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Very good, would highly recommend. This is a no nonsense eatery, don't expect fine dining. Several nationals eating inside lets you know it's the real deal.
Review: Bò Kho (Menu #29) - I Tried, But I Just Couldn't Get Jiggy With It I walked into this experience knowing bò kho wasn't going to be the beef stew I grew up with--I was ready for that. I've been to Mi Li Café plenty of times, and their pho is consistently delicious. Over time, I've switched to chicken (and even considered shrimp) because some of the other proteins have taken me on unexpected textural journeys. But today, feeling bold, I decided to give Menu Item #29: Beef Stew with French Bread a shot. I knew it would be different--just not this different. Service Expectations: The Dice Roll Before we even get to the food, let's talk about service expectations because, depending on who you get, it's a completely different experience. You either get someone who can code switch for your ass--reading you immediately and giving you that warm, slightly Americanized hospitality--or you're getting the "hurry up and buy" experience where your order is taken with the kind of efficiency that makes you question if you're even supposed to be dining in. Today, I got the "hurry up and buy" service. No greeting, no small talk--just a quick "What you want?" and an expectation that I knew my answer immediately. No problem. I thought I knew what I wanted. The Broth: A Textural Surprise My brain had read the description of the menu item, and I felt confident that I didn't need to question the broth. But when my bowl arrived, the texture caught me off guard. It had that silky, collagen-rich consistency that comes from long-simmered proteins and bones. Not bad, just different. I took a few more sips, trying to adjust, but I quickly realized I needed reinforcements. The French Bread: My Only Lifeline Enter the French bread. Now, this? Absolutely flawless. The same crispy, golden bread they use for their Vietnamese subs (which, by the way, Menu #7 is great). I figured dunking it into the broth might be my saving grace, and honestly? It helped. The bread softened just enough to carry the flavors, making the broth a little more approachable. For a moment, I thought I might have figured it out. The Beef: A Mystery I Wasn't Ready to Solve But then, we got to the beef. And listen--I wasn't brave enough to dive in. I took one look at what was floating in my bowl, and it took one look back at me. Everything about the beef was a mystery I wasn't prepared to solve. Some pieces looked tender. Others had a texture that made me hesitate. I poked at it like I was analyzing a crime scene, but ultimately, I had to respectfully decline this cultural experience. My Failed Attempt at Fixing It Determined to salvage the situation, I called myself doctoring up the stew with their chili oil and garlic sauce, which I know to be delicious. But instead of saving the dish, I somehow made it worse. The broth, already unfamiliar, was now spicy, garlicky, and aggressively overwhelming--a hot mess, both literally and figuratively. At this point, I had no choice but to accept defeat. The Check: A Waffle House Moment Now, before today, I have never questioned my bill total at this spot. But today? My server rang me up and added a whole extra dollar to what was listed on the menu. No explanation, no itemized breakdown--just vibes. It felt a little like Waffle House, where you just pay whatever total they tell you because questioning it might get you banned. And honestly? I wasn't in the mood to argue over a dollar. I just paid and left, slightly confused but fully humbled. Final Thoughts So, bò kho, I respect you. I see what you were trying to do. But no matter how much I dunked, mixed, or seasoned, we just weren't meant to be. Maybe one day I'll be ready, but today was not that day. Until then, I'll stick to my chicken pho--or Menu #7, because that sandwich has never let me down. Final Rating: 3 stars for the stew (I take full responsibility for not being built for this). 5 stars for the bread (perfection). 1 star deducted for my overconfidence in the power of condiments. Bonus half-star for the Waffle House-style mystery tax, because at least it gave me a laugh.
Mi Li has definitely been a bit if a surprise Vietnamese restaurant. Coming from LA and spending quite a but of time out in Westminster, I've been very spoiled by Viet food. Mi Li definitely is a good reminder of what I have back home. The restaurant is casual and unassuming but staff is always very pleasant and patient. You'll hear a mix of Viet and Cantonese for those familiar with either language. Food wise, I've enjoyed the pho and beef stew here. Pho broth is flavorful and beef parts are cooked well to go along with it. The star for me here has been the banh mi. The bread is so perfectly crisp and light, the pate flavorful, the herbs and daikon/carrot fresh and bright. It def rivals my favorite banh mi spot back in LA. I'd highly recommend anyone to come out here to get a Viet fix. Or if Viet food is new to you, try a banh mi and some pho, it'll be great for the soul and stomach!
