Ngon Bistro

Driving down University Ave one Saturday afternoon, looking for a place to eat dinner, I passed by Ngon Bistro, and thought I'd give them a try, so glad I did! The food here is Vietnamese/Asian fusion, and includes favorites like pho, spring rolls and bahn mi. In the summer months there is a wonderful little outdoor patio for dining, but I decided to stay indoors. The dining room is bright and cheery, thanks to light colors and huge picture windows at the front of the store. It's fun to sit and watch the streetcars go by on the Metro's Green Line! You can use the Victoria St. station stop to get here. The menu is a simple one page affair, with a small but excellent selection of Vietnamese/Asian inspired food. I was also given a page of daily specials. Lots's of great food to choose from! They also have a small selection of signature cocktails for you to try. I had the Lemon Basil Negroni, and it was excellent! For a "small plate" appetizer, I decided on pork egg rolls, and they were wonderful. They came with a nice, sweet dipping sauce. I had no problem eating them both! My main course was the pho with meatballs. Oh my goodness! It was the best soup I've ever had in my life! And so very filling. The staff here are really great people, and wonderful to deal with. The decor is simple, bright and cheery. Parking can be an issue, but I had no problems finding a spot close by. The food itself is OUTSTANDING. Bar service is top notch. If you stick to just a main course and water, you can dine for about $20 a person. Add adult drinks and appetizers, and your looking at $50 a person. I give Ngon Bistro my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! I do plan on coming back again.

While visiting St. Paul to see the Minnesota Wild play and go to see Muse in concert, I happened upon Ngon Bistro. From the moment I arrived the staff was absolutely friendly and incredible. After getting some local brew suggestions, I ordered the Chicken Pho. As a huge Pho fan, I have to say this probably is the best broth I have ever had! The chicken was absolutely incredible and portion size was right on point. I also had the wings which were incredible as well. With both things I highly recommend their house made hot sauce which was amazing! Overall it’s one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. Ask for Junior, Zach, or Lisa as they were very friendly and very great at their job! Incredible service and incredible food with a low key vibe. Highly recommend this place!!

Update: patio is open. Dog friendly patio. The pho is so amazing! There are fun drink options and all local beers served. The owner places great importance on keeping the menu fresh and new. Great quaint atmosphere.

It was okay. I wasn't blown away with the food. I got the bun bowl. The noodles tasted like they were at least two days old. The chicken tasted like it had been reheated in a microwave. My friend got the pho burger. It was decent but didn't really taste anything close to pho. However, the service was exceptional and our waiter was knowledgeable and very friendly.

The food is absolutely stunning! We had the fresh spring rolls and goatwurst to start, both were unique and flavorful. Main dishes were a brisket and grits with ramen... they had a kick! The atmosphere is relaxed, yet the staff is attentive and friendly. 10/10 will return!

This place was amazing. I was in town for a training and came here for dinner. I had the bó kho and the mousse for dessert. Everything was great. The bó was like a beef stew and was served over grits. I ate it with a spoon and it was extremely tender. I am not typically one for the fat on meat, but the fat on the beef in this dish was melt in your mouth good. The dessert was amazing as well. The sponge was soaked in liquor and the bourbon cherries on top were great as well. I had it with the tawny port. Very nice decor, and I particularly enjoyed the vinyl collection behind the bar. I would definitely recommend-- for those that live here and those who are visiting.

They make a good old fashioned. I would recommend their ol fashioned. Great service, nice dinning room, good size menu. The beef pho was good. Nothing to "write home" about. The broth was nice and had a good Beed flavor. But, I was expecting more layers in that broth. Overall, I would recommend this joint for their old fashioned, and their friendly service. As for food, it's okay. But, I have only had two dishes so far. So, more updates to come ....

