I have a few years in between my first visit to Cafe Hoang (previous location) and my most recent visit (current location). I live in the neighborhood, and there is no shortage of Vietnamese or Thai food In the past, I had pad thai, crab rangoon, and make-your-own spring rolls. The pad thai was not memorable, which is why I likely didn't return or order it again. Make-your-own spring rolls is really unique, and I haven't seen another place that offers the experience. I think this is fun and a different way to enjoy your food or a date. Recently, I came with a small group (4) and we ordered a few different things; pho, tom yum soup, fried rice, [prepared] spring rolls, crab rangoon, and chicken and vegetables with fried noodles. Tom yum soup was a little bit spicy and a tiny bit sweeter than I prefer. Crab rangoons were large and had a distinct black pepper seasoning to it that is not common in most. Service was prompt. Food came out as it was prepared so not everybody got food at the same time, though it was close. The restaurant had a pungent smell, somewhat seafoody. read more

As recommended, I ordered the bun bo hue, which lived up to the hype. If you're familiar with Vietnamese cuisine, you're aware the culture boasts a variety of noodle dishes. Where pho is cozy, l bun bo is bold. While eating at Cafe Hoang, I felt right at home. The menu is straightforward and service was quick as well. Overall, the no frills experience was exactly what I needed. Highly recommend Cafe Hoang if you're looking for solid bun bo in Chicago. Nothing beats steamy hot noodle soup in the summer in my opinion. read more

Came here with a group of friends and our kids. We were seated right away but were not given menus. We had to get up and grab menus ourselves. I ordered the bun bo hue (beef, pork sausage, pork knuckles, and vermicelli noodles) while hubby had the bun nem nuong cha gio (grilled pork meatball vermicelli noodle salad bowl) and asked for extra noodles to share with our child. They forgot to bring out the extra noodles and had to ask multiple times for them. All of our dishes came out at various times. There was about a 30-40 minute gap between when the first dish and the last person's dish was served. They forgot to bring out a pho tai (which shouldn't take that long to prepare) and got one of our friend's orders mixed up. We literally asked at least 3-5 times for these two missing dishes and the kids in our group were super hungry. I enjoyed the flavor of my bun bo hue but wouldn't endure this lack of service again in the future. read more

We walked in and no one greeted us and we had to go to the register and waited another 10 min to get someone attention to be seated. No one came to take our orders until like 10 min later as well and the lady who took our order was not nice at all. Being Vietnamese this seemed very rude and service was horrible. Overall, expect to be wait during times that are busy. The plate of vegetables was not what I expected just a jumble of bean sprouts and lettuce and no mint or nothing at all. We ordered the Banh xeo or Vietnamese crepe which was good and the bun Bo hue which was so filled with flavors and really good. The spring rolls were good as well. You need to pay at the front if you don't want to wait too long but they should at least put a sign saying please seat yourself or something. read more

Very friendly, very nice, the food comes out very fast, and parking is on the street. The dishes are fairly priced as most Vietnamese places. The food came out fresh and tasted good. Just know that the dry vermicelli noodle salad bowl w shrimp comes with a spring roll chopped up into 3 pieces inside the bowl that has pork meat. I don't eat pork at all so I couldn't eat it. So if you can't even have pork touch your food, ask them to put the spring roll on the side and give it to your friend or ask them for a veggie spring roll and see if there might accommodate. read more

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We stopped in for appetizers when we were in the neighborhood and had some time to kill. Very happy with the choice! The food is fresh, the space is clean, and the service is friendly. Really delicious spring rolls. Egg rolls seemed homemade and not greasy! We didn't order the bun bo hue, but everyone around us was, and it looked and smelled amazing. I would say I'm going back for it, but I am fundamentally childish, and I am just not going to be able to eat jellied pork blood cubes. I wish I were the person who would, but sadly I am not. read more

Cafe Hoang - Egg roll! - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was recommended this spot by the owners of Qideas! The bun bo hue was incredible. The broth flavor was incredible. I think it could have been spicier but I also have a higher spice tolerance. The restaurant serves both Vietnamese and Thai food, I only tried their bun bo hue. Service was quick and efficient! The servers were very kind and the environment was cozy. Definitely going to be my new go-to bun bo hue place in Chicago! read more

