Pho C&P ★ 3.9
No-frills Vietnamese kitchen on Sonder Alle serving the best pho in Aarhus. Located in Midtbyen. Priced at $. Kitchen leans vietnamese pho and banh mi.
Signature: Pho bo, Banh mi thit, Bun bo Hue
Vietnamese cuisine is built on the central role of fresh herbs (mint, Thai basil, perilla, fish mint, sawtooth coriander), the daily use of fish sauce (nuoc mam) as the umami base, the contrast of cooked and raw textures within a single dish, and the layering of pickled, fresh, hot, and crunchy components. A Vietnamese meal is rarely one-pot; the standard format is rice, soup, a meat or fish dish, a vegetable, and a constant accompaniment of fresh herbs and pickled vegetables that the diner adds in real time.
Vietnam has three major regional traditions. Northern cuisine (Hanoi and the Red River Delta) is the oldest and least sweet, with clear broths, subtle seasoning, and an emphasis on freshwater fish. Central cuisine (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang) is the most refined and the spiciest, with strong influence from the former imperial court at Hue; the most varied and least known of the three. Southern cuisine (Saigon, the Mekong Delta) is the sweetest, with strong coconut milk use, more vegetables, and the broadest exposure to French, Khmer, and Chinese influences.
The French colonial period (1887-1954) left clear marks on the cuisine: bread (banh mi as the Vietnamese sandwich on a French baguette), coffee (Vietnamese drip coffee with condensed milk), pâté, dairy desserts (banh flan), and a few stews (bo kho, a Vietnamese take on French beef bourguignon). But Vietnamese cuisine resisted French domination far more than colonial cuisines elsewhere; the result is a hybrid in just a few places, and a deeply indigenous cuisine in most.
Regional variations
Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Red River Delta)
The oldest tradition. Clear, light broths (pho originated here), less sweet, less spicy, more fresh herb. Bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodle and herbs), cha ca (turmeric fish with dill), pho bac (clear pho, the original). The herb tradition is at its most refined.
Central Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang)
The spiciest and most refined region. Bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle), cao lau (Hoi An noodle dish with five-spice pork), mi quang (turmeric noodle with crispy rice cracker), banh xeo (rice flour crepe with shrimp). The Hue imperial court tradition produced a strong refined-dining lineage.
Southern Vietnam (Saigon, Mekong Delta)
The sweetest and the most cosmopolitan. Pho nam (sweeter pho with more garnishes), com tam (broken rice plate with grilled pork), banh mi as the dominant sandwich form, banh xeo, hu tieu noodle soup, deep dessert tradition. Strong Khmer and French influence.
Defining vietnamese dishes
- Pho
- Rice noodle soup with beef (pho bo) or chicken (pho ga), in a long-simmered broth flavored with star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger, and onion. Garnished with raw bean sprout, Thai basil, lime, and chile at the table. The Vietnamese national dish.
- Banh Mi
- Vietnamese sandwich on a thin-crust French baguette with pâté, mayonnaise, pickled daikon and carrot, cucumber, cilantro, chile, and a protein (cold cut, grilled pork, fried egg, sardine, tofu).
- Bun Cha
- Hanoi specialty. Grilled pork meatballs and pork belly in a sweet-sour broth (nuoc cham diluted with rice vinegar and pickled radish), eaten with rice vermicelli, fresh herbs, and lettuce.
- Goi Cuon
- Fresh spring rolls (also called summer rolls). Rice paper wrapper filled with rice vermicelli, shrimp, pork, lettuce, herbs, sometimes egg. Dipped in peanut-hoisin sauce or nuoc cham. Not deep-fried.
- Cha Gio / Nem Ran
- Fried spring rolls. Smaller, crisper rice-paper or wheat-flour wrappers filled with minced pork, shrimp, vermicelli, wood ear, taro, deep-fried. The Vietnamese party food.
- Bun Bo Hue
- Central Vietnam beef noodle soup. Spicier and more aggressively seasoned than pho, with lemongrass and shrimp paste, thick rice noodle, sliced beef, and pork blood cube. The Hue regional specialty.
- Cao Lau
- Hoi An noodle dish with thick yellow noodles (made from the well water of the local cham wells, by tradition), five-spice braised pork, crispy rice crackers, and fresh herbs. Found almost only in Hoi An.
- Com Tam
- Broken rice plate (the rice is intentionally cracked, originally from rice processing waste, now a delicacy in its own right) with grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, fried egg, and pickled vegetables. The Saigon working lunch.
- Banh Xeo
- Rice flour crepe with turmeric, filled with shrimp, pork, bean sprout, and mung bean. Wrapped in lettuce and herbs at the table and dipped in nuoc cham. Southern Vietnamese; size and crispness vary by region.
- Ca Phe Sua Da
- Vietnamese iced coffee. Dark-roast Vietnamese coffee dripped through a phin filter onto a layer of sweetened condensed milk, then poured over ice and stirred. The defining Vietnamese drink.
How to order
At a pho shop, choose protein (bo for beef, ga for chicken, plus specific cuts: tai for rare beef, nam for flank, gan for tendon, sach for tripe). The broth and noodles are not customizable; the protein assortment is the choice. Garnishes (bean sprout, basil, lime, chile, hoisin, sriracha) come on a separate plate; add at the table to taste. At a banh mi cart, pick the meat (grilled pork, pâté, fried egg, sardine); the vegetables and sauces are standard. At a sit-down restaurant, order family-style with one or two more dishes than diners. Herbs and fresh vegetables arrive in piles that look like garnish but are part of the meal; eat them. Tipping is not customary outside tourist areas; rounding up is standard. The rookie mistakes are not adding garnishes to pho (the broth is intentionally light to let the table garnishes shape the bowl), drowning fresh spring rolls in dipping sauce (a light dip is enough), and treating pho as a one-bowl meal at any time (Vietnamese eat it mostly for breakfast, sometimes for late-night).
What to drink with it
Vietnamese beer is the universal pair: Bia Saigon, 333, Hanoi, and the artisanal craft scene that has emerged since 2015. Bia hoi (fresh draft beer, brewed daily and sold same-day) is a Hanoi institution. Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk (ca phe sua da hot or iced) is the standard non-alcoholic drink. Sugarcane juice (nuoc mia) and herbal grass jelly drinks are warm-weather options. Rice wine (ruou) is the traditional spirit, often house-infused with herbs or animal parts. Wine pairing is rare; if attempted, off-dry German Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc handles the herb and fish-sauce balance.
Where to eat it
Hanoi for the original pho and the deepest northern tradition (Pho Gia Truyen, Pho Thin, the bun cha shops around Ngoc Khanh). Hoi An for cao lau and the Cham well water. Hue for the imperial court tradition. Saigon for the sweetest pho, the deepest banh mi scene (Banh Mi Huynh Hoa, Bao Ng Bakery), and the modern Vietnamese fine-dining scene (Anan Saigon, Quan Bui). Outside Vietnam, the Vietnamese diaspora has built strong scenes in Los Angeles (Little Saigon in Westminster, the largest Vietnamese community outside Asia), Houston, San Jose, Sydney (Cabramatta), Paris (the 13th arrondissement), and Berlin.
A short history
Vietnamese cuisine took its modern shape over a millennium of Chinese influence (the country was under Chinese rule for nearly 1000 years, ending in 938), the absorption of Khmer techniques in the south, the French colonial period (1887-1954) that introduced bread, coffee, and dairy, and the diaspora that followed the Vietnam War (1955-1975), which globalized banh mi and pho. The modern Vietnamese restaurant scene is younger than the Chinese or Thai equivalents; the country was largely closed to foreign visitors until 1986.
