Stopped in on a Saturday after a long day of hiking. Love that they have a separate vegan menu with clearly marked items. The inside was clean but the AC was barely noticeable on such a hot day. Waitress came over with water and an iPad for ordering then didn't show up for another 10+ minutes. I finally walked everything over the the counter to get her attention and placed my order. I started with the fresh veggie spring rolls. These were just ok. The dipping sauce was quite spicy, and even with that they tasted pretty bland. No discernible herbs in the rolls at all, just some tofu, carrot, & lettuce. For my entree I got a vegan banh mi. It came out warm and the baguette was crunchy, if a bit dense. Again, very little fresh veg on it which is usually the highlight of a banh mi. There was a few pieces of iceburg lettuce (unheard of on a banh mi!) and one or two sprigs of cilantro, along with the same sauce from the fresh spring rolls. It was a bit disappointing but at least it filled my belly. Couldn't find the waitress to ask for more water or napkins, so I made do with what I had. I'd eat here again if I really had to, but I'd prefer to try elsewhere. read more

Lovely semi-self-serve restaurant with tons of vegan options. The vegan ginger chicken and the tofu in the vermicelli salad stole the show. I could eat both of those forever. Being served by the robot was cute. I've never been anywhere like this. Check out the market for vegan ham, vegan fish balls, and other rare items. read more

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The food here is amazing!!! I'll start there because this review is a long time coming... we have been here often, and I'll stress this: do NOT come here to eat. Order take out and then wait at least an hour before heading there because they'll say thirty minutes but it's always taken over an hour. They're so nice and I am absolutely rooting for them!!! But this has to be fixed!!!! Headline: Waiting to eat forever. Again. read more

Blue Taro - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Dined in alone and waited 45 min for my food -- the spicy noodle soup. Watched other customers who came after me get their food first.

Delicious food. Appreciated having a separate vegan menu. The spicy soup was a particular favorite. read more

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Love their vegan dishes and I also love that they have a vegan menu! This makes it so easy to order. My very favorite dish is the fried tofu in tomato sauce. This dish is fragrant and beautifully seasoned. The vegan ginger chicken is also excellent as is the tofu strip and rice noodle salad. My goal is to try all of their vegan items but I just can't stop ordering the tofu in tomato sauce. This is by far the best Vietnamese food I've had. I'm never disappointed. read more

They have re-vamped the interior and expanded the menu to now include banh mi's, which are pretty good. Unfortunately, they don't open during their posted hours. It seems they have given up completely on the lunch crowd, and now only open for dinner at 4:00. I doubt they sell many banh mi's that late in the day, since it's really a lunch meal. I wonder why they even bothered adding them to the menu? Once again, a good idea for a restaurant ruined by poor management. Oh, well, another restaurant off my list........ read more

The service is wonderful and the food tastes very authentic. Everything made it from scratch which I can tell the difference between homemade and frozen ones. The people is very friendly and welcoming to us. I appreciate. However, I wish that they have a better public parking area. It is very hard to find one to park the car. I would recommend a carpool to save the park space. read more

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Very expensive for mediocre pho ga. No basil. No veggies. Took forever to get food. Dumpling dough stuff obviously not steamed long enough. No service everything computerized. Ladies room was a mess. Toilet paper dispenser did not work. Basket overflowing. Paper on floor. Cannot believe they will last very long especially with SEA around the corner. read more

The most expensive horrible food I've had in a while. They even added an $8 tip to takeout order.

