Phở Cafe

The food was good. I was kind of thrown off by the way the spoons were in the shape of the meat which I ordered the steak beef up, but it did taste exactly as I was hoping I did ask for extra sides of cilantro, onions, and jalapeños, and I only received five jalapeños and two limes (after asking for it twice)the egg rolls were the only thing that did taste a bit old like it’s been sitting out Overall, the food was a 9 out of 10 but the customer service could have been much better

I was a little torn on my experience. The food taste started out well, but as I continued, I was a little torn on everything. My waitress was just ok. It was not really busy, but she seemed like she was not happy to be assisting me. It could have just been her personality. The gentleman waiter was a lot more friendlier. The flavor of my salad was good, but for $13.99, it looked like it was slightly just thrown on a plate and saturated in sauce. Again, I don't give it a thumbs up, but I dont give it a thumbs down either. Maybe I should have just got Pho.

I have been craving a decent bowl of pho for quite some time and this place nails it. Pho Dac Biet with a large portion and fresh bean sprouts 🫡

The food was pretty good. I enjoyed the “Rare beef with rice noodle” I asked for the meat to be cooked more tho. I liked the crab rangoons. They had a strong onion flavor and they didn’t give enough sweet n sour sauce with the rangoons. Definitely will ask for more next time. Also pls add chili oil at the table. The little dark container on the table is full of soy sauce (I think), green onion, and some kind of chili. Before tip my total was about $23

It's a shame that this restaurant that caters to the public, have such a negative demeanor and rude. This is my 3rd visit, I understand everyone has bad days, but this lady that works here is so rude, and just pure negativity radiates from her pores. They charge extra for containers extra lime and sauces for to go.. seriously? When the guy is here he's professional, and kind and polite. Not sure what happened to the other one , if you hate doing this job that much then maybe find another kind of job. If your looking for good food and great customers service check out The Noodle and Thai cuisine down the. block, everyone there is so so lovey

Came on a Thursday evening around dinner time 5/6 p.m, it wasn't busy. Ordered the lemongrass shrimp and beef, and the pancake from the appetizer menu and the house special pho. Everything was delicious, the pancake was stuffed with shrimp and bean sprouts and the egg didn't taste like any egg it was crunchy and savory really enjoyed it with the semi sweet dipping sauce they provided. They did go overboard with the sprouts though and really stuffed it, we had some leftover on the plate. This appetizer also came with fresh lettuce and some carrot and cucumber. The pho was great, no issues there! I really enjoyed the lemongrass beef which was thinly sliced and not over cooked, very tender. The flavor was great! I like that the dish came with rice and side salad. Most places nowadays charge extra for rice. Their rice was soft and fluffy. I docked a star bc the shrimp was plain tasting not too much lemongrass flavor like the beef had. They should add more flavor to the shrimp and gave more than 3 shrimps on the skewer, at least 4 shrimps, since more could have fit on the skewer. Overall, the service was quick, in part because nobody was there except us and one other person, the food came out quickly, and the food portion was generous, dishes were decently priced, and the quality of the food was good. Will be returning to try their lemongrass chicken!

Pho Cafe in Chinatown is delicious. We got the grilled pork chops, Chinese sausage and egg rice dish, the chicken skewers, and eggrolls. And of course we had to get the Thai ice coffee and Thai ice tea.😋

now the first time i thought i was tweaking, just ordered from them off uber eats and the first thing i see as i open my broth is a KNAT… the first time i thought it was just seasoning this time i took it out placed it on a napkin and its for sure a bug… eat with precaution

Came here again to dine in and loved the food even more when it came out hot and fresh. I got number 19 and we also tried the viet pancake; the dipping sauce is amazing and the crepe was thin and crispy. The viet coffee was a little off but everywhere makes them different. Service was quick and nice, and the cafe look exactly like it was when it was the old cafe.