Frequently asked
Is pho originally a French dish?
Debated. The most widely accepted theory dates pho to the early 20th century in Hanoi, fusing Chinese noodle technique (the noodle and broth tradition) with the French taste for beef (Vietnamese had eaten little beef before French colonization). The name 'pho' may derive from the French pot-au-feu, but the dish itself is unmistakably Vietnamese.
Why is the bread in banh mi so different from a baguette?
Vietnamese banh mi bread is made with a higher proportion of rice flour than a French baguette, giving it a thinner crust and an airier, lighter crumb. The rice flour was a wartime substitute (when wheat was scarce) that became preferred. A traditional French baguette would make a denser, less ideal banh mi.
What is the difference between northern and southern Vietnamese pho?
Northern pho (pho bac) has a clear, lightly seasoned broth with few garnishes, white onion and scallion, and rice vinegar. Southern pho (pho nam) is sweeter, comes with a large plate of bean sprouts, Thai basil, lime, and chile, and is generally more aggressive. Northern is considered the original; southern is the version most popular abroad.
Vietnamese by city
Vietnamese in Aarhus
Pho C&P ★ 3.9
An eight-hour bone broth pho for under $120 on Sonder Alle. The rice noodles and the quality of the broth exceed anything at twice the price.
Try: Pho bo
Vietnamese in Antwerp
BÚN Bar & Restaurant ★ 4.3
BÚN in Antwerp is a Vietnamese bar and restaurant on Volkstraat, listed in the Michelin Guide for fine-dining Vietnamese on Belgian organic produce.
Signature: Bún noodle bowls, Bánh mì, Vietnamese small plates
Order: The bún noodle bowl with grilled pork and a glass of natural wine from the Vietnamese-leaning list.
Tip: The smaller Little Bún noodle shop is the takeaway sibling for quicker counter eating.
BÚN Bar & Restaurant ★ 4.3
BÚN in Antwerp is a Vietnamese bar and restaurant on Volkstraat, listed in the Michelin Guide for Vietnamese cooking on Belgian organic produce.
Signature: Bún noodle bowls, Bánh mì, Vietnamese small plates
Order: The bún noodle bowl with grilled pork and a glass of natural wine.
Tip: Little Bún is the smaller takeaway sibling for quicker counter eating.
Vietnamese in Atlanta
Octopus Bar ★ 4.7
Octopus Bar is Atlanta's industry-only after-service room on the So Ba patio in East Atlanta: small plates from 22:30 Monday to Saturday, no marquee.
Order: Salt and pepper Georgia shrimp and the lobster cream pasta.
Why locals love it: Industry-only secret: the back patio of So Ba Vietnamese turns into Atlanta's best post-shift kitchen at 22:30 Monday through Saturday. No sign on the gate.
Tip: Queue at 22:00 to be in the first seating; the menu is small-plates, the wine list runs from Bandol to Etna.
Lee's Bakery ★ 4.6
Lee's Bakery on Atlanta's Buford Highway runs the city's most-argued banh mi: BBQ pork combo for $6, coconut bubble tea, generous portions. Family-friendly.
Try: Vietnamese banh mi sandwich
Tip: Order the BBQ pork combo with a coconut bubble tea. Cash works fastest at the counter.
Crawfish Shack Seafood ★ 4.4
Crawfish Shack Seafood on Atlanta's Buford Highway hides Vietnamese-Cajun seafood boils in a strip mall: garlic butter crawfish, po boys, no signage.
Order: Crawfish boil in garlic butter by the pound.
Why locals love it: Buford Highway strip mall serving Vietnamese-Cajun seafood boils that locals queue for; no sign on the highway points at it.
Tip: Order the crawfish in garlic butter by the pound. Bib provided; closed by 19:00 most nights.
Vietnamese in Berlin
Monsieur Vuong ★ 4.3
Monsieur Vuong on Berlin's Alte Schoenhauser Strasse has cooked the city's reference Vietnamese pho since 1999; the menu is one chalkboard, the room runs 60.
Signature: Pho bo, Summer rolls
Order: The pho bo with rare beef; the summer rolls with peanut sauce as a starter.
Tip: No reservations. Arrive before 12:30 or 19:00 to skip the queue; cash and card accepted.
Monsieur Vuong ★ 4.3
Monsieur Vuong on Alte Schoenhauser Strasse has cooked Berlin's reference pho since 1999 at prices below €14. The chalkboard menu changes daily.
Try: Pho bo and summer rolls
Vietnamese in Boston
Banh Mi Ba Le ★ 4.6
Jennifer Nguyen has rolled banh mi at Ba Le on Dorchester Avenue in Boston since 1996. Boston Legacy Business Award 2025, baguette baked fresh daily.
Signature: BBQ pork banh mi, Bun bo Hue
Order: BBQ pork banh mi, classic combination, $7 sandwich.
Tip: Cash and card both. The pho is the under-ordered dish; ask for the bun bo Hue if it is on the chalkboard.
Banh Mi Ba Le ★ 4.6
Ba Le on Dorchester Avenue rolls banh mi in Boston's Vietnamese corridor since 1996. $7 sandwich, baguette baked fresh daily; Boston Legacy Business Award.
Try: BBQ pork banh mi
Tip: Cash and card both. Pho is also a budget order, $11 a bowl Cash is faster than card.
Pho Hoa ★ 4.3
Pho Hoa on Dorchester Avenue has poured beef pho in Boston's Vietnamese corridor since 1992. Boston Magazine Best Neighborhood Restaurant 2022.
Signature: Pho dac biet, Bun bo Hue
Order: Pho dac biet, the all-cuts beef pho with rare steak, brisket, tendon and tripe.
Tip: Lunch is the easy seat; 13:00 the room thins. Cash speeds the bill; the menu runs 18 pho varieties.
Vietnamese in Brisbane
West End Vietnamese Foods ★ 4.8
Tu and Giang's family takeaway under West End Central Apartments. Crispy pork belly banh mi, 24 hour pho broth, rice paper rolls, Vietnamese iced coffee.
Try: Banh mi, pho, rice paper rolls
Banh Mi Factory Newstead ★ 4.7
Brisbane's Best Banh Mi 2024. Newstead branch of the local mini-chain, with 24 hour beef-stock pho, banh mi, noodle salads and Vietnamese spring rolls.
Try: Vietnamese banh mi
Phuong Trinh ★ 4.6
Inala's Vietnamese pho temple. Bone broth, brisket, tendon and tripe with the full plate of herbs, sprouts and chilli on the side. Mismatched Saigon decor.
Try: Vietnamese pho
Vietnamese in Brussels
Knees to Chin ★ 4.4
Knees to Chin in Brussels' Ixelles serves Vietnamese-inspired summer rolls and bowls with vegan options at the Bailli flagship. Counter ordering.
Try: Caramelised tofu summer roll set
ONGBA ★ 4.3
ONGBA in Brussels' Ixelles is the Vietnamese kitchen on Chaussee de Wavre that earned a Bib Gourmand in 2026. Priced at €€. At Chaussee de Wavre 196.
Signature: Pho, Banh mi
Order: A bowl of beef pho with extra tendon, and a banh mi to take away.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Lunch service is fast; dinner runs slower with full carte.
Vietnamese in Burlington
Pho Hong ★ 4.7
Pho Hong in Burlington: Off Church Street in the Old North End, in a former Global Markets storefront. Family-owned, no website, no chain trappings.
Why locals love it: Off Church Street in the Old North End, in a former Global Markets storefront. Family-owned, no website, no chain trappings.
