Great food. Not your typical Southeast Asian restaurant. very interesting and very well done selections on the menu. we have driven to Appleton from Madison several times just to eat here. read more

I will eat here when I am traveling to Appleton. The food is really good, it was hard to decide what to get. I asked for as spicy as they would make it, and it had enough heat for me. Food was presented well. Delivered by the chef. Service was good. read more

I have heard about Basil Café for a while and finally checked it out with a few friends just before Christmas. We all shared the bang bang broccoli. Oh my goodness, sooo good. I could use the bang bang broccoli as an entrée. I ordered the entrée feature for this season. I believe it was called Guay Tiew. Had beef bone and a meatball for the protein. It was definitely good but it was a lacking some flavor. I want to visit again soon. Staff was fantastic. read more

Basil Cafe - Guay Tiew - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Surprising find. Dont let the outside deter you away. Actually very cute and subtle inside. Good ambiance. Service was quick and nice. No complaints. We were sat quickly, ordered right away and food was out within 15-20mins during lunch hour. There's a shared parking lot with other stores. Food was delicious. Not overly salted or sweetened like many others. Lots of oil but that's expected with Thai food. Good flavors. We only got to try a few dishes so absolutely will be back. Prices are okay, a bit pricier for this particular cuisine but doable. Will be back! Happy eating! read more

See all

Fast service, even on a busy summer Saturday night. Surprisingly good beer and bev list--something for everyone. Closed sundays and watch for annual break. Large parking lot. read more

Basil Cafe - Pad See Eew (GFR) and a fabulous pomegranite beverage! - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Hard to know what to rave about first. The food is amazing. Everything we got was good- calimari, pad see eew , pad kee mao and spicy basil seafood combo. It's all fresh and homemade!! I loved it inside -it's a nice relaxing vibe. The service is fast and friendly. Wish i lived here so I could go all the time. read more

Make sure you are going when they are open, because they close for a few weeks in the summer. Make reservations. Once you get there, there is parking in both sides. The tables are close, might be tight for some wheelchairs. The food is fresh and ask your spice level. The service is quick and attentive. read more

Everything is always amazing, Food, service, all of it! Their Pho is hands down the best in the valley!! read more

I've been waiting a long time to go to Basil Cafe! It has cool and classy decor and friendly staff. The main dishes are exceedingly good, probably the best in Appleton in terms of Vietnamese/Thai. I had the Pad Thai, and the portion size was generous. The appetizers are decent but perhaps not worth the price, and the boba tea was grossly overpriced ($9!). Overall, though, a positive experience. read more

I am a first timer to Basil Cafe and wanted to share my experience. I moved here from the Bay Area and I love any type of Asian food. All my local friends recommended that I try Basil Cafe. And I did and it was the worst restaurant experience I have ever had in 40 years. I asked a friend if she had tried this cafe and she hadn't. FYI, I called around 7:15 prior to our arrival and asked what time they closed. He said come now since the kitchen closes at 8 and all orders have to be in before then. It was a Friday night, we arrived at the restaurant and were sat immediately. At 7:20ish the restaurant was still busy which we thought was a good sign. Our server greeted us with the menus and walked away. I didn't think anything of it until she returned to take our order. The initial impression was EXTREMELY uninviting and we should have left at that point. Her first words, "you know we close at 8" which we knew and were trying to hurry to be respectful of the chefs. We immediately ordered which was approximately 5 minutes after being sat. She asked if we wanted our food mild or spicy and then walked away. She did bring us water but never refilled until we were almost done with our meals. She even spilled water as she was pouring and not once to she say sorry or clean it up. Our food was delivered promptly by another server who at least had a smile. As we unfolded our napkins to eat, our server dropped the check and requested to flip it over when ready to pay. My guest looked at me in amazement and stated, "Wow we haven't even taken a bite." As we ate our meals, not once did she approach us to ask if we needed anything else or how the food was. I watched her interact with another table and she seemed to attend to their requests. I was in disbelief by the way she handled herself as a server. I just kept thinking, wow I'm actually paying money for this. We were never rude and remained polite even though her service was HORRIBLE. My guest looked at me and said, "I have lived her all my life and have never had this kind of experience at a restaurant." I was so disappointed about my choice of restaurant that I did not even finish my meal. I took maybe 2 bites and was done. Being that I barely touched my meal, most waitress would have asked if it was ok but not our server. "You want that boxed?" I was like "Yes Please" while thinking "hell yes so I can get out of here." We left within 40 minutes of our arrival so the kitchen had barely rung the closing bell. As soon as I got in my car, I immediately texted my friend who raved about your restaurant and advised "F that place, never again, I have never been treated so badly by a server." I did check the restaurant reviews after this and it spoke of the atmosphere, the friendly staff, the food, and the drinks. Well I wish I could have experienced that but no! I contemplated writing this review since it usually goes nowhere so I spoked to my friends who have visited your establishment and those who have not. The friends who have visited were very disappointed and others stated, "they would not be dining there". They all came to the same conclusion to share so if anyone is trying to figure out whether Panda Express or Basil Cafe, the Panda would be my first choice after this. If I could give you a ZERO star I would but 1 star it is since that is my only option. I will say the food was good so thanks to the chef. But I rather dine at a restaurant with crappy food with an exceptional server than the opposite. I did give her a tip even though she did not deserve it. Hopefully she shares her tips with the chef since they did all the work. read more