4.5 ⭐ Had an awesome date on the patio. The whole service outside is operated on the Toast application, you scan a code at your table, order, and pay all within the app. I ordered an old fashioned & started with their crispy rabbit dumpling. The dumpling came out freshly hot on flavorful coconut curry. The old fashioneds were aromatic but lacked both boozy or a sweet punch. Next was an order of steamed duck bao, which tasted delicious but was a little dry. Admittedly, we went towards the end of their operating hours and I understand duck is hard to keep moist over the course of the day. We ended up dipping them in the coconut curry and really enjoyed them. Best of all, we had the pleasure of having the chef's special pastrami sandwich! Bo kho spiced pastrami, 24 hour slow smoked and pho broth steamed meat. Stacked on top of caraway rye bread with a good touch of whiskey whole grain mustard. EASILY one of the best sandwiches in St. Paul! The cocktail could be easily touched up and the bao buns could use a dipping sauce. Otherwise, everything was excellent, especially that pastrami sandwich!

My boyfriend and I went here for date night and we had a great time. The bar area was cutely decorated for Christmas and the place was packed. I enjoyed a fun cocktail called the "Last Caress", and we both got egg rolls and the ribeye pho. The egg rolls were very crispy, clearly homemade, and delicious! The pho was very flavorful with limes, sprouts, and basil to add to taste. Portions were huge so we both took some pho home as leftovers. Our server was also very nice and recommended her favorite drinks! They have a sign at the door saying they won a James Beard Award in 2020, which is definitely deserved! We had a great time and will definitely be back.

Amazing bartender, and fun drinks, good amount of alcohol buy not too boozy to throw off the flavors. Amazing staff, so friendly. However, the good is marked up a good 30 percent more than whatbyoy pay for similar portions elsewhere. My pastrami , you guys...when it was brought out it looked like they just gave me a bread bowl! My partner concurred! I had to rearrange it for the photo and even then I was like, Where's the Beef?! This is a 13 dollar sandwich for which i paid 18. No sides, not even fries. I will be back for happy hour bar apps and the Amazing drinks. Not the pho or the rest of the entrees.

Went over in a cold, snowy Thursday at the beginning of December. Only 4 other tables seated in the restaurant & yet, they had trouble figuring out where to seat us. This lead to further confusion over which of the 3 wait people (2 females & a male) were waiting on us. Promptly got water & menus for everyone avoided eye contact so we couldn't even flag someone down to say we were ready to order. The food & drinks are great for MSP winters but I'd recommend take-out rather than eating in.

My friend brought me here for the first time last week and I am obsessed. It truly is a hidden gem. Right from the get go the atmosphere is so welcoming and intriguing. The interior is absolutely beautiful with a breathtaking bar at the end of the restaurant. I will say the menu items were a little spendy but nothing too crazy and frankly the food is worth it. The pork belly melted in my mouth. It had such amazing flavor I'm counting down the days until I can eat it again! Although I do wish the pho had more meat included the broth it self was so delicious. Perfect for a cold winter night. I am so excited to go back and try all the other items.

We sat in the patio which had a great vibe! Their menu has interesting dishes like Rabbit Dumplings and the more classic dishes as well like Pho. I personally liked the Pork Pasta (pork belly on creamy cavatappi) and their Pho! My only complaint was my Bo Kho was on the dry side.

The atmosphere is not what you'd typically expect when ordering Pho. It's dimly lit, quiet, and very relaxed. They specialize in modern twists on traditional Vietnamese dishes. However, I didn't partake. Pho was what I was there for. The Pho broth is clear and very fresh. Pho is made with beef broth. The clarity is presumed from their "fresh and locally sourced ingredients." Also, the chicken is better than the Ribeye and might be the best in town. You can tell that it wasn't frozen cheap chicken or even chicken breast. You can see white and dark meat, crispy skin on. A bit expensive for Pho, but the atmosphere pairs with the price. P.S. Someone please comment and let me know how Ngon is pronounced.

I've been to Ngon before and think it's an amazing restaurant, but I just ordered some Bun and the noodles are either not fresh, or undercooked. Not a huge deal, but I know this place doesn't want to serve noodles like that. I can't wait to dig into the egg rolls, though.

