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When we went to Vietnam for a 5-day side trip back in March, 2025, we were fortunate to have tasted some very good Vietnamese food, including a Michelin-starred dinner and a Michelin Gourmand lunch. Some of my very memorable foods include every bowl of beef pho that was offered to us. The beef was tender and flavorful, the pho (rice noodles) was thin and smooth. Tonight, we were having takeout from one of our favorite eateries, Basu, again. Since the first bowl of beef pho that did not totally meet our expectations, we had been ordering chicken pho from them. Their grilled chicken has always been smooth and cooked nicely. Their sweet soy glazed chicken wings are finger-licking good. We like their ground pork egg rolls with crunchy skin as well. This time I wanted to give their beef pho another chance, and see how it would compare to those that I had in Vietnam, and hope that they have made some improvement over two and a half years. Well, it is still the same. The beef was not tender, although not too chewy, it was kind of rough. The pho was not as smooth as I would like it to be. The broth still tasted good and not too salty, though. The chicken pho and egg roll were still good. (We remove the side bag of raw bean sprouts, lime, and basil from the order, as we don't eat them). It is a still a solid 4-star. Next time I will switch back to chicken pho again. I am still glad that we have this Vietnamese eatery close by!
A little gem in the middle of Northbrook. We came here for a quick dinner on a weeknight, and it wasn't super busy. Not peak hours. You order at the front and they serve at your table. We got the Vietnamese iced coffee, garden spring rolls, and chicken pho. Incredible food!
Stopped by on a Saturday, it's located right by the Northbrook Metra station. We were able to find parking near the front entrance pretty easily. Ordering was pretty easy at the front, they give you a number and you bring it to the table if you're eating in. I was surprised at the number of options they had for drinks. My friend and I split two banh mis, the ginger chicken and the veggiecado. Surprisingly I actually liked the veggiecado better than the chicken as it was really bursting with flavor! Wish this place was closer as I'd definitely be back again.
This is a small, modern Vietnamese restaurant and coffee bar in downtown Northbrook, next to the Northbrook Metra Station. We parked in the lot, which was already quite full, and the restaurant was almost full as well when we stopped in on a Sunday afternoon. We ordered shrimp spring rolls, crispy pork egg roll, steak pho, pork noodle bowl and Vietnamese iced coffee. They brought out my coffee quickly. Made with Cafe du Monde, it was strong, sweet and delicious. The pork egg roll was crisp, hot, and nicely flavored with sweet chili dipping sauce. The shrimp spring rolls (2) were stuffed with lettuce, rice noodles and 2 shrimp with a delicious sauce. My beef pho was enormous, steamy and fragrant with lots of cilantro, sliced beef and soft rice noodles and accompanied by basil, sprouts and lime. There was an option to add jalapeños (I didn't) so it only needed a little splash of sriracha. My friend enjoyed a pork house noodle salad which included an egg roll. I tasted the pork and it was marinated in a sauce and tasted delicious. It was a nice, light, crisp and fresh option for lunch on a summer day. I liked my pho but I might try the noodle salad next time.
I became addicted to their Cold brew Vietnamese coffee. Bitter, but,not too sweet. Hit Just right. I stopped by every time I'm off work. There is not a week I wouldn't crave for one. I believe they only use gourmet coffee grounds from Vietnam. Also their phos and shrimp wraps are amazingly delicious.
Great little Vietnamese cafe with modern decor that's located right next to the Northbrook Metra train stop. Inside it's very clean, quaint and quiet. You order up front and they will give you a number, then they will bring the food to your table pretty quickly. We ordered the Honey Pork Bahn Mi and the Beef Pho. I really enjoyed the Banh Mi sandwich because the French bread was just a soft crunch on the outside, and the pork was really juicy. My husband enjoyed the beef pho saying it was really tasty. Both portions were a pretty good size and what you would expect to pay for this type of food in the area. I brought half of my banh mi sandwich home and the kids fought over it. One warmed it up and then the older one subsequently stole and ate it, thus causing banh mi drama. Guess I'll be needing to drop in again here soon!
