Pho Bac

Every dining experience at Pho Bac is excellent, with great staff and food that feel like home. This is by far our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the city, and I love every excuse to go to Pho Bac. We most recently got their Tet specials for Lunar New Year, which were especially good. The braised pork and egg, savory rice cake, and house salad were a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and bright flavors. Staff and the restaurant were festive for the occasion. We will be making a visit to Pho Bac for every Tet.

We ordered pho, basil fried chicken, and a happy hour beer. The food was great, but the prices were high. They charged a default service fee, which I didn’t expect and was surprised to see when the check arrived. I didn’t like that part. Did I enjoy the food? Yes, I did, but would I visit again? No, because there was only one variety of chicken and it’s pricey for the quantity as well

Definitely a bit overpriced for what you get. Restaurant was extremely busy and the staff definitely seemed to be struggling to keep up. Ordered the fresh rolls, fried chicken app, and bun bo hue. Bahn mi was the best thing we ate here, bread was fresh and meat was well prepared. Bun bo hue was disappointing, it was not complex and heat was the main flavor that came through. Fried chicken and fresh rolls were good.

After the Baltimore running festival marathon, I was greeted with a casual and cozy corner restaurant with genuine Vietnamese cuisine and great pricing. The staff were extremely quick with the orders and keeping the place clean. Standout flavor profiles carried by ingredients, not salt or oil. Best Vietnamese food I’ve ever had. I will come here again. You should as well.

Mama Trang and her crew don’t ever miss. From the daily staples to the occasional specials - everything is delicious! Every dish is packed with flavor, love and devotion. Don’t pass this place by. We’ve been faithful since they were in the back of HA HA Food on rte. 40 !

I’ve been going to Pho Bac since 2017. We lovingly refer to it as “going to see Mama Trang” because quickly after becoming a patron we were treated as family. Everything Mama Trang touches is delicious. Her dishes are well crafted , thoughtful and full of flavor. I see people that complain about price and portion and to them I say “stay home and make your own food, free up a table for those of us who know how to appreciate noodles made by an angel” plus have you ever made Pho? It’s like 12 hours to get a good broth. Leave it to the expert. Go see Mama Trang and her people.

We love Pho Bac! Mama Trang and her crew are the best. They have weekly specials so I recommend either dining in or ordering for pick up at the restaurant. Sometimes you don’t see the specials when ordering online. Plenty of seating and usually no wait for a big party. See you soon Pho Bac!

Updated after reading the owner’s response (screenshot attached): I visited Pho Bac based on the positive reviews, but my experience did not align with the expectations. Pricing and undisclosed fees: The pho combo is listed at $16.95, but several additional charges were not communicated before ordering or payment: • $2 handmade noodle upgrade — The staff asked which noodles I wanted, but did not mention that choosing handmade noodles incurred an extra charge. This upgrade was also not clearly listed on the menu. • $2.50 for an additional plate of bean sprouts and basil — We ordered two bowls of pho but initially received one small plate of herbs, so we requested another. This appeared on the receipt as “Extra Pho toppings,” and this fee also does not appear clearly on the menu. • 2.50% credit card surcharge — This charge appeared only on the receipt at checkout and was not disclosed beforehand. It was also not written on the menu. After these add-ons, each bowl came out to around $20. Regarding the owner’s response: A screenshot of the response is attached for reference. The reply did not address the issue of undisclosed fees or acknowledge the concerns I raised. The response focused on explaining their policies but did not reflect or comment on my experience of not being informed about these charges before ordering or payment. Portion size: The portion sizes I received were smaller than expected for a $20 bowl of pho. For two bowls of pho and one appetizer, the total was approximately $63. Positives: • Clean bathroom • Broth had a good flavor • Service was acceptable Negatives: • Small portions • Multiple fees not disclosed upfront • Overall value did not match the final price • Owner response did not address the concerns raised Based on this visit, I do not plan to return. Other negative reviews also mention portion size, and readers can compare those experiences alongside mine. The attached screenshot of the owner’s response is included so that future readers can view the original reply.

Has the most authentic tasty Vietnamese pho. The staff is warm and friendly. The atmosphere is calming.

