PDX Phở

Of the 54 places serving Phở in Portland I have visted 37 of them. The below list is sorted with the highest rating at the top. Where the rating is the same I have ranked the cheaper bowl higher. Rating values will not be released until I have visited a place at least twice.

• Pho Van 82nd ($15.95)

  Last Visited: Nov 12, 2023

  

  The tai is really good, and the noodles have a great texture. The broth is mild and safe, with a noticeable cinnamon-forward flavor. The bowl is quite small, and the dac biet comes with meatballs.

• Cuốn - Vietnamese Street Food ($17.5)

  Last Visited: Feb 1, 2024

  

  The aroma has a good hint of cinnamon and clove, but it's not overwhelming. The flavor is a tad salty and could use a little more beefiness, but it's pretty well balanced. The noodles are good, perhaps just a tad less cooked. The meatballs are good, and the other meat is decent and clean. The bean sprouts were not in the best condition.

• Phở MeKha Restaurant ($20.95)

  Last Visited: Dec 23, 2023

  

  The basil was not in the best condition. The tripe was cooked well, though a big chunk was not shredded. The brisket was a bit dry and lacked flavor. The tai was pretty good, as were the meatballs. The noodles were cooked perfectly.

• Bun and Pho House ($16.5)

  Last Visited: May 24, 2024

  

  The bean sprouts are really fresh, and the basil is in pretty good condition. The aroma is beefy, with not a lot of spice; clove is the most forward. The flavor has a decent beefiness to it. The noodles are nice and al dente. All the meat tastes pretty clean, though the tendon is not cooked quite enough.

• Yoonique Phở & Grill ($16.5)

  Last Visited: Nov 1, 2023

  

  The broth was sweet but somewhat shallow in flavor and a bit salty. Although the serving of basil was small, all the ingredients were fresh.

• Koi Gardens Vietnamese Cuisine ($15.95)

  Last Visited: May 27, 2024

  

  The aroma is very mild, with cinnamon standing out the most. The flavor is also mild, but a bit too sweet. The noodles are cooked well, and all the meat tastes fresh. The tai is maybe a little tough. The herbs are pretty fresh, with the basil showing a tiny bit of bruising. The price is for a large serving.

• NO NAME PHO ($15.99)

  Last Visited: Jan 19, 2024

  

  The noodles were sticking together a little bit. The broth aroma didn't lean towards any particular spice and was pretty sweet, not very beefy or deep. The meatballs were bland, but the tai and brisket were decent.

• Phở DaLat Restaurant ($16.95)

  Last Visited: Oct 4, 2024

  

  The bean sprouts are a little wilted and off-white, with only a small amount of basil provided, and it comes with chili oil. The aroma is very beefy with no noticeable spice, and the flavor follows suit, having good depth and savoriness. The noodles are cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of bite and no sticking or breaking apart. The fatty brisket is super tender, while the meatballs and tai are just okay, with the tai having a slight sweetness that isn’t pleasant. The tripe is good and fairly clean, but it’s missing tendon and well-done brisket (nam).

• thơm® Portland ($17)

  Last Visited: Jun 1, 2024

  

  The noodles are chewy but not breaking apart. The aroma has a little clove with beefiness. The flavor is a little too sweet, with not much spice. The meatballs have good flavor and texture, but the brisket is a little dry. The basil is bruised, the bean sprouts are good, and the lime looks a little bruised and old.

• Pho Bar 405 ($17.95)

  Last Visited: Feb 26, 2024

  

  The aroma and flavor have good beefiness, with clove in the aroma. The flavor is balanced, with no spice standing out. The noodles are overcooked and falling apart, lacking bite. The meat is okay, with the brisket being tough and the meatballs sweet.

• Phở Hùng on Powell ($18)

  Last Visited: Jun 17, 2024

  

  The basil is bruised and a little limp, and the bean sprouts are browning and a bit old. The aroma is clove-forward with a clean beefiness. The flavor is mild, not very beefy, and tastes a little like MSG. The noodles are cooked a bit more than I'd like but aren't falling apart. The meat is good, especially the tendon and brisket, while the meatballs and tai are just okay. Price is for a large bowl.

• Phở Oregon Restaurant ($18)

  Last Visited: Aug 24, 2024

  

  The bean sprouts are clean, but the basil and culantro are a bit bruised. The aroma is clove-forward, and the flavor matches, being slightly salty without too much sweetness. It has a good texture overall. The noodles are cooked a little more than I'd prefer. The meat is all pretty good, with the tendon and meatballs standing out, and the fatty brisket is also quite good.

• Chi em MeKha Grill ($21)

  Last Visited: May 5, 2024

  

  The basil is a little bruised, and the bean sprouts look a bit old. The aroma isn't very strong but leads with cloves. The flavor isn't super meaty, rather light. The noodles are cooked a little more than I want, not al dente. The tripe is tender and has a good flavor. The tai is very rare with a clean flavor. The meatballs are well-emulsified with a garlic black pepper note. The brisket is sliced very thin and pretty good.

