I'm not a pho connoisseur but the pho tasted flavorful enough without relying on msg. What I did appreciate, though, was the cold tea they served for free. It was a hot day in September and not only did they serve cold tea, it had taste instead of the usual bland water they called tea. I was not tempted at all to order any drink and wanted to refill my pot instead. It's the small details that really define a good restaurant with a bad one.