In 2008, a determined mother of four took a leap of faith that would change her family’s future. Tammy, a refugee from Vietnam, traded in her real estate signs for an apron — and Pho La Jolla was born.

 

But Tammy’s journey to restaurateur was anything but ordinary.

 

After fleeing Vietnam in 1979 with little education and few resources, she taught herself how to survive by becoming a reweaver. Using skills from her hometown, Tammy repaired expensive garments for Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and other San Diego clients. With steady work and a growing list of customers, she supported her family — but she was never content to stop learning.

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While meticulously reweaving garments late into the night, Tammy would listen to real estate education programs on cassette tapes. Her curiosity and discipline paid off: before long, she earned her license and opened her own real estate and mortgage agency.

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For years, she built a strong reputation and steady business, proving once again her resilience and resourcefulness.

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Then came the financial crisis of 2008.

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The housing market collapsed, and Tammy faced another life-altering decision. Many would have retreated, but Tammy saw opportunity. She hung up her “for sale” signs, tied on an apron, and followed her heart into a new chapter — opening Pho La Jolla on August 8, 2008.

 

Seventeen years later, Pho La Jolla has become a home away from home for the San Diego community.

 

The rich, comforting broth of Tammy’s pho has soothed sickness, satisfied cravings, and even cured hangovers. UCSD students, families, tourists, and hospital staff alike gather around her tables, where food is wholesome and hospitality is genuine.

 

For Tammy, Pho La Jolla is more than a restaurant — it’s a legacy of resilience, reinvention, and love.

 

“At Pho La Jolla, we are one big family.” – Tammy