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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!
2 years ago
5 years ago
This place is great. Serves delicious food. Was not crowded on a weekday afternoon, but had a lot of to go orders. Chicken wings - this is crispy, saucy, yummy. Love the simple soy glaze sauce with it. Bahn Mi - this one tasted a little americanized but still tastes amazing!!! Good bread to veg to meat ratio. Meat was tasty. Pho - very few beef pieces compared to noodles. But loved how chewy the noodles were and the huge amount of broth. Broth has clean taste, and clear! Wife liked the coffee as well. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I SO miss pre-COVID days and being able to eat at a restaurant! Thankfully due to Grub Hub, we were able to order for delivery from this new Northbrook based Vietnamese eatery! We had such a great experience and the food was delicious! It arrived exactly on time and everything was packaged and labeled beautifully. We started with an order of the crispy pork egg rolls which were SO good and perfectly crispy and we also had some type of roll that we didn't order that appeared to be egg, tofu and sprouts wrapped in lettuce and a sheer edible wrapping. It came with a sweet sauce to dip in and we really liked it. Maybe this is something that standardly comes with the order? My husband had the curry tofu rice bowl and my daughter had the pork house noodle bowl. Both bowls offered a generous portion of food. I had the veggiecado Bahn Mi sandwich. All the food we had was very fresh and delicious. My only minor critique was that we were a little underwhelmed with the sauces. My daughter found her dressing for her bowl to be a little light and I felt like my sandwich could have used a little more mayo or sauce topping. my husband liked his coconut curry sauce that was spicy. Overall, we really liked it and we would definitely order from there again. It is nice to see a good restaurant in that space as so many before have not made it. Basu is a keeper! read more
7 years ago
Wanted to carry out a quick dinner after an appointment in downtown Northbrook and I was excited to try Basu. It didn't disappoint. I have the beef pho. The broth was amazing. And the portion was too large but it tasted so good I couldn't stop slurping!!!! Beef was thinly sliced and tender and the dish came with all the right toppings: lime, sprouts, hoisin, etc. my son had the chicken curry rice bowl and really enjoyed that as well. I can't wait to go back and try more items. A welcome addition to downtown Northbrook *I do wish they offered a vegetarian pho broth to go with the crispy tofu pho but there are several other vegetarian options on the menu. read more
Thrilled to find out Northbrook gained a Vietnamese restaurant! It seems like the restaurants in this location right by the Northbrook train station go out of business every year, but I really hope this place survives! The owners are sisters and SO nice!!! We stopped in for dinner on a Saturday night and it had a stream of people in and out but not packed. While I did find the prices to be on the higher end of an order at the counter and clean up yourself restaurant, the flavors were great! I will say that the description for the steak pho is a bit misleading as it is the typical beef slices and not sautéed steak. The soy glazed wings were to die for!!! So crispy and full of garlic and soy flavors! The pho broth had a nice developed flavor and was a large portion size. They also offer homemade baked goods in the front case and the scone is the perfect buttery, sugary treat! read more
7 years ago
I'm a really big fan of banh mi, so I was very excited at the mere potential of Basu opening. I am, however, alway cautious in my optimism around a new restaurant in downtown Northbrook... Happy to report that this place is excellent: -Pho broth is very good. -Rice bowl with steak is very good - the beef itself is VERY tasty. I imagine the sunny side beef banh mi (the beef, with grilled onions and a sunny-side up egg) is worth a try. -Pork banh mi and veggiecado banh mi we're both exactly what I wanted them to be. Neither were served with peppers or hot sauce, but adding chili sauce (sriracha) was perfect to get the heat I wanted. The grilled pork, similar to the beef, is VERY tasty. -the coffee is great (though I'm yet to meet a Vietnamese coffee I didn't like). Really the best dessert after a spicy meal. Honorable mention: We didn't order the wings, but they looked outstanding. They also bake pastries in the morning - I look forward to stopping in to try some. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The decor is really cute. The place is really clean. read more
4 years ago
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Welcome to the neighborhood- delighted to have this Vietnamese coffee shop near me! Coffee was delicious and can't wait to try the food. The lovely ladies taking my order couldn't be nicer- wishing them huge success Su' Thanh cong read more
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Love love love! Their spring rolls with peanut sauce and their honey grilled pork is to die for! Love a Vietnamese coffee on the side. Staff is so nice! read more
3 years ago
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5 years ago
Check your pick up order if you ordered pho. No veggie bag and no sauce. It was just pho...when I called just now, they apologized as they have been quite busy and that was pretty much it. I get that restaurants get busy but I'm quite disappointed in the fact that their reasoning was that they simply forgot due to a busy night. Taste wise: it is really salty tonight. Their broth is usually good but this is straight up drinking salt water. Not sure if we'll be back - just when we finally thought we found our pho place, we'll look elsewhere. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Great addition to downtown Northbrook. We had the chicken noodle bowl, veggie Bahn mi, wings and steak rice bowl. Everything tasted great. Even my toddlers were chowing down. The veggie bahn mi was the surprise hit for me- especially topped with some chili garlic sauce. Very clean and modern atmosphere. Empty when we came for dinner around 7 on a weeknight. Polite service. Fun for kids to watch trains coming into the station right outside the panoramic windows. We will be back! read more
2 years ago
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Got Vietnamese iced coffee and honey grilled pork sandwich for lunch. Love it! So yummy! Recommend Viet iced coffee read more
6 years ago
I wanted some Pho and now I can get some here in Northbrook. The keys to good Pho at least from my perspective is a flavourful broth, fresh vegetables and a tasty protein. Today's protein was ginger chicken. Basu checked the box on all three areas. The portion size was more than large enough, and the rice noodles were perfectly cooked. Which is not always the case with take out Pho. I could have gone with a few more fresh vegys but that can be changed on my next visit. I liked that they also included Hoisin and Sriracha sauces without me asking. I was more than statisfied with my Pho. My wife ordered the Chicken Noodle bowl. Let me be brief. She left nothing on her plate and all I heard from her between bites was, boy this is so fresh and clean tasting. As an appetizer we ordered the Shriml Spring Roll (2) which came with a pineapple peanut sauce. Again we both commented how fresh and clean it tasted. Let me explain our description of clean food. It means the flavors have married well and we don't notice any off, unpleasant or after taste. From the time we placed the order to when we were eating at our kichen was less than 30 minutes and with curb side pick up to boot. Basu now has a permanent place near the top of who do we order from tonight list. I just need to work on my pronunciation of Pho so I don't sound like a probie each time I order. Covid restrictions doesn't mean we can't enjoy a great dining out experince. Basu proved that. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
This place is fantastic! It was highly recommended and now that I've had it, I am a huge fan! I had the Chicken Ginger Pho, my husband had the Beef Pho, we split wings and I could not pass up a hot Vietnamese coffee. The food was the perfect hotness (temp and spice), packed so we could add everything at home and adjust the heat as needed. It tastes so fresh. And the coffee? Oh. My. Gosh. So much flavor and balance of coffee, sweetness, hickory (?). My husband went inside to pick up and said they were genuinely very kind. Definitely adding this place to our take out rotation! read more
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More info about Basu
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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