Our Sunday Pho tour continues. This is our 3rd week of our Pho Tour in the twin cities, and this place ranks number one so far. The restaurant isn't fancy- It's your typical Asian restaurant where you're there more for the food than the atmosphere. My wife and I got our usual dishes we get at every Vietnamese restaurant we dine at. We got the egg roll, Beef Pho, Vietnamese coffee, and strawberry smoothie. The broth at this place was phenomenal. It has the right mix of spices and sweetness. Everyone in our group agreed this was the best broth we had so far. The noodles were cooked just right. The beef was ok. It was a bit chewy. The price was very good for the amount of food we got. read more

Up until now I've thought Quang's to be King of the Eat Street Food Nexus, however after a night out at Pho 79 my loyalties have changed. First of all the flavors are fresher and stronger. I love that the menu includes curry dishes My boyfriend ordered the shrimp curry vermicelli salad and not only did the curry have the perfect amount of spice and aroma, but the veggies were crisp and I loved how the vermicelli was over a bed of romaine lettuce. The ingredients were also very fresh and quality for the price. While most Pho dishes I've had around town include canned veggies, this Pho (#50, tofu and veggies) provided an array of fresh cut veggies and twice as much at that, including baby corn, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots which are not included in Quang's comparable dish, #525. Quang's does have it's own parking lot though.... read more

The ribeye pho is a couple bucks more but we'll worth the extra. Full of rich broth and classic pho flavors. I also go for the shrimp eggrolls and shrimp dim sum on the regular. My favorite Pho in Eat Steeet! read more

I can go Pho-free for about a week, sometimes a week and a half. About then, the craving sets in and I slink over to Pho 79. Pho is all about hot broth, slurping noodles, and the aromatic sting of basil, and Pho 79 is all about Pho. Yes, yes, you can come and order bun. You can get fried rices, and various other soups. But the name on the door is pretty telling. If you come to Pho 79, get the pho. read more

My fav is #38 - (BÚN TÔM THT NNG) vermicelli noodle salad. I usually ask for an eggroll on the side. Hubs gets the Pho - I think Pho Tai. The food is delightful, fresh and comes out fast. Their taro bubble tea is just so yummy and to top it all off, the staff is nice! Note: the floor is a bit sticky and it's kind of a dive, but that hasn't stopped me. read more

Pho 79: Huge portions! Very fresh veggies, and super affordable! Last night my buddy (and fellow Yelper!) Josh E and I got Pho and it was fantastic, as always! I got "rare beef and flank" (#6) and an order of sesame chicken (M; for the next days' lunch), and Josh got "rare beef and brisket" (#12) and some grape-leaf wrapped meat thing (dont know a #). Throw in the veggies and some Schiracha sauce, and you have a feast! I surprised myself by almost finishing the whole bowl, which is a feat, because it is huge! The great thing about stuffing yourself on Pho, is that it is mostly broth, so it digests quickly - so eat up! Not only is the Pho top notch, but inexpensive as well! With an app, a beer, three entrees and tip - $35! The only con I can think of is lack of atmosphere, and it can sometimes be overrun with families (and children...) read more

Well, the pho has been reviewed to death! Has anyone tried anything ELSE here? I've been to Pho 79 on many occassions, either as a dine-in or take-out customer, and was always accompanied by some Vietnamese friends- so the service was attentive and the language barrier was non-existent. Although I like to experiment, I found myself ordering "the usual" after a while: it's called Com Tam Suon Nuong, which is broken rice with a marinated pork chop. No matter how many times I got it, it was always exactly the same, and delish! The chop was soft and tender and bursting with flavor, and the rice was perfect everytime. Did I mention it's a huge portion? As other's have said, go there for the food, not the ambiance. Like many a hole in the wall, this place has some serious eats at budget prices. read more

Went to Pho 79 for the first time this past weekend and was skeptical at first... but was very happy with everything. We walked in on a beautiful Saturday morning before heading to the Beer Dabbler in St. Paul, Eat Street was packed so we were a little apprehensive about being seated right away. But we walked in, the place was pretty full, but we were sat at a nice table immediately. I had never tried pho before, so I went with the basic meal - the #8. The waitress took our order and I couldn't believe how quickly it came out. It was hot, smelled great, and was super fresh tasting. The beef was tender and moist, the noodles were cooked perfectly (not mushy, not chewy), and the spice level was just right for about anyone, as they provide you with multiple options for kicking it up a level or four. The atmosphere was nice, the restaurant was clean, the servers/staff was very nice and attentive. I felt welcomed there and would definitely go back. read more