We ordered carry-out from Basu for the first time back in April this year. I had the beef pho. It should be the signature dish of any Vietnamese eatery, and I had expected the beef to be tender. However, I found the beef quite chewy. I thought it was just a blip, and ordered beef pho again the second time we had the carry-out. Unfortunately, the beef was still quite chewy. So the third time that we had the carry-out, I ordered the ginger chicken pho instead. Turned out to be a good decision. The chicken pho was pretty good. Ever since, when we ordered pho noodle soup, we would just order chicken instead of beef. In addition to the pho, we always order our two favorite items there: crispy pork egg rolls and soy glazed wings, both are crispy and tasty. I must say that the staff are very friendly and the ordering process is efficient. It usually takes only 10 minutes for the carry-out order to be ready. I am curious to hear what other people would say about the beef. Hopefully Basu would improve on the tenderness of the beef, and I could order the beef pho again.
Basu is a hidden gem and we tell everyone locally about it. The viet coffee is delicious and we love the Pho and banh mi sandwiches. The staff is super friendly and kind. We usually come here with our son and it is very kid friendly. Bonus- you can watch the trains go by out the window so that's a big hit with our toddler ( and some adults too!) The food is super comforting and the quality is high and extremely consistent. Great for a weekday lunch or evening take out!
Excellent food, nice atmosphere, and friendly service - I love this place! So, lemme say this first; I've had a LOT of Vietnamese food over the years. Bowls and bowls of phở and more bánh mì than I can remember, from many different restaurants in the United States. When I was in college, I lived in Chicago's West Argyle Street Historic District (a.k.a. "Little Saigon"), so I've had some of the best Vietnamese food within a few minutes of walking... Basu's food ranks in the top, in what I consider "contemporary cafe" style Vietnamese restaurants, which should appeal to a wide variety of palates (nothing is too spicy, strong, bitter, or sour). Their phở broth is super aromatic, their noodles are cooked perfectly, and I think they do a pretty good job with their meats & tofu. Their bun salads are very good, with tasty fresh ingredients, and I'm a fan of their rice bowls (in particular their crispy tofu curry rice bowl). Their bánh mì is really well made, with nice crispy bread and savory ingredients. No good Vietnamese lunch or dinner is complete without a sweet and complex Vietnamese coffee or tea, either! The Northbrook Basu is conveniently located right next to the Northbrook Metra train station, with parking lots behind it and to the east across the tracks. The dining area has a nice view of the station and sidewalk, has comfy seating, and very well lit. The staff keep the place nice and clean, along with the restrooms, and provide fast service. For carry-out orders, you can order ahead and there's a rack for convenient pick-up.
Having a taste for Pho, I decided to check this place out based on their reviews. I'm so glad I did! The Pho was delicious and exactly what I was hoping for but the real magic here is the Báhn Mi sandwiches. I ordered one to go to have for dinner later. However, I took a bite of it and lost all self control. The sandwich was absolutely perfect! I haven't had a Báhn Mi this perfect since San Francisco/San Jose. Knowing that it's only 20 minutes away from hopefully is amazing! The service was quick and smooth. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is very clean, well lit, and inviting. There seemed to be a lot of local people who had also discovered the magic that is Basu. I've been back numerous times since then and plan to continue doing so. This place is amazing!
Nice spot next to the Northbrook Metra Station in beautiful downtown Northbrook. Simple menu. Pho, banh mi, rice bowls, noodle salad. Fresh ingredients. Prepared quickly.
Great place to get a simple Vietnamese breakfast or a lunch. It's one of the best places in Northbrook. Basu is located right by the Metra station, so you can hop off and be here. Easy to understand menu because there's not a whole lot on it. There's coffee along with banh mi and others. Came at lunch and got some coffee and something to eat. It's about $4 for a Latte. They have non dairy milks including oat. Good stuff but would have liked to try a Vietnamese coffee. These are made with concentrated milk though. As for the food, it has the classic favorites. It's about $11 for a banh mi. There's a vegan one called the Veggiecado. It was a pretty filling one. This came with avocado, cilantro, cucumbers, onions, sweet chili sauce, tofu, and tomatoes. Has some very good Vietnamese beverages and some light but filling food. It's mostly authentic of the street food including banh mi and spring rolls. There's a few things for vegans and vegetarians.