OVERALL: Great lunch & dinner spot. ATMOSPHERE: The well designed restaurant has local artists on the wall, as well as a nice bar area. French inspired, the decor really represents that. FOOD: in the colder months (sometimes not even) my go-to is the pho. The broth is so flavorful. Pictured I have the Bun which I order in the warmer months for something light and fresh. It gives you the illusion of eating a salad but actually tasting good!

Lovely tasting food! Great vibe on the patio. Need more staff. Great place for happy hour.

This place combines well executed Vietnamese cuisine with a fabulous bar that dispenses killer craft cocktails. Tasteful relaxed interior. Perfect service. Starter was rabbit dumplings. Very nice, crispy exterior, wonderful coconut curry sauce, beautifully presented. We the special oxtail pho, accompanied by house made hot sauce. Also the bùn with chicken. Very flavorful.

Ngon is a hidden gem​ on University. A friend introduced me to this Vietnamese restaurant and I was impressed. The outside may blend in with the rest of the neighborhood but the interior is beautiful. It's a clean restaurant with natural light and plenty of seats. We stopped in for lunch on a Monday. We were greeted and seated right away. We ordered two appetizers -- spring rolls and sweet crispy pork. The spring rolls were perfectly rolled and tasted fantastic. The pork was out of this world. It was thinly sliced and fried. I was quite impressed with it. The special sodas were also refreshing. I went with the ribeye pho which was packed with flavors. The spices were strong with a smooth beefy taste. The ribeye meat was tender. That was my favorite part about my bowl of pho. Overall, the prices are on the high end but for the ambiance​ and experience; it was worth it. This would be a great date spot for a lunch or dinner date. My only complaint was the wait time for food. It was longer than expected. I look forward to visiting again in the near future and trying the other items. I would consider this restaurant a high-end​ Vietnamese restaurant. I can see where they are trying to go with the direction.

Incredible food and service! The pho is perfection and the beef brisket is everything you'd want it to be. A must try cozy restaurant!

Best pho of the Twin Cities!!! And do I dare say one of the best burgers too?!? In the summertime you can really enjoy a chill night out on their back patio. A real sleeper restaurant... you just don't expect it to be as good as it is. You would be doing yourself a disservice by not checking this place out!!!

This has been on my radar for a very long time and finally got its turn! University Ave Is known for its eclectic food options mostly family run or small local restaurants supposedly offering great food. This one was unique in the line of restaurants that its slightly higher end, offering fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisine. Cut to the chase, I was here last night for a quick dinner after work and didn't feel super hungry . There is just street parking but we found and open spot. As we walked in the ambience was plain but open and welcoming. Dimly lit with a bar at the back and abundant seating. So our picks were limited to crispy Rabbit dumpling in curry sauce and Chicken Pho. The dumpling looking well presented and was true to its namesake "crispy " but the filling was nothing unique. The curry sauce lacked punch was just a concoction of some spices. Pho was just about ok. Pho is usually all about the broth and this one didn't offer much flavor. It was quite bland despite adding all fixings. I have had better Pho at local smaller restaurants like Bambu at Maplewood. Overall a mediocre place but worth trying !

I wish I could give it a 4.5 stars. The food is always great and I've tried several dishes. I don't drink so I never have had their drinks but I love how the bar looks. However, I always feel like there is just something just short of 5 stars. We had the beef short ribs and pork belly. The beef was flavored well and really good quality. The potatoes were good but the kimchi could have been better. I just don't like what I think were onions. That said, the meatball pho was fantastic! The broth is the best I've had in the Twin Cities. It is a bit pricier but also better for you. I've had the chicken broth pho here too and it's fantastic too!!!

We enjoyed our dinner at Ngon Bistro. The food was excellent. Have the rabbit dumplings- so good! Servers were also friendly and helpful with questions we had. Only reason for the 4 was a garbage smell at our table near the alley. Sit inside. Problem solved!

