As a Vietnamese person who grew up eating a lot of Vietnamese food, I am always willing to give an honest review. I have been here about 8 times over the past few years. When you first walk in, it's a clean place, but nothing fancy which is what I appreciate! They focus more on the food than the aesthetics which is similar to most joints in Vietnam. We came for lunch on a Sunday afternoon and were seated right away. I ordered a grilled pork banh mi and a wonton soup with egg noodles. My friends ordered the bo kho and a pho dac biet which I have had personally before! The waitress brought our waters instantly and took our orders not too long after. Our food came out in about 10 to 15 minutes. I enjoyed my wonton soup with egg noodles. The broth was good and had the right flavors, but I personally think it was missing an OOMPH of flavor to it. I thought the same thing about the bo kho and the pho. On the other hand, my friend said he appreciated the clean taste of the broths Mi Li has whereas I am used to a punch to the face with flavor. With that being said, I do think the broths for their soups is the correct flavor. I appreciated the pork wontons in my soup. The egg noodles were chewy! That's always a plus :) The banh mi was alright in my personal opinion. The bread was crispy, which is how it's supposed to be! The pork was dry and there was not enough of the house made mayo to balance out the dryness. Their pickled radish and carrots were good! I do think the banh mi could use more cucumber to it since it was a little more dry. I have had their desserts and Vietnamese coffee also. Their dessert (che Ba mau) was too sweet for me and had a little bit too much coconut. The Vietnamese coffee does not come out as a drip coffee which is slightly disappointing. The flavors are good, but there isn't a strong flavor profile to the coffee itself, which is what makes a Vietnamese coffee special. My two friends agreed also that the coffee is lacking flavor. I guess it tastes watered down is how I can word it. Overall, I like a punch of flavors, but if you like a "cleaner" taste then you'll really enjoy Mi Li! I will still be coming back :) read more

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Overall it is a good Vietnamese restaurant! The price was reasonable and the food was tasty! The service was fast too. My friends and I didn't need to wait too long for the food to come out. I enjoyed beef stew, pho broth, and Thai bubble tea~ but for the sandwich, the size was much smaller than what I expected. read more

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We tried three items on the menu - the Bun Bo Hue being the best of the three (hence the 4 stars) the Bun Bo hue shined brightly from the delicious broth to the toppings- the other two dishes could use some improvements- especially the pho broth (it wasn't that flavorful) the grilled meat (the cut of meat was too fatty) overall we enjoyed it but I didn't like the environment (talking about the customer in Vietnamese (btw I'm fluent in Vietnamese- not cool) read more

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Have been a patron of Mi Li as long as I remember. The reason, there is no other place that serves the Pho with broth that is authentic. My favorite is their rare steak served with tendons. Service is prompt with many other choices to choose from, especially their grilled Bhan-Mi. It goes well with mid size Pho. The cafe is not very spacious, however, I have seen them accommodate large party by quickly arranging and accommodating for their guests. read more

i like em ! they're a solid vietnamese place and wished i coulda came here for often. precovid (2019 indoor review) from my recollection, this place is not really near like dt so i actually appreciate them making vietnamese food more accessible by somewhere else in the city. the customer service were so kind and caring. like they were really friendly and kind to us and the food took not that long to come and i loveeee that. the food is solid and rocked and great portions ofc. the vermicelli was my companions but i think they liked it while my chicken pho was respectfully very bussin. i'd recommend as it's on the same to similar quality compared of buckeye pho, huong, indochine, etc. read more

Mi Li Cafe - pho ga (2019) - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This is one of the most legit authentic soup shops I've had the pleasure of tasting. Just 20min outside of Columbus, in an unassuming strip mall, lies this gem in hiding. Two steps from the door, the smell of a star anise and sweet beef broth sends a fist to the olefactory nerves in your brain, jaring you into home, sweet sweet comfort food. I am going to plant this flag, the Banh mi, #6 classic, is the best in Ohio. Period end of story. The freshly baked roll, encapsulates and delivers a chewy wheat, with warm buttery creamy pate, accentuated by tender pork slices, crunchy pickled radish, with cherry on top cilantro and jalapenos. The pho beef #11 is also solid. The highlights are the meat balls that are seasoned with a black pepper, and perfectly cooked noodles. The beef slices add needed chewy texture but melt in your mouth. It's a refreshing but hearty, salty but sweet, bitter and yet balance by the sour lime juice. If you have the time come to this gem! High moderate complexity. Wu score: Would drive 1-2 hours read more

