I came here while in a time crunch hoping that vietnamese would be pretty fast since pho is normally really quick, but I was disappointed how slow the service is. There was lag time waiting for the menus, getting someone to take our order, and then the food was much slower than it should have been. The food was ok on the whole but the meat in the pho I tried was definitely overcooked.

This Vietnamese restaurant is conveniently located at the intersection of Pine and Melrose, and it replaced the former Asian Bistro that used to be at the same location.

One rare thing about this restaurant on the hill is that it also included about 4-5 allocated parking spots at the back for their customers! It’s rare on the hill :D

Like its Bellevue counterpart, it serves a variety of dishes, including the standard Vietnamese menu like the different noodle soups (Pho), cold noodle bowls, and it also serves teriyaki plates and other rice plates. There are a lot of options.

Beverage wise you get bubble tea (all different types of flavours, made from powder though, with options to add tapioca or coconut jelly), vietnamese coffee etc.

The prices are a bit higher than the other Vietnamese restaurants around in International District, but the place looks nicer, newer, and the staff is always friendly. They will even serve you water while you order to go! The portion also more than makes up for the slightly higher price.

My standard order here is #22 btw. Can’t get enough of pork chops, rice, and eggs! (salad optional hehe)

I usually get th

I like it! I especially love the spacious outdoor sitting, accessible on a nice day. It is relaxing enough that you could sit and read a bit while waiting for your food. Pho Tai is very clean, the service is caring and professional. The restaurant is also spacious and sunny! The food is authentic and traditional. I think the prices are reasonable considering you get large portions, with plenty of meat (if you want it) and fresh greens. Vegetarian options are becoming more important; you can find those here.

I did get bubble tea on both my visits; I’m not sure if these are made with real fruit or not. I had to ask them to cut back on the ice at my second visit, as the beverage was too freezing cold and gave me a headache the first time. Either way, I’ll be back to keep learning more about Pho Tai!