Was fooled by the name, because I have an Indian friend named Basu, but I found this place to offer good Vietnamese food. My daughter and I both got banh mi sandwiches, which were very good and hit the spot! The place was clean and inviting and modern. Our sandwiches came promptly. Would go again, if we're ever in the area. read more

See all

My kids adore this place. The menu is very simple and limited and that's actually for the best. Clean, light and relaxing decor. Fun for the kids to see the train come by every 10-20 mins. Portions are enormous. Enough to share or bring home for leftovers (but make sure to eat the same day or the rice noodles start to breakdown in the broth). The broth tastes so fresh and light. It truly feels medicinal when feeling under the weather or just trying to warm up on a cold winter day. read more

The crispy tofu pho was on point. Tofu was flavored and crispy throughout. Broth was light and flavorful with hint of cilantro aroma. Noodles were plenty and sprouts and lime sealed the perfect meal. It was very filling but light. It was busy and packed during lunch hour but service was quick and friendly. Had vanilla latte to finish out a very satisfying lunch. I will definitely go back to try the sandwiches and bowls. read more

It felt like the Vietnamese version of chipotle. Clean and fresh, and I esp love the egg roll that comes with my noodle bowl. However, the meat marinate seems to be on the sugary side, not something I expect from a savory Vietnamese dish... and i felt like it's kinda pricey for what it is. read more

Basu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

Vietnamese options labelled in plain language! $15 sandwich? You're paying for scarcity of a hot banh mi for this area *shrugs* I can understand sourcing the Asian ingredients but they definitely skimped on the French baguette portion. Did they get it from a pizza shop or the large volume Wonder bread factory?! I need to visit a true bakery tomorrow for a good crunchy bite of carbs. $6 for six ounces of chicory cafe du monde drip coffee, (possibly sweetened) condensed milk, and half-and-half? maybe the satisfaction of making it yourself should be on your agenda read more

I came here on a recommendation with a few of my friends, without any expectations. Initial reaction was that it was small and a cozy location. We placed our order at the front and paid for our food and was informed that our food would be brought to our table. Our food was brought promptly. After finishing our lunch everyone was very satisfied with the quality and of food. Portion was on more than what we expected.... Will be back again!! read more

Excellent, reasonably priced restaurant for both sandwiches and pho. I've eaten here twice and enjoyed it both times. It's good for vegetarians. On this visit, I ate the tofu/veggie banh mi and an order of veggie spring rolls. Either might have made a meal on its own. They give you big portions and fresh ingredients, all w/flavor galore. read more

Unassuming storefront located next to the train station in downtown Northbrook with awesome food! My husband and I shared the beef pho, fried chicken wings (medium) and 1 egg roll. Our meal was outstanding and we both left stuffed to the brim! The egg roll was freshly fried, super hot and crunchy, and flavorful. The chicken wings were the star! The sauce and texture were So so delicious and exactly what I hoping for. The outside had a thick sticky sauce and crunchy skin. The beef pho was also delicious and loaded up with noodles. We split it into 2 bowls and were able to customize how we each preferred. The staff were friendly and the food came out hot and fresh. read more

See all

Mix review. Pho broth was lacking body and flavor. 3/5 My Banh Mi was good. Could have used a tad more filling. 4/5 Ice viet coffee was strong and yummy. 4/5 Cute place, service was fine. Will be back. read more

Delicious! Great service, nice music, living plants and chill decor. This place is great. read more

Basu - No more Pho, it was delicious!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

Basu is delicious! I always get the ginger chicken pho and the glazed wings with mild sauce. If you get an extra sauce from the wings and put it into your pho broth.... it is life changing. All of the food is so fresh and every item is great. Service is quick, you order at the front, you're given a number and pick your own table. There are nice big windows and it is very bright/inviting. If you're around Basu definitely stop by, it is the best pho around! read more

Not far from the Northbrook Metra train station is this fantastic Vietnamese eatery, with some of the freshest most delicious food I've had in awhile. The place is light and airy, the staff is extremely helpful and friendly, and the food is great. I had the vegetable spring roll, which was the best I've ever had, and I'm from San Francisco and have had many spring rolls from different places. Fresh, delicate and satisfying this spring roll came with the most perfect peanut sauce which enhanced, not overwhelmed the roll. The Ginger Chicken Pho was amazing, the right amount of everything, noodles, chicken, vegetables and herbs all enveloped in a tasty warm broth. Perfection! If I lived anywhere on the North Shore I would be dining here over and over again. I left feeling perfectly satiated in every way. Just go and try it. You will so enjoy it. read more

