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Was craving banh mi after visiting the Smithsonian and this was close by. My rating is 3.5 stars. Food and service were good. Just some other things keep it from being a 4. We ordered the grilled pork banh mi. They were generous in size with a good amount of meat and the French roll was perfectly toasty crusty. We were on bikes and there were racks conveniently outside. We had some trouble finding the entrance. The building concierge pointed us to the entrance but that entrance directed us outside to a different entrance. There was also the odd sign in the women's restroom not to flush toilet paper... meaning throw it in the trash? They were also doing work in the men's room involving hammers. Other than that the sandwiches were great and service was quick and we would go back when in the area.
After a concert when it's cold, this was one of the first places that had something warm....so I obviously wanted to stop! I originally wanted to order the Pho, but they only carry beef broth, which is a reason I took a star off. So I went with the vermicelli shrimp bowl and had them give me a side of peanut sauce to add some more taste to it. I also ordered the shrimp summer rolls and my friend and their kids ordered a steak pho, shrimp meal and a beef meal. They stated everything was great. The ordering process can be a bit confusing as you can order on a kiosk or there is someone at the register that you can also order from. Would be a dream for someone that doesn't prefer interaction. The bathrooms were REALLY nasty. Seemed as if they had not been cleaned in a while. There were also several tables that were empty but also dirty. I took the spray bottle since there wasn't an employee around to clean it myself. All in all the place is decent but they can do some tweaks to fix the location up.
I came here with my girlfriend for a casual meal while we were visiting from out of state and craving some Vietnamese food. Before we even walked into the restaurant, we were informed that the left entrance door had been broken for quite some time. Since we had a double baby stroller with us, getting inside was a bit of a challenge and not exactly the best first impression. Overall Ratings Atmosphere - 3/5 Service - 3/5 Food - 3/5 Parking - Street Parking Atmosphere - The restaurant feels a bit old and dated and could probably use some updating. Interestingly, while the dining room definitely shows its age, the ordering system is modern and up to date. The contrast between the two was pretty noticeable. Service - Service was just okay. This is more of a casual setup where customers place their orders at the counter and the staff bring the food out when it's ready. There wasn't really anything memorable, either good or bad, about the service experience. What We Ordered - -Spring Rolls (Good) -Pho Dac Biet (Special Beef Pho) - The flavor was good overall, but the broth was only lukewarm when it arrived. A bowl of pho really needs to be piping hot, so this took away from the experience. -Grilled Pork Rice Plate - The pork was a bit too salty for my taste and was just okay overall. Final Thoughts - This was an average dining experience. The food was decent, the service was adequate, and the atmosphere was nothing particularly special. Nothing stood out enough to make me want to go out of my way to return, but I also wouldn't discourage others from trying it if they're already in the area. There are simply other Vietnamese restaurants nearby that I would be more inclined to visit first.
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.
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.
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.
A vermicelli noodle bowl with grilled pork and spring roll is my typical order at Vietnamese places so it's what I ordered here as well. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either mostly because of the pork which was overcooked and not very flavorful. If I went again, I'd try it with the shrimp instead maybe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
20 days ago
4 months ago
Mixed thoughts on this spot. It's in a great location in central dc that isn't a high end fancy restaurant. Great for dc workers on a lunch break or after work. I really enjoyed the milk boba drink and pho. However we also ordered the shrimp summer rolls which I did not enjoy. read more
2 months ago
Was craving banh mi after visiting the Smithsonian and this was close by. My rating is 3.5 stars. Food and service were good. Just some other things keep it from being a 4. We ordered the grilled pork banh mi. They were generous in size with a good amount of meat and the French roll was perfectly toasty crusty. We were on bikes and there were racks conveniently outside. We had some trouble finding the entrance. The building concierge pointed us to the entrance but that entrance directed us outside to a different entrance. There was also the odd sign in the women's restroom not to flush toilet paper... meaning throw it in the trash? They were also doing work in the men's room involving hammers. Other than that the sandwiches were great and service was quick and we would go back when in the area. read more
6 months ago
After a concert when it's cold, this was one of the first places that had something warm....so I obviously wanted to stop! I originally wanted to order the Pho, but they only carry beef broth, which is a reason I took a star off. So I went with the vermicelli shrimp bowl and had them give me a side of peanut sauce to add some more taste to it. I also ordered the shrimp summer rolls and my friend and their kids ordered a steak pho, shrimp meal and a beef meal. They stated everything was great. The ordering process can be a bit confusing as you can order on a kiosk or there is someone at the register that you can also order from. Would be a dream for someone that doesn't prefer interaction. The bathrooms were REALLY nasty. Seemed as if they had not been cleaned in a while. There were also several tables that were empty but also dirty. I took the spray bottle since there wasn't an employee around to clean it myself. All in all the place is decent but they can do some tweaks to fix the location up. read more
I came here with my girlfriend for a casual meal while we were visiting from out of state and craving some Vietnamese food. Before we even walked into the restaurant, we were informed that the left entrance door had been broken for quite some time. Since we had a double baby stroller with us, getting inside was a bit of a challenge and not exactly the best first impression. Overall Ratings Atmosphere - 3/5 Service - 3/5 Food - 3/5 Parking - Street Parking Atmosphere - The restaurant feels a bit old and dated and could probably use some updating. Interestingly, while the dining room definitely shows its age, the ordering system is modern and up to date. The contrast between the two was pretty noticeable. Service - Service was just okay. This is more of a casual setup where customers place their orders at the counter and the staff bring the food out when it's ready. There wasn't really anything memorable, either good or bad, about the service experience. What We Ordered - -Spring Rolls (Good) -Pho Dac Biet (Special Beef Pho) - The flavor was good overall, but the broth was only lukewarm when it arrived. A bowl of pho really needs to be piping hot, so this took away from the experience. -Grilled Pork Rice Plate - The pork was a bit too salty for my taste and was just okay overall. Final Thoughts - This was an average dining experience. The food was decent, the service was adequate, and the atmosphere was nothing particularly special. Nothing stood out enough to make me want to go out of my way to return, but I also wouldn't discourage others from trying it if they're already in the area. There are simply other Vietnamese restaurants nearby that I would be more inclined to visit first. read more
7 months ago
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
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 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
A vermicelli noodle bowl with grilled pork and spring roll is my typical order at Vietnamese places so it's what I ordered here as well. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either mostly because of the pork which was overcooked and not very flavorful. If I went again, I'd try it with the shrimp instead maybe. read more
11 days ago
The food is so good and they were quick to serve the food definitely recommended as a pho lover! read more
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
9 months ago
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
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
10 months ago
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 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
10 months ago
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
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
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
11 months ago
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
9 months ago
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
9 months ago
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
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
10 months ago
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
1 year ago
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
4 months ago
The server and owner were so cute and nice. I'm viet and id say this is definitely one of the better Vietnamese restaurants that seem westernized but actually has good food along w big portions! The place is a little small but I went with a group of 7 and they accommodated for us easily. read more
4 months ago
I got the pork banh mi and Thai iced tea. I swear the banh mi came out in 3 minutes at the tea right after, the service was incredibly fast. Everything was delicious and it is a great spot to grab a meal with a friend or alone! read more
(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
1 year ago
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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1201 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20006
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(202) 843-3189
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http://www.54restaurantdc.net
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54 Restaurant - vietnamese - Updated November 2026
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