About
We are a family-owned small business located in the heart of Kapahulu and we welcome you to our family table.
Starting in 2001, Dan and Sue (a mom and pop team) and co-owners of the establishment) started their journey into offering their services and hospitality with them to the community. They operated under the name 'Pho Old Saigon,' the first ever Vietnamese restaurant to serve locals and tourists alike to the flavors of true Vietnamese cuisine in Waikiki (Kuhio avenue). For over 17 years, we have worked hard to please thousands of customers over the years from all walks of life and have left lasting impressions as one of the best Vietnamese cuisines offered in Hawaii. Since then, we have closed our Kuhio location’s doors and started a new chapter.
We are now relocated, resuming our business in a new unit on 567 Kapahulu avenue since October 2019. We continue to represent the same brand name but under a smaller bistro-sized restaurant, still carrying the same items and some new additional ones. We love to welcome new regulars to our Kapahulu location and we are always happy to see our old customers who fondly remember the Kuhio location.
Frequently Asked Questions (updated 6/2020)
Click question to jump to specific answer
Where does the name Pho Old Saigon come from and why?
How long is the wait time for phone takeout orders (updated Q&A 4/6/2020)?
Why is the wait time rather long (Updated Q&A 4/6/2020)?
Are your baguettes house-made?
What's Bún? There is a section where items have 'Bún' (pronounced BOOHN) in the name on the Vermicelli bowls page?
What's broken rice? We see broken rice plates on the menu, but what’s the difference?
Do you have any ongoing specials at this time?
Where does the name Pho Old Saigon come from and why?
Dan and Sue, have a long and rich history before they settled in Oahu, arriving in 1982, having both been war refugees and immigrants of the Vietnam War. Both came to love the weather and community of Hawaii, where they could start their life in America and pursue the American dream. At times, they miss the old Saigon city they once knew before the war began, and so the name gives homage to the beloved town they spent their childhood in.
How long is the wait time for takeout orders by phone (updated Q&A 4/6/2020)?
We highly encourage customers to call in their orders first so we have time to prepare. Takeout orders on average may take 10-15 minutes before a customer can pick it up. During peak hours, be advised that it may take 20-25 minutes to prepare.
Why is the wait time rather long (Updated Q&A 4/6/2020)?
Keep in mind that once orders are made and sent to the chefs, the food is made from start to finish with fresh ingredients. Be advised that this will take our chefs time to complete the takeout orders in order to always deliver fresh meals without compromising quality in our Vietnamese cuisine.
We strongly recommend calling ahead and arriving per the recommended time estimate from our staff.
Are your baguettes house-made?
Yes! We take pride in the fact that all of our baguettes and banh mi sandwiches use our own house-made baguette recipe. We make the baguettes from scratch and bake them daily by the batch. Our baguettes are often known to sell on its own for $3/each at 24 in. long.
What's Bún? There is a section where items have 'Bún' (pronounced BOOHN) in the name on the Vermicelli bowls page?
Bún is a Vietnamese term meaning 'Rice Noodle,' these Bún Bowls are cold rice noodle bowls served with salad and house greens and your choice of cooked meat. Think of it as a refreshing salad meal with rice noodles and meat. It is enjoyed best by pouring the provided fish sauce that comes with the dish over the salad first before digging in.
What's broken rice? We see broken rice plates on the menu, but what’s the difference between that and regular white rice?
Broken rice are fractured grains of white rice that give a different textural quality when eaten. Historically, broken rice was separated into a different pile when sorting the imperfect rice apart from the perfect rice grains. At the time, all imperfect grains (i.e., broken rice) were sold for cheap, however their popularity in modern times have now made them more expensive than regular white rice due to their unique offering in Vietnamese cuisine as a rising trend.
Do you have any ongoing specials at this time?
We do not have any current specials at this time, but we are in the plans of creating special dishes during certain days of the week. To stay updated, we encourage you to follow our instagram where we post the latest news and updates, or on our facebook page.