Lucky Pho
Lucky Pho
9326 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 586-7979
After reading some great things about Lucky Pho from mmm-yoso, I put Lucky Pho on my places to try next time I'm in the Mira Mesa area. Unfortunately, I'm rarely in the area and when I think about going there, it just seems so out of the way from all the other places I need to go to.
This past weekend, despite the warm sunny weather we had on Saturday, I was in the mood for a hot bowl of pho- a residual craving from earlier in the week when it was freezing. So I finally made the trip to Lucky Pho.
I didn't get a chance to snap a picture of the menu, but I found it amusing. All the "tripe" was called "stripe." At first I was trying to figure out what "stripe" was. I thought they were trying to describe a cut of meat used, perhaps one with tendons.
Boyfriend and I both ordered #15, which is rare steak and tripe.
There were quite a few pieces of thick, rare meat. The soup was definitely richer than some of the pho places in the Clairemont/Convoy area. Though not as rich as some of the places I've had in the Bay Area. However the tripe was severely overcooked. It was really hard and not enjoyable. I ended up not finishing my tripe, probably marking the first occasion I have ever left tripe in my bowl.
I was impressed with the quantity of garnishes served with the pho.
We were given quite a big plate of garnishes– more than we could use.
Little Brother ordered a #1. which has everything.
We also ordered the eggrolls.
I was not a fan of the eggrolls. You can't really tell from the picture, but the skin used was thick. It was like the spring rolls served at a lot of the chinese/american/japanese buffets.
Each of our meals came with a free soda. I'm not sure if this is always the case or if it was just a promotion. The free soda made Little Brother and Boyfriend happy. Little Brother wants to keep going back just because of the free soda.
I am a Vietnamese girl, and pho is delicious. I know how to make it.
Hi Sandy. Thanks for letting me know about the deli and free soda. I think maybe I need to come to this place earlier. I went pretty late and that might have been why the tripe was hard.
I was at Lucky Pho that weekend before Christmas, too. We usually go to Pho Ca Dao, but I wanted to buy groceries at the market that day and it was more convenient to make one stop.
I haven’t been to Lucky Pho in awhile, so the free soda was new to me. We usually go in the mornings; I don’t think I’ve ever been there at night.
The deli in the market offers a free soda with an order, too.
I was a bit more annoyed with the tripe. The eggrolls I think is a personal thing for me. I just don’t like that half thin/half thick wrapper. heh. I’m beginning to realize a lot of inconsistency with these pho places, which I never realized before.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
I’m willing to try this place again. I think maybe it was a bit of an off night or maybe I went too late in the evening. I really like the cha gio at Pho T. Cali. I havent been to Pho Da Cao or Pho Hoa Cali yet.
Merry Christmas Dennis!
I like the darker broths too. Also I like chinese eggroll wrappers on cha gio (I don’t believe I’ve had the authentic one before that Kirk told me about) But I think there’s different chinese eggroll wrappers. There’s a very thin crispy one, that they use at Pho T. Cali and one I use at home to make my eggrolls. Then there is one that looks thin, but has a thicker layer, which I often will find at chinese american restaurants. I’m not a fan of this skin. Not sure why
That’s too bad your sister had a bad experience. I’ve heard such good things about pho lucky. I’m thinking they probably have off days too like other pho places, since I didn’t really love my experience either.
the last time I went here was prob 2.5 – 3 years ago, but i thought they really had a good broth, and i also appreciated the fact that they gave some ngo gai ( saw leaf) with the garnishes. sorry to hear about your experience tho. esp w/ the egg rolls. happy holidays!
Aw, too bad the pho wasn’t to your liking. They run the free soda special every now and then but not always. Like Dennis, I actually like the cha gio at Pho Lucky, better than Pho Ca Dao (rather bland for my taste) but not as good as ones I’ve had across the street at Pho Hoa Cali. I also like a more beefy broth but sometimes the broth at Pho Lucky can be a bit murky.
Hi Kirbie I personally prefer pho with stronger darker broths but I don’t remember mine here being that murky.. that’s too bad. I have to admit liking the cha gio with the chinese eggroll wrappers though cause they seem to stay crispier for a longer period of time. Merry Christmas btw! Cheers
My sister JUST went to this place too! She hated it. She said it was the worst pho ever (not sure if she was being dramatic). Something about the broth being very cloudy and not tasting right (she usually has the flank and meatball pho).
The photo of the eggrolls looks so hot and fresh thou! But yeah, i don’t like the thick skinned eggrolls either.
That’s funny about your little brother and the free soda:)