An introverts dream, because this is TRUE casual dining. You go up to a counter and order and then take a seat, self serve water, no pleasantries need. Super fast service, a literal five minute wait. Great portion sizes, reasonable price, and great vegetable, meat, soup, and noodle ratio for the Pho Dax Biet. Will 100% come back. Loved it I am coming back tomorrow no joke. read more

54 Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I came with a friend for lunch on the weekend. The food was excellent but the restaurant was kind of chaotic. When we first got in it was a free for all. Every table was full but no staff was at the front of the restaurant. People were coming in and getting in line to order food without a place to sit. They would get to the front of the line and be told to go back and wait for a table. Other people would stake out tables and swoop in to grab them. There was a server talking to customers but she was running food, resulting in chaos. We found our own seats and ordered food. By the time we began eating, the server had restored order and organized a line outside for tables. Hopefully the chaos was just a one off! I could tell why the restaurant was so busy though! The food was truly incredible. I've had a lot of pho and this was top notch. The broth was delicious and complex, the noodles plentiful, and the beef was perfectly cooked. I highly recommend! But maybe consider take out. read more

54 Restaurant - Pho Tai, Chin - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I was really craving spicy broth, and decided for pho instead of ramen. I was in the area and looked up Vietnamese near me, and saw that 54 Restaurant was within 10 minute walking distance. When I arrived, the sign says find a seat and then place your order which seems counterintuitive. I found a seat, but then figured I could easily lose it if I went to place my order, and someone else came in, so I just went to the front to order. I ordered the chicken crispy spring rolls and beef brisket pho, then found my seat. The lady who took my order at the front desk wasn't the friendliest and didn't seem like she wanted to be there. She didn't let me know where to get water or even ask if I needed to order a drink. Once I sat down, my food came out quickly. The spring rolls were fresh, crispy and tasty, but the pho was delectable. There were generous portions of thinly sliced beef brisket, bean sprouts, and herbs. I really enjoyed the meal. I definitely will return soon. read more

54 Restaurant - Beef brisket pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good pho, ultra fast service. Got the dumplings but it was popping on a Tuesday night maybe from people seeing the Plays at the National theater. Not super fancy but good casual atmosphere. Dumplings (6 for $10) were decent tasting, a lot of filling but a bit typical. basically a quick bite that does the job read more

54 is a decent spot for out of town tourists (me) to refuel in between museum hopping. It's a 10 minute walk from some of the more attractive Smithsonians (just enough to avoid the food truck superinflation zone) and checks the boxes for speed and convenience. Both the banh mi and pho are serviceable at least, and likely a step above for those hailing from a 'pho desert' without access to much Vietnamese food. read more

54 Restaurant - Banh Mi (with beef) - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nice spot, very casual. You have to go up to the counter and order - like Panera - and the Pho was good, however I've had better broths. It lacked a little bit of more flavor and depth overall for my taste. The shrimp spring rolls didn't have anything other than noodle and shrimp. Usually it has some sort of carrots or pickled veggies in there, so that was a little underwhelming. The chicken fried spring rolls were yummy. Service was good. read more

54 Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food quality is mediocre, especially the grilled pork. It does not appear to be grilled in any way, shape, or form. It lacks the characteristic char taste of grilled meat. The one upside is the service is very fast, and the prices are reasonable. read more

54 Restaurant - Grilled pork Com / Rice - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One word...DELICIOUS! I've walked past this restaurant many times with the intention of going after work because I never thought I would be able to sit down and eat. With my office having its last day of funding during this awful government shutdown, I said let me just go in to see what they offer. When I walked in the restaurant was cozy and clean. I immediately saw take out orders and customers coming in to pick up orders and was intrigued. The customer service was impeccable and all my questions were answered. This restaurant only offers BEEF BROTH!!! Even if the veggie bowl. I love the fact that I could get pho to go! Everything was packaged separately. EVERYTHING was good! No misses! I will for sure be back. read more

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As for the food, I'll give bánh mì another chance somewhere else -- but unfortunately, not from here again. This was my first time trying bánh mì, and while all of my friends seemed to enjoy their food, my experience was disappointing. The bread was so hard that it actually hurt my teeth after just a few bites. I ordered the beef, but it was completely flavorless, as were the other ingredients in the sandwich. I ended up taking half of it home and was only able to improve it by adding sauce from my fridge and warming it up to soften the bread. The ambiance was fine, and the service itself was fine as well. However, it's disappointing to hear that the tips left at the register reportedly go to the owner rather than the servers. Overall, I wish I had a better first experience with bánh mì. read more

