Shoppers are excited for a new Vietnamese restaurant in Harbour View East shopping center.

Pho 79 held the grand opening of its first Suffolk location on Wednesday at 6243 College Drive. Folks have waited for this 3,200-square-foot restaurant with 120-person seating since construction began last year.

“People have been waiting for us to open,” Pho 79 founder Johnny Vo said. “This is what Suffolk needs.”

The menu offers an array of Vietnamese delicacies such as noodle soup with beef, chicken or shrimp toppings. Soup is served with tapioca or rice noodles. There are also rice dishes and sandwiches.

Western Branch resident Mike Bright said each dish had a combination of sweet, sour and savory. He has been anticipating the restaurant’s opening for months.

“It tastes like it took a year to cook,” he said. “You can tell the careful attention to detail.”

Vo manages the Suffolk restaurant while members of his family run the eight other restaurants in Williamsburg, Newport News, Virginia Beach, Hampton and Chesapeake.  He said having family manage each restaurant keeps their traditions alive and  guarantees food and service quality.

“Everything has to be in the family,” he said.

The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 483-4168.