I'm usually a Huong girl when it comes to Vietnamese food in Columbus but I've heard such good things about this place & it's close to my job. I ordered the Shrimp Pho in large & the salted lemonade. I've never left a Vietnamese place hungry. They are known for nice portions when it comes to pho. I ordered the large since it was a dollar more & this way I would have some left for tomorrow's lunch. If this is the large, I don't want to know what the regular is like. I was disappointed in the small amount or broth & noodles in the order as well. 7 shrimp came in the order. Overall the flavor was good but I wasn't blown away. The salted lemonade is not something I would get again but I wanted to be adventurous & try something fun. It tastes like an alkaseltzer tablet dropped in your drink. It's supposed to be very good for you & healing to the gut. I will not be ruling this place out. I will give them another chance, especially for dine in. There are quite a few things in the menu I'd like to get next. Update coming soon!
I'm happy I got to try Mi Li Cafe because their pho lived up to the hype. I got the pho with cooked beef and it came with a good amount of meat. The broth had a deep flavor to it and had lots of onions and scallions. I would definitely ask for more cilantro if you like it. I also added some spicy pepper sauce which added a kick. The grilled pork bahn mi was also very tasty with marinated pork and fresh veggies. The size is not that big but taste wise it was good. Their iced French coffee was really refreshing! It has a strong coffee flavor and I appreciated how it wasn't too sweet. The restaurant itself was bigger than I thought and had a decent amount of seating, which filled up quickly. Luckily they were able to accommodate our group although service did feel a bit rushed because they were busy. The only other downside to the experience was that there was a strand hair in two of our dishes, but they did apologize for it. I don't believe it's a regular occurrence.
Easily the best pho place in Columbus with a very homey/hole in the wall vibe. Food came out super quick, and was piping hot. Definitely felt like the food was "made with love". Also really appreciate that the staff was present but didn't constantly/over check in.
We've been here do so many years. Love it so much! The food was always great and the service was amazing. When we don't know what to eat, just come to Mili and they will feed us great!
The food was just okay for me. Spring rolls 4/5, bun Bo hue 2/5-just not for me, pho dac biet 3/5- I've just tasted better. The portions are huge! I love how large their extra large bowl was. The ambience was nice and family friendly. The service is pretty good too. I love all the condiments available on the table.
Reviews are generally positive. Many highlight the authentic pho, fresh banh mi and spring rolls, and fast, friendly service. The welcoming family-run atmosphere is also appreciated.
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6 years ago
7 years ago
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
7 years ago
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
5 years ago
4 years ago
Best Pho I've had in Columbus. The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is because of sanitation. If they would give a little more effort cleaning, this place would be perfect. The food is good here. Period. Good flavors all around. I will definitely be going back. Recommended! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
This is probably one of the best strip malls in all of Columbus with Mi Li Cafe, Estilo Brazil, and Hoyo's Kitchen all right next to each other, so it was a hard decision when it came down to choosing one. I've been craving some Vietnamese food thanks to Anthony Bourdain, so Mi Li was where I had to be. The inside (and outside) aren't much to look at, and the service isn't anything special. The lady that runs the place was super nice, but besides her, don't expect to be greeted warmly. Also, they'll expect you to order everything all at once, which isn't a problem for me, but be prepared to know what you want when someone comes back to your table. Mi Li is pretty well known for the banh mi sandwich, and they have a whole section behind the counter where they are made. Thanks to a Columbus Food Adventures group (I'm assuming) coming in about 10 minutes after we got there, I got to hear a long spiel about how this mysterious Vietnamese sandwich was made. Exciting stuff. I also ordered the banh cuon, and my girlfriend had some non-traditional pho that I can't find on any of the posted menus. She said it was just okay, but she's not the biggest pho fan in the world. I'm more of a Thai noodle soup fan myself, but I thought her dish