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Authentic Vietnamese family run business, pho was great. Staff were super attentive to our large group and very friendly. The wooden tables and wall decorations remind me of my bà ngoại's home.
It really doesn't look like much from the outside and the surrounding area also looks a bit run down. However, a visit here is well worth it. Inside it looks more like an old bar, with an actual bar taking up most of the front part of the restaurant. Towards the back is a lot more seating as well as a karaoke stage. The whole place looks a bit outdated, BUT... the food is great. The menu is quite extensive and I had a tough time deciding what to go with. I really enjoyed my spring rolls and my bowl of rice noodles with beef, not sure of the official name. The server continuously refilled our waters and was always ready to fulfill all of our needs. The portions here are very generous and the prices were really affordable. Come here for the great food, not the ambiance.
This is one of my favorite places in Indy! The service is so quick for both takeout and dine in and the people are so sweet. The restaurant is definitely a hole in the wall, but it does the job and the food is so good and authentic!
Great Food and quick. Food was presented nicely Love this dish and it tasted good Very tasty and yummy
The stewed catfish is absolutely fire--so flavorful and cooked perfectly, with rich seasoning that really stands out. It's easily the highlight of the meal and something I'd order again. The spring rolls are also good and make a nice, light starter before the main dish. The restaurant itself is very quiet and clean, which makes it a comfortable place to sit down and enjoy your food without feeling rushed. Service is very fast, and everything comes out quickly while still tasting fresh. Overall, it was a great experience and definitely worth coming back for.
Yes it's worth it! Banh Beo (B4) is excellent! It's soooo good. Im coming back just for this. I think I just found my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Indy. Their vermicelli with beef and egg roll (34 Bun Thor Heo) is delicious too but the Banh Beo is the star. I practically ate the whole appetizer by myself even though it's a sharing dish. Pho-ever shirt from the woman is a lovely touch and the really cool grandpa who took my order was really kind and friendly. You can tell this is a beloved family own place. I'll definitely come back.
Great for Any Meal. These fresh spring rolls are perfect for a quick snack or light meal. Healthy, flavorful, and easy to eat!
I had the chicken pho, and it was delightful! The food and service were great. They offered all of the "fixins" that come traditionally with pho, and were generous with the portion. The environment was relaxed, not rushed, and enjoyable!
Our foodie group decided to have a late lunch at Pho 21 on a Sunday afternoon. Pho 21 is on East 21st Street in the Arlington area close to downtown. It is a Vietnamese restaurant located in a rundown strip mall, but do not let the location fool you or steer you away, because it is a great place for Vietnamese food. The ambiance reminded me of an old sports bar that went down under because they had a nice bar in the middle of the restaurant with wooden tables and chairs all around the place and wood paneling on the walls. There are very nice plants in the foyer as you walk into the restaurant, so it does give the place some character. The menu is extensive and prices are very reasonable. I ordered the spring rolls as an appetizer and the rice plate with chicken, ginger, and veggies. I ordered an iced tea to drink and received what looked like hot green tea poured over ice in a glass. It was actually very good, so I was not complaining. The food was excellent and was impressive. My spring rolls tasted great with the dipping sauce and my rice plate was fantastic and a very big portion. Everyone in our group had big portions and was very happy with their food. One person ordered chicken wraps and had to roll her own wraps with the chicken and side items provided to her, and it was entertaining to see her try to roll the chicken wrap. The service is decent for what you get is all I can say about Pho 21. There were two young gentlemen taking care of us the entire time and they were nice and professional. They kept our water glass full of water and made sure we had everything we need which is all that we wanted. I was happy with my dining experience at Pho 21 and would recommend coming here for the food because it is definitely worth the price and it will not hurt your bank account at all. Good food at a good price is all you can ask for and it is here at Pho 21.
