Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Pho Than Brothers on California
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April 30, 2009 at 2:50 am #590682
luludogMemberI actually had good Chicken Pho here, but I was totally disgusted by how incredibly dirty this place is. The window sill was thick with dirt (way beyond dust), the carpets appear they have never been vacuumed, and what really took me over the edge was the bathrooms. YUCK. I purposely did not look inside the kitchen for fear of what I might see. Despite this… the place continues to have many customers. I feel like I should report this to the Health Department…but thought hearing from others first might be good.
April 30, 2009 at 2:52 am #665510
JoBParticipantApril 30, 2009 at 2:54 am #665511
GenHillOneParticipantHaven’t been back for the fairly tasteless pho since we saw the chihuahua (who ran out into dining area) poop on the floor. And yes, expressed our disgust to the staff.
April 30, 2009 at 3:06 am #665512
PDieterParticipantNone of their establishments are what they (original one on Aurora)were years ago and they were never as good as Pho in Seattle has gotten. There’s no excuse to settle for Than Bros Pho these days.
Deli 88 in White Center is quite good with a wonderful owner (also active in the community)
REALLY good Pho nearby WS
– Pho Cyclo
– Green Leaf
– Saigon Bistro (above viet wah)
About a decade ago than Bros was top 10 in the city but they’ve been left behind by folks who’ve taken it to the next level.
April 30, 2009 at 3:00 pm #665513
BigRedMemberI used to go to Than Bros all the time, turning a blind eye to how dirty it was, until I went up to pay for my Pho and a COCKROACH was walking on the counter in front of the man working there. I tried to tell him and he just looked at it and then completely ignored me!!! I will NEVER go back!!! I hope you dont either. I agree with PDieter about deli 88 and the other great and CLEAN Pho joints around!
April 30, 2009 at 3:16 pm #665514
CMPParticipantHey BigRed, my sister and I had a cockroach experience at Than Brothers too, only it was on our table. My sister calmly looked at me and pointed to it crawling past her bowl of soup, then we blew it onto the ground and watched it scurry over to another table. Needless to say, I don’t think I’ve been back, even though it hits the spot when I have a cold. Plus I’m within easy walking distance. May have to drive to White Center next time I’m craving pho!
April 30, 2009 at 3:19 pm #665515
TraciMemberI LOVE THAN BROS. I go about once a week. It’s always packed and the food is always fresh given the amount of turnaround. I love other Pho places too (mmm Pho Cyclo and that place in Ballard…) but when I want a simple, easy to drive to bowl of magic, Than Bros is where it’s at.
April 30, 2009 at 5:15 pm #665516
kmMemberNever going back to Than Bros again…my friend actually found a cockroach swimming IN her soup! She was halfway done with her soup too. She told them and they said that she didn’t have to pay for her soup but still charged me for mine which I obviously didn’t touch after I saw that. After that I went on the Health Dept website to look up their health inspection reports and saw that they had been blue-flagged for having “rodents, insects, animals” in their restaurant. I recently came back from Vietnam and their Pho Restaurants on the streets we cleaner than this place.
April 30, 2009 at 5:24 pm #665517
TraciMemberWhoa! So a few of you have found cockroaches at Than. I’m honestly more fascinated than grossed out, I never see cockroaches here but when I lived in Texas they were everywhere. I associate them with my childhood and have nostalgic value as a result, haha!
I’ll keep an eye out from now on, especially by the bathrooms. NGL I kind of just freaked myself out thinking of a cockroach in that bathroom.
Seriously though, that sucks. It’s reasonable for you to never go back.
April 30, 2009 at 5:44 pm #665518
swimcatMemberI love Than Brothers but haven’t been back since I saw a cockroach too (and the place was definitely getting too dirty for me to enjoy my food). I also had a strange experience after eating at the Ballard location a few years ago. There was something additional in that bowl of soup- I just felt weird afterwards, like I was on drugs (well, I don’t do drugs, but I’m guessing that is what it would have felt like). I won’t eat the soup anymore but I won’t turn down their cream puffs!
April 30, 2009 at 5:53 pm #665519
villagegreenMemberPho Cyclo and Green Leaf are both awesome. But Than Bros is totally worthy as well. I find the ‘fairly tasteless’ and ‘bland’ comments funny. Have you had Pho before? It’s always fairly bland. This is until you add the hoisin and chili sauce that sits in front of you at the table. Make it as spicy as you like.
I am constantly surpised at how busy Than Bros is (I usually get take out). And would imagine that if the cockroaches were really that big of a problem more people would be avoiding the place. Think I’ll have to stop in tonite!