was pretty good. Back to the banh mi. It's awesome. I'd advised getting it grilled, because it makes it that much better. The sandwiches are cheap at $5.50 a piece and are a decent size that we both split as an appetizer. Honestly, I could probably eat two of these though, because they're so damn good. They're actually packed with meat and toppings too, because some other places (coughIndochinecough) seem to skimp on this. This was my first time having banh cuon, and it was incredibly! The crepes fall right a part and after adding some hot oil and fish sauce to mix in with the minced pork filling, I was absolutely loving it. It feels like there's a lot here with all the bean sprouts, fried onions, cucumbers, and pork patties all mixed in, but I finished that dish without feeling too bad about myself. I'm not 100% sold on the pork patties, since they don't really have too much flavor themselves, but mixed in with everything else, they were quite tasty. To me, this was the best Vietnamese I've had in Columbus so far, but take that with a grain of salt, because I really haven't made my rounds. The lady running the joint was very happy that we enjoyed our dishes, and you could tell she took a pride in running that kitchen. There's some other Vietnamese spots I want to check out before I give a final verdict, but I'll be back to Mi Li for sure, especially for that awesome sandwich. read more
7 years ago
I got off work early and decided to try this place on my way home. I LOVE Pho and have been looking to try new locations in Columbus. I moved here from Oklahoma City 6 months ago and haven't found anything as good as the many pho places in OKC. When I first walked in...it was about 3:30 p.m...and of course, I was the only person in there. Soon, another table came in. I decided to be the Bun Bo Hue (spicy noodle soup). I started out with the summer roll (fresh spring rolls) which were really good. Can't really screw those up. Then the soup came. Tastewise....it was delicious!!! Same for the spring rolls. They gave me a very small serving of the basil, cabbage, and bean sprouts (which isn't a huge deal....I could've asked for more). But what I really didn't like is the fact that they gave me a spaghetti spoon instead of the traditional "pho spoon" as I call it. It made eating kind've messy and difficult. So yeah, it was just "okay." I probably wouldn't walk across the street to eat here again. The restaurant was clean though and fairly trendy. Kudos for that! *********************************************************************************** A day after I wrote this review, I was contacted by someone who knows the owner of Mi Li Cafe (maybe a friend or aquaintance). She advised me that she brought up my concern to the owner regarding the spoons. She advised the owner has decided to change them to the "pho spoons" instead of the silver spaghetti spoons. :o) It's not a HUGE deal about the spoons...but it kind've is...just because this type of food requires the right kind of untensils. Thanks for the response Mi Li Cafe and for taking consideration to a customer's concern! My rating has changed from 2 stars to 4 because of your thoughtfulness! :o) *********************************************************************************** 12/4/2011 ~Stopped in a Mi Li today for lunch. They have added the pho spoons. Not just the regular looking ones....but the kind that are ridged so they can cling to the inside of your bowl when you take a drink or wipe your mouth. Very good idea! Great job and thanks!! read more
18 years ago
A couple notes right at the top: The location has changed it's name from Mi Mi Cafe to Mi Li Cafe. This is to prevent confusion with Mimi cafe in Polaris, or mimi maternity. Also, location is on Fiji drive, Columbus SQ does not exist. I used this place as a test of Yelp. I picked somewhere close to my office that was highly rated, and tried it. I would have NEVER found this place or ventured into it on my own. I'm so glad I did. it's as basic as it gets. A tasty spicy sandwich full of stuff I don't know. It was empty when I was there, so I had time to talk to the owners about the name change. 4.50 for the sandwich and a glass of water, and it's just the right size for lunch without going into an afternoon coma. I've become a fan, not only of this place, but vietnamese food in general. I'll be back! They do now accept credit cards, but only on transactions greater than 10 bucks. So, buy lunch for three friends, and make them fans too. read more
12 years ago
14 years ago
Lets see, the mango bubble tea, pho, summer roll and banh mi were all delicious! Prices are reasonable, portions are decent. The restaurant is nothing fancy, small and located in a half empty strip mall. Service was good. I'll be going back soon. read more