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I came here to grab a quick lunch in between conference meetings. It was very busy but the staff was very efficient in managing the crowd and I got my order in and out swiftly. It wasn't hard to find a vegan option on the menu and food was delicious. I would come back again with friends as the ambiance is definitely casual. read more

54 Restaurant - vegan pho with tofu - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ordered the stir fry egg noodles with chicken and it took less than 5 minutes for the food to get to our table. I knew it was too quick for the food to come out hot and fresh. Turns out the noodles were bad and taste like it was left out for awhile because it was barely warm when I took the first bite. I asked my family to try it and they said it was not freshly made but I wasn't sure and stopped eating the noodles. Sometimes it's good to wait for the food to be made fresh, hot and ready. read more

54 Restaurant - Stir fry egg noodles with chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Probably the best pho I've had in the DMV. I recommend the brisket option. Looked like they had lots of yummy teas as well! Great portion sizes and insanely fast. The food nearly beat us to our table. Perfect stop if you are looking for an affordable dinner option for a night out in the city. Seating was a little crowded but I think it's worth it ! Not too far of a walk from the metro center station :) read more

54 Restaurant - Brisket pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We were starving after exploring DC so we decided to have dinner here before going back to our hotel. The restaurant was packed at 5:30pm. We had to hunt for table from other customers who finished their meal. We ordered at the cashier and were given numbers for our table. We managed to sit at the high table facing the window. - grilled pork bahn mi: bun was perfectly toasted (crunchy at the outside & soft). The grilled pork was delicious! The meat was tender and I could taste the smokiness from the grill. The pickled radish & carrot were crunchy and fresh. The portion was big (although I was starving, I couldn't finished it). - chicken pho: it was a good portion. The chicken meat was tender. The broth was savory and not too salty. The noodle was perfectly cooked and chewy. - spring roll: good and fresh. The peanut sauce was delicious. read more

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Really good food. We got the Pho and spring rolls and everyone was very pleased. We had a group of roughly 12 people with all sorts of orders, and I have never, in my life re waived my food as fast as we got it here. I was extremely impressed. read more

54 restaurant is becoming one of my favorite work lunch spots. It opens at 11am, and gets really busy during the lunch rush so I recommend going right after they open or some minutes after if you want to beat the rush. However, their service is pretty fast so the wait may not be super long. They have a variety of pho options, Thai curry and noodles, and some really great milk tea boba options. The staff is always nice and welcoming. Looks if searing inside as well if you wanted to eat there, and can accommodate small and large (6+) parties. Definitely stop by! read more

54 Restaurant - Red 54 Curry - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Flavor: 5/5 Price: 3.5/5 Environment: 3.5/5 This is a place where you order at the counter and they give you a number. They bring out the food to you along with the beansprouts, basil, and lime to mix into your soup. Definitely not cheap at about $16 a bowl of pho. But the broth tastes authentic and rich with a satisfying amount of meat. read more

54 Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Washington, DC (Penn Quarter) - "there's a line for everything," I heard a man quip while standing outside the single working bathroom as the men's room was out of order. It was busy on a Saturday at lunchtime and there was a wait for tables at this clearly popular spot. After staking the first free table you see (while impatiently hovering over diners getting ready to leave), you place your order at the counter, take a number, and your food will be brought to you when it's ready. The service is very fast, with many staff bustling about, but the atmosphere was rather chaotic. Unfortunately, the food didn't measure up to the anticipation. The pho was fine but nothing to write home about. The eye of round is tender and sliced admirably thin, but the broth is pretty meh and a bit sour. The banh mi bread was dry: crusty but in an over-toasted way not a crackling fresh way. The grilled pork rice plate with anemic strips of pork also underwhelmed. I suppose I had high expectations, having been spoiled by the excellent pho and banh mi I regularly eat in NY & NJ. It's serviceable Vietnamese if you're in the area, but not something I'd go out of the way for. read more

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S/o to Yelp for this find! Order at the front and self seat. Super yummy pho-- well seasoned broth & a healthyyyy portion. Crispy chicken spring rolls were literally the perfect crisp & full of flavor. I knew it'd be a hit when I saw the cafe du monde coffee canisters behind checkout. 12/10- no notes! IG: eatgoodtx TikTok: abidaremii read more

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I was looking for a spot to grab a quick bite and turned back around after passing by their entrance because it smelled really good. Got their vermicelli bowl which tasted amazing. Also loved their quick service! read more