Tip: Closed Sun-Mon. Tue-Thu opens 15:00; Fri-Sat opens 17:00. Arrive at open or expect a 30-minute wait. BYOB.
Pho Hong ★ 4.5
Pho Hong is the family-owned Vietnamese counter on North Winooski Avenue that locals queue for. Pho with rich aromatic broth, fresh banh mi, vermicelli bowls;
Signature: Pho tai with rare beef, Banh mi, Vermicelli bowls
Order: Pho tai with rare beef and meatballs; add fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime at the table.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday and cash-or-card both accepted; BYOB and the lunch rush after 12:30 clears fast.
Pho Hong ★ 4.5
Family-owned Vietnamese counter on North Winooski Avenue; the Burlington pho benchmark. BYOB. Closed Sun-Mon; queues hard at lunch and dinner.
Signature: Pho tai, Banh mi, Vermicelli bowls
Order: Pho tai with meatballs; banh mi for take-away.
Tip: Closed Sun-Mon and cash-or-card both accepted; BYOB and the lunch rush after 12:30 clears fast.
Vietnamese in Charlotte
Lang Van ★ 4.7
Lang Van is the east Charlotte Vietnamese institution that won the city's only Michelin Bib Gourmand in the 2025 American South guide for pho.
Signature: Pho, Banh xeo, Bun bo Hue
Order: The pho and the banh xeo crispy crepe; the menu is broad but those are the dishes that earned the Bib.
Tip: Crowds quadrupled after the Michelin nod. Go on a weekday, expect a wait on weekends, and bring cash for the wait time.
Lang Van ★ 4.7
Lang Van on Shamrock Drive is the family-run east Charlotte Vietnamese institution that landed Charlotte's only Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025 for pho.
Signature: Pho, Banh xeo, Bun bo Hue
Order: The pho and the banh xeo crispy crepe; both earned the Michelin nod.
Tip: The room is small. Weekday lunches are the easiest window; weekend evenings run a 30-minute wait.
Lang Van ★ 4.7
Lang Van on Shamrock Drive is the east Charlotte Vietnamese kitchen that took home the city's only Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025 for pho and family-run.
Why locals love it: Hidden in an east Charlotte strip mall on Shamrock Drive, easy to miss until the 2025 Michelin nod tripled the queue.
Tip: Weekday lunch is the easiest window; weekends now run a 30-minute wait.
Vietnamese in Cincinnati
Pho Lang Thang ★ 4.6
Pho Lang Thang on Race Street in Cincinnati's Findlay Market OTR is the Vietnamese pho and banh mi counter, with bun bowls and spring rolls.
Try: Vietnamese pho and banh mi
Pho Lang Thang ★ 4.4
Pho Lang Thang at Cincinnati's Findlay Market on Race Street is the Vietnamese pho counter from the Nguyen and Le partners, hidden inside the 1855 market.
Why locals love it: Hidden inside the Findlay Market structure, walk past unless you know it's there.
Tip: Lunch is fastest. The pho ga is the under-the-radar order for first-time visitors to the market.
Vietnamese in Cleveland
Superior Pho ★ 4.6
Superior Pho inside the Cleveland AsiaTown plaza on Superior Avenue, a Vietnamese family-run noodle counter, runs heaping bowls of pho, bun and rice plates.
Try: Pho and bun bowls
Superior Pho ★ 4.4
Superior Pho on Superior Avenue inside Superior Square in AsiaTown, an award-winning Vietnamese family restaurant, anchors Cleveland's pho and banh mi scene.
Signature: Pho tai, Banh mi
Order: Pho tai with raw beef plus a banh mi with house pate and roast pork.
Tip: Cash and card; the small dining room turns fast at lunch Walk-ins usually OK.
Superior Pho ★ 4.2
Superior Pho on Superior Avenue inside the Superior Square plaza in AsiaTown, an award-winning Vietnamese family restaurant, anchors Cleveland's pho and banh.
Signature: Pho tai, Banh mi
Order: Pho tai with raw beef plus a banh mi with house pate and roast pork.
Tip: Cash and card; the small dining room turns fast at lunch Booking recommended for weekends.
Vietnamese in Cologne
Well Being ★ 4.3
Well Being on Brabanter Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel serves modern Vietnamese cooking with vegan and gluten-free options clearly marked throughout.
Order: Caramelised tofu with rice and seasonal greens, and the warming pho with rice noodles and fresh herb plate
Tip: Lunch is busiest; the gluten-free menu items are clearly marked. Book ahead for weekend evenings.
Udum ★ 4.0
Udum at Am Rinkenpfuhl in Cologne's Altstadt is a plant-based Vietnamese and Asian vegan cafe; bowls, vegan sushi rolls and warming pho broth, fully vegan.
Order: Vegan sushi rolls with roasted sesame and pickled ginger alongside the warming pho broth
Tip: Book ahead for weekend evenings; the room is small and the regulars fill it early.
Lúa by Danny ★ 3.9
Lua by Danny on Brabanter Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel serves authentic Vietnamese cooking with pho, spring rolls and fresh herbs at affordable.
Order: Pho bo with beef, and the crispy spring rolls with fresh herbs and dipping sauce
Tip: Compact room; arrives early for the better tables. Affordable and filling for a weekday dinner.
Vietnamese in Columbus
Pho Asian Noodle House ★ 4.2
Pho Asian Noodle House on West Lane Avenue near Ohio State runs Columbus's reference Vietnamese counter for pho and banh mi at a college-town price.
Signature: Pho tai, Banh mi
Order: A bowl of pho tai with the herb plate, plus a banh mi to go.
Tip: Cash and card; lunch is faster than the OSU weeknight rush Walk-ins usually OK.
Pho Asian Noodle House ★ 4.2
Pho Asian Noodle House on West Lane Avenue in Columbus runs the city's reference Vietnamese counter for pho and banh mi at the OSU adjacent stretch.
Why locals love it: On West Lane Avenue near OSU, the college-adjacent counter pours the city's reference pho at a student-friendly price.
Tip: Avoid the OSU evening rush; lunch and early dinner move faster.
Pho Asian Noodle House Bowl ★ 4.2
Pho Asian Noodle House on West Lane Avenue near OSU runs a big bowl of pho tai under $14, the Columbus reference pho at the college-town counter.
Try: Bowl of pho tai
Vietnamese in Dallas
Mot Hai Ba ★ 4.5
A Lakewood neighbourhood restaurant with two consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmands and a farm-driven menu that blends Vietnamese flavours with French technique.
Order: Seasonal small plates that change monthly; the pork belly with lemongrass is a recurring standout.
Tip: Reservations open two weeks out on Resy and go quickly. Bring a party of four to cover more of the menu.
Mot Hai Ba ★ 4.5
Michelin-recommended Mot Hai Ba on Lewis Street blends modern French technique with Vietnamese soul in a casual East Dallas room. Located in Lakewood.
Order: Seasonal pho; spring rolls with heirloom vegetables
Tip: Tuesday through Thursday is the easiest booking window. The seasonal menu changes frequently; the pho preparation is always the dish to watch.
Mot Hai Ba ★ 4.5
A Lakewood neighbourhood restaurant holding two consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmands with a farm-driven menu that blends Vietnamese flavours and French.
Tip: The menu changes monthly. Ask the server what came in from local farms this week; the kitchen often writes one off-menu special around it.
Vietnamese in Ghent
Knees to Chin ★ 4.2
Knees to Chin serves Vietnamese banh mi rolls and rice noodle bowls under €12 in a compact fast-casual format near the Kouter and Sint-Baafsplein.