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Owned by Mi Li Vanilli, who wrote this about them: Giving all the love you feel for food Couldn't make you change your order, boo You're eatin' Now I'm sittin' here, watchin' you eat I just don't know what I should do It's a tragedy for me to see the Banh Mi is over And I never will forget the cafe where we met Mi Li, I'm gonna miss you... What to get: Banh Mi What not to get: Rabies from my cats So if you should ask "What's the Dilly? Are there good sandwiches outside Philly?" Well yes, as a matter Of fact, there's a better Banh Mi in Columbus, at Mi Li! This was the second stop on my bubble tea tour, and it was a truly spectacular Vietnamese restaurant which had one of the most enjoyable Banh Mis I've ever had... And definitely the spiciest Banh Mi I've ever had! I didn't see that coming because it's Columbus OH, so I thought it was going to be some kind of hipster version or anglicized version or something. But no. It was absolutely amazing. It's a very authentic little place and the people here are extraordinarily friendly. I enjoyed every bite of my food and all the attention that the servers were giving me LOL. The Vietnamese iced coffee was very strong and very delicious and just what I needed, but the tapioca that I added to it was pretty awful and squidgy so I have to remember never to get the tapioca again and just stick to the coffee next time. It's pretty sweet but absolutely delicious. Barbie would love it. And you would love her. So well done Columbus. You got this place absolutely right. You won't spend a Mi Li on dollars to get this sandwich, but you can make a whole Meal Li out of it, and maybe it'll make up for the fact that your latest Tinder date said he had 9 inches, but it turned out to be 9 Mi Li metres. read more

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Excellent food. Family owned restaurant. You can tell they care about what they cook. My husband and I both got small bowls, but the portion were huge! So good! Looking forward to going back soon. read more

Mi Li Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Wow wow wow!!!! I am ALWAYS looking for little places like these. I love Pho and Bahn Mi and will seek out places that claim to make good ones. I got to try both at this location and I'll already planning a second trip back. Everything was tasty beyond belief! Pho was so fresh, and seasoned, and a huge portion to boot. Bahn mi had a lot of meat, lots of veggies, and the bread was perfectly toasted. Crispy on the outside and spongy on the inside. The place is small and has limited seating due to Covid but it hasn't seemed to hurt their take out game. There were probably 10 orders taken to go while I ate there. These are the little places I love to support and see do well. read more

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Mi Li is my go to for Vietnamese. Each time I have visited, gotten take out, or received delivery via a service the food has been great. This place has became where I go over Buckeye Pho as it's fresh, delicious, and very affordable. Mi Li is always incredibly lively. The staff are always a buzz and very attentive. You can also see into part of the kitchen which, I always love as you can see the magic happening. I appreciate the simplistic presentation of the food and the solid flavors that are presented in the pho broth. The meatballs are balanced and the meat in the ph has always been fresh, tender, & palatable. The báhn mì's French bread is soft inside with a crisp crunch when bitten into, perfectly suited to their toppings, and have alway been fresh. The bún noodle dishes are presented with the vinegar that brings them together and the shrimp I have gotten has been fresh and not overcooked. If you order pho you get a sizable amount of bean sprouts, basil, culantro, fresh chiles, and lime. The aromatics have always been fresh. Oh! On the table you'll find things like hoisin sauce & sriracha which are whatever. You don't need those. Go for the (likely) house made (fermented) pepper paste. It's in the round clear container with the lid. Just spoon some on to your food, it's perfect. That's what you need to elevate the home made broth of your pho, báhn mì, bún, fresh spring rolls, or whatever else you might get. Go get some food at Mi Li Cafe. And don't forget to top your meal off with some delicious Thai tea or a càfê sa nóng (hot French coffee with sweetened condensed milk). read more