We went for bowls of pho and good conversation. Our waitress was rude and short with us. The restaurant was pretty empty but we still had to flag the waitress down to order. Even when ordering she answered no questions and rushed us to do so. When our food came our waitress assumed that we would all share aromatics and when I asked for more I was told that it would cost $4. When we received our bills we found that we were charged for 2 plates of aromatics, $1 for a lime, and .60 a piece for chilli oil. I have never been charged so recklessly for small items - without being first notified. It was ridiculous. The food/broth was bland. We couldn't wait to pay and leave. We had a horrible experience.

The food was fine but everything else made the experience not great. While these types of places are never the cleanest places around, this one was a bit too much for me. The table was sticky and the cups were very old. There's also better pho out there -- the soup was on the blander side.

My bf and I are regulars here! It's hard to find some good pho outside of the Argyle area so when I found this bowl of pho, I was so happy. Their pho broth is well balanced and for the price, you can't complain. The #14 House Special Pho is my go to. We've also tried some apps like the spring rolls, eggrolls and crab rangoons - nothing super special, just your standard apps! I love having this place as a go-to pho spot because some spots just aren't as good for pho and sometimes I just don't feel like spending nearly $20 for a bowl of pho, so Pho Cafe has my heart. Service is quick and fast! They also validate parking if you park in the Chinatown lots or if it's not too busy in the area, street parking is available. There are also 2 small steps you'll need to get through to enter the restaurant. I haven't checked to see if there is a ramp to allow access from the sides.

I've been on the search for an affordable & tasty pho place in Chinatown for a while now until I finally stumbled into Pho Cafe. This establishment might be my new go-to for a rich bowl of pho. The winner for me is the affordable price and portions. From what I can remember, their pho range from $11-14 which is unbeatable. The broth was so good it cured my soul on a rainy day. Service was surprisingly quick, we got seated and served right away. Don't expect a fancy ambiance, but do expect quality flavors and a quick dining experience.

The fried calamari was delicious!!! The service was fast and pleasant. Quiet and cozy.

Written to "Bye Bye Bye" by N*SYNC I want Pho tonight A few toppings would be alright Just want something light Hey baby come on You'll be surprised splendidly Large portions, could feed two or three Please you must believe, don't go there alone Bowls empty can't eat no more It ain't no lie Can't wait to come back for more Baby, my, my, my Pho cafe I'm a fool for you Chicken and rice noodles dinner for two Pho always satiates me it ain't no lie Baby go try try try

Went here, the food was good. Atmosphere was very calm, but the workers are thieves. I sat, ate, and watched youtube alone. I left and not even 2 minutes after I left, I realized I left my headphones. I quickly ran back to see if they were on the table or on the floor nearby and they were gone. I asked the worker who helped serve me, and he stated he didn't see them at all when he cleaned the table. My phone is telling me that they are still located at the restaurant... WOULD NEVER GO BACK!

I came here with my husband after 1.5 weeks of traveling, and Asian food is always the first thing I crave when I'm back home. We chose Pho Café since it was pretty close to the parking lot under the CTA redline and I knew they were open later (their closing time is 10:00pm). I've been here several times with my family before (dining in), and usually there is plenty of seating inside. If you're craving pho or Vietnamese food and don't want to wait in line elsewhere, Pho Cafe will do the trick! It's pretty low key and quiet which is sometimes a nice change from all the bustle of Chinatown. The review is for the food when I came here to dine in last week. While I normally order pho, I decided to get a grilled pork chop vermicelli bowl with a side of broth (extra $2). My husband got the grilled pork rice plate. For apps, we shared the beef skewers which were really tender and flavorful - my favorite thing we ordered that night. I got some fresh shrimp spring rolls as well (an order comes with 2). Pho Cafe has a wide selection of items on their menu, but my most recent visit felt kind below average. The spring rolls did not have bean sprouts (just shrimp, Thai basil, and rice vermicelli) and the hoisin dipping sauce tasted extra watered down. My husband's pork plate that comes with Chinese sausage only included two meagerly segments. Perhaps it was an off day when we went, because my mom is a huge fan (!) and overall it's nice to have Vietnamese options in a Chinatown, in addition to The Noodle on Wentworth and a version of it from Joy Yee's. Generally it's pretty solid. And a lot of folks do carry-out or delivery. Has the shortage of sriracha really (negatively) impacted pho in restaurants around the world? That was kind of the vibe of our meal there: "we are out of sriracha, we are doing our best (and we understand there was more to be expected)..." I could be projecting. Anyway, their replacement sriracha was actually a Tabasco branded hot chili sauce. It's not the same, and that's the way it is. This won't be my last time at Pho Cafe, but I hope next time we dine here we will feel a little bit more love from the dishes.