Order: Banh mi with Vietnamese pork: the house roll that started the Knees to Chin following in Ghent.
Tip: The queue at lunch peaks between 12:00 and 13:30; a ten-minute wait is worth it for the freshness of the rolls.
Knees to Chin ★ 3.9
Knees to Chin makes fresh Vietnamese spring rolls to order: rice paper wrappers filled with seasonal greens, herbs and your choice of protein. Lactose-free.
Order: Customise-your-own spring roll bowl: pick proteins, sauces and sides from the menu board.
Tip: Popular weekday lunch spot; the queue at midday moves fast but the room fills.
Vietnamese in Glasgow
Non Viet ★ 4.1
Non Viet serves authentic Vietnamese food on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, a bright room where the pho and bun bowls draw a loyal city-centre crowd.
Order: A steaming bowl of beef pho, or the vermicelli bun with grilled pork.
Tip: There are further Non Viet branches in the West End; this Sauchiehall Street one is handy for Charing Cross.
Vietnamese in Greenville
White Duck Taco (Late Night) ★ 4.0
White Duck Taco runs the counter until midnight Friday and Saturday. Korean bulgogi, banh mi, buffalo chicken, all the late-night Main Street staples.
Try: Creative tacos
Vietnamese in Hanoi
Gia 1 ★ ★ 4.9
Gia in Hanoi holds one Michelin star for chef Sam Tran's modern Vietnamese tasting menu, served opposite the Temple of Literature in Van Mieu, Dong Da.
Order: The 12-course set menu rotates seasonally; trust the kitchen and pair with the optional Vietnamese.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Tran was named Michelin's Young Chef Award winner; reservations open about three weeks ahead online.
Tầm Vị ★ 4.8
Tam Vi in Hanoi holds one Michelin star for Northern Vietnamese home cooking, served in a vintage Yen The villa near the Temple of Literature in Dong Da.
Signature: Pickled eggplant with shrimp paste, Caramelised river fish, Crab and water-spinach soup
Order: The set menu rotates Northern home-cooking classics: caramelised fish.
Tip: Book a week ahead online; the room only seats around 40 and the vintage-furnished upstairs is the preferred section.
Tầm Vị 1 ★ ★ 4.8
Tam Vi in Hanoi holds one Michelin star for traditional Northern Vietnamese home cooking, served in a vintage Yen The villa near the Temple of Literature.
Order: The set menu: pickled eggplant with shrimp paste, caramelised river fish.
Tip: Bookings open about a week ahead. The upstairs vintage room is quieter than the ground floor.
Vietnamese in Ho Chi Minh City
Anan Saigon 1 ★ ★ 4.8
Anan Saigon holds one Michelin star for Peter Cuong Franklin's new Vietnamese cooking, turning street classics like banh mi and pho into tasting courses.
Order: The tasting menu, with its caviar-topped banh mi and reimagined pho.
Tip: Book ahead for the counter; the rooftop Nhau Nhau bar upstairs is worth a nightcap.
CieL Dining 1 ★ ★ 4.7
CieL earned its first Michelin star in 2025 for a Thao Dien tasting menu that fuses French technique with Vietnamese soul across an ever-changing lineup.
Order: The chef's set tasting menu, which rotates with the seasons.
Tip: Dinner only, and reservations are essential; the room is small.
Coco Dining 1 ★ ★ 4.6
Coco Dining was promoted to one Michelin star in 2025 for a twelve-course tasting menu built on fermentation and modern Vietnamese cooking in District 3.
Order: The twelve-course tasting narrative of Vietnamese culture.
Tip: There is one seating a night, so book well ahead and arrive on time for the full sequence.
Vietnamese in Honolulu
The Pig and The Lady ★ 4.6
The Pig and The Lady is chef Andrew Le's modern Vietnamese room, which moved from Chinatown to a Civil Beat Plaza space on Waialae in Kaimuki Honolulu.
Signature: Pho French dip, Mama Le's pho, Banh mi sandwiches
Order: Mama Le's pho and the pho French dip with brisket.
Tip: Lunch and dinner separated menus; lunch leans pho and banh mi, dinner runs a tasting-style chef's choice. Reservations are tough on weekends.
The Pig and The Lady ★ 4.6
The Pig and The Lady in Kaimuki Honolulu is chef Andrew Le's modern Vietnamese room, relocated from Chinatown to the Civil Beat Plaza on Waialae in late 2025.
Signature: Pho French dip, Mama Le's pho, Banh mi sandwiches
Order: Mama Le's pho and the pho French dip with brisket.
Tip: Lunch is pho and banh mi, dinner a chef's-choice tasting. Weekends book two weeks out.
Vietnamese in Houston
Crawfish and Noodles ★ 4.6
Crawfish and Noodles in Houston is Trong Nguyen's Bellaire Boulevard Viet-Cajun crawfish room since 2008, a James Beard semifinalist. At 11360 Bellaire Blvd.
Order: Crawfish in lemongrass garlic butter sauce. Blue crab off-season.
Why locals love it: A Bellaire Boulevard strip-mall Vietnamese kitchen that serves the country's defining Viet-Cajun crawfish, unknown to most national lists.
Tip: Crawfish only in season (late February to early June). Off-season the kitchen pivots to blue crab and Dungeness; both are worth ordering.
Cali Sandwich & Pho ★ 4.5
Cali Sandwich & Pho in Houston is the Midtown Vietnamese counter on Travis Street, with a $5 BBQ pork banh mi that has been the best Houston cheap lunch.
Try: BBQ pork banh mi
Tip: BBQ pork is the canonical banh mi. Cash strongly preferred. Closed Sundays.
Cali Sandwich & Pho ★ 4.4
Cali Sandwich & Pho in Houston is the Travis Street Vietnamese counter in Midtown, a Houston banh mi institution since 1979 with bo luc lac.
Signature: Banh mi, Bo luc lac
Order: BBQ pork banh mi. Bo luc lac (shaking beef) over rice. A Vietnamese iced coffee.
Tip: Cash strongly preferred. Closed Sundays. The pho here is solid but the banh mi is the reason.
Vietnamese in Kansas City
Vietnam Cafe Pho ★ 4.5
Vietnam Cafe on Campbell Street in Kansas City's Columbus Park is the city's most-praised pho counter, with generous bowls of broth and noodles under $15.
Try: Pho bowl
Tip: Closed Tuesdays. Banh mi is the second order; cash works fastest.
Vietnamese in Las Vegas
Able Baker Brewing (Arts District) ★ 4.3
Able Baker Brewing in the Las Vegas Arts District serves the in-house kitchen until close, with brewpub burgers, wings and banh mi to soak up 30 craft taps.
Try: Brewpub burgers, wings, banh mi from the Arts District Kitchen
Tip: The kitchen runs until close (not last call); Friday and Saturday nights the patio fills by 22:00, so order your food on the way to your table.
Pho Kim Long ★ 4.3
Pho Kim Long on Spring Mountain in Las Vegas is the 24-hour Chinatown pho landmark with rare-beef and brisket bowls at $11 to $13 even at 04:30 am.
Try: Beef pho, large bowl $11-13
Tip: Open 24 hours, a rare bird on Spring Mountain; rare and well-done brisket pho with extra basil and lime is the standing order.
Lee's Sandwiches ★ 4.2
Lee's Sandwiches on Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas is the bakery banh mi counter where a dac biet combo runs $6 to $8 on a baguette baked in-house.
Try: Banh mi dac biet combo $6-8
Tip: Dac biet combo and a Vietnamese iced coffee for $10; the baguette is baked all day, ask for one straight out of the oven.