Health: While the spring rolls were fried, the genuine preparation methods and portioning of the food itself made it so, even out of the already healthy Vietnamese cuisine, it stood out. Price: A good balance of price to portions, and for the hand made quality, genuinely impressive. You could be charged double this for half the quality and quantity at a worse restaurant. Experience: The servers were some of the most astute, quick, and efficiently friendly I've ever interacted with. They prepared food, took orders, and gave the check at an almost unmatched speed relative to Baltimore restaurants. Taste: Amazing. Just Amazing. Genuine, not "salt and sugar to replace seasoning", but avoiding the "bland = high class" trap. I'm glad I came here for a recovery dinner after doing the Boston Marathon under the Ulman Foundation Banner. Must visit again. I'm gonna get the Crispy Chicken Season Special next.

The family traveled for a few days and craved for Vietnamese flavors. On the way to Baltimore, I looked up a Vietnamese restaurant and saw glowing reviews and awards from Yelp. This was the indication that lunch here is a must. So the family of 14 made our way to their door step. Upon walking in, a friendly greeting took place and tables were in place for 14 of us. Love how friendly the staff were and attentive they been throughout the meal. Definitely a local spot that people know and enjoy. Inside is small on the first floor but more tables and seating areas are available on the second floor. Food... what can I say, it was delicious! Love the flavors and their offerings of various traditional dishes. Beef wrapped in grape leaves was a breath of fresh air. Tasted amazing! Pho was light and gelded great flavor with every bite. Chicken wing also had strong flavor with good texture. It's amazing when good food can be found anywhere these days. Next time we are in town visiting, will definitely stop in and say hello to Mama Tran. She super friendly and engaging with my family. Love her energy and vibe. If you are looking for good eats with great people, stop on in and have a great time.

After checking yelp for pho in Baltimore, we happened on Pho Bac. The food is absolutely fantastic. However..... The service was not. The mature woman that was there, she may be an owner, kept directing the male servers to come to us when we were trying to get their attention. It almost felt like they were ignoring us or maybe they couldn't hear us. It was very odd. However, the woman in the room was watching everything and would see us trying to get the servers attention so she would always direct them to come to us. Just very odd. At the end, we asked for the check while we were still eating in order to ensure we got and didn't have to wait. The servers came and started taking away our plates that we were still eating, chopsticks in hand. I don't see myself ever going back nor supporting an establishment like this. I am sure there are way better places around.

Unfortunately there are not a lot of good places for pho in the city but Pho Bac is pretty good, but because they are one of the few places, the prices can be a little steep. We tried to combo plate appetizer which came with all the yummy deep fried items like eggrolls and the "calamari" which is like a deep fried fish cake. We also got spring rolls and it came with a yummy peanut sauce. I got the bun bo hue and it was really flavorful and came with all the right fixings. I liked the amount of bean sprouts and jalapenos and lime to top our noodle soups. Overall a really good spot if you're craving pho!

A gem in Canton! So far one of the most authentic Asian restaurants I've eaten at in Baltimore. The pho is exactly what you'd expect and the fried chicken fried rice is sooo good. I want to come back to try their other dishes especially their banhmi! Service was friendly too

A very nice ambiance when you wake in. Big bar, TVs along the walls and plenty of seating. I can see a table of 6/8 being the max ones might want at a time. This place is great for intimate settings. Customer service was great. Will be returning! I ordered the following: Pineapple margarita: 8.4/10 - pretty good. I can appreciate it being done as expected. Crab meat and shrimp spring rolls: 9.5/10 - very good, wish it came with more. Combo vitnamese pad Thai: 10/10 - perfect amount of meat, pad Thai oily but not ridiculous. Amazing flavor and didn't need any extras. Perfect spice amount. I would recommend. Lady: Combo Pho: 9/10 - wishes the broth was a little stockier but still very flavorful. Would recommend.

I can't believe I have never dined in here. I've been getting this delivered since 2020 and it is the best pho in the city. Located in the heart of Canton Pho Bac, who was the first Vietnamese restaurant in the city. I went in for a NAAAP event and was so excited to see they have a huge event space upstairs. it was around the holidays and I don't think the staff was prepared to handle a large group so the service was a little lacking, but the food was very good. Since we are with a large group, we got to try a couple appetizers and some of them were better than others but the far here pho is always always good. I wasn't drinking that day but a lot of the cocktails that people ordered looked delicious and it's so good to know that it's authentically operated because I've always really enjoyed their dishes. The space was really vibrant and cozy

BEST pho and banh mi spot in the city. We have been coming here every few months for the past two years, and honestly never once had a bad experience. They have kept their standards and the food is always on point. We typically get the spicy pho with combo meats and the pork banh mi. This time, instead of the pho we tried the Bo Kho which was on the specials menu for the week. The Bo Kho is a rich, deeply flavored and mildly spicy beef stew. You can have this with pho noodles or a side of baguette (we opted for the noodles). I had never tried this before - amazing! Would definitely recommend if you're looking for something a little different from traditional pho. The portion is just enough for one person (typically we are able to share their pho between two) so would recommend getting an appetizer with it. The pork banh mi, as always, was on point. The lightly toasted bread, mayo, pickled veggies - chefs kiss.

FOOD- 5/5 Round eye steak Pho. So flavorful and good. Definitely coming back here to get it again!!!! SERVICE- 5/5 Was great! Had to charge my phone and he plugged it in for me! They were also super attentive and the food came outta relatively quick! AMBIANCE- 4/5 We sat at the bar and ate! They had a few tables in the back. It seemed like there was an upstairs- maybe more tables up there? Not sure. Overall, this place was great. The food was amazing

Pho Bac is such a gem -- friendly service, high-quality food, and delicious pho that really satisfies my pho craving whenever it hits! The place is cozy and inviting, inside a corner row home in canton. Back in college (shoutout to College Park, MD!), I had a go-to pho place I loved until it sadly closed. Now that I'm in Baltimore, I've been on the hunt for a new favorite, and Pho Bac is definitely topping my list. Their pad thai? So good. It's a bit on the heavier side, so heads up if you're not super hungry -- but it's worth every bite. I also tried the green Thai tea, which was totally new to me and a cool twist I didn't know I needed. Bonus points for their vegan pho being just as tasty as the chicken pho. Honestly, I haven't had anything here I didn't enjoy. I'm so glad Pho Bac is in our neighborhood!!

Great pho spot in Canton! Ordered the combo pho and really enjoyed it. There are two noodle options (usual pho noodles, another softer rice noodle). Generous portion size with lots of noodles and meat. Fast and friendly service! Plenty of indoor seating, some outdoor seating with shade.

A great Vietnamese spot. The broth for the pho and the bun bo hue was delicious, rich, seasoned and spiced perfectly. Just wish they kept the pork hock for bun bo hue on the bone. The mixed appetizer plate was so so. The shrimp toast and fantail shrimp was excellent. The spring rolls need more stuffing but the calamari was a miss, too hard and chewy. Would come again for the soup noodles because the broth was excellent.

The chicken was cooked to perfection! I don't know what they seasoned it with, but it was absolutely delicious! The restaurant wasn't loud when we went, and was great if you want to eat by yourself or with friends. Service was great as well!

Always love pho bac. The staff is amazing and a customer service is great. I love the eye rare steak pho. The fried dumplings are always super savory. And I love the milk Thai tea. Neighborhood parking is always available and I can always find a good spot in the front. Such a great and cozy environment feels like a mom and Pop shop.

Was taking a stroll down canton when I came across pho bac which isn't too far away from Patterson park. I've seen this spot having good reviews on yelp so I decided to give It a try. I sat by the bar and was greeted immediately unfortunately there was no bartender so i couldn't order a drink. I ended up ordering a combination grilled bahn-mi which came with chicken beef and pork. It didn't take long to come out and It warm and fresh. The sandwich was a bit skimp however. Although I enjoyed the sandwich for what It was, I wished they added some more meat to veggies ratio. I'm glad I asked for hoisin sauce because that added extra flavor that It was missing. But for 12 dollars it's a good quick bite

We have come here three times in the past year. It's the only place in Baltimore that serves Bun Cha Hanoi. Also has other menu options you won't find at other typical Pho/Viet restaurants. If you're looking for the number one spot, this is it.