54 Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

(This is a 3.5 star review) I hopped into this fast-casual Vietnamese restaurant in the middle of a museum-hopping day in DC. It was particularly swamped today due to a number of protests occurring, which was fine, especially considering how quickly the staff were moving. I ordered a winter melon tea ($5.50) and a lemongrass beef bahn mi sandwich ($11.50). The food came out extremely quickly, almost suspiciously quickly, but I'm not complaining. The iced tea was nice on a somewhat humid day. It was, however, really sweet although I suppose that's the intention. It's a good size for the price. Unfortunately, as an avid pho fan, I think the bahn mi was a mistake (I hadn't had it before). To be fair, it was good, but it was underwhelming. The lemongrass beef was seasoned well, but it was a bit chewy for my liking. Additionally, the bread was a bit hard. I think I probably should have gotten pho. The service here was really good though. The waiters were running around to make sure everyone was taking care of. It was unfortunate, however, that no public restroom was available on such a busy day. I'm not sure if this is always the case though. This is a good option for something quick and decent, but you likely won't be blown away. read more

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The Pho and fried tofu vermicelli dish are delicious! I could smell the beef soup aroma from 2 blocks away. The portions are huge. The taste was also authentic. They are generous with the proteins too. The staff are nice and efficient. I love that the food comes out quickly. The Thai tea was a bit too sweet but the boba was chewy. read more

I was looking to see were to eat after a visit to Natural History Museum. This place was about 10min walk. This place is not that big and sort of crowded. There are people clearing tables out constantly, but it is the Asian style which you just gotta grab an empty table. Food comes out pretty quickly. The price is decent for being in center of the city and big portioned. But the quality is just okay. BBQ pork was kinda dry. Vermicelli noodle comes with one tiny cup of fish sauce....which is not enough at all. I had to ask for two extra cups. If you order their drink without boba, your drink comes a quarter empty. While my mango smoothies was good, slushes were too icy....there were chunks of ice still. Their AC system was not working well (I am not sure if it is always like this), and they had one tiny fan going in the store. It was very uncomfortable. Overall, I think this place is overrated. Service is good, but I have had much better Vietnamese in so many places. read more

Got lunch for pickup twice in a week. Portions are large and the food is solid. I like that they don't overdo the broth. The pho was tasty, and the grilled pork is juicy and cut up which is nice. Lemongrass chicken was good too. We haven't tried the bahn mi but I look forward to giving that a try next time! read more

54 Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went here to grab an early lunch before seeing a 1pm show at the National Theatre. We had Pho Tai, crispy spring rolls, and potstickers. Everything was delicious. The Pho was amazing. Service was great. It was early when we went so no other patrons was there when we arrived, was greeted right away given menus. You pick where to sit and order at the counter and they bring the food to you. The person taking orders was great and asked if we wanted a small bowl. Food came quick. Other people started coming in, you can tell this place gets busy we were lucky to stumble upon it early. Great place to grab lunch if you're at the museums ( 10 min walk) or catching a show at one of the nearby theatres. The food was so good my daughter wanted to come back after the show to get more pho. read more

54 Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Roaming the theater district for a meal before a show, we came upon 54 Restaurant on a Saturday afternoon and stopped in for eats from the East. We knew the place would be good because it was packed, unusual for a downtown joint on a weekend. We started with the spring rolls and summer rolls - perfectly wrapped ingredients in a soft rice paper roll with tangy peanut sauce, and evenly fried spring rolls, not too greasy. I got the tofu rice plate - a large scoop of rice and a side of pickled veggies with a generous portion of fried chunks of tofu, well seasoned and tasty. If you're in the area, even on a weekend, 54 Restaurant is an easy stop to fill your belly. Give it a try! read more

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Really good authentic Vietnamese food in the area. Service is fairly quick with the option to order at the register or self-service kiosk. Plenty of seating. Obviously busiest during lunch time. Their banh mi's are great I like the lemongrass chicken. Drink menu is huge. I will come back to try the noodles to update my review. read more

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I met a friend here for dinner and we had a very tasty meal. Both of us ordered a pho bowl with a little bit of customization, which was not a problem. You order at the counter and find a seat, though the restaurant is bigger than it looks. Our food came very quickly and we both ate the whole thing, it was delicious. read more

