PHO FEST

[geo91181]

coming to town in a couple of weeks looking for some great pho and spring rolls. any help would b appreciated

[Peter Cherches]

I think the consensus is you won't find great Pho in the city. By spring rolls do you mean cha gio--fried ones or bi cuon--cold ones? In some places cha gio are imperial rolls and bi cuon are spring rolls, but in NYC cha gio are spring rolls and bi cuon are summer rolls. I'm not a bi cuon fan, but there is decent cha gio. Pho Viet Huong makes good ones, but my favorites currently are at Pho Thanh Hoai in Sunset Park (Brooklyn).

http://petercherches.blogspot.com

[windycity]

Ditto the above. My current favorite of the Manhattan pho places is Pho Bang on Mott and Grand, though other Chowhounds also like Xe Lua and New Tu Do.

[Peter Cherches]

I think New Tu Do is probably my favorite current Manhattan Vietnamese, but it's not the pho that draws me (great ga xao xa ot, though).

[bigjeff]

especially looking that you are coming from New Orleans, which will beat the pants off of any vietnamese joint 'round these parts. maybe there is a good rec here in NYC for fancy vietnamese that you can't find down there? Not that you were necessarily prefer that, but only for a change of pace, I've only been to strip mall pho joints down there or other similarly unassuming places and they were awesome.

but with that said, make your way up to the bronx, at least for an adventure! I'd rec this also to everyone else on this thread, not just the OP. had good meals up at two vietnamese restaurants across the street from one another:

Com Tam Ninh Kieu
Pho Saigon No. 1

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6113...

[geo91181]

yeah living in new orleans has its pho benefits. i think were gonna try Bauguette. still looking for brunch on sunday that will wow my wife.

[Peter Cherches]

You might want to weigh the reviews of Baoguette before committing. I wouldn't recommend it.

[geo91181]

saw the sandwiches and they looked good. just looking for something quick and tasty in lower manhattan area. we are staying in financial district.

[bigjeff]

for fancier, you might wanna look at either Nam or Viet Cafe, both are in Tribeca.

or, if you really want quick n dirty, just hit up New Tu Do in Chinatown; like Peter said, the best of the lot for the staples (pho, rolls, etc.)

banh mi is a whole other story, you should check this recent thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/610491

[BabsNYC]

I second bigjeff's recommendation on Nam, it's pretty tasty and a quick walk from the FiDi. However, I work down here so Baoguette on Maiden Lane is a nice choice for a quick banh mi - get them to go and sit in Zuccotti Park nearby or even up to City Hall park. But then again, Chinatown isn't too far away either...