Unearth The Voyage
Slow-simmered pho, creative sushi rolls, crispy banh mi, boba tea, and a fried avocado appetizer with its own devoted following have turned this modest Jacksonville restaurant into a central Arkansas favorite. Sitting near Little Rock Air Force Base, PHO AND MORE has earned a 4.5-star rating across more than 700 reviews while attracting diners from Jacksonville and neighboring communities who are willing to make the drive for another bowl.
Pho may be the star, but the menu refuses to stop there. Diners can move from rare beef Pho Tai and tofu pho to pad thai, hibachi, banh mi, Vietnamese egg rolls, and sushi rolls with names like the Jacksonville Roll and Arkansas Roll. Then there’s the Avocado Blaster – golden-fried avocado topped with a special sauce and crunch – which has developed a reputation all its own among regulars.
Here’s why PHO AND MORE has become one of Jacksonville’s most popular international dining spots – and why this unassuming Arkansas restaurant gives you far more reasons to visit than its name initially suggests.
A Welcoming Address in the Heart of Jacksonville
Right at 123 S Jeff Davis Ave, Jacksonville, AR 72076, PHO AND MORE sits in a spot that is easy to miss if you are not looking for it, but impossible to forget once you have been inside. The building is modest and unpretentious, the kind of place that lets the food do all the talking rather than relying on flashy signage or elaborate decor.
Jacksonville itself is a city shaped heavily by its proximity to Little Rock Air Force Base, which brings a constantly rotating mix of people from across the country and around the world. That diversity creates an appetite for authentic international flavors, and this restaurant answers that call with confidence.
With a 4.5-star rating across more than 744 Google reviews, the numbers alone signal that something genuinely special is happening here. The restaurant can be reached at 501-241-1447, making it easy to call ahead and confirm hours before making the drive from Cabot, Sherwood, or Little Rock.
The Pho That Keeps People Coming Back
The broth is the heart of everything here, and it is the kind you notice from the moment the bowl hits the table. Simmered low and slow with beef bones and a carefully balanced blend of star anise, cinnamon, and cloves, the liquid carries a depth that takes hours to build and only seconds to appreciate.
Pho Tai, the rare beef option, is consistently the most talked-about choice on the menu. Thin slices of beef arrive barely cooked, finishing gently in the hot broth, turning tender and silky by the time the first spoonful reaches your lips. A plate of fresh accompaniments, including bean sprouts, lime, basil, and sliced chili, lets you customize every bite.
For those who prefer something lighter, the tofu pho offers a clean, fragrant alternative that does not sacrifice any of the broth’s complexity. Regulars have described this soup as some of the finest they have ever tasted anywhere in the United States, and that praise is hard to argue with after one bowl.
A Menu That Refuses to Stay in One Lane
PHO AND MORE earns its name honestly. Yes, the pho is the anchor, but the menu stretches across a genuinely broad range of Asian cuisines, offering sushi, hibachi, pad thai, banh mi sandwiches, and a rotating cast of appetizers that each have their own loyal fans.
The Papaya Salad brings a bright, tangy crunch that works beautifully as a starter, while the Pad Thai arrives with the kind of savory-sweet balance that feels both comforting and exciting at the same time. Gyoza, crab rangoon, fresh spring rolls, and Vietnamese egg rolls round out an appetizer section that could easily become a full meal on its own.
What makes this variety work is that none of it feels thrown together or unfocused. Each dish is executed with care, and the kitchen clearly understands the flavor profiles it is working with across multiple culinary traditions. First-time visitors often arrive expecting one thing and leave having discovered three or four new favorites they never anticipated ordering.
Sushi Rolls With a Local Identity
Not every Vietnamese restaurant decides to add a full sushi menu, but PHO AND MORE made that call and has not looked back. The sushi section features both familiar classics and creative rolls that carry a distinctly local personality, including the Jacksonville Roll and the Arkansas Roll, two options that nod directly to the community the restaurant serves.
The Spicy Tuna Roll draws repeat orders from regulars who appreciate its clean heat and fresh fish, while the Spicy Crawfish Roll adds a regional twist that feels right at home in Arkansas. Each roll is assembled with fresh ingredients, and the attention to quality shows in the texture and flavor of every piece.
Sushi and pho might seem like an unlikely pairing on the same menu, but the kitchen handles both with genuine skill. Ordering a bowl of pho alongside a plate of sushi rolls has become a popular move for regulars who want to experience the full range of what this kitchen can do in a single sitting.
The Avocado Blaster and Other Appetizer Stars
Ask a regular what to order first and there is a good chance the Avocado Blaster comes up before anything else. Fried to a golden crisp on the outside while staying creamy and rich on the inside, these avocado pieces are then topped with a special sauce and a satisfying crunch that makes the whole thing feel like a very pleasant surprise.
The owner reportedly introduced this dish personally to guests, and that personal touch has clearly paid off. It has developed its own reputation entirely separate from the pho, drawing people in who might not have originally been looking for fried avocado but leave convinced it is a must-order every time.
Tempura-fried egg rolls are another standout, delivering a lighter, crispier shell than the traditional version while keeping all of the savory filling intact. Crab rangoon, steamed potstickers, and fresh spring rolls with dipping sauce fill out an appetizer lineup that rewards the indecisive by making every choice a good one.