Mi Li Cafe - Pho, delicious well brewed coffee, a plate of aromatics, and a Thai tea in the background. - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Just happened to stumble on this restaurant. It's situated in a place where I don't usually go however, my husband and I had a taste for Pho Soup. We ordered Beef Pho and Thai Bubble Tea and they are delicious. The pho liquid is salted just right to taste, the noodles are aldante cooked . All the condiments ( mint leaves, bean sprouts, jalapeño, chili sauce) are the freshest. The price is cheaper than the other pho restaurants we had been to. I gave 4 stars because of the restaurant interior. The tables and chairs could have been more comfortable and the wall itself could have been more inviting or decorated. read more

I've been meaning to come here, but it's kinda out of my way. Was this on High Street a few years ago? I think I went to it then. Anyway, yesterday I really wanted Vietnamese food, and was eager to try out Dang Coffee. Sadly, it was closed, and it seems to be for good. I remembered Mi Li and swung over. Busy at 2pm on a weekday. Nothing fancy inside, but clean and bright. Pretty typical menu. Too hot out for pho, so I got bun and banh (mi.) Okay, none of that quite rhymes, sorry. I started with a Thai iced tea. Turned out to be bubble tea, which I realized as something solid came up the straw. Unexpected, but good. Then they brought the noodles: tons of rice noodles, perfectly cooked, with steak and a spring roll, and veggies (#24.) Tasty steak, very good spring roll, super fresh veggies. I loved it. Gussied it up a bit with fish sauce, sriracha, and hoisin. The banh mi (#7, grilled pork,) was small but amazing. Great bun, great meat, great veggies. That was a little too much food, but I wanted to try several things, and the banh mi on its own was a little too small for me for lunch. Good service, good prices, great food. I'll be back, I'm sure, for the pho and more. read more

Mi Li Cafe - Thai iced bubble tea, and #24 noodles with beef and spring roll. - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This used to be my go-to place for pho before the pandemic. Today, I stopped in to pickup an order my husband placed. There was confusion on the order. I asked if they retrieved his phone number for the order but no. Then they proceed to help the gentleman who came after me. During the 10 minutes there of trying to figure out my order: A) someone asked me the ethnicity of my husband (mind you he placed an order over the phone). My stance on this is WHY did that matter B) they helped the person after me C) one lady tried to help and continued to speak in Vietnamese to me.. or tried to but I couldn't understand. Bad service. We get home only to find out a single container of broth was NOT enough to saturate the xl pho we ordered (3 in total). Why advertise xl to go pho when the broth isn't enough? They could easily add another half container of broth. We've ordered here before and yes the single container is enough for large pho. Broth itself was decent and flavorful for takeout. read more

Mi Li Cafe - Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Bland. Ordered the beef stew with rice noodles. It didn't have any real flavors. It's tastes like a .99 cents package of ramen noodles. I wouldn't take a friend out of town. read more

Mi Li Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I came in during their lunch rush with my husband and ran into some friends there and spoke to them for a moment. The workers were giving us dirty looks. They didn't seem happy about me speaking to others. We ordered some subs for our meal. The portion was SMALL. It was overpriced for the amount they gave us. I was planning to order something else to our meal, but the server was quick to give us a check trying to rush us out of there. Overall, I won't be going back there again because they were rude and not once did they come check on how the meal was. They were worrying more about flipping the tables to make more money. By the time we were leaving, the lunch rush was over. That was unnecessary in how they treated us. read more

We were recommended by a co worker to try this place, so I was excited! Apparently there's no public restroom, so empty yourselves before going. We were excited to see they offer a XL size pho bowl. When we receive our bowl, we were very excited because it was big. Before adding any ingredients, it's a MUST, that you try the broth first off!!! VERY BLAND the meat was overcook and chewy, doesn't melt in your mouth. The brisket was a very dark color with some neon tint to it. The tripe was good, very little portion. The cartilage was chewy as well. I was very disappointed. We also ordered their summer roll and grilled pork roll, very small portion for the price. Their sauce was interesting, not bad I will say. Their cafe sua da, we requested extra condensed milk.. which it was still dark, I had to water mine down. I left unhappy and dissatisfied. Sorry I can't recommend read more