• The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy) ($24)

  Last Visited: Nov 16, 2023

  

  There were no herbs, just garlic sauce and a fried donut. The noodles were silky.

• Pho Le Nguyen ($15.95)

  Last Visited: Nov 22, 2024

  

  The noodles are overcooked but still hold together. The broth has a beefy and cinnamon aroma, but the flavor is thin, resembling a Western beef stock with cinnamon notes. The basil is slightly bruised, but the bean sprouts are plump, white, and unbroken. Lime and jalapeño are fresh. The *tai* is dry and tough, but the flank and fatty brisket are tender and well-cooked. The meatballs are well-emulsified, slightly sweet, and have good chunks of tendon. The tripe tastes clean, and the tendon is soft and nicely done.

• Phở Kim ($16.5)

  Last Visited: Feb 12, 2024

  

  The bean sprouts are a little old and wilted. The aroma isn't very strong but is mainly beefy, with balanced spices and nothing sticking out. The flavor has a good beefiness with no intense spices, leaning more towards salty than sweet. The noodles are cooked too much, not al dente, and falling apart a little. The meat is all clean and well-cooked, but nothing stands out.

• HA VL Vietnamese Noodle Soup ($17)

  Last Visited: Oct 6, 2024

  

  The bean sprouts are really fresh, and the basil is in good condition with only a few small bruises. It’s not very aromatic, with just a hint of cinnamon. The flavor is sweet with a touch of cinnamon, not particularly beefy but has some umami. The noodles are clumping, breaking, and too soft. The meatballs are pretty good, and the loin is tender, clean, and beefy.

• Pho Korner ($17.5)

  Last Visited: Sep 23, 2024

  

  The price is for a large. The aroma is mild, mainly beefy with hints of star anise and clove, but there's very little spice overall. The flavor has a good beefiness, though it's perhaps a tad too sweet. The noodles are cooked more than I'd like, but they're not falling apart. All the meat tastes clean, and the tai and fatty brisket aren’t too dry. The tripe is particularly good. The bean sprouts are broken and a bit off-white, with culantro and cilantro served on the side.

• Short Round / Crying Tigers ($16)

  Last Visited: Nov 21, 2024

  

  I got the filet and meatball pho. The broth has a strong clove aroma with sweet, sour, and slightly salty flavors. The noodles are softer than I prefer but hold together without breaking. The filet is cut thick but is tender and not dry. The meatballs are okay—heavily emulsified and with tendon chunks. The herbs are very fresh, with unbruised basil and cilantro. The bean sprouts are full, white, and intact, and the lime and jalapeño look good.

• Pho Hung on 82nd ($16.5)

  Last Visited: Nov 22, 2023

  

  The noodles are too soft but aren't breaking apart. The meatballs are bland, and the tai and nam are a little dry. The tripe tastes dirtier than at other places. The price is for a small bowl.

• Tèo Bun Bo Hue ($17.5)

  Last Visited: Jul 29, 2024

  

  The herbs are really fresh, and it comes with culantro. The aroma is mild with hints of clove and cinnamon. The flavor has a good saltiness and is lighter, but I wish there was more beef character. The noodles are too soft for my liking and just on the cusp of breaking apart. The tai is really good, as are the meatballs. The tai and flank are tender, though the flank has a slightly irony taste. The tendon isn't cooked enough and is too hard for my taste.

• Thang Long Cuisine ($18)

  Last Visited: Nov 12, 2024

  

  The pho has a cinnamon-forward aroma with hints of clove and a sweet beefiness. The flavor is rich and beefy, not too sweet or salty. Bean sprouts are long and fresh, basil leaves are large but some are bruised, and the lime and jalapeño are fine. The noodles are wider, which I like, but overcooked for my taste. The tai is good, but the well-done brisket is grainy and overcooked. The oxtail and fatty brisket are tough, the meatball tastes stale, and the tendon isn’t as tender as I prefer. Price is for a small bowl.

• Pho Saigon Xua LLC ($18.5)

  Last Visited: Jun 11, 2024

  

  The bean sprouts are really fresh, and the basil is in good condition. The centers of the jalapeños are missing, and the limes are a tiny bit bruised. The noodles are breaking but don't seem to be really overcooked; they still have a little bite. The aroma has a funky beefiness with not a lot of spice, and the broth is pretty sweet. All the meat tastes clean and is pretty good. The tripe is clean, the tendon is cooked well, but the brisket and tai are dry.

• Bamboo House ($17)

  Last Visited: Nov 20, 2023

  

  The bean sprouts were a little stringy, and the broth had a prominent clove flavor. The noodles were not al dente, but not falling apart. The meat was too dry, but the meatballs had a good beefy flavor. I forgot to take a photo before eating the bowl.

• An An ($18)

  Last Visited: Feb 6, 2024

  

  It's a beef rib pho with a very clove-forward aroma. The broth is sweet and sour but needs to be more salty and beefy. The noodles are sticking together and breaking, but still a little al dente. The beef is not tender enough, rather chewy, but the flavor is okay.

