Pho in Manhattan

[suki616]

Best Places? Cheap places?

[Jck90]

pho bang all the way. DEFINITELY

[Pan]

Which location of Pho Bang are you touting?

[Jck90]

on mott

[shirlotta]

to tack on to the poster's question -
servicable pho in or near the west village? due to pure laziness, as it would be a quick ride on the ace to go to chinatown. i'm guessing there isn't any, but i could get lucky.

[devil]

If you could wander to Elmhurst, give pho Saigon in Elmhurst a try. Very well made bowl of pho.

[Non Cognomina]

I love the pho at Bao 111 in the East Village--Avenue C btwn 7th and 8th. I'd call it updated pho, rather than homestyle, but not overly Americanized. So delicious, though.

[Polecat]

I have yet to try a bowl of Pho in NYC that has really knocked my socks off; I liken it to the ramen situation. Have tried it in about 10 different places in Manhattan and Queens, and the place that comes the closest, in my book, is Pho Cong Ly on Hester.

That said, I still long for the real thing. Vietnam awaits....

[Brian S]

Yeah, I love Cong Ly. There's a place nearby I love as well... but I've never tried the pho there. I bet it's good, though.

Nam Son, 245 Grand St 212-966-6507

[frenetica]

2 places stand out:

(For the record, I'm from Hong Kong and grew up among Vietnamese people. Pho is kind of an obsession of mine, so I don't make recommendations lightly!)

First is Pho Bang, on Mott between Broome and Grand. Really cheap (maybe $4.50 a bowl). Drives me crazy that they give you lemon instead of lime (keeping the overhead down, I guess) but it's still good and they have awesome spring rolls. They could probably put less star anise in their broth but overall it's great and you're not going to get better value.

Second one is "Pho 32 and Shabu" in Koreatown (32nd St between Broadway and 5th Ave). Less cheap ($8), but the style is different: lighter, more acidic broth; non-traditional protein options (chicken, mixed seafood). This place is always packed and also does a pretty good Shabu Shabu.

[KTinNYC]

I think Cong Ly has the best pho in Manhattan.

BTW, lemons are always more expensive than limes. This time of the year lemons are 3 for $1.00 while limes are 5 for a $1.00.

[JoLi]

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll definitely try them. I think I once went looking for Pho 32 but found a dumpling spot there instead.

I guess I should give up the search for good pho uptown huh?

[KTinNYC]

I don'tknow of any good Vietnamese uptown. It's hard enough to find good Vietnamese at all in Manhattan.

[keith]

I wouldn't say "Good" vietnamese, but you can get serviceable Pho from Saigon Grill on 90th and Amsterdam. If you've gotta have it in your neighborhood, it's probably the best bet. They also deliver so you can have it in the comfort of your own place.

[johnnyg]

For the record, I believe kumquats are actual the traditional citrus accompaniment to pho, at least that's what they always serve in N. Vietnam. Unfortunately, I've never seen a single Vietnamese restaurant in the US serve them.

[bothrops_asper]

for the record, pho bang usually does serve lime with their pho, but every now and then they'll serve lemons -- who knows why...

[JoLi]

Anyone know of a place in the Upper West Side (or close) that serves authentic pho? I'm talking about pho with all the trimmings (flank steak, tripe and rare steak)

[Katherine H]

I like the pho at Nha Trang - either the Centre St. or Baxter St. location.

[bigjeff]

I like the baxter better, but then, I ate there a few weeks ago with some friends and they totally put down nha trang so now I might have to switch up my standby. they were complaining that the pho broth and the pho gai broth were the same, and at their other favorite (I can't remember where) they have separate broths for the beef and the chicken, and, its all more luscious, bounteous and just better. I think they mentioned the place at the very corner part of mott st. in the basement (never ate there).

[LHT]

Cheap and pretty good, but I've only had delivery so I have no idea what the place really looks like inside.
Mazhi (Formerly A-Mix)
120 E.34th St.
XStreet: 34th/Lex
[phone]

Also very good, small restaurant with nice atmosphere and good service
Boi
246 East 44th Street
between 2nd and 3rd Ave
www.boi-restaurant.com