New Westside restaurant brings authentic Vietnamese pho, noodles and more to Jacksonville

Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
·3 min read
ZEN Pho & Noodles offers dishes like this at its new 5835 Normandy Blvd. restaurant on Jacksonville's Westside.
ZEN Pho & Noodles offers dishes like this at its new 5835 Normandy Blvd. restaurant on Jacksonville's Westside.

A Gainesville-based restaurant highlighting Vietnamese pho, stir fry noodles, bao buns and rice bowls recently debuted in Jacksonville.

ZEN Pho & Noodles, which opened at 5835 Normandy Blvd. on May 9, is known as "the home of the ribeye pho" and also showcases other Pan-Asian cuisine including summer rolls and banh mi.

Although the first in Jacksonville, it is the third restaurant in Florida from the ZEN Noodles Co. based in Gainesville. In addition to Gainesville, there's another near Tampa.

The Jacksonville site is at the forefront of ZEN Noodles ongoing expansion, which includes restaurants coming soon in separate Tampa and Gainesville locations, managing partner Clarissa Zaide said.

"We hope everyone enjoys the little bit of a variation in the food on the Westside that we bring. …That side of the Westside doesn't have a ton of food in that particular area," she said of a factor in the decision to locate there.

Neighboring Asian Square Supermarket is one of the largest Asian markets in Jacksonville, and the restaurant building and market share some of the same owners, Zaide said.

"I think we do a pretty good job of having not only Vietnamese food but also Thai," she said. "It's like something for everyone if you are craving different types of Asian food with your family or your friends."

Signature soups, noodles and more

Zaide said "a great place' for guests to start is the pho — the restaurant offers multiple varieties of the traditional beef noodle as well as the Southern Vietnamese-style noodle soup.

"Unlike a lot of traditional places, we don't use any bullion in our stock. We use 100% bone broth and veggies and spices so its really natural and organic," she said.

Every dish is "made to order and crafted with quality ingredients and flavors inspired by our heritage as Asian Americans," the restaurant website states.

ZEN Pho & Noodles, which specializes in Pan-Asian meals like this, now has a location in Jacksonville.
ZEN Pho & Noodles, which specializes in Pan-Asian meals like this, now has a location in Jacksonville.

"We curate our menu to bring comfort like a fresh home-cooked meal and also include options for everyone to try," the restaurant says.

Zaide said they use ribeye beef because "it gives you a little more depth of flavor."

ZEN Pho & Noodles signature dishes include:

  • Bulgogi Ramen Soup ($20): Bulgogi marinated ribeye steak in a miso-based broth with ramen noodles, marinated egg, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, seaweed, ginger scallions and sesame seeds.

  • Pho Tai ($14): Sliced ribeye in a traditional beef noodle soup with rice noodles, onions, scallions and cilantro.

  • Spicy Seafood Ramen Soup ($19): A bold hot chili broth, miso, krab, shrimp, squid, marinated egg, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, seaweed, ginger, scallions and sesame seeds.

  • Pho Duc Biet ($16): Ribeye, beef ball, brisket, tripe, tendon in a traditional beef noodle soup with rice noodles, onions, scallions and cilantro.

  • Spicy Beef Noodle Soup ($16): Spciy beef broth with thick tapioca noodles including sliced ribeye, shank, tendon and beef balls topped with onions, scallions, and cilantro. Add a ham hock for another $3.

  • Sizzling Shaken Beef or Salmon Rice Bowl ($19): A sizzling platter of cooked beef tenderloin or salmon with onions, red bell peppers and scallions with white rice and tomato.

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Appetizers range from two Bao ($4), steamed buns with a choice of ginger tofu, pork belly or bang chicken with Hoisin, cucumbers, daikon/carrots, cilantro, scallions and sesame seeds; to Vietnamese Summer Rolls ($7) with a choice of tofu, chicken and shrimp or grilled pork, which is a $1 extra; or Fried Calamari ($11).

ZEN Pho & Noodles also offers gluten-free and dairy-free dishes as well as vegan and vegetarian options.

ZEN Pho & Noodles, a Gainesville-based restaurant focused on Vietnamese pho and noodles opened its first Jacksonville location last week at 5835 Normandy Blvd.
ZEN Pho & Noodles, a Gainesville-based restaurant focused on Vietnamese pho and noodles opened its first Jacksonville location last week at 5835 Normandy Blvd.

Beverages include Vietnamese coffee, milk tea, Mangonada along with beer, wine and sake, the menu shows.

ZEN Noodles Co. dates back to 2022 when Hung Nguyen, founder and CEO, opened the first restaurant at 3117 SW. 34th St. in Gainesville. Last year the second restaurant opened at 8787 N. 56th St., in Temple Terrace.

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The new Normandy Boulevard restaurant replaces Pho 77777 as well as Yummy Pho.

ZEN Pho & Noodles is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Zaide said.

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: ZEN Pho & Noodles opens Vietnamese restaurant in Jacksonville