Is there parking nearby?

Parking in Pacific Beach can be tight, especially on weekends, but there's street parking along Garnet Ave and some lot options within a few blocks. Best bet is to hit the spot during off-peak hours (mid-afternoon weekdays) or be ready to circle a bit.

Do I need a reservation?

PB Phở & Grill takes reservations and it's smart to call ahead on weekends or during dinner rush—this place is a neighborhood staple and can fill up quick. Walk-ins are welcome on slower days, but you might wait 15-20 minutes during peak times.

What should I order first?

Start with the chicken spring rolls—people rave about them. For pho, go with the lobster pho if you want something adventurous, or stick with classics like rare steak or brisket cuts. The broth here is the real deal and tastes like they've been perfecting it for years.

Is this place good for kids?

Absolutely—PB Phở & Grill is kid-friendly, casual, and the staff is super accommodating. Pho and spring rolls are crowd-pleasers for families, and the vibe is relaxed enough that you won't feel stressed about noise.

What's the dress code?

This is flip-flops-and-casual territory. It's a neighborhood spot in Pacific Beach, so come as you are—straight from the beach or your couch, doesn't matter.

When's the best time to go?

Mid-afternoon on weekdays is your sweet spot for avoiding waits. This joint also does well for late-night recovery meals (it's a local go-to after nights out), so if you're a night owl, you've got options. Weekends get crowded, so plan accordingly.

Do you take dietary requests?

Vietnamese food is naturally flexible—plenty of options for vegetarians and people with specific preferences. The staff is friendly and willing to work with you, though hours aren't listed online, so call ahead if you have detailed dietary needs.

PB Phở & Grill — Vietnamese in Pacific Beach, San Diego

“PB Phở & Grill is the hangover-cure specialist Garnet Avenue has needed since forever, serving Vietnamese comfort food to locals who stumble in post-surf or post-party.”

While Rocky's serves tavern burgers and Handel's dishes ice cream, PB Phở is the place Pacific Beach locals go when they need actual recovery food — the kind of warm, restorative bowl that fixes you from the inside out. The **phở** here does what boardwalk breakfast burritos can't: rehydrates, nourishes, and tastes like someone actually gave a damn about the broth. That's the foundation — slow-simmered beef stock that shows up rich and aromatic, not the watery afterthought you get at mall food courts.

The **lobster phở** is the splurge order, the one that makes the guy taking orders do a double-take at lunch, because who gets lobster in their hangover soup? People who've been coming here long enough to know it's worth it. The shellfish comes properly cooked, sweet and tender, swimming in that same carefully built broth. For the rest of us mortals, the **bò kho phở** — Vietnamese beef stew with your choice of cuts like rare steak or brisket — is the move, especially if you're the type who needs something heartier than standard rice noodle soup.

The **chicken spring rolls** work as the table-share appetizer that arrives fast and fresh, wrapped tight with herbs you can actually taste. This is a spot that's been holding down the same corner of Garnet for nearly a decade, which in PB turnover time might as well be a century. It's casual in the way that matters — you can walk in sandy, you can bring kids, you can show up late-night when the bars let out and no one blinks.

Parking is the usual Garnet Avenue nightmare on weekends, but weekday lunch sees plenty of open tables and quick service. The staff fixes order mistakes without making you feel like an idiot, which is rarer than it should be. It's the kind of neighborhood staple that earns its spot by doing one thing — Vietnamese comfort food — consistently well, without trying to be anything else.