I usually just order Uber eats from this place. But today I finally got a chance to visit and try the crab soup (bun riue) it was so delicious and comes in a big bowl. You can probably share a bowl for 2 people. The place seems clean and the pho (meat ball soup) is always good. The egg rolls are pretty tasty too. There was a family dining at this place and was complaining that the food was nasty but I think they are just a bunch of uncultured idiots. This is not marrucha ramen place ..this is Vietnamese cuisine be prepared for the flavor and some heat if you like.

The service at this place was good, but I can't say the same for the food. The pho I ordered was just okay, and I've definitely had better elsewhere. However, the biggest disappointment was the crab rangoons, which were downright terrible. It's a shame when one part of the dining experience falls short.

My daughter saw great reviews here so we Uber here from downtown. Every dish ordered was very satisfying. The service is customer driven, very attentive. We received our food quickly and the restaurant was clean and welcoming.

Started the new year off right with some Bún bò Huế and Thai iced coffee! The Bún bò Huế was so good and comes with fresh cabbage/vegetable toppings. It's great as a spicy alternative to pho. I'm not a big fan of the pork blood cubes but wanted to give it another try. I still don't like them. The soup isn't too spicy, just tastes super flavorful since it seems like they use plenty of lemongrass. The Thai iced coffee was creamier than the Vietnamese coffee. The Thai coffee was still strong but the Viet coffee was way stronger. Other places fill up the cup with ice, but here you get more bang for your buck since it was only filled about a third with ice. I think the Thai coffee may have some extra spices/flavorings in it too but I'm not sure. They love playing cover songs in this restaurant. There wasn't any wait on a Sunday morning. Parking in Chinatown was starting to get packed but I was able to find a spot after looping around once. I highly recommend Pho Cafe for your Vietnamese soup fix (pho, Bún bò Huế) and sweet strong and creamy coffee drinks (Thai/Viet iced coffee). Fun fact: 2023 is the year of the cat per Vietnamese zodiac rather than year of the rabbit per Chinese zodiac.

Pho Cafe in Chinatown, Chicago, offers an outstanding Vietnamese dining experience. The cozy, welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff make you feel right at home. We started with fresh spring rolls, which were deliciously crisp and flavorful. The highlight was the classic beef pho, featuring a deeply flavorful broth, tender beef, and fresh herbs. The chicken pho was equally delightful. We also enjoyed a perfect banh mi sandwich and ended our meal with rich Vietnamese iced coffee. For authentic Vietnamese cuisine, Pho Cafe is a must-visit in Chinatown. We'll definitely be back!

Food was good. The skewers were not my favorite. The fried spring rolls were good. The staff was all nice.

Best pho place in Chinatown!! I order the House Special every time I have a pho craving here.

A huge bowl of Pho hit the spot on a dreary day in Chicago. Delicious, affordable, and nice servers.

Solid place for pho, not the best pho I've had but it's still pretty good and good value.