Vietnamese in London
Cay Tre Soho ★ 4.3
Cay Tre Vietnamese kitchen on Dean Street in Soho London, opened 2009 by Hieu Trung Bui, runs late pho, bun cha and banh mi until 22:30 every night.
Try: Vietnamese pho and bun cha
Tip: Walk-in or book a fortnight ahead. The pre-theatre menu at £20 for two courses runs until 18:30.
Vietnamese in Los Angeles
Banh Mi My Tho ★ 4.6
Banh Mi My Tho in Alhambra, Los Angeles County bakes baguettes daily and presses Vietnamese sandwiches to order. The pate cha lua is the order, cash only.
Try: Vietnamese banh mi
Vietnamese in Melbourne
Pho Hung Vuong 2 ★ 4.8
The defining pho on Victoria Street: long-simmered beef broth with rare beef and brisket in a no-frills Richmond room that has fed the city since the 1980s.
Order: Rare beef and brisket pho, large
Pho Hung Vuong 2 ★ 4.7
Pho Hung Vuong 2 on Victoria Street is Melbourne's pho standard-bearer: long-simmered broth with charred onion and ginger, piled with fresh herbs.
Order: Rare beef and brisket pho with bean sprouts and fresh herbs
Pho Hung Vuong 2 ★ 4.4
Pho Hung Vuong 2 on Victoria Street is the Richmond pho standard: a 12-hour bone broth, fresh herbs and the type of no-frills room that earns repeat visits.
Order: Large beef pho with tendon and tripe
Vietnamese in Memphis
Mosa Asian Bistro ★ 4.3
Mosa Asian Bistro on White Station Road in East Memphis runs a Chinese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese menu favoured by Memphis chefs on their nights off.
Why locals love it: Sits in a strip mall with no signage to speak of; chefs send their friends here for pho.
Tip: Closed Mondays. The spicy Korean noodles are the standout; the room fills with regulars after 18:00.
Vietnamese in Milwaukee
Sherman Phoenix ★ 4.4
Sherman Phoenix on West Fond du Lac Avenue houses 30+ Black-owned food and retail businesses in the former BMO Harris Bank building, opened in 2018.
Why locals love it: 30+ Black-owned food businesses in a former bank building in Sherman Park most downtown visitors don't reach.
Tip: Try Funky Fresh Spring Rolls or Buffalo Boss wings; food court runs Monday through Saturday.
Hue Vietnamese Restaurant ★ 4.3
Hue on South Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View runs a Vietnamese menu of pho, banh xeo and bun cha for two decades, the Bui family's first Milwaukee opening.
Signature: Pho, Banh xeo
Order: A bowl of beef pho with extra brisket and a banh xeo to share.
Tip: Cash and card both; weekday lunch is the best window before students arrive.
Vietnamese in Minneapolis
Quang Restaurant ★ 4.7
Quang on Nicollet Avenue has run Minneapolis's defining Vietnamese pho room on Eat Street since 1989. James Beard America's Classics Award 2024 winner.
Signature: Pho, Banh xeo
Order: Pho tai with rare beef and the banh xeo turmeric crepe.
Tip: Lunch line out the door by 12:30; arrive before noon or after 13:30. The cash discount is worth bringing bills.
Quang Restaurant ★ 4.7
Quang on Nicollet has poured James Beard America's Classics 2024 pho in Minneapolis since 1989. Located in Eat Street. At 2719 Nicollet Ave.
Try: Pho tai
Vietnamese in Montreal
Pho Tay Ho ★ 4.2
Pho Tay Ho ladles deeply spiced beef pho for under fifteen dollars in Petite-Patrie, Montreal, a warming, filling bowl that locals rate among the city's best.
Try: Pho
Tip: A large tai bowl plus a Vietnamese coffee is a complete meal for the price of a downtown lunch.
Pho Tay Ho ★ 4.1
Pho Tay Ho is the Petite-Patrie pho specialist in Montreal, ladling deeply spiced beef broth over rice noodles that locals rank among the city's best.
Order: A large pho tai with brisket and a side of Vietnamese coffee.
Tip: Cash is easiest and the broth is the point; skip the appetisers and order the big bowl.
Pho Tay Ho ★ 4.1
Why locals love it: A no-frills Petite-Patrie pho counter that locals quietly rate above flashier Vietnamese rooms, far from any tourist trail on upper Rue Saint-Denis.
Tip: Go for the beef pho and a Vietnamese coffee; cash keeps the fast-moving lunch line moving.
Vietnamese in Munich
Ca Go Restaurant ★ 4.3
Ca Go on Kazmairstrasse in Munich's Westend runs a full Vietnamese carte across pho, bun and clay-pot dishes, with a long vegetarian and vegan column.
Order: Bun bo Hue or the clay-pot Ca Kho To, paired with a Bavarian Helles or a Vietnamese ca phe sua da.
Tip: 10% discount on the dinner menu for takeout; closest U-Bahn is Schwanthalerhöhe (U4/U5).
Asia Markt Thang Long ★ 4.2
Asia Markt Thang Long on Poccistrasse next to the U-Bahn pours banh mi from around €4.50 and bowls of pho or fried noodles for under €9; counter-style.
Try: Vietnamese banh mi from the counter
Vietnamese in Napa
Slanted Door Napa ★ 4.2
Charles Phan's Vietnamese institution arrived in Napa in 2023, bringing the spicy, sweet and citrusy balance that made the Ferry Building original famous.
Signature: Chicken clay pot, Cellophane noodles, Daikon rice cakes
Tip: Happy hour at the bar daily 15:00-17:00 is the most affordable way to experience the kitchen.
Vietnamese in New Orleans
Saturday Vietnamese Market at Mary Queen of Vietnam ★ 4.7
Open-air Saturday market in New Orleans East beside Mary Queen of Vietnam church and Ly's Supermarket; Vietnamese elders sell garden herbs from 5am to 9am.
Why locals love it: The 06:00-09:00 Saturday-only Vietnamese church-parking-lot market in New Orleans East that locals know and most tourists miss because it ends before brunch.
Tip: Bring cash in small bills and arrive before 08:00; vendors pack up at 09:00 sharp.
Vietnamese in New York City
Saigon Social ★ 4.4
Chef Helen Nguyen's Orchard Street Vietnamese kitchen in New York City runs sharp central-Vietnamese cooking: bun bo Hue, com tam, banh khot in clay pots.
Signature: Bun bo Hue, Banh mi
Order: Bun bo Hue with extra cha lua.
Tip: Lunch is the easy seat. Dinner books fast on weekends; Tuesday evenings are quiet and full menu still runs.
Vietnamese in Oakland
Banh Mi Ba Le ★ 4.7
Banh Mi Ba Le on International Boulevard runs the most-loved East Bay banh mi counter, weekends only. Two dozen sandwiches under eight dollars.
Order: Pork meatball banh mi with Vietnamese coffee.
Tip: Open only Friday through Sunday; cash only. Twenty-four sandwiches on the menu, all under eight dollars.
Tay Ho Restaurant and Bar ★ 4.5
Tay Ho in Oakland Chinatown leans into Northern Vietnamese cooking with a full bar. Bun cha Hanoi and banh xeo, plus a daily lunch crowd from BART.
Signature: Bun cha Hanoi, Banh xeo
Tay Ho Restaurant and Bar ★ 4.4
Tay Ho on 12th Street on the edge of Oakland Chinatown cooks Northern Vietnamese plates with a full bar. Bun cha Hanoi is the lead order at the door.