Mi Li Cafe - Pho Dac Biet and summer roll - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Food is good. Has all the highlights of famous Vietnamese dishes. Fast service and portion is just right. Generous on side vegetables. It's a family run restaurant. read more

Most authentic!! So delicious! The bahn mi is amazing warm and crispy! The pho is perfectly seasoned! The rice platters are legit! And ban coun just as it should be! I couldn't stop eating!! read more

Mi Li Cafe - Pho, ban coun, combo rice platter, and summer roll. - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Don't let the location steer you away (as with most authentic places the location may not be the most desirable but the food keeps you back) Very good pho and spring rolls. Enjoyed the fact they have multiple sizes. read more

Best pho in town. The broth is very tasty and perfectly seasoned. The restaurant is so authentic that you feel like you are in Vietnam.

We love Mi Li Cafe!! Their rare beef pho is so amazing we get it all the time. $8.50 for a large bowl of pho, when you order pick up they give you a container of the broth and another container with all the delicious additions like noodles, bean sprouts, green onions, beef, etc. This is definitely our go to pho place in Columbus. read more

Mi Li Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This is the kind of place where even when you're full you keep eating because it's just that good! I ordered the beef pho with rare steak. The beef broth was sweeter and smoother than others I've had. The steak was a little tough, but the rice noodles were delicious. I opted for no onions this time and they left out all the onions, a nice change from other places that only take out the white onions when you request no onions. It makes the bowl less photogenic, but no less delicious in my opinion! I like that the pho is offered in different sizes, small, medium, large and extra large, more options than other places! Service was okay, we were greeted and seated quickly and given menus and water. We were able to order our food and it came out promptly as well, but our server never came to check on us after it refill waters. There's plenty of parking in this strip mall lot. The restaurant definitely has that small but authentic feel. I would return for the pho for sure! read more

Mi Li Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Came for the Bun Bo Hue with blood and it was good! Everything was yummy and service was great. Satiated our cravings! Everything came out quickly and seemed to be a popular place amongst locals. Would come back if I was in the area again. read more

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I didn't think much of this place when passing by. My friend and I were looking for Vietnamese iced coffee. Upon entering, the restaurant smelled amazing and the menu had loads of variety which made us want to order food! We ended up getting Vietnamese iced coffees to go which were extremely strong and delicious. Service was also great and really kind despite us switching last minute from dining in to taking out! Would come back here if I'm ever in the area! read more

Mi Li Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant. I was traveling to Columbus and was craving some pho and was surprised to find this gem! I ordered a large combination pho which came with all the meat and it was delicious! The soup was flavorful, they were generous with the meat and the price was cheaper than what I would have to pay back home on the East Coast. I would definitely visit again next time I am in town. read more

TERRIBLE SERVICE!!! Sat for 15 minutes with no acknowledgement from staff and then a couple walks in and got immediately served. sat for another 5 minutes and decided to take my money elsewhere. I will never spend another penny in there which is unfortunate cuz I enjoy their food ‍ read more

This place is the best in Columbus we've found for banh mi-- the inside is very cute and clean, lots of seating for small groups and families inside when I've been, we usually order to go but last time we sat in and ate noodle soups with our sandwiches and the service was very fast and the soups were great! Very large and lots of good herbs and veggies came fresh on a plate for us to add. My friend got a Thai tea which was so good she finished it before she set it down, the boba was freshly made and delicious (according to her haha). I would highly recommend this place especially for carry out banh mi! read more

Mi Li Cafe - Banh mi (beef and egg) - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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We were a previous customer of "INDOCHINE CAFE" in Whitehall. They recently changed to a boba shop and we haven't been able to find a Vietnamese restaurant as good as theirs. We decided to try this place out, and we are so glad we did. This is the best that we have tried with bone broth. 61Pho and buckeye pho do not compare. Hopefully, this little place gets the business that they deserve!!! We will continue to try others but we will definitely be ordering from this shop a few times a month. read more

I am a huge fan of pho, but had never tried a banh mi sandwich. I finally got the opportunity when our Columbus Food Adventures Alt Eats tour stopped here. Got to meet the owner and hear how she has her bread custom-made to her specifications and that she makes her own pate that goes in the sandwiches. If she doesn't prepare your sandwich herself, she has someone else do it while standing nearby to supervise. Now that's good QC! You can taste the love and goodness! I'll definitely be back to try the pho as well. This place is something special. read more

Mi Li Cafe - Banh mi sandwich - so much flavor and the bread is to die for - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I have tried Pho all over the world and Mi Li has consistently been the best I ever had for over 15 years!!!