A very cute restaurant. I would said this is definitely an authentic Vietnamese restaurant could I can hear the uncle and aunty speak Việt in the kitchen. There is a kiosk inside the restaurant that let you order instead of having to talk to people. There is also a station that take the food to you. I order the bún thịt nướng, and the meat marinated just right, very delicious. Highly recommended and will comeback when I have the chance. read more

Just stopped by, and my lady and I are very pleased with our experience. They've been open for 2 months since renovations, and I'm not sure how the previous setup looked, but I like the current one. They have three sections: the main dining area, the cafe section where they make boba tea, and a mini store where they sell grocery goods, frozen prepped meals, broth, etc. Not sure if they were struggling with staffing issues, as many restaurants are, but it looks like they hired a robot to help deliver items to tables, which in our opinion, was cute and cool. We preferred to sit down in the cafe area as it had relaxing music and aesthetics, which made the experience better. The food was so delicious. We ordered spring rolls, a Banh Mi sandwich, and the Spicy Beef Pho soup. Also, we had to try the bubble tea and went for the Thai tea and mango tea. Everything was delicious, packed full of flavors, and we will definitely come back. Let's show this place some love! read more

Blue Taro - Nice aesthetics and ambient music in the cafe area. Nice place to study! - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

If you never had and are interested in Vietnamese food or love Vietnamese food, you should give this place a try. Cool little robot server, which we didn't get to see in action. Kinda bummed about that. They don't have physical menus, but you can order from the table using a qr code scan or from a kiosk. But, the food was delicious, we BOTH were able to get a dish we liked. And, it was reasonably priced, generous portions.Very nice employees, and very tidy. read more

Food was very delicious and exceeded my expectations of authentic Vietnamese pho. The lady who was prepping the food for dinner made the exception to let me in after driving one part of town to eat there when it was still closed. read more

Blue Taro - Vegan Beef Noodle Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

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So thrilled to have this delicious food option in Upper Monroe! It has become a firm favorite for us for take-out. (When we dined in house recently, service was very slow- but it was at peak evening busy time). We usually get the the Ga Ca Ri/Chicken curry pot and the Ca Kho To/Salmon clay pot and they are fresh, delicious, flavorful and divine!!! I look forward to trying other dishes, especially some vegetarian options. read more

Upgrading my previous review to 4 stars. I just had a wonderful dinner at Blue Taro. Service was once again very friendly, with many smiles coming from the waiting staff. As opposed to my last experience, the food came out swiftly. We ordered a variety of appetizers and they were all good. The tofu strips were expertly fried with subtle sweetness and gingery tang. The papaya salad was a perfect balance of heat from the pepper and umami from the fish sauce. The thinly julienned slices of papaya had a good consistency without being too crunchy. The egg rolls also had a nice crunch without being oily. For my main, I ordered the Shaking Beef and it once again delivered. It was a satisfying dish, composed of large portions of tender sweet & sour beef served alongside vinaigrette vegetables and field greens. My girlfriend "loved" her chicken curry. I also enjoyed it. It's not the typical thick, starchy curry but instead more thin and soupy, but still very flavorful. The chicken along with the carrots and potatoes were all melt-in-your-mouth soft. The portions were generous. Overall, the friendly service, the timeliness and the quality of the food made me upgrade my previous 3.5 star rating. I'm definitely adding it to my Sunday night restaurant rotation. read more

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Huey groks food. In full disclosure, he's a friend, and cooks to entertain, but if you can't find anything appealing on the menu, ask him what fresh ingredients are on hand, or what ingredients need eating before they wilt. If you like beef, try asking for beef tofu with two onion. Nearly all protein--and HO--tofu contains little carbohydrate. He's thinking of adding more tofu to the menu. read more