2 years ago
What an awesome spot! First, their COVID-19 measures were great. No physical menus and you could order and pay online. Tables spaced well and masks being worn all around. Now the real review- Loved the interior. Great modern aesthetic and a cute center bar. They also have benches around the edges of the restaurant which I love. The food was incredible! I ordered the Pho 21 special, which includes rare beef, meatballs and tendons in the soup. The garlic chili sauce they make was a perfect addition and gave it a good kick. Also ordered the pork skin spring rolls with fish sauce. I've never used fish sauce as a dip, but it was fantastic. I'll definitely return! read more
4 years ago
Me and my partner ordered #25 (Pho Tai Chin) , #60 , and #65. I asked the waitress what is the difference between #60 (Hu Tieu Xao Thap Cam) and #65 (Mi Xao Thap Cam). She said #65 is a crispy noodle. Well, when I got #65 it was not crispy at all. There is no difference between #60 and #65 which is very disappointing. I tried to tell waitress that this #65 is not crispy noodle like she said it was. She just smiled and walked away. I guess we both have a hard time communicating. read more
A new pho restaurant is in town! Tucked away in a plaza with an international grocery nearby, Pho 21 just had their opening that I attended. While not in the best part of town or that aesthetically pleasing on the outside the inside was clean and looks like they put a lot of work into it. There was karaoke in the back room as well as a band set up for Sunday and a bar in the front. The menu had lots of Vietnamese food, and most of the waiters were starting today and were young, so they didn't know anything about the menu, had to double check the numbers of our order, and seemed a bit disorganized but I didn't mind. In actuality I'd probably give this a 3.3, but I'm the first reviewer and it was their first day open. The food itself was pretty good, the pho special I ordered was tasty and flavorful, but the people I went with found it not as good as Pho 54 in town. The goi rolls were prepared well but I didn't find them very tasty and found myself not being able to finish them, don't recommend getting them. The pineapple smoothie was really good, the milk bubble tea was just alright. Overall this is a good place that can only get better with consolidation of the menu and more training and organization. While not as good as Pho 54 or others it's worth checking out. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
Came here other day since for dinner since I was in the area and was really impressed! I ordered the Bun Reiu and the Mon Cuon. Both were very different but both delicious. The crab soup had a bit of spice but the chunks of crab meat balanced out the flavors of the spice. The Mon Cuon was essentially a DIY spring roll dish. The flavors of the pork, beef and shrimp really cut through all of the veggies that you are able to pack into the roll. I would highly recommend this Vietnamese place--it is definitely the best that I've had in Indy! read more
4 years ago
Nice little place that looks very traditional inside. Huge menu but I had to go with the classic: pho with rare beef. The portion was big and the beef was shaved ultra thin. The staff were very attentive and polite! I would love to go back and try more on their menu. read more
This place has been on my hot and new list for a while and I've been dying to try it! Located off of 21st street in a strip mall you can find this place. It has a large inside with tables booths and a bar, and I noticed a drum was set up, like the have live music. Friendly staff, they were pretty prompt when it came to greeting us and serving drinks. They have water, soda products, wine, beer and boba tea. The food menu is extensive as well! Lots of options to choose from. The appetizers are awesome; I had the egg rolls with fish sauce and they didn't disappoint, I also had a delicious spring roll as well with peanut sauce. The Ben chat is what I went with for my main course and it was delicious! I had never had it before; but was pleasantly surprised at the flavors and the mixtures of everything, very delicious food all around and I'll be back to try more. read more
Very tasty pho spot on the east side of Indy- 21st and Franklin. My coworker recommended this spot. The pho was delicious and the Jasmine Milk tea was refreshing. We went for lunch and had to sit ourselves. The waiter brought over waters and menus once we sat down. We looked over the menu and waited for them to take our order. There were two other parties and only one waiter so it took awhile for them to come over. Food came pretty quickly. It's a large restaurant with a stage and dance floor as well. Staff was friendly and we were in and out within an hour. The food is very filling! read more