If your mouth does not begin to water the minute you step inside Mi Li, your salivary glands must be busted. The lovely smell of hot broth, coffee and sizzling meat greets you right away. This long-time staple of Columbus Square is situated along the northwest side of the plaza, and while the frontage is small, the restaurant itself is a decent size. A giant TV set dominates the back wall - be prepared to jostle a seat facing away. To my dining mates: please forgive my child-like clapping and dancing. I love this place, and although it's not far from home, we don't get here nearly often enough. ANYWAY. Let's see. Service: Efficient and snappy, not unfriendly. They are helpful for anyone who is new to pho or Vietnamese cuisine in general. FOOD: Quick! We had our orders in and a Bahn Mi delivered in something like three minutes. The Bahn Mi here are smaller (7" or so) but pack tons of flavor to the inch, especially the baguette. They are perfect to pair with a small pho or rice dish, or to (pretend to) share. Their pork skin egg rolls are great as well. This trip I ordered a small pho ga, the spouse #24 (vermicelli with spring roll & grilled pork - also came with a slice of pate), and our friend Renee got the beef stew with rice noodles. Point of fact: Asian stews are AWESOME. If you're feeling a rice dish, they have them, along with Vietnamese crepes. If you're feeling a coffee or bubble tea, yep - got them. Three color bean drink? Got it! Salty lemonade? Okay, I didn't see that until now - on the list for next time. Overall, Mi Li is the best of the best in Columbus for Vietnamese, right up there with Huong. Absolutely hits the spot, every single time! read more
I can't say enough about how awesome this place is. I have constant cravings. The pork and shrimp vermicelli is sweet and savory. Enough sweet and salty notes to keep you wanting more. The pho has a rich broth with lots of goodness inside. I recommend this place for the pho and vermicelli dishes. You are able to adjust the heat if you like it spicy one day or mild the next. The service is great and the food is quick. Fast casual. Add a bubble smoothie to take home. Great flavors like avocado , cappacino, pineapple, mango, etc. read more
10 years ago
I'm ashamed to say I always scoff down my banh mi before thinking about a picture I've held off my review too long.. Its probably not gonna happen. Mi Li is easily one of my favorite places in Columbus. The best thing I've had here, and have every time I go is the Banh Mi w grilled pork. 10/10! Super delicious, very flavorful and perfectly spicy!! The bread is perfect! Warm, toasted, fresh crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, stuffed with tons of veggies (I order w/o cilantro) carrots, jalapeño, cucumbers. I order extra spicy. The grilled pork is fantastic! Great flavor & moist. I usually order $2 extra pork in my sandwich.. Its not necessary really but I guess I'm greedy lol it also has mayo & pate, which is kinda subtle. This sandwich is perfect! $5.50 ($7.50 since I ask for more pork). By my standards, its only enough for one person cos Im not sharing! Their summer rolls & grilled pork rolls are very fresh. The pho is 10/10! Very fresh! You want this on a cold winters night, when you feel Ill and just about every other day! There are several bubble teas to choose from. So far I've only had the cappuccino flavor and it was delicious! Never liked tapioca balls so I order without. The host/owner is a very lovely & outspoken personality. She's always been happy to accommodate my personal requests. read more
5 years ago
If you are in this area, this is the place to go for Vietnamese food- everything is under 10$ . I recommend their pho and their combination dish is not bad either. One thing I didn't really like is their bubble tea...frozen bubble tea. read more
7 years ago
Best Pho in Columbus, best Bahn mi in the United States (possibly). Staff is always legit, food is always consistent. I have been here around 15 times by now and the experience is 100% consistent. read more
7 years ago
I love Mi Li cafe. It is one of my favorite places to come and get pho. There food is so good and such a good steal. They are so friendly and they take awesome care of their customers. It's a super quick place to come for lunch or dinner. The egg rolls are a must have they are my fav and the shrimp pho! So good every time and super consistent read more
* Authentic Vietnamese * Hot, fresh, crispy Bánh mì subs. Grilled pork's my fave (note the fresh jalapenos when ordering!) * Ph is the best in Columbus. Includes generous extras. Small's enough for one. Get a small "without meats" with your Bánh mì sub and have a memorable $10 lunch ...or dinner. * Coffee with milk (condensed milk) is so sweet and so good * Bubble teas excellent * Salty lemonade ...not so good.... * Order by number on phone (see uploaded cropped menus) Prices might vary. * Make sure you have cash-$10 minimum for cards read more