Blue Taro has many menu items that extend beyond the usual offerings in Vietnamese restaurants in Rochester (read: pho, vermicelli bowl, rice plate). I really enjoy the mango salad. I might even prefer the vegan version as it keeps the focus on the mango. The egg rolls use chicken instead of pork. They were well fried but could have used a flavour boost. The ginger chicken was tender (chicken thighs maybe?) and abundant in ginger flavour. The lemongrass-chilli beef stir fry was really tasty and well balanced. I strongly recommend trying either of those on your first visit. The bò lúc lc (shaking beef) was also really delicious but a pricey venture at $24.95 (it is either ribeye or filet so you are paying for steak). The pho is hit or miss. On my first visit, it was one of the most well balanced pho broths I have ever had and it would have been criminal to put any hoisin/sriracha/lime in it. On my last visit (around 8pm on a Sunday night if it matters), it tasted bland, almost watered down. They don't offer the standard garnish plate by default. If you are that confident in your pho's balance, you better bring it every time in the flavour department. They did give me the usual garnishes after I asked. I sound nitpicky because their average dish price is about $3 more than other Viet places around town. Neither the (low key + casual) location nor the (standard) quantity of food justify that increased price . So I am hoping they can up their consistency and quality. They have a vegan/vegetarian menu. However when I came with my vegan friend when they first opened, the server kinda argued with me about whether fish sauce is vegan. Trust me. It ain't. So, if you are vegan/vegetarian, do double check as to whether there is fish sauce in your dish prior to ordering. The pace/quality of the service has improved incredibly since they first opened. The owner is extremely sweet and welcoming. She recognized me from my prior visits and thanked me for coming back. I want them in my regular rotation but the lack of consistency combined with the slightly higher prices have me pausing. Blue Taro could be THE Vietnamese place in town. They just need to be more consistent. read more

Easy to order and get served. And the food was delicious!!! We will be back!!! Plenty of vegan options if you want, and plenty else!

This was exactly what I was looking for in a late night dinner!! This cute little restaurant on Monroe Ave is truly a hidden gem. The bun thit nuong with beef was SO GOOD. After my last disastrous attempt at ordering this delicious noodle bowl, I was really craving a good one. This hit. The. Spot. The fish sauce dressing was SO good! Just a little bit of heat on the tip of my tongue, tangy and rich. It had the freshness from the veggies and the heartiness from the meat. Really to die for. The cha gio (egg rolls) were a little unconventional because they used the rice paper wrappers (normally used damp for the fresh spring rolls) instead of the traditional flour based wrappers for frying. I think if they transitioned to the flour based wrappers, their egg rolls would be better for it. With the same dipping sauce as the noodle bowl, it was another hit-the-spot kind of appetizer. I will be coming here again and again, and recommending everyone I know to go as well!! read more

Went there for a third time and I decided it was about time I write a review of this place Blue Taro is quickly becoming a favorite place for me because it's convenient for me, I can walk there from home. But also because the quality and variety of food is great. So many Vietnamese places make a few dishes and keep it at that. You get the Pho, the vermicelli bowls and the Banh Mi, and that's about it. But in Blue Taro you get to try other Vietnamese dishes, like the ginger chicken in a clay pot (tender and delicious), crab soup (refreshing and heart warming at the same time) and many other offerings. I had their Pho and was very impressed by the broth, less impressed by the beef (kind of tough). I also had their vermicelli bowl and that was really tasty. Their dumplings are also really good, I had them at their food stall at the public market, and I must say I am a big fan. The restaurant itself is a quiet place and the service can be a little slow if you sit on a table because their staff is very small. But they are very friendly and helpful and I can't really complain about a mom and pop place that is a little slow. read more

Blue Taro - Working on the lunch request - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Wonderful fried rolls with fresh ingredients. I had the Vietnamese crepe and unlike another restaurant further down Monroe on the same side of the street this one was thinner and crisp. It was flavorful filled more than half the plate and had a fair amount of well seasoned chicken and veg. The lovely garnish of lettuce, carrot and cucumber mixed in wonderfully. I'd certainly order it again. My dining partner ordered a soup which was reportedly had perfectly cooked quail eggs in it. I'm looking forward to visiting in cold weather for some great soups. read more

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For late-night weekday delivery, I was pretty impressed with Blue Taro. The Bahn Mi sandwich was super flavorful and a good size for less than $7. I chose tofu as my protein, and it was coated in a nice, sticky glaze. The sauce had a nice kick to it; mild-medium spiciness, but enjoyable. The bread could have tasted fresher, but they get a pass on that considering it was pretty late at night. The spring rolls on the other hand, were kind of disappointing. They were really flavorless, and the iceberg lettuce was weird. I'd definitely recommend going for the spring or egg rolls that include a choice of protein for some sort of flavor. It's nice to know that Blue Taro is a good late-night delivery option that isn't pizza! read more

Blue Taro - Tofu Bahn Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

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We went on a weekend during lunch time. We were the only table there. I believe there is a parking lot behind the building, but a fire truck was blocking it. Super random. The server was brand new and told us it was her first day. She was pretty bad, not going to lie. It was like she had never even been to a restaurant before. BUT! She was nice and the food came out quickly and without error. The food tasted fresh and delicious. We got the tofu strips as an appetizer. Whatever sauce and veggie mix they put on top is amazing. We then shared some pancake looking thing and a noodle dish (sorry, 100% forgot the names). Both were pretty good! Unique. I also enjoyed a strawberry smoothie, made with real strawberries. Just sweet enough! Overall, good food. The bad server didn't take away from the experience because she knew she was terrible and admitted it lmao. read more

A great addition to the Vietnamese food scene in Rochester. I've been here on two occasions and was impressed with the food both times. The pho, banh cuon (steam rice roll) and banh xeo (crepe) were all good. The mango salad is my favorite so far. It's fresh and has the perfect amount of spice. Will definitely be back! read more

Blue Taro - Pho bo - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Such a good experience last night at Blue Taro. First of all, service was excellent. The restaurant was very clean. Prices are reasonable. I never tried the restaurant that was here previously (Le Lemongrass), so I cannot compare the two, but I'm certainly happy to have Blue Taro in its place. Went with a friend for dinner at 7pm on a Wednesday. There were a few other tables seated, but for the most part it was quiet. We tried the tofu strips and fresh veggie spring rolls as appetizers and then the ginger chicken and (if I remember correctly) the seafood soup without the meat/egg (replaced with extra veg and tofu). The ginger chicken was very flavorful; definitely a ginger lover's dream. The tofu strips, apparently the chef's specialty, are INCREDIBLE. Even if you don't like tofu, you will love this app. I could have eaten seven plates, and if for nothing else, I will be back for more of those delicious crispy, garlicky strips. I'm going with four stars here because the soup could have been a bit more flavorful, and the spring rolls weren't really anything special. Overall, I think Blue Taro is an excellent addition to Monroe Ave, and I'm already planning my next trip. Go check it out! read more

Again, thank you to all of you Yelpers for raving about Blue Taro. Because of you, we gave it a try the other night for dinner, and left feeling satiated with delicious Vietnamese food! Since we moved to Rochester from San Francisco, we've missed having an abundant selection of ethnic cuisines to choose from when eating out. Blue Taro helps to fill that niche, and it's close-by to us -- double-win! We started with shrimp spring rolls, then the hubs got some pho and I got the crepe with pork. Duh-LISH-shusss!!! And the price was right! Service couldn't have been more kind and gracious! Eager to try them at the Public Market where they have a stand in the new indoor shed, during my next volunteer shift! Hope you try either the restaurant or stand at The Market soon! read more