The food was average and the service was horrible! As the waitress brought our water, she spilled one glass and water spilled all over the menu i was reading AND my phone! She didn't even wince, apologize, or have ANY sort of reaction. It was the strangest thing!! We immediately got up and helped her as she brought rags over to clean it up, but AGAIN no expression on her face. I thought it was so rude! I was with a large party and the majority of us ordered pho. We also ordered egg rolls and banh mi's for appetizers. The egg rolls and banh mi sandwiches were good, nothing to say about them. The pho was great, but a few of us had immediate headaches after. I am wondering if there was too much MSG added to the soup? The service was slow and it took so long for the server to come back and refill our waters. I even noticed another table get up and get appetizer plates for themselves then the waitress said "let me get it!" There is clearly no sense of urgency with the servers and it really looked like they didn't want to be there. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Online ordered 11/25 at around 6 pm and the process was very easy. Picking it up was pretty smooth only a 5-10 minute wait. My mom got spring rolls (7)-(which she says are the best ones she's ever had!) and the dish pictured (41). I got a tofu and rice noodle dish (64) and I will say it wasn't as saucy as I like but I think that's just the dish and I should've added more sauce when I ordered. The food was exactly what it should be: fresh, succulent, and delicious! read more
6 years ago
Great Japanese food! The beef in banana leaves was bomb, and so was the pork chop and sausage. You can't go wrong with any of the meats. I also tried the papaya salad and that was delicious as well. The service could be better but the food is fresh, flavorful and filling. Would definitely come back! read more
5 years ago
If you guys don't know Ban Xeo, I highly recommend trying it out! I come here bacially every week for this dish alone. It's a big portion definitely can be shared! The veggies are important when it comes to this dish because you can make lettuce wraps with them! It's my favorite combo to do honestly. The pho, quality is definitely much better, more authentic. Seems they've changed a lot I'm a few years and I'm very happy about that! read more
5 years ago
Came here with a friend. Nice looking place, clean and cozy. Might have been a bar before becoming a Vietnamese restaurant. Staff was friendly and courteous. Had a dish with grilled pork meatballs and broken rice. Very good. The spring rolls, of which they have several variations, were also good. Service was fast and the food was reasonably priced. read more
Food here is SOOOO good; I called in an order anthe food was ready when I got there which is a major plus. The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is authentic. If you're looking for something that's different but delicious... try this place, you will not regret. I will definitely be coming here more often. I also appreciate that they are also nice and knowledgeable of the menu. read more
4 years ago
A few rice/meat dishes, the wrap (the one you do the wrap yourself) and Vietnamese coffee are really good. The portions are very generous. However, Pho is actually just OK, the broth is very plain. There was only one server when I was there so service was a bit slow. read more
Yasssss! A pho place close to our house! Sadly no dine in right now. It's so much more fun to eat pho dining in ! Can't wait to come back when they reopen for dine in. In the mean time we got take out instead . I was so excited when I saw they had banh beo!! It's a Vietnamese special dish made with rice flour. Whenever I see a Vietnamese restaurant that serves either banh beo or bun bo hue , it's usually a good telltale sign that their food is legit!!! We ordered the pho 21 special and pho ga(chicken) . Both were great! Definitely will be back to try more ! Prices were reasonable as well. Banh beo was good too! read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
I've been driving past Pho 21 for the past 3 months- it's literally a block away from my house- so I decided to finally give them a try. You can tell when you walk in that its a family business. It's actually pretty nice and spacious inside despite how it looks on the outside (doesn't look bad outside, just a little plain). We seated ourselves in a corner booth/table. We ordered the shrimp spring rolls, the egg rolls and the oolong milk tea to start off with. I never had spring rolls before and previous reviews made them look very good. Unfortunately, the spring rolls were absolutely disgusting. they were extremely dry- it was like eating a salad without any salad dressing and adding shrimp. they did serve it with a peanut sauce but even that didn't do it any justice. We really enjoyed the egg rolls and the fish oil it was served with so we asked our waiter if we could send the spring rolls back and have another order of egg rolls instead. He said no because we already took a bite out of the spring roll. I literally took ONE bite. Seriously?! How would someone know they didn't like something if they didn't try it first?? How annoying. I ordered the #75 which is beef and mixed vegetables with rice. I ordered fried rice instead of white, there was an up charge for the fried rice but I was fine with it. My friend ordered the shrimp fried rice and it was on a decent size plate with plenty of shrimp. Both of our entrees came out hot and fresh, we had no complaints. I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't impressed either. It really made me feel some type of that we weren't accommodated for the food we didn't like. I feel like most restaurants accommodate their guests or look for an opportunity to make the experience better. It's not like we asked for our money back, we just wanted something else instead. read more
I came here to try their Bun Cha which was what President Obama had in Hanoi with Anthony Bourdain for Parts Unknown. And yes, this place did not disappoint. It was delicious! Probably my new favorite Vietnamese dish. If you have been a pho regular, you need to try bun cha. Dip the noodles in that bowl of sauce, stir it, then eat the noodles with the slices of bbq pork and you're in Hanoi heaven. read more
Ok first. I love their bubble tea. I honestly think it's the best in all of indy but their boba is a hit and miss. It's just depend on the day. Second, their bun bo hue is the best in Indy and a lot of my viet friends agree. Same with their banh mi. However, it just the best of what Indy has to offer to please take that with a grain of salt. Also, the tilapia fish grilled in banana leaf was kinda salty which overwhelm the seasoning. Another reason why it's not 5 stars is because the food here is kinda expensive. 5 dollars for 3 wings and 5 dollars for a small banh mi. The cup they give water in is also super small and the waiter rarely come back to check on you even when it's only you inside the restaurant. Honestly this place is more like 3.5/5 but because the food I had try is really good, it's leaning toward 4. read more
6 years ago
Always amazing carry out service with food made fresh and still hot when you get home. They have the best tasting broth for their Pho dishes in Indy! Thank you for continuing to serve the eastside! read more
5 years ago
8 years ago
This Vietnamese restaurant is just OK. They need to work on their service. Every time I come here, I end up having to get up to get my own plates and utensils. I have to get up to ask for more napkins and a refills for my water. They take way too long to take my order. And they are not even busy. There may be only 2-3 other tables. They like to put your appetizer order first. Then they bring out the appetizers without giving you utensils and plates. Then after all that, you ask them to take your order. The smoothies are made of powder. & it's very obvious from the taste. The egg rolls, spring rolls, and chicken wings are very good. Their milk tea drinks are good as well. But this doesn't make up for where their service lacks. The only reason I keep coming back is because this is the only Vietnamese restaurant near me or if my family wants to come. PLEASE. Get it together! read more
8 years ago
great selection of dishes. the goi cuon roll (shrimp, pork, in rice paper) were the largest and among the best in the Indy area. The lotus root salad was a bit bland but it grew on us. Vietnamese flavors are subtle and can take a few bites before they find their voice. The pho had a good beef flavor and a nice mix of the traditional herbs and spices. The egg/meat pie (think crustless quiche) was great. It's part of another dish but can order by itself to give it a try. it's one of those things that you can't find in other cuisines and so i always try one if they have it. Service was great and dishes were served fairly quickly. If this were closer to home we'd be regulars. read more
4 years ago
We have been here a few times. So far probably the best Vietnamese restaurant in town. My son has always enjoyed their rice dish, #61 on menu. This time, I tried the bun rieu and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The broth was tasty and the portion was good. I tried the Vietnamese ice coffee and it was also good. Overall, food was good and service was okay. We will be returning - slightly out of the way for us but we will be back. read more
4 years ago
Great food. Reasonable prices. The Springs rolls and Pho we're as good as I've had. The setting is very casual and relaxed, but also very well kept. The service was friendly and fast too! read more
4 years ago
Love it the soup took a long time to come but it was because we asked for only shrimp no beef very different from the menu. The Spring Rolls were perfect plus with the sauce it was to die for. Definitely recommend coming here! read more
6 years ago
Pho 21 is really a diamond in the rough. Being a vegan is hard in Indiana but this restaurant makes it so easy. I love their tofu fried rice and tofu hot and and sour soup. My family who isn't vegan loved all of their meat dishes which were the different fried chicken appetizers and skewers. Pho 21 is really good wholesome food. read more
7 years ago
3 years ago
More info about Pho 21
8134 E 21st St
Indianapolis, IN 46219
Directions
(317) 438-5353
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https://www.pho21indy.com
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