I used to get their Pho often, and have also enjoyed their broken rice dishes. For me what differentiates this Vietnamese deli from all the others is it's rustic charm, and sublime consistency. read more

Whenever I like to reward myself I come here and treat myself to the best Pho, Spring Rolls, and Five Spice Squid MN has to offer. Hands down the best! read more

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Favorite pho place. Better than Quang's - there I said it. (And I'm not taking it back). Also, hard sell on the vermicelli salads with roasted pork. Not enough people get those. Pho is great, but sometime you gotta mix it up. Especially in the summer. read more

Stupid good in every way. Quang gets all the attention. I've learned to just nod yes and say "yes it's very good" smile and continue going here instead. Crossreference my review of Caravelle which is the same food only you're sitting in a different seat. I don't know why. That's my only complaint ever actually - it seems you can eat the same menu and sit on either side, but this makes for confusion sometimes with the numbered ordering. read more

Love the pho here... I think it's tied for my favorite on eat street. I always get the combo with all the weird stuff in it. The taste of the broth is magical. If you're with a bigger group, get one of the circular tables (Chinese style). Not a lot of other pho places have that option for seating. My friend said she loves the sesame chicken there... It's got some kick to it. I had a bit and it was pretty good. read more

If you can get past the difficult parking and inconsistent service, eating pho 79 is worth the effort. Not only is it reasonably priced, it's a generous portion of diverse flavors. I'm a huge fan of the 79 "broth"....It's my favorite pho in town. It's so good that I don't think I've ordered anything else there but the 79. read more

Loved it! My boyfriend and I went in thinking we would just get two Pho dishes, then we saw the cold noodle bowls. We got the Pho 79 and then the chicken salad bowl and some beef dumplings. Everything was delicious. I LOVED the noodle bowl. It was almost like a pad thai because it had peanuts, etc. but it was with rice noodles, and had different flavors. It's a must try! I'd like to go back and get some of their drinks as well. Looked awesome. Also, super cheap :) read more

I have many friends who enjoy Pho 79, and because of that, I've been many times. Well, no longer. I finally put my foot down and said NO to Pho 79. Over the course of my visits to Pho 79, I definitely had good experiences: decent service, tasty food. Unfortunately, those were rare occasions. I've experienced lousy service, rude servers, and even hot dishes that arrived cold. Their pho is pretty good, but the vegetarian selection is fairly limited (as in most restaurants I've been to), so I began to sample dishes outside of the pho. Mistake. Their noodle salad was rubbery, and the tofu was bland and had an unappetizing texture. Their rice plate was unimpressive as well. The real kicker, of course, was the time my friend found a beetle in her tea. No. Thank you. Perhaps for meat-eaters, the Pho is enough to keep them coming back, but for me, I'll get my Vietnamese treats ELSEWHERE. read more

This is my favorite Vietnamese restaurant to go to. Service is always good and fast, and I always get my food within 10-12 minutes at most. Egg rolls, pork and shrimp spring rolls, and wontons are my go-to appetizers. I always order 37A which is the vermicelli with grilled marinated pork and an egg roll. Surprisingly I've never ordered the pho but my mom does and always seems pleased. I highly recommend the sparkling lime juice especially on hot summer days. read more

Pho 79 - Vietnamese Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

My bf is a fan of Andrew Zimmern and read that he had listed Pho 79 as the best place to get a bowl of Pho in the cities. A steaming bowl of Vietnamese soup is my go-to remedy whenever I feel a sore throat/sniffles/body aches starting. My bf ordered a bowl of rice noodle soup-seafood combo and rice noodle soup with chicken broth, tofu and vegetables to bring home. Pho 79 has the best Vietnamese soup I've eaten in the Twin Cities. The soup was very flavorful and the restaurant was generous on the extras (tofu, veggies, seafood). I look forward to actually eating inside the restaurant one of these days. read more

Being from the west coast I'm a seasoned Pho eater and I know that I should remain objective since I'm eating in Minneapolis... Not so good, I found the broth to be overpowering by clove flavor? I got the pho79- the meatballs tasted like school cafeteria meat- tendon and tripe was too chewy, couldn't swallow- lean beef an fatty brisket was more flavorful but brisket was sliced too thin, needed more fat. Shrimp egg rolls are to die for! Very yummy. Service was good.Decor needs updating. I won't eat here again, sorry :( read more

