OBAO
“the rib meat was tender ; it melt in your mouth and you could crew on the sugar cane afterward which was an interested combination.”
“Highly recommend Roasted Duck Noodles, Kimchi Fries and Coconut rum & lemon drink (can't remember the name offhand).”
“but it was Michelin rated, and I had immediate food envy that I didn't order it too.”
OBAO
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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i forgot to review this place! got pad kee mow delivery last week and it was spicy deliciousness, and this time i ordered the laksha. both times it got here in under 30 mins.
and wow, what a flavor experience for just 9 dollars on the lunch special. the coconut base was fragrant, spicy and rich with pork and shrimp. it was a pleasure to slurp on. add in the melt in your mouth soft noodles and all the toppings and chili flakes, and my face is on fire – in a good way.
i love spicy foods like this. it is basically my whole life. you lap it up so fast because you barely have to chew, spices open up your sinuses, lips tingling and palette overjoyed. this place is officially my go-to delivery spot for every hunger pang.
good work obao. in a land of mediocre SE asian known as Hells Kitchen, you are a standout forsure.
It was good quality and simple food! Everything tasted fresh and the service was quick. The ambiance was nicely done. Their spring rolls were unique and delicious.
Where do I begin Obao?! You are everything a foodie could want and more. If I had to marry a restaurant, Obao would be it. I've been here two times and both times; it has never failed to disappoint.
FOOD: First off, if you go from 12 PM – 4 PM on any day, weekends include, you can take advantage of their lunch special. $9 for a selection of entrees with a choice of various appetizers. Where in New York City, especially in Hell's Kitchen are you going to find such great food for such a low price? I was so impressed. I got the Tom Yum Soup and Bahn Mi Pork Belly and it was some of the greatest Vietnamese food I have ever had. The other time, I had their Cashew Chili Chicken which was also amazing. The food here is a modern take on classic Vietnamese and they do it well.
DRINKS: There is a selection of beer and fancy cocktail drinks. Come during happy hour for specials!
AMBIANCE: The ambiance is the best part of this place. There's a weird way that Obao makes you feel. Its perfectly quaint and "hipster" with twinkling lights and lanterns. But at the same time, you never feel like you are out of place. It's like being at a hipster coffee shop and feeling like you belong – you'll have to go and check out the ambiance yourself.
SERVICE: My water was refilled every time I took a sip. There service was great. The servers were so courteous and nice.
OVERALL: I love you Obao.
I REALLY wanted to like this place. I was so excited because they had Michelin rated dishes. Meh.
Okay first off, I met my friend there. She sat at the bar & had a drink because they wouldn't seat her until I got there. Fine. I got there and we were seated, but they wouldn't let us order until my friend closed out her bar tab and opened up a table tab……They also could not split our bill without us telling them exactly how much on each card. They just made everything difficult, which I was not expecting for a "nicer" restaurant.
The food was not very impressive, either. Which is where my rating mainly comes from. (since food matter most :P…)
1) The sugar cane rib skewers were actually REALLY good. I loved them. I would get them again.
2) Tasted the pad thai and it was okay…kind of saucy and they used thin noodles instead of the usual "pad thai" noodles.
3) I ordered B'un with chicken (Michelin rated). The waitress told me it wasn't spicy (I can't eat spicy foods). I was expecting a noodle dish with chicken and a sauce, some veggies and a ton of flavor. I was very disappointed. My dish LOOKED full and amazing. From the bottom, there was a sauce (which was kind of spicy)…like a soup. Then a TON of shredded lettuce. Then about 1/4 cup of vermicelli noddles. and a lot of chicken.
I hardly tasted any peanuts or scallions. I had to spit out more than one bite because this lettuce was bruised, wilted and sour. It just wasn't a good experience.
I was really excited to tr this place out but I definitely would not go back. 2 stars for the appetizer.
Came here as a party of 4 and will certainly be back so that my boyfriend can try it as well!
Location/Accessibility : Easy to find on the street, and close to the ACE. Slightly closer to 42nd St than 50th, but both would do just fine.
Ambience : I loved this place. The bar area is close to and open to the street side. It brightened up the restaurant and made the space seem more open. As you go further into the restaurant, you'll find the main seating area. While there was plenty of seating, I definitely didn't feel squished next to any strangers and didn't have any random butts in my face from shuffling around. They utilized their space well. I really liked the decor. I wasn't able to get a good photo of it, but they had these orange light fixtures that from afar, reminded me of "lanterns" in the shape of hot air balloons. The lighting was dim, but not so much that I ever felt like it was dark; it was nice and soft for a relaxing dinner. They also use mirrors which always helps to make a space look a little larger. The bar and the tables were the type of wood that seemed a bit rustic, but very homey. By the time we were finished with dinner, the restaurant was packed, but never did I feel like I had to yell to be heard or that I couldn't hear someone speaking. If I could pick one word to describe how it felt being there, I would say : pleasant.
Service : The bar tender was very prompt upon me sitting at the bar. She made sure to ask if I had any questions about the drink menu. The drink came out very quickly. The only tiff I have is that she put two drinks on the same tab, when I fully intended to pay for my own.
The hostess was very kind upon seating our party of 4.
The server acknowledged our table right away. This is something that people take for granted I think. I've been to places where I was sitting for 15 minutes if not more before anyone came to the table. In any case, we were all pretty quick to figure out what we wanted, and likewise, the food was INCREDIBLY quick to come out. Another thing people may take for granted : clearing of the table. Not that I need to be waited on hand and foot, but I appreciate that it shows how attentive they are and at what standard they hold their service at. Bussers (I assume?) were very polite upon asking if they could take dishes away, and were very timely. It's as if they knew the exact moment to come in. When we asked for the check, it came and was turned around really quickly. I suppose I keep mentioning how fast the service was. While this is certainly a plus, I don't want to take away from the fact that their service was also quality!
Food and Drink : I got a drink just to get one, but I'm actually glad that I did.
Thai Sabai – This one is SWEET! Just how I like it. Minimal taste of alcohol. Very enjoyable, nice and cute.
I originally looked at the menu online and wanted to order Pad Thai. However, the restaurant menu has little Michelin symbols for those items that are Michelin Recommended. Did you know they did that? I didn't… In any case, that changed up the game plan. I went with…
Bu'n with Sautéed Flank Steak – Absolutely delicious. I would eat this again for sure. The steak itself was SO good. My only "complaint" is that I wish there were more steak and less lettuce. Don't get me wrong. The lettuce added a great element to balance the dish out; it was fresh and crisp. I'm just very much more of a meat eater than veggie eater. Plentiful amount of pineapple, which I also love. The cucumber was less abundant, but whenever you manage to snag some in a bite, it was wonderfully refreshing.
While for the most part, I'm really trying not to revisit places so as to branch out as much as possible, I definitely want to return here so my boyfriend can try and experience OBAO. Thanks for a wonderful meal and can't wait to try more!
Fantastic atmosphere- lanterns hanging from the ceiling, firewood on the walls, good mood lighting. AND THE FOOD! My friends and I ordered many appetizers and there was not one thing we didn't like. I think my favorite was the Pad Kee Mao. Recommend you try it.
Let me start off by saying, this is not your average Vietnamese restaurant. This place be fancy.
You walk in and you are captured by their shiny/sleek decor. My friend and I were confused that we had walked into the wrong restaurant and had to take a few steps back to double check the sign at the door.
I ordered from their lunch special – a set price for one appetizer and entree. I ordered their dumplings and a regular pho bowl. I was impressed by their fast service, but not so much the quality of their food.
If you are looking for authentic Asian food, this is not the place to go. The food tasted very American and it was a huge disappointment for me… 🙁 but this would all depend on one's preference. Conveniently located near Port Authority and good customer service.
Solid. Takes reservations. A little loud, but cute space inside.
Start with the shrimp rolls in the glass noodlely wrappy thingies. Other mentionables include: fried rice, noodles, basil chicken, cashew chicken… But you should really try the noodles here.
The pad Thai lobster looked really good, so I'd sample it the next time I come back.
Overall, good service, consistently good food, and a nice selection to choose from.