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Yum yum yum! Service: we had wonderful service. Went on a Wednesday around 7 and there were only about 2 other tables. We were seated immediately and had waters soon after. Our waitress answered our questions and I ordered my app and entree without lemongrass and the orders came out perfectly! Food: started with the fresh spring rolls and tofu strips. The spring rolls came with a peanut, tamarind, sriracha dipping sauce which was a nice combo of sweet and salty. The TOFU STRIPS were the stars of this show though, a m a z I n g. They were fried without being oily and covered in sautéed garlic chunks, raw onion, and cilantro. I'm not sure how they made them, but they were wonderful! I'll be going back for these alone. I followed my app with the Beef Bo Hue without the beef and with a veggie broth instead and extra veggies to make it vegan. The flavor was nice and I appreciate that there were a lot of veg and fried tofu in the noodles. The noodles were more done than I would've liked and the broth had a very light flavor. I would've liked more spice, but it was still delicious! Portions are large (I had 2 meals) and the prices are great. Ambience: the inside is dimly lit with modern finishes and traditional wood accents. The lighting is romantic and the restaurant is clean, what more could you ask for?! Their menu boasts many vegetarian options which are easily veganized, gluten free choices, and organic options which was unique. Highly recommend for the flavor, price, and portions. Get this tofu strips!! read more

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My partner and I had a great experience at Blue Taro. They are a new restaurant, replacing what was once a long-closed dormant place called Lemongrass, and it's clear they are eager to provide a pleasant experience and make a positive impression. The ambience is pleasant inside, with soft blue lighting and nice wooden furniture. The menu is full of awesome options, with a decent array of vegetarian and gluten-friendly options (serving mostly rice noodles helps) for a small place. I had the Vegetarian pho, and asked them to add tofu, which they kindly did. Both the server and cook checked in with us multiple times to ensure they understood our order correctly, and to see what we thought of the food. The food was well-made and I would definitely recommend this place for a low-key date night, and worth checking out if you are ever in the neighborhood! read more

Very tasty and healthy food. Would definitely go back. My only suggestion to the business is to have a fresh roll option with tofu.

On my way to the Han Noodle Bar on Monroe I saw the Blue Taro sign over the old Lemon Grass sign. Decided to give it a try for lunch. We got handed the dinner menu for some reason. We tried to order taro crepe to start, but they were out of either taro or crepe. It was not clear. I had the duck pho and my partner had the flat noodles with pork. Pho was obviously fresh, but also very bland. Very little duck in the soup, and they may have slipped me some chicken unless duck suddenly developed white meat. Broth was just so-so. For $14+ I expected more vibrant flavors and textures. Flat noodles were just OK with pretty basic preparation and nothing overly thrilling. For $15 I expected something more inventive. Anyhow the two of us got out for an over the top $35 with no drinks or dessert. Much too expensive for lunch. Should have cost half that. Service was lightning fast, but food was less creative than I do for my family at home. For instance if you come to my home and I serve pho for lunch, expect to find glass or rice noodles topped with thinly sliced raw beef, small ground pork meat balls with lemon grass and garlic, steamed fresh shrimp, wilted and shredded bok choi, and a fresh chicken or duck egg with a dash of sesame oil. Over this I pour piping hot and homemade pork or chicken consomme flavored with celery/onion/garlic/anise//ginger/black pepper. The consomme poaches the beef and the egg perfectly when added to the bowl. I top this with a spoon of Huy Fong (David Tran's) Garlic Chili Sauce, and the juice of half a fresh lime. A spoon of thinly sliced spring onion and fresh cilantro finishes the bowl. Now THAT is a $14 meal. The Bia Hanoi will be free. read more

This place has surpassed any expectations I had, twice now. It's an unassuming, intimate, quiet space with low light. Went there both later, and earlier in the evening. Both times had super kind service and incredible food. Stellar gluten free options. I never thought I'd have banh mi again since going GF, but they have it! As well as gluten free soy sauce, dumplings, rangoons, etc... and they're amazing. Lots of vegan options too. We already can't wait to go back. read more

