The Best Pho in Provo and Orem: How Pho Plus Became Utah County's Vietnamese Comfort Food Institution

There's something about walking into Pho Plus on a February afternoon when Utah's Wasatch Mountains are dumping snow that just works. The windows fog up from the steam rising off dozens of bowls of pho, and you can smell it before you even open the door—that unmistakable aroma of star anise, cinnamon, and slow-simmered beef broth that one customer described as "smelling like Christmas."

"Especially good during a cold winter day," one longtime customer writes. "So fresh. The meat (#8) is my favorite. Large with extra meat. I always get more basil, too. Enough to eat again at home. The broth has such a good flavor."

With two strategic locations—one on State Street in Orem and another in historic downtown Provo on Center Street—Pho Plus has quietly become the pho destination for BYU students, UVU families, and anyone in Utah County craving authentic Vietnamese cuisine at prices that don't require a second mortgage. This isn't just another pho restaurant. It's where returned missionaries who fell in love with Asian food during their service bring their skeptical roommates. It's where international students find a taste of home. And it's where Utah Valley discovered that the best possible food to eat on a freezing winter night comes in a steaming bowl with rice noodles and fresh herbs.

Building Utah County's Vietnamese Food Destination, One Bowl at a Time

The story of Pho Plus isn't about celebrity chefs or viral Instagram moments. It's about consistency, authenticity, and understanding exactly what college students and families in Utah County need: substantial portions of quality food at fair prices, served quickly, with no pretension.

Since opening, Pho Plus has built its reputation on a foundation that many restaurants talk about but few actually deliver: doing the same thing exceptionally well, every single time. "I have been going to this place since it has opened," one customer notes. "I have met the owners and they are great individuals. Their food is great their service is great. I have never had a bad experience or bad Pho."

The business model is refreshingly simple. Focus on what matters—the broth. In Vietnamese cuisine, pho broth is everything. It's where hours of work show up or don't. Pho Plus's broth is the kind that customers who've eaten pho "all over the U.S. and hundreds of bowls in south east Asia, cooked by native Vietnamese people" come back for again and again. "The soup stock for the pho is rich and hearty," another reviewer confirms. "It is exactly what you expect in a Vietnamese restaurant."

But here's what sets Pho Plus apart in Utah County's increasingly competitive Vietnamese food scene: they've mastered the balance between authentic preparation and understanding their specific market. Closed on Sundays in respect for local values. Generous portions that work for sharing or multiple meals. Quick service that accommodates students rushing between classes. And that two-location advantage means whether you're near UVU in Orem or walking distance from BYU's campus in Provo, you're never far from a bowl of their signature pho.

The Experience: What Actually Shows Up in Your Bowl

Let's talk about #8. If you spend any time reading reviews of Pho Plus, you'll see it mentioned over and over. The #8—their special combination pho with rare steak, brisket, and flank—has achieved almost cult status among regular customers. "This is by far the best Pho place in Utah Valley," one customer writes. "I always get the number 8 which is amazing."

When your bowl arrives, and at Pho Plus it arrives quickly even during the lunch rush, you understand why people keep coming back. The portion sizes are what one customer calls "HUGE," even for the medium size. The broth is clear but deeply flavorful, that translucent amber color that comes from hours of simmering beef bones with aromatics. Star anise, cinnamon, and cloves create that signature pho fragrance. The rice noodles are light and perfectly cooked, never mushy.

"The broth is rich and flavorful and the food is fresh and well prepared," a customer explains. Another adds: "Their pho smells like christmas. I don't know what is, but when you try it, you will know what I am talking about."

The meat is where Pho Plus really shows its commitment to quality. Generous portions of tender beef—rare steak that cooks gently in the hot broth, brisket that's fork-tender, flank that adds texture. "I got the steak and brisket pho," one gluten-free customer notes. "They had a great portion size of meat in it... the flavor was amazing!"

But here's the thing about pho at Pho Plus: it arrives ready to customize. Fresh Thai basil, bean sprouts, lime wedges, and jalapeño peppers come on the side. Hoisin sauce and sriracha sit on every table. The experience is interactive—you build your perfect bowl. Some customers load up on basil. Others go heavy on the sriracha and lime. It's your bowl.

Beyond pho, the menu offers solid Vietnamese staples. Their banh mi sandwiches earn mentions, even from customers who admit they're "not as good as I remember back in LA but I had missed eating it." The vermicelli bowls with grilled meats are popular. Spring rolls get consistent praise. Boba tea comes in flavors like peach and honeydew. And apparently their cheesecake—yes, cheesecake at a pho restaurant—is "beautifully made, with the perfect creamy yet firm texture."

Why BYU and UVU Students Have Made Pho Plus Their Study Break Destination

Walk into either Pho Plus location during finals week and you'll see why they've become a college town institution. Students hunched over laptops, textbooks spread across tables, bowls of pho providing the fuel to power through another chapter of organic chemistry or accounting.

"The pricing is pretty good. Especially for how much you get. This is my favorite restaurant in Provo," one student writes. When you're living on a college budget and a massive bowl of pho with enough leftovers for tomorrow costs less than two fancy coffees, the math makes sense.

The Provo location on Center Street sits in the heart of downtown, walkable from BYU's campus. The Orem location on State Street is positioned perfectly for UVU students and the families who live along the Wasatch Front corridor. Both locations understand the rhythm of college life—quick service because students have exactly 47 minutes before their next class, affordable prices because student loans are real, and portions generous enough that one bowl might cover lunch and dinner.