A charming place in the Midway. I came here with a group of 9 just after going from bookstore to bookstore for a fun group outing. Parking is easy on the side streets and in the neighborhood. They have a wide variety of cocktails and a solid wine list. I opted for the Beaujolais wine because I love to drink it in October/November. Before the Pho came out, they brought out the toppings. The basil radiated a fresh smell that got my mouth watering for one of the best Pho's in the city. They make their own hot sauce in house. Try it. And they use organic and local ingredients whenever possible. Lastly, they have fun artwork on the wall. Will be coming back for sure!

Was excited to try this place based off their menu offerings. They have some parking at the side of their building otherwise street parking. To start we had to try the rabbit dumplings and we ordered some Vietnamese spring rolls for the kids. Both of these dishes was absolute perfection. The rabbit dumpling comes open in two pieces served over a very flavorful and delicious green curry. The dumpling is perfectly decadent and the rabbit meat was outstanding. The spring rolls come with delicious dipping sauce and was also cooked to perfection. For entree the wife ordered a ribeye pho, I ordered the shrimp and noodles in red curry and my son the Vietnamese version of the French dip sandwich. The broth in the pho was one of the cleanest and flavorful, I have had. I love that they serve the meat raw and allow the hot broth to finish the cooking, pho is much more enjoyable when the meat is allowed to cook in the broth right before you eat. The shrimp they used were quite large and flavorful. The curry broth was good as well, it is thickened with quite a bit of coconut milk that toned down the spice. My sons sandwich is a great culinary idea. They take beef brisket that is marinated in their pho broth and than they shave it thin and serve it as a French dip sandwich topped with gruyere cheese and the auju for dipping is the pho broth, wonderful idea, wonderful execution. The service was outstanding and attentive would come back many times if, I lived here.

It has been a long time since we've been to this amazing little gem in frog town, in the midst of the familiar Pho eateries and Asian groceries. Ngon is actually a little foodie escapade you would just drive right past it if not careful. We got a rare date night and thought what the heck, let's go to one of the places we used to go before we had kids. We got the Duck Cassoulet and the Pork Char Siu. The food is as exquisite as back when we first came to this place. It's over the top, scratch kitchen, Minneapolis/Metropolitan, chef driven, farm-to-table, organic, Vietnamese and French fusion madness. As for the actually dishes themselves, I thought that their cooking lacked the balance that was once there. They used to have a beautiful balance between the boldness of French cuisine coupled with the delicacy of Asian cuisine. However, tonight's dinner was entirely in the French realm, where the flavors were over the top bold and in time overwhelming, and completely devoid of any balance with Asian delicacy and subtlety. In particular, the duck confit was coupled with a bean stew that was very bold. I really wished for another starch or other element like a Bok Choi that had a lightness which would have balanced the dish. My wife's Char Siu dish was the same way. The meat was very rich in flavor and very dense, coupled with a black rice which was infused with Pho brine. Once again, it was rich on top of rich. We ordered the dessert trio, which was amazing. It was a spicy watermelon gazpacho, NY cheesecake with blueberry compote, and a Vietnamese Mocha coffee cake with Tia Maria and dutch chocolate. But again, rich on top of rich. Overall Ngon is still an amazing place. We were delighted that they are still around, and have survived the construction of the light rail which destroyed so many local businesses along University Avenue. We did long for a return to their former, more balance approach to their menus, but we can appreciate that they seemed to have found what works to not only survive, but to thrive.

love this place! the food, vibe, staff. such a great experience. deserving of all their awards. St. Paul is lucky!

Food pretty good but service frustrating, Wait staff brought wrong appetizer, which we ignored and just went with the flow. But then 1 of our 4 entrees took 10-15 min longer to arrive. We sat around awkwardly food getting cold. We asked repeatedly before last entree arrived so late w no explanation. I ordered a glass of wine halfway through meal that never arrived, despite a second request. It finally showed up - on the bill. Again, the food was good - although padded with a lot of rice - but disappointing dining experience overall.