My favorite pho in Columbus thus far. Keep in mind, i've only been to Buckeye Pho and Lan Viet Market. There are still a couple of other places for me to try. Prices are average. $8 gets your a large pho and $3 gets you an order of summer rolls (2 rolls). They have an extensive menu and pretty much offer the gamut of Vietnamese food, from pho, bun bo hue, bahn mi, to rice dishes. I think the service at Mi LI is hit or miss. My waitress was very pleasant nice, but seemed a bit overwhelmed during a busy Saturday lunch. It also took awhile for the food to come out and for me to get the bill. The pho broth has a depth of flavor without being overly salty or oily. The portions of protein and noodles are decent. They also don't skimp on the condiments (sprouts, basil and culantro). Besides the rich broth, I enjoyed the texture of the noodles. They were a little more al dente and firm than other pho restaurants. I liked it (no one wants soggy noodles). The summer rolls were fresh with big pieces of shrimp, but overall pretty average. Anyways, i'll be back to try their other menu items. I don't really have a problem with the average service and decor. I'm pretty much here for the food and don't expect smiles and kowtows. read more

Mi Li Cafe - Summer roll - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This place hits the spot for my pho and summer roll fix! All 3 of my boys love eating here. It's quant and usually never too busy to grab a table. read more

Mi Li Cafe - All 3 of my boys love their Chicken Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Best wonton noodle & soup! Their egg noodle with red barbecue pork is also really good. It reminds me of a dish back in my childhood. It comes with a small bowl of soup, which is equally delicious. Also enjoy their avocado bubble tea. The place could use a lot of updates but the quality of food is great! read more

The spot for Vietnamese! It's my go to and I love their bun bo hue. It's super delicious! read more

Mi Li Cafe - Bun bo hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I didn't expect much, coming from San Jose myself, where there are dozens of awesome Pho places, but I could tell from the smell of the restaurant it was going to be good. (Pho gives the restaurant a distinct smell when it is good) I was impressed by the soup, and the amount of beef they gave, and they also gave plenty of tripe in my Combo bowl. However, for the price, they really should fill it up, and I wanted more noodles when all was said and done. For Columbus, though, without a giant Vietnamese population I have to say I was very impressed and would definitely go again. On a negative note, I like my sprouts very fresh, and the ones they gave me were darkened and did not look good at all, so I did not touch them. The Sandwich was also delicious, I took one to go since it had good reviews, and I thought it was great. read more

Mi Li Cafe - Combo Pho Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I remember the very first time I came here. I felt like Anthony Bourdain whisked me away to Vietnam. Used to be one of favorite restaurants here in Columbus! It's definitely a must try if you haven't been. (If you follow me on Yelp, then already know what's up) At Mi Li, two Vietnamese staple dishes are, Bahn Mi and Pho, if it's your first time get both and I personally like Pho with rare beef. read more

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Excellent Pho! The perfect hole in the wall authentic food. People working there were friendly and the place was full.

Food good and service is too, little small but I'd recommend this place, not the best I've had but still worth :)

Best Asian food in town so far!! Reminds me of authentic street food back home. :D I recommend trying their egg noodle with bbq pork and French coffee. You'll not be disappointed. read more

Mi Li Cafe - Egg noodle w/ bbq pork - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I've been coming to Mi Li Cafe for my pho fix for 5+ years now and I've never been disappointed. This place serves the best pho in Columbus! Anytime you visit for pho, I recommend ordering the rare steak as it is the most tender and the piping hot broth cooks the beef. The food is served quickly and is a great value for what you pay. This is definitely a hidden gem and one of Columbus' must try restaurants! read more

Mi Li Cafe - #14 Pho with Rare Steak - Vietnamese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio