Pho Vietnam 87
“If I'm ever in Chinatown, NY and craving Vietnamese, I will be coming back here 🙂 :D”
“There was also a slight coconuty-ness to the Banh Xeo which made it taste even more yummier!”
“The menu has so many options, but we stuck to the old favorites: Goui Cuon, Cha Gio, and pho.”
Pho Vietnam 87
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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I sought this place out, was excited by the prospect of going here, and was not disappointed.
Firstly, the restaurant is welcoming and not alienating like a lot of Chinatown places where it seem like I don't know what to do once I walk in or where I'm supposed to be standing if I just want take out.
When I sat down and saw the menu, I knew this place was legit…
And my intuition was right.
The bun thit nuong (BTN, as I call it) was prepared to perfection: sweet, sour, savory, spicy, crunchy, light, and tough all in one bowl of perfectly balanced flavors and textures that you can't find in other cuisines.
The banh mi thit nuong didn't disappoint either, as taking one bite brought me back to medical school when I dated a Vietnamese girl who introduced me to Viet food heaven.
So many other Vietnamese places in this city are jokers run by greedy Chinese restaurateurs, but this place found a special place into my heart.
My Vietnamese friend actually introduced me to this place, so I figured it's gotta be pretty good! And I was right! First of all, portions were HUGE, which I loved! Secondly, food tasted great, even though certain dishes weren't as authentic as I expected, especially the tomato crabmeat noodles. Don't get me wrong – it was really good, and this is one of the few places (if not the only) that serves this dish, but it was just slightly different from what I had tasted when I was back in Asia. Nonetheless, I've become a regular at this place!
Though I personally haven't had the pho here, those we've come with have and nobody had complained about it yet. Just one of the many Vietnamese restaurants in Chinatown, but this stands out because it's actually run by Viet people. You'll find virtually the same menu with all the trimmings. The coffee hits the spot, the staff has friendly, and the portions are plentiful with a low price tag. Definitely worth coming again and again.
Best Pho in NY!!!! I tried to get some pho at other places but this place is memorable. I'm also pretty sure they recognize me by now. It's by the grand st. station on the D line but I usually walk from Astor on the 6th- a bit of a walk but worth the trek.
Love those spring rolls and they give you that dipping sauce on the side. Get the #1 on the Pho list!- you will not regret.
Hello. I'm back again and I'm here to say that I enjoyed your banh mi. I haven't really eaten much banh mis in my life but when I took a bite of yours, it was like an explosion of flavors. The bread was crisp but soft in the inside and everything balanced each other perfectly. So good. I'll be back.
There aren't a lot of pho options in Chinatown that I can count on, but Pho Vietnam has emerged as one of the reasons why I won't have to venture to Brooklyn as often for my pho fix. Even if I'm not in a pho mood, this is a place I could count on to bring Viet food loving companionions, as we sip our ca phe sua das and figure out what to eat next.
The name of the restaurant might suggest simple, but the decor is everything but (in a good way). A lot of contemporary elements in their interior, from the glass-wood combo furniture to the clean faux brick walls and metal lining. There's even a custom locomotive model going back and forth across the ceiling; a very cool thematic nudge to the whole Xe Lua (train head) concept. To my knowledge zero Vietnamese establishments in NYC have any setup like this.
Pho fans can expect a decent broth and the hungry ones should definitely shoot for an extra large (i.e. Xe Lua sized) bowl. The side garnish is an abundant mesh of Viet basil, mint leaves, bean sprouts, and lime, which has become a forgotten element in so many other Viet joints. A few slurps and optional condiment additions later, a hearty bowl of noodle soup is now the ultimate comfort meal. Flank and brisket are highly recommended though veggie versions are available.
There are a number of dishes worth mentioning, like their super crispy banh xeo ($6), along with an extra crispy cha gio spring roll ($6). Their rice dishes such as the com tam dac biet (special combination rice plate) and bun thit nuong (pork rice vermacelli) stands out as a dry noodle dish. I wish I could get behind the banh mi and goi cuon (summer rolls) but alas, a little too dry and half hearted for my taste.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves, this isn't mind blowing or life changing Vietnamese. But for those of us who have been spoiled by the riches of the west coast and south for Viet delights, this is fairly close without breaking the bank. The service is adequate, bathrooms are clean and but above all, the execution is consistent. So many Viet spots in NY could benefit from just that alone — which makes Pho Vietnam 87 worthy of two thumbs up.
I had the pho here (#3? It's the special but smaller)
PROS:
-good amount of noodles
-fresh bean sprouts and basil
-the sambal on the table is quite good
-decent, sweet beefy flavor in the broth
-good amount of meat (tendon was quite tender)
-GREAT prices. Seriously good deal
-polite service, no complaints
-beef brisket in the soup was realllly good and tender.
CONS:
-the broth was good but … not special? Lacked depth. It was good, solid flavor, but missing something special
-salty. I was chugging water all night and woke up the next morning seriously bloated 🙁
-the beef was added in a big clump and it didn't cook very well. Also, I know round is frozen to slice it more thinly but when it cooked in my broth, it had a weird, sponge-y texture that I attribute to the freezing
If you're looking for no-frills Vietnamese food at a very reasonable cost, Pho Vietnam will do the trick.
Despite having a really extensive menu of traditional food, we played it extremely safe (which is probably why I wasn't blown away by the food). We started with the shrimp summer rolls; they were very basic albeit a bit chewy, but the peanut sauce that accompanied them was fantastic.
We both had bun for our main meals, mine with spring rolls and beef. The vermicelli noodles were a lot thicker than I'm normally accustomed to, and it only came with 3 tiny rolls of beef and a few strands of pickled daikon and carrots. This was a little disappointing, but it was still a large enough portion for two meals.
Service was typical Chinatown and it took us a really long time to get our check; definitely flag someone down if you need anything. $10 minimum for credit cards.