Hibachi Options for Those Who Want the Sizzle
Beyond the cold precision of sushi and the slow warmth of pho, PHO AND MORE also offers hibachi dishes that bring a different kind of energy to the table. Grilled proteins like steak, shrimp, and chicken are cooked to order and served alongside fried or steamed rice and a medley of sauteed vegetables that carry a satisfying char.
Combination plates let diners mix proteins, which is a smart move for anyone who cannot decide between surf and turf. The portions are generous, and the overall presentation is straightforward and satisfying rather than theatrical, keeping the focus squarely on flavor.
For families with varied tastes, the hibachi options serve as a reliable middle ground. Kids who are not yet ready for pho or sushi tend to gravitate toward the fried rice and grilled chicken, which means parents can order what they actually want without worrying about whether the table will be happy. Kids fried rice, in particular, has shown up in multiple reviews as a crowd-pleasing staple that delivers every time.
Banh Mi Sandwiches Worth Seeking Out
The Banh Mi at PHO AND MORE is the kind of sandwich that earns its own devoted following without needing much fanfare. A crispy baguette holds together a carefully layered combination of marinated meat, pickled carrots and daikon, fresh cucumber, cilantro, and sliced jalapeno, creating a bite that balances crunch, tang, heat, and savory depth all at once.
Liver pate and a light spread of butter add a richness to the base that anchors all the bright, acidic toppings and keeps the whole sandwich from feeling too light. It is a textbook example of Vietnamese street food done with genuine care, and it translates beautifully to a sit-down restaurant setting.
For anyone who wants a break from a bowl or a plate, the banh mi offers a portable, satisfying alternative that does not compromise on flavor. First-time visitors who order it often end up adding it to their regular rotation, returning specifically for the sandwich on days when they want something quick, fresh, and deeply satisfying without the full commitment of a multi-course meal.
Boba Tea and Sweet Endings
Mango boba arrives sweet but not cloying, with chewy tapioca pearls that make each sip feel like a small event. The drink has been called out specifically by multiple regulars as a highlight of the meal, which is a meaningful endorsement for something that is easy to overlook when the food is this good.
Beyond boba, the restaurant offers hot jasmine tea served in what has been described as very cool cups, adding a small moment of visual charm to the experience. Vietnamese iced coffee, made with strong-brewed coffee and sweetened condensed milk, rounds out the beverage selection for those who want something bold and energizing to finish the meal.
Dessert options like cheesecake provide a familiar, comforting close to a meal that may have taken your palate on a genuine adventure. These sweet choices are not overwhelming in number, but they are thoughtfully selected to complement the savory dishes that came before them, giving the dining experience a satisfying beginning, middle, and end that feels complete rather than abrupt.
The Atmosphere Inside the Dining Room
The dining room at PHO AND MORE is small, and on busy lunch days, every table tends to fill up quickly. That density of happy diners, all leaning over steaming bowls and sharing plates of appetizers, creates an energy that feels genuinely lively without ever tipping into chaotic or uncomfortable.
The decor is understated, letting the food and the conversation take center stage. Warm lighting keeps things cozy rather than clinical, and the overall vibe is casual enough that you can show up in a t-shirt and feel completely at home. Solo diners find a peaceful corner without any trouble, and groups naturally spread across the available seating without feeling cramped.
The restaurant features a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking lot, and seating, making it genuinely welcoming to all guests. High chairs are available for families with young children, which is a detail that matters more than it might seem when you are trying to enjoy a bowl of hot soup while keeping a toddler content. The thoughtfulness behind these practical touches reflects an operation that genuinely cares about who walks through the door.
A Community Anchor Near Little Rock Air Force Base
Jacksonville, Arkansas, is a city defined in large part by its relationship with Little Rock Air Force Base, one of the busiest military installations in the South. The base brings thousands of service members and their families to the area, creating a population that is culturally diverse, often well-traveled, and genuinely hungry for authentic international food.
PHO AND MORE fits into that landscape in a meaningful way. For some residents, a bowl of pho is a taste of home or a familiar comfort from a previous posting overseas. For others, it is a first encounter with Vietnamese cuisine that opens up an entirely new world of flavor.
Regulars have driven in from Cabot and other nearby towns, calling ahead to place to-go orders and reporting that the pho is worth every minute of the drive. That kind of loyalty, from people who have other options closer to home, says a great deal about what this restaurant has built over the years. Food has a way of connecting people across very different backgrounds, and this spot does exactly that, one bowl at a time.
Hours, Ordering, and How to Plan Your Visit
PHO AND MORE operates on a split daily schedule that runs Monday through Saturday. Lunch service runs from 11 AM to 2:30 PM, and the restaurant then reopens for dinner at 4:30 PM. Sundays are a full rest day for the team, so planning around that one closure is the main thing to keep in mind before making the trip.
The restaurant accepts reservations, which is worth knowing if you are planning a larger group visit or simply want to guarantee a table during the busy lunch window. For solo diners or couples, walk-ins generally work fine outside of peak hours, but arriving early is never a bad strategy when a place is this popular.
To-go orders are available and have a solid track record for speed, with some reviewers reporting their orders were ready in as little as 15 minutes. Delivery through platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash extends the reach of the menu to those who cannot make it in person, though dining in the restaurant is the experience that truly captures everything this kitchen has to offer. The phone number is 501-241-1447 for anyone who prefers to call ahead.
