This is probably the best Vietnamese food I’ve had in NYC (get the Pho or any Bánh Mi!). Authentic and super fresh ingredients, paired with an energetic atmosphere, almost made me feel like I was in Saigon! Extremely kind and generous staff to top it off as one of the most pleasant NY restaurant experiences.
Danielle L.
Worth the trip all the way to the Upper West Side! Came here on a Wednesday around 6:20PM (they open at 6PM) and there was already a 20 minute wait for a table for two. For the two of us, we ordered two appetizers since they were so unique and rarely seen at Vietnamese restaurants in New York and two entrees. It was definitely a lot of food so we had to bring most of it home. Xoi Thịt Kho (Caramelized Pork Belly with Mung Bean Sticky Rice) - It was so delicious and all types of flavors from the sweetness from the mung bean sticky rice to savory from the pate and pork belly. The dish seemed random with different items but they all worked so well together. Banh Chung (Crispy Rice Cake) - This is a very popular Tet dish! It had a nice balance of crispy exterior and soft interior. Pho Dac Biet (Everything Beef) - One of the best phos I've had in New York. They give so much noodles unlike most restaurants that charge you extra for noodles. The beef was definitely more premium compared to other locations and melted in your mouth. Bun Ca Hai Phong (Hai Phong Fish Tomato Soup with Dill and Fish Cake) - It was my first time having this dish. It looked simple with vermicelli noodles, fried fish, fish cake and whole lots of dill but with every bite, you can taste the freshness of the dill. This is definitely a dish I will come back for. Overall the food was 5/5. Knocked off a point for the service and ambience. The restaurant was very packed and the tables were very close to each other which meant you could hear everyone's conversations. The waiter also handed us our check before we asked for it and we were there for a little over an hour. Pro tip - the restaurant is BYOB so we brought our own beer to go with all the dishes.
David T.
Awesome gem of a store selling viet food. Had the beer battered fried chicken banh, which was very very good. Everything, especially the sauce, worked perfectly together. Also had the seasonal (try stuff on his rotating menu!!) crispy rice. Very different from other cusines, appy I tried it! Be sure to grab an egg coffee (viet style coffee) which was very interesting to try. Definitely coming back to try more food, including the pho!
Dalena H.
If this wasn't so far from me, it would be my go to vietnamese food spot. We went on a rainy day on the weekend and thankfully didn't have to wait long. The waitress told us usually there are lines before they open. We got seated outside on the streets. We got 3 spring special dishes; nem nuong special, razor clams, escargot with salted yolk in a coconut sauce. Everything came out quick. The nem nuong wasn't too bad. The texture was different from what I'm used to. It was more meatloaf like. The dipping sauce with the variety of herbs was delicious. First vietnamese restaurant in nyc, I've been too that gives you variety of herbs. The razor clams were delicious with the crispy shallots sprinkled on top. The escargot was fantastic as well. The sauce was so good we ordered extra bread to dip in the sauce. They were so kind and gave us a small bowl of the coconut sauce. You don't really taste much of the salted yolk. They're small sprinkles of it. The kitchen staff were shocked that 2 small girls finished all 3 dishes. This meal really made us miss vietnamese street food. I can't wait to try all the other specials they have to offer. 100% authentic vietnamese food!
Vanessa A.
It's a 2 star rating because I was so uncomfortable while dining here. Came for lunch on a chilly February day and it was freezing inside the restaurant. Multiple people were eating with their coats and hats on. One of the employees even held the door open while she was checking people in! We actually might have been better off sitting outside at least than the sun might have provided some warmth. I ordered an egg Crème hot coffee, which I've never had before. I barely drank it since it wasn't that hot. I asked to take it to go but they told me they don't have cups for hot drinks. It didn't matter since it was cold. I ordered a specialty pho. They bright mine out first and it took several more minutes for my friend to get his which meant mine was cold by the time he got his. It literally seemed like there were a pound of noodles in my dish. I would've preferred more broth. I'd still like to try their Banh sandwich but definitely will wait until it's warmer out so I can enjoy my meal.
Mytch
Best pho for its generous serving of beef! Soup is also great. Lots of people lining so better to arrive there earlier.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Darryl D’Costa
Such a great neighborhood gem!! Highly recommend the beaten egg coffee and the Vietnamese iced coffee. The banh mi sandwiches and rice rolls are delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Snow k
Food tasted pretty mid. Pork was a little funkyish. Would probably still eat here
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Taylor Z.
Pretty decent viet food. The apps were just okay but the entrees had some good flavor.
Leyna H.