Always awesome! Food and service is impeccable. By far the best food in Applet. The coconut water is a nice touch read more

Basil Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

A delightful surprise in Appleton! We came for a visit from Madison and are always look for a good Thai restaurant. From the outside this place doesn't look like much -- but don't let that keep you from entering in. This restaurant is obviously loved by its community -- it just got more and more packed as the night went on. The service was warm and friendly, and the food was delicious, fresh, and plentiful. I especially recommend trying their drunken noodles! -- They had that delicious burned wok flavor that you can only find at certain authentic Asian restaurants. YUM! read more

Basil Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

See all

I had zero confidence in finding any decent vegan food options in Appleton, WI. But after running out of my Chicago leftovers, I was forced to find sustenance here. I searched Yelp and discovered some of the best Asian food that I've ever had. The aroma of whatever magic is brewing in the kitchen hits you as soon as you open the door. But we've all been there. Something smells amazing but falls hella short as soon as it hits your tongue. Luckily, that's not the case here! The smells are a direct prelude to the deliciousness that's served up here. PAD KEE MAO: Ordered with tofu and mixed veggies at spice level 4. BASIL FRIED RICE: Ordered with tofu, no eggs, spice level 4. Both of these dishes are superbly exquisite. I'm talking about a robust burst of exciting flavor in every freaking bite! Sheer excellence! I did buy 2 extra chili garlic sauces ots for $1 each. The dishes didn't need it, but it brought up the spice another notch, which is always nice for me. Basil fried rice is one of my favorite dishes, but most restaurants just serve a bland, watered down rendition. This is seriously the best basil fried rice that I have ever had. Ever! And the Pad Kee Mao is similar to the American-popular Drunken noodles but with wider noodles. Inside is spacious, cozy, and clean. The owners are very nice. Prices are not cheap, but it's worth it. ApplePay is accepted here. I can never see myself saying, "Ooh, I wanna go to Appleton, WI." But I will definitely say, "Ooh I wanna go back to Basil Cafe!" read more

See all

Basil Cafe is a place you try, like , then put in a favorites place to be happily discovered all over again! But the food and service is anything but forgettable. Like when you crave Asian, but want a way better meal than typical "Chinese " fare. Basil has a diverse and extensive menu that can be overwhelming on sit down. But the fun part is finding an unknown dish, and asking the staff for help....who, by the way, are very friendly and darn knowledgeable to help you. And the food: it's authentic, flavorful and savory. Just be aware of the spicy dishes, because they are indeed! Portions are very adequate and many could be split if you're an average eater. The place is clean, neat and comfortable too. Basil Cafe is a keeper for us, for sure! read more

Excellent! food was delicious, like really delicious. I even ordered some to go for the next day. The service was good as well. read more

Basil Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

What a hidden gem! Each dish was delicious, good size portions and arrived hot. great variety of items on the menu. We ordered crab rangoons and they came out hot in a timely manner. Would definitely go back. read more

Hands down, one of the best restaurants in Appleton. You can't go wrong with any dish you choose--seriously, just close your eyes, point, order it, and you're good to go. read more

Worth the drive from Manitowoc. Walked into a clean and artistic dining room and showed to our table by a very nice woman. Coconut infused water was a very nice touch. Our waitperson was friendly and patient with our many questions.The service was top notch throughout our meal. The menu is vegetarian and vegan friendly. Most of the offerings can be made vegan with tofu as the protein. I've never had pho before because it is usually beef based. We had spring rolls that were absolutely delicious. I ordered a vegan pho and my wife had a spicy noodle dish. Our meals were outstanding as was the presentation. You can adjust your heat from one to four, my wife tried 3. She'll go with 4 next time. The owner came by our table for a short chat. Told her we drove 45 miles to eat there. That got a big smile. My minor nit was that the portions were huge. I hated not being able to finish that delicious pho. It was too much for me. If you are looking for a superior dining experience it would behoove you to patronize this wonderful restaurant...enjoy! read more

See all

This is my favorite restaurant! The service is wonderful and so is the food. I've been here many times over the last 10 years & it's still a treat. My favorite is the Thai Lo Mein. The vibe inside the restaurant is really nice and chill, with plenty of speciality drinks. Highly recommended! read more

Basil Cafe - Tom Yum Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

See all

My daughter and I went out for an early dinner. We arrived at 445pm and there were already tables of people! We ordered spring rolls to start. They are HUGE! They came with a side of peanut sauce which was very tasty. Then we split the Vietnamese omelette and basil fried rice. The omelette was also huge (and $20), and it was extremely oily. It was really in a pool of oil. We could only eat the top half because of this. The basil fried rice was good. Rice was a little mushy, flavor was good. The coconut infused water was interesting and the service was really fast. I'd need to try 2 new dishes to be impressed. read more

We tried as much as possible. (Also made reservations which I recommend highly. It's very busy). We had the Tom Yum coconut soup, Spring rolls, & spicy lemons grass with rice noodles (chicken out of many meat options & veg. Or tofu) Kirk was a professional server and definitely made the experience top notch. There is nothing I could suggest to make the experience better. It was better than I would've hoped for and rivaled MeKong in RVA & some of the finer Loudoun County restaurants just West of DC. Save room for the coconut Mango sticky rice! It's my daughters favorite . She unfortunately did not share. I'll have to go back to post pictures. Everything was made with care, delicious and presentable. I tucked the phone away because the meal was too ideal To interrupt. read more

One of my favorite places to go in Appleton. The food is always amazing, the service is top notch, but thd owners are what makes this restaurant so special! read more

After one more dining experience and one more carry out experience I am officially turned off from this place for good. The food has lost all authenticity, and has been really bad the last two times. Super overcooked noodles, not cooked enough tofu, too much hoisin in the Vietnamese spring roll dipping sauce, really salty pho broth, and the spring rolls rice paper were chewy as all get out like they were old. And they are so expensive. To split a pad thai, and two orders of spring rolls you are looking at $32+tip. They give you a lot of food, but the quality is not there. If you are looking for americanized thai/vietnamese food, a lot of it, and to spend a good chunk of money, then this is your place. read more

The atmosphere, coconut water, and nearly all of the food here tasted wonderful. Unfortunately my husband and I got food poisoning. I feel the need to make this post for anyone else who dinned in this establishment on January 22nd 2025 and also got very sick. My husband and I make papaya salad on a weekly basis and are not at all shy with fermented fish sauce. It is a staple in our diet. I will even taste it straight from the bottle (I buy the three crabs brand). We notified the waitress that there was something rancid/off about the papaya salad we ordered. We didn't feel safe eating it and only took the initial bite. She insisted that it was the fish sauce and suggested that we must not be use to the flavor. We explained that we were both very use to the fish sauce ingredient and insisted that it wasn't due to this but instead with something spoiled in the dish. We felt as though she dismissed our strong concern to the dish being unsafe to eat. We paid the full price of the dish and the waitress did not help accommodate our feeling of lack of safety with the dish. We decided not to leave a tip based on this experience because we felt our strong concern went unbelieved and dismissed. It made us feel uncomfortable and upset. The dish tasted very rotten and turned my stomach. We were genuinely concerned about the safety of the other diners in the restaurant. We unfortunately paid the price 8 hours later and vomited and had diarrhea for the next two days. We also had to extend our stay in the area until we were well again to leave. We really wanted to like this place because it has mostly great reviews and a good atmosphere. We however, cannot go to a place where we feel unbelieved and dismissed when we bring up safety concerns. My husband left a comment on Thai Basil's google reviews that was further dismissed by the restaurant responding it was due to "fish sauce" flavor. The restaurant also reprimanded us in their response for not tipping which we found to be offensive due to the circumstances and further justified by the extreme sickness that followed. I am quite disappointed by their defensive response and we won't be eating here again. read more

We went to Basil Cafe for lunch while stopping by in Appleton. The ambiance is pretty cozy, and the food a little above average. We ordered beef and chicken pho and pad kee mao. The pho broth was flavorful and not too salty, although nothing extraordinary either. Same with the pad kee mao, although we asked for it to be spicy and it wasn't. Overall not a bad meal. read more

Basil Cafe - Chicken Wings - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

See all

I only ordered a serving of Spring rolls for a light lunch before heading out to the airport to pick up family arriving for an important ceremony in the evening. Though not sufficient for a complete review, they were quite good and I hope to come back for a full meal the next time I'm in town. read more

I'm in Appleton a few times throughout the year so I make the most of those work trips to scope out area restaurants to 1) satisfy my never-ending appreciation for SE Asian cuisine and 2) use my per diem as an excuse to try as many things possible while supporting the ma and pa shops of the world. My colleague suggested Basil Café - which is conveniently just down the street from one of my other favs (Java Warung). We were lucky to snag the last parking spot in the lot and walked in to find a busy, busy restaurant on a cold wintery Tuesday night. 2 things I noticed immediately - it's open and well lit. Tables are rather close to one another so if you're looking to have some privacy, this probably ain't the place. But if you want to enjoy some flavorful SE Asian food in a bright atmosphere combined with fantastic service, then Basil Café is your spot. Our server delivered coconut infused water (YES PLEASE) and was oh-so-patient with my many questions on the drink menu. I tried the coconut lemongrass sake mule and was delighted that the sugar level was on point. I am not a huge syrupy sweet fan when it comes to any drink so to discover a sake mule that met my standards of minimal sweetness was a big win. My colleague ordered a dish off their specials menu (Luang Prabang Khao Soi $13) which was a massive bowl of noodles and ground pork. Sadly, she told me she didn't see much pork in her bowl. I went with the spicy basil chicken stirfry with added veggies. Basil Cafe's spice levels range from 0-4. I can eat spicy food but was forewarned I should be safe and settle on 2. Point taken and glad I did! I also ordered a side of spring rolls to go (added avocado for extra charge). I am a BIG fan of spring rolls of any kind but at a price tag of $7 (+$1 extra for avocado), that's pretty hefty - regardless if the meal is on the company dime. I will probably reserve my per diem for another item on the menu next time I'm in town. Regardless, a terrific first time experience at Basil and now it's officially on my radar/short list of restaurants to visit anytime I'm in the Appleton area. read more

See all

We have found the best restaurant in Wisconsin! Starting guests off with coconut infused table water to cleanse the palet sets the stage for an extraordinary taste experience. The Tom Yum soup was an infusion of coconut, buttery Curry notes, a bust of citrus and just enough spicy to keep you warm. Everything else smelled so good I didn't stop for pictures. The Vietnamese Crepe was our favorite. Cooked to perfection. The staff was kind courteous and attentive. Sadly they close for the summer in June and don't open up till labor day, but it is worth the wait! read more

Basil Cafe - Tom Yum Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

We just recently moved to WI about two years. Looking for an Asian restaurant. Heard some of people at work recommended this place. Skeptical at first but finally try. The food are bad and not to mention the prices ( overpriced) for the portions of it. If you looking for an Asian authentic dishes. This is not the one. read more

Basil Cafe - Phở - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

See all

This is a nice little place. I'm still recovering from the beverage so apologies if this strays from my conventional review. I sat at the bar as it was I just me (per the usual). I ended up getting a hemp tail passion fruit. I originally thought this was cider. It ended up not being cider (I think) but is still tasty. I ordered the red curry. I swear it came out within 5 minutes, and PIPING HOT (I was still slightly burning my mouth five minutes later). I got mine 3/4 spicy. It had a little less of the coconut milk flavor that I am accustomed to from an old Thai place, but was very good (perhaps I need to order green for that). Overall, very good. The bill came with some traditional candies, and there was a bowl of m&m's next to me to finish everything off. read more

Basil Cafe - Red curry - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Basil Cafe is one of the best asian restaurants anywhere, not just the fox valley. At very least it matches or beats the best of what I had during my two decades in NYC. I always get the same thing - Sien Savanh with the spicier jeow. Its a kind of jerky, served with rice, and its just at the edge of my spice tolerance, with an interesting tingling sensation. Its unlike anything I've had elsewhere. Perhaps I'd explore the menu more if I spent more time in the area. I wouldn't hesitate coming to this place two days in a row. I explore more with appetizers - I had the Basil Balls which are a rice ball with a pork center, sesame coating, and spicy sauce. I really enjoyed them. One warning - check to make sure they're open before you head out. There's been a couple of times I've shown up to a closed door. Seems the staff takes well earned vacations more frequently than other eateries. read more

Was in Appleton WI for work and was in the mood for some Pho. Yelp had a 4-1/2 rating so I had to try. Ended up with one of their specials, recommended by Larry (gentleman working the bar). Words can't even do it justice, as Larry described it "pho on crack." I can't believe this place isn't a 5!! Check out the picture of the dish. read more

Basil Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

See all

I will say this is the best restaurant in the state. Every bite is perfect. I take any excuse to drive up to Appleton to have a meal at Basil Cafe. read more

Some of the best food in northeastern Wisconsin! The nam khao is my absolute favorite.

Great takeout. Basil fried rice is wonderful, pad Thai is legit, and pho is out of this world.

Stopped in yesterday for lunch - this is the first time I have dined in at the restaurant and boy was it packed! But that didn't slow the service down at all thankfully. I had the seafood combo pho and it was delicious. Since I dined in I was able to actually study the menu more and found a few things I'd really like to try when they reopen after summer. They also have coconut infused water which was quite refreshing! Met the owner who was super nice. Still my Appleton go to for Pho! read more

Basil Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

The food is pretty bad, not a god Asian place. We got pad thai, pad se ew and green curry. Everything was cooked in a gloppy syrup consistency, not normal. Price was also insane. read more

Trying to find lunch on a Saturday afternoon in Appleton, WI can be tricky, especially when you're indecisive. To Thai or not to Thai, that is the main question that I had in my head that day. I entered Basil Cafe here in Appleton, WI thinking that I'd get pretty good Thai cuisine as well as Vietnamese as well. The restaurant was surprisingly very nice and definitely borders along fancy. Maybe just very nice and comfortable. For what it was worth, it was very clean, orderly, and definitely comfortable while dining at this place. Bonus tip: they serve both! And as such, I did order both, but boxed the Thai (pad Thai) for later. I got the beef Pho and it was genuinely decently okay. Not one of my better ones that I have had in a while, but it was decidedly okay. While I did do my #50statespho in WI in 2013 in Madison with friends, Basil Cafe is counted as a repeat. The overall experience here is decidedly average, yet quite nice and positive. Can't say fine dining or upscale, but the ambiance felt like it, for real. However, the service was good and I felt kind of regal, but maybe it was just the decor that made everything seemed extravagant when it shouldn't be. The Basil Cafe here in Appleton, WI is located at 1513 Richmond Avenue in downtown Appleton. They have their own private parking lot, so that's always great when you wanting to find a spot, but can't find any elsewhere. It's a stand alone building, which can be deceiving at times from the outside, but rest assured, it's pretty nice inside. The prices here can be a little pricey, but that's how it is sometimes. You can't win them all, when you decide to try new places and cuisines, but you may be dazzled at what they have for you. They accept major credit cards, so that's always a great thing. As for me, the Pho could have been better, with a little more noodles and meat. I should have asked for that, in addition to more vegetables as well. One of the best things about Pho is to soak the leaves and the stems of the basil in the broth and eat it whole. And definitely the best sprouts to give the entire bowl some spunk and body that brings the Pho alive. What's not to love about bean sprouts and basil in hot Pho? That's how I roll. How about you? The pad Thai, which was eaten later as a snack or for boredom, was decently good. I rediscovered my love for pad Thai with the purchase here at Basil Cafe here in Appleton, WI. Yes, they make it silky smooth to where it was just too good and delicious. While the higher prices can be a turn off, the ambiance and the taste can draw you in. The Basil Cafe is good for what it does in service and presentation. If you in the area, try this place out. Support local! B+ read more

See all

This has become our new takeout place. Pickup time is short usually about 20 minutes. We had a mishap one time with getting the wrong food but they made it right and even compensated for it with a gift card. We like the veggie pad thai, no egg (vegan style) and veggie fried rice. Both are delicious and come with a good amount of veggies. read more

Basil Cafe - Veggie pad thai, no egg, vegan style, takeout - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

See all

The service was great! The food was okay for its price. Basil cafe's food is very westernized. If you're looking for an authentic experience I don't think this is the place eat. read more