Great ambience and customer service. Though the food is beyond delicious, a must try is their home made sodas. It's super refreshing.

I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful restaurant and the tasty dishes. I stepped in here to dine with an open mind and having read some of the negative reviews I need to try this place and judge for myself. As soon as I walked in, I noticed how different this restaurant is compared to the other over saturated Asian restaurants along University Avenue. I have to say, I appreciate that they try to set themselves apart by offering a fusion French Vietnamese cuisine and elevate their customer dining experience with a more trendy and hip decorated place. They even have a beautiful bar and a good option for cocktails, but they should stay open later if they have a bar instead of closing at 9pm. I can only comment about the Asian food in their menu and not the French cuisine this time. My next trip, I have to make sure to try their more French entrees. I was craving pho so I had to order that and I picked the oxtail broth one. The pho here seemed pricier than the other pho places on this strip, but the broth was full of umami and not as salty as some pho places. It has a nice aftertaste. They give you a good portion of noodles and vegetables. Their rabbit dumpling with green curry sauce was so good also. It tasted like eating a fried chicken but more sophisticated. I could taste great peppery heat from the curry. They also have some homemade spicy sauce that is very spicy and I could taste the habanero. Overall, it was a good experience and I will be back.

Great place for a good cocktail and comfort food on a cold fall night- and "Wrath of Khanh Whiskey" named after Ngon's owners' son? Sign me up- MN craft whiskey doesn't get much more local/unique than that. The Manhattan was quite tasty and the perfect start to a great dinner. Every time I've been to Ngon, the service is great but not stuffy/uptight, and the ambience is great- perfect date night restaurant for grown ups who appreciate locally sourced, good food. Even loved to music they were playing- not stuffy, fun, and great staff working there. If you haven't been there, go- if you have, you know what I'm talking about. Yum!

Wow! The menu was so interesting... several traditional dishes and quite a few very inventive, not-very-Vietnamese selections...and all of it tempting. My dinner partners had the rabbit dumpling and shrimp eggroll, both exquisitely plated and pronounced delicious. Then each of us had a pho, one 3-beef, one chicken, and one ribeye. Mine was the ribeye, and it was sublime. The broth is absolutely heady--rich and complex, even before adding the basil, beansprouts or jalapeños--and the steak was tender and very flavorful. I also had their housemade lemon and basil soda, but would have preferred a non-Thai basil for that, so next time--and there will be a next time very soon, I hope--I'll try the grapefruit soda. The prices are definitely higher than any of the local pho joints, but the quality is very evident and the portions, while not enormous, are reasonable. (I've often wondered why people are pleased by huge portions of mediocre food...) The service was attentive and accommodating, but this is not the place for a quick bite. The food is worth savoring...

I went here with a friend for dinner toward the end of the summer. She wanted to visit the place, so I obliged. When I entered into the place, I think I was expecting something a little different. It did remind me more of a bistro than a traditional Vietnamese restaurant. It was very neat and put together, but seemed very hipster-ish, for lack of a better description, and there were no other patrons of color except myself and my friend (and most of us know that the barometer of a good restaurant is if patrons of that culture and background also actually dine there). So, I think it's very "Minnesotan friendly." My friend ordered some sushi, and I ordered the egg rolls (can't remember whether pork or shrimp), and a rice bowl with tofu. The egg rolls are TO.DIE.FOR! They were very well cooked and delicious and arranged nicely on the plate. I also had some kind of drink--maybe it was lemonade or something; again, can't recall (refer to picture). Overall, the food was OK. Nothing spectacular. Though a perfectly cozy and lovely environment, I wouldn't return again because it's just not my type of vibe, but again, for those who are new to Vietnamese food or don't want to try anything too out of the box in terms of trying new cuisines, it's a safe bet.