Cafe Hoang - Bun bo hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cafe Hoang is a cozy Vietnamese restaurant located on Argyle. We visited on a weeknight so service was fast with plenty of seating available. I was craving pho and this local gem hit the spot. We ordered the pho house special, spring rolls and a number 35. Pan fried wide rice noodles with seafood. The pho broth was delicious. I usually judge weather the broth is good or not based on if I need to add extra sauce (hoisin, sriracha, chili oil, etc). However, this broth was excellent with no extra enhancements needed! I do wish there was more tendon in the soup, as I only got one piece. Otherwise, it was definitely satisfying and felt comforting on a cold, windy day. The pan friend noodles were tasty but some parts of the dish were cold almost as if it wasn't warmed up all the way. We also wish there was a little more seafood than veggies. Nonetheless, the sauce was delicious and there were plenty of noodles in the dish. The chili fish sauce on the table is sooo good! If I had a rice dish, I definitely would've added some. Beware, the Thai chili peppers are no joke for those with a lower tolerance. There are plenty of pho places to check out on Argyle, but definitely give Cafe Hoang a chance! They're delicious and open until 10pm! read more

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Beef pho tasted bland the Sunday after July 4th. Probably ran out of broth and added water to the soup. Disappointing.

Ambiance - casual spot, great for dates and groups Service - family owned and excellent service Food - the most authentic BBH spot in town hands down read more

Cafe Hoang - 3. Crab Rangoon - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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this was delicious and comforting in the cold weather! the service was quick as well which was a huge plus as we were starving. this is a pretty no frills spot but the food was good read more

Cafe Hoang - 14. Phở Đặc Biệt / House Special - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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food: good flavored bun boe hue, could be a bit spicier but the portions were good service: very slow but they open past usual hours, not sure if this was a one time thing but if this is common then I would lower rating ambiance: fine, large interior with big tables for larger groups read more

Cafe Hoang - 20. Spicy Hue Style Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got you--here's the upgraded version with actual dish names and more flavor: Cafe Hoang is one of those places that just never misses We've been coming here for over 10 years, and it's still just as amazing every single time. The food is absolutely incredible The Bún Bò Huế (spicy Hue-style beef noodle soup) is hands down a must The broth is rich, bold, and perfectly spiced with deep layers of flavor--it's seriously one of the best bowls you'll find anywhere. We also love the Chả Giò (crispy fried egg rolls)--super crunchy on the outside with a flavorful, savory filling that hits every time The Bún Bò Nướng Chả Giò (vermicelli bowl with grilled beef & egg rolls) is fresh, loaded, and perfectly balanced with herbs, noodles, and grilled meat The Bún Tôm Nướng Chả Giò (vermicelli bowl with grilled shrimp & egg rolls) is just as good--light, flavorful, and super satisfying And the Cơm Bì Sườn Chả (grilled pork chop with shredded pork skin and steamed pork meatloaf) is packed with flavor and always cooked perfectly What really makes this place special though is the people The owners are some of the nicest, most genuine people you'll ever meet--always friendly, welcoming, and they treat you like family. If you're looking for authentic Vietnamese & Thai food in Chicago, this spot is a must. Amazing food, amazing people, and after 10+ years... still one of our all-time favorites read more

My mom's banh xeo is the best! And the batter from here is probably the closest that I have tasted compared to my mom so I love that! But the filling was a bit of something unspeakable a bit to me. For this you must discover yourself if you are curious. It is not bad just not my preference. A bitter surprise to my normal banh xeo's. Eggrolls are yummy! Meets the standard yummy ladder and for that I am grateful. read more

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I'm always on the hunt for solid Vietnamese food; being Vietnamese and coming from CA where Vietnamese food/restaurants are bountiful has made me a bit of a tougher critic but I was happy with this meal! Bun Bo Hue - 4/5 stars Pretty good overall! The spice was mild, had a little kick but not too spicy at all. Both my friend and I felt like the broth could be a lot hotter (temperature wise), spicier and maybe a little more lemongrass/saltier. Make sure to ask for the chili oil to make it spicier, not the pickled spice on the table. It definitely hit the spot still! Banh Xeo - 3.5/5 stars The taste and amount of filling was decent but it was not crispy at all. Sadness lol Soda Chanh - 2/5 Iced fresh limeade soda. It was sooo flat, felt like 25% of the normal carbonation lol very disappointing Service was quick and friendly. Would come back for BBH but maybe pass on banh xeo and soda chanh. read more

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When making my order, I was looking to enjoy my meal but didn't expect the chicken fried rice to be very salty!! If it was given my refund back, that's clearly what I asked for. The soup was ok not the greatest but will I plan to come back!! probably not read more

Cafe Hoang - Shrimp, 2. Gỏi Cuốn / Fresh Spring Rolls (2 Pieces) - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love that they use reusable plates, bowls, chopsticks, and spoons. So many places use disposable ones and that is so bad for the environment. Food was fast and delicious. read more

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I came on a Sunday for lunch and it was pretty empty; it's a spacious spot and felt a little too awkwardly quiet, but overall the vibe was comfortable. The menu is huge, and the options are very diverse, from classic Vietnamese fare to traditional Central Vietnamese dishes to classic Thai staples. The prices are also solid and affordable. I ordered the Vermicelli Noodle Salad Bowl with Grilled Shrimp and Beef, a classic dish that usually hits the spot for me. Overall, it was appreciably light and refreshing for a hot day, but I would try to choose something else if I come again in the future. I wasn't too impressed with the meats-- the shrimp and beef were both pretty overcooked and tough. The vermicelli noodles itself were good-- they were light and chewy, though I wish there was more sauce to go with it. The veggies tasted fresh, and the peanuts and egg roll added a nice, crispy texture to the bowl. Hoping to come back in the colder weather to try their Bun Bo Hue! -- Price (relative to peers): 4.5/5 Food: 4/5 Ambience: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Overall Value: 4/5 read more

Cafe Hoang - 26. Vermicelli Grilled Shrimp and Beef Salad Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've tried to come here a couple of times for dinner (like after the Argyle street fest) but it was wayyy too busy, and I didn't want to wait. But I figured if it was so busy, it must be good! And I was right! We went for lunch on a weekend and were easily seated without a wait. Cafe Hoang has a pretty big menu and there are a lot of dishes where you can choose tofu as your protein. I noticed that all of the appetizers seem to have meat or fish in them though. I was really hoping for a veggie spring roll! We had the crab rangoons, which were stuffed with filling, full of flavor, and super crispy. I ordered the panang curry (my favorite) and it was delicious! I loved the huge chunks of fried tofu they included, and the broth had a great balance of spicy and sweet. The portions were huge! I ended up taking a lot home. Cafe Hoang is easy to get to. The Argyle red line stop is close by, there's parking all up and down Argyle, or you can take the 36 bus running on Broadway. read more

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i love the food here. it feels like you're eating at a relative's house. great atmosphere

Disappointed with the Spring Rolls - Cutting Corners! I ordered spring rolls from Café Hoang, and I have to say, they were extremely disappointing. Each roll had half of a shrimp--yes, HALF. If you're going to serve shrimp spring rolls, at least give a whole shrimp per roll. This just feels cheap and like you're cutting corners to save costs. For the price, I expected much better quality and generosity with ingredients. Definitely not worth it. Won't be ordering again. read more

Cafe Hoang - 2. Fresh Spring Rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service was quick in this quaint storefront gem. The food was authentic and the vibes as well. Definitely a cool spot. I got a fresh lime soda and chicken pho. read more

Cafe Hoang - Menu - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're looking for likely the *best* Bun Bo Hue in Chicago, look no further than Cafe Hoang! Located on Argyle where there is a plethora of Vietnamese restaurants and markets, this place seals the deal if you are looking particularly for that dish. They make it just the right amount of spicy, and the service was quick (not very talkative though). The restaurant itself is very outdated, but that's typical for these type of places on Argyle I feel like. Lastly, and a huge plus, I'd like to call out that they are BYOB! I'll be sure to come back here with a 6 pack of beer in the future! read more

A cozy restaurant with rich, delicious beef noodle soup. Generous portions and definitely worth a try.

When I saw all the Yelp reviews calling this the best bun bo hue in Chicago, I busted over there (aka my bf drove) to see the hype. Service was pretty slow but I have to say, the food was exceptional. We started off with spring rolls and Vietnamese coffee and then got pho and BBH. The pho broth was INSANELY GOOD- it had a peppery kick I enjoyed. But the star of the show was the bun Bo hue- just the right amount of spice, tender meat, and soft noodles. You best know we joined the clean bowl club. Highly recommend them for a good Vietnamese meal. read more

Cafe Hoang - Bun bo 20. Spicy Hue Style Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

3.5 stars. I was craving bun bo hue so I had to find somewhere that made an authentic one, and let me tell you this place makes a great one! Bun bo hue is a vermicelli rice noodle dish with different meats (sliced beef, pork sausage, and pork knuckle) in a spicy pork/beef broth. It originates from Hue, Vietnam. The bun Bo hue is perfectly balanced and spicy, but not too spicy. You can add more spice though if you'd like. They don't skimp on the meats which is really nice. I feel like it's hard to come across places that actually load the meat, but here they give you plenty. The meat quality is good too. For this dish alone I would give 4.5/5 stars. Also ordered cha gio (Vietnamese spring rolls) and thought these were good, but one of ours did have a strand of hair in it. The service is pretty slow and we didn't get our Vietnamese coffee that we had ordered along with our food. Once you order your food and receive it the waitstaff doesn't check up on you again. It took awhile to finally flag down someone to check where our coffees were and we ended up getting double charged for them, but they noticed when I went to go pay and let me know which I appreciated. I think service could improve but the staff was friendly. Put this spot in your list for winter food, I promise the bun bo hue is worth it! read more

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I'm very impressed by their fried rice! I sat in the restaurant and ordered a chicken fried rice. It was a very big portion that I took home and split into 2 more meals! :) The dish was flavorful and very enjoyable to eat! I loved that there was just enough oil to make it look and taste appetizing. The atmosphere of the restaurant was also very nice. The staff were attentive and quick to bring out food. Overall, I would order from them again and definitely also recommend their Bon Bo Hue! read more

Cafe Hoang - Chicken Fried Rice - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I just went here with two friends. We got the rice dish with grilled pork, the pho house special, and the yellow curry. I got to try each dish and I thought they were all uniquely tasteful especially the yellow curry. Our server was very attentive and kind. It was a nice calm atmosphere to catch up with some friends. I'll definitely be returning. read more

If you're looking for authentic Vietnamese food experience, this is your spot. Food is always served hot and fresh and everything comes out as soon as it's done. Ambience and service is on point. Went here for dinner and it was so good that I had to take my friends for lunch the next day. read more

Cafe Hoang - Pho, 53. Shrimp Spring Roll Wrap, 24. Vermicelli Grilled Shrimp Salad Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pretty solid Vietnamese food. My fiancé and I got the bun bo hue and the dry vermicelli noodles with shrimp and beef. The bun bo hue was perfect for a cold day. The broth was very flavorful and had a great kick of spiciness that didn't detract from the flavor. It was a bit more spicy than we are used to, but we both handle spice well (just a warning to people who don't like spicy dishes). The vermicelli noodles were great, too. I loved the super thin noodles of this dish. The egg roll was good, but the grilled shrimp could've had a bit more of a charred flavor. They tasted pretty flat, although the fish sauce helped add some dimension to the dish. Additionally, the service was good, and the restaurant looked nice and clean. The prices were reasonable and in-line with most of the other Vietnamese restaurants you'll find in the area. Portionwise, the dishes were a decent size. We didn't have any leftovers, but we felt pretty full after. read more

Cafe Hoang - Bun bo hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love eating bún măng vịt in this place, it's great then other places which served this meal. I can recommend to try this when you come to Chicago. read more

I never write bad reviews, but the service was especially horrible. 20 minutes after everyone else in our party got their food, my mother was still waiting, she kindly brought that to the servers attention, 20 minutes later, the rest of us were finished and her food still hadn't come, I went up and talked to a different guy and the food was out in 5 minutes. At the end of the meal we ordered a smoothie and coffee which also never came. For most of the meal the restaurant was not busy, aside from one other larger party. I am in the service industry as well, so I like to think that I am especially forgiving of these things, but our server wasn't at all repentant after delivering such horrible service, not so much as a shred of acknowledgement of any wrongdoing. Food was otherwise very enjoyable, I just wish my mother and I could have enjoyed it at the same time. read more

Strong coffee and good house special. Everything was good and but a little expensive. Service was just ok, but pretty clean inside. read more

Cafe Hoang - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for lunch. Love the duck pho. The broth is very rich. Would come back to try other pho in the menu. There is street parking. Would recommend family and friend to come here. read more

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One of my favorite places to get bun Bo hue! I think place has been a staple in the Argyle neighborhood for awhile and it never disappoints! No fancy things, just good eats. The Bun Bo Hue is definitely spicier than the way way my girlfriend's family makes it, but very flavorful broth! It comes with a side of veggies (cabbage, bean sprouts, mint and a lime wedge). Everything melds together perfectly and it's a great slurp especially for the cooler and rainy spring evenings. Definitely recommend. The pho options and vermicelli bowls are also great if that's more your vibe. read more

Cafe Hoang - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend ordered the bun bo hue from Cafe Hoang and ever since trying some of it, it has became my staple order at any vietnamese restaurnts. Cafe Hoang is famous for their bun bo hues and I totally get the hype! Their rich and spicy soup had deep layers of flavors, especially when topped with LOTS of fresh herbs. As someone who is not particularly excited about having pork blood in their soup, I really am impressed with their broth read more

Cafe Hoang - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is very conscious of the pandemic. As I walked in they offered to me a code to scan for a menu. I don't have that kind of a phone so they directed me to a menu taped to a table. They explained that it was for the covid safety. I feared for the food but am willing to try anything and I was coming from Physical Therapy so I was very hungry. I ordered Spring rolls and yellow curry. Their menu said red curry was hot and yellow curry was spicy. I like hot but people have different ideas of hot so I ordered the yellow. They had green also but I don't like green curry. They had a much bigger selection but I love curry. I sat an read. it is a large restaurant and several people entered as I was there as well as several picked up orders. I was the only non Asian so I assume the food is traditional. The spring rolls were generous and not bad I would say about a rating of 7.5 but the peanut sauce was excellent. The curry was wonderful even with me putting the whole bowl of rice in. I am a big fan of curry and this was very good curry. It was not hot at all. The price was about $2 less that I am used to for this type of meal. I liked it, try it. read more

Cafe Hoang - yellow curry - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Spring roll was delicious, and the pho hit the spot. Cute family run shop with all the traditional dishes. read more

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Best Bun Bo Hue outside of Hue. Goi vit also great. Rest of menu is less noteworthy. 5 stars is mostly for great Bun Bo Hue, service and hospitality. read more

Food: pad see eiw was average. Very oily. Ordered it extra spicy and it was mild. The red chili peppers on the side only added more oil, zero heat. The brocolli was all stems and extra crispy (barely cooked, could tell it was not pre steamed). It was pretty flavorless and I wouldn't order it again. My friend, who was from Vietnam, hated the food. She got the pho. She said the chicken was over cooked. They did not bring out the Thai basil, lime, and bean sprouts. I had to go inside and ask for some, but I noticed that ALL the other tables inside had it. Hmmm. Service: server was rude. Interrupted me mid sentence to go "uh huh, yeah" a bunch of times. Made me repeat myself numerous times, but did not make my friend repeat herself. Hmmmm. Vietnamese coffee was mostly condensed milk and half a cup of heavy whipping cream. Barely more than a double espresso's worth of coffee. It felt like decaf too, even after ordering two. I've had better Thai food elsewhere and I trust a country-native's opinion on Vietnamese food to tell me she wouldn't go back either. Waste of money. Ambiance was decent. They have three tables outside. Two of which sat dirty, unbussed and not wiped, after being there an hour. Inside kinda smelled like BO... huge oof. Edit: oh, and they don't take discover or Amex because of the "fees" so you better have a visa, mastercard, or cash. read more