Pretty good option if you are craving Vietnamese food while in Chinatown and surrounding area! Great service, our server was very attentive and quick. Clean restaurant, surprisingly busy, fast service. Lots of great options and few vegetarian options available as well

Door dashing. While waiting asked the man for a cup of ice. He told me no. He didn't have. He spoke in Vietnamese to his friend...didn't know I had my Google translator on. He said, "Fuck this black bitch..." Enough said. Over a cup of ice.

Pho was very good. So were the drinks. The downside was the smoky grilling smell, which I believe is from the grilling and searing of the pork chops. There should be better ventilation. Service was good. Located in a strip mall with metered street parking.

Any place that has bun bo hue on the menu, I'm ordering it! Bf got the grilled lemongrass chicken. Grilled lemongrass chicken - 5/5 stars At first glance, I was not expecting much from this dish. It looked like chicken breast that had been pounded down so thinly, I really thought it would be dry or bland, especially since it did not have much coloring to it. But WOWWW, one bite and we were blown away. Seriously. Lol I'm shocked by how tasty it was. We both thought their nuoc mam/fish sauce might be one of the best we've tasted, and this is coming from a Vietnamese person hahah. There's some extra ingredient that makes it so good, I can't figure out what it is. Bun bo hue - 3.5/5 stars Great dish but perhaps could use a little more fish sauce/lemongrass flavor. Maybe my expectations were too high since I've had so much BBH in my lifetime. But it was a good portion size and generous amount of meat, I was content and in a food coma after the meal. I would definitely get the grilled lemongrass chicken again, and although I looooove BBH I'd skip it and try the bun rieu or bo kho next time :)

Absolutely terrible service! If you want disrespected and undervalued run to this restaurant right now! I am so shocked at their behavior and their carelessness to fix it. I pulled my money out to show them I have the total for my bill because they kept bringing up that I had to pay extra for hot tea or extra for basil and jalapeños. It was ridiculous. Please don't waste your time going here if you want to have a nice dine in.

Delicious service and food! Food portion was huge, service was quick and ambience was sweet!

I was walking around Chinatown with my family, and we stopped by this place for lunch. The pho here is really good, and the mango, strawberry, and pineapple smoothies were delicious. The waiters were kind, and the place was pretty quiet. I recommend stopping by here.

I believe a great deal of life's problems can be solved by ladling broth into your mouth. Pho is such a comfort meal and this place always delivers on that soothing taste. I get the seafood pho with clear noodles and ask for it spicy. Make no mistake this is a filling dish packed with shrimp, mussels, squid etc. You'll definitely be needing a to-go container and maybe an extra stomach

3.5/5 - I find it hard to describe how this was. Nothing was particularly overpowering, but nothing really... stood out either? It was a weird experience. The food wasn't bad, but it also wasn't really good in any particular area.

The food was pretty good. I enjoyed the "Rare beef with rice noodle" I asked for the meat to be cooked more tho. I liked the crab rangoons. They had a strong onion flavor and they didn't give enough sweet n sour sauce with the rangoons. Definitely will ask for more next time. Also pls add chili oil at the table. The little dark container on the table is full of soy sauce (I think), green onion, and some kind of chili. Before tip my total was about $23

Was craving something warm for this cold day. Of course it's going to be Bun Bo Hue. I enjoyed the meal, good amount of variety of meat. The broth was just perfect. However, the staff was not really happy. Was never greeted, we just sat ourself. Got a menu but no greeting or word. Placed order and got a check no communication what's so ever. I am not sure what happened but the staff were not very communicative.

I am on a mission to find the best Pho in Chicago. I have been struggling to find a good Chicken Pho. This place had good reviews so I gave it a shot. I ordered delivery and everything was packaged well and was still nice and hot. - Chicken Pho: While this is better than other places, the broth isn't as flavorful as I look for in a Pho. Needs more of that authentic flavor. - House Special Pho: Absolutely delicious! This broth had all of the authentic flavor I love about Pho! The basil in the veggie/toppings baggie wasn't completely fresh. Their side of toppings could have included more basil and jalapeños. Overall I was satisfied. The Chicken Pho needs some work, but I will be ordering the house special again.