This hidden gem truly had some of the BEST pho in Baltimore. The small staff is really attentive and made sure we were taken care of. The owner, Mama Trang, is SO incredibly friendly. She made me feel like I was a guest in her home. Don't even get me started on the decor...it's perfect for selfies. Oh and fun fact - they are also the FIRST in Baltimore City to offer traditional flat noodles for pho. I will absolutely be back for those noodles !

Great food! My daughter loves pho so we decided to try this spot out. We both thoroughly enjoyed our food. The place was very busy for a cold Wednesday night but they tried as best as they could to keep up. We will be back soon

I've passed this Pho place for many years and always told myself I need to stop by one day and I am glad I did. The seafood Pho was very light but still flavorful. The portion is pretty big and they do not skimp on the shrimp. The inside is a bit small but it seems like they get a lot of pick up/ delivery orders. The prices are also pretty reasonable.

This is my favorite Vietnamese spot in Baltimore. I come back again and again when I'm craving food that reminds me of being home in California. I would recommend their bun bo hue or banh mi. Their seasonal/weekly specials also hit-- I wish some of them were offered year-round! I will always always always bring my out-of-state Vietnamese family here.

Ordered more Pho Bac for delivery the other night - I simply cannot stay away! I ordered my usual veggie pho with tofu and the beef summer rolls. Both so delicious and fresh. However, this time I also gave Trang's fried rice a try and holy cow. It was some of the best fried rice I've ever had! It came with shrimp, chicken, and a shaved pork lunch meat sorta thing. I thought the pork was oddly flavorless with a weird rubbery texture so I picked it out, but the chicken and shrimp were just delicious. Plus the rice was perfectly cooked with chopped onions and scrambled egg throughout. I will definitely order it again and maybe just ask for no pork next time. So good!

Dear Ms. Trang, On behalf of my family and me, I want to extend my warmest thanks for the wonderful experience we had at Phở Bắc during our unexpected layover in Baltimore. What started as a family trip from my hometown of Fountain Valley, California, to Houston quickly turned into an unexpected adventure due to a flight cancellation that rerouted us through Baltimore with a 10-hour layover. Despite the rainy weather, we took the opportunity to explore the Harbor and one of America's oldest cities. But the highlight of our stop was discovering your cozy, family-run restaurant tucked in a quiet residential neighborhood. From the moment we walked in, we felt the warmth and care of a place that has clearly been built on tradition and love for Vietnamese cuisine. The phở--what a delight! The savory, richly layered broth reminded us why millions around the world turn to this comforting dish every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Your attention to detail and authenticity brought a taste of home across the country for us. Thank you again for your hospitality and for serving a bowl of phở that warmed both our stomachs and our hearts. With deep appreciation, Mayor Michael Vo (ret.)

I ordered a lemongrass spicy beef soup and it came out good. Broth and noodle ratio was off. Too much broth and not enough noodles. The broth was tasty but they use brisket for pho in the soup instead of beef shank. Not enough meat but it's better than what we had in Harrisburg so I'm happier. My husband ordered the clay pot dish and the dish came out in a cast iron dish with mushy rice. It was a meh. He was so disappointed and had 3 bites. Their egg rolls were good as well as the chicken wings. The service was great especially for an Asian restaurant. The restaurant was nice.

Our party of 10 went in a Sunday afternoon for lunch/dinner and we picked the perfect place! The staff was so nice and the food was delicious. The restaurant has 2 floors and we were upstairs along with 2 other families. The place is spacious so each table was able to have their own private conversations without intruding on the other guests. Side note ... clean bathrooms that smell nice. I got a lemongrass shrimp dish, which was outside of my comfort zone but another diner had it and it looked so good. From what I remember my group also tried the garlic string beans appetizer, spring rolls, papaya salad, pad Thai, stir fry, Rare and Brisket pho and the vegetable fried rice. There was a lot of silence around the table because yummmm. We also requested various spice levels and expectations were met!

Enjoyed a bowl of shrimp pho This restaurant had some great reviews already, so I thought I'd give it a try, to satisfy my pho craving. I walked in, and was greeted right away, and since it was just me, I was guided to sit at the bar. The wait time for the food was just right, and a hot bowl of pho was served! Overall, I thought the flavor was delicious, and the portion size was healthy. I had enough to take home, and one of the waitresses gave me some veggies to take home with it (I requested). It's a small restaurant, but there was outdoor seating as well. The restaurant is in a neighborhood, and there is a bar next door, but I still found parking, right outside the restaurant.