"This place is the best! The Pho here is amazing and I'm planning on eating here at least once a week," one customer shares. That's the kind of repeat business that builds a restaurant's reputation in a college town. Not one-time visitors, but regulars who fold Pho Plus into their weekly routine.

The Sunday closure, while it might seem like a business disadvantage, actually aligns perfectly with the local culture. It's a value statement that resonates with the predominantly LDS community around BYU and throughout Utah County. It says: we're part of this community, we share your values, and some things matter more than an extra day of revenue.

Finding Warmth in a Bowl During Utah's Brutal Winters

Let's be honest about Utah winters. When you're walking across BYU's campus in January and the wind coming off the mountains feels like it's cutting through every layer you're wearing, your body starts craving specific things. Not a salad. Not a sandwich. Something hot. Something substantial. Something that warms you from the inside out.

"This is the best possible food to eat on a cold winter day," multiple customers confirm. "Perfect for cold weather," another adds. The science actually backs this up—hot broth raises your core temperature, the aromatics from star anise and cinnamon have warming properties, and the protein and carbs provide sustained energy.

"On a cold winter night, this was the perfect place for a good meal," one reviewer recalls. "Of all the Asian eateries in the area, this was the busiest....for a reason." That reason? When it's 15 degrees outside and snowing sideways, Pho Plus delivers exactly what your body needs. A husband writes about bringing his wife during winter months: "My wife and I like to go here during the winter to warm up."

The steam rising from a bowl of pho at Pho Plus isn't just atmospheric—it's therapeutic. It's the kind of comfort that Utah winters demand and that Pho Plus has perfected delivering.

What Makes Pho Plus Different in Utah County's Vietnamese Food Scene

Utah Valley's Vietnamese restaurant landscape has expanded significantly over the past decade. You've got options now—Lovely Pho, Rollz Vietnamese, Saigon Cafe. So what keeps customers coming back to Pho Plus specifically?

Consistency tops the list. "The food is very very consistent as well which is amazing," one customer notes. "They are quick, have great service and it always super clean. I can't complain." In the restaurant business, consistency is harder than excellence. Anyone can make a perfect bowl of pho once. Making that same perfect bowl hundreds of times a week, year after year? That's a different challenge.

The two locations matter more than you might think. For families in Orem, driving to Provo for dinner is a commitment. For BYU students, heading up to Orem feels like leaving campus jurisdiction. Pho Plus solved this by serving both communities where they already are. Same menu, same quality, two convenient spots.

Speed of service is another differentiator. "Always so quick to turn over a table when I've been waiting for only a minute," a customer writes. "They're so quick and I love it." This isn't rushed service—it's efficiency. They understand that sometimes you want to linger over conversation and boba tea, and sometimes you've got 30 minutes before your next commitment.

And the portion sizes. Listen, this comes up in nearly every review. "The size of even the smaller option is HUGE," one customer marvels. In a college town where value matters, the fact that one bowl of pho can easily provide two meals creates fierce loyalty. "Enough to eat again at home," multiple customers confirm.

Planning Your Visit to Pho Plus

Both Pho Plus locations operate Monday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM (online orders until 8:30 PM), and close on Sundays.

Orem Location: 908 S State St, Orem, UT 84097 | (801) 765-8808
The Orem location sits on State Street in a small restaurant cluster. Easy parking, family-friendly atmosphere, popular with the UVU crowd and Orem residents.

Provo Location: 68 W Center St, Provo, UT 84601 | (801) 377-8808
Downtown Provo's location is walkable from BYU campus, tucked into historic Center Street. The atmosphere here leans slightly cozier—one customer describes it as "very cozy and inviting. The place echos, so everybody talks very quiet and it really invites you to get closer to those you are with. Makes it a nice romantic meal."

What to Order:
First-timers should absolutely start with the #8 (special combination pho). It's what regulars swear by. If you're gluten-free, the pho works perfectly without the hoisin sauce. The chicken pho gets consistent praise for those who prefer poultry. Order the large—you'll want leftovers. Don't skip the fresh herbs and lime. And apparently, try the cheesecake. Multiple people mention it, which means something's happening there.

The boba tea selection includes flavors like peach and honeydew. Spring rolls and shrimp tempura round out appetizer options. For those exploring beyond pho, the vermicelli bowls and banh mi sandwiches deliver solid Vietnamese classics.

Best Times: Weekday lunch rushes can get busy but service stays quick. Winter evenings are peak comfort food time. They handle the rush well, but if you're trying to have a quiet conversation, aim for mid-afternoon or earlier dinners.

---

Utah County's Vietnamese food scene has grown up around Pho Plus. The restaurant has built something that transcends food criticism or Yelp ratings—they've become part of the community fabric. A place where BYU students celebrate surviving finals, where families gather on cold Saturday nights, where returned missionaries find authentic flavors they missed from their service.

"Been going here for years, love it till this day," one customer sums up. That's the ultimate restaurant endorsement—not excitement about something new and trendy, but sustained appreciation for something done consistently well over time.

On your next freezing Utah winter day, when the mountains are white and the temperature's dropping and you need something that does more than just fill your stomach, head to either Pho Plus location. Order the #8. Add extra basil. And discover why generations of Utah County residents have made this unassuming Vietnamese noodle house their comfort food destination of choice.