I have not had the chance to dine inside the restaurant and only did to go orders but I have to say I'm hooked! I haven't had Vietnamese food in so long and today I was craving some chicken pho. I usually don't eat the chicken but the chicken was actually really good. I can't wait to eat the rest in the morning :) Also, I got an eggroll and it was good too. The beef rice bowl was delicious as well. The honey pork sandwich without the veggies was really good!! I have to go back to try some more. It reminds me of my childhood! I can't wait to try the food when it's fresh and hot!
29 days ago
25 days ago
When we went to Vietnam for a 5-day side trip back in March, 2025, we were fortunate to have tasted some very good Vietnamese food, including a Michelin-starred dinner and a Michelin Gourmand lunch. Some of my very memorable foods include every bowl of beef pho that was offered to us. The beef was tender and flavorful, the pho (rice noodles) was thin and smooth. Tonight, we were having takeout from one of our favorite eateries, Basu, again. Since the first bowl of beef pho that did not totally meet our expectations, we had been ordering chicken pho from them. Their grilled chicken has always been smooth and cooked nicely. Their sweet soy glazed chicken wings are finger-licking good. We like their ground pork egg rolls with crunchy skin as well. This time I wanted to give their beef pho another chance, and see how it would compare to those that I had in Vietnam, and hope that they have made some improvement over two and a half years. Well, it is still the same. The beef was not tender, although not too chewy, it was kind of rough. The pho was not as smooth as I would like it to be. The broth still tasted good and not too salty, though. The chicken pho and egg roll were still good. (We remove the side bag of raw bean sprouts, lime, and basil from the order, as we don't eat them). It is a still a solid 4-star. Next time I will switch back to chicken pho again. I am still glad that we have this Vietnamese eatery close by! read more
1 year ago
A little gem in the middle of Northbrook. We came here for a quick dinner on a weeknight, and it wasn't super busy. Not peak hours. You order at the front and they serve at your table. We got the Vietnamese iced coffee, garden spring rolls, and chicken pho. Incredible food! read more
1 year ago
Stopped by on a Saturday, it's located right by the Northbrook Metra station. We were able to find parking near the front entrance pretty easily. Ordering was pretty easy at the front, they give you a number and you bring it to the table if you're eating in. I was surprised at the number of options they had for drinks. My friend and I split two banh mis, the ginger chicken and the veggiecado. Surprisingly I actually liked the veggiecado better than the chicken as it was really bursting with flavor! Wish this place was closer as I'd definitely be back again. read more
9 months ago
5 months ago
This is a small, modern Vietnamese restaurant and coffee bar in downtown Northbrook, next to the Northbrook Metra Station. We parked in the lot, which was already quite full, and the restaurant was almost full as well when we stopped in on a Sunday afternoon. We ordered shrimp spring rolls, crispy pork egg roll, steak pho, pork noodle bowl and Vietnamese iced coffee. They brought out my coffee quickly. Made with Cafe du Monde, it was strong, sweet and delicious. The pork egg roll was crisp, hot, and nicely flavored with sweet chili dipping sauce. The shrimp spring rolls (2) were stuffed with lettuce, rice noodles and 2 shrimp with a delicious sauce. My beef pho was enormous, steamy and fragrant with lots of cilantro, sliced beef and soft rice noodles and accompanied by basil, sprouts and lime. There was an option to add jalapeños (I didn't) so it only needed a little splash of sriracha. My friend enjoyed a pork house noodle salad which included an egg roll. I tasted the pork and it was marinated in a sauce and tasted delicious. It was a nice, light, crisp and fresh option for lunch on a summer day. I liked my pho but I might try the noodle salad next time. read more
1 year ago
I became addicted to their Cold brew Vietnamese coffee. Bitter, but,not too sweet. Hit Just right. I stopped by every time I'm off work. There is not a week I wouldn't crave for one. I believe they only use gourmet coffee grounds from Vietnam. Also their phos and shrimp wraps are amazingly delicious. read more
