This cozy little spot has a reasonably priced lunch special. The soup and spring roll were right on point - I definitely would return just for the spring rolls - very full and crisp! The best part is the spicy sauce (it reminds me of Siracha from back in the States, you know, the "rooster sauce" with the little green screw cap). Maybe it was the sauce that made the meal SO wonderful.
As for the service, they were a bit slow to respond, but as it got busier things started to pick up some. Would be nice if I didn't have to ask for a refill every time while the girl is just daydreaming and gazing at the street.
I wouldn't mind to have a first date here, it's laid back and casual but would try and not come at their busy time, as people may linger behind your table waiting for your seat and pressuring you to get out of the place. Skip the business dinner here, but you could come with friends for a quick lunch or dinner!
Overall, best Pho I've had in Shanghai (once again, it may just be because of the spicy "rooster" sauce) but I'd do it again - Pho Real!

After living in Shanghai for a couple of months, the food no longer carried the same variety and flare it had when I had first arrived. Now, flavors were beginning to blend together and restaurants had little to distinguish themselves from others. I knew the perfect food to break out of the monotony, especially during Shanghai's recent rainy season, was Pho.

Looking through multiple reviews of the plethora of Vietnamese restaurants in Shanghai, my girlfriend and I stumbled upon Pho Real and decided it was worth a try.

Food:
After returning from a 10 day vacation to Vietnam, the only dish that was on my mind was Pho. It's a bold and unreasonable statement to say that Pho Real is a replica of Pho in Vietnam, so I will say that the food was definitely up to par and exceeded my initial expectations. I ordered the Pho Bo (Beef Noodle Soup, the cheaper bowl not the exorbitantly priced "Ultimate Pho" offered). The broth was absolutely amazing, it was by far my favorite part of the meal. It had a great taste, not too heavy with star anise flavor and not too few shallots and onions! The beef was great, but there wasn't a lot of meat in the soup which left me slightly disappointed! The noodles were decent, they were boiled for too long and were a bit mealy. Overall, it was delicious! The broth and the meat were more than enough to balance out the flawed noodles! I would recommend the Pho Bo to anyone else that comes to Pho Real!

Price:
Everything on the menu is on the pricier side. If you're coming here on a date and only want to get 2 bowls of soup, expect to spend about 130元. But, if you enjoying sampling appetizers, having a drink to go along with your meal, or ending it with a dessert, expect to pay anything from 150元 to 250元.

Service:
After reading some of the other reviews, my initial thought on Pho Real's service was that it was going to be dreadful. I am happy to admit that I was proved wrong. The service was decent, far from amazing but not dreadful. We came to dinner on a Sunday night. The restaurant was full, but we were seated rather quickly. The only downside of our seating arrangement was that we were seated near the kitchen. The waiters/waitresses all congregated near our table, so it became a nuisance to watch them stare at us while we ate. Pho Real doesn't leave much room for socializing after the meal, unless there is still food on the table. The waiters/waitresses aggressively attempted to clear our table before my girlfriend was done eating, just to make room for the next set of customers coming in. It was not until she told them to stop and come back in ten minutes because she wanted to enjoy what was left of her meal without the annoyance.

Overall:
Quality food, exorbitant prices, and decent service. If you're in a fix for Vietnamese Pho and don't mind paying an arm and a leg, I would absolutely recommend Pho Real!

I've tried to have dinner there probably around 20 times and I was actually able to eat there just twice ... is almost impossible to get a table (even for 2 people!) and they don't accept reservations. Terrible front-door service, but if you're lucky enough to get a table then the service is OK.
The food though is not bad, especially the rolls, a little bit overpriced but acceptable.
Nice environment.

Pho Real is a long shot from the real Mc Coy. EXTREMELY BAD CUSTOMER ATTITUDE. No seating allowed until all are present. AVOID if you have friends arriving late. Food was disappointing from earlier experience.

Venue is cramped, stifled and bustling with staff who were more interested in turning tables over than at customer service.

Bear the scorn of the wait staff should you wish to take your time to enjoy your meal as they are trained to tell you via less than subtle body languages that your allocated time has expired for your dinner value.

Last time I was there for dinner, I arrived earlier to reserve a table for 3 whilst waiting for 2 other dinner dates to arrive. I was told that until everyone has arrived, no seating will be allocated. So I waited at the 'bar' only to see every seat filled within 10 minutes. When my dates finally arrived 15 minutes later, even my bar stool was seized by another customer.

Will never dine here again.