Vietnamese food.”

On my second visit, I tried the bubble tea and the popular spring rolls. Bubble tea is a Taiwanese drink that emerged in the 1980s. It has become increasingly popular in the United States in recent years. This drink involves mixing tea with milk and juice and adding tapioca balls. Although these are not Vietnamese-specific dishes, I was interested in comparing them to those I had before. I thoroughly enjoyed the tea and the spring rolls; however, they were not as enticing as the pho. If you ever find yourself near Pho Thien Phat, I recommend trying a bowl.