Chicken Pho was pretty good. Chicken. Was extreme tender for white meat. Crazy how tender it was and not dry. Broth was good too.

Good atmosphere, service, and even music. Enjoyed the Spring Roll apps and the Beef Pho. The Spring Rolls were fresh and enjoyed the peanut dipping sauce. The pho was good and a little spicy. Good cuts of beef and tasty noodles. Cute place inside China Town.

I ordered take-out from here a bit ago but it was just so good I had to come back and write a review to support this business because I can't stop thinking about it! I was craving pho and couldn't find a good place that had authentic Vietnamese pho like they do in California until I ordered from here. I ordered the Pho Tai (Rare Beef with Rice Noodle) and it tasted like home and hit the spot! Definitely recommend, can't wait to try the other items on the menu.

yummy food- not that many components big portions beef was good in vermicelli decent prices

I love pho in the morning when it's at its freshest so when I saw pho cafe nearby I couldn't pass at the opportunity. I ordered the pho tai, as I usually do, and this place has some the best broth I've had in a while. Super savory and fragrant and still delicate and light. The portion size is generous and there was plenty of steak to fill me up. Everything was fresh and the service was friendly and quick. Will definitely come back here again!

My favorite bowl of pho in the city. Very quick service, and the soup is delicious every time.

I've only ordered here a few times but the food has been good. I'm only giving it 4 stars because the chicken pho could be cooked a little more but it's still seasoned and I'll definitely be back. They give you a good amount of food for the price.

This spot is in the heart of Chinatown. I had eaten their once before and remember enjoying the Pho. I stopped in for lunch a sleepy winter afternoon and I'll say this... the Pho is DELICIOUS and cheap. The restaurant was dirty and really needed a deep cleaning. I would have walked out but I was Soooooo hungry so I decided to stay. It gets the 3 stars for a slamming bowl of Pho! Broth was on point and bursting with flavor, I added a bit of hoison and Sriracha cuz that's what you do, right ? I went with the house special which consists of rare beef, meatball, tendon, and tripe. I loved it but dayum Pho Cafe clean your restaurant and I'd definitely come back.

Not bad , but I wasn't in love with anything I ordered. I ordered delivery and everything came correctly, quickly, and smoothly. I ordered the crab rangoons, the beef vermicelli bowl, and a Thai iced tea to drink. Best part hands down was the Thai iced tea - can't go wrong with it ever!! Personally, I didn't enjoy the crab rangoons. Much more onion-y than I like. The beef bowl was good and the sauce was fantastic and I appreciate how it brought the flavors together. Meat was pretty fatty which isn't my vibe but I know others appreciate that. Didn't enjoy the egg roll - oily and not flavorful at all. Overall, the flavors of the entire meal weren't my favorite, but that's just my own personal preferences. Probably would opt for something else in the future.

Food was very bad, we got Crab Rangoons and it gave me and my boyfriend food poisoning. I could give it half a star I would.

Went for a quick soothing lunch. Was delicious and plentiful! Service was right on as soon as we walked in the door menus were placed in front of us. We ordered the spring rolls so fresh and crisp. We both ordered the number 23. Beef and meatball pho, sooo good. Enjoyed very much, do recommend!!!

Super good pho!!! Service was fast and food was good for the price :) the place is super cute too. will be coming back!

I went to pick up some of the house pho from here and was happy to see that the broth came out boiling hot. It'll still be the right temperature to cook the thin cut meat by the time you get home. The order came with just the right amount of fixings and some sriracha on the side. As far as the actual taste, the broth from here had a slightly heavier more meat taste than other places. Keep that in mind if you prefer a light broth. The restaurant staff is very accommodating and quickly added another bowl of pho that I forgot to order.

