Pho & Roll's Festival Pop-Up Becomes a Permanent Edinburgh Fixture

Pho & Roll, the family-run Vietnamese restaurant that first won over diners at its Stockbridge restaurant, has confirmed that its Jeffrey Street site in Edinburgh's Old Town will become a permanent venue following a successful festival pop-up.

Mrs Bite visited with foodie friend Eleanora and discovered a competitively priced restaurant that works equally well for a leisurely feast with friends or a quick lunchtime stop for its bestselling dish: a steaming bowl of fragrant phở, simmered overnight.

The food is comforting and satisfying while feeling fresh and nourishing. Across the menu, flavours range from spicy, herbaceous and citrusy to umami-rich, sour and fermented, creating dishes that hit all the right notes whatever the season.

Now that the pop-up is becoming permanent, the Jeffrey Street restaurant will close for a full refurbishment from Monday 12 October, reopening in mid-November as a two-floor Vietnamese restaurant. The pop-up will continue trading until Sunday 11 October.

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The renders suggest the light green walls that greet us on our visit will be replaced with warmer, earthier brown tones. Combined with improved lighting, the refurbishment should give the space a more established restaurant vibe.

The Pho & Roll story began with founder Bau Pham, who has called Edinburgh home for most of the past decade. His first restaurant, the original Pho & Roll in Stockbridge, opened in April 2026 beside the Water of Leith. It was his way of giving back to the city that welcomed his family while sharing the food, warmth and hospitality of Vietnam. Bau's brother, Thinh Pham, is taking the reins at the Jeffrey Street branch and said ahead of the refurbishment:

"We only meant to pop up for the festival, but the response has been overwhelming. People have crossed the city for our phở and come back the next day for more. Making Jeffrey Street permanent felt like the only thing to do, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back into a space that finally does the food justice."

Everything is still made the way it would be back home, with fresh produce sourced daily, natural flavours, no MSG and no shortcuts. Traditional slow cooking is at the heart of the menu. The abundant use of fresh ingredients and herbs shine in every dish we taste.

We begin our meal with Mekong Treasure, fried dumplings filled with prawns and chives, served alongside a sesame vinaigrette and pickles. We also sample the Autumn Garden Salad, packed with crunchy vegetables, peanuts, mint and lime, and Scallops served with a caramelised soy reduction and wasabi cream.

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The starters are by turns comforting and exciting and the scallops, served in elegant white ceramic spoons, deliver a creamy, luxurious mouthfeel.

For mains, I opt for the Golden Season Curry, a vibrant combination of autumn vegetables, coconut, peanuts and lemongrass topped with thick slices of Crispy Chicken Steak. The portion is so generous I can’t  finish it. At just £13.50, it’s a steal. Across the table, Eleanora tucks into a Mekong Bowl, while we round off the meal with sticky rice, fresh fruit and fortune cookies. Eleanora's fortune advises her to roll up her sleeves for success, while mine promises that luck is on its way.

Pho & Roll is certainly a lucky find for Edinburgh food lovers and I can't wait to return to sample everything I don't have room for this time around. Especially the signature Pho and Banh Mi Roll of course.

Find Pho & Roll at 15–19 Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DR.

Follow @phoandroll.edinburgh on Instagram and visit phoandroll.co.uk for more information.