First time visiting and we had an excellent time. We were greeted immediately by the staff and asked would we prefer to sit at the bar or a bar table. I'm rather short so neither was appealing but I made it to the bar seat. Later found that there was regular seating upstairs and would've preferred to sit upstairs. There's some art on the walls. Nice pictures. We placed our orders and didn't wait too long for our food. Everything we ordered was delicious. I had the best shrimp toast ever! It was on a fresh French baguette and wasn't greasy, at all. I ordered shrimp pho and the broth was some of the best I've had. My husband ordered the Vietnamese clay pot with chicken and shrimp. It was packed with veggies and protein, didn't even notice there was rice on the bottom. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars was for the seating options but will definitely be back. Watch your step at the door, it's a large one.

One of my favorite spots to grab Pad Thai - Beef spicy and bring friends. If you have a bigger group they have seats upstairs with a better ambiance and space that i tend to prefer to sit in. The service is usually pretty much good. I have not had a bad server yet.

Good food, good flavor, good service, and clean restaurant. The pho had a deep and rich broth with a decent amount of meat and noodles. The fried rice was cooked to perfection with an overflow of meat. Although the meat and shrimp was slightly dry, the sheer quantity of meat will definitely help you overlook the dryness. My only knock on this restaurant is the pricing. As a California native, the pho and fried rice was 1/3x more expensive. I do know that some places offer similar quality for a cheaper price, though the convenience of being in Baltimore is nice. I definitely recommend you coming here to get your pho fix!

This place is excellent. It's nice inside and we both agreed it's the best Vietnamese we've had in a long time. The staff is also very friendly.

Came back and this place still has the best banh mi I've ever had. Also tried the veggie Saigon noodles. I'm not huge about veggie noodles but this was really good.

My go to place for pad thai! Take out or dine in, you cant go wrong here. The employees are all so friendly and welcoming. The restaurant has a very cute bar inside as well!

Thought their pork banh mi and spring rolls were not too memorable compared to other Vietnamese restaurants I've been to. However, I recently tried their combo pho and thought was one of the best I've ever tasted! The broth was super flavorful and the ingredients were fresh/prepared well. The server did mess up our table's orders but able to address it quickly. The atmosphere on the second floor was super cozy. Will definitely return!

Some of the best Pho I ever had. The owner was super sweet and friendly. Now you need to order the fried shrimp and crab eggroll. It was so good we ordered them twice lol the inside is nice and it's clean. Will come again.

It is harder to find a good spot for Pho in the city area so this is certainly a gem! Downside: details below but pricier than other places. Overall the food was delicious and the service was great! Starting with the service, we were greeted right away. The server came probably within 3 minutes of sitting down to give us some menus. He periodically checked in on making sure everything was good. The overall restaurant is not super big. They have some bar seating and 2 tops along the window with some larger tables in the back of the restaurant. They do also offer some tables outside given the weather. When we went around lunch time, it was packed and luckily there was one table that we were able to snag. I do not believe they accept reservations so not sure if that is something you could do if you did have a larger party. In terms of the food, like I said, delicious! Minus the fact that some of the items were pricier than I normally pay outside of city limits. For instance, they charge $9 whereas, at other places, I've paid maybe $5/6. I ordered the seafood pho and the broth was savory, not too fishy and honestly did not need any extra sauce to flavor it up. Again price wise, $17 versus maybe $13 elsewhere. We also ordered the golden crepe and I do not think I would order that again. It was so bland and not worth it for $17.

The pho and bahn mi is always good! The restaurant itself is a little smaller but they have quick service and a nice space.

Tried this place based on high reviews and it doesn't disappoint! My favorite is the grilled pork. Generous portion and if you get the ones that's charred and caramelized, delicious! I've tasted many viet restaurants and this pork is among top 3. Also had the pho which also has generous portion but can't beat the pork chop.

