Pho Nam Lua
Vietnamese restaurant · West Rogers Park
6261 N McCormick Blvd, Chicago, IL 60659
Highlights
Aromatic broth & tender meats highlight this Vietnamese eatery
Aromatic broth & tender meats highlight this Vietnamese eatery
"The namesake soup at this North Park spot is top-tier. Their phở dặc biệt achieves a perfect light-yet-robust balance with just enough sweetness, and also comes with a less common cut of beef floating next to the supple noodles: buttery oxtail. But even if you aren’t a phở enthusiast, there are still plenty of great dishes to choose from. Like the spicy bún bò Huế, the crispy fish sauce wings covered in onions and jalapenos, and the rice plates with egg and grilled pork chop. All are valid reasons to beat the dinner time rush that packs Pho Nam Lua’s artwork-filled dining room." - john ringor
"This North Park spot’s phở dặc biệt will convince you to immortalize your first slurp as an anniversary in your phone’s calendar. Through some sort of soup sorcery, the broth achieves a perfect light-yet-robust balance, infused with cinnamon and star anise, and just enough sweetness. Aside from the usual tripe or flank steak, you also get a less common cut of beef floating next to the supple noodles—buttery oxtail." - john ringor
"The pho from this casual Vietnamese spot in North Park is one of the best versions in the city—we’re convinced that it’s a universal remedy for everything from the common cold to heartbreak. But even if you’re not looking for a cure-all, it’s still worth ordering a bowl from Phở Năm Lúa. The cuts of meat like flank steak or tendons are great, but there's at least one bowl at every table because of their incredibly balanced broth. It’s light yet still beefy and complex, with a perfectly calibrated mix of spices. It’s pretty easy to grab a table for lunch, but dinner time is prime noodle slurping hour—so show up on the earlier side or close to its 9pm closing to avoid the rush. photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik Pause Unmute" - John Ringor
"If Phở Năm Lúa existed in the 1800s every traveling medicine show would carry a supply of their pho. But unlike Clark Stanley’s Snake Oil Liniment, we’re convinced that the soup from this small North Park Vietnamese restaurant is an actual cure-all. Each comforting bowl is beefy with a hint of sweetness, and comes with chewy rice noodles and cuts of meat like flank steak, tendons, and meatballs. The broth is rich and still has a slurpable lightness. Plus the fragrance of star anise and cinnamon is basically aromatherapy." - josh barnett, john ringor
"Arguably the city’s best phở is made in a nondescript strip mall restaurant on the far North Side . Pho Nam Lua (or Pho 5 Lua) is a favorite among Vietnamese expats and its namesake dish stands above other local offerings. A complex and aromatic broth is accompanied by add-ons like fatty beef, hunks of oxtail, tripe, meatballs, and more. Diners are also encouraged to garnish their bowls with as much basil, bean sprouts, and cilantro as they want. Online orders can be placed here." - Jeffy Mai