I came here a couple weeks ago with my boyfriend for a quick lunch. We just moved into the neighborhood and were excited to try their lunch special. We were greeted and seated quickly by a friendly server. I thought it was really interesting that literally everything they offer for lunch is $9.99 (except for their appetizers and dessert) - everything, from their soups, salads, stir fry dishes to their wild salmon dish. I asked our server to make sure I hadn't misunderstood since none of the dishes have individualized prices, just a $9.99 blazoned across the top of the menu page. I found that to be a bit odd considering the range in cost of source material, but whatever. I was in the mood for soup so I ordered their sweet and sour soup with no protein, all veggies, and my boyfriend got their ginger chicken. My soup came with noodles or rice, but I was never asked which I would like and just received the rice. When our food was dropped off my first impression was that my bowl was really small considering the price tag. Okay, I thought, maybe the taste will make up for the size? Nope. There were large chunks of pineapple that I initially thought to be potato (because who serves pineapple chunks that huge in a small crock of soup?), a ton of bean sprouts on top and a couple tomato slices. It had absolutely no flavor and no spice - just what tasted like tamarind, water and hot fruit. I didn't have sky high expectations but this was just disappointing. My boyfriend liked his ginger chicken alright. It was all dark meat (which is fine but just a heads up). It also came in the same small crock that my soup came in with a side of white rice. He said it was okay but that it wasn't anything he would crave or order again. Service was good and everyone was friendly. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing? For almost $30 after tax and tip for two lunch specials that didn't include anything other than a small side of rice, I felt had. I typically don't write bad reviews, but this experience left me as sour as their soup. read more

There are a decent amount of Vietnamese restaurants in the Rochester area. Blue Taro feels different. From its warm interior, friendly service and authentic menu, it just feels more homey. I'm a pho-natic but I on this visit I wanted to try something different, so I ordered the sweet and sour soup, which comes with a side of white rice. Initially, I found it too sweet, so I asked if it could be made a little more sour and was given a small ramekin with a sour tamarind sauce which completed the flavor profile I was looking for. I was told that if i order it again to make sure o ask for it to be a little more sour. This is the sign of good customer service, please the customer by allowing special orders. I also ordered the pork bahn mi which is another favorite of mine. It was a little small but packed with great flavors and had a nice crunch to the French bread roll. The owner/chef told me that finding just the right bread is a difficult feat in this area, so he was thinking of investing in a machine to custom make his bread. Awesome!! I'm looking forward to my next visit/visits and working my way through the entire menu. Thanks again! read more

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Great family run business with delicious food. Don't be fooled by the curb appeal! Their $7 bahn mi sandwiches are our go to - Best I've tried in Rochester. read more

A unique find in Rochester.....they make the most delectable green papaya salad.....everything was perfect including the bubble teas.....

I have celiac disease (a severe autoimmune disease triggered by eating gluten) and I was excited to go to Blue Taro because they advertise themselves as being a "gluten free kitchen" both online and on their menu. "Gluten free kitchen" is an extremely specific term that people with celiac disease look for, and I was thrilled to FINALLY be able to eat anything I wanted on a menu. Because I'm also a vegetarian, I requested their "vegetarian/vegan menu" at the restaurant. Upon looking at it I discovered MULTIPLE dishes contained gluten, fish and ham. The employee I talked to was not apologetic and didn't seem to understand why a "gluten free kitchen" serving gluten was a health issue, or why a "vegetarian/vegan menu" shouldn't list dishes containing fish or ham. Serving gluten in a restaurant that advertises itself as being gluten free is offensive and can have VERY serious health consequences for people like myself. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE change your menu, Blue Taro. read more

The food was delicious! I highly suggest the tofu appetizer. The best tofu I've ever had. They don't have any beer or wine yet. I hope this place lasts. They are pricier than other Vietnamese restaurants in town. read more

Terrible restaurant.... The food was expensive, bland, and small in portion. I specifically confirmed my order twice with the waitress in two separate occasions and they still completely got my order wrong.. This maybe due to the fact that the waitress didn't speak English and that she didn't write my order down. read more

Very very slow service. It took over an hour to get our food. We ordered bubble tea once we sat down and didn't find out until after we had finished eating and directly asked them that they were out of bubble tea. The food was okay, but more expensive and less flavorful than other restaurants. I probably won't go back. read more