8 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
8 years ago
I have been to Mi Li's several times after hearing they were the best in the city for banh mi and pho. I had never had either before so my first time I had nothing to compare them to. I've since tried other restaurants and Mi Li's truly is the best. The banh mi bread is just perfect crispy crust and soft inside. I like both the cold pork and grilled pork so I like to get both and split with who I'm with. I also like the meatball pho. Be warned though I don't know where they get their jalapeños but they're hotter than any I've had ever anywhere else. The service is never great though and I'm always dying for more water and waiting forever on my check. The delicious food helps make up for that though. read more
11 years ago
I went to lunch at Mi Li with my sister today to try their Pho. I ordered Pho tai (rare steak) and my sister ordered Pho ga (chicken) and it was phenomenal! The broth was very flavorful and had thin sliced onions, green onions and vermicelli noodles already in the bowl with the meats we ordered. Various herbs come on the side with some slices of jalapeño, lime and bean sprouts. They give you a little bowl for sriracha and hoisin sauce as well as forks, chopsticks and soup spoons. The beef was cut delicately thin and was very tender and the herbs give the broth a nice aroma and flavor. The added sprouts give a little crunch that brought him the whole bowl together. The restaurant is quaint and clean and the bar area is open to the kitchen. The waitress was very nice, my only complaint is that she never refilled our drinks. Great pho and great atmosphere! Very inexpensive at around $8 a bowl. I highly recommend it. read more
12 years ago
Wow! I'm sad I waited this long to go to Mi Li cafe! I wanted to try two things so I ate part of the banh mi with cooked pork and the pho with rare beef. The service was fast and the food was so fresh! The bread and flavor combo with the banh mi was so balanced and delicious. I almost couldn't stop eating it! (I only planned on eating half) The pho was hot and had great flavor. The extra goodies were fresh and plentiful. They are also very generous on the portions! I highly recommend Mi Li and look forward to going back...maybe as soon as tomorrow!!! read more
6 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
I was craving some pho tonight so I went to this lil Vietnamese restaurant to cure my craving!! For the food I have to give it 4 starts. The pho was authentic and on point. I ordered a large, not too much meat but it was delicious. I also got the pork crepes and that was insanely delicious!! The service was ok. read more
6 years ago
This place used to be good in terms of food quality and value, but it has gone downhill with both. Recently ordered the pork rice dish and this is all the pork that it came with??? What a rip off. The Pho portion also has gone down, even with the #11 Extra large. What's the deal??! Very disappointed read more
8 years ago
It's my first time ordering here. I had DoorDash deliver and the food was just disgusting. The summer rolls were smaller than normal. This was fine I guess but then more things were wrong. The peanut sauce has some curdled substance in it. The shrimp in the rolls smelled soooo bad like, and I'm not exaggerating, ass. The only reason I'm rating 2 stars is because the shrimp vermicelli was good but not for $9. I've never tried this place. The only reason I ordered from here is because I couldn't get my favorites Vietnamese restaurant-Houng's Vietnamese on Morse rd- delivered. Annoyed and disgusted. read more
YUM. This place is legit. My best friend and I have been scouring Columbus checking out every single pho place and this one quickly jumped to the top of the list. For $8, we got a giant bowl of pho that was filling and delicious. Seriously loved the pho from here and I've tried them all in this city. Their broth is a bit different from the rest, it's a bit sweeter than the rest I've had and it's a bit lighter, too. I really enjoyed it from a food perspective. The atmosphere of this spot is decent, sort of your typical restaurant vibe. It was clean in there which is always great! I totally recommend checking Mi Li out! read more
8 years ago
4 years ago
More info about Mi Li Cafe
5858 Emporium Sq
Columbus, OH 43231
Northland
Directions
(614) 899-9202
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http://www.milicafe.com/
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