Like many of the other reviews say, don't go in expecting authentic Vietnamese cuisine. I ordered the rabbit dumpling which was highly recommended on here and it was absolutely amazing! It was pretty pricey for a small dish, but so worth it. For the entree, I chose the pork vermicelli which was pretty good, but I wish I tried one of their fusion french dishes instead. I also ordered their lemon basil house soda, which was super refreshing! Ngon Bistro is a pretty small restaurant so it has a very intimate ambiance. The interior design is super interesting and the service very accommodating and friendly!

Quality meats! Oxtails or ribeyes are so tender! Juicy and flavorful! I'm a Vietnamese who born and raised in Vietnam. I eat authentic Pho when I was growing up. At Ngon, I love the meat! I can taste the meats not dry not chewy or not bland

Great food! We had the egg rolls,Bun with shrimp, and pork pasta. All delicious! We will be back!

Well, our friends love this place. We visited once in the late summer and once the other night. The 'French' food is really quite delicious - rabbit dumplings, cassoulet, etc. The ramen isn't hot (meh broth), the pho and bun much better. I'd say a 4-star spot but the prices are too high and the service is really pretty bad. Quasi-hipster vibe, impressed with themselves. 'Mn Nice' but slow and obviously disinterested. Better Vietnamese elsewhere, so...

I heard this place had vegan pho and I was super excited. Then I had it, and it definitely was not worth $18 for a bowl of pho. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't so good that I was happy about paying $18 for it. I wish it had more flavor and some faux meats and cilantro. They don't have the normal pho add ins (hoison sauce, chili oil, etc). They did have a hot sauce, that my sister put in her meat pho. It was really spicy she said. My sister in law had the french dip sandwich and did not really enjoy it either. The service was 4 star. Very friends and professional. The place was very clean, really cool bar, and very spacious. I did not visit the restroom, so I'm not sure how they look or were kept. Overall, the experience was nice (service, space, cleanliness, bar). The food though, was just ok. I think we expected more flavorful food, considering the prices they were charging. I probably won't be coming back. Maybe if they have a special vegan dish of the week or day or something, I might come back to try that.

I love Ngon Bistro. A great place for special events or date nights, as it is a little pricey. They have creative cocktails and fun bar setup. The ribeye pho and wontons + shishito peppers never disappoint. Wonderful food and a fun vibe! One of my favorite TC restaurants!

I was really impressed with this place. TL;DR - GREAT food, pricey, noisy, cosy (if those last two adjectives can be compatible). My son's birthday was on Halloween, and since we all had scheduling issues, we went the day after for his birthday - me, my wife, my son, and his girlfriend. He recommended Ngon. Quick sketch: he had beef Pho, his girlfriend had chicken Pho, my wife had Bun, and I had the "cup of Pho", which was just a small serving of the beef broth, and the fried, breaded rabbit cutlet (can't remember their name for it) in coconut curry. They split cream cheese dumplings beforehand. Since the Pho portions are so huge, as was the Bun, they all took turns sharing each others' dishes. The "cup o' Pho" was the best Pho broth I've had yet. But good god, those rabbit cutlets. I will be dreaming of those. Rabbit is a fairly sweet meat when fresh, and the combination with the coconut curry was spot on. There was a little bit of tomato relish/salsa on the side. Seriously. Dreams. At only around $8, I think I can find an excuse to stop in for lunch sometimes... The tab was around $100 for the four of us. I stuck with water, but the other three had liquor and/or specialty beer. My wife particularly liked her Rosé beer, which was a strong beer with fruit flavors. We went on a weeknight around 7, and it was not crowded. It was pretty damn dark though, which usually sets off warning signals for me. And even with the small crowd, it was pretty darn noisy with the tin ceiling and open seating. Really want to come back.

I am only rating the Bun part of the menu. It was our favorite for many years but now the noodles have changed, the grilled pork is bacon, it is too sweet and overall not nearly as good as before. It won't get ordered again. That is too bad because we like Ngon.

Best pho in the Twin Cities, hands down. It's all about the broth. No one has better broth. This place is such a cool, chill little joint. I'm both shocked that it's not packed every night because it's so good, and a little relieved that this lovely little neighborhood joint can almost always accommodate me on short notice.