The food was actually pretty reasonably priced for a nice area like Northbrook. I ordered the pho, spring rolls, soy glazed wings, and bbq pork sandwich. Personally I thought the pho and spring rolls were mid. The pho was lighter flavored than my preference and the dipping sauce of the spring rolls were way too sweet. The sandwich and chicken wings were really good though! I think if you were to come here, you should go for those items rather than the pho. It had a lot of flavor and hit the perfect spot. read more

See all

A solid 4 star. Stopped in for lunch not knowing what to expect. Had the Steak and Rice bowl. Really fresh and good flavor. The added sauces on the table were a nice touch. One of my coworkers had the pho, the bowl was massive. Make sure that you are prepared if you get the pho. He really enjoyed it tho. They have a tap at the register for free water, unfortunately it was warm. Ehh, not a deal breaker, its free afterall, but just thought I'd mention it. I'll be back to try a sandwich next time. They looked delicious. read more

See all

The menu is small but the quality of the food is excellent and always delicious! Everything we have tried has been great! read more

We ordered take out. If you're looking for authentic pho, this is not the place for you. And the price was too high for the "ok" food. 1. Soy glazed chicken wings (medium heat) has a good flavor but the chicken was too fatty. 2. Shrimp spring rolls were good but the peanut sauce was very watery. 3. Beef pho...I was expecting pho tai, but this is not that. The broth flavor was good but the meat used was bulgogi meat and jt was fully cooked (well done). The noodles were a little undercooked for pho. The food can be improved. And the price point is too high. read more

Love how clean and quick this place is. Will have to try a banh mi. Had their beef pho and chicken pho, and it really was everything I wanted. Although not homemade, it had a good amount of basil and bean sprouts. Their chicken wings were quite good as well and cooked to order. Great gem in Northbrook if you are looking to venture out of your cuisine. read more

It's Americanize Vietnamese pho. The beef broth is good, but the meat cut is in tiny pieces. Price is in the high end because the location is at Northbrook Metra station. read more

A small modern Vietnamese restaurant on the side of the road near the railroad tracks. Near is the public parking so it's best to park first and then walk to the restaurant. The ambiance is modern. Order at the counter and the food is brought out to your table. We tried ginger chicken and crispy tofu pho as well as the ginger chicken wings appetizer. The wings were delicious with a subtle ginger and a touch of hot sauce. The pho broth was light and flavorful; however, it has a slight mint flavor which was objectionable to one in our party. The noodles are thin and light and complement the broth well. There are two sauces on the table - red and dark brown. I loved the red sauce - it's immediately hot yet delicious - powerful stuff to be used sparingly. The service was super fast - our orders came out in about 5 minutes after ordering We loved the atmosphere and the execution of the simple yet flavorful plates. The pho may not be a choice if you dislike mint. We'll be back to try more read more

See all

I've had pretty much every item on the menu here and have had no complaints. However, I went in today and had their beef pho, the flavor was great, the noodles were plenty but at almost $20 a bowl I would have expected a little more beef. There was MAYBE an ounce of beef and the pieces were so small and mostly fat. Other than that, I'll still be going back just maybe not for the pho read more

Basu - Beef pho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

Here's what you need to know: Cool, Modern take on Vietnamese food with fresh bahn Mi sandwiches and spring rolls, and delicious pho and fried pork rolls. The Vietnamese coffee is simply amazing and uses really good espresso. This is a full coffee bar as well. Ambiance is nice and contemporary too. We went in here as a last minute birthday celebration for me, and it was such a fun dinner with the family. The sprint rolls with shrimp we're light and fresh and accompanied by a delicious side sauce. The fried pork "egg" rolls are thin and Delish - reminded me of a Filipino Lumpia. The beef pho was delish and I loved the honey pork sandwich which I added an egg to. Last but not the least was the Viet iced coffee. Absolutely delish and I requested half of the normal condensed milk (1 oz instead of 2) they put in there which made for a far more pronounced (and better IMHO) coffee experience/flavor. read more

