We've been here many times; honestly, the food is great! But we always know that the service isn't going to be great, and sometimes we have to eat a little faster. They close at 9 p.m. I believe the kitchen closes at 8:30, but even getting there at 8pm there is no more dine-in. We travel 30 minutes, and we really tried to be there before the kitchen closed, yet they said no more dine-in. It doesn't look pleasant when customers are still eating and they start placing chairs on top of the tables and sweeping the floor before closing time, which is 9 p.m. Customers check the information on Google too, so we're hoping they can follow what it says there. I know the food is good, but they forgot that service and atmosphere are also important. I can always edit my review when we get a better service and google information is accurate. Food again is great and we will still eat there.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Juan Legato
Great pho, egg rolls. Very flavorful. And the staff is very nice and professional
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ma Cecilia Belen
Love their original pho. This place is the best! 🥰
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Nicholas Walny
Great spot for Vietnamese food. Affordable and big portion
Food: 5
Sarah Jurewitch
This place is always great, never let down
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
J P
Can easily be my new go-to spot for pho. Tasty pho ga (chicken pho). Paid cash, but didn’t get coins back as part of the change, so I took off one star. They also accept card.
Plenty of free parking available in the lot next to the restaurant.
I don’t usually write reviews like this, but my experience at Nam Lua was so bad that I feel like it’s important to warn others. This is hands down one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had, and I can confidently say I will never go back here again.
The food itself was already concerning. The meat they served me was practically raw, which is completely unacceptable at any restaurant. Not only was it unappetizing, but it was also dangerous. Sure enough, after eating here I ended up getting food poisoning so severe that I had to be treated at the hospital. No meal should ever lead to that kind of outcome, and it speaks volumes about the lack of care and safety standards in this kitchen.
What’s even worse is that if you’ve ever had a chance to look at their kitchen in the back, it’s shocking how unsanitary things are. I saw raw chicken literally stacked on top of each other on the ground, left out at room temperature. That kind of food handling isn’t just careless it’s a serious health hazard. It’s the kind of thing that makes you wonder how this place is even allowed to operate without being inspected immediately.
Between the raw meat being served, the filthy and unsafe kitchen practices, and the fact that I actually got sick enough to need medical attention, I wouldn’t recommend Nam Lua to anyone. There are plenty of other Vietnamese and Thai restaurants in Chicago that serve amazing food while keeping their kitchens clean and their customers safe.
In my opinion, this place desperately needs to be investigated by the health department. Until major changes are made, do yourself a favor and stay far away.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Dan Nguyen
We waited in line right at the counter, but we never got any acknowledgement or even asked. They however were able to acknowledge people who came after us though.
This place used to taste good. the stir fry thick noodles was the best. and fried rice was also good and their pho was solid. then they rebranded or re built and now it tastes like bland crap. Another good place down the drain. too sad.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Erika Pimentel
The best pho I’ve ever had. Service was just as good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jaz V
Best PHO in Chicago!!!! Worth the wait
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
William Bartlett
Everything I had from the pho To the spicy chicken wings and fish sauce excellent I will definitely be back here
We've been here many times; honestly, the food is great! But we always know that the service isn't going to be great, and sometimes we have to eat a little faster. They close at 9 p.m. I believe the kitchen closes at 8:30, but even getting there at 8pm there is no more dine-in. We travel 30 minutes, and we really tried to be there before the kitchen closed, yet they said no more dine-in. It doesn't look pleasant when customers are still eating and they start placing chairs on top of the tables and sweeping the floor before closing time, which is 9 p.m. Customers check the information on Google too, so we're hoping they can follow what it says there. I know the food is good, but they forgot that service and atmosphere are also important. I can always edit my review when we get a better service and google information is accurate. Food again is great and we will still eat there.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Great pho, egg rolls. Very flavorful. And the staff is very nice and professional
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love their original pho. This place is the best! 🥰
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Great spot for Vietnamese food. Affordable and big portion
Food: 5
This place is always great, never let down
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Can easily be my new go-to spot for pho. Tasty pho ga (chicken pho). Paid cash, but didn’t get coins back as part of the change, so I took off one star. They also accept card.
Plenty of free parking available in the lot next to the restaurant.
Food: 5
I order grilled pork rice noodles but it’s not even grilled. Most of their dishes that say grilled are not even grilled but sautéed which I can do at home. Their menu is misleading.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Delicious pho, new favorite spot :)
I don’t usually write reviews like this, but my experience at Nam Lua was so bad that I feel like it’s important to warn others. This is hands down one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had, and I can confidently say I will never go back here again.
The food itself was already concerning. The meat they served me was practically raw, which is completely unacceptable at any restaurant. Not only was it unappetizing, but it was also dangerous. Sure enough, after eating here I ended up getting food poisoning so severe that I had to be treated at the hospital. No meal should ever lead to that kind of outcome, and it speaks volumes about the lack of care and safety standards in this kitchen.
What’s even worse is that if you’ve ever had a chance to look at their kitchen in the back, it’s shocking how unsanitary things are. I saw raw chicken literally stacked on top of each other on the ground, left out at room temperature. That kind of food handling isn’t just careless it’s a serious health hazard. It’s the kind of thing that makes you wonder how this place is even allowed to operate without being inspected immediately.
Between the raw meat being served, the filthy and unsafe kitchen practices, and the fact that I actually got sick enough to need medical attention, I wouldn’t recommend Nam Lua to anyone. There are plenty of other Vietnamese and Thai restaurants in Chicago that serve amazing food while keeping their kitchens clean and their customers safe.
In my opinion, this place desperately needs to be investigated by the health department. Until major changes are made, do yourself a favor and stay far away.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We waited in line right at the counter, but we never got any acknowledgement or even asked. They however were able to acknowledge people who came after us though.
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
This place used to taste good. the stir fry thick noodles was the best. and fried rice was also good and their pho was solid. then they rebranded or re built and now it tastes like bland crap. Another good place down the drain. too sad.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
The best pho I’ve ever had. Service was just as good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best PHO in Chicago!!!! Worth the wait
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything I had from the pho To the spicy chicken wings and fish sauce excellent I will definitely be back here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great pho!
Food: 5
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