Pho Kim An - Deep Research Report

Overview

Pho Kim An is a casual Vietnamese restaurant in Waimea on the Big Island, best understood as a pho-and-rice-plate place rather than a broad pan-Asian spot. The Google record, the restaurant’s own site, and third-party listings all point to the same Waimea address and phone number, and the business is listed as operational. (phobigisland.com)

For travelers, the main reason to care is simple: this looks like a practical, fairly low-cost stop for hot noodle soup, rice plates, and quick Vietnamese comfort food in upcountry Waimea. The evidence also suggests it can be a useful in-between-activities meal because service is often described as fast and the menu is built around familiar, filling dishes. (phobigisland.com)

Cuisine & Specialties

Pho Kim An’s core lane is Vietnamese comfort food, especially pho made with beef broth and herb accompaniments. The restaurant’s own site says pho is the specialty, but it also serves rice dishes, egg rolls, and vermicelli rice noodles; third-party menu summaries and review snippets add grilled pork plates, banh mi, spring rolls, shrimp pho, duck noodle soup, and a few more protein-forward options. (phobigisland.com)

Overall menu style: Vietnamese soup-and-rice-house format, with pho as the anchor and a supporting cast of rice plates, noodle bowls, sandwiches, and appetizers. (phobigisland.com)
Notable dishes and specialties: beef pho, beef ribs pho, shrimp pho, eye round steak/brisket pho, grilled pork/com thit nuong, spring rolls, egg rolls, banh mi, duck noodle soup, and deep-fried soft shell crab appear repeatedly in menu or review sources. (wanderlog.com)
Traveler spend expectations: Google places it at price level 1, and review language repeatedly frames it as “reasonable” or “affordable,” though one third-party summary warns prices may feel somewhat higher than expected for a casual pho spot. A practical read is that it should fit a modest lunch-or-dinner budget, not a splurge meal. (restaurantji.com)
Dietary usefulness / limitations: The menu appears useful for vegetarian diners in a limited way because Restaurantji tags it as vegetarian-friendly, but the strongest support is for meat-based broths and protein plates. It is probably better for omnivores than for strict vegans, and broth-based soups remain the main draw. (restaurantji.com)

Notable Features & Ambiance

This looks like a straightforward strip-mall Vietnamese restaurant rather than a destination dining room. The consistent signals are casual seating, quick counter-to-table service, and a practical “come in, eat, leave satisfied” experience; several reviews mention it as a good stop between activities. (mapquest.com)

Service model and seating style: Appears to be casual dine-in with takeout and delivery options; DoorDash lists pickup, delivery, and group order, while review snippets describe a small-to-midsize dining room with a simple layout. (restaurantji.com)
Atmosphere and decor: “Typical pho place ambiance” is the recurring description, with a homey, no-frills feel rather than a polished or scenic setting. (mapquest.com)
Amenities or practical features: Ample parking is specifically mentioned in review snippets, and the Waimea Center setting makes it an easy errand-stop location. DoorDash and Restaurantji both indicate delivery/takeout functionality. (mapquest.com)
Best fit: A quick lunch, casual family meal, or a warming soup stop on a cool Waimea day. It seems especially suited to travelers who want dependable Vietnamese comfort food without a long sit-down experience. (wanderlog.com)
Weaker fit: Visitors looking for a special-occasion setting, scenic dining, or a highly curated chef-driven experience will probably find this too plain. That is an inference from the repeated “strip mall,” “simple,” and “typical pho place” descriptions. (mapquest.com)

History & Background

Very little detailed ownership history is visible in the sources I found. The official site does, however, suggest there are two Waimea-area locations on the Big Island and references an earlier Kona location, which implies a small local multi-location footprint rather than a one-off single shop. (phobigisland.com)

Review Sentiment Snapshot

What People Love

Review patterns are broadly positive on the food itself, especially the pho broth, beef-rib pho, spring rolls, banh mi, and generous portions. Fast service and reasonable pricing come up repeatedly, and some diners describe the food as fresh, authentic, and good for a quick stop. (wanderlog.com)

Common Gripes

The main complaint theme is inconsistency: some diners say the pho broth or herbs were disappointing, and a few reviews raise service concerns, including slow or inattentive treatment. Those negatives are real but mixed rather than overwhelming; the overall rating remains solid, so the downside seems present but not dominant. (wanderlog.com)

Practical Visitor Tips

Hours are posted as 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily in both Google data and third-party listings, so it appears to be a reliable all-week option. (restaurantji.com)
Reservations do not appear to be a major part of the operation; this looks more like a walk-in, casual-order restaurant. (restaurantji.com)
If you want the most praised items, pho and spring rolls are the safest bets, with beef-rib pho and grilled pork rice plates standing out in reviews and menu summaries. (wanderlog.com)
This is likely a good fit for lunch or an easy dinner after errands or sightseeing around Waimea rather than a destination meal. That is an inference based on the location, menu style, and review language. (wanderlog.com)
If you are very sensitive to service consistency, the mixed review pattern suggests it may be worth tempering expectations. (wanderlog.com)

Verification Notes

Official name is shown as Pho Kim An in Google and third-party listings, while the official website header says PHO KIM ANH; this looks like a naming variant rather than a separate place. (phobigisland.com)
The address, phone, and website align across the Google record and outside listings: 65-1158 Mamalahoa Hwy #9, Waimea, HI 96743, (808) 885-5591, and http://www.phobigisland.com/. (restaurantji.com)
Google lists the business as OPERATIONAL. (restaurantji.com)
The site also references a related Kona location and says there are two locations in upcountry Waimea, so the brand may have internal naming or location-duplication quirks that are worth watching. (phobigisland.com)

Sources

Pho Kim An official site — http://www.phobigisland.com/ — retrieved 2026-04-01 to 2026-04-02; most useful for the restaurant’s self-described specialties, menu lane, and the clue that it may have multiple Big Island locations.
Google Places payload provided in the prompt — https://maps.google.com/?cid=16884143904615959701 — retrieved 2026-04-01; used as the baseline identity anchor for address, phone, hours, rating, price level, and operational status.
Restaurantji listing for Pho Kim An — https://www.restaurantji.com/hi/waimea/pho-kim-an-/ — retrieved 2026-04-01; useful for hours confirmation, customer-favorite dishes, and a compact menu summary.
Wanderlog review aggregation page — https://wanderlog.com/place/details/2778474/pho-kim-an — retrieved 2026-04-01; useful for recurring review themes, especially praise for pho and fast service versus complaints about broth quality and service inconsistency.
DoorDash store page for Pho Kim An — https://www.doordash.com/store/pho-kim-an-waimea-24770383/ — retrieved 2026-04-01; useful for confirming delivery/pickup availability and broad menu categories such as noodle soups, rice plates, and appetizers.
MapQuest / generated listing for Pho Kim An — https://www.mapquest.com/us/hawaii/pho-kim-an-431394764 — retrieved 2026-04-01; useful for corroborating the no-frills strip-mall setting, parking note, and some repeated review snippets about food quality and service.