• Hanoi Kitchen ($14)

  Last Visited: Dec 3, 2023

  

  The noodles are soft but not breaking apart. The broth isn't very deep in flavor but is cinnamon-forward. The meat was bland.

• XinhXinh Vietnamese Bistro ($16.45)

  Last Visited: Jun 24, 2024

  

  The basil is bruised, but the sprouts, lime, and jalapeño are all fresh. The jalapeño still has its veins and seeds. The brisket and tai are a little dry but taste clean. The meatballs have a good texture but an odd starchy flavor. The noodles are falling apart and completely overcooked. The aroma is clove and cinnamon forward, but mostly cinnamon. The flavor is too sweet with not much beefiness.

• Pho Van Fresh ($16.95)

  Last Visited: Mar 25, 2024

  

  It's an extra $4 if you want meatball or tripe, but I just got the standard. The basil has bug holes, and the bean sprouts are a little old. The noodles are overcooked and breaking apart. The aroma is good, pretty beefy with no spice standing out. The flavor is very beef consommé-like, without any discernible spices. It doesn't seem like pho. The tai is good, the brisket has good flavor, and the flank is okay.

• The Boiling Bowl ($16.95)

  Last Visited: Jul 18, 2024

  

  The basil is a little bruised, but the bean sprouts, lime, and jalapeño are in good condition. The aroma is funky and beefy, with no noticeable spices. The flavor is sweet, also lacking in spices. The noodles are breaking apart. The meatballs are coarse but springy and pretty good. The tai is tender and clean, while the flank is really tough. The brisket is good but a bit dry, and the tendon is cooked well.

• Pho 503 ($17)

  Last Visited: Dec 6, 2023

  

  The dish was skimpy on the bean sprouts and jalapeños. It had a beef-forward aroma with not much spice. The broth was too salty and sweet, though it had a good beef flavor. The noodles were too spongy, and the flank had a slightly off flavor.

• Phở Gia ($18.11)

  Last Visited: Nov 24, 2024

  

  The basil is crisp and unbruised, and the bean sprouts are full and intact. Lime and jalapeño are fresh. The broth has a clove and anise aroma with a noticeable sweetness. The flavor is very sweet and salty but backed by solid beefiness. The noodles have a good bite but tend to clump. The meatball is very soft with a strong white pepper flavor. The *tai* has good texture but doesn’t taste particularly fresh. The brisket is flavorful and well-cooked, while the flank is a bit dry. The tripe has a pleasant beefiness, and the tendon is soft and well-cooked. Price is $17.50, but they have a CC processing fee.

• V Lounge & Restaurant ($19)

  Last Visited: Apr 24, 2024

  

  Only available in large for dac biet. The basil is a little wilted, with a couple of bean sprouts wilted or molded. The aroma is very beefy, with not a lot of spice. The flavor follows suit. The noodles are completely overcooked and falling apart. The meatballs and tai are meh, while the flank is tough. The tripe is nice and clean, the tendon cooked well, and the brisket has good flavor.

• Bánh Mì Nam Lộc ($16.75)

  Last Visited: Aug 10, 2024

  

  The basil is heavily bruised, and there are a few pieces of discolored bean sprouts. The jalapeño and lime are fine. The aroma is really mild with just a hint of pepper. The flavor is very different from most places, with a sweet and white pepper-forward taste, lacking the usual cinnamon or clove. The noodles are soft but not breaking apart. The tai is pretty good, but the flank is tough and dry. The meatballs are okay, with a strong pepper flavor.

• Little Saigon Noodles & Grill ($18)

  Last Visited: Jul 9, 2024

  

  The aroma is pretty light, with a hint of clove and cinnamon. The flavor is very light and a bit oily. The noodles aren't al dente but aren't falling apart either. The round is tender and clean, while the brisket is dry. The meatball is okay. The basil is pretty bruised, but the bean sprouts are good.

• Jade Teahouse ($15)

  Last Visited: Oct 21, 2024

  

  The noodles are clumping and falling apart from being overcooked. The flavor is too sweet and salty, with an aroma that's very cinnamon-forward, followed by clove. The bean sprouts look okay, but the basil is heavily bruised, and there’s no jalapeño. The meat tastes good, though the steak is cut thick and is tough. The brisket is decent.

• Friendship Kitchen ($18)

  Last Visited: Aug 5, 2024

  

  The basil is a little bruised, and the bean sprouts are broken, wilted, and discolored. The lime and jalapeño are okay. The aroma has clove and a bit of beefiness. The flavor is really sweet. The noodles are overcooked and starting to fall apart. The brisket has a decent texture but is a bit bland in flavor, while the tai is cut thicker than most other places and has a slight off flavor.

• Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen ($18.5)

  Last Visited: Dec 27, 2023

  

  The bean sprouts were wilted, and there was barely any basil. The tripe was funky, but the tendon was good. The flank was tough. The broth was really sweet and not very deep, with a clove-forward aroma.