Pho 79 is great. We always start with the spring rolls and get Rice Vermicelli salad with either fried tofu (they won't do fresh unfortunately) or beef. It's very reasonably priced. The restaurant itself is not the fanciest or cleanest place I've ever been but that just kind of adds to the authenticity. On a weeknight we usually can get in and out in 30 minutes and have enough leftovers for at least one additional meal. read more

Great value. We got 2 combos for about $20 after tax. Huge portions with rice and a big egg roll each. Ready in 10 minutes for a carry out order. Inside they have a sign for all you can eat buffet that you. Can even take to go! $4.99 a pound to go. Would love to come back sometime that I'm really hungry. read more

Honestly, $2.95 for 10 cream cheese wontons? Amazing? Absolutely! Let that be a preface to my review. Came here with a couple of friends, looking to share some apps, which we did. Shrimp balls, chicken wings, and two orders of cream cheese wontons. All were delicious and all were very cheap. Throw a couple beers in the mix and we had a total tab of just under $23. I've been here a few other times before hand to try the pho, granted this was a couple years ago. If memory serves right, I enjoyed it. When it comes to inexpensive Vietnamese food, Pho 79 is king! read more

I'm gonna post the same review as I did for Caravelle, because these places are the same. I don't even know why they have 2 names. If you want the best authentic Vietnamese in Minnesota, This is the place to go. My family is Vietnamese, and this is the only Vietnamese restaurant that they will go to. Here are my MUST have at Caravelle: Canh Ga Xa Ot: These are my favorite wings of all time! Better than any buffalo wild wing sauces. These wings usually come out straight from the kitchen, so they are hot! please be careful and not burn yourself. The mixture of sweet and spicy blends perfectly well! Lau Canh Chua Ca: This sour soup is delicioussssss, and it comes in either a firepot (Lau) or big bowl (to). I highly recommend the firepot because it keeps your soup hot throughout the meal and it looks so darn cool. Definitely pour this soup over your rice, that is how it is meant to be eaten. Ca Kho To: This dish comes in a clay pot. This is how they make it back in Nam, so it has the authentic feel. The fish is EXTREMELY packed with flavor and you won't go wrong picking this. The only downside is that there are bones in it, but totally worth eating despite that. Remember to drizzle the sauce on your rice! Tom Ram Man: This dish is shelled shrimp in a tasty sauce. Some people eat the shell, but I can't do it, so I just peel it off. I hardly see anyone ever order this, so it is truly under appreciated. I can see why though, with all the great options here. Soymilk: They homebrew their own soymilk. :) read more

I've tried a good amount of different Vietnamese type spots in town but this is always my go to spot. Crispy delicious sesame chicken and teriyaki beef skewers are my usual but have tried a good amount of other things and all have been delicious. read more

Vegetable egg rolls were delicious. Togo, they were a little too greasy. Pho 79, you have a new customer for your pho! Chicken pho Togo was packaged perfectly for no spills. A few more noodles would have been nice but the flavor of the broth is great! I'll be back for more! read more

Lovely large dining room but too much MSG in soups broths. No sandwiches. primarily main courses.

Gave this place a try for the second time. Very disappointed. The chicken in chowmein looked raw and tasted gross. read more

Pho 79 - Chicken chowmein. Really bad! - Vietnamese Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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This review is based predominantly on their Bun (vermicilli salad). I always order 37 (grilled pork) or 37A (grilled pork & pork eggroll). It's always fresh, super tasty, and delicious! We eat this quite a bit in the summer. This dish starts with a good handful of fresh romaine lettuce, topped with vermicilli, cilantro, shredded carrots, meat, and served with a side of fish sauce (the key to this dish!!!). This combination is sooooo good. I like to add a good amount of Sriracha as well for some heat. Now, just based on the Bun, I would give this joint a 5 stars... but I'm not a fan of their pho here. I go to Saigon (see review) or Quang (but I don't eat the Bun at Quang...it's like a generic version of the real deal) when I want pho. Have I confused you yet? In simple terms: Go to Pho 79 for Bun Go to Saigon or Quang for Pho Anway, I am not a huge fan of Pho 79's pho... the broth has too much nutmeg or cinnnamon (or some spice w/those notes)... it's all about the broth when it comes to pho. From my experience all of the other ingredients (meat, sprouts, jalapenos, noodles, mint, etc) are equal no matter where you go. read more

Since there are already so many good reviews, I will just add: The seafood Pho is incredible; less seafood than my favorite Lotus to Go Go, but slightly bigger portion overall. The spicy chicken wings are very good but very sticky. I will be returning, frequently (on Sundays because Lotus is closed that day) read more

It my review!! I've never been to Pho 79 and don't like Vietnamese food. Most be a mix up!!