A hot bowl of pho on a chilly night is my idea of perfection. Everything was good enough to satisfy my noodle craving for the night with a standard delivery time, fresh spring rolls and a warm bowl of meatball pho.

Don't even want to give any stars at all!! Food was inedible! Chicken looks uncooked, soggy, flavorless, and just nasty. I never leave review unless positive and I am so disappointed and still hungry! Ruined my lunch

Ordered 2 house specials(11.95$ ea), crab ragoons(4 for 5.95$) and fresh spring rolls(2 for 5$). I like to measure the softness of the tendon in any special, and the amount of meat to noodle ratio to grade pho. Here, not enough tendon for me to be "special," and not enough softened brisket. Tendon peices were small and the tripe was more chewy than usual. The prices are on the higher end but understandable as this the city. The broth was delicious and the timing for the soup was fast! Props to feeding us after a 10 hour drive from Colorado! I did enjoy the vibes of a Sunday noon in this area. I think I'll be back to try another dish and more of those crab ragoons.

The restaurant is located in a strip mall in Chinatown with metered street parking ($2.5/hr). We were not given the option to choose the hour increment and was charged the max of 2 hrs. We were seated and the server took our orders promptly. Everything came out quickly except for the vermicelli bowl. The menu is extensive with the usual Vietnamese fix - phở, noodles bowl and rice plates. We ordered egg rolls, spring rolls, gyoza (fried dumplings), phở đặc biệt, vermicelli with grilled pork and egg roll, Thai iced tea, Vietnamese iced coffee, avocado smoothie and 3 color dessert. I want to point out that an authentic Vietnamese restaurant would not call fried dumplings gyoza and it's rarely on the menu. Phở comes in one size (no option for small or large). The portion is generous. However, the broth is dark and lack the pho aroma and flavor. Clear pho broth is a good sign that it was simmered long enough. Sadly, this bowl of pho didn't meet the mark. The egg rolls were a major fail because we tasted the five spices. Vietnamese egg rolls do not have five spices in it. The gyoza are okay because they're premade (clearly from the mass produced frozen package). The vermicelli bowl wasn't good. The grilled pork was quite bland and chewy (didn't taste fresh). The carrot wasn't pickled and the dipping fish sauce was a bit too sour for my liking. The Thai iced tea was decent. The avocado smoothie was bad! It was very bland and I could only taste milk and ice, no avocado in it. The coffee was ok. ETA: the dessert it terrible! Don't ever order it. Che 3 mau usually comes with homemade jelly, mung bean and coconut milk. Theirs was full of grass jelly and red beans from the can and whole milk instead. It's really not worth $6. We won't be back and definitely do not recommend this restaurant to anyone. My guts are telling me that the owne/cook is Chinese. From the egg rolls to pho, nothing tasted authentic. The servers and kitchen staff were speaking in Chinese and they also played Chinese music instead of Vietnamese.

The pho here is just really bad Super sweet I love pho, but I'd rather not have it if this is my option... Servers are very kind though! And the restaurant has a fun vibe. No criticism at all for anything besides the taste.

By far one of the best pho I've had around the city. My friend and I were roaming around Chinatown when we came across this place. Looking through the window, we could see the large and hearty pho portions and were so excited to give it a try. The restaurant itself seems family owned and needs a few upgrades, yet it's still cozy and gives out an authentic feel. Service was somewhat friendly, yet fast and efficient. The menu includes a variety of noodle and rice dishes, but we decided to stick to pho. We were also hesitant to try any appetizers due to the portion sizes, and I'm glad we didn't, those portions were HUGE! I had the chicken with rice noodle pho and my friend had the beef meatball with rice noodle pho. The chicken broth was really good, however, the chicken itself had a weird aftertaste. The beef broth was out of this world good and so were the meatballs. I do suggest however to ask for a ton of water as both broths were extremely salty. Heavy on the sodium, not the best for your health but good for the soul. I would definitely recommend you try this place if you are ever around the Chinatown area!