This little gem has great food with lots of flavor. I got the pho which was really good but it wasn't served with hoisin sauce or hot sauce which is usually an automatic. There were some other dishes on the menu that looked phenomenal like a curry that I really want to try. I look forward to going back!

A small, cute, clean restaurant with a nice ambiance. It is almost hidden by the train if you don't know to look for it. Delicious pho. Wednesday date night deal for $40. Small parking lot or street parking on side streets. I would definitely eat here again. I may even check it out one weekend. I hear they have live music on weekends

It's a good place if you like this sort of food. Good, polite service, reasonable prices, clean. This is Vietnamese/French/ Midwest fusion so be prepared for adventure. The "sausage and mash" features good mashed potatoes with "marrow sauce" and a very oddly flavored sausage. I am sure the food is great if it's kind- it all seemed fresh and high quality. I came here as part of a group for work, and I would suggest that they serve something all American, or even just a simple Fried Rice for those of us who are accompanying Asian Fusion enthusiasts. Even in our foodie era, that is done pretty commonly in restaurants with unusual menus.

Cozy Vietnamese place! I love the ribeye pho and a cocktail. A great spot to meet with friends.

What an amazing evening! Ollie was an attentive and professional server who made terrific suggestions from the menu and the wine list. Food was great and service was even better. Cocktails were outstanding. We highly recommend the Sichuan beef as an appetizer, Bò Kho as a main dish and ginger crème brûlée en dessert. Fun ambiance inside and beautiful patio. We will definitely be back. What a gem!

We went out to ngon for a fun dinner out without kids, we were really excited to try a new Vietnamese restaurant, we love all Asian cuisine especially Vietnamese so we're happy to try new restaurant. We got around for appetizers and two entrées to try out a large section of their food. While it was good food it was not what we were hoping for, we're looking for something more authentic- this is a fusion restaurant vs true Vietnamese- I would recommend the Bun And the Szechuan beef

First off I want to put it out there that I am of Vietnamese decent so I grew up eating Vietnamese food. I have always heard mixed reviews about Ngon Vietnamese Bistro and have been tempted to try it. My brother and I were craving some Vietnamese so we went into try it out. Their presentation is nice. You get a feeling of it being a nicer restaurant to go into because of how clean it is, the music playing, the huge bar display in the back and just the mannerism of the waiter and the host. I was impressed by that, but you knew right away this was not your "average" Vietnamese restaurant. It wasn't. The menu was filled with a few Vietnamese dishes but majority of it were other dishes that had little to nothing to do with Vietnam, none the less, Asia. My brother wanted the Vietnamese staple dish, Pho. I got egg rolls, and ordered two of the several happy hour options : banh mi and mini briskets. If we could rate dishes individually on Yelp I would because I feel semi bad not being able to. The eggs rolls were awesome and I thoroughly enjoyed them, they were what was to be expected of great Vietnamese egg rolls. The banh mi sandwich was good, though I disagree that the sweet potato fries next to them were even that great. My marks sank for the briskets, they were very unappetizing, lacked flavor and the juices you would expect from a brisket. The Pho was not really that great nor was it awful. The broth was okay, just okay. My brother asked me if the noodles tasted strange, and I had some. They were noodles just not cooked all the way, so they still had a crunch to them and didn't even soak up the brother at all so they lacked severely. Overall I thought the experience was decent. The customer service was good, though my water had to be refilled by myself. The food was not worth coming back for, but I did enjoy the atmosphere.

When I need some good pho and I don't have time to drive to A Wok In The Park from St Paul, I'm thankful for Frogtown's Ngon Vietnamese Bistro. It's a pretty traditional-style pho made very well with some interesting options. I only ever have the pho when I go there, so I can't really comment on the rest of the menu except to say that people I've been with seemed reasonably satisfied. Very clean and tastefully decorated interior; as an extra treat they have an extensive collection of vinyl records you can flip through if you're so inclined. (FYI - it's pronounced "non".)