Super good Pho!!! This place has a huge menu, super flavorful dishes and nice staff. We had a party of 6 and our food was out fast. If I lived in Minneapolis I would come back here! read more

The egg rolls are decent, I've had better fish sauce elsewhere and bigger egg rolls but these are still decent. Of course I have Pho, chicken Pho . Was a bit disappointed in the quality of the chicken that was in my pho. Not disappointed overall, I'll be back for sure read more

I'd been looking for a good place for Pho ever since leaving Chicago and was finally dragged here by a gym buddy. Parking, as most people have noted, is ugly at best. There are also 2 restaurant names on the door, leaving both of us a little confused what we were walking into. Seating was mixed between family style and booths. Service was great, our orders taken quickly and our food arriving less than 15 minutes after walking in. We ended up ordering pretty basic stuff, pho with lean beef and pho with lean beef and flank. Both were tasty, my only regret in hindsight being not ordering extra noodles with mine. A definite place to revisit. read more

Great Vietnamese food! I am not sure why Quang gets all the raves because I think this place is better. I was born in Vietnam and grew up in Southern California --- so I will say I've had better Vietnamese food! But this is the best on Eat Street! If you want pho only --- sit on the left side (pho 79). If you want family meals --- sit on the right side (Caravelle). My absolutely favorite to get here are the poor mans food/Vietnamese staples: -Caramelized Fish in Clay Pot -Vietnamese Tamarind Sour Soup The pho is good too! Ask for extra fat --- unless you're on a diet, I guess. I love good food and it doesn't matter the decor and ambience. The service has always been good for me and I've always managed to find parking...Sooo... I can't complain too much. If you want the best Vietnamese food, go to Vietnam and find a hole in the wall or shack in the streets to eat with the locals. But if you can't to to Vietnam --- this will do just fine. read more

The pho broth here is the best i've had thus far. Not only is the food delicious, the food comes out in a timely manner. The only downside is finding parking when they are a tad busier. read more

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If I could give this place 6/5 stars I would. I've loved all my meals here and the service is pretty good. My server will even help me put my soups in the to-go bowls if it's not to busy. My favorites are the Bun Bo Hue, #49 (which is a sweet and sour fish soup served in a firebowl) and of course the #1. Probably one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in the metro (along with MT Noodle in Brooklyn Park). read more

After hearing soo many good things about this place it was time to give it a try. I ordered the fresh crispy pork springrolls and they were sooo good. The dipping sauce was delicious. I also had the chicken pho and that was excellent. The broth tasted so good and they added spring onions in the soup which made it even better. My husband ordered the bun salad. Best bun salad I've ever had in the twin cities and trust me I've tried quite a lot. Way better than quangs. In a way I felt like I was cheating on quangs lol. But I'll definetly be back here! Really good food, friendly staff and less hectic than quangs. read more

Best pho in town, to make it better they are going green they just put on a Duro-Last cool white roof. This is my fav stop on eat street get a number 16 and add all the extras you will love it. read more

Delicious! Loved the pho and the atmosphere was great. There is also plenty of great choices for people like my husband who do not like pho. The combination appetizer was perfect to share and the egg rolls are amazing. read more

I have to say I was pretty impressed with Pho 79. I ordered a tofu/veggie version of Pho with egg noodles that was delicious. There were TONS of veggies -- broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, bamboo shoots, and more -- plenty of yummy fried tofu, and a heaping dish of the basil/jalapeno/bean sprouts accompaniments. My BF got a beef pho that included tripe and tendon and he loved it. Our main highlight of the meal though was the fried shrimp egg rolls. The order comes with 6 little cigar-like egg rolls that were piping hot and fantastic when dipped in the sweet sauce that came with it. They were a great kickoff to the meal. Order them and see for yourself! One note: I was a little confused though about the difference between Caravelle and Pho 79 and the role of the host stand or cash register area up front. I had one of those little awkward moments when you walk in and really don't know what to do, where to stand, or who to ask what to do. I got over it, but I just wanted to mention it in case you're prone to those little awkward moments too. Also, there is a small parking lot next to the restaurant that is shared with Pancho Villa, which is nice. read more