Best Cheap Eats Pho Restaurants in Los Angeles
16 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
It's Pho Hollywood
Pho-focused Vietnamese spot with deep, reliable broth and big portions.
Notable Picks
8.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
A longtime Hollywood standby for Vietnamese noodle soups, It’s Pho focuses on big bowls of beef and chicken pho alongside a broad Viet-Thai menu. Consistent broth depth, generous portions, and steady crowds of locals and visitors make it the go-to pho stop around Cahuenga and Hollywood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho Bo // Beef, Pho Dac Biet // Beef Combination Pho, Spicy Stew Beef Pho
What Makes it Special: Pho-focused Vietnamese spot with deep, reliable broth and big portions.
8.5
Rice Street Thai Urban Food is a busy strip-mall spot serving Thai street food staples, curries, and creative specials that draw diners from across Southeast L.A. The kitchen leans bold and slightly modern, but keeps flavors familiar enough for weeknight takeout and delivery. It’s the go-to Thai choice in Bell Gardens for both dine-in and app-driven orders.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad Thai with shrimp, Green curry with chicken, Luk chup dessert bites
What Makes it Special: High-volume Thai street food hub with bold flavors and delivery reach.
8.3
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
NMS Waffle & Grill, often listed as Pho Waffle and Grill, is a casual mom-and-pop drive-thru on Garfield where steaming bowls of pho share the menu with waffles, boba, and snacky sides. Online reviews highlight deeply flavored broth, generous noodle portions, and the convenience of grabbing a hot beef pho without leaving the car.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho Beef Noodle Soup, Hot and Spicy Beef Noodle Soup, Chicken Dumplings
What Makes it Special: Drive-thru waffle shop doubling as a reliable pho stop.
8.1
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe on La Brea is a family-run spot serving pho, bun bowls, and banh mi built from siblings Elaine and Victor Phuong’s family recipes. The room is simple and bright, but people come for clean flavors, springy noodles, and consistent execution at prices that still feel reasonable for the Fairfax side of 90036.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho Dac Biet (combination beef pho), Bun Bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup), Cha Gio (crispy egg rolls)
What Makes it Special: Family-run Vietnamese cafe built around cherished pho, bun, and banh mi recipes.
#5
Pho 87
8.1
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
A cash-only Chinatown stalwart running the same pho playbook since the 1980s, with brisket and oxtail bowls that draw purists who prioritize broth depth over ambiance. The indoor fish pond and fluorescent-lit dining room signal the no-frills deal—you're here for the soup, not the scene. Works best when you know your order before you sit down and have cash in your pocket.
Must-Try Dishes:
Egg Rolls, Brisket Pho, Oxtail Pho
What Makes it Special: Cash-only Chinatown institution with an indoor fish pond and no-frills authentic Vietnamese pho since the 1980s
8.1
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Comfort Food Classics
Quick Bites Champions
Westwood Thai Cafe is a long-running neighborhood spot just south of UCLA that pairs classic stir-fries, curries, and rice plates with student-friendly combo pricing. The dining room is straightforward and comfortable, but the appeal is generous portions, reliable flavors, and value meals that keep locals coming back.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad see ew with beef, Green curry with eggplant and basil, BBQ chicken with rice
What Makes it Special: Since the early ’90s it’s delivered reliable, affordable Thai to Westwood.
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Hidden Gems Heaven
Casual, family-run pho specialist drawing Downtown workers and convention-goers for hearty bowls and quick lunches. The focus is on deeply flavored broths, straightforward toppings, and efficient service rather than décor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Combination Pho (Pho Dac Biet), Slices of Chicken Breast Noodle Soup, Phoritto
What Makes it Special: A long-running, family-operated DTLA pho shop known for straightforward, flavorful bowls and fast lunch service.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Comfort Food Classics
Pad Thai On Beverly is a compact Beverly Grove spot where a deep Thai menu meets a full slate of pho, letting groups mix curries, stir-fries, and Vietnamese-style noodle soups at one table. Locals lean on it for dependable takeout and delivery, but there’s enough seating to tuck into a quick, low-key bowl on site.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef Steak Pho, Pad Thai Sukhothai, Green Curry
What Makes it Special: Thai kitchen with a surprisingly deep pho section for noodle cravings.
#9
Bun Me!