I've only had the pho here. Honestly, it's pretty dope. The protein is higher quality than you get in your average mom and pop. Unfortunately, you also get a ton of attitude from the staff. Don't get me wrong, nobody is nasty to your face. But I went to a high school full of entitled rich kids. I know what it feels like when someone thinks they're better than you. And this place has that same vibe. For real, the elitist hipster-ness is palpable. It really is a shame, the food is good and the ambiance is lovely. The entrees sound amazing. But that undercurrent of feeling like riff raff just ruins it. I shouldn't feel like I need to prove myself to be treated with genuine respect in a restaurant. And knowing that they treat people that way turns me off from dropping more serious cash here. Also, why are the single stall bathrooms gendered? Silly. If you're going to embody all the negative aspects of hipsterism, at least take on the positive ones too.

Service was bomb. I get the feeling my server knew I was on my lunch break and pressed for time. He was there and not there perfectly. I tried the grapefruit lavender house made soda. It was very delicious, but felt over priced at $4 for one little pint. The ribeye pho was so delicious! I stinking loved it and inhaled it. I really could have used sriracha or another hot sauce. There aren't any sauces on the table. The server did swing by once, but left me alone because I was busy stuffing my face. (I was happy he did, so I can't complain much.)

Honestly, this may be a controversial position here, but I don't understand the hype. My visit was very underwhelming. The lunch atmosphere was dull, food was unremarkable, and service was bland. I think we were one of only three tables of people in an otherwise vacant space during prime time lunch at noon, making the entire experience feel cold and empty. For the meal, I had a cup of pho broth (be forewarned, it's just the broth! nothing else, no accountrement, not a noodle to be found) and the Brussels sprouts. As a vegetarian, I struggled a bit with the meaty menu, and when asking our server about potential substitutes, was even less impressed with the lack of flexibility. The server recommended the sprouts for me, which were nothing to write home or Yelp about. My lunch companion had the rice bowl. His meal definitely looked better than mine but I cannot comment on flavor. I would be open to giving this restaurant another try and chalking this up as an off day, but only because so many others have apparently complimented this place. So far, I'm not convinced.

Overall, I've always had good service here. It's one of my favorite restaurants to go to on a cold, dreary Minnesota winter night. My go to dish at this restaurant? The ribeye pho - everything else is pretty pricey and varies in quality. They have a beautiful bar, and good menu overall. That said, I had a horrible ramen experience there earlier this year and wouldn't even give the ramen special a 1 out of 5 star. That said, if you're going for pho, great ambience, and excellent bar, it's a definite 4 star!

After discovering this neighborhood gem a few years back I have made it my personal mission to try to keep up with trying every item on the menus. Each and every thoughtfully crafted dish has been a delight and I definitely have my favorites that I come back to again and again. For nibbles to share or keep all to yourself I suggest devouring the crispy rabbit dumpling- you'll feel the urge to lap up any remaining sauce like a ravenous wild animal. Outside of the food, the wine, beer, and cocktail game is rockin'. Have some fun with it, ask for good pairings (for wine, beer, and cocktails!), enjoy the art and atmosphere, and don't forget to graciously tip your servers and bartender- they are part of making that dining magic and we love them for it.

Been here countless times and it's always top notch. Food is consistently great and the drinks are even better. Faves are the spring rolls, southern bo ko and pork pasta.

Cute, classy restaurant. Definitely wouldn't recommend wearing sweatpants here. Ordered the Southern Bo Kho and ribeye pho. The Bo Kho was a bit too salty and a good amount of spicy. Meat was tender and flavorful. The ribeye pho wasn't anything special but would recommend getting the ribeye meat if you get pho here. Good portion of pho too. Prices were a bit more than I would expect, average meal was about $17. Got $8 spring rolls which weren't too notable. Though the ambience is nice for a date, likely won't be visiting again since it's nothing special for higher than worth-it prices.