Signature: Bun cha Hanoi, Banh xeo, Pho ga
Vietnamese in Oklahoma City
Lido Restaurant ★ 4.3
Lido Restaurant in Oklahoma City's Asian District is a family-run Vietnamese cafe making banh mi sandwiches, rice plates, and spring rolls with care.
Order: Banh mi sandwich; broken rice com tam plate
Tip: Under $5 for a banh mi and under $10 for a full rice plate. The Asian District is one of OKC's most overlooked food destinations.
Lido Restaurant ★ 4.3
Lido Restaurant in Oklahoma City's Asian District is a local choice for Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, com dia rice plates, and spring rolls at budget prices.
Order: Banh mi sandwich; com dia rice plate
Tip: The banh mi is one of the best-value sandwiches in Oklahoma City at under $5. Cash preferred.
Super Cao Nguyen Food Court ★ 4.2
Super Cao Nguyen in Oklahoma City's Asian District has a bakery counter with fresh banh mi and Vietnamese pastries prepared daily alongside the grocery.
Order: Banh mi sandwich; Vietnamese iced coffee
Tip: The bakery opens early and baguettes for banh mi sell out by early afternoon.
See all 5 vietnamese rooms in Oklahoma City →
Vietnamese in Orlando
Camille 1 ★ ★ 4.8
Camille on New Broad Street in Baldwin Park is the first Michelin-starred Vietnamese restaurant in the United States, an eight-seat tasting room.
Banh Mi Boy ★ 4.6
Banh Mi Boy inside Mills Market on East Colonial Drive is the Michelin Bib Gourmand Vietnamese sandwich counter, with banh mi and summer rolls under $13.
Try: Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches
Pho 88 ★ 4.5
Pho 88 on North Mills Avenue in Mills 50 is the Vietnamese pho counter favorite, with rare-beef pho, bun bo Hue and rice plates seven days a week.
Signature: Pho tai bo vien, Bun bo Hue
Vietnamese in Oslo
Lille Saigon 1 ★ 4.0
Lille Saigon 1 on Bernt Ankers gate in central Oslo is the long-running budget Vietnamese counter for pho, vermicelli bowls and bun-cha rice plates a short.
Try: Pho and Vietnamese rice plates
Vietnamese in Philadelphia
Street Side ★ 4.7
Street Side in Philadelphia is a tiny Vietnamese BYOB on West Girard, an Asian street-food counter with hand-rolled rice paper rolls, kroeung beef skewers.
Signature: Pho, Pork belly rice paper roll
Order: Pork belly rice paper roll; kroeung beef skewer; a bowl of pho with the side plate of herbs.
Tip: BYOB. Bring a Vietnamese lager or a crisp Riesling. Mostly a takeout-friendly counter, so go early for a seat.
Street Side ★ 4.5
Street Side in Philadelphia is a small Vietnamese BYOB on West Girard, an Asian street-food counter with hand-rolled rice paper rolls, kroeung beef skewers.
Signature: Pho, Pork belly rice paper roll
Order: Pork belly rice paper roll; kroeung beef skewer; pho with the side plate of herbs.
Tip: BYOB. Bring a Vietnamese lager or a crisp Riesling. Tight room, so go early or get it to go.
Pho 75 ★ 4.4
Pho 75 in Philadelphia is the Washington Avenue Vietnamese counter where a full bowl of beef pho with bean sprouts, basil and lime lands for under 13 dollars.
Try: Beef pho
Vietnamese in Pittsburgh
Tram's Kitchen ★ 4.7
Tram's Kitchen on Penn Avenue in Bloomfield serves Vietnamese pho and bun in Pittsburgh. A long-running BYOB room many call the city's best Vietnamese.
Signature: Pho, Bun
Order: A bowl of pho and a vermicelli bun plate; bring your own beer.
Tip: BYOB and cash-friendly. Small room; expect a short wait at peak hours.
Tram's Kitchen ★ 4.7
Tram's Kitchen is a plain byob room on penn avenue in bloomfield that locals quietly call the city's best vietnamese, while tourists walk past it.
Why locals love it: A plain BYOB room on Penn Avenue in Bloomfield that locals quietly call the city's best Vietnamese, while tourists walk past it.
Tip: Bring your own beer and cash. The pho and bun are the order; the room is small, so go early.
Banh Mi & Ti ★ 4.5
Banh Mi & Ti on Butler Street in Lawrenceville is a cheap Vietnamese counter in Pittsburgh. A crusty banh mi and an iced coffee make a fast, low-cost lunch.
Try: Banh mi sandwich
Vietnamese in Portland
Ha VL Vietnamese Noodle Soup ★ 4.6
Ha VL on SE 82nd in Portland is a strip-mall counter with two Vietnamese soups daily, each only once a week, James Beard semifinalist Peter Vuong.
Why locals love it: A strip-mall counter on SE 82nd that locals queue for. Two soups daily, each only once a week.
Tip: Open Wed-Sun 08:00-15:00. They sell out by noon. The chef-owner Peter Vuong is a 2024 James Beard semifinalist.
Ha VL Vietnamese Noodle Soup ★ 4.6
Christina Luu and William Vuong's Vietnamese soup counter on SE 82nd in Portland, with two rotating soups daily and the city's most authoritative pho-shop.
Try: Daily rotating Vietnamese soup
Tip: Open Wed-Sun 08:00-15:00. Two soups daily, each runs only one day a week. They sell out by noon.
Vietnamese in Portland
Cong Tu Bot ★ 4.7
Cong Tu Bot on Washington Avenue, since 2017 from Vien Dobui and Jessica Sheahan, a 30-seat Vietnamese room serving pho ga, banh xeo and cha gio spring rolls.
Signature: Pho ga, Banh xeo, Cha gio spring rolls
Order: Pho ga chicken broth, then banh xeo with shrimp and pork.
Tip: Wednesday to Saturday 17:00-21:00.
Cong Tu Bot ★ 4.7
Cong Tu Bot is a 30-seat Vietnamese room on Washington Avenue in Portland, no reservations and a James Beard finalist 2022 for Best Chef Northeast.
Why locals love it: A 30-seat Vietnamese room on a Washington Avenue corner. No reservations, no instagram queues, but James Beard finalist 2022 (Best Chef Northeast).
Tip: Arrive at open (17:00 Wednesday to Saturday); the queue starts before the door unlocks.
Cong Tu Bot ★ 4.6
Cong Tu Bot on Washington Avenue opened 2017 from Vien Dobui and Jessica Sheahan, a tight Vietnamese menu of pho ga, banh xeo and cha gio in a small space.
Signature: Pho ga, Banh xeo, Cha gio spring rolls
Order: The pho ga chicken broth, then banh xeo with shrimp and pork.
Tip: Wednesday to Saturday 17:00-21:00.
Vietnamese in Prague
Pho Tung at Sapa ★ 4.6
Sapa market noodle counter in Libus serving chicken or beef pho strictly by the book; chef Sony's bowls draw expats from across Prague at 170 koruna each.
Why locals love it: Prague's best pho is half an hour out at Sapa Market in Libus. Tourists do not get there; the Vietnamese community fills it every weekend lunch.
Tip: Bus 198 from Smichov metro; combine with Halo Banh Mi across the alley.
Pho Tung ★ 4.6
Pho Tung in Sapa Market sells the city's most-argued-over pho at 170 $ a bowl. Add the fried quay dough sticks at 15 $; cash and card accepted.
Try: Pho bo
Tip: Add the fried quay dough sticks at 15 $; cash and card accepted.
Halo Banh Mi ★ 4.5
Halo Banh Mi inside Sapa Market sells Prague's best banh mi at the cheapest counter price in the city: 80 $ for the sandwich, 120 $ for a combo with a drink.
Try: Vietnamese banh mi
Tip: Public transport is the only catch; 30 minutes on bus 198 from Smichov metro.
Vietnamese in Reykjavik
Mama Kitchen ★ 4.0
Mama Kitchen on Laugavegur cooks the Vietnamese classics in generous bowls, a fragrant pho and crisp spring rolls that draw a loyal crowd to the main.
Signature: Pho, Spring rolls
Order: A bowl of beef pho, or the spring rolls if you want something light alongside.
Tip: Open every day from 11:00-22:00. Portions are large for the price, value beats the downtown average.
Mama Kitchen ★ 4.0
Mama Kitchen on Laugavegur sets generous bowls of pho and Vietnamese rice plates on a fast counter, a central Reykjavik budget meal on the main shopping.
Try: Pho and Vietnamese rice plates
Tip: Open 11:00-22:00 daily. Pho or a stir-fry plate is the value pick for a quick filling lunch.
Vietnamese in Rotterdam
Madame Saigon ★ 4.0
A Vietnamese restaurant on Witte de Withstraat with pho, bun bo, and banh mi made from long-simmered house broths. Order the pho bo and the banh xeo pancake.
Order: Pho bo and the banh xeo pancake.
Tip: The lunch set before 15:00 is better value than dinner; the kitchen uses the same produce.
Vietnamese in Sacramento
Pho Momma ★ 4.8
Pho Momma on Folsom Boulevard in Sacramento serves a Michelin Bib Gourmand pho under $18, the best-value Vietnamese counter with house pork wontons.
Try: Pho with house pork wontons
Pho Bac Hoa Viet South Sac ★ 4.6
Pho Bac Hoa Viet on Stockton Boulevard serves family-run beef pho and bun bowls under $15, a Vietnamese commercial corridor counter, open daily.
Try: Beef pho and bun rice noodle bowls
Pho Momma ★ 4.5
Pho Momma on Folsom Boulevard in Sacramento earned a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand, the city's most decorated pho counter with house pork wontons in the broth.
Signature: Pho, Pork wontons
Order: Beef pho with house pork wontons; the bone broth has the depth
Tip: Walk-in only, no reservations. Thursday to Sunday 11:00-20:30. The queue moves quickly.
Vietnamese in San Antonio
Viet-Nam Restaurant ★ 4.2
Viet-Nam Restaurant is a plain-fronted Broadway room that locals rate for some of the best pho in the city, a no-frills Vietnamese kitchen built on the broth.
Order: Pho, spring rolls and vermicelli bowls.
Tip: Go for the pho and the spring rolls; the room is simple but the bowls are deep. Lunch is the quieter time.
Viet-Nam Restaurant ★ 4.1
Viet-Nam Restaurant is a plain broadway storefront that locals rate for the best pho in the city, with none of the signage to match the reputation.
Why locals love it: A plain Broadway storefront that locals rate for the best pho in the city, with none of the signage to match the reputation.
Tip: Do not judge it by the simple room; the pho is the reason locals send friends. Lunch is the quieter time.
Vietnamese in San Diego
Pho Hoa ★ 4.3
Pho Hoa on El Cajon Boulevard in City Heights, San Diego, the long-running Vietnamese soup counter selling large bowls of beef pho for under seven dollars.
Try: Pho dac biet (special beef pho), small or large bowl
Vietnamese in San Francisco
Saigon Sandwich ★ 4.4
Saigon Sandwich in San Francisco is the Larkin Street banh mi window: six bucks for a roll, with a fast line out the door by noon every weekday.
Signature: Pork banh mi, Vietnamese iced coffee
Order: Pork banh mi number one with extra pate, and a Vietnamese iced coffee.
Tip: Cash only; order four at once and bring them home; the bread stays good for three hours wrapped.
Saigon Sandwich ★ 4.4
Saigon Sandwich in San Francisco is the Larkin Street banh mi window: six bucks for a hot baguette and a long lunch line that turns over fast every weekday.
Try: Pork banh mi
Tip: Cash only; order four at once and bring them home; the bread stays good for three hours wrapped.
Vietnamese in San Jose
Com Tam Thien Huong ★ 4.6
Com Tam Thien Huong serves Vietnamese broken rice with expertly grilled proteins, drawing long lines from San Jose's Little Saigon community at lunch daily.
Order: Com tam plate with BBQ pork and fried shrimp cake
Why locals love it: Overlooked by tourists who head to pho spots, this broken-rice specialist in Little Saigon regularly earns praise as one of the best com tam spots in the entire country.
Tip: Order the sampler plate to try grilled pork, shrimp cake, and egg cake side by side for under $15.
Duc Huong Sandwiches Story Rd ★ 4.5
Duc Huong on Story Road crafts San Jose's finest banh mi with house-made cold cuts and crispy baguettes, a Story Road staple and East Side local favorite.
Order: Banh mi dac biet with house-made cold cuts and pate
Why locals love it: Tucked in a Story Road strip mall, Duc Huong draws from-scratch banh mi seekers who know the side pickup window is the move to skip the line.
Tip: Arrive before 09:00 on weekends for fresh-from-the-oven pate chauds while they last.
Huong Lan Sandwiches ★ 4.5
Huong Lan on Tully Road is a San Jose Vietnamese deli legend open before 05:00, serving large soft baguette banh mi considered a Bay Area gold standard.
Order: Banh mi #1 with pate, head cheese, and cured ham
Why locals love it: Open before dawn for workers and students, Huong Lan has quietly served banh mi since the early 2000s without the long lines of higher-profile competitors nearby.
Tip: The deli case holds roasted duck and BBQ pork belly that sell out fast - arrive before 10:00 for the full selection.
Vietnamese in Seattle
The Boat ★ 4.7
The Boat in Seattle's Little Saigon is the original Pho Bac since 1982: the city's first pho restaurant, still a red boat-shaped building at 13th and Jackson.
Signature: Pho tai, Com ga mam toi, Banh cuon
Order: The original Pho Bac tai with rare flank, or the com ga mam toi the kids put on the menu.
Tip: Cash and card, walk-in only; arrive at 11:30 or after 14:00 to skip the line through the parking lot.
The Boat ★ 4.7
The Boat in Seattle's Little Saigon is the original Pho Bac since 1982: the city's first pho restaurant, still in a red boat-shaped building at 13th.
Signature: Pho tai, Com ga mam toi, Banh cuon
Order: Original Pho Bac tai with rare flank, or the com ga mam toi.
Tip: Cash and card, walk-in only; arrive at 11:30 or after 14:00 to skip the line through the parking lot.
The Boat ★ 4.7
The Boat in Seattle's Little Saigon is the original Pho Bac since 1982: the city's first pho restaurant, still in a red boat-shaped building, bowls from $13.
Try: Pho tai with rare flank
Vietnamese in St. Louis
Mai Lee ★ 4.4
Opened in 1985 and credited as the first Vietnamese restaurant in St. Louis, Mai Lee runs a vast menu of pho, bun and canh chua that sets the local standard.
Order: Salt-and-pepper calamari, pho, and canh chua sour soup.
Tip: The menu runs to hundreds of items; the salt-and-pepper calamari and the sour soup are the orders to anchor a table around.
Grand Bistro ★ 4.1
Andrew Trinh reopened his family's longtime South Grand Vietnamese in the old Pho Grand space, plating familiar pho and rice plates with a cocktail program.
Order: A large bowl of pho dac biet with a side of summer rolls.
Tip: Order the pho dac biet; the Trinh family ran Pho Grand here for decades before relaunching the room as Grand Bistro.