54 Restaurant - Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had a very nice lunch here. We got a variety of things, including the crispy, spring rolls, the fresh summer rolls, the vermicelli bowl, the red curry, and some slushies and smoothies. The most impressive thing was that the food came out about three minutes after we ordered, which does make you wonder whether it's actually made to order or whether it's just sitting back there and getting heated up. Despite that, it was pretty good. The spring rolls were not the crispiest, but the flavor was good, the summer rolls were good although the peanut sauce that it came with was a little gooey. The vermicelli bowl was very good and the vegetables in it were fresh. The pork that it had on top was pretty decently tasty and did not have the gristle that you sometimes find. The curry was just the right amount of spice and very good. The kids liked the smoothies and slushies. For a fast, reasonably priced to lunch, I would come back here again. read more

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One of the best pho spots in the District! Quality meats and ingredients that left me craving more. I got my usual Pho Tai and appreciated the generous portions of onion and add-ins. The service was incredibly speedy and the staff were very kind. The ambiance is classic mom and pop style, which I found as a nice escape from the metropolitan atmosphere outside its doors. A great deal! One of the few pho restaurants in DC under $15 a bowl. Will be back soon! read more

54 Restaurant - Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friends and I were visiting from Baltimore and we were so delighted by the high quality of food and varieties offered. We ordered a Pho Noodle Soup, vermecilli bowl/noodle salad, and 54 Red Curry. All SO GOOD! In spite of the warmer weather, we were unbothered by the warmer temperatures of the foods. They were distinct from each other as well, which made it even all the more joyful to share. Service was kind and respectful. I noticed that plastic utensils are usually used here. Seating is generally spacious. read more

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We came here after a museum visit, not expecting much. Coming here, it was definitely the hunger games. Find a table if you can. I ordered the pho and it was very unexpectedly good. The pho was HOT, just the way I like it. And the broth was very flavorful. All the servers moved at the speed of light and your food materialized very quickly. This is a great option after the museums nearby. read more

We stopped in after a little sightseeing. I ordered the chicken bahn mi and a hot green tea. The sandwich was really good. They served me a 12 or 16 oz cup of very hot water. It took a long time before I could even sip it. And they used a small Lipton teabag. It probably called for 3 teabags with the amount of water that was in the cup. Also, Lipton, really?! Do better or remove it from the menu. I left the drink on the table. read more

Food was good and filling despite the price is a tad expensive. Best pho closest to the Mall.

Yes the food is really good but I want to mention that their Vietnamese ice coffee was extremely delicious. They use cafe du monde and you can really tell. If you are into chicory coffee you're going to love it. Give this place a try you're going to love it read more

Came in for lunch on a Tuesday and it was packed! You order first then find a seat. The menu has a bit of everything you'd want in Vietnamese food. I ordered a Special Beef Combination and Crispy Chicken Spring Rolls. The food was all really good & prices were typical for downtown Washington. Overall, delicious place and I'd definitely come back! read more

54 Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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3.5 high than it should be. pho broth decent, but meat seasoning underwhelming for grilled pork in noodle bowl. egg rolls ok

Fast service, good food. Here for work for a few weeks and missed my Vietnamese coffee. Found this place and decided to also try the food. Place is busy, but fast service and very clean. I ordered to go and the wait wasn't long. Vietnamese coffee could have been stronger, but I like to feel my heart racing out of my chest. But still good. Crispy tofu and chicken wings. Flavorful wings and my tofu was perfectly crispy. Can't wait to go back and try some Pho. Customer service was excellent too. Absolutely stop by and enjoy. read more

54 Restaurant - Vietnamese coffee, crispy tofu, chicken wings. - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a quick, casual place for satisfying your pho cravings. Upon entering, you can sit whenever you want and order and pay up front at the counter. We got the beef combination pho and the grilled pork vermicelli with spring rolls. The broth was absolutely delicious! The service was fairly average but expected for a casual place like this. read more

54 Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Quick service. You order at the counter and they bring to your table. Everything was hot and fresh, generous portion. For ~$31 plus tip I got lemongrass chicken, chicken spring rolls and two drinks- strawberry tea and a lychee milk tea with fruit jelly. I wanted tapioca but they were out. Otherwise quick service for a late meal and the staff were very friendly. Close proximity to JW Marriott, EPA, white house tours. read more

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Popular lunch spot in the area as this rather large restaurant that has a counter service-convenience store atmosphere does get packed up quickly, with people waiting for tables at times. Food was good. The pho is the star here more so than the other dishes. The beef in the vermicelli bowl tasted as if it had been cooked wet, which threw me off a bit but the flavor was on point. I think they need to work on the technique of cooking meats. The beef in the pho is another story as it tasted good, especially the dac biet version of the pho which has all sort of beef in it. I would come back considering there is a dearth of reputable Vietnamese places in D.C. proper and that this area is rather a quality food desert unless if you are going to splurge. read more