7.8
A straightforward banh mi counter that bakes its baguettes in-house and builds sandwiches with enough vegetarian and vegan options to cover the whole group. Valley locals treat it as the default grab-and-go Vietnamese stop when the craving hits and the budget matters. Expect strip mall efficiency—order at the counter, find a seat, and let the lemongrass do the work.
Must-Try Dishes:
Banh Mi, Lemongrass Chicken, Baguette Sandwiches
What Makes it Special: Fast-casual Vietnamese sandwich shop with fresh-baked baguettes and strong vegetarian and vegan options in the San Fernando Valley
7.8
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A sibling-run Sawtelle cafe built around their mother's pho recipe, distinguished by a clean, lemongrass-forward broth and fresh rice noodles that set it apart from heavier renditions in the corridor. The bánh mì and bún bò Huế fill out a tight Vietnamese menu at price points that make it a reliable weekday lunch stop west of the 405. Expect a modest, counter-service setup with outdoor seating—functional for the format, with the tradeoff being Sawtelle's notoriously tight street parking.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bánh Mì Thịt Xíu / Pork Belly, Phở Tái Bò Viên / Filet Mignon & Beef Balls, Chả Giò / Crispy Egg Rolls
What Makes it Special: Family-owned cafe by siblings honoring their mother's recipes, known for a clean, lemongrass-tinged pho broth and fresh rice noodles on Sawtelle's restaurant row.
#11
Pho 818
7.8
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A counter-service pho stall tucked inside Northridge's Galleria Market where the broth carries the operation — long-simmered, aromatic, and deeper than the food court setting suggests. It runs a tight, no-frills format that rewards regulars who know their order number and want a solid bowl without the wait or the markup of a standalone restaurant.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho Dac Biet (Special Combination), Brisket Pho, Steak Spring Rolls
What Makes it Special: Counter-service pho stall inside Galleria Market where the broth is the draw — rich, aromatic, and simmered to a depth that outperforms most food court expectations
#12
Sage Blossom
7.8
A broth-forward Vietnamese counter in Chinatown Central Plaza that anchors its menu around slow-simmered pho and familiar staples like banh mi and spring rolls, priced for repeat visits rather than special occasions. The bare-bones, naturally lit dining room runs quiet enough for solo lunches, and the tight menu keeps execution focused. It fills a specific lane well — reliable, inexpensive, no-fuss noodle soup in a neighborhood where competition for that slot is steep.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho, Spring Rolls, Banh Mi
What Makes it Special: Budget-friendly Vietnamese staples in the heart of Chinatown with a broth-forward menu built around slow-simmered pho
#13
Mr Noodle
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Group Dining Gatherings
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Mr Noodle is a long-running Westwood Village counter-service spot where a sprawling Thai-leaning menu covers everything from pad thai to Asian noodle soups. Its PHO (beef or chicken) sits alongside Thai boat noodles, tom kha noodles, and other brothy bowls that have fueled generations of UCLA students looking for a fast, filling meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
PHO (BEEF OR CHICKEN), Thai Boat Noodles, Tom Kha Noodles (Chicken or Shrimp)
What Makes it Special: Huge Thai-influenced noodle menu with a dedicated pho option steps from UCLA.
#14
Pho 2000
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Pho 2000 is a Koreatown mainstay with a late-night schedule and budget-friendly pricing, beloved for savory, umami-rich broths and generous chicken or oxtail pho portions. Service can be brusque but efficient, and the no-frills interior suits quick solo meals or casual comfort. Cash-based, it draws late-night regulars and nearby locals for healing soups and Vietnamese staples.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oxtail Pho, Chicken Pho, Egg Rolls
What Makes it Special: Open past midnight with authentic, deeply savory broth.
#15
Pho 22
7.7
A Valley pho shop that keeps the formula tight—long-steeped, clean-tasting broth in oversized bowls, all coming in well under fifteen dollars. The strip-mall setup and no-frills counter flow make it a natural fit for families or anyone running a weeknight dinner on a budget without cutting corners on the bowl itself.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho Tai (Rare Steak Pho), Banh Mi, Spring Rolls
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood pho shop where generous bowls with clean, deeply steeped broth consistently run well under $15
7.6
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Pho District Cafe is a tiny counter-service spot serving fragrant, gently spiced pho and affordable vermicelli bowls. With fast service and compact seating, it's a go-to stop for solo diners, students, and anyone needing a satisfying Vietnamese meal on a budget.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pho Ga, Charbroiled Pork Vermicelli Bowl, Egg Rolls
What Makes it Special: Consistently under $13 for a steaming bowl of pho.