Wow! A neighborhood gem in Canton! I am a longtime fan of Vietnamese food, so it wasn't surprising to see the "usual suspects" on the menu: the pho, the bahn mih, etc. But to see (and taste!) the diverse items - sweet and hot honey wings, summer rolls with beef, and a chili seafood stir fry - that's why I'm giving Pho Bac 5 stars. Plus great service, an impressive beer selection, and the neighborhood corner bar vibe...it was all well worth the schlep coming from NE Bmore. I'll be back!

I grew up always getting Vietnamese from Eden Center in Virginia or having it cooked by my mom or her friends. I randomly stumbled upon this restaurant when I was out in Baltimore. This place is phenomenal, it instantly brings back all the wonderful memories I have with my family going out to get food! It's rare to find a Vietnamese restaurant that excels in all the areas: pho, banh mi, vermicelli dishes, and some traditional Vietnamese dishes near Baltimore. I met the owner and she and her staff took such good care of us. I'm definitely coming back with my whole family, that's the highest compliment considering my elderly Vietnamese parents are the harshest food critics. I promise if you have a chance to try this place, you will be transported and experience all the wonderful flavors from Vietnam!

Great food and friendly atmosphere. Well worth a visit. Highly recommend this place. If you're in Baltimore this is the place for Thai food.

I always order the grilled pork Banh Mi sandwich and it never fails. Be sure to give the kitchen some time because Pho Bac is normally busy. I've tried their Pho too and it was tasty.

Delicious! She started making her own rice noodles! , and the hoi khat (mini shrimp pancakes)-- phenomenal!

Love Pho Bac! Absolutely my favorite local spot. Phenomenal pho, and i am obsessed with the summer rolls with their peanut sauce! AND, there is nothing better than some of their homemade yogurt to cool your mouth down after some delicious spicy pho! The customer service is amazing, and the owner is always present and constantly checking on guests to make sure everyone is having a great experience. You can really tell she puts her heart and soul into her business and the food. Give them a try, you won't regret it!!

Tried this place with a Pho-loving friend. We ordered the Appetizer Combo Plate (comes with shrimp toast, fried spring roll and fried shrimp, and fried calamari) and an order of summer rolls. Both were fine, nothing exceptional. Also ordered the Thai Tea, which was too sweet for my taste. Which brings this post to the highlight of the meal: the pho. The broth was so good and very flavorful, and they had the essential fixings ready (bean sprouts, basil, lime, sriracha, and hoisin). We were disappointed in the meat though, it was a tougher cut and almost rubbery. Service was friendly and fast. Prices were a little on the higher side.

The golden crepe is huge and fabulous. The pho we couldn't possibly consume is enough for 2 more meals at home. The hot Vietnamese coffee is great too. The staff didn't rush us as we enjoyed this lovely meal.

Came here on a Saturday night and this place was full! We waited roughly twenty minutes to be seated. We ordered the summer spring rolls, Xoi Man, combo pho, and bun bo hue. The best dish was one of their specials, xoi man. The texture of the sticky rice was really good. It looked quite plain but it was very flavorful because it had dried shrimp mixed throughout. This dish exceeded my expectations, highly recommend. The spring rolls were good but quite small. For the price, I would expect more filling. The broth in the combo pho was tasty though the portions of tripe and tendon were very little (one piece of each). The bun bo hue was pretty good.

It's a very Baltimore brick building (which has two levels) in a largely residential neighborhood. This is a Vietnamese place, though I would concur with some other who found that the food was a little bit more on the greasy, indulgent side than is often the case with this cuisine. I'm not saying it didn't taste good, though. The rolls we started with were fresh-tasting, while my lemongrass and chili stir fry was much heavier but did deliver a nice burn. I dipped into a garlic-heavy veggie hot pot and veggie pho as well, though I would order these myself (not being a broccoli fan). So they did have a decent vegetarian selection. Service was a bit of a struggle, and our tea didn't arrive until after our food. I'm not that concerned with speed generally, but it is something to bear in mind. It was worth the wait.

Very good service and food, come here almost every other weekend. They have weekly specials that feature unique dishes that not on the regular menu

Great food even better service friendly faces, the PHO is on point, super clean with great atmosphere. If you thinking of having Vietnamese food this spot is a must!