See all

Actual review is 4.5. We visited this place on a last Sunday, having read great reviews and in desperate need of some good pho broth. After moving to Chicago last Nov from Atlanta, we have struggled to find solid, memorable Vietnamese food. But this place might have changed that. Beef pho - broth is super clean, not oily, not sweet (thankfully) and nicely balanced. I really enjoyed it, as did my husband. Our only complaint about the pho is the beef quality. Not sure if it was overcooked, as it took quite a bit of chewing to manage, or just very sinewy. Either way, I think I would have been happier with just the broth, noodles, and accompaniments- without the beef. That is a first for us, as the beef is generally a selling point in pho. Pork Banh Mi - very good. The bread reminded me of my travels through southeast Asian, where foreigners often discover how amazing baguette bread can actually be. The flavors were nice, balanced, nothing overwhelming. Would definitely recommend. Shrimp Spring Rolls with peanut sauce- very good, very light, great peanut sauce. Overall, we liked this place and will come back, just may order our pho without beef unless it was just an "off" day. read more

See all

Love their soups- fresh and hits the spot with herbs and packed with flavor. I love the variety of items and friendly atmosphere

Great food, flavorful and a nice portion at a good fair price. We will be back and bringing friends.

Great place Banh Mi is so delicious and the bread is perfect Ginger noodle Pho is fantastic Spring rolls are fresh and delicious Online ordering is easy and fast! Get some!! read more

I've been eyeing this spot from the train for a while now, so when my friends wanted to go I was all for it. It's was definitely worth the stop. The place is clean, the service was friendly and they were wearing masks. The food came out quickly and it was all perfect. I had an egg roll and ginger chicken banh mi. It was all delicious! My friends got the beef pho and a beef bowl and they equally enjoyed their meals. I can't wait to stop in again when I'm im in the mood for a big meal, the pho was a huge portion. read more

Basu - Pork egg roll - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

See all

Hands down the best chicken banh mi I've ever had!!! I added an egg so it was Soo juicy . I will definitely come back with my parents. The Vietnamese coffee was amazing too ! We had the egg custard and the pandan Vietnamese coffee. My boyfriend is generally not a fan of coffee but he loved the pandan one . The service was Also prompt and I enjoy the natural lighting and plant in the shop. read more

I stumbled upon this spot when I was looking for pho in the area. When you walk in, there's a cafe with an assortment of beverage options. Since it's located next to the train station, I can imagine it would be busy in the mornings to service the morning commuters with their daily cup of coffee. What a great way to start the day! Regarding their food offerings, this is the only spot where you can get Korean fried chicken with pho! I ended up getting the soy glazed wings for an appetizer with my pho. The chicken wings tasted just like how you'd expect korean fried chicken to taste with the yummy sticky soy glaze. I got the chicken pho which was nice and light and definitely a step up from your basic chicken noodle soup. I'll have to come back to try their beverage offerings since that looks delectable! read more

Go here if you're a North Shore suburbanite who really doesn't know about Vietnamese food and you want to feel cultured. Don't go here if you frequent Argyle....you will be disappointed. We get a little paper dish with a handful of bean sprouts, one slice of lime, and 4, I repeat... FOUR...little basil leaves, each around an inch or less. No bunches of basil leaves, no culantro, and no jalapeño...what the heck? How am I supposed to flavor this bland broth catering to suburbanites who think of salt as a spice? I also want to see my raw meat being cooked by the scalding hot broth. All I saw were little curled up pieces of meat. Again catering to the burbanites so they don't get grossed out..."Like EW!" Anyways, this place is a "NO" for me when it comes to pho. Spring rolls weren't all that either. I'll probably stop by for some Vietnamese iced coffee, but not for the food. read more

I love this place! So yummy and service is fast. Place is always clean and the staff is always smiley, cheerful and helpful. Customers notice. It does makes a difference! My favorites are the bahn mi --beef with sunny side egg. Tofu or chicken curry dish is also delicious. All fresh ingredients with your choice of brown or white rice. I always choose brown rice. The curry sauce is fragrant, light and memorable. Others I know, love the pho too. Consistently excellent food quality and taste! Reasonable prices. I'll have to try their coffee drinks next time! I highly recommend this place. read more