Great little Vietnamese cafe with modern decor that's located right next to the Northbrook Metra train stop. Inside it's very clean, quaint and quiet. You order up front and they will give you a number, then they will bring the food to your table pretty quickly. We ordered the Honey Pork Bahn Mi and the Beef Pho. I really enjoyed the Banh Mi sandwich because the French bread was just a soft crunch on the outside, and the pork was really juicy. My husband enjoyed the beef pho saying it was really tasty. Both portions were a pretty good size and what you would expect to pay for this type of food in the area. I brought half of my banh mi sandwich home and the kids fought over it. One warmed it up and then the older one subsequently stole and ate it, thus causing banh mi drama. Guess I'll be needing to drop in again here soon! read more
We ordered carry-out from Basu for the first time back in April this year. I had the beef pho. It should be the signature dish of any Vietnamese eatery, and I had expected the beef to be tender. However, I found the beef quite chewy. I thought it was just a blip, and ordered beef pho again the second time we had the carry-out. Unfortunately, the beef was still quite chewy. So the third time that we had the carry-out, I ordered the ginger chicken pho instead. Turned out to be a good decision. The chicken pho was pretty good. Ever since, when we ordered pho noodle soup, we would just order chicken instead of beef. In addition to the pho, we always order our two favorite items there: crispy pork egg rolls and soy glazed wings, both are crispy and tasty. I must say that the staff are very friendly and the ordering process is efficient. It usually takes only 10 minutes for the carry-out order to be ready. I am curious to hear what other people would say about the beef. Hopefully Basu would improve on the tenderness of the beef, and I could order the beef pho again. read more
4 months ago
Basu is a hidden gem and we tell everyone locally about it. The viet coffee is delicious and we love the Pho and banh mi sandwiches. The staff is super friendly and kind. We usually come here with our son and it is very kid friendly. Bonus- you can watch the trains go by out the window so that's a big hit with our toddler ( and some adults too!) The food is super comforting and the quality is high and extremely consistent. Great for a weekday lunch or evening take out! read more
Excellent food, nice atmosphere, and friendly service - I love this place! So, lemme say this first; I've had a LOT of Vietnamese food over the years. Bowls and bowls of phở and more bánh mì than I can remember, from many different restaurants in the United States. When I was in college, I lived in Chicago's West Argyle Street Historic District (a.k.a. "Little Saigon"), so I've had some of the best Vietnamese food within a few minutes of walking... Basu's food ranks in the top, in what I consider "contemporary cafe" style Vietnamese restaurants, which should appeal to a wide variety of palates (nothing is too spicy, strong, bitter, or sour). Their phở broth is super aromatic, their noodles are cooked perfectly, and I think they do a pretty good job with their meats & tofu. Their bun salads are very good, with tasty fresh ingredients, and I'm a fan of their rice bowls (in particular their crispy tofu curry rice bowl). Their bánh mì is really well made, with nice crispy bread and savory ingredients. No good Vietnamese lunch or dinner is complete without a sweet and complex Vietnamese coffee or tea, either! The Northbrook Basu is conveniently located right next to the Northbrook Metra train station, with parking lots behind it and to the east across the tracks. The dining area has a nice view of the station and sidewalk, has comfy seating, and very well lit. The staff keep the place nice and clean, along with the restrooms, and provide fast service. For carry-out orders, you can order ahead and there's a rack for convenient pick-up. read more
Having a taste for Pho, I decided to check this place out based on their reviews. I'm so glad I did! The Pho was delicious and exactly what I was hoping for but the real magic here is the Báhn Mi sandwiches. I ordered one to go to have for dinner later. However, I took a bite of it and lost all self control. The sandwich was absolutely perfect! I haven't had a Báhn Mi this perfect since San Francisco/San Jose. Knowing that it's only 20 minutes away from hopefully is amazing! The service was quick and smooth. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is very clean, well lit, and inviting. There seemed to be a lot of local people who had also discovered the magic that is Basu. I've been back numerous times since then and plan to continue doing so. This place is amazing! read more