Grand Bistro ★ 4.1
Grand Bistro carries on the Trinh family's South Grand Vietnamese legacy in the former Pho Grand space, with pho and com tam at neighbourhood prices.
Try: Vietnamese pho and rice plates
Tip: Order the pho dac biet or a rice plate; the family ran Pho Grand here for decades before reopening as Grand Bistro.
Vietnamese in Sydney
Marrickville Pork Roll ★ 4.8
Sydney's cult banh mi counter on Illawarra Road, Marrickville. The pork roll with house pate at A$5.50 is the canonical Sydney lunch. Daily from 7am.
Signature: Pork banh mi, Iced Vietnamese coffee, Spring rolls
Order: The classic pork banh mi with extra chilli.
Tip: Cash and card both accepted; queues from 12pm Saturday Walk-ins usually OK.
Marrickville Pork Roll ★ 4.8
Sydney's A$5.50 banh mi counter on Illawarra Road, Marrickville. Pork roll with house pate, the city's most-recommended budget lunch. Daily from 7am.
Try: Pork banh mi
Phu Cuong ★ 4.7
Cabramatta's classic A$7.50 banh mi counter on John Street, Sydney. Pork, pate, chilli, herbs and pickled veg, just outside the train station.
Try: Banh mi
Vietnamese in Tallinn
Balti Jaama Turg Counters ★ 4.5
Balti Jaama Turg has nearly 300 counters across three floors, with Vietnamese pho, Estonian dumplings, Belgian fries and shawarma all under 15 euros daily.
Try: Multi-cultural counter food, lunch for €8-12
Vietnamese in Toronto
Banh Mi Boys ★ 4.4
Banh Mi Boys on Queen West is the Pham brothers' banh mi counter since 2011, fusion fillings on Vietnamese baguettes plus steamed bao and rice bowls.
Try: Banh mi sandwich
Order: The five-spice pork belly banh mi and the kimchi fries.
Tip: Order at the counter, sit upstairs. Sister Yonge location at 399 Yonge runs the same menu.
Pho Hung ★ 4.3
Pho Hung on Spadina is the Chinatown Vietnamese counter the Nguyen family opened in 1985, with a 30-year broth recipe and the famous fried chicken wings.
Signature: Pho tai, Bun bo Hue, Fried chicken wings
Order: The pho tai with brisket, plus a half order of fried chicken wings on the side.
Tip: Cash discount under $20. Three locations in Toronto; Spadina is the original and busiest.
Pho Hung ★ 4.3
Pho Hung on Spadina is the Nguyen family's pho counter since 1985, a 30-year broth recipe that keeps bowls under $16 with rare beef and tendon.
Try: Pho tai, $14
Order: A large pho tai with rare beef and a side of fresh chicken wings.
Tip: Cash discount under $20. Walks in any time; Saturday lunch the busiest.
Vietnamese in Toulouse
May ★ 4.7
May on Rue Pharaon in Carmes is the small Vietnamese kitchen with banh mi to order, slow-simmered bun bo Hue and fresh spring rolls served on lacquer trays.
Signature: Banh mi, Bun bo Hue, Spring rolls
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday; the lunch banh mi plus iced jasmine tea at €13 is the daily favourite.
Pho Pasteur ★ 4.3
Pho Pasteur on Allees Charles de Fitte in Saint-Cyprien is the Vietnamese pho counter for the Empalot crowd. Reservations recommended in season.
Signature: Pho bo, Banh mi, Bo bun
Tip: Cash and card both; the pho bo at €11 is the canonical order, an extra side of banh mi at €5.
May Vietnamese ★ 4.1
May Vietnamese in Toulouse: Small Vietnamese kitchen on Rue Pharaon in Carmes, banh mi to order and bun bo Hue, hidden behind a plain shopfront.
Why locals love it: Small Vietnamese kitchen on Rue Pharaon in Carmes, banh mi to order and bun bo Hue, hidden behind a plain shopfront.
Tip: The lunch banh mi plus iced jasmine tea at €13 is the canonical daily favourite.
Vietnamese in Tulsa
Lone Wolf Banh Mi ★ 4.1
Philip and Danielle Phillips opened Lone Wolf in September 2012, landing banh mi, kimchi fries, and fried rice bowls in the Archer Building and earning.
Signature: Banh mi, Kimchi fries, Fried rice bowls
Lone Wolf Banh Mi ★ 3.9
Lunch-only Arts District counter with fresh banh mi on house-baked baguettes, Vietnamese iced coffee, and a rotating daily pho bowl special.
Lone Wolf Banh Mi ★ 3.9
Lunch-only Arts District counter with fresh banh mi on house-baked baguettes at well under ten dollars each, with Vietnamese iced coffee and a rotating pho.
All Tulsa restaurants →
Vietnamese in Utrecht
Non La ★ 4.4
Tiny Vietnamese kitchen on the Oudegracht serving pho, banh mi and rice-noodle salads with a short list of beef tenderloin and lemongrass pork skewers.
Signature: Pho bo, Banh mi, Bun bo nam bo
Order: Pho bo and fresh rice-paper rolls with homemade fish sauce
Non La ★ 4.4
Pocket-sized Vietnamese kitchen on the Oudegracht. Pho, banh mi and fresh rice-paper rolls with homemade fish sauce. Reserve ahead, the room is tiny.
Signature: Pho bo, Banh mi, Fresh spring rolls
Order: Pho bo with a side of fresh spring rolls and lemongrass pork skewers
Vietnamese in Vancouver
Anh and Chi ★ 4.7
Anh and Chi on Main Street is the sibling-run modern Vietnamese kitchen since 2016, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022, Vancouver's reference banh xeo and pho.
Signature: Banh xeo crepe, Bun cha Hanoi, Pho bo dac biet
Order: Banh xeo with the family-style sharing platter; siblings Amelie and Vincent Le run the room.
Tip: No reservations; walk-in line for dinner from 17:00. Weekday lunch is the easier seat.
Anh and Chi ★ 4.7
Anh and Chi on Main Street is the sibling-run modern Vietnamese kitchen since 2016, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022, Vancouver's reference banh xeo and pho.
Signature: Banh xeo crepe, Bun cha Hanoi, Pho bo dac biet
Order: Banh xeo with the family-style sharing platter; siblings Amelie and Vincent Le run the room.
Tip: No reservations; walk-in line for dinner from 17:00. Weekday lunch is the easier seat.
Banh Mi Tres Bon ★ 4.5
Banh Mi Tres Bon on Kingsway is the Khmer Vietnamese counter the city sets its banh mi bar by since 2008, a 10-seat counter, fresh-baked baguettes hourly.
Try: Vietnamese banh mi
Order: Classic dac biet banh mi with house pate and cold cuts, the city's reference banh mi.
Tip: Cash only; arrive before 12:00 for the freshest baguettes. The pate special is gone by 13:30.
Vietnamese in Vienna
Banh Mi Vienna ★ 4.6
Banh Mi Vienna on Faulmanngasse in Wieden serves Vietnamese sandwiches, pho and summer rolls from a Nguyen-family counter, lunch crowds queueing from 12:00.
Try: Banh mi sandwich and pho
Tip: Closed weekends; the office-lunch line stretches by 12:30 and clears by 14:00.
Vietnamese in Washington DC
Pho 14 Columbia Heights ★ 4.3
Pho 14 Columbia Heights in Washington DC is the Park Road Vietnamese counter with pho served from a 14-hour broth, a six-item menu and bowls under $16.
Try: Pho bowl ($12-16)
Tip: The pho dac biet (special) at $14 feeds two if you order extra noodles; the spring rolls are the value side.
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