April 30, 2009 at 5:56 pm #665520
austinMemberWest seattle and Ballard than bros are actually the cleaner of the than bros locations.. Broadway and Aurora than bros make the West Seattle location look downright fancy in comparison. I’ve found weirder things than insects in my pho at aurora, but still nothing terrible enough to scare me off it.
re: Green Leaf (ID, 8th between king and jackson)- Awesome pho! I went there for the first time about a week ago and their pho and vermicelli are both outstanding. Super nice, clean restaurant too.
April 30, 2009 at 6:54 pm #665521
GenHillOneParticipantLOL, true enough villagegreen, but I do like my chicken to taste different than the noodles :)
April 30, 2009 at 7:05 pm #665522
JimmyGMemberIf all of you are so concerned about the rodents and unclean bathrooms call the Health Dept.
Part of the way they decide where to do inspections is from citizen feedback.
April 30, 2009 at 7:24 pm #665523
PDieterParticipantReally good point. If you expect all the flavor in your Pho (taste not spice) to come out of the bottles on the table then Than Bros has the Pho for you. Nothing wrong with that I like the Hoisen and Chili too, but I do see many people not even taste the soup before loading it up with both; how would they even know what the soup tastes like. I used to do that as well, just sit down and load up the soup with hoisen and chili but then I found places that actually finessed the soup stock a bit, now the hoisen is just on the side for some dipping.
At 88 Resturant in white center ask for some of her sate sauce on the side…she makes it herself and it’s way better than the “cock sauce”.
April 30, 2009 at 8:33 pm #665524
trensuelaMemberI like that Traci finds nostalgia in cockroaches. I have heard that they are also tasty. Lobster’s used to be considered gross peasant food until New Yorkers who were slumming it by eating peasant food elevated this sea bugs stature.
So really, no need to get spooked by the roaches, they are a living food. Might make for some good Pho as well.
April 30, 2009 at 9:32 pm #665525
KeithMemberI find that a lot of Seattle restaurants are surprisingly dirty, at least compared to what I’ve experienced in other cities, including Los Angeles. I wish we had the system employed in So. Cal where restaurants are required to display their Health Dept. letter grade in the window. It made a big difference when they implemented that program down there.
That said, I like Than Bros and our WS location is indeed one of the “nicer” ones (although the long-empty fish tank kinda creeps me out). I’m excited to try this 88 place, thanks for the tip!
April 30, 2009 at 9:40 pm #665526
shed22ParticipantThan Brothers is faux pho. It is not the real deal. Their broth is a concoction of sugar and bouillon – not a true slow cooked bone broth you would get at a traditional vietnamese restaurant. Treat yourself better and enjoy true pho at one of the white center or I.D. restaurants.
April 30, 2009 at 9:48 pm #665527
Mayor QuimbyMemberYes, I also agree with the original post. It is NOT a clean tidy restaurant. I mean the waiter guy is always on his Bluetooth set more than he is conversing with patrons.
However here is the answer…http://www.decadeonline.com/main.phtml?agency=skc…
Do search for Pho Than Brothers!. 3/20/2009 was not a good day for this establishment
April 30, 2009 at 9:57 pm #665528
AnonymousInactiveI am not going to try this place, and I live right around the corner and ejoy pho. Thank you everyone for the information.
April 30, 2009 at 11:06 pm #665529
JiggersMemberI’ve eaten their(next to Firestone) and the Pho isn’t that good to begin with. Number 2 about its cleanliness, it is dirty. It seems as I watch them clear the tables that they don’t care to pick up the bits of noodles I see on the floor. I remember one time I sat down and felt something under shoe which was a piece of noodle that I squished. Pretty disgusting. And I’m not making this up either. Tables were also still sticky from the previous people who just ate their. I haven’t gone back in their for probably just over a year now because of those things.
May 1, 2009 at 12:32 am #665530
TammiWSMemberThanks everyone for the feedback. Have been wanting to try it and definately will not after reading this.
May 1, 2009 at 1:40 am #665531
YardvarkMemberHave you ever eaten a bowl of Pho while watching a very dead, bloated fish get steadily pecked at and eaten by his still living fishtank companions? I have. Needless to say, I will never go to the Aurora Than Bros. ever again.
Not very appetizing.
May 1, 2009 at 3:26 pm #665532
dhgParticipantI did report them to the health dept years ago. They keep the chopsticks at the table, stored food side up so people are handling the wrong ends as they dig around for their choice. I don’t understand how that can fly. If they were spoons this would not be allowed.
May 1, 2009 at 6:56 pm #665533
grrParticipantIt’s amazing to me the place is still in business. I used to refer to it as the ‘Dicks’ of Pho..it’s not even worth of that anymore. Simply dreadful.
Usually I head to Pho 99 down in W.C., or over to the ID. Or to Jade West for Mr. Wah’s Special Chicken Soup with Mustard Greens. Beats them all :)
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