Great place to get a simple Vietnamese breakfast or a lunch. It's one of the best places in Northbrook. Basu is located right by the Metra station, so you can hop off and be here. Easy to understand menu because there's not a whole lot on it. There's coffee along with banh mi and others. Came at lunch and got some coffee and something to eat. It's about $4 for a Latte. They have non dairy milks including oat. Good stuff but would have liked to try a Vietnamese coffee. These are made with concentrated milk though. As for the food, it has the classic favorites. It's about $11 for a banh mi. There's a vegan one called the Veggiecado. It was a pretty filling one. This came with avocado, cilantro, cucumbers, onions, sweet chili sauce, tofu, and tomatoes. Has some very good Vietnamese beverages and some light but filling food. It's mostly authentic of the street food including banh mi and spring rolls. There's a few things for vegans and vegetarians. read more
I have not had the chance to dine inside the restaurant and only did to go orders but I have to say I'm hooked! I haven't had Vietnamese food in so long and today I was craving some chicken pho. I usually don't eat the chicken but the chicken was actually really good. I can't wait to eat the rest in the morning :) Also, I got an eggroll and it was good too. The beef rice bowl was delicious as well. The honey pork sandwich without the veggies was really good!! I have to go back to try some more. It reminds me of my childhood! I can't wait to try the food when it's fresh and hot! read more
While out and about, we realized we were CRAVING banh mis, and wanted to find somewhere nearby to try. So we went to Yelp and read tons of great reviews about Basu and decided to drop by. While we didn't dine in, the staff was extremely kind, and the restaurant was pretty busy for lunch. The food came out pretty quickly for us to grab and take home. I decided to try the Honey Grilled Pork banh mi, and share the spring rolls. The Honey Grilled Pork banh mi was great in flavors, and the breading was a perfect texture. The only thing I wished there was more of was the vegetables. While usually it isn't a problem to have more meat than veggies, the sweetness of the pork took away from the sandwich and having a bit more veggies would've made a huge difference in flavor like a traditional banh mi. But overall, it is one of the better banh mi's I had had lately. The spring rolls were okay, nothing too exciting about them and the peanut sauce was a bit too watery compared to what I'm used to. But the flavors were there. All in all, we had a really pleasant experience and next time I'll have to dine in for the full effect. read more
We came for a late lunch and enjoyed quick service, a quiet ambiance and delicious food. The honey pork bahn mi was excellent with crispy crust and soft inside, tasty pork slices and fresh veggies. The wings were very crisp and the sauce was almost too sweet and even though we requested spicy they were not spicy enough for me. They were also very moist inside although fully cooked. Next time I would ask for the sauce on the side so I could mix in hot sauce and then dunk. Our friends got the "bun " (pronounced boon) - they just call it a vermicelli noodle salad here, one with pork and rice noodles and the other with rice and chicken curry. The nuoc cham sauce for the pork bun was too watery - a common theme I see at these restaurants. Are they afraid the fish sauce, lime, garlic and Thai bird peppers in a true nuoc cham would be too strong? Don't dumb it down for us!!! We want flavor!!! We will be back for a quick and tasty meal. read more
5 months ago
6 months ago
No wonder this Vietnamese spot has crazy high ratings across all the Yelp, Google, and Tripadvisor, this is one gold standard for restaurants. I have to admit Thai is my first pick for Eastern cuisine but the curry here was lovely, lighter and easier collection of spices, paired well with the veggies and brown rice. My friend got a nice tea but oddly quite hot even with the ice, weird they didn't have it chilled putting it into the plastic. Wish I could've tried more of the menu, spent time in this cool train spotting corner, and brought more foodie friends. This is a too quick to write addition to the other top rated reviews for Asian cuisine in this cozy Chicago suburbs, inviting all who enjoy quality dishes, pleasant attentive staff, lovely dining space, decent prices, and assortment of near authentic menu items. read more
4 years ago
What a gem. Has free parking lot right next door by train station. The wings are so so good and you get a solid quantity and plenty of sauce at the bottom for dipping. The banh mi with egg and beef was so so tasty. Perfectly made. The mocha late was perfection. The staff is so friendly. Good place to do work as well. read more
Located near the Metra Station in DT Northbrook. Modern Vietnamese restaurant and cafe. I loved the atmosphere and the vibe and the nice furniture. Its pretty comfy inside. Food was good but not what you might traditionally expect from Viet cuisine. Misses some authenticity you might see in other restaurants in portion of food, herb sides for soup etc. Cost: $$ Location: 4/5 Parking: 3/5 Cleanliness 4/5 Service 4/5 Food 3/5 Order at the counter, they'll bring your food over. read more
1 year ago
My younger cousin brought me and my little cousins here for lunch. I was visiting from SoCal where I've had my fair share of tasty Banh Mi, so my standards were high, and Basu met them! I ordered the Chicken Banh Mi and a Vietnamese Iced Coffee. The sandwich was flavorful and tasty, especially once I added sriracha (which is NOT spicy ketchup to the surprise of one of my cousins). The Vietnamese Iced Coffee is a solid choice. Many places do not make it correctly: either too strong or very watered down. Basu's is rich, creamy, and packs a punch! My very picky cousin ordered the Beef Banh Mi and scarfed the whole thing down. It's picky teenager approved! For the little ones, we got a Curry Chicken Bowl. They shared and enjoyed the homey bowl. I tried a bit and the flavors were very mellow and not spicy, perfect for kids or anyone who wants a comforting rice and chicken bowl. The portion is pretty big but they were able to finish most of it (just not all of the vegetables). The ambience inside was nice. The server was friendly and the food came out within 10 minutes. I appreciated the air conditioning after a humid 30 minute walk. A solid eatery! read more
Decent little spot near the Metra train station. The way you do it is, you order at the front, and they bring the food to you. We ordered the shrimp spring rolls, which had steamed shrimp, romaine lettuce, vermicelli noodles, cucumber, pineapple peanut sauce. They were really good. I also ordered the curry chicken rice bowl, which consisted of jasmine rice, grilled onions, coconut curry sauce. The dish was probably a 3.5 out of 5. They also had a decent coffee bar and it was a good closer for the night. BATHROOM REVIEW: Located at the wee-back, the bathroom was decent and was pleasant to use. Everything was in working order. Sit or squat? Squat. read more
1 year ago
Soooooo fresh! Made to order and tasty! Not bad Vietnamese food in the 'brook! With about 40 mins to spare before the movies, we started off with the Shrimp Spring Rolls which we're great and that cilantro - so fresh! We also wanted to try their wings and this was the only thing I was disappointed by is that we ordered spicy and they were far from it! The honey glaze was good but that's about it. Mo did their Chicken Pho which was delicious as I had a taste but I wanted to focus on their Pork Ba Mi. I'm glad I did because this sandwich was very good and has reinvested my interest in Vietnamese food. The cost was fair, the service was great and atmosphere was clean. You could either park along the same side of the rest (about 3 spaces in front) or park in a lot around the corner. We'd come back for sure. read more
2 years ago
It's a cute little place in the burbs! My first time here, recommendation from a friend! I ordered the Honey Grilled Pork Banh Mi sandwich, Soy Glazed Wings (6) and their Vietnamese iced coffee! Description of each.... Honey Grill Pork Banh Mi - the pork is caramelized with honey lemongrass sauce, it comes in their Vietnam's signature sandwich on a toasted French baguette and top with pickled daikon & carrots, cilantro, cucumber and house mayo! The bread is crispy on the outside and soft inside! The honey grill pork was very flavorful and cooked just right! But it just needed a little more sauce! Soy glazed wings - these were pretty tasty and plenty of sauce to double dip! Vietnamese iced coffee - this was really good, it wasn't too sweet and just enough ice! I found out they use "cafe du monde" coffee to make this delicious Vietnamese ice coffee! Will return and try other menu items! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
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1361 Shermer Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
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(224) 904-3364
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https://lotusbanhmi.com/basu/
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