My lengthy search for DELICIOUS pho in the suburbs has ended! Basu is the place! Living just minutes from Chicago's Argyle area for over 20 something years, I took for granted the easy availability of fresh authentic pho. I was spoiled and didn't even know it. Now living over an hour away from Argyle (not counting traffic), it's been so hard to find a Vietnamese restaurant that serves authentic pho that isn't overly salty or extremely oily. Basu's the closest to authentic as possible! The broth is deep and rich, not greasy or heavy in the mouth feeling. It's light and yet very flavorful. Definitely NOT overly salty. The noodles are plentiful and so is the protein. We usually get the beef pho. I'm not sure if it's the same as the steak, which I don't see anymore on the menu. We ordered the Banh Mi sandwiches too and YUMMM... it was so tasty. It was a more modern take on the traditional sandwich which means no pâté or plain pork, but this version is so good! The ingredients are plentiful and the bread has that fresh outside crust that crunches at the first bite before you sink your teeth into the soft fluffy inside. The flavors are so well balanced, I wanted more after I ate half of my husband's sandwich (Sorry honey!) Take a risk and you won't be sorry. I'll be back again and again for pho and banh mi. read more

Firstly, there's free parking all around! Not a trouble at all. This place is located in downtown northbrook too, so you could definitely park elsewhere and stroll and walk here after looking around :) Secondly, this place is so cute! Decorated so well: plants all around. Brick wall. Modern comfortable furniture. Whoever designed the interior did well. Now for the food. I got spring rolls and the sunny side beef banh mi. The spring rolls were so clean (for lack of a better word). Not messy and delicious. And yall, my banh mi had an EGG in it. I was so happy and excited. Did not disappoint. The food came out so quickly too. Food was fresh and warm when it came out. I was very pleasantly surprised. They also have a few options for coffee! I didn't get any because I didn't want to stay up all night, but I appreciated the selection! The staff who took my order was so kind and helpful as well. Being Vietnamese myself, I really appreciate this find! Will come back again if I'm in the area :) read more

See all

Not only is the food great, but the staff is so nice and so kind and welcoming. I am greeted with a smile and then they are so polite and go out of their way to make the experience wonderful. Also that iced viet coffee is the best coffee in town. read more

The best ginger chicken pho. Chicken is tasty and tender, and broth is to die for. Try to get some mild soy glazed wings sauce and mix it in the broth. Life changing. read more

This is the best chicken PHO that I have ever had. I am fortunate to travel around the country for work and this restaurant makes it right. I have never had grilled chicken in my Pho , it's usually just poached, but the way they prepare it makes a world of difference to the flavor of their soup. 10 out of 10 read more

See all

Wasn't in the mood for a heavy dinner this day, so my Dad and I decided to check this place out because we were craving Viet food. The menu was simple but had some interesting flavors like honey grilled pork! I got the banh mi, which was super fresh, crispy, and savory. As for the interior, it was very cozy, clean, and modern. Lots of natural light too! There was a public parking lot nearby, so parking was not an issue whatsoever. Would definitely come back if I am in the area! read more

Basu - Honey Grilled Pork Banh Mi - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

Ordered delivery - received the order fresh and hot. Very tasty bahn mi sandwich and delicious crunchy eggrolls.

We happened to be in Northbrook for an appt and we were looking for a quick lunch. We made a great choice! I had the ginger chicken pho and my husband had the curry chicken rice bowl. The service was excellent. Very friendly staff and the restaurant is exceptionally clean. The vegetables in the rice bowl were fresh and not overly cooked. The star anise flavor really shined in the pho and it's an extremely generous portion. I brought 1/2 home. If I'm in the area again, we'll be back! read more

Basu - Ginger Chicken Pho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

Amazing! My friend split spring rolls, beef pho, and a classic bahn mi. So excited to get a free coffee now! What a little gem.

Wow! I didn't think we could have such a good pho place in the suburbs but Basu came out of nowhere and knocked it out of the park! I've ordered several times from here and the food quality has been very consistent. What's even a plus is that they are curbside friendly and will promptly bring your order out to your car, very nicely packed too! I've ordered the steak pho, shrimp spring rolls and pork bahn mi. The $2 for extra protein was very worth it too! I was so surprised how much extra meat they gave. The broth isn't greasy but very clear and clean. I would recommend heating up the broth either in the microwave or stovetop so the noodles can easily be warmed and soften up. If you don't have the veggies for the pho no worries- in a baggie you will receive bean sprouts and basil with packets of hoison sauce and siracha. Very convenient and nicely packed! My husband had the pork bahn mi and as he's not a foodie like me he says it was good lol. The meat had a nice portion in it and the bread was just right. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. If you can't head to viet town then I recommend Basu for your pho fix! read more

See all