This place is so good! My favorite is the vermicelli noodles, but I also love the pho. Pretty authentic and so comforting
Wow this is the best tofu banh mi I’ve ever had! I wasn’t sure how the pesto would be but it worked great, and the oyster mushrooms were sautéd so perfectly. They also had a great hot sauce I got to spice up the banh mi. Will definitely come back!!
Connie G.
The Asian food scene in Morningside Heights is not the best, but Banh is definitely a bright spot in the neighborhood! The restaurant is pretty small, but they also have heated outdoor seating. It's popular spot, so definitely expect a bit of a wait if you walk in on the weekend. I ordered their beef pho, which I enjoyed, but the main attraction of Banh for me is the other unique items on their menu. I tried a sticky rice dish with pork belly, pork floss, carrots, cucumbers, mashed mung beans, with a side of marinated eggs, and this dish was delicious!! I'm definitely going to try some of their other dishes next time I drop by.
Diane J.
Banh was one of the rare instances in which I absolutely loved both the food and the vibes. It's one of the restaurants that reminded me how there's so much more to Vietnamese cuisine than pho, bun, or banh mi (albeit all delicious fare). In fact, I will be exclusively ordering off of their seasonal specials from now on. Banh canh cua is a rich crab soup with chewy tapioca noodles. Banh tieu is a savory donut stuffed with sticky rice, sausage, quail egg, pork floss, and chicken liver pate. I ate everything off my table and felt close to bursting but was still worth it. I normally tend to visit a restaurant only once in order to try out new ones, but Banh will be one of the few placed on a regular rotation. It was a lively, bustling atmosphere for brunch on Saturday, and there were people waiting outside as early as half an hour into opening.
Paula Maouyo
Believe the hype. It’s so good. Tried this spot after seeing the reviews from self-identifying Vietnamese folks who loved it.I had the caramelized pork plate with pate and sticky rice and pork floss — wow! Loved it so much, and also it was really generous, I had some left to take home. Also my fiancé’s vegetarian and he was super happy with his vegan pho. I’m leaving heart full, stomach full, and grateful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Phò Chay Vegetarian, Sticky Rice w Caramelized Pork Belly House Pate
Waseem G
Some of the most authentic Vietnamese food in the city! Whatever you do, order the rice cake and get a pile of pork floss. They make it in house! You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Did not try the slushie but will get that next time ?Thanks again for the hospitality!!
This is probably the best Vietnamese food I’ve had in NYC (get the Pho or any Bánh Mi!). Authentic and super fresh ingredients, paired with an energetic atmosphere, almost made me feel like I was in Saigon! Extremely kind and generous staff to top it off as one of the most pleasant NY restaurant experiences.
Worth the trip all the way to the Upper West Side! Came here on a Wednesday around 6:20PM (they open at 6PM) and there was already a 20 minute wait for a table for two. For the two of us, we ordered two appetizers since they were so unique and rarely seen at Vietnamese restaurants in New York and two entrees. It was definitely a lot of food so we had to bring most of it home. Xoi Thịt Kho (Caramelized Pork Belly with Mung Bean Sticky Rice) - It was so delicious and all types of flavors from the sweetness from the mung bean sticky rice to savory from the pate and pork belly. The dish seemed random with different items but they all worked so well together. Banh Chung (Crispy Rice Cake) - This is a very popular Tet dish! It had a nice balance of crispy exterior and soft interior. Pho Dac Biet (Everything Beef) - One of the best phos I've had in New York. They give so much noodles unlike most restaurants that charge you extra for noodles. The beef was definitely more premium compared to other locations and melted in your mouth. Bun Ca Hai Phong (Hai Phong Fish Tomato Soup with Dill and Fish Cake) - It was my first time having this dish. It looked simple with vermicelli noodles, fried fish, fish cake and whole lots of dill but with every bite, you can taste the freshness of the dill. This is definitely a dish I will come back for. Overall the food was 5/5. Knocked off a point for the service and ambience. The restaurant was very packed and the tables were very close to each other which meant you could hear everyone's conversations. The waiter also handed us our check before we asked for it and we were there for a little over an hour. Pro tip - the restaurant is BYOB so we brought our own beer to go with all the dishes.
Awesome gem of a store selling viet food. Had the beer battered fried chicken banh, which was very very good. Everything, especially the sauce, worked perfectly together. Also had the seasonal (try stuff on his rotating menu!!) crispy rice. Very different from other cusines, appy I tried it! Be sure to grab an egg coffee (viet style coffee) which was very interesting to try. Definitely coming back to try more food, including the pho!
If this wasn't so far from me, it would be my go to vietnamese food spot. We went on a rainy day on the weekend and thankfully didn't have to wait long. The waitress told us usually there are lines before they open. We got seated outside on the streets. We got 3 spring special dishes; nem nuong special, razor clams, escargot with salted yolk in a coconut sauce. Everything came out quick. The nem nuong wasn't too bad. The texture was different from what I'm used to. It was more meatloaf like. The dipping sauce with the variety of herbs was delicious. First vietnamese restaurant in nyc, I've been too that gives you variety of herbs. The razor clams were delicious with the crispy shallots sprinkled on top. The escargot was fantastic as well. The sauce was so good we ordered extra bread to dip in the sauce. They were so kind and gave us a small bowl of the coconut sauce. You don't really taste much of the salted yolk. They're small sprinkles of it. The kitchen staff were shocked that 2 small girls finished all 3 dishes. This meal really made us miss vietnamese street food. I can't wait to try all the other specials they have to offer. 100% authentic vietnamese food!
It's a 2 star rating because I was so uncomfortable while dining here. Came for lunch on a chilly February day and it was freezing inside the restaurant. Multiple people were eating with their coats and hats on. One of the employees even held the door open while she was checking people in! We actually might have been better off sitting outside at least than the sun might have provided some warmth. I ordered an egg Crème hot coffee, which I've never had before. I barely drank it since it wasn't that hot. I asked to take it to go but they told me they don't have cups for hot drinks. It didn't matter since it was cold. I ordered a specialty pho. They bright mine out first and it took several more minutes for my friend to get his which meant mine was cold by the time he got his. It literally seemed like there were a pound of noodles in my dish. I would've preferred more broth. I'd still like to try their Banh sandwich but definitely will wait until it's warmer out so I can enjoy my meal.
Best pho for its generous serving of beef! Soup is also great. Lots of people lining so better to arrive there earlier.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Such a great neighborhood gem!! Highly recommend the beaten egg coffee and the Vietnamese iced coffee. The banh mi sandwiches and rice rolls are delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food tasted pretty mid. Pork was a little funkyish. Would probably still eat here
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Pretty decent viet food. The apps were just okay but the entrees had some good flavor.
This place is so good! My favorite is the vermicelli noodles, but I also love the pho. Pretty authentic and so comforting
Restaurantji Recommends
Wow this is the best tofu banh mi I’ve ever had! I wasn’t sure how the pesto would be but it worked great, and the oyster mushrooms were sautéd so perfectly. They also had a great hot sauce I got to spice up the banh mi. Will definitely come back!!
The Asian food scene in Morningside Heights is not the best, but Banh is definitely a bright spot in the neighborhood! The restaurant is pretty small, but they also have heated outdoor seating. It's popular spot, so definitely expect a bit of a wait if you walk in on the weekend. I ordered their beef pho, which I enjoyed, but the main attraction of Banh for me is the other unique items on their menu. I tried a sticky rice dish with pork belly, pork floss, carrots, cucumbers, mashed mung beans, with a side of marinated eggs, and this dish was delicious!! I'm definitely going to try some of their other dishes next time I drop by.
Banh was one of the rare instances in which I absolutely loved both the food and the vibes. It's one of the restaurants that reminded me how there's so much more to Vietnamese cuisine than pho, bun, or banh mi (albeit all delicious fare). In fact, I will be exclusively ordering off of their seasonal specials from now on. Banh canh cua is a rich crab soup with chewy tapioca noodles. Banh tieu is a savory donut stuffed with sticky rice, sausage, quail egg, pork floss, and chicken liver pate. I ate everything off my table and felt close to bursting but was still worth it. I normally tend to visit a restaurant only once in order to try out new ones, but Banh will be one of the few placed on a regular rotation. It was a lively, bustling atmosphere for brunch on Saturday, and there were people waiting outside as early as half an hour into opening.
Believe the hype. It’s so good. Tried this spot after seeing the reviews from self-identifying Vietnamese folks who loved it.I had the caramelized pork plate with pate and sticky rice and pork floss — wow! Loved it so much, and also it was really generous, I had some left to take home. Also my fiancé’s vegetarian and he was super happy with his vegan pho. I’m leaving heart full, stomach full, and grateful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Phò Chay Vegetarian, Sticky Rice w Caramelized Pork Belly House Pate
Some of the most authentic Vietnamese food in the city! Whatever you do, order the rice cake and get a pile of pork floss. They make it in house! You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Did not try the slushie but will get that next time ?Thanks again for the hospitality!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bun Cha, Crispy Rice, Chicken